"The Other John Smith,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14099, 17 April 1920, Page 7

"The Other John Smith,"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ASSBANGEMENT.

(By LEWIS EAMSDEN). Author of “Prisoners of the Council,” “My Lady of tlie Car,” “The Golden Casket,” “The Word of a Somerl eigh,” etc., etc, >

(COPYBIGHT.)

CHAPTER XVIII. —Continued. “As I have told you,” said Justine, “I was awfully ashamed when .1 heard how she had perhaps risked her life to save you. But, Jack, you must be very careful —for Philomene’s sake, I. mean. ’ ’ “Why?” 1 asked. “Because she is no longer as you seem to think of her —a child, a mere schoolgirl.” “T understand what you mean, and I'm rather afraid you are right. I've been thinking about it myself, and mean to speak to 1-er father, who is my valued and trusty friend. Tim worst of it is, .1 den-! sic what either of us can do. ’' “She adores you; that was evident when she was in the box with you at the opera last night. ” “I canT sec why on earth she should. ’ ’ “That docs not sound very complimentary to my own taste. ” said. Just-, ine with a smile.

self-conscious attempt to appear as casual strollers, and an evident deSlTe to make themselves as inconspicuous as possible, I at once recognised as the two spies who had taken up their quarters at my hotel. Without hesitation 1 walked across to them.

“I am afraid, gentlemen, that I have given you a most unconscionable time of waiting,’’ I remarked genially. Both tlie men saluted, and oue of them mutered something in a shamefaced sort of way about it being their duty.

“I did not mean it in that way, of couse. But", really, I don't see why you should care For me either. 1 can only accept it as something wonderful and delightful. You see, I have never thought of myself as being in any way a ladies’ man.” “You are not. If you were so t could not imagine myself falling in love with you. Why, the Other John Smith has the reputation of being that.” There was so much to be said which concerned only ourselves that 1 am afraid poor Philomenc was forgotten for the time, and other matters which may seem to the reader more momentous than lovers’ confidences were put aside. But presently the two detectives who had escorted the Other John Smith from BromsgrOve House returned, and I at once saw in them the hope of obtaining the. information .1. so urgently needed.

“iVo, sir; there was no sign oy our being followed,” said one of them in answer to my question. “The gentleman was in a great state of nerves, though; kept urging us to look out and make sure. Jlc seenied afraid to look out for liimself.” “Where did you take him?” “Well, first be told the chauffeur to drive to the Lytton Hotel, and he seemed quite upset when we told him it was burnt out last night. J. daresay you saw it in the papers this morning, sir. ’’ “I heard something about it last night, when it was on,” I said with a smile. “We recommended the Eienzi, another quiet place, close by, and he said he would go to that; but when we got there, and as he was getting out of the ear, he suddenly turned and dived into it again, shaking like a leaf, and. begging us to drive on. When we could

get him to explain he said he had seen a lady m the vestibule, a Madame Bouteau.”

“What was Madame Bouteau like?” I asked, for it was at the Eienzi I had left "the lady I had brought down from the top floor window of the burning Lytton, and it struck me, for a passing moment, as being just possible, though of course not very likely, that she might be the same.” “She didn’t come out, sir. I don’t think she caught sight of him at all. But he said he was more afraid of her than of the others. It was through ner he had been traced to London.” “Madame Bouteau Where have I heard the name lately?” And then 1 remembered. Vano had mentioned a ease —the Bouteau divorce case —in which Gastoir Had disgracefully figured. I told this to the detective, adding: “It looks as though feminine revenge, or jealousy, or both, have been added to the political factors of this affair.

“Most likely, sir. The usual woman in the case. I wonder if she was the lady who helped to kidnap him in Hyde Park?”

“Ho; I don’t think it is possible. If it had been she, the others would have been in no doubt about his being the John Smith they wanted. Where did you take him after you left the Bienzi?”

“To another private hotel quite near—the Warwick. But though he booked rooms in our presence, and told us to communicate with him there, we don’t think that is where he actually intends to stay, for, being suspicious of his intentions, we kept a watch on the place for a bit after we had left. Presently lie came out, and we managed to follow him without his being aware of it. He went to a poorish sort of place in Easton Square, a lodginghouse calling itself a private hotel. We think he must be staying there, fancying it safr and move out of the way. .Here is the address, sir.”

I congratulated the detectives on their astuteness and carefully pocketed the slip of paper. I now felt confident of being soon able to lay hands on the Other John Smith, and I told Justine so as she saw me out of the house. “Be very careful, for my sake, Jack dear,” she said. “Bcmember that, apart fyom other dangers, you will be dealing with a desperate man.” “He has only shown himself as an arrant coward as yet.”

“Yes; but the veriest coward is often dangerous when driven into a corner.”

“I will be careful, darling, so you need have no fear,” I repeated. At her request the two detectives accompanied me down the drive, though they told me there was'" no danger, as the whole of the grounds were now well guarded by a special force of police. At the lodge gates I found my car ready, instructions having been sent to the chauffeur.

11 Those two foreign-looking chaps came here just after you went up to the house, sir, and have ben hanging about ever since,” he said, indicating a coupla of men on the opposite side of the road, in whom, in spite of their

“And a very unpleasant sort of duty it must be, too. If you are bound to do it you have my deepest commiseration, and to save you trouble I may as well tell you where lam now going—to my tailor’s, Vano, in Bond street. I came across to offer you a. lift back to town, but I now see'yohr own car is hovering about. The same car, too! But I observe the driver is not our friend Schmidt this time. If he were I should be inclined to give him in custody for the little trick he played upon me. Well, I must be off, but when you make your daily report to your principals you may tell them that the business upon which I came here is going on very satisfactorily—from my point of view, of course. It is not quite completed —there now seems no immediate hurry, you know —but it will lie directly your Emperor makes a move.” With this mendacious assumption that I had the whole political matter under control I nodded and re-crossed the road. When I reached my caj I saw the pair still staring after me in a puzzled sort of way. CHAPTER XIX. THE BOOMS OF THE OTHER JOHN SMITH. J was just in time to catch Vano before lie left business for his country retreat. “Any good news, Mr John?” lie asked. “You are looking rather pleased with yourself.” “I have‘good reason to be so, though my news is not of the kind you think. The fact is that since I saw you last night, after .! spoke to you through the telephone this morning, I have become an accepted lover.” Vano did not appear quite so surprised as I had expected. “ Is Mademoiselle Grattan the lady?” “Yes.” “I congratulate you most heartily. It seems to me in every way a most suitable match.” (To be continvoo.l