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Updated: September 26, 2025
Steell, his face white, and fists clenched, turned to his companion: "Good Heavens, Dick, did you hear that? They've kidnapped Mrs. Traynor's little girl no doubt, with the idea of demanding ransom. Thank God, we're in time to frustrate that crime " "Hush!" exclaimed his companion. "Listen!" Keralio proceeded: "Now you understand what you are to do. You bring the child here to-morrow morning.
Remember we are on a ship. You don't say 'downstairs'; you say 'below." Mr. Steell turned round with a smile. "I had no idea you were so well posted in sailor's parlance." The young girl laughed. "Oh, you don't know half my accomplishments. I'm cleverer than you give me credit for." The young man leaned half over the chair as he whispered: "I wouldn't dare tell you how clever I think you."
Then, with a low cry, like a wounded animal, she let the paper slip from her nerveless fingers. There was a furious throbbing at her temples: her heart seemed to stop. The room spun round, and she fainted just as Steell rushed forward to catch her in his arms. "Brandy! Brandy!" he shouted. "She's fainted!" While Ray ran for the smelling salts and Mr.
Keralio stood grimly in the shadow of the parlor doorway, revolver in hand, while Helen cowered in the inner room, in momentary expectation of a tragedy. Crash! The front door fell in, shattered into a thousand splinters, and through the breach thus made rushed Wilbur Steell, Dick Reynolds, and half a score husky Central Office detectives, revolvers in hand.
The first thing necessary was to keep cool, show no concern and disarm suspicion by pretending to accept the loss as irreparable. Then, at the first opportunity, he would take Wilbur Steell into his confidence. That wide awake lawyer would know exactly how to handle the case. Dick Reynolds would have an opportunity to show his talent as a detective.
She swept away from him with the dignity of an offended queen. The silence was deadly. All one heard was the silk rustle of her gown as she moved across the floor. "It's my say," exclaimed Ray. "I lead with trumps," said Steell. "Signor Keralio has to go. Isn't it too bad!" Mr. Steell and Dick rose and bowed politely. There was nothing to be done.
He turned to me, with a look of ze greatest surprise, and asked: 'Who ze devil is madame?" "What! Didn't he seem to remember me, even?" A look of distress came over her face. The valet shook his head. "Non, madame." Quickly he added: "But it is nothing. It is only temporary." "Didn't he know my sister and Mr. Steell? Didn't they greet him at the dock?" "Yes, madame.
Everybody who was anybody was invited, all Ray's personal friends besides a lot of people she did not know so well. A number of Helen's intimates were there and also some men friends of Mr. Steell and Dick Reynolds. The girls in their light gowns looked pretty as angels. The men were handsome, attentive and gallant.
Steell shrugged his shoulders. Drily he said: "Oh, I guess Ken is big enough to take care of himself. It does look as if it were tempting Providence to carry loose on one's person valuables for so large an amount, but it's hardly likely that any of the denizens of the underworld know of his departure. Still less that he is carrying a million loose in his clothes.
The valet was less than two blocks away, and once he actually stopped and looked around as if to see if he was followed. Quickly Steell and Dick darted under a doorway, and, seeing nothing to arouse his suspicion, François went on. The lawyer was taking no chances to-night. It was too good a game to spoil. That they were on the right trail at last he was morally certain.
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