The Chase of the Golden Plate

full of seven-column heads. He thoughtfully li

," said the

ull eyes and then went in and sat

told you," bawl

ed at the only other occupant of the car, a little girl. She was

ious to keep it quiet, and they won't say anything to anybody else until they know what really happened. I've got it bottled up, and don't know how to pull the cork

k Herbert. He was too self-absorbed to notice that the blinds of the house

rt here?"

servant, "but I don't know if he ca

well?" Hat

t he's sick, sir.

me Herbert's voice fro

Hatch

. "Glad to see you. I'm so lonesome her

up the steps and

ed for his right hand. "It's out of busine

matter?" Hat

this big house alone with Blair ever since. The doctor told me not to venture out yet. It has been lonesom

e seemed a little washed out, and there was a sort of pallor beneath the natural tan. He was a young man of family, unburdened by superlative wealth, b

professional capacity," the reporter began at

ression on his face. He didn't speak, but there was s

s?" the reporter asked-"that is,

es

e seen the stories abou

iled a

id. "Clever,

moment as he accepted and lighted a cigarette. "It doesn't happen," he wen

at I saw in th

ed his discomfort. "Remember I am here in my official capacity-that is, not as a frien

tion in his manner and went ov

t?" he demanded. "Wh

ere Miss Doroth

with a certain lowering of his eyebrows

ut her?"

she?" Hatc

o far as I

informed him, "and the Greytons b

Dick repeated. "S

ok for her, and they are doing so now, but quietly. It is not known to the newspapers-that is, to other newspapers. Your

he room several times, then sto

silly joke?" h

d to elope with her on Thursday eve

nswer that

invitation to th

es

you

g straight down

hat, either," he

n the evening of

l I answ

gotten that he ever knew Dick Herbert. To him the young man was now merely a thing fr

er the approved manner of attorney for the p

t answe

e nature of

that last one-unless I know what this is all about. Several things happened on the evening of the masked ball that I can't go over with you or

something else, then chang

l shot?" Hatch

ine as he looked at the reporter, and h

get that idea

dea; but vaguely it had some connection with the fact that at least two shots

r and Blair appeared with a card. He handed it to Dick, who glanced at it, looked a little surprised, then