Behind That Curtain · Chapter 13 (2/2)

Kirk and Miss Morrow sat up with sudden interest. Chan nodded. “I had guessed,” he said. He was silent for a moment. “Colonel Beetham is at this moment in San Francisco,” he added.

“Really?” answered the Major. “An odd coincidence. I should like to meet him again. He was most sympathetic.”

“The party was in his honor, you have said?” Charlie went on.

“Yes⁠—a sort of farewell. You see, he was leaving the next day. Leaving for home, but not by the conventional route⁠—not Beetham. He was going by caravan through the wilds of Afghanistan and across the great salt desert of Persia to Tehran.”

“Through Khyber Pass?” Chan asked.

“Oh, yes⁠—through the Khyber. A dangerous business, but he had a big retinue of servants who had been with him on other expeditions⁠—and the Emir of Afghanistan had invited him. He left early the next morning and I have never seen him since.”

“Early the next morning,” Chan repeated slowly. “Going home.” He stared for a moment at the misty window. “I had hoped to go home in the morning myself. But always something rises up making me break my word to my little son. What a despicable father he will think me. However”⁠—he shrugged⁠—“what is to be, will be.”

Paradise came into the room, pompously wheeling a tea-wagon. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“Tea, sir,” said the butler.

“I hope so, I’m sure,” replied Kirk.

Paradise served Miss Morrow, and then turned to Inspector Duff. “What will you have in yours, sir?” he inquired.

The Inspector looked him firmly in the eye. “One lump of sugar,” he said. “And⁠—nothing else.”