The Spider Strain | Page 7

aid, and on one occasion had saved him from exposure and arrest. When Warwick returned to his rooms this day, Togo opened the door for him, stepped back, and bowed, flashing his teeth in a smile.
"Honorable Togo, I am a bit late," Warwick said. "Kindly have dinner sent up from the restaurant downstairs just as soon as possible. There is a little social affair this evening at the home of Mrs. Burton Barker, and I am obliged to attend. Beastly bore, I suppose, and all that--but it happens to be necessary."
"Yes, sar!" Togo said.
"Togo, I was driving with Miss Silvia Rodney this afternoon, and chap betrayed particular interest in me."
"Sar?"
"He appeared rather anxious and eager to know all about my comings and goings, and all that sort of thing. I maneuvered to get a glimpse of him, finally. My word! Very common-looking chap at that--very common indeed!"
"Policeman, sar?"
"If he is, he is a new one on me, Togo, old top. I fancy that he is no policeman, or anything of that sort. I have a faint idea that the chap is one of those criminal fellows. The sort that always are poking their noses into the business of other folk--you know!"
"Yes, sar!"
"It might be well, old boy, if you kept your eyes and ears open a bit around here, what? We've been bothered before now by fellows who were inclined to cause us a bit of annoyance, haven't we? Getting rather sick of it!"
"I understand, sar."
"If anybody should come prowling about--"
"I shall attend to him, sar!" Togo promised.
"There you are--always bloodthirsty! My word! Assassinate the whole world if you could, what?"
"Only if the world was against you, sar!"
"Um! Thanks!" Warwick said. "Faithful chap, and all that! Well, keep eyes and ears open, old boy. And toddle right along now and order that dinner!"
* * *
Half an hour later, Warwick was eating dinner in the living room of his suite, Togo serving it. When he came to coffee, Warwick leaned back in his chair, puffed at a cigarette, and regarded Togo carefully.
"I've a bit of news for you, old top--astonishing news," he said, presently. "You are as much a comrade in arms as a valet, and so you should know."
"Thank you, sar!"
"You know our flabby-cheeked friend with whom we are associated now and then in a little enterprise? Quite so! Well, I have to tell you, honorable Japanese, that before very long I shall be leaving his band."
"Sar?" Togo cried.
A swift change came over Togo's face. For a moment the Japanese, who seldom showed emotion, revealed his feelings, and in no uncertain manner.
"Oh, everything will be quite regular, honorable Togo!" Warwick assured him. "I am not turning traitor, or bolting, or anything like that. My word, no! I'm thinking of getting married, old boy--understand?"
Togo grinned.
"I see that you do understand," John Warwick continued. "And a married man should not be doing things that might get him into trouble with the police, should he? So there you are! Our friend, whose name need not be mentioned here at this moment, has agreed to--er--release me after I accomplish two certain things. You gather that all in, honorable Togo?"
"Yes, sar!"
"Excellent! Your own future is provided for, of course. I'll need you with me as much as before, and all that. It's up to you to say whether you remain with me or go back to where you can--er--be more active in the service of our flabby-cheeked friend."
"I shall be glad to remain, sar," Togo replied.
"Good! I have to accomplish the first task of the two tonight, if I can, at the residence of Mrs. Button Barker."
"I am to help, sar?" Togo asked eagerly.
"Um! I fail to see at this moment just how you can help, old top. Sorry! Like to have you in those last two little games if I could, and all that. But this is a strictly society affair, you know--dress-suit stuff."
"I understand, sar."
"I've got to get a little locket--"
"A locket, sar?" Togo cried.
"My word! Whatever is the matter with you? Why shriek at me in that fashion?" Warwick demanded, putting down the coffee cup. "Are you beside yourself--what?"
"Your pardon, sar!"
"But I fail to understand, confound it! Never knew you to act so in the world! Have you been drinking?"
"No, sar!"
"Explain, then!"
"I--I was startled, sar."
"I should think you were! And you certainly startled me! Almost made me choke, confound it!" Warwick exclaimed. "What do you mean by such a thing?"
"You mentioned a locket, sar. I--I was wondering if it could be the locket."
"Honorable Japanese, it is merely a silly locket that a foolish woman wears on the end of a long, ridiculous chain. Why our flabby-cheeked friend wants it is more than I know--and I suppose that it is none of my business. He didn't happen to take me into his full