Evening Star Newspaper, July 17, 1921, Page 55

2 ot THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, JULY 17, 1921—PART 4, Supt. Bell drew Reggle aside. yawning-in corners. Inspector Mor- and Miss Weston not least, stared sur- |the profession. ~American-Austrian, T = : “Think that throws any light?” |dan had gone straight to Miss W prised at him. Slowly he extracted from | think. 1 believe Nastitch is his name 8 Reggle sald. ton's room, and from it he came glow- [her (she seemed bewildered - at h | —Alexander Nustitche or Supil I lO er ‘Iell ure O r Or ul le Like @ bull in & china shop. el not a searchlight,” sald the |ing wity triumph. He called for his [question) the whole bistory of that| “Croaf I think,” Regle said. “This " L4 |~ “Well, let's see the flowe: superintendent. ullnerlke dent. he collected Reggie [after-dinner coffee. Coffce had been | knife—they uke ‘em §own that way.” r - ~/1| sald, and walked him into the gurden iss Weston was driven oft. Mr.|and Gordén. “You gentiemen happen browght to e boudoir Just befors Mr. Con Fon s son 1 icti 1 i S and began to tell him that he knew. | Ford, looking dased, came Slowly |5 reco; e opened his |Fore ¢; no one b e X~ | know."” s the little A Bijt of Fiction Which Will Hold You to the Last Word. 3 [, o iched Miss Weaton: has | downstares. and to him went Gordon. | g Toeomnize tRALY. O OREICT, i [pected M Ford: another Lub W i e e f ! | ne™ the little Jew lisped. *He's a| w~Better get her a solicitor, you | {5 pie emerald which Birdle Bolton |prousht for Mr. Ford; M Ford and she | noticed that he had his vanit . Y By H. C. BAILEY. 1| heder 2 * | know." Gorhon reia 20 el emeralCmnich B ot dranic 1l ot "Sthe” B0l | Dinsed i cigar-case round. - || “On. I expect he's arrested Ford, too,) "By Jove. thavs itr Mr. Ford |MU0 SUEL. o400 criea. “Thats | Mies Bolton had been very ay. and in Uy GRSl e . 5 = = : =T by now. Me and you in a minute. '-"',';" andiplungediont. intend- | Birdie's. Coo! What a stome, ain't |doing u few sieps of a dance hid upset ae s s s, U plens Mor- IRDIE screamed llké & sea- sione. Oh" she shuddercd and shook. | gently. leoking at tho blue mark on|Hew & teslous fallow. By the wav.| (e UCCa” o ieedund Tookea xt | 1677 e o R . ST e “Viclous, I call it.” her neck. = who is b® ar ¢! < § + the inspector| “No more questions, e targe | eye ; o sull and leaped on o the)|"Rellll an'looiing around the room. | ““Then she stormed out of the rooml| ~“Ves' He's m dark horse iamt het)Gordon om0 e st ander |Kolicitor st down, Kniling. 1'hud the mtart of oo OB the day stage. The wwdience rum-| FSRiC Ol (OO L er. sir> sald |and—oh, doctor, I don't know—perhaps |1 only met him once, doctor.::You| “Why did you put him op to that, e bed, in Weston's room." The coroner was visibly unable to un- | | g0 the start, of you. O day bled the pusual . applause, | Mrs. Betts in a tone that suggested she | I fainted—it was as if 1 was all lead in |COUld see poor old Birdie was sweet (gir?” said the superintendent | e bed. in Weston's room" . teg- |dersiand him. and made at busi- | before the murder Bledie Bolton con- and Dr. Reginald Fortune put up his | Would like to have the hanging of Miss |that chair. Pthought I was asleep. And |on him.” “Profcasional feeling, dear boy | -Only that and nothing 3 (el Heard oloea ot olehs Ros widered him- | Weston. then 1t ‘was ke a horrible. morrible | - “Qh, 50 Miss Weston was telling the [ Gbydon smiled. “Nice girl ain't it?|sle murmured, Abtgeiie oiles wall, . He ises at night. Now opera glasses. He consider “I suppose it is,” Reggie said. He|dream—I saw her being killed. She was | truth about that. I fancy my firm are Mrs. Folton's Yes, where's the rest, Mordan® JOU see Your way, donyt_your No self a connoisseur in the art of music | crossed g the chair In which Miss Wes- |on the sofa, and some one was hitting | ‘‘Why, didn’t you believe her, doctor?” | executors, and I fancy that bird is said Supt; Bell. i . dear. And 1 showed vou that halls, and Birdie Boiton was unique | ton had been found sleeping and picked (at her. Oh, doctor, did T do it? Was “D'vou know, 1 wonder if I belleve|gole legatee.” The inspector smote his thigh. Quite impossible, si o Well, well. These two s St . up from the floor close by a pair of [if a dream? Did I really do it? anything I've heard in this hous The. apetintendent. purasdlils, iips;| GeCT8e, T gee: itt T lat ‘that ras hvertully. e lora and Nastitch. 1 suppo and bizarre. She was no 10NEer | lissors and a pointed bodkin with an| ~You saw—or you dreamed—who| ‘Like that, is 1t™ Gordon lisped. |, e, SIPERTLentons BUFRel, ME SUL | Ford seethe wench alone, He's gone Dr. Fortunc they kot their situations to have a ko young, and had never been pretty.|ivory handle. Both were clotted with;was it struck her in your dream?" | "Justlike that, sald Reggle. A &ravc|gont it DS Just grows. he said. | Off stuffed with the swag.” H The first medi (.,',;u"‘,'ur-'";j'“]-l Dietlich, ag Hord's A helmet of black hatr, a gaunt face [blood. Ugly things. ! “Oh, T don't know. "It was just like ity had come 'over the perky little | 40K " Jh T3, G800 CO™ 0, W Reggic | “That's a thought” Reggie admitted. 2 e Al anedl e Shin bnes o es for N Ah!" Mrs. Betts said. “That's what | a dream when you can't tell. I know Jéw. which he found very engaging. 20 * and the superintendent lifted an ¢ cal man who saw Mis: ton bierd 'f A l_'" e house and a car tn Which never smiled, a body as lean|aia'i. Put ‘em down, sir. 1 left them |it was Birdie. ~But was it me killed| Mr. Gordon nodded at him. “Birdie | yawnec. - brow at him. “You ought to have| The court rose. Reggie, with ek had the car out of the garag: as a boy's which sometimes slouched by her chair for the police to|her?” . e et Conlyy e maid, and| ‘That's right” said the superin-|Prow at hum you CIERL (0 BEVT lat his heels, went out by ‘the solicitor's | Ul the emall hours mcveral times, |t 3 jerked—such were her The door was flung open. The de- | Reggle nodded back. tendent and took the inspector aside. mspector. T'd have his piace [200r and found Supt. Bell waiting for | think he got in by the window last w and sometimes jer % ‘ou think of everything, Mrs. Betts.” | tective Inspector strode in. ~May fce Mowers, doctor.” a new voice| Mr. Gordon, following Reggie to|Was you. inspector, 70 Bl : him. “Now are you playing the game, |7-more than once, perhaps. And each charmes. She wore nothing much|g,iq Reggie, and put them down and | Weston?” He was more the police- |said. Reggle turned to see’the small| the boudolr, was distressed by the | WAtched night and g Yibly gratified, [doctor?? €aid Supt. Bell sadt time poor Birdie’ stirred. Better for above the waist but diamonds, and|went back to the. body of Birdie Bolton. | man than qver. insignificance of Supt. Bell, greeted |sight of the dead body, and said so.| The inspector was vis »‘k_ gratif . “For keeps,” Reggie laughed. “Come { her if she hadn’t. poor girl. But they That stab In the throat, it was “not “ 1 voy | Delgnificance of Supt Bell grected slEnt Of Thton with his photography | “I know miy business. thank you." he lung Qine with me. Bring Mordan.|dldnt mean murder, bless ‘em. S0 clow it barbaric fleunces in a maze Reggie stwod up. “How civil ¥ou eartily, uce . G . | Regg! W you. 0 ; below it barbaric flew S0 deep as a well, nor so wide a8 a|are!™ he said. g ‘Am 1 de trop, as the French say?’'|—frs. the stab in the throat, then | said. “I gay, doctor—it is growing. |} $0 genial.” they chose to drug her. There was of color, She began to sing in &|church door”; it was a small wound to You make yourself very busy, sald Supt. Bell. “No? Thought it|the minor wounds, then the bruise |isn't it?" We do have to take these little|{morphia in that coffec. As you heard voice wildly unfit for the strange :e“m;-:::kmgkunfll :l": "t:.u‘n'.d 'th don't yo1?' The inspector glared. might be a council of war.” on the ;:mudlder.‘ A:‘ lv.‘vlhh:h last In- | “Oh, yes as if it was forced,” Reg- flllnlg&’ % ppnn\:;\l)'." the superin- :\n:il‘!h-” 'rxé{?:: ‘Iflg t :n{nlk ‘|{r-,~ k &l e r velin. | g v o B i J i spector Mordan foun m. s ] tendent murmured. 0 2 . So May . creature she looked—a ismall, sweet | B2 TATE JICK 10 ST he ‘hodkin and | Ot YOU tnterfere with me. May | “Oh, is it war?" Reggle said, pecto! gie smiled. TIUERA. L imering | Hon et st il e e voice—and what ‘she sang was &the scissors. He noticed that Mrs. 10 the large inspector, Reg- | Storming at her. Birdie raged off t. * simple ditty about her true love for- | Betts had gone out. gie and the little Jew, packed them- | her room. Whether she got out that gaking her. And phen she went mad.| There were other wounds. In half a elves into a t b and drove into|will and tore it, we'll never know. 1t There was a shrieking chorus—can |dozen places the pallid shoulders and |town. Reggie was full of clegan: have been Flora's little game., Nas T agine @ steam whistle playing |breast had bled. No one of these gashes onversation. He grew i ad told | titch came_in, reckoning she ot you imagine & St ance of welrd, wild | was serlous. They were just such as T haut iris, with uppendices|to be sound, and Flors wan with him ragtime?—and a dance O K vas con- |might be expected of those unhandy on the coktumes in’ revue think. Birdie was very wide awak Vehemence. [Tho.; ¢ ‘once, the long | Weapons. scissors and bodkin. It was apt. Bell tried to turn | There was a struggle and he stabbed terted a ‘l('!'!‘h oy "5: Atabbed. She |that neat, lucky stroke at the throat subjcets. Vainiy. | her. s a hot-tempered devil, us white arms whirled and SHURCCL 0o which determined the fate of Birdie Bol- | « Mordan broke aw today.” : seemed to be a dozen WORIoR TEY LD | ton. The minor wounds suggested & or, what's the whe is is all very pretty, doctor, 1 and each of them a prodigy of force | yiryggle with some one in a passion, and Jut the coffee 1t ain’t all evidence,” Mordan said It was not a pretty dance, but that Miss Bolton had struggled Reggie “The inspector touches the spot gl meaning. found from other evidence. The black {Care not. all will he known ere long il Birdie sank down panting on Ner|.vening dress had been dragged from | v oa o litt from .Ym'-m: s0 hasty. When she was eragy rainbow flounces and nodded at | gne shoulder and torn, and there on that Himala — Regxle returned v dead ‘they..took K thee yudiences which thundered at her.|right shoulder were the blue marks of a enthusiasism to horticulture. Houll ¥ 400 er into the Dr. Reginald Fortune shut up “'flhmd that had gripped. Reggle's exam- “Where are vou taking us, doctor?" | Poudoir where the Weston girl was opera glasses. “She’s a bit of aljatn ionbamece more minute. said the superintendent. The taxi,|asleep. They laid her on the couch e er you know.” he said to the| Two men bustied in._ A hand tapped which had some little time ¥ nd stabbed at her with her scis naval lieutenant who was his com- Rlenle:s shoulder. * r, sir, if you running through the v-vl \mm! toland the Lodiin thv‘ lrt’fhl(igl-;"; 2 please.” oming out on the other side )y (5 FOGF 3 K i panion. % leutenant | Reggle stood up and Gonfropted a i1y promising no xood dinner. { ShE What May Weston saw in the el A . -hnl:d'ron:h:z Nne. revie vompous, portly little man. he &polie, it turned Into Liverpool | 0hI4M dream. Then | atiteh, won agreed. a “I am “Dr. Fortune,” Reggle said. station 5 < ats, stitch went was merely frocks and the apsence ©f | Misa ‘Bolton was a patient of mine." street, by Georger” the |§ff Flora annexed the cmerald ring frocks they W ot o O N Was Sunday, | “Was” said the little man, with em. “This 18 a_bean-feast. | Her perauisite, 1 suppose. Now Tn the morning. which Was Mo i Iphasis. ' “She fs a case for an expert o take us to Epping Forest,|Shall have vour evidence. Whe Birdie Rolton came to see D I - . Dr. Fortune.” i docto 0 o the body 1 saw thos nald Fdrture. 1t wasoher TEURTC] " “That's why 1 was examining her.’” e may haye to go farther.”” Reg- | SCISSors never did the business. e able creed that she could R0L (VO o Isaid Reggie, sweetly. gie said, and Gordon laughed killing anybody with secissors a noice. and so for xears s { sub-|_“The little man laughed. “A general “Are wou in this, sir?’ The in- retor Poor game. N W owned a house in the still rura 1o | practitioner is not much use to her ctor turned on him. something like this." H. urh of Westhampton where ReEEIeinow ~Rather beyond you, isn't it? “Profes . ‘dear boy. 1 the knife affectionately Nhd his father. nractised. The elderi “uwell TI've not made up my min Regg 2 way 1o the sta like this. Also somebody had I Fortuns at first looked after her. | Reggie said. aining room. “I don’t know the cook his mark on Birdie—a querr D R hen "Rergic came on the scene | “Don't worry. Don't worry." He Tet's hope for the best. A tirin' |hand—a hand that wasn't quite all Afiss Roltor Ascl~rine with he~ wenal | waved Reggie off, but Reggie did not trength is {there—long fingers with no top joint frankness that rhe liked her foctors (go. “You'll only be in our way, you zth without som- ! ’id you notice Mr. Nastitch's left e arned herself over to him. {know. We'll let you know If we want almon, 1 sce. Lamb ch han? ¥ J R you at the inquest. Just for formal evi- id. One of your youn The detectives looked at each other. * % dence.” Still Reggie did not move. “I would comfort me. Do “Tha s in a burglary in New Y daviight Miss Bolton dressed.|am the divisional surgeon, sir.” said the after Burgy inspector said the superintendent. “He B C dressed, the part of [little man, loudly. D Tt a8 Sou vay. Jaross isajeacaned Out of . windew Sud o and even over < cas| 1 was wondering' who you were." ret. Let us all be genial” |constable smashed his hand on the a brisk British spinster. ‘Sho ks Reggle murmured. = d. we'll you're a bit supercilious.” | sill” Nice _made and severely tweedy. e little man swing round. We'l irepector complained. T photographe 2 4 Nerydatlonmape. han ever. But | have the room cleared, inspecior,” he O eds T s eei: | thies brtnE Ly, (8 Woling. £ug and thus locked leaner - | seid- s 1l the glory for you. Glory on|Weston 1 saw "had really been her eyes retained a gleam of devil-| "The getective inspector, who looked cady for Inspector Mordan. | drugged. Contracted pupils. bluis) nt? . more like & policeman {han seemed So ox while von may. ipallor. Morphia. Same symptom n i possible, strode eavily 'orward. Talking of T think of { Ford Wh ould y 3 ye “You gave us a great show last)Brch F€ [ %ot meaning to give the hybrid Austris He ex-|sclves and’ not ”,[3,1“::‘ e them: night.” Reggie said. e trouble, doctor.” he frowned. “Or I'll Dlained what he thought of them tolruled them weat. - Alko, 1o corpmiss SWere you in front?" said Miss Bol- | have to take steps.” A slent audience, stding gracefully | Flora in Birdie's bedroom deine ton, and made a face. “Oh Lord! ‘Fanc: Reggie said. “Well, look into an appreciation of salmon €A1eSisomething by the hed J"{\,) oing Sorry. 1 was rotten’ where you're going. He walked at Waterford, at Exeter, and at Ber- |y oweed round afterward 1 ';'“ I ‘Reggle understood that his prefes-|across to the window and looked out wick. Few are the men who will leonatits ey . ound sional interest was required. at the roses. KAl about food. The detectives bloodstain under a clean ru %What's the trouble? he said, “Clear out, please.” The inspector vroduced much valuable experience of e Y e Eetony chenfaily tellowed ¥ im. bourgeols cookery, and the dinner | JAT STRCRAd Amd the dewels' L That's your show,” said Miss Bol-| “Zeal, all seal” Reggie murmured, went merrily. In fts later stages] een Missed she chucked the rin ton. “Put me through it and went. TR e L 1l eeie became Mlient and wuished the {50, WEsoWE room. WEHle Yo The. conversation then became con-! There were two doors to the room. | yogion 1 shall charge you with the “What do you mean?’ The inspec-;clock. ~He rd to grudge Inspec- i, 0" e She: Douse X Anifted fldencial and dull upon the usual He did not use that by which they| ., ger of yeur mistress, Birdie Bol- tor flushed Tor Htordan his 'cheese. and as medicine bottlen about. One of vem e A medical evamination. At|had come, but the other. He hap-|{rae PY %0 fat hed now ™ D et vyoulrs so witly: Mordah) swallowed made e: (| MEiing hottles wbour. OnE of e e o I ow. wé don't get |pened to ‘know that it opened into | %y ¢} MR T 1 he Tost of his part said The vapetititendent: “dactor, did think we should { fMPLS. - Th jed & strong to anything.” Reggie sald. “This Is|Birdie Bolton's bedroom. ! —anything vou say may be nused in ‘And that's that,” Reggie yawned. {have had some coffce.” the inspector ICn S s :.)»’;:“'(, .\nhr set my alt ‘quite good and normal. What's| | There was some one 10 e pelToom | avidence agninst vou. Miss Weston. :You don't really fant me any more chuckled. e i aa for Flofa. Aud making you anxious?” 5 3 So_youw’ll say nothing, please.” Good-bye. Oh. inspector—I don't SGAEIDES ol NavIls TN YoM S Miew Bolton, “Why | the screen by the bed. It belonged | Q% pidior grew red and puifed, want you to be disappointed. The | 11 Reggie was already making for |1 yzing pof Nastteh, Shes been do I have dreams? I never dreamed |02 smart ladys maid. and advanced upon Reggle. ore, murder wasn't done in that room Rz sonnd g since. ell? d h 3 Dear me. 1 thought this was the T ot of thix Youre Where you. found the body. Good- the door. By the door stoed his! ell. sir, it's a good thing you in_mv life till now. 5 asmare” Risale stid. you—you clear this. i A .ldidn't take to crime.” sald Supt . & — bye e looking for him. Reggle suy L et A A s Miss Bolton's bedroom—poor | S°S{rUSHInE OIS 0o grawled == Y asnit, Home——s) | The inspector|c anor JooKInE %) . h. any oid sort. Bally rot. One |iies Bolton.” The maid had & sight | uyeh "\ PoTnt necessary, answay.” ! stared after him. “Good Lord, he's "ol'knnml| ‘{m;;au ;‘!:! l“h“"’l 1 ‘ufl SOhy that's much harder” said e ¢ 5 i es and ollowed he chauffer o erie night it was a motor-bus chlvying me on the stage. Onme night May"—May Weston was her companfon—"May would keep parrots in the bathroom. Then 1 hear a noise and wake up and_there isn't any noise.” . * “Do you have this every nighf Snakes! Not much. ' Now"’and again. But I say, doc. it's ot fair. T7don't drink apd T fle} diur. But T1 be seeing WK, YK SE" this, goes Pk anything’ wofr¥ing you Was it possible that Miss Bolton blushed? Reggie could not be su: “You're a bright boy, doc. ,Be goal She shook hands and gripped Tike a man. The big emerald she always wore ground into his fingers. “Birdie, the strong girl. Bye-bye” she laughed. 5 On the next morning Reggie was Just out of his bath when he was told that Miss Bolton's housékeeper had rung up. Miss Bolton had had an accident and would he go at once. “Tell Sam.” said Reggie, and jumped into his trousers. Samuel Baker, a Young taxi-driver whose ‘omniscient impudence had persuaded “Reggie to * enlist him as chauffeur and factotum, had the car round and some sand- wiches inside it by the time Reggle was downst Neither he nor Reggie lost time. 3 Normanhurst, Miss Bolton's house, stands by itself in an acre or so of garden, and is In the mid-Victorian or amorphous style. As Reggle jumped out of the car the house- keeper opened the door. She was a brisk, buxom woman; she looked, and verhaps was, just what a house- keeper ought to be. “What's wrong. Mrs. Betts?' Reg- gie said. “It's very serious, sir. - Thie wa: please.” She led the way to Birdie Rolton's boudoir, stopped. took a key from her apron pocket. and unlocked the door. “Hallo!" Reggie said. “I'm afraid you're going to have a shock, sir.” ‘said Mrs. Betts, and opened the door for him. Reggie went in. The sunlight flooded Birdie Bolton's face, which wus white: She lay on a sofa. She was in evening dress. There was an open wound In one side of her throat, and from it a red line lay across her bare shoulder, down her arm, to a purple stain on the carpet. Reggie went across the room in - two strides and bent over her. She had been dead for hours. “Who found her, Mrs. Betts?" he upper housemaid, sir. Sh en having hysterics ever sinoe.” Bah! Was the room Jjust Ik No, sir. Miss Weston was asleep in that chair.” “What?" Reggie stared. The mis- tress murdered and the companion placidly asleep by her side—perhaps that would not have startled his calm mind. But he knew May Weston, and had written her off as a dull, simple creature—a cushion of a girl. “Miss Weston was asleep in that chair.” the housekeeper repeated. “T saw her myself. I came in, sir. when Amelia—when the housemaid rereamed. Miss Weston was in even- ing dress, too. She didn't wake at the screaming, elther—just stirred. 1 went ¢o her and shogk her, and ‘Miss Weston,’ I said, ‘whatever's this? 1 said. and she woke up and looked round her, sort of heavy, and she saw Miss Bolton lying there and the blood, and she screamed out, ‘T did it—oh, I did it’ and she looke *at me very queer and she fainte Mrs. Betts stopped and stared at ;Ke“lc. walting for him to express horror. “So what did you do with. her?" said Reggie. Mrs. Betts swallowed. *T had he; curried to her room, Dr. Fortun she said, with dignfty.” “I am told ehe’s come to and been erying. “Well, that's natural, anyway,” muid Reggie. ot Natural, indeed!" Mrs. Betts tossed her head. “And what did you do next, Mrs. Betts?" “1 had nothing toyched, sir. I locked up the room. And T tele- phoned to you and the police.” “l am sure you behaved admirably, Mrs. Betts,” Reggie murmured. ld * % ko DN[RS: BETTS was appéased. “T 'L hardly bear it, sir. Such a swiet, rcod mistress as she was. A perfect Judy with all her Nifle ways, as you 1 now. sir. And that Miss Weston! So “a g-let as she geemed. 1 dom't ng, sir, § felt as it 1 was forelgn agcent. Of coufse, it And vou're her “I can’t do any more there. haps I can here.” her puise. “I'm not {IL" But per- He began to feel mad!" ¥ Ct till swell- and he left the inspector s ‘Better get him to bite vou, Mor- RMANHURST, as you know, is a|gone?" “There's a safe in the bedroom, T JO! I\ “Oh, I'm not in the force.” think.” Reggie said. court, and on the way Supt. Bell used his large expearience in the art of ex- (. n line depar- led them to the righted and published Uy E. P. Dutton & he and the woman and the two de-iipat the Alexandria ang: Baltimore Reggle ' d, of course. Flora, isn't it?" LT e dan.” said the superintendent. i 2L Yes, doctor.” Ab, you have | It [ falr [0, L, 0, 0k e heves Fhat party 4id pot meet again ti)] jture platforms. It was near the time sosn. Miss [Bolton! ' <¥ou:icannot do Miea®May Weston. Pussy-cat is his ] Ve the day of the inquest. Before of the Harwich hoot train. A dark, = I was 80 fond of her,” Flora sighed. | cate. : : te s is .was unusual, and |Sage for Amsterdam. = DHESIV i “Well, T liked her. I suppose youi From her room he went to the te1- 1 [ | Squally S e eberinten. | stood a veiled woman of full figure A IVE postage stamyig show- heard nothing last night?" ephone in the hall. and (:‘le;e md'fi‘l"- b h | dent's experience was a pallor. & cer-|poip he and she carried suit cases. ing that postage had been prepaid & AuAl mo. Bhe nave sent ma'to bea. D eor: stillrather fushed. foumchiany,, ik tain tension, across Reggies®solid, { 300 R SE T i pumpea | WeTe adopted in Great Britain befor n so sound.” ) vl 2 As e b G o # v W e ., 2 Regsie nodded. ~It's a bad business,| “And what might you be doing :‘I’;lazrll{n‘z:w?hf‘u"!lngl;)fl;?:n"sl\,:-‘.“}_ A fomae, Who was looking the |they were uked in the United States Flora. Take me to Miss Weston's | NOW, if you please?’ said the inspec- . i H It seemed to the superintendent that |other waxy, and eemed to hav ‘i’)“‘;" Before Congress authorized thé adop- rcom. wil you?" itor. with constabulary sarcasm. =~ ? H Dr. Fortune hid been making a jdifficul ngiing hims T¢1tion of that postal system, which wa. “Miss Weston! Ah!" Flora said, with| “Oh, I'm talkink to Miss Bolton's 1B | | night of it. { glared je and Bupried away.g T SC Ll FORE e * tragic Intensity. Eis solicitors. Hadn't sou thought of dd e ell. what 18'it?" Reggle snarled.|The woman was ahead of him. 1< ¢ Znglish system,” ther H'm. You think she— { talking to Miss Bolton's solicitors? u “Got anything to tell me?" Reggie grabbed Supt. Bell, hat | were American postuge stamps cal | “I do not think. i feel” Flora! *“Never you mind what I thought “T've been rather disappointed,” the [pair. ~Take them both. Tl | “vostmasters' provisionals.” Thes i said. of. Dom't you use that telephone superintendent said meekly. pocket. Get the bags.” _ . . . lwere stamps printed und et 1 “It's a bad habit. Well—" in. 1 won't have it." PMore fool you. I told you to] Bell and Mordan hurried affed o stamps printed under authority And Flora led the way. She was.a ‘Oh yes you will. Now I'm Roingj watch Ford.” pair. Bell tapped the man’s shoulder jof various city postmasters and af- plump woman of sone age, but still|to talk to Supt. Bel The inspector “That's it, sir. Were you pulling jand he jumped around. ‘N come with|fxed to letters as a certificate that | comely enough in a dark, héavy fash-, was visibly startled. For Supt Bell was my leg?" ' : “1 thought so. Youwll come with| == ° el fon. near the summit of the criminal inves 5 0= Jan it fan, this is serious! {me to the station. my man” said Supt.|the postage had been prepaid. A s tan at a door. “It is the doctor. gation department. “Any objection? THERE WAS SOME ONE IN THE BEDROOM. A STARTLED DARK FACE | y;i0 'Bojton was a patient of mine.|Bell. with admirable calm. o jdeorke Washincion - portrali stam) Miss Weston,” from Flora. A sullen|No? How nice of you. . . ."FHecony PEEPED ROUND THE SCREEN BY THE BED. B O Y e Tout me kill my | <What is itz" the man cried Hislwas iasued in 1545 by the postmasters volce. “You can come in,” and in Reg- ! ferred with the telephone, and at patients!” accent was slightly foraign. ew York city and Millbury, Mas: gle went. | length: “Dr. Fortune. Yes. Oh. isl i “Taking the wrong side, aren't| “Very proper. I'm sure.’ the super-!station? W o you meanz’. s been written that postmasters 15 May Weston was a squalid sight. | that you Bell? So glad. I wish you'd| “Well. you know, you've quarreled | you?' he sneered. intendent agreed. “But we have| “You know all rizhi.tsaid the si- fonals were also jssued by (he Her natural prettiness, the prettiness( come along here, NormanRurst, \veu-l_wnh Inspector Mordan.” The super- ‘Oh, I'm taking all sides. Ever try | watched him, doctor. Nothing doing.” ! perintendent. 1 am Supt. Bell of Scot- { postmasters at Alexandria, V An of fresh vouth, the bloom of pink and | hamptén. One of my patients mur- intendent shook his head at Reggle. " Reggle said. “Set a man to stand on his door- |land Yard.” o s. Baltim. Brattleboto, Vi. e O e e aett Hint and | dered. No, not by me. Quite unusual | *I wouldn't dare. He quarreled with| “Well, have you done, doctor?" the | step, I suppose. What's the good of | ' *1 do not tnow ot all” the maniLockport. N. ¥.'New Haven and all gone from her. She lay a shape-|case. Yes, it is the Birdie Bolton|m little Jew broke in. “Can’t we have | that?” protested.“What do you want With! Providence. ind no doubt by the pos fess” heap on her bed. her evening |case. The inspector in charge is such| “Such a pity.” The superintendent | her covered up” “As_you say." the superintendent|me?" 2 g A of many other cities. It i e s otill %on and all crushed and (o Eood, kind man. Sweet face he has.|smiled and rubbed his hands. “I| “rll have the body removed, sir.|agreed. “We've picked up one thing. | The woman saw Reggle. She hissed aiso £.id that they were probubly ix- e iedl and. awry. her yellow hair|Youwll come right on? So glad* | ought to tell you, doctor, I quite ap- | If the doctor has quite done,” said | though. Just before the murder Pt | somuthing 1o the man in a foreifnsued by the postmaster at Washing- PRIl Gown and touzied, her face of 4| Reggie put down the receiver and|prove of everything that Inspector |the inspector. father turned Rim down for wanting |argot and turned to run. The SUper-fion. A number of years ago this sul- bluish pallor. smiled upon the puzzled inspector.Mordan has done.” eSO Jast the body of Birdie | 0 MArry this girl Weston. 'He hasn't | fntcndent Jaid hold of her. INSpector ject was taken up with Lostmaster T ou want?" She stared at| “That's that” he sald, and went out.| “Splendid force, the police” Mr.|Bolton was taken away to the mor- |& Penny except from his father. That|ordan closed with the ‘man. The Chance. and he wrote: Reggie heavily. Samuel, the chauffeur, put away his|Gordon lisped. “Wonderful force. S0 |tuary, and Mr. Gordon, much re. Mi&ht have made him desperate—him | indector was large and brawny. but} “Dr. William Jones was Bostma ‘Well, this won't do, will {t”" Reg- | picture paper. “I want my camera.” | forcible.” fuary, and Mr. Gonon, .much relland the girl, It does grow, you|ar the end of a moment he was onjof this city from July 18, 184 gle. onfied cheerfully’ and sat down| Reggie 8aid, and Samuel touched his| “Including the arrest of Miss Wes- | turned to his business. the secretaire | KWO%; 40¢t0r0 | his back and the man making off|March 31 1845, and was succec Beaide the bed. “So why are you|hat and drove oft. Reggie sauntered|ton?" Reggle asked. “Well, well. Any |and its papers. He worker quickly |ugalis to the in Reggle grunted | Reggle dived for his legs in the man- by ol Charics K. Gardner., % Iike this™ into the garden. one else you'd like to arrest?* I e o paer, dulckly | «Going to the Inquest? Sorry I can't |nerof Rughy football and they went|served from APril 1. 1845, to June 3. Haven't you heard” she cried. - “Any ons you suggest, doctor?|ters. Wonder whers she Kept her |iri o qey efte Vv T down toRRT police came on thel "YRiiiiive o the issue of postmas ea ;! N = L o | e vay ! “Rela - e and seen.” Reggie said. Now I ask you—what would you Mave | will? o they ‘walked to_the coroners| on¢ T TS handeufted, and | ¢ors' provisionals, you are informed ‘Well, you never know.” He let her wrist go and bent over her. “Sleep rather sound. don’t you ‘Why do you “Oh!" She shuddered. look at me like that?” * % ¥ % EGGIE bent suddenly closer, and as suddenly sat up again. Then he laughed. “Like what, my dear?” She stared at him, and her lip quiv- ered. “You—you! Oh, do you think 1 can be mad?" Reggle shook his head. “Let's be- gin quite at the beginning. Let's preserve absolute calm. You dined with Miss Bolton last night alone? After dinner you went to her bou- dofr? That would be about 97" “Yes, yes. Mr. Ford came just after the coffee.’ “Ah! And who Is Mr. Ford?"” May Weston blushed abundantly. “We—he has been here a good deal” ‘Oh, Dr. Fortune, it isn’t his fault.” “Young or old, rich or poor—what is he?" “Of coutse, he’s young. I suppose he's rich, Hiis father makes engines or somethink in Leeds, nd he is in th%:.on‘;lnn ,loigee.n" i . ._“Sounds solid,” Reggie agreed. “An why does Mr. Ford call at 9 p.m.?" Miss ‘Weston's blushes were renew- ed. “He has been very ofts she said, and wrung her hands. shall have to tell, doctor, shan't 1?7 Yes. He met Miss Bolton once at supper and then he used to come here. “Ah! Good-looking fellow, is he?" “Oh y He is very big and hand- some. ‘And, Miss Bolton liked him. Well, well Reggle understood now why poor Birdle Bolton had been dream- ing dreams of nights. sald May Weston faintly. ‘Oh, a shame! But I must tell She' thought he came to see her ut— “But it was really to see you. Now, let's get back to the coffee.” “He came last night. We were gay. Miss Bolton—oh, poor Birdie! “We can't undo that, my dear. Let's do what we can for her, Did !ho ay late?” s ‘Rather. I don't know. I was sleepy. But Birdie was so gay. And then—and then he went away and Birdie began to talk about him. I don’t know how it happened. She said somthing—and I felt I just had to tell her—I told her he had proposed to me. And then she was furious. Oh, have you ever seen her in one of her rages? She was terrible. She said dreadful things. And I—I felt as if 1 couldn’t do anything at all. I was dazed and faintiand just sat. I . know she hit me.’ “I saw the brulsel Reggle %aid low, spreading house of a com- £ a omsniand Lie { 1 “We do have to be 8o careful” the| “Yqu bet there is. She had all vain, | But ] tectives packel wed in ar post offices issued such stamps, but | icap, that is. .1 wonder why you |had some good stuff, poor old girl. |lowed, as he baffied Supt. Bell. L D They arrived the two prison- | WEIQN, DUCC T gue it is mot lis wanted me, doctor?" I'm frightened of your inspector. He's not chatty. 1 want to photo- graph the bgdy." T THE superintendent turned to Gor- don. “It's a taste, you know, that's what it is.. He likes corpses. Speaking as man to man, doctor, ar Well, come on: here's her keys.” They went into the bedroom, and the little Jew made for the safe. Reggle wandered across the room. It was a parquet floor with Persian rugs on it. He shifted one by the bedside. There was a small dark stain on the floor still not dry. An exclamation from Gordon made him turn. Gordon had the safe open, and the safe, but The court was crowded to its last inch. storles. It is old enough to be quite covered with climbing ‘plants—ivy on the north, roses and a wisteria on the other sided. Bjrdie Bolton's bedroom and boudoir lodked to the south, and were on the ground floor. On the north of the house is the approach from the bigh road, a curling drive it in a long harangue. * % % \d and made it a point of ho terms .so technical that al over the translation. bbery. Birdie Bolton's for some papers in disorder, was : oo Tosked out upon 8 Tomsbed and | you working wich ust” Riat one bally bangle 1 e L s hat the cvening “ _ an, 3| & bix awn. About her windows) “Mag Ip cried” “Not s mpatkie. of the wion | papers called “dramatic ~evidence': Climbed a big Gloire de Dijon. The|. .eppgy & CUmbed o atiS were of the newer hy. | Thats very handsome. Yes. In-joutfit! ~Remember that ruby and|[The housemald who had found The coroner was conscious of his importance and made the most of The divisional ! surgeon was more pompous than ever ! nor to use | 11_his evi-jthe dence had to be translated to the jury, and the coroner and he agreed “What a life, ain’t it?" Mr. Gordon the | “You! body and had hysterics over again ] ers were already in the charge-room { "Ny Uy Uy T Bartels of {and the woman was pProtesting ves{,y(hority on postage stamp ma hemently. to the great edification ofl o agked in regard 1o this stam the uniformed inspector at the 288 {ang he stated that J, N, duffs Han and & plaiu-clothes Arich - 4nd i ook on United States postage stami embarrassment of Supt. Bell and | mentions that there was anannounc {Inspector Mordan. It was an outrage. | JWRITNR AT o spapers in 1845 that | Why did they assault her and her U | ;. washington office would issue + band? Why? They were respectable 150, 1l ne Srovisional stamp, but She would not endure it. O ok & ktasiy, has Réggie shook | 1. %o notice, and that grave doubt jexists that such a stamp was issued . Flora, Flora!” his head at her. The woman whirled round on him. Ah, it is you, then, the doctor. You are a wicked And she! You are a traitor. Medicinal Plants. brid teas, well cultivated, well chosen, | Spector Mordan, he has a kind of ajdiamond breastplate! Remember her s t ho | villain. 1 spit upon you. 1 and at thelr best—a fragrant pomp!manner, as you might say. I'll speak Fearial And the stuff that Indian B e Ao e oeing be | did. The man sald someihing (o her | [YEADLY nightshade foxglove and Sf red and goid, “How ‘she loved (o nim. 1o there anything yowd lke|bedy's hid 3 haul~ A'spasrs orsteed | S0 b aked ery and heard her|in g SR WL Wlmeciven | weonite e (S Fmine o marh 2 feel 8e sing- | to tell me, doctor?” his face. “I say, doctor, yo say: * ol it H g 3 medicine which are becoming so hard began to feel sentimental. That stmg | t° fel] W3, JO02"0ren't they?" Reg-|here when I opencd tho sater . |, -Sensaton in Court H e e cross- jand e A S oihes man came for-iind costly to gather In their wiid o s IrTHC went back | gle nodded to the rosebed under{ “I was here” Reggle said stolidly, head for that. The coroner looked over{ "0 Rt SWhy, Bunco! It :sj_ X % AT tound of x motor, car, H ment back | @10 0o %c on's Window. Tt was|T waamt surprined The llitie sew | s, Hersen 38, tne S 88, RGCH | ma"Geir ola By, Bumcor What e |14, TR O B PG F e o A big car was drawing up. It con- | mirutely neat. ; . ou remember that em- box. ' With the manner of | they got you for mnow, old thing?|to eir © A ! o tained two heople—a/ goggled chauf- | “Look as If they'd been brought up erald she always wore? It wasn't on | Comiiin at su execution the coroner | The man scowled. Bisty 2ha brutsca | ncinadonna s made from nightsha feur and a large young man whoD¥¢he lecked at Reggle, not the roses wald Gordon, .and .wity | Warned herithat she need not give an- | from the scuffie atd 16, the REUMEY | Nightshade is still quite common I e Stovved. e had i 4 | unsteady hands turned over the pa- | o A Kol i her o e enity, He was well made |the woods of the south and the mid- “Anything queer, sir?” o “There's that,” Reggie said. He pointed tp a spray of the Glorie de Dijon beside the window. It bore a want to tell you everything," she said the car stopped. He had the good looks of a hero of musical comedy, but an expression rather sheepish than fatuous, and a pallid complexion. persr. “That's her scrip. More or less “all there, I should say. Where's the will? I know she had her will. Drew it myself. less of manner, but quite calm. Tk %k %k % She was very pale in her black, and list- | rogant forall his slightness, and the strength ! which had’ upset Mordan showed in . his poise. It was a dark. aquiline face with a good brow, but passion- dle Atlantic states, but for all that, some men are cultivating it. ariy 000 years ago Pliny knew that bella onna if applied in the eye use I think you are Mr. Ford.” Reggie|bud; it had been broken, and thejlt ] . i came clue{o him. “Iam Dr. ponffn'& bud was limp and dead. .| “Whats that?" Reggie said. W}u'r she told was the queer story ate and cruel. % . . ldilation of the pupil. and if old Mat- Mise Bolton wass atientof miteh sl | aia h '"n;lt throake': last/ night, * k% % she had told Reggie, but she was "“'*gl“l! the charge, doctor?” said| thiclus is to be m:{“fi'd xlm- drug came 5 |said the superintendent. 3 e gt clus i to be trusted the drug caun B oot wont on e ey e | *No. Taete whats interesting,”| THE one untldy thing in that very|not allowed to tell it her own way. The F5h. On the seventh instant—mur- || iatian for -beautiful laay,” from Ford recolled, .for Reggle's face was |sald Reggle, and tulrne";‘-::iv. - tidy room, a paper lay by the fire- | coroner badgered her with continual|der of wllhem;ina.fl olhlt-r;\'he girdle the fact that in the u\‘-nlc:nfl‘l. okn- very close to his. > | "At the door and in ve there|place. Gordon picked it up, * ot ot anakcs thie L der o e arawied, | “Betser | e Tt Rt aa by ladics in Venio Y. was ‘some . congested traffic. Mr. p. ‘Here | questions design o make queer- B e w :m iwas. useq bF adict Ih e osll B “Did she, though!” Reggle ness of it Seem queerer. we are! Yes, ‘May Grace Weston, my Miss Wes- | Ford's big car still waited. Reggie’ He made her “It is a lie!” Flora screamed; and |“eye work,’ which is one of the parts The plant, nightshade. ' mured. * Did she really?” . . fon ‘had_forgotten to tell him na.‘; humbler car had come back with his|companfon. That's the document.|nervous, confused her, frightened her.|continued to scream. of “vamping.” Treie TS P'"v'vy cjgl : =, g.m:r;. l;fl:e tknl;o'tn::- g&gflflflg Crumpled up and torn!” He whistled. | “You bother me so that I don’t know : R.-g?: and unrdhon v‘;olrle un:‘rlm;('inx is lparliu‘lul{: 2:::;;-;-::; 7‘0 TS P “"Well, Flora telephoned for her.' She | Supt. Bell took u . il i n another room when Bell,a ol qulc et e i oL Flors telephoned £or Ler<one | ver, anather taxi was trying to get|“As If Birdle was destroying it and it 1mm:°‘““ the truth of mot.” she I AN e O With the results of | ruised from seed. lts berrics are green- and Miss Weston wanted me. I gay,|to the steps. then—Dbifr! quaversd. the mearch. A suit case was put on |ish-waxy, and about the size of peas; doctor, what has happened?” “Who's this, superintendent?" “Just as it she'd been destroying| Then. in the language of the news- | the table, opened, and secemed to be | As they ripen they. tugn blue-black snt “Jolly kind of Flora,” Reggle dare say It1l be for Miss Wes-{, . o o . | papers, “another sensation.” Mr. Ford. | fu]l of light, a mass of jewels. fometimes nave been taken “Well, Mr. Ford, Miss Bolton has ton, dbboriie large and zed, started up and roared | ““Can you identify, “gentlemen?" |for larke BUCKEDSTCL o wid plant murdered. Y 5 “Taking ler to Holloway at once?| “That puts the 1id on, don't it?"|ought to be there, sir. Let her alone. | Mordan said. Foxglove, a m:lh:r e glant. “My God!" sald Mr. Ford, and - well, well. 1 dare say it's all for the | .14 tho little Jew, “Miss Weston— |1 QUEht tO be there Gapt Bell Jaid on the table a sheath | is another! of the herbs which 10 came livid. 1% | best.” Jor. there's & soft kid if Reggie put his head between his hands | pife, ~ An unusual knife, rather long, | demand. 1t 1% from f0 PECe Foron “And Miss Weston has Been cha: ‘But Miss Weston was not to go|oh, lor, there's a you ever |and bowed himself, groaning. ! narrow, rather stiff. “I'll identify | tulis is obtained. RO G Teor the with the murde: B | hout & noise. Mr, Ford saw to|had one. Just shows you you never| IEVery ope else was much excited by, Heggic said, and took it up,|that some men hove EonG 1 (O ton “Oh, my God!” Mr. Ford said That "Ac" the head of the stairs he [, oo " T iy dootor. Girls, girls, | M5, FOR, He was pulled down in his the thing that Killed he cultivation of this plant, and the opin on “Oh, damn!” and put his hand t conducted an altercation with In- A 1 o », m(.l ‘The coroner rebuked him with » gaid Mr. Gordon. “You've|has been e l“m e e s e aatnid +On, dsmn:” and put his hand to Bs | conducted, A =!in which deflance, |irls! Well, we'd better ‘tell these |awful majesty. The foreman of thelgor a real head. doctor. This is slove may not hive wh plsnt “I don’t mind,” said Reggie, and' “i abuse and profane swearing were his | bally policemen.” . e A sl s e B 2% | Birdie's bunch all right. Swear to A B farming has been carried on to Ford ‘zl‘llnnd into the house, 5 |cntet argumenta. e was s p:edl:n!g So Inspector Mordan, vastly to his| iae esurt mould most cectainly require those tubles anywhere” a certain extent in Burope. Oil of rel 8 s an was 5 0'8 nan? . ile is AT TOm & nt bhe- e remained on the steps walk- | stu) satisfaction was told, and Supt. Bell, | Mr. Ford to explain himsel{—and came o e e i iy, | chamomile fo-yreparell Spu 8 Dlnt 10 Supt. loved by the ing for fresh “arrival: ‘The d | to arrest Miss Weston, and it was I o e e e e | e beattly impudence_ and damned | appearing from nowhere, heard, and | PSS ‘oY WStOR- o joo (e |“He asks me that” 'He appealed to | nthemis nobilis. Iis name “chamo- way, descended, and behind s la stupid, and so forth. In the midst|.greed ‘to search the house for the | rick, though,” Regele muttered to Mr. | (he CoMPARY, Lopat a6 o yon, e now generally, Rpelled “oame. tinus Jit a cigarette. Reggle, of which’ the wutchzdl gt - was | . len jewels. “You gentlemen come | Gordon, and Gordon nodded and grinned. ;!.;l:: r{\: 3 ':‘ s R e hie v s csmpo];nd:fl nlr ke re;k \u‘)‘ o never smoked them, sniffed b | shepherded by two detectives down- | 0 He cociked 8n eye at|For afier the Interruption the coroner olton’ 5 3 for ‘‘earth” an r:’l‘)v e.d ‘(, e, i it proval and began to fill a pipe. - ¥ |stairs. Regg! handled May Weston much more gently, | ™A% -0 pora's chauffeur. I told creeping on the earth and having o A taxi-cab drove up and out of-fit ¥ God, you might as well arrest | REEESe. 0 0 under observa- almost indulgently, as a good man sorry , he’ ot Y odor which many persons 0: A- s bounced a plump liitle man whose ¢pat met” Mr. Ford eried, in fnal des: |\ oy " nogyis grinmed back. for & woman's weaknesa. And he was | YoU 10 (RSO i R Youve | (e "TRETCL Cof haramile 18 & very 00! as e wore stays. i '<. | peration. ok : soon done Wi er. - ca “I am Dr. Fortune,” Reggie saldZ | “Perhaps I will" "l;id the inspector “;W':“M’t": ,;:’.'g":,“" WHALS W "Auyiqneluonu:"! He looked at the ?“"::!"“‘; “.:“"l:;l‘;““;';‘f- ’é’.‘.‘.L‘.‘ifi.'.'; fi:r:'v'n:n“w,f&t y':ufi"‘;:ul‘“m:’:‘;’; ‘And I'm Donald Gordan, d heavily, and glowered at him. . nd.” s8id the (nspector. | 1 right» |liwers Reggie bent forward and whis- | [ was up all last wiehe, Cuaufencknow 45 NI RO el sun- said the little man, who was em; Mr. Ford paled and drew back. s21d Reggle. pecedse pered 19 the solicitor appearing for Miss is he?’ ply of this plant from Belgian chamo- s 5 =, 0! e 2 i T the name’ar ulu.nnmu' 4 .;&';.&“.fim":.'."'-%‘d." Emnd'. But he showed liitle intersst In the fhat iarge, bland man stood up. “Now.| “We call him Buneo in the force” [mile farms for veark, and before Por . deay Rivgd + P don'..” she said. “They can't burt,search, mopning after their men in | Miss Weston. about that coffee:” He !said the ru perintendant moekly, “He's | great war there weri ficlds devoted “ors. know. »eer, dear Birdie. She was a'me. You know they can't.” i ) ““{ana Io\lt of servants’ bedrooms and |had his reward. Every one in the court = dswel thief. Cuite in the fromt cflth:c cullivation Of it 10 Saumcy. nes