Evening Star Newspaper, October 16, 1921, Page 74

ra < EGINALD FORTUNE, just ar- rived from Boulogne, came Into Charing Cross some seven hours late, and it had no taxi. You imagine him, balanced by two suit cases, wading through deep snow from the tube station at Oxford Circus to ‘Wimpele street, and subsiding, Ump but still fluent, into the arms of Sam, his factotum. 1t was about this time, in his judg- ment 11 p.m. on April 15, that a man fell from the top story of Montmo- rency House, the hugest and newest of the new blocks of flats thereabouts. Tle fell down the well which lights the Inner rooms, made something of & thud as his body passéd through the cushlon of snow and hit the concrete below. TIn the howl of the wind and the rattle of windows it would have been extraordinary if any one had heard him. And the snow went on falling. Mr. Fortune was still telling Sam his troubles when the Hon. Stanley Lomas came down stairs. “I did rather want to see you,” Lomas explained. “Lomas, old dear!” Reggie turned and looked him over. “Yes. you have been going it. You ought to get et I dare say I shall. That is one of things I'm going to ask you— t you think out resignation.” h. Peter! As bad as that?” Reg- gie whistled. “There’'s been nothing in the papers” - ‘Only innuendos. Damme, you can't get away from it in the clubs!™ They had it out over dinner. Some months before a new gov- ernment had been formed. and the first outward sign of its Inward and spiritual grace was the great coal ramp. Some folks in the city began to buy the shares of certain coal com- panies. Some folks in the city began to spread rumors that the government was going to nationalize mines, dis- trict by district—those districts first in which the shares had been bought. The shares then went to a vast price. “All the usual nauseating features of a stock exchange boom sald Reggie. 0. This is founded on fact,” sald Lomas. “Whoever started the game had exact and precise information. Somebody of the inner circle gave the plan away. The scheme hadn't come Lefore the cabinet. And nobody knew which the particular companies were but the president of the board of trade and his private secretary.” i "'rhe president—that's Horace Kim- Al “Yes. No politics about him. He's the rubber king. you know. He was brought in on the business men for a business cabinet cry. But I must say 1 have nothing against Kimball. He really is quite an able fellow, and he's mad to catch the fellow who scheme away.” “If only Kimball and his private secretary knew, either Kimball or the private secretary gave it away. My dear Fortune, that is the hope- sort of jingle T say in my sleep. elieve Kimball's honest. As keen as they make 'em, but absolutely straight. He Is ridiculously rich. He must have gone into politics for nower and position and so on. And +hen at the start his career is mucked by a financial scandal. You can’t sup- pose he had a hand in it “Remains__the private cretary. Don’t Mr. Kimball like his private secretary? On, yes. Kimball thinks very well of him—sajd he had the highest opin- ion_of Sandford. and so on. “Very good and proper. and even intelligent. My respects to H. Kim- hall. What evidence have vou, Lo- mas. old thing? “None, only that one of Sandford's friends is a voung fellow called Walkden, and he's in one of the firms which have been_running the stock exchange boom ‘e have nothing to act on. and tl e all cursing me because we haven't!”™ “Meaning Kimball?” “Kimbgll! Kimbail's calling twice a day to know how the case is going on, please. But the whole govern- ment's on it now. Minutés from the home secretary—bitter ~meéms, from the prime minister. They want a =canegoat, of course. Governments do.” “Find us some one to hang, or we'll hang yo told 1 you T was thinking of re- aigning.” “Because they want to bully you into makipg a case against the pri- vate secretary—and you have a con- sclence ™ T'd convict him to- T don't like the fel- “Tt isn't much in my way murmured. “The civil service frightens me. But vou Intrigue me. Lomas. yon da indesd. T would know more of | 1. Kimball and Secretary Sandford. Thev worry me.” worry me.” said Lo- They are ton good to be true. T wonder if there's any other nigger in the woodnile *Well. T can't find him. “Hope on. hone ever. And don't ra- =ign for all the politicians outsida hell. 1t may be they want to get rid of you. T'll come and see you tomor- Tow: “f wish you would,” said TLom: Comforted by wine and svmpathy, T.omas was sent away to trudge home through foot of snow. And the snéw went on falling. . DI T“ gnow lingered; in every street . great mounds lay unmelted. Reg- wle vered as he got out of his car in Sewttand Yard. and he scurried up- atal #rd ‘put himself as close as he could Lomas* fire. “I'm walting for yow,” said Lomas quietly. *“There’s a new faci. Three thousand pounds has been paid into Sandford's account. Tt was handed in over the counter in notes of small amounts yesterday morning. Cashier fanejes it was pald In by a stoutish man in glasses—couldn’t undertake to identify.” . “It's & wicked world, Lomas. That wouldn't matter so much if it was mensible. Who is ndford, what is that such queer things happen round him?" T don't know so much about queer, sir,”” said Supt. Bell. “I suppose this three thousand is his share of the Bwag. “That's what we're meant to sup- pose,” Reggle agreed. “That's what I resent.” “He must know his account would ‘be watched. That's the point I took,” sald Lomas wearlly. “Well, sir, as I was saying, it's the usual sort of thing.” Supt. 1l pro- tested. ‘“When a city gang has bought & fellow in a good position and got all they can out of him, it often happens they'd rather break him than not. Envy, that's what it is.” “Well, well! Who s Sandford— what_is he, that all the world don't love him?" Reggie asked. “Who was his papa? What was his school?” ‘He didn't have a school. He didn‘t have a father,” sald Lom: “First he knows he was living with his wid- owed mother, an only child, in a little village In North Wales-Llan some- thing. He went to the local gram- mar school. He was a kind of grlle He got a scholarship at Pem- Oxford. Then Mrs. Sandford died, leaving him about a pound a eek. He got firsts at Oxford and came {nto the home civil pretty high. He's done well in his department and they can’t stand him “Good brain, no geniality,” said the service. The only odd thing about Sandford is that he don't seem to have any origin. Mrs. Sandford had no ginning either. She wasn't native to Tlanfairfechan—that's the place. She came there when Sandford was a small kid. Nobody there knows where from. He says she left no papers of any sort. She had an annuity, and the fifty pounds a year she left him was in consols. And she died ten yours ago.” “O Lerd, no! Nobody ever heard of him out of his department, and there they all hate him. But he's th t of fellow you can't keep down.' “Poor devil,” Reggle murmured o b theti “You won't e so sympathelic when you've met him,” Lomas said. A 3lip of paper was prasented to him. “Hallow! “Here's Kimball. I thought he was leaving me alone too long. Well, we've got something for him to- a; r. Kimball looked a heavy fellow, with the bulk of his head and neck sypported on a sturdy frame. But people discovered a vivacity of move- ment and a keenness of expression which made them uncomfortable. Yet he had a bluff, genial manner, and his cruelest critics were always those who had not met him. For the rest, he aimed at a beautiful neatness in his clothes, and succeeded. He rushed in. “Well, Lomas, any- thing new?” And he flung himself a a chalr. ing it with Kimball nodded his heavy head at R ‘What do you make of wonder you find it harass- 1d. I've lost mor: He became aw! studying him. ‘Docts aren’t you' he laughed ruefully. “I'm not a case, know.’ apologize for the professional in- stinct,” Reggle said. ut you ought the matter with me. Do y: I've been in business thirty years and I've never had one of my own people break faith with me. That's what irri- tes me. It's maddening!” ‘Whom do you suspect?” said Reg- gle. Kimball flung himself about. amn it, man, I can't guspect any one. But he thing's done.” As 1 understand, the only people who knew the scheme were yourself and S fory our secretary?”’ Id oon suspect myself as Sand- fo esterday three thousand pounds in notes was paid by somebody, who didn’t Fd‘. name, into Sandford's unt, m; ireat God!” said Kimball, and rolled back in his chair, breathing vily. “Have you got any brandy, Lo- mas?* Reggle reached out and began to_feel Kimball's p “Don’t do _that d Kimball, sharply, and dragged his hand away. Good Lord, man, I'm not ill! No, thanks, Lomas, nothing, nothing. I never tough spirits. I'll be all right in a _moment. But it does ratl knock me over to find I've got to be- lieve it was Sandford.” He struggled out of his chair, walked to the win: dow and flung it up and dabbed at his forehead. Ha stood there a moment in the raw air, took a pinch of snuff, and turned on them _vigorously. “There's no doubt about this eyidence, eh? We can't get away from it? “I'm afraild we st ask Sandford d Lomas. ever did ost unpl in my life,”” Kimball said. *Still, he may have a perfectly good explana- tion. T've always found him quite straight—and very efficient, too. Send for him, then: say I'll be glad to see him here. They passed an awkward five minutes till Sandford came. * X kX HE looked a good young man. He was rather small, he was very lean, he wore eyeglasses. Everything about him was correct and restrained. He made graded salutations to Kim- ball, his chief, and to Lomas. He looked at Reggle and Supt. Bell as though he expected them to retreat from his presence. And he turned upon Kimball a glance that bade him lose no time. Kimball seemed to find some diffi- culty in beginning. I don’t know If you guess why I sent for you,” he broke out. “I infer that it 1s on this matter of the gamble in coal shares, 1d Sandford, precisely. “Yes. There’'s something I want you to explain. It's been brought to my knowl that yesterday three thousands pounds in notes was paid into your account. Where did it come from?” Sandford took off his eyeglasses and cleaned them. and put them on again. “I have no information,” he said in the most correct official man- ner. I find it dificult to believe that you have been correctly informed.” “There’s no doubt of the fact, Mr. Sandford.” said Lomas gloomily. “Indeed! Then I have only to say that no one has any authority to make payments into my account. As you have gone into the affair so carefully, T suppose you have found out who did. “He didn’t give hia name, Can you tell us who he was? “T repeat, sir. I know nothing about the transaction.” “And that's all you say?" “I need hardly add that I shall not accept the money.” “You know the matte: 't end ther Kimball cried. 'ome, man, you're mnot doing yourself justice. Nothing could be worse for you than this tone, can’t you see that?” “I beg your pardon, sir. T do not see what you wish me to say. You spoke of making a charge. Will you be so good to state it?” “If you must have it! This boom ‘was begun on information which only you had beside myself. And imme- diately after the boom this large sum is paid secretly into your account. You must see what everybody will say—that you sold the plan, and this money is your price.” “I say sgain, sir, I know nothing of the matte I should hope that what scandal may say will have no influence upon y one who knows my character and my career.” “Good God, man, we're dealing with ‘Where did that three thousand pounds come from? “I have no information. I have no idea.’ Kimball started up. “You make It impossible to do anything for you. T have given you every chance, re- member that—every chance. It's be- yond me now. I don't know whether ' { fon wfll save you from I'll do what I d better not go back to “I deny every imputation” said Sandford. “Good morning. 2 Half apologetically, Kim! to the others. “I suppose w. e with it now. The fel- Poor devil!” y he touches my heart,” Kimball laughed without mirth. “He (‘lltl". help himself,” he said, and went out. “That Mr. Sandford, he {8 what you might call superior person,” Bell chuckled. “Funny how they brazen it out, that kind." “Yes, I don’t ‘was most impressive. Well, Fortune, there's not much here for you, I'm afraid. Reggle had gone to the window and er “T 8 the something. anywa: The porter of Montmorency House. awakening next morning. di red that even in the well of his flats the snow was melting fast. After break- fast he =maw some clothes emerg- ing from the slush. He splashed out into the slush and found a corpse. After lunch Resgie Fortune, drows- ing, was roused by the telephone. which. speaking with the voice of Supt. Bell. urged him to come at once to the mortuary. At the door of the mortuary Supt. ppeared as his car stopped. ou can tell me who theé fellow be obliged.” he said. “But what T want to know first is, what was the cause of death? He led the way into the room where the dead man lay. He pulled back the sheet which covered the body. “Well, well!” said Reggle Fortune. For the desd man’s face was not there. ou'll excuse m The superin- tendent made for the door. Reggle did not look around. “Send Sam in with my things. e A Tt was a long time afterward when he came out. Supt. Bell threw away his cirarett: “Ghastly, isn't {t?" he said, with sym. SUNDAY. STAR, WASHINGTON, D. “We haven't worked on anything, stoves, I suppose,” sald Bell. sald Bell gloomily. L everything in his car that would open and told the chauffeur to drive round “Come on, Bell. if you ask me, “We'll get on, If you “Because Ran don’t follow that Rand's the corpse. It might have come out of some Regent's Park. rain won't hurt you “I don't wonder you want a blow. a1, Poor chap! As ugly a mess as ever No ugly mess. 1 feel the ki aw.” of man that did {t. Don't you? I'll Only o Jay you odds he came Of & neat, vir-| tios. nE Fithian “wert mee tuous, middle-class home. “I'm only feeling what I can feel. The superintendent began to examine the burned paper. ‘“Letters mostl Some stuff looks a bit like a not: That's all we'll get out of about the other tenants ‘What I want is muffins,” said Reg- I most respectable, sir.” said the ‘several muffins and a little tea and my domestic hearth. the whole affair is 1 dare say we'll a conveyancer My dear man, most respectabl the corpse was murdered by a civil servant. middle-class taste. sort of fellows are the other fellows?" “Well, sir, there's a retired engi- neer. and a young chap, just married, jin_ the Rimington firi officer, and several young doctors with in Harley street, He spread himself out before his study fire and contrived to eat and drink with freedom. “In another world, Bell,” he said, “in another and a gayer world it seems to me you wanted to cause of death. ‘Well, except the one thing. Who- ever did that was cleaning up traces that might have been dangerous. and a nava like he cleared up the dead case.” it, indeed, sir? You surprise killed by a consuiting rooms and one of the Maynara: shire family. 1 rooms on the wel “They don’t sound as if they would t, ‘The dead man wai blow on_the left templ blunt weapon—a stick, At the same time, or imm diately after death, his face was bat- tered in by the same or a similar Death occurred some days After death, but not long after received other juries, & broken rib and left shoulder blade, probably by a fall from some height. That's the medical evidence. ‘es. What was it?” “We mayn't ever know that” said Reggle, slowly. “I_belleve you." sald Bell, and “T feel that, si said Reggle. one of them . queer, to be sure.’ appened the night of the bliz- You wouldn't have . Well, who was Rand “That's what no He'd only been here a few weeks. They're service flats, you know, and e gave a banker's refer- k ys he has no money amine the room in detail, opening drawers and cupboards. FEut except for tobacco and spirits, they found no trace of Mr. Rand. Nothing had been broken open, but nothing was “No keys on the deceased, ne knows. sir. reason to be mis: Quiet, stable "Very few men go about Income from inves Balance three hundred odd. But the bank don't know anything about him. He's had an account for years. used to live off Jermyn street apart- The landlady died last grim chuckle. ou're very definite, e sir, if I might say couldn’t have his face smashed like—like he did— by the fall “You can cut that right out. was killed by a blow, smashed his face in. BupD! hang it, very few men go been killed and had hout any money,” Reggie expostulated. “The corpse hadn't a You can take it the way we ment house. “And the landlady died last ye: Reggie repeated. Mr. Rand. Same like our corpse. But is Rand missing, Bell?" “He's not been seen for a few days. There's not much in that. used his flat regularly. “And, 80 far as we know, deceased i He'd do his vest up, for ‘Where did you stance = “He was found when the snow “He's elusive, “That's right, sir. Well, now, these melted this morning in the well at Montmorency Hous “Under the snow? murder on the night of the 15th. Y I saw him just as he was und 7"’ Bell nodded. facts of yours. There's no papers All burnt in that basket. Rather odd there is not so much as a don't think he was 2 man of cul- ture, the elusive Rand. But you've issed something, haven't you 11, I don’t know quite as far a: erally o Whan: youlre about ood Lord, the porter who found ‘There's not a sign the murder was him didn’t recognize the body, “Remember his face.” “My God, don’t talk about his face.” ‘Well, I dare say the E was fully dressed—collar and But a lot of his in- ternal buttons were undone. there's not a name, maker name, on any of his clothes. His linen's new and don’t show a laundry mark. Somebody took a lo of pains we shouldn’t know him. T beggar's cloth he was killed. a grisly business, earted fellow who did this done in_this room.” “Oh, T saw that all right. But we y reason to think it was." “SOrTy, SOTTY. Reggle sighed, “no. So tid porter was upset, too. “Yes, but the porter said Rand was biggish, and the body’ The porter said he had a lot of hair, and the body's absolutely bald. My dear chap, straight back and a bit of manner and lots of fellows think he's biggish— And a man that’ ‘And they went into Mr. Rand’s bedroom. on the small struggie, of blood. That, also, had no o books, nothing personal were changed glve a man a}pyt clothes. “Spent a good deal at his tailor’s’ He's not a f said_Bell, looking into a well-filled while he's alive. “Hello. They're not all wear a wig.” 's_th, “T thought we were to go by fact whatsiuthesmttermith Bell said gloomily. “And 80 we are, Bell. then bash its face In. Have some up one pair after another. “Nothing. All quite satisfactory. About a nine, and rather broad. The corpse wore ahout nine, and had a tea. Bell, with a_gulp. Together they went off to Mont- morency House. haste. ‘How would you describe deceased, all on the elus There was nothing individual about the rooms of Mr. Rand. content with the furniture supplied by the owners of the place. ed to the manager of the uppose there’s nothing in e Mr. Rand owns? nothing of the tenant’ Different tailors? Are the clothes all the same size. All made me man?’ Suit after suit i was spread out on the bed. They were to the same measure: they all wers marked “W. H. Rand.” i Bell. “Man of about fifty, under middle inclined to be stout, unusually a) “It ain’t much to go by, is it?” Bell ‘'We don't so much as know if he was clean-shaved or not." ‘Ho was, I think. I saw no trace But he might have been shaved after he was killed. He'd had an operation, by th But I wouldn" him just yet. At Montmorency House detectives were already domesticated with the and had done the obvious The body, it was to be pre- had fallen from one of the windows opening on the well. men who had flats round the well were all accounted for, save one, Mr. tenant of a flat on the top story, who had not been seen for some of facial hair. Pretty different stvles, though. He dressed to look different at different|ders. “What I should call a baf- fling case. I mean to say we don't seem to get near anybody." Reggie grunted, got off the bath, and went back to the sitting room There he tumbled Mr. Rand's ciga rettes out of their box, and put his e way, on the t say anything wandering about Reggie murmure: L her a showy “Smoked ratl Drank a fair whi servants come here every da: ‘embarrassed. He is elusive, is W. H. Rand. They began to open drawers. There was the same abundance. the same manager’ was we're short-handed § Not unless they're rung for Not unless we know the tenant's using the rooms. “Don’t apologize, don't apologi they haven't beei ked critically at some dust _upon a grim bronx - Reggie murmured. “Anything from a bookmaker to a church warden at Sixteen and one-half col- lars, though. And that's the measure point 'of fact, the corpse. Is all the linen aya. 1t was, and with Ink. “If the corpse 8 hen? Supt. Bell's subordinate In charge (WHenZ' ... o .. 3ays” sald the manager, with difidence. “I should say a week. Many thanks! Rand seemed to have been a mys- terious chap—only had his tew weeks, not used it regularly, not by any means; no visitors to speak of, civil but distant. ali right,” said Bell, and looked at g! “What was he llI(a’!"l said Reggle. g brown hair, “That sounds PT. BELL with some urgency ushered the manager out. When he had done that he turned upon his “Confound you, what do you want to stare at the waste-paper basket for? would have seen it if Mr. Fortune hadn’t got interested in fhe smokes and drinks.” Reggie laughed abashed himself. Didn’t know blooming od rawer tumbled. It's new stuff, too—not es, well dressed, ich he wore rather long, they say,” the inspector reeled off glibly. “That's put-the lid on,” said Bell “Won't do for the corpse, Warren. Not a bit like it tidy drawer. ‘Well, sir, where are we He turned to Reggle. 'You will go so fast,” Reggie com- plained, and sat down. * after you in vain. What's the primary hyps?u;asn, Bell “Do we assume the corpse is Rand, or that Rand chucked the corpse out of the window?” “Ah, there's that,” said the inspec- “We hadn’t worked on Reggle went to the dressing table 4 and opened and shut drawers. Then|what did he know?" d the inspector Reggie was putting on his over- he turned with something in his _ “That wasn't such a bad shotlcoat. He collected his envelop Bell. Here's & wig. The|his cigarette box, Yooking the while corpse is uncommon bald. The elu-| with dreamy eyes at lote of browg hair.| “Yes’' he said: “yes, there’s a lot e of unknown quantities about just “There's no bjood on it!” Bell cried. | now. Who the devil was Rand? Wil TY_ SOrTYy, But it is so d. ed and lifted the basket It was nearly full of onta the table. “Why did.they black, burnt paper. burn it in the basket?’ sald the in- a nice brown wi tor eagerly. " OCTOBER 16,. 1921—PART. 4. e iy o . g 1% figh AT y; 4 .“‘.L.wl“ " “n!lll'“‘nwmu!\" fr 'huh il “SPENT A GOOD DEAL AT HIS TAILORS,” SAID BELI, LOOKING INTO A WELL-FILLED WARDROBE. mid 455 | said Reggle. el nd| 1t was a bathroom of s tles of bathing were D lower half of the wall floor of linoleum. Rex the doorway. “Anything about it, Bel Looks_new, sir.” Yes. Nice and clean, you know. But_there's towels? Didn't he have a ‘What do You mean, sir to the window, opened i Mr. Fortune?” said Bell, 't the way he used to provisionally. No name. Bell grinned. “I gen- finger print anywhere.” said Bell. * * % x That, also, was tidy. trace of a For Reggle was taking ‘What's that about his packed up everything M?llc! wood in it. Bell, on his knees by a chest of| “What is it drawers, gave a grunt. “Lord, here's| “That's the bridge of a pair of rim- And_that's the|less eyeglasses. And if we're lucky we can reconstruct the lenses. N, Rand was hit his glasses jumped off Reggie bent over him and whistled. | and smashed themselves. “Not marked. Same sort of stuff as|fourth thing the slayer didn’t think the corpse wears. And the first un-|of.” ‘Well, well. Everybody| “You don’t miss much, Mr. Fortune. breaks down somewhere. He began | Still it is baffing, very baffl to be untidy then. When he got to|was Rand. would you say? I the shirt and the vest! Bah!” worth somebody’s while to do him in 1 suppose he knew something. Bu ° *“No. I.guess is Mr. Rand's sec-{ you ring for the 1ift, 3 imean by that? ‘But 1} was killed wouldn't look nice mow don't know why they couldn’t leave| “That about settles it,” the stuff on the hearth. slowly. “We hn‘vrn't seen the bathroom,” - stopped in | and no sponge. Yet in the everything was ready for Rand sleep there tonight—pajamas, brushes and comb, everything. Didn’t he “This is where the slayer cleaned up after the murder. And he took the dirty towels and_the bloody away with him. Just wait. will 1 {And he went into the bathroom on all 3 ours. About the middle of the room The inspector and lie began to ex- | foUTS Fhoul the FICHIE OF TAF, oleum, #nd felt it with the tips of hi fingers. Then he stood up 1 out. He examined the sill, and then t himself on ft in_the manner of a dow cleaner, and began to study the window frame. He pulled out a pocket knife, and. with_ great cut a piece of wood. He put down on_the edge of the porcelain basin and resumed his stu he had finished he went down again on his hands and knees. He I his stomach and stretched underneath the bath. When he stood up he had in his hand something that glittered. | He held it out on his palm to Bell. “What's that, sir? A match “It might be. A gold match box— On opening—we find inside—a little white powder”—he smelled it, put a fragment on the tip of his finger and tasted—"which is cocaine. Well, come in. Bell, come in. See what ¥ make of the place. T can't the gold box into his pocket. The two detectives came went over the room even more mi- nutely than he. “There's nothing. REGGIE sat on the edge of the bath. “Well well. Some things we do know. The dead man is Rand, the elusive Rand. He had papers worth burning. He was killed by a power- ful man with one or two blows. After death he was stripped and dressed in the unmarked ciothes, probably here. For his body was brought where a mess could be cleaned up. to have the face smashed in. You can see the dents in the linoleum where his head lay. And then he was pitched out by that window. There's a bit of animal matter, probably human tissue, that scrap of wood. Then the slaver bloody and went off: and one of 'em— |stactory, Reggie pur-|the tidy slayer of the elusive Rand— e ht. | one of ‘em used cocaine heyiaifitithe corpsoiall riz] Supt. Bell shrugged ' his shoul- THE BUSINESS MINISTER— Another Adventureh(_)f Dr. Fortune, by H. C. Bailey still gazed dreamily at that plump, Well, if you insist. One might| stolid face. “Yes. Who the devil was |cl & man on a prima facle case to| Rand? And if you come to that, who | hear his defense. | the devil is Sandford?" Reggle struck his hand on the 1 “Good gracious, Mr. Fortune, doyou | table. “There it A man who is| " |nobody—he can stand trial. there’s a lot of unknown |cabinet minister. Oh, dear no!” Reg- quantities about,” sald Reggle. gle smiled. “I'm not blaming you. I Some days after the discovery of only want to rub it in.” the corpse Lomas was in his room| “Thanks, very much. We are to with Supt. Bell when Kimball |suspect Kimball, I suppose. | came to them. He was brisker| “Like the devil, and watch him.” than ever. “Anything new, Is there?| I see. Yes, 1 think we shall be Have you hit on anything? I came |quite justified in watching Kimball. round ‘at once, you see, when I got{But, my dear fellow, if you want your note. Delighted to get it. Much | Kimball watched, why the devil do better to have all the details cleared [you handle him so violently. up; ”XV:}I;‘%I !eisn:"l’-;m‘ ot kno‘d?. you almost accused him of the selt" sald Tomas, *“The fact In. For- D e e miore Mo o e une thought you might be able to| givo him some information on one or e R I two points’ o 1 17 God bless me, you know all S J:‘;:’;;‘?::}flbtfl.flx‘:' that 1 know. ‘Where is he, then. If| But he dont know “how little e wants me ? A I meant to put him in & funk Reggi 2 And Reggie came. w‘m“";‘:"";':’f:;; see what a funk will make . Things are really | M o Cknow. | New. facts by |y L think I ought to say, Mr. For- Well, well” He dropped | (e sald, Bell, ‘weye alf been tr 3 a hurry to judge Mr. Kimball. I sai RV hot ave we a1l dotn: here? On. ani |things myself. But I had ought to T e e A Somiled and aodded |5aY, 00, he lives a very clean life. o ol “It was ‘that fellow 1|Always has. Temperate, very quiet N Antesiito Atk S on ahoats style, a thorough good master, gen- Kimball, as was natural, did not|erous to his employes, and always rellsdh this sort of thing. “I under- gfl%y ;fl:eqtne down handsome for a stood you had something fmportant on 800d cause. hand.” I've no time to ‘wu{’e." “Who is Kimball, Bell?” sald Reg- “Why, it's so jolly hard to under- [8ie quietly. . stand what's important and what| “Sir? Bell stared. “He's always isn't, don’t you know? But it all|been known, eir. Started in Liver- comes out in'the end. pool on the cotton exchange. Went “You think s0, do you? Tis is the | into rubber. Came to London. That's coal affair?” his career. quite open an “I wouldn't say that,” Reggle an-|straight. swered thoughtfully. “No, I wouldn’t [ “And we don’t know & thing about say that. After ali, the Coal Ramp [him.” isn't the only pebble on the beach.” [ *Well, really, Fortune, you're yath- xiThen why do you bother me?" |er exacling, id Lomas, with some- mball cried. thing like a sneer. Reggie sat up suddenly. “Because| “Who is Kimball?” Reggle Insisted this is something you must know.” [“There's two unknown quantities He rearranged his coat and slid down | Who is Kimball? Who is Sandford? into the chair again, and drawled out| “I'm afraid you want the Day of what he had to say. “Some time the|Judgment. my dear fellow,” said end of last year—point of fact, last|Lomas. “Well, we can't ring up the December—bein' quite precise, from |Recording Angel from here.” fifth to twenty-ninth—in one of the ! *I know you're worldly. But you nursin’ homes in Queen Anne street— | might know vour world. Look about. speakin® strictly, No. 1003—there was | Lomas, old thing. I've been looking a man bein’ operated on by Sir Jenkin |about.” He took out a newspaper Totteridge for an affection of the mid- | cutting dle ear. This chap was called Mason. | Lomas read: *‘Sandford. Any one You went to see him several times.|who can give any information about Who was Mason?" Mrs. Ellne Edith Sandford. residen Kimball stared at him with singu-|Ljanfairfechan from 1882-1900, lar intensity. Then he swung half [merly of Lancashire, Is urgentl round in his chair with one of his|ged to communicate with XYZ. characteristlc deckymppementyann “Of Lancashire? That's pinch. “You've found & mare's nest,” 3 i Dol a0 eiti e Tauin ana ook ve| i Kokkle mODAEL ECROR ENEAMERTH it eripinch. “Well, there’s no harm in it Ds As he spoke, Reggie sprang up with | oy want us to advertise for Kim- some vehemence, bumping into his FoH, WEAE B 0, B, Ty O e B0 ey |, “And his sisters and his cousins and WhHAL eXAcLiySAORYOR I, Sminti: ¥ All in_good time 2 : " But watch him first. Watch them _Kimball stood up. too. *I mean |y, He nodded and sauntered out you're wasting my time,” he sald. h & P e i “That isn't what 1 should call an| Lomas Jit & elegreive T e explanation,” Reggie murmured. “For |the box to Bel Ot FpK “DLEY, fnstance, 4o you mean you didn't go |2 minute in silence = Then Lowmi e Mason? said, = on't let's hav . e of this|low. Bell. e e any more o Ctr | “Their_admiration for Regsle For t to see Mason.” tune received a shock y‘.‘:ln:;l:rah Who is he?” t came by telephone. t 5 & a fellow T knew in |late and lazy breakfast, Reggie ¥ m Hy days. 1 went up and he|rung up from Scotland Yard. Be didn’t. When he had that operation, | Spo Mr. Lomas thought that Mr poor ¢hap, he wrote to me, and 1 went | Fortune would like to know that Yo Meo Eim for the suke of old times. | Sandford had gone down to Mr. Kim- And what the devil has it to do with | ball's place. Rexgie answered. “Ol Scotland Yard?" beter” 1In @ quarter of an hour h < 'the man who-was found | was in Lomas' room asking for con Montmorency Touse fiats with { firmation. There was no doubt. | The ace smashed in.” detective watching Sandford's cham- iod bless ! Mason! Poor |bers had followed him to Victoria and chap, poor chap! But what are you heard him take a ticket to Alwyn talking about? The papers said that|stow, Kimball's place, and was gon was a man called Rand. with him. . fason, otherwise Rand. Rand,| “So that's the next move” said otherwise Mason. Who was Mason, | Lomas, “and if you can tell me what and why did somebody kill him?" it _means I shall be obliged to you. Kimball made one of his jerky ges-| Reggle dropped his hand on the tures, “Killed. was he? T thought |table. -We dom't even know how he feil out of the window. o ¢, or whethe murdered. g ve. I wish Old Jack Mason! Tt's 5 cnow this upsets me | “wDamn it, we've got two men down een little of him |there now—one on Sandford, one on you say? > ! for a long time. T can hardly believe | ginpall They'll be knocking their nesEons iy the devil did helyeads together. What the devil d you think you could do?’ Cothing. Lord, don't T know 11" Nothing. = That's what makes me» aughed. T il cerely that he had very close. AN agent in a small/way,| Jomas said sexersly Eht S When I knew him—colonial produce, | ¥ork to do, ond Reggie left him. promising to come back and take d s r ‘o syrtably off V&, | ¥ and so forth, oI O kerved |him out to lunch, which he received e e mysterious. | No, |as if it were a threat. isn't surprising he used PR BUT when Regsie did come back Supt. Bell was in the room and Lomas listening to the telephone Bell looked oddly at Reggie. Lomas soon ) raised a blank and pallid face Do g/ dod lotHIng from the receiver. “Sandford has “A ‘bit hurried, as you might say,” |murdered Kimball" he said. said Supt. Bell. “Ob, Peter! 1 wonder If he's Sl brought it off.” Reggie murmured SGGIE picked up a paper knife!“Hax he brought it off after ali?* He and fell on his knees. He rose bit his lip. = Lomas Was talking int : : ephone. i with some fragments of white powder D ctions. -iold the 1l on the blade. “I suppose you saw melCyt that out” said Reggie. jog his arm,” he said. “And that's|go down, Lomas, please. Tell cocaine.” He tumbled Lomas' paper | Chap > EmsEt e at the house. Mx clips out of their box and put the|“*[5 N v the orders and ranx Stuff in. “Do you remember the first| o **"1 ] §iave to go, I suppose. he time we had him here he took snuffz|of | VU GGTS LS Kill | cablnet T thought he was rather odd about it, | AETeeR. (ONS J0080 v re's the pity. | and after it, and I went over to the|g 1 73 “was walking up to the window where he stood to see if I house, He met Kimball in the lane could find any of the stuff hie used.|p0U% ore ‘crossing the ornamental But he's been careful. He Is caretul, | They Fert, CToatk when they had a S imball.” 3 * - uarrel, Kimball, was thrown in ugr';‘(:d is damned careful,” Lomas|§naT0h. o 00 Moy ‘.‘.-‘:‘mndrhnl. you e wi . have murdered me.’ When they got dn’:hc:f ?"s.‘fiip,::;t BE‘.‘." Do p;,.'.; Kimball out he was dead. That's all suppose’ Mr. Kimbail, being a_dope [I'M %:',',";’i,:i..wfi::‘fi’ BEnt stutahon flend. is not responsible for his it tals Gramies ook “Oh, no. Kimball's not a dope fiend. | ing through his (—yelnh:u. “Where He uses the stuff same like whisky. (is he that knows, Lomas? Well get He's not a slav. Say, he's |on. a heavy drinke: 's 3 “Yhat ahout lunch to interfere with hi efficiency. That's arn lunch!” said Reggie, and why he left the box behind in the|went on. bathroom: that's why he's a little| The other two lingered to collect jerky. But he's pretty adequate[sandwiches, and found him chafing stil in_the driver's seat. Lomas tapped his pencil impatient-| They exchanged looks of horror. Iy. “And what do we do next? But they quailed before Reggle's vir- “Take out a warrant and arrestulent politeness when he asked them Kimball” said Reggie, carelessly. |if they would please get in. . It is Bell and Lomas looked &t each other |jn the evidence of Lomas that they and then at him. “I don't see mY |only showed once, when an old lady way.” said Lomas. dropped her handkerchief in the mid- “The corpse can be identified as Ma- |gje of Croydon. He !s in conflict son, I'll swear to the operation. Tot-|with the statement of Bell as to the teridge will swear it's the man he 0p- | most awful moment. For he selects erated on as Mason. In the room|{{ne episode of the traction engine from which the corpse was thrown|yitn trucks at the Alwynstow cross. was a gold snuff box containing eo- |’ 24s and Bell chooses the affair of caine. Shortman’s will swear that [{pa®h G0T Yus and the caravan at box is their make and exactly similar | 3o& MO0 mpey agree that they ar- to a box sold to Kimball And Kim-| ived at Alwynstow Park in a cold It's a good prima sweat. A detective came out on the steps Did vou ever see @ juryl ' cet them, Reggie ran up to him. would hang a man on it?" ve do_have to b “Which are you?" 4 murmured. Rvetothe soichparal eIl “Beg pardon, sir? Oh, I'm Hall. I “And Kimball's a |had Mr. Kimball. Tt was Parker had suppose there's mnothing more he murmured, his eyes wander- ing round the room. “Try it with the lights on. Ah, what's that? fo the gas firo and picked out of its I m coal a scrap of gleam- (s Rand, 'where the devil aid his BHirt | 1ombs ol T et moment he was from?” said Reggle. “The|down on his knees, pulling the fire to slayer unpicked the name from his “Give me an envelope, But_the shirt? Did the slayer bring a change of linen with him? Provident fellow, very provident.” Mr. Sandford.” He turned to Lomas. “Good morning, sir. 1 tried to get e against|you on the telephone, but they said a man; he would stand his trial who- were on your way down. ever he was. I can't charge a cabinet . you've been on the telephone, minister with murder on evidence s like this. What is it, after all?* H hen T heard what Parker's in- picked up his scribbling pad and read: | formation was I rung up quick, sir “Three circumstances—Kimball knew |it's very queer business, sir. . the murdered man; a snuff box like| “Where is Parker? And where's Kimball't was found on the scene of {Sandford? L suppose you've arrested the murder; that snuff box held co-|him?* caine, and cocaine is what Kimball| +Well, no, sir. Wa detained him uses.. Circumstantial evidence at its|pending instruction: wenkest. Neither judge nor jury| “Damme, you're very careful. Par- would 1ook at it. There's no motive. [ker saw the murder committed, didn't there's no explanation of the method |ne: of the crime. My dear chap, suppose| “well sir, T don't understand ¥ar- you were on the other side; you'd tear | ker would go as far as that” it to ribands in five minute: ‘Where is Parker?” said Lomas. “On the other side?” Reggie re- ‘Keeping Mr. Sandford under ob- peated slowly. “I'm not an advocate,|geryation. sir, according to instyuc- Lomas. I'm always on the same side. | tjons, Beg your pardon. sir, I've T'm for justice. I'm for the man who's | heard his story, and I quite agree it been w;?nged. You won’t charge|ajl happened like that. But you Kimball? haven't heard mine.” (g omas signified an impatient nega-| "y 00 *“looked ‘round him. The ve. 00 near. “We'll walk on “Very well Meggie continued | H0ME N8 L0Sniounced. “Now. then. ou say you don't let a man off be- pyryer fays the two men quarreled cause he’s in the government. SUD-|on the bridge over the lake and Kim- pose you had a prima_facie case like|pa)) was thrown in, and as he fell he this against a nobody. Suppose I|oan w0 "5 0 Mecoundrel, you've brought vou as good grounds for ar-| CaUSE OHb 0% g0y 0 C ey that resting Sandford. Wouldn't you have [ {TRFCTIE, T him in the dock? On your conselence [!SIE NIER oo yor say “thrown in'? “wonder why you drag in Sand- sald Hall, with surprise in his face and_voice. 14 Lomas. 1% asked you|._-L belleve he didwt” said Lomss wi let the body you've killed and | absolutely bald is just the man to the . Some cheaper !“:"! T “Has anybady ever shown any in- a question.’ (Continucd on Fifth T'age) serest in Sandford?” said Reggle. th ? B "lyn." said Reggie. He opened|that” “Because the fireplaces are all gaslond best. The . =~ he had on,when hel When he was left alone with Bell he