Evening Star Newspaper, July 25, 1924, Page 14

A Thrilling Mystery Story By J. S. FLETCHER Copyright, 1924, by G. P. Putoam's Sons (Continued from Yesterda understand,” he said. sane enough on nine points and irredeemably mad on a tenth. The tenth in this case is that ruby. All very well for me to say downstairs that perhaps the old lady'll have come to her senses in the morning—that was to cheer up Miss Ma My own belief is she won't. She'll make the filly carry that and the Chinaman’s round He began to undress, and for a minute or two 1 sat smoking and thinking. “Teli vou You don’t “She may be tone- what,” I said suddenly. “We're close to Scotland Yard here 1 suggest that you and 1 go around there early tomorrow morning before we set off to Epsom and try to see Jifferdene, and if we get him. tell him about the Chinaman. He might think it_worth while to go down and to take assistance with him.” “Good!" he responded. “Earl You like. But it'll be somethin the needle in the bundle of hay “Scarcely,” said I. “If, as you say the Chinaman’s fixed on either Lady Renardsmere or her horse, he'd have 1o get near one or the other to oper- ate, eh?” “Neither you nor T know what that extraordinary combination and subtlety will do,” he oracularly. owever, no h in seeing Jifferdene. He and 1 went around to Scotland Yard as soon as_we had breakfasted next morning. We struck Jifferdene almost at once, and stared at him He was in immaculate racing ge —a heavy swell, with field g s slung over his shoulders and a tall Wwhite hat with a black band “Needless to ask where you're go- ing, Jifferdene? laugh which to me sounded very hol- low. “It's proclaimed_all over you. “Professional rig-out, Mr. Cranage, he said. “Buty, sir! There are sev- eral of us—not’ all arrayed in thi purple and fine linen, though—g down. You'll find me in the paddock if you want me. B brings you here? “Jifferdene,” 1 said. “the China- man's at Epsom. Listen! I told him the story of last night's apparition and of the swbsequent events. He listened attentively, tak- ing it all in “And vou down there ished. At Marengo Lodge,” I “We don't know, of course stopped there. Probably she did, though one of her big cars was wait- ing in the courtvard. But we left her —with her bodysuard." “I'll soon settle that turning to a telephone know now about her ladyship and her body- guard, too. Got information about her late vesterday afternoon. Lady Renardsmere, genilemen, attended by two private inquiry agents, ex-police- men, has been st a_suite of rooms at the Great Central Hotel for the ays, with her maid and one Tl ring them up and ask if she's still there.” Five minutes later he turned from the telephone. “Lady Renardsmere went down to Epsom late last night,” he said. “She didn’'t return. So—we'll suppose she' there. Very welll That simplifies matters.” “How?" asked Peyton. “Our plan will be—unobtrus to keep close to her and clo: horse,” said Jifferdene. f this inaman attempts to interfere with eithor—eh? You see the point? Now, then, just tell me precisely where Marengo Lodge ix, and where the filly is stabled. and within an hour from now I'and my men’ll have both under the closest surveillance. We'll be down there before you are. We gave him the fullest particu- lars, left him, and went Lac hotel. It was then a little he as Renardsmere inquired as I fin- answered remarked, vely— o'clock. By a quarter past we wers | all in Peggie's car and on our way w Epsom. The usual procession from town had already got into full swing. It was a particularly fine morning, and from what we saw as we crossed Westminister bridge and set out southward the attendance on the big race promised to be a record one. It seemed to me that we should make slow progress over that Jay between us and the Downs, but Peggie's chauffeur, an old cock- ney, knew his district, and by a judi- cious use of sundry short cuts and round-about turns he got us to the grandstand at Epsom soon after cleven. And, leaving him there to park the car among the scores that were arriving with every minute. all four of us made for the stable, close by, where Rippling Ruby was quar- tered. Before we got close to the place we saw that things had happened. In front the group of private detectives which Lady Renardsmere had sent down to Manson Lodge, under Robin- dale, was gathered before Rippling Ruby's special quarters. Between them and us, apparently on the verge of tears, stood Bradgett, talking to Medderfield, the jockey, who, very smart in mufti, appeared to be puz- zled bevond expression. Behind them and actually in tears lurked Rippling Ruby's own particular boy, looking from one to the other, as if In hopes of consolation. And a little way oft I saw Jifferdene in the character of a spectator in the midst of several other men Peggie made straight for Bradgett. At sight of her the stable boy in the if she | to her | fourteen miles | rear let out an unmistakable moan. “Now. Bradgett, what's going on?” demanded Peggie, with a nod to Med- derfield. “Out with it!" Bradgett shook his clean-shaven face Rrew doleful. . “I don't know what's going on, he answered. “Nobody know: going on! All I know is that Renardsmere came up here at ine o'clock this morning with a couple of big fellows that stuck uny common close to her, bundled me and my men out of the filly's box, locked it" up with her own hands. posted those chaps there in front of it, and told me that you weren't her trainer any longer and that it was at our peril we tried to get near Rippling Ruby again! I—1 think she must have gone mad, miss, or something— terrible temper she was In, anyway. What are we to do, miss?” “Where is Lady Renardsmere now?" asked Peggic. “Can’t say, miss,” replied Bradgett. She and the two men went acro: there, toward Maj. Camperdale’s sta- bles. " She’s got the key of the filly's in her pocket, mis What's it all about asked Medderfield, naturally tive. “Queer business, isn't “I can't tell you what it's Medderficld,” answered Peggie. Renardsmere——: The sniffing boy denly broke in. “Her_ladyship's said. T se her.” We all turned in the direction indi- cated by the lad's pointing finger. We saw Lady Renardsmere advancin across a corner of the heath just be- low us. Her two henchmen were her elbows. Behind her walked three men, who were obviously stable boys At their side strode a tall, soldieriy- tooking man, whom I took to be Maj Camperdale, familiar to me by reputc atrainer. And I began to see what was going to happen. o Come away, Peggie o use stobping here. do as she likes." But Pegsie remained immovable. . “No” she said. “Here 1 am and here I stick! I'm going to see w. happens. The small proc head. His long and Miss Manson?" inquisi- about, in the rear sud- coming back.” he her—there’s men with T whispered Leave her to ion came on. Tt had to pa: e by us. Lady Renards- marching ahead with a fixed on the stables, suddenly looked and caught sight of us. Her _Sleamed “with anger and she stare aside “Go awa: |every I've done with yo Peggie Manson—you're my trainer n longer. I'll have no disobedience fro ¥body I employ. Go, every one of v except you, Medderfield. th me—I've some orders ry one of you off,” he sai ladies 'farther back woman's clean off it now! exasperating her. Come on' 1 got Miss Hepple and Peggie to retreat. We moved some twenty vards aw. Bradgett &nd_the boy following us. and watched. Just what I had anticipated took place. Lady Renardsmere unlocked the box. Her ittendants went in. Within a_few minutes they brought Rppling Ruby out. Escorted by her crazy owner her bodyguard of detectives and her new attendants. she was led away to. ward Camper s place. Peggie face flushed crimson and then wer White. ~ Bradgett swore under h breath: the boy pulled out & highly- colored handkerchief and sobbed into it. And Jifferdene, showing no sclousness of knowing us, stroiled Wwith his lieutenants after the fa- vorite and her surroundings. P to_then Medderfield had not moved. But now he looked roundo- at me. He gave me a flick of his left evelid and I went ‘up to hin gone loose, Mr. Cranage? ask nodding e ardsniere. @dy Renardsmere and Miss Man- =on "have had ifference, Medder- fleld” 1 said ady Renardsmere is one of those women who won't be thwarted. But—all that's no rea- ride Rippling afternoon, is jt?" m going to ride her, Mr. he said, with decision. etween you and me, her ladyship's promised me five thousand pounds if we win. But—hard lines on Miss Manson, sir! The credit's her s—and I'm damged if I understand this morning's business, unless, as I say, there's a tile loose, However, busi- ness is busine And so I'll go and see what her ladvship wants. See you in the saddling paddock later, no_doub He went off in the direction of Camperdale's stables, and I returned to Peggie and the others. Peggie appeared to have been struck dumb; she stood, very pale and still, watch- ing the disappearance of the little procession around tne filly; it was not until it had vanished that she seemed to show consclousness of anything else. Miss Hepple laid a hand on her arm at last “Peggie!” she said. “Would you like to go home?" Peggie's face suddenly regained its color and_her eyes flashed—dan- gerously. She turned on Miss Hepple with a defiant face. “Home!" she exclalmed. T11 be damned if I would! . see it out! After all—I trained her We got her to come away with u we even got her to eat some lunc The time passed; we tried to get i “Bring the The old No use he toward Lady Ren- terested in the vast crowds; in the THE first two races; it was all no good; all we wanted was ... but we all knew what that was. "And at last we were in the saddling paddock, four units amongst a crowd of men and women anxious to see the fa- vorite. That something strange had happened had already leaked out. T heard whispers, dropped hints. The excitement grew as the time drew near. . . . And at last out she came, and folk pressed near to see her ... a thing of living fire and life, trained to the last degree of readiness and per- fection. And round the beautiful arched neck, securely buckled, was the belt of bright green leather, and the accursed ruby! CHAPTER XXV, The Chinaman Winx. We stood together, Miss Hepple, Peggie, Peyton and T—shut out, not by distance but by Lady Renards- mere’s temper and caprice, from the beautiful creature in which we were all, and Peggie especially, so deeply interested. She, unconscious of all that concerned her, stood in the cen- ter of a group made up of her new attendants, the watchful bodyguard, Lady Renardsmere and Medderficld. Lady Renardsmere, with hand on the filly's neck, was i earnestly to the jockey. And all round them and were onlookers, men and women well known in the racing world, eager and curlous to see the favorite, but kept off her by the zealous offices of the men guarding her. Already there was an atmosphere of mystery around Rip- pling Ruby: rum had zot about and men were eyeing Lady Renards mere and Peggie with speculative, ive eye An elderly man turned on Peggie. t you tramned for Lady Aren’t you re of perfection “I was till last night, Caft. Mar- sha answered Peggie, quietly. “Lady Renardsmere has taken her out of my_ hands.” “Good God'—what a queer thing to do!” exclaimed Capt. Marsham ever heard of such a thing in my Oda! ry!" assented Peggle; 1y, “Woman's whim, 1 suppose,” con- tinued the old gentleman, with'a keen wlance. “Eccentric woman, Lady Renardsmere, 1 believe? Um'—any- ou'll get the credit—with those know. ~ You expect her to win 1 think?" e looked round the paddock were other horses there—Jack sonsible for that bit laconi- Cade, Hedgesparrow, Flotsam, Roneo | There of people speculat- and half a were Knots about them, dozen outsiders. and_group: criticising, nothing here that can beat she answered calmly. “There's starter for the derby more likely to win, Capt T'd put my last penny on me and with e turned from him to drawing Miss Hepple “Let's get down by the rails, nearly opposite the winning pos we can” she said. “I don't w to see any more of this—but I w to see her win. And going!” Pevton took Miss Hepple from her and went ahead. I followed at Peg- gie's side. Suddenly as pushed through the crowd hand in my arm, a (To Be Concluded Tomorrow.) STUDEBAKER Just Drive It; That's All To the Land of Mental Ease A good book will take you away from the hard facts of a workaday world and send you back relaxed and refreshed. EveryWomrath BranchLibrary is a “booking office” for passage to the land of Mental Ease. Here youmayobtain for asmall rental fee any new and popular book of fiction or non-fiction. ‘Womrath's service to booklov- ers is to supply newest and most demanded books at the moment they are wanted at a fractional cost of the purchase price. Wom- rath’s books areclean and attract- ive. The service of the trained librarians at each Womrath Branch is prompt and courteous. 607 13th St. N.W. 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