Evening Star Newspaper, July 18, 1926, Page 68

* H. C. Bailey For anteen Years There Was No Thought of Anythmg But Revenge; and the Story Is One of Thrills and Mystery. R. FORTUNE lay in & ham- mock. The fragrance of lilac and hawthorn was about him. Beyond the golden glow of his azaleas flowed | al the guiet, brown water of the Medway. No sound came i him but the song of birds; he saw no fellow creature but the blurg among the strings of | Reggit N “And he thinks I've got it." “Now. Mr. Fortune, sir, that’s not right, you know, I never said you | }u:d it. I didn’t make a charge at “Didy ko tor laul hdmh ’mm ‘vnfi Kkin; “But I'd like it eleamd un," said plaintively, = “Search - me, hops on the hillgide, which were wom- | please. en. Mr. Fortune sighed; cogtent. Cars and people and motor boats had driven him from his beloved garden |sa! The new house had been bought for peace, and peace was found. “Like Heave! Mr. Fortune murmured, “only guieter.” And a parlor maid stood over him ‘with letters., He looked and groaned. “Janet, have you no comsclence?” he complained. The parlor maid stared t him and her mouth opened a little. No, I see you haven't. Never d turb me unless I'm veally busy He looked with abhorrence at the lef ters. “Do you know my éngagement book? A red thing on the right of the desi Janet pattered off. The letters were, as he feared, invitations. The engagement book was brought, He turned the pages and his face fell. He foupd that his next day was pledged to hostesses in London. “Take the things away.” He thrust book and letters into Janet's hands. “Tell Sam T shall want the car in the morning. Telephone Wimpole street I'm coming up tomorrow.” He wandered sadly through the gar- den. He was going to miss the open- ing of his new iris and there was no Joy in life. The next thing which happened was the reception given by Lady Blanche Thurtle to see her daughter’s wedding presents. Charity took Reggie For- tune there, for Lady Blanche had helped, out of her husband's millions, some of the discharged criminals on which Mr. Fortune keeps a fatherly eye. Reggle found among her guests hardly a creature he knew. He wan- dered disconsolate through the long array of presents, trying to escape, and was brought up by a woman who took more interest in them than he did. He could not get round her: he had to look at something for civili: old silver, Japanese figures, a gold snuffbox, some rococo jewelry, dant of emeralds in platinum. But the woman stood still. She was pant- ing, she ws flushed, she put her hand to her breast. “I beg your pardon. you?” Reggie said. +She frowned at him, she shook her head. Mr. Fortune, lingering a moment, looked plaintively around him and gave up the entertainment. But as he worked toward ‘the door he was stopped by a rosy man with a good deal of collar and tie. “Just a moment, sir.” He handed Reggie a ¢ard inscribed: “Mr. John Good, International Detective snv- lce.” “Splend‘d'" said Reggie. “This way, sir,” said Mr. Good, and edged him away into an anteroom. “You understand I'm in charge here? Acting for Lady Blanche Thurtle. Won't detain you a moment.” “Don’t mind me,” Reggie smiled. “We don't want any fuss, do we?"" Mr. Good smiled back. A faint tap came at the door. Mr. Good opened it to admit a flashy fellow with a schedule in his hand. He pointed to a line in it. They whispered to- gether. Mr. Good turned on Reggie ‘with some ferocity. “Now, look here, sir. You've beem under observation. You've been behaving very odd..And there is something pretty valuable missing, which was exhibited just where you were playing about. What do_you say to that?” . Reggie nighed “Who put you up to it, Mr. Good?" “What do you mean—put me up T'm acting for Lady Blanche, I'vé got her authority all by the Thames. Can 1 help , you,” sdid Reggie wearily. “But I'm Reginald Fortune.” “What-he!"” the flashy assistant chuckled. Mr. Good breathed heavil fean- ing Mr. Fortune, the Scotland Yard expert? Well, you know; I'll have to werify that.” on with it. Lady Blanche a pen- | Good. Mr. Good I'm quit “Oh, #hrank. sfled. ‘But ‘I'm not. Inspector, just se if I have an emerald pendant on me." “It's you asking him, not me!" Mr. Good eried. The inspector, : grinning, -made .a gearch. . . . " Reggle gathered his possessions again. “And that's that, Now, Mr. Good, who put you up 's not put up, sl 1 don't know what you mean,” Mr. Good “There's a lot of stuff there and all sorts of people.. Lady Blanche told me herself she didn’t really know half of them. Pedple come without invi- tations to these shows, And, be your pardon, Mr. Fortune, you were loitering about. When my attention was drawn to you—-" “Yes. Who drew {t?" o Well, sir, there was a young felloty came up to me and said, ‘You the de- tective in chlrx@" Wejl; I'd have & look there, if I were 'you,' and he pointed where = you were hanging about. 1 knew there was some ‘om‘l stuff there, and you acted odd, and when found the emeralds had gone ‘ortune, what wuuld you no, sir; nbt me.”™ “I don’t need. f No emeralds. to ha o “I should have looked atter ‘that young fellow.” “That's the game!" the inspector chuckle ‘How was I/to know?” Mr. Good was plaintive. “Would you 'know him again?” said Reggie. Mr. Good pondered. “‘Smart young chap, clean shaven,” he pronounced. le a scornful noise. “Well, you see, there wasn’t anything about ‘him. He just nl]d by.” “With the emeralds,” said the in- “You'd better slide after him, Mr. John Good, ]mfl‘nlllonfil De- tective Service!” Reggie murmured.’ “What's the worst you know about him “He's all right, sir,” tor tolerantly. “No vice in him only & ruddy fool. My hat, he’s made, & nice mess for us to clear up! His, young chap got elear off with those stones. Did you have any notion about it yourself, Mr. Fortune?" . “No, no. It's not much in my way,” said Reggle, sadly. But the inspector was wrong. No one got away with the emerald pend- ant. When all the guests were gone, Mr. Good found it on the floor. * * * ¥ I\ a day of two Reggle made a call on the chief of the criminal inves- tigation dep.nmem. He was received with a ery of joy.* The Hon.-Sidney Lomas pranced around the table hold- ing out his arms. “Reginald! 1 “thank Heaven for your deliverarice. Not a stain upon your ‘character, they tell me. ~Won- derful!” “You know ‘all about it, do you?” said’ Mr. Fortune, morosely. “These little things will ‘el -hont," Lomas chuckled. *“I seen you at the police ntu{on 'Ahe fair young hero, falsely accused, defying calumny. ‘Where are my emeralds?” says the villain hoarsely. ‘Search me,” the noble youth cried, ‘search me, varlet!” And his innocence was proved in the fair light of heaven.” “Yes. I wasn't taking any risks,” said Mr. Fortune. “You see, I'd had the beastly things in my pocket. The face of Lomas changed like an actor’s from mirth to gravity. “An what have you been up to, Fortune? “I wish T knew. I was struck in that show behind a woman who was having a spasm of the heart. When we moved on I thought I felt some- thing at my coat-tails. I found that emerald pendant in my pocket. I dropped the beastly thing under the table and looked about for anybody said the inspec- He's o r. Good wad not anxious to the thief put them in your pocket. If Good was fool eriough 'to make a charge we should have got it dis- missed.” the npoxt time F was expert withness I emeralds und the jury wouldn't a word 1 sald about anything. !m'l never dare put me in the box it there had been a charge like me, made an end o(' Mr. Fortune.”" . bofimNh to get “'.“L of ] mwly ly you ou K Do you suspect any oi ‘‘Well, I must have made a few on emies in my time. And more tmn know."” % “Most of 'em have hee said Lomas gfimly, “I dm\ k the eriminal pepulation go to Blanche Thurtle's. Did you see any face you knew?" \ “No' eriminals. No ‘criminal name on her Jist. But what's that amount to? I didn’t know & quarter of the people, nor.did she. “*0la Mr, Parvenu gave a great ball And of all the fine guests he knew no one at all,* ~ “Hang 1t, yaur theary is there was & crook in the pl **Yes, but the ‘professional* don’t bear a grudge lwut Mr. Fortune. We didn't worty you with vulgar stealing. “No, no. And 1 shouldn't’ have thought the be, would play about with theft. Their idea would something with bolling oil m it Lomas laughed. *Well, 1 shouldn't lose sleep about that.” I don’t,” said Mr. Fortune. “Good- by, old thing, T don't like London, Too difficult for my gentle mind."” * k% % IT was a lazy June evening. The western sky above the woods still | cot! glowed, but the freshness of night was on the air. Mr. Fortune coaxed his canoe along in the slack watér under the high bank from which the hops rose in a hetwork of green.” On that side by the bridge stood an old cot- m:e As he came near a man ran ut, saw him, checked and hailed him. “Hallo! I say, do you know where 1 can get a doctor?"” Mr. Fortune groaned. “I'm a doc- v.or::' he confessed. ‘‘What's the mat- ter Iy mother's had an accident—a fall—I can't stop the bleeding. “ I say, ‘would )ou mind? Awfully good of you.” Fortune swept the canoce into the bank and tied up to an old alder root. “Thanks most awfully. and we're all alone in the place. Only use'it for week ends.” He hurried on, talking fast. “Lucky to get you . . . Mother, I've got a doctor. . 5 Come in, sir.” Mr. Fortune came into a-low, dark room. The man stood aside. ‘‘Here you are." ° Mr. Fortune was thrust forward; fell; fell. He was on his face on rough stone. There was a slamming thud overhead. He scrambled to his feet and found himself in a cellar. should mm,-m-.:oum trylng to water ‘wasn put the tip of a touched his to old woman tol hten him. Pomu t M’t really poisoned. “'fi&.‘.‘x”’vfi‘. the lt. m thirat, mkm; at This little businéss wwlfl have b “Reginald, you're e rebuked himself. funking. He examined his resources—some cigars, a box of \matches, a small pehknite, He rose and wandersd about the cellar, ‘The beams and the litt! u::: the bars of the firm, and even if them the hole was far too small for escape. sat down on the floor and broke e chair, When he had a pile of ood he. cut some into chips, worl ing fast, He carried his pile to !gnunl, m th: cmmt hthrm; h Into e A upon em wood. l‘flo struck a match and Iookod at his watch. It was 10 o'clock. He 1it_his pile, coaxed it into a fire and fed it carefully. It did not burn well, for it lay in a tangle of bushes, but it made of them volumes of white smoke, In . a little while, through ¥he orackle and hissing of the fire, he heard heavy footsteps and voices. ‘Then he put his h to the grating and shouted into the smoke. ‘‘Well, ‘now, if tut ben't l quesr thing!” "he heard a voice thick with beer. “":‘lll right against the old cottage M‘h shouted. again. “Help! ! Get me out!” “Did you hear that, Bert? Come from underground, like. Where be You, mate?” “Down in the cellar. cellar. Break into the cottage and get me out.” “However did you go to get your- self shut down there? What be doing with a fire? ‘Who be you, my lad?” “Mr. Fortune from Southleigh. Break into the cottage and lift the cellar trap.” “"Tis the London gentleman from Southleigh, Bert. However did you get_down there, sir?" “The people locked up the place while 1 was down here.” “Well; now! Lucky for you we saw your fire as we was a-coming home from alehouse.” “Wasn't it lucky?" said Reggle, fuming. “But I wonder if I'm ever coming -out?” . “Oh, us’ll have you out quick.” At last they were spurred to action. A window erashed. A heavy body came down on the floor. The trap- door was raised, and Reggie, carrying his 5u‘. came e-r-lully up the broken Faint light came into it through an |, bars iron grating at one end. The were built into the stone walls of the cottage. He about him and, his eves growing used to the gloom, saw an old and broken stair leading up to the trapdoor through which he had been thrown. The cellar was a (place, dug out in the standstone undcr the whole of the cottage; empty but for a'chair and & jug on ii it He climbed the rickety stair and thrust at the trapdoor. It held fast and when he tried-to use more force the stair cracked under him. He waited listening. He was aware of movement and pungent smell. “‘Oh, my aunt,” he m !urod And then a woman’s vol ipoke. “Good-by, Mr. Reginald qum 20 At sald, and it gave a queer panting 1augh. ‘Good-by, Fortune,” the man said. ‘Just off to sink your canoe.” “Good-by, Mr. Fortune,” the wom- an said again. “There's water for you down there. It's hot: weather, fen’t it? You'll soon be thirsty. But don’t drink it till you get bored. ‘It has quite a lot of strychnine in it. He heard A door shut and locked. | 7 —-——— HIMSELF IN A CELLAR. FAINTA%ISEE CAME' INTO IT THROUGH AN IRON GRATING 5 i - Mr. Good looked cunning. “Pity to trouble Lady Blanche just now. There's a police station just around the corner. They'll know, Mr. For- tune.” R EGGIE resigned himself. minutes the inspector at the po lice station was giving him a respect- ful weicome. “And what can we do , Mr, Fortune In five me to Mr. Good," Reggie smiled Mr. Good seemed to shrink. “That's all right, that's quite all right, sir. Very sorry to trouble you. But I to verify it, you know.” “And so ‘you shall. Just take us into a private room, inspector.” The reluctant Mr. Good was pro- pelled onward by the inspéctor. The * door of a bare little den closed be- to make a complaint, . Good who makes the complaint. He's In charge of the wedding presents ai Lady Blanche ‘Thurtle's, and he says I've been be- ‘having suspiciously.” The inspector snorted. “And one of the presents " im gone. What was it that went, Mr. Good " 5 “Emerald.: pendant, sir { | wouldn't take it on. luuplchiuu And then Mr. John Good of the International Detective Servic was arresting me. Queer sensation, Lomas. Ever ‘tried it?” “Nobody has arrested me vet."” ul.hi [ the chief of the criminal investigation departmeht’ modestly. “Oh, don’t despair. Well now, there's one or two little questions What about our Mr. Ggod? occur to me Mr, Good might have been bribed to get me into a mess. Lomas | shook hhfle u' but he don't touch shady jobs. poeket. "Good wasn’t watching mybofly He. said he lookéd at me because sontebody told him to.” “I dare say. Probal lifted the emeralds. of humor, too! don t see the joke, Fortune.’ “We ‘;re ‘rgn Amul;d 5 gloomily./ “‘Suppose I hadn' of those emeralds. I!unm ',hey‘l It did | He heard a car started. It wmmd' away and was gone, The cellar felt ry quiet. Mn. 1 sandstone and considered thing: He knew the cottage. It belonged 1t had heen ‘tolet fur- thirsty, His seryants did In the morning wi had not ulflmttfia Th ie smiled. amn know n there was any ‘Didn’t . you? V\oll thanks very much.” ‘Money . ‘With some difficulty he got lhm helptul Kentish ™S8, Fore E owning homs BY. the rtune, road, entered through the front dovr He switched the telephone th: the study, took his jug there an down to make a trunk call. * ok k¥ . HE was never an early riser. He was still in his pajamas and was shaving when a hrgur drew up at the brown house. ur men got out of it. “Turned out the whole red. tap came at his dressing room doo! "'l‘ho Hon. Sidney Lomas, sir.” Janet’s voice was faint with awe, Let ‘em all come,” said Mr. For- tune, and wiped his face. The next moment Lomas was with him, gripping both his hands. My dear fellow! " Thank Heaven you're safe! I should never have for- given myself if anything had ha) pened. After that affair with the w.dflln. presents I shouldn’t have let you come down here alone.” Behind Lomas filed into the room the solid form of Supt. Bell, Inspector Mordan, dark and gaunt, and a conuly youth, unknown to Mr. For- ““’ell well! All the talent: he. “This is very flatterin’. So you think it was the people behind the present stunt who put me in the cellar? That was rather my idea.” “You always thought the wedding present business was serious,” Lomas nodded. “I_ ought to have looked We'll take no more flHn.k- you got any theories?” “Well, somebody’s out lor my blood. It's revenge, I suppose.” “That’s it, sir,” Bell nodded. fellow you brought to justice you. Or his “T can't think of any mvx 've con- victed who has got out of prison lately.”. “No. T looked into ‘that” Lomas said. ‘‘There's no one. lows you convict don't generally get out of prison.” "l‘hoy have friends, though,” Bell persisted. ““This is revenge all right." ¥Yes. Rather subtle revenge. Did you notice, they're mot so ‘keen to km me plain. They could have don' ‘that last night. But that wasn't good enough. First they tried to ruin me. Then they locked me up Wwith s jug of poisoned water. I had to suf- fer before I died.” ite,” e shr: body'l feeling very kA m‘h;‘v’l & pal r+Some: against | o “And that Shut in the | 7, Bl And the fel- |« of one| ricted, sir,” LR AR 2 I VE] A REVOLVER FELL OUT OF HER SHAWL, AND HE KICKED IT AWAY. men, lot m know. 1l ‘see the chief mnmn tune, old ‘man, 'm leaving you 'nderwood”—he thrust forward ‘He’s your new secretary. not going. to let you out of his sight. Kk x o ' UNDER the care of Sergt. Under- wood, who was firm with him but not fussy, Fortune r@sumed his tranquil lite, and Supt. Bell and all fits. Mother and son. Came thun two months ago. Woman takes nitrite of amyl. Son drives a gray two-seater. They look like y:;x' sald, Bell shook his head. . Decent people to look at. have to come over and identify. h, no! They don't know they're watched. And if they did, they wouldn't get Mordan’s got ! Inapector Mordap lived laborious days | ® to trace the lady with ti They bulouefl themselves . in Maie stone. It.was not their desire to ad- von.he that the Criminal Investiga- n Department was anxious about th. gafpty of Mr. Fortune. They found the country people deeply inter- ested in the affair, and telling the tale with but anxious for ‘more not able to give any. Observe the two of them arriving at Mr. Fortune's gate in the gloam- ing. ‘Mr. Fortune lay in a long chair with his first cigar after' dinner. Sergt. ; Underwood ut by him, study- ing a treatise on From wnlun Dutch picturesque = decorations. information, “Don't you remember? years back. Down in the. Cotswols Claude Weir!” Bell pondered. - “Oh, yes. Artist, wasn’t he? He was hanged for mur- dering a_woman.” “Yes—I hanged him.” Reggie sald, and he shivered. Bell -stared at _him. *“And this is his wife and his son? That would ex- plain it all, But they wouldn't use their own name, sir."” “She would,” said Reggie. ; “Bless my soul! Well, sir, 1'd like to get on with it. You'd bott-r come and have a look at them.” ‘‘Yes. I'll have to see them,” Reg- gie said, slowly. “But I want to go and| over the records first.” eauvl f7 5 e “Hello, Bell! You look wor- -lr. it's one dnun. Job. place ‘wasn't taken through any agents, but He's up in his V! John Smith by name, if vou please—| An nld she’d take it for a couple of , and paid in ad dfln’t bother about a reference. He don’t remember anything about her|if looks; pleasant, he says, and quite the My. but_he's pretty sure she was ‘Well, that don’t help us. You think some of the country peo- ple must have seen folks at the cot- tage. We can’t find anybody who ever noticed ‘em. You'd think the car might have caught somebody’s eye. talk of a gray two-seater be- in the lane some time, but no one can say when, and there's quite & lot of gray two-seaters on the! 'm afraid you're having a lot of muble, Bell,” said Reggie pensively. 't the trouble, sir: not l’lmnl anywhere. It looked as if w h: lot to go on, and it's all frluled out.” don’t know ‘what you méan—a lot!”" Inspector Mordan broke in. “We had nothing, "my way of thinking. Find an old woman with heart dis- ease, and a young chap with a bit of hm.lm In his buttonhole and a Eray ' wo-seats Might as well ask us to look for & woman with two eyes and @ nose, and a boy .in trousers” “No, I wouldn't say that, Mordan,” Reggie murmured. “I wouldn't say that. There are points. ““Are thore, siv? Well, I don't: see ‘em!” n was peevish. “‘Per- haps you wouldn't mind telling us what you'd do, Mr. Fortune rdan, I should ‘o to all mists in Tunbr!dc- Wel lhonld ask, ‘em if, within month or two, they've been selling to any new customers, nitrite of amyl— or nitro-glycerine. i “Nitro-glycerine? That’s dynamite, Imt 7 ml!hrdak : cried.' “Why, sir, youg think they're usi explo- "V.T' y gre ” guoheh magnati i an ation, Mol n. No; no’ bombs. - Nitro-glycerine - Belds the heart along. - But 1 dare say she only uses ‘nitrite of amyl. “Well, it um‘- | can’t Hve “You've got| mu * % xx Nmfl' morning Mr. Fortune's car drove. into. Tunbridge Wells and :h m-l‘ m‘-mlu nl‘ M o n nspector n | strolled to the. door. o “The hoy's out in the town walking —the old woman’s in.” The car rolled on and climbed and came between limes and chestnuts to houses half hidden in their leaves, gray, old-fashioned houses. Reggie Fortune got out and-rang at a door. An aged maid opened. “Please tell Mrs. Welr that. Mr. Reginald Fortune has come to see her.” He was shown into a drawing room which looked as it had not been used since 1860. A woman came in, stood still in front of the closed door and looked at him. She was as big as he. An Indian shawl, crimson and gold, was drawn about her body. It made her head seem colorless, that full, sallow face, the pile of gray hair fixed like metal. He saw her dark eyes. She wu‘a the woman of the wedding pres- ents. * “So you' have come to me, Fortune,” she said. “You made it necessary, madame.” “What have you done with my son?” “Nothing yet. 1 came first to you.” “That was best.” Her hands moved under her shawl. ;. Reggle sprang .at her, gripped her arms at the elbows. She gave a faint cry.. A revolver fell out of her shawl, and he kicked it away and let her 8o. “Please sit d 'n.h Mr. said, gravely.” But it's hnt as it is. There ;re half' a dogen men outside who now that I am with you. If you were to klll me there would be no escape now.” “I said you were a coward. Do T Rckeie bomed. “Tho wite of e wi ‘Welr, madame.’ e “Claude Weir's widow, Mr. For- ged him!” Her breath |¥°. Ah. you dare not deny |. “And you've walud all to kill me?” 0 e She laughed. “Did you think T should forget, Mr. Fortune? I had to wait. I couldn’t be sure alone.” I had to h. the chi g ;:c the children what they “Yes. 1 thought so,” Reggie mur- ~;'£S niurdersd their father. Thi elr 1) alive to punish you. Ah Yee happy now, von "t yvu s not af Mn, Wur. ho lsu know too much. But are 'r“o“..w‘. your holu“ s e ema' y;nn escaped she cunning. You escaped before, safe for awhile, l?:‘: what ek do? u'll nnd us all 1 shall die in' 11t to me!™ Tow,”" can you 0 prison. prison. I long -r%when But you can’t ‘hang haven't kiiled Yob. And'the g children inl com b4, will e out | lmllry and again.” “Yoli've nlmmm-mmm lives on kil nlmf,Wnu they born . “Yes and yes and o cried. “That tens: m’f-m"?’m- xt:‘l m’ Of them,” sald Reg- " “Youl” she laughed. : ’ of a man’s hand on her cloak; the blows had hom struck by a left- handed man; there were splinters of onk in tho wound. Claude Weir was ; Claude Weir’s hands were ln t.ha shape of the marks; Claude ‘Weir had an oak stick from which splinters had gone, and which was stained with blood. That was my dence," “It was all a lie. She was killed ‘T had by a train.” “Why should 1 tell lies? never heard of Clayde Weir or you or Caroline Power. I was only there to find out the truth and see that justice was done.” “It was your evidence that hanged 15 | Claude. The lawyers said so. Every one said so. Justice! You were paid “No. I'm on the side of those who are wronged. I'm for the weak,” She him. “That's why I'm ‘here now. You've tried to ruin me. You've tried to kil me. And now the police are at your door. Why shmud 1 bother to l.r‘-ulo with you?" Reggle can protect myself,’ Mr-» ‘Weir. you—I don't know. I'm thinking of She was stlent. She | (27 le€t [ 4 Bl volce, deciaive: Y| hane Mmdly ‘Wllh Claude Welr. Don't' say & word against my hus- T won't listen.” s it you that's afraid of the truth” On the day Caroline Power died she had asked you to tea. She sent a mes- sage in the afternoon that she was not well, and you didn't go. Why know (]-.udn Weir's handwriting. Read this. The dead man had written to Caro- line Power on the morning of the murder- “Dear Carlo: Keep the old girl over y 'He was mad! Oh, he was mad™ , 1 don’t think so,” Reggle said 'ently “He was speaking out of his h, how cruel! Why does he say I called myself his wife?” “We only found that out after he ‘was married to Caroline Power. Mfle laid on her lap the The! kept it from you while we oul Reggle sald. “But that man munn‘t spoil the lives of your chil- “'l'ha children!” she gasped. She caught at her heart, she was bent with pain and panting. Reggle laid her down on the couch. “Your medicine! The nitrite of amyl. Where is it?” The pungent smell flllefl the room. spasm of pain passed, She lly faint and still, She lay silent while he gathered up the papers. She watched him, fear in her eyes and wonder. * x ok x THERB was some talking outside the windows, Superintendent Bell's voice and another voice that Reggie knew. It was asking whose car that was. . . . Mr. Fortune's . . Reginald Fortune's” then . , . with There was hu h, a hurry of feet, “If you're cu!n( to them, I go. with you, my .- Into -the room, his rl.ht arm firmly gripped in Bell's broke the young man of the cottage. “What do mother?” he cri u want with my “It's me you've to settle wit ‘Malcolm! Malicol she started up from the couch and held out her hands to him. “I've been wrong. It's all a horrible wicked thing! I made you do it. My dear, don’t be angry. 1 _didn’t know. We must forget it 1. Forget everything! “‘Forget!” the lad cried. He strode upon Reggie. *“What have you been telling her? You know who I am. 'm Claude Weir's son. . it the tea cups till after dark. Then | we shan't be long. Claudlus. “You didn't show this at the trial.” “It was hard enough for you and the children. We didn’t want to hurt you any more. Now—there are the children still. You see, Claude Weir meant you to walk home in the dark from Caroline Power’s cottage. And then—then something was to happen. But Caroline Power wouldn’t let you come’ to her house at all. She went out in the dark herself on that road across tlie railway. Where Claude Weir expected you he found her.” “Why should she?” gently. him. To tell him that she couldn't bear him to murder you.” “Murder me? Oh, this is horrible! He-—-h' lpved “Why did he want you sent by that lonely road in the dark where he killed her? Do you remember the gray cloak she was wearing? It was like one of “I don’t believe it!" urs." she ctied. “Claude never killed her!" “Did you ever see Claude Weir after he was convicted?" ‘Ah, you are torturing me"' You want_your children to know the truth?” said sadly. I never saw him again! They told me he didn’t want to see me. He was broken by the shame of it. You-- you broke his heart!” “No. _His heart wasn't broken,”™ you'll live |; ] oy “Oh, you're cunning, voi're H K 5 i il !?55 2 It's a lie!™ , no!™ His mother tottered to “Don’t, Malcolm, don’t. T've seen the confession he wrote. It's— it's wicked! You don’t want to read it, my dear., He doesn’t have to read it, does he, Mr. Fortune?” “He did murder her?” the lad cried. *“You read his confession? Oh, mother!” She drew him into her feeble arms. s “I'm sorry, dear; I'm so sorry!” she sobbed. “It’s over now,” le said gently. “You've got to live. *“Good-by!" He laid his hand on the boy’'s shoulder a moment. “Good-by!"” He stood outside the gray house with Superintendent Bell. ‘What are we going to do?” asked stared. “Oh, I've done ', Nothing, man, nothing! It's finished" “But what am I to tell Mr. Lomas’ “I told Mr. Lomas last night. Tell him—tell him what you saw in that His car carrigd: Mr. Fortune nwny to the house by the river. Underwood opened the door. have you gpt to tell me™ Md. smiled wearily. “Nothing? _Good! Just' tell Janet I want her. In the study.” “Jlnet ‘l’mm:m. “:‘::o‘“un. "'lt ; a) over. janet . “You' Tetter go -hoine -to your mother.” And ther' ‘was silence while she looked at him and fought to be calm. “Ah, you know! she cried. *“You know about me’" *Yes. Some time ago. my child.” “Oh, I can’t bear it! I thought you knew after you came back from that horrible cot Mr. Fortune, ihem it goin, ‘the . :ol‘ about. your g on the river at night.” % . It was what you were eontu-'on that he murdered Caroline "l‘ltlir did it!"” she cried. ‘“Mother knows that now? _She believes it?” “ahe hngvn there isn't any doubt She thrust back her hair. ‘mad! H