The evening world. Newspaper, August 23, 1916, Page 13

The Bvenia ee | THE PEACOCK OF JEWELS y TERGUS HUME t On Myeter eve fortune in pr Was coupled that of a ¢ cent were aecused, eee t two or thr ys Alan enjoyed the rural peace of the country and gave his ty @ wreat deal of sovlety, An to follow up tie t wive ty the story of George Inder. WiOk's treasure, he did ao. display une due eagerness, since (LC Was betler to joanner, leat sua. n be aroune Therefore Ain protended te @ifforence Which be did not f Kept away from the Monastery, anid his diplomacy was rewarded about the Middle of the Week by the appearance Of Marie with & request that be should come over, “Thin afternoon to wee you,” said | an tne 1 Vocle Ran wants ° Kit, pouting, for she not p yd that Alaa a Kept out of her company, “Ho has @one this morning to Lewes on his motor bicycle, and Will be back at ck to mee ou” y “In that case,” said Fuller promptly, @nd glancing at bis wateh, “since it fe just 1, we can have three hours @ll to ourselves.” It was a pert by this t of the « admire | Foofs were Masses of da whiteness, as they ne sunt and the darkly= nent of tvy which clothed et December day, and it was flecked everywhere with snow Wreaths, “Isn't it lovely, dearest?" “As lovely as @ssented Alan r Might show me ov as I have never explored it completely For une flext hour they were pass- ing along corridors, peeping into rooms, Ascending and descending stairs, and @earching for secret chambers and Outlets, What struck Alan most was the absence of furniture. Room after Foom hud been stripped bare, and the West house gave bin tho impression of being an empty shell. Yet the place had been crammed with treasures no later than twenty years rie carried Fuller and lighted his co own fair hands, When he was com- fortably putting clouds of bluish emoke, Miss Inderwick, perched on the arm of his chair, ruffled his hair and told bin he was the most dis- agreeable person in the wide worl This led to amiable contradictio: finally to kissing and it w: they were in the middie of these philanderings that they raised their eyes to eee Mr, Sorley standing at the door, “So this ts the wey in which you deceive me, Marie?” he said with an “angry look. “Why not," said Fuller, as the xtrl sprang away from his chair in alarm, “L love Marie and ahe loves me, You must have eeen that ages ago, Mr. riey.” bat ia, airf but the position does not meet with my approval.” “Who cares,” cried his niece de- ntly.” nae has no money and no position “[ shall make money and make @ Position,” sai lan calinly. ie will be Lord Chancellor one said Marie boldly. Lora Chancellor you arette with her, “Uni * observed Alan smoothly, you ekid unless, Mr, Sorley.’ find the Begum’s trea- “Unless you rh, Uncle Ran,” cried Marie in “when you know that the i t, and without that no the riddle, or even y what It is." now ©: = wrote peacock is"-—~ began Sorley, and stopped short. “Go away, my dear, and let me talk to Alan, He spoke so mildly that Marie be- gan to think better of the position. on his part, guessed from the Alan, onopping of the sentence, that Sorley knew something about the missing poacock which he did not wish to reveal while Marie was in the room Acting on this hint he ton ne pn, cing he ald, iaing to address his host more impressively, “I know that the Giasavery Fe Jost peacock. JI am sure that | ae solve the mystery. If I do, and the treasure is found, will you consent to Ywarie hecuming my wife.’ Yes," sald Sorley tersely and de- eisively, “but of cour a treasure must bo wiveo toe faane “ y your cf C ‘Oh, 1 shall buy you pare tor 1, secreted the hiding place of a us gema, and with his mystery rune of which the inne- \ golden peacock, You Just ery icined, because Weed choo o + th cause 1 Ve over iook , wine ' poor wrete jecided # “ 4 drunken f opium, My 6 ' 1 Want ' nono " foawod t wi ! ve wet in ite golden ' suse it ie the clue to @ hire ' Mich ow hidden—y ou h the’ story by Simon Fer L told her that if whe did not return itd would dismiss her brother on ry heck, She re ' me hic” acock why a? but that “L suppose to her brother," fu she didn't,” he + 19 1 know & tts recovery, 1 had ruined her 1 refused to surrender it, and she should destroy it I could 1 the force of the law, Now I tain that she had it all the t Why a you certain?” asked Fuller, who was tmpressed by the frank way in whieh the man spoke M Y rose and went to the room in which was set 4 tall carved cupboard of black oak. Opening this he took out an object Wrapped in chamots leather, and re- turned to the writing table to display to his visitor's astonished eyes the missing peacock of jewe “On that day when Miss Grison called me names, and by her ow sion wandered Fr the ho ited,” said the man quietly, “she must ha brought this back, The day after she departed I found the peacock in yonder cupboard, a place where I trequently go, as Miss Grison knew. | Why she should restore it in this| stealthy way, or restore it at all, 1| am not able to say. | Alan stared the glittering bird, which was the size of a thrush, and greatly admired its beauty and’ per- fection of workmanship, Ferrier assuredly had learned a great deal in the Kast, for the shape and feath- ers of the bird were truly wonderft created in delicate lines. The eyes Were rubles, and there wag a tuft of emeralds on the head, but compara- tively few stones studded the body, as nil were reserved for the glory of the tail, This was outspread like a large fan—and in {t were set sap- phires, opals, rubles and many other precious stones which scintillated @ glory like a rainbow, especially when Sorley muved the gems to and fro in the thread of sunlight which pierced the dusky atmosphere of the room. “So far as I can see,” said Fuller, here is no secret writing to be seen.” “There !s no secret writing,” said Sorley, unexpectedly. “But I thought you wished me to a cryptogram.” So I do; but ® cryptogram can be other than in letters or figures.” In my opinion, the secret is hidden itn the tail.” Alan was still puzz! “In the tall?” he echoed. “In the jewels somehow, Mr. Sorley, meditativel: there are three sem!-circl the tail, and between the the third appears a triangle of rubies, Now, if we can read the meaning of the three rows of precious stones, they may explain the triangle, which ‘s probably the key to the whola mystery.” Mr. Sorley carefully locked up the Peacock in the cupboard and shrugged his shoulders, “I have thought over the problem for years, and I am no nearer the solution thin ever I was. explained se § But !f you solve tt, you shall marry my niece,” CHAPTER IX. LAN FULLER left the Mon- A astery in a very perplexed state of mind, as may be rucdsed, for the revelations made by Mr, Sorley startled him considerably. According to Jotty —who could not have manufactured such @ story—the deceased had been in possession of the ornament shortly before his death, How then did it pass into Mr, Sorley's hands unless that gentleman had committed the crime? It must be mentioned as a Point in the man's favor that he did not say positively Miss Grison had brought back the ornament on that ovcasion, but only gave out the idea to account for his own production of he article, Vhile Alan was thus turning mat. ters over in his mind, he heard his me called aud lovuked round to see é flying over the snowy ground, “You are mean,” she cried. “I've been waiting for you to come out and tell me what Uncle Ran said to you, But you left without a word, Why do marriage with half of It,’ in thls horyid, sucret way, you . omptuons tone. pie thing? 1 anes ne ald tho old gentle — Fuller halted and tooked after her we understand one another, doubtfully, Since he had imparted to Barle, you can go away.” the girl that knowledge regarding tn ane left the library and the Grison’s possession of the peacock, door was closed, Sorley, Who had ree moved his overcoat and gloves and , sank into a chair with a sigh, fo’ was evidently tired out by his ride to Lewes and back again, Sorley thought for a few moments with his eyes on Fuller's face, thon spoke abruptly. wYDu know that Miss Grison hates me, and why?” he demanded shortly, “Yes, She accuses you of having ruined her brother by having dis- jssed him wrongfully.” é mene can think what she chooses,” Fetorted Sorley, coolly, “Do you Py hy I dismissed her brother, r which he had obtained from Mspector Mogn, through Latimer, he certainly did not intend to reveal that Sorley had displayed the ornament in the library, Should he do so, Marie would at once, on What she know, jump to the conclusion that her uncle was guilty. "Oh," said Alan lightly; “your uncie only asked me to assist him to learn iddle of the peacock,” But how can that the peacock ix intosing ‘Your uncle had drawings of the bird,” replied the young man evas- ively, “Il have never seen them,” declared » done when World Dail ‘09 YOU MEAN TO Thu. ME THAT || DON'T KWOW WHAT 1'M TALKIN ApouT? “THERE! WIL. THAT CONVINCE YOU ? THE IDENTICAL OUTFIT YOU'RE ALONE . WEARING FoR 6.50! WHY THIS ORES 1} HAVE ON CO 50 DOLLARS “Magistas: w TWAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME 1 STILL INSIST I'M RIGHT, You'Re JusT AN YOU'RE Ju’ j UE AL THE Lin ALL THE Mon |] | WOMEN You wu WATE 1 ¢ | THINK You “ AOmiT THE TRUTH.) | ( www wAU ) —_ . | THAN IT DOES A WOMAN? ‘YOU STILL CLAIM IT COSTS MORE FOR A MAN TO DRESS PARDON ME FOR SAYING IT, BUT | GAVE You Ceepit FOR HAVIN’ MORE SENSE! Marie rather crossly, “and as the peacock belongs to me, I should see them.” “I will show them to you in a few days,” answered Alan quickly, and made a mental resolve to prep Pp tho drawings himself, “Don't you bother your uncle a 7. or he may withdraw his permission, “What permission ?" hat I should become engaged to you, “Oh, Alan! oh, Alan! oh, Alan!" “That is,” said Fuller, correcting himself, “ho does not directly sanc- tion an official engagement. “But he says that if I solve the problem and find the Jewels that ho will agree to our marriage. Meanwhile we can be together as often as we lik Javing—as she now presu permission from Soriey to di preference for Alan, Marie boldly took bis arm and walked through the village with him in @ most open man- ner. There was no chance now that her Uncle Ran would appear to make trouble, and the girl declared as she clung to her lover that all their troubles were over. “For of course, a very clever boy such as you are, dear, will easily solve the riddle.’ hope’ so, plied Fuller doubt fully, “but ft is @ hard riddle, Marie, and has baffled ry one for over one hundred yea: “Well,” sald Miss Inderwick, argu- ing from @ feminine standpoint, “if any one had “guessed the riddle’ the Jewels would have been sold by this nd probably the money would been spent, You will guess the riddle, dear, clever boy that you are, and then we shall become very, very rich, even though the half of what you find goes to Uncle Ran.” ‘Nothing shall go to Uncle Ran,” said Alan grimly, “because Uncle Ran has no right to ask for a share—un- less, of course, he solves the riddle. “The peacock and the treasure it can point out, Marie, both belong to you, so don’t go making hasty promises to Mr. Sorley; and above all, dear- mark what I gay, little feathorhead— don't sign any paper if he asks you to." ’ Miss Inderwick nodded vigorously to imply that she knew what she was about, and the two walked on for some distance in silence, over the cobblestone pavement of Belstone’s main street. Alan appeared to be thinking deeply, apparently of something nov connected with herself, With the natural jealousy of a woman in love, Marte could not permit this. “What are you thinking about, dear?” she asked suspiciously, “About Morad-Bakche!" “Who ts he?" “He is an Indian gentleman, dear, whom I met at Miss Grison’ “Why should you think about bim Just now when I am here, Alan?" “Well,” exclaimed the young man quietly, he has come to England, so he told me, to search for some mislald family property. He is descended from the Rajah of Kam, to whom George Inderwick was sent by the H.W.1/ my dear.” “Then he knows about the peacock 1" cried in dismay, "That Is what | wish to learn, Regum of Kam certainly gave The els we are looking for’ to ¢ derwick, mn whom they descend to you, 80 48 Morad-Bakche represents the Kam family it is just possible that he has come to get back the goms if he can.” “He sha'n't have them," murmured they are mine, And after all @ may not bave come for t treasure’ “I'am unprepared to give an opin- fon. Only it is so strange that he should live at Miss Grison’s boarding house, considering that she knows about’ the peacock. He get to arding house by chance, I am And Dick fancies also-—by sixth sense, he declares—that Morad-Bakehe may have designs on the treasure.” “It is very strange,” said Miss Inder- wick, “but how could he find out that vison knew about the pea- “We must learn. Have you ever seen an Indian gentleman in the vil- lage, my dear, or haunting the Monas- tery?” “No. If I had I should bi told you, or would have written about it.” “Well, you may, not have seen tho man, but others may have. Who is the greatest gossip in the village?” “Oh, Alan, as if you didn't know, when your mother is always talking about her. It's Mrs, Verwin, of course.” “Ah, yes! and she keeps the Red Fox, our one and only inn. Come and let Interview Mra, Verwin,’ Mrs. Verwin herself welcomed the young couple the moment they set foot on the threshold, as she had already espied them from the window. “Lor sir and miss,” she cried, en- ergetically dusting a chair for Marte to sit down vu. “Who'd ha’ thought of you an’ Mr. Alan coming to see me, friendly lik And very well you're looking, miss, though Mr. Alan there could do with @ Iittle red In them pale cheeks of his. Now do havo @ cup of tea, sir, and"—— “No, thank you, Mrs. Verwin,” in. terrupted Alan quickly, “we have only come for five minutes. I want to ask you @ gestion, if you don't mind. simply wish to know if during the last year you have seen an Indian gentleman In the villag “Well, I never, and to think as y didn't hear of him, stopping here he was in July last for one night, and ying as the rico he ate was boiled in 4 way he admire “Oh, so there was an Indian here?" Mrs. Verwin nodded and placed her stout arms akimbo, with curiosity in her snapping black eyes. “Quite the gentleman he was, though I hope there's nothing wrong with hit, 's nothing wrong with him.” ‘Thore's nothing wrong about him,” sald Alan, “but I happened to meet him at Miss Grigon’s boarding-house in London anad"—— or’, at said Mrs. Verwin again, “may I never speak another word, if sha don't owe me a ¢ turn for having told him to go there, where he'd be comfortable, though I never could see as Miss Grison, and Loutsa’s her name, Was much of a housekemp- iu M patiently, “Weill, T didn't In a way, sir, be- cause It was the peacock as sent him to” ——~ “The peacock,” repeated Marte, and looked at Alan anxiously. end Mr asked Bakche to Alan {m+ “And well do you know all about ft, miss," cried the yoluble Mrs. Verwin, “It being the luck of y fa will never have no fortun brourht back again, And that Grison person as was your uncle's clerk took it over twenty years back, as 'm a living woman. J suid and others sald as Mr. Sorley should have perse- cuted"—— “Did you tell all this to Mr, Bakche?" questioned Fuller, quick! “And why shouldn't I tell hin Alan?” inquired Mre, Verwin, asked if there wasn't people called Inderwick hereabouts, and | up and told him all about the family. Mr. Bakcho says, as his father knew some of ‘em in his own land, and said os how him he met—not s, though tt mentioning was an Inc mas he met Sol tells Mr, it the story of the poa- ck of the family, and says as he believed thag Grisoa person had took it. He said he'd like to ask him or her about the peacock, since he liked to hear them sort of stories, so 1 recommended her house to n ag being comfortable, and beaven forgive me for tho lie.” “Oh, Mr. Lakche ts very comforta~ dle there,” said Alan, easily, “Did Mr, kehe say nothing about any t sonnected with the peacock o,” cried Mrs, Verwin, “never a word did and where Fuller saw that he had made a mis- take in hinting a thing which was known on! the Inderwicks to this gossip, and hastened to repair his ere ror. “Iam talking of the peacock it~ self, which is @ treasure,” he said, quickly, “And | merely asked about Mr, Bakche because he seemed to know something of Belstone.” “He know? Now | ask you, sir, what can he know, staying but for one day, and only giving an eyewink at the Monastery where he" “Oh, he went there, did he?” asked Fuller, turning back at the door, “Yea sir, ho did, saying he'd like to see such @ lovely place about which T'é told him such a queer story, for queer he sald was the hame for the luck of the peacock, I think Mr, Bakehe was one of them gents who writes and who asks others for things as they can't think of themselvos, to"— Yea! \Yes! Very probably, Mrs, Verwin, Thanks for answering my. questions, [ just did so because | chanced to meet this gentleman at Miss Grisc Alan and Marte were followed in- to the open by Mrs. Verwin, talking all the tt and curtseying at in- J iffioulty as the dis her and the visitors Lakehe came down here to ask after the ® k. That shows, as 1 thor og ago, that he is after the Begum's gems.” “What will you do, Alan? asked Marie anxic “Consult D: and tell him what T have found out. Meanwhile Maria, you need not tell your uncle what we have discovered. “Mrs. Verwin will probably do that,” said Marie dark) ‘Alan frowned. “We atop her tongue, worse luck,” he said wit) a sigh, CHAPTER X, HERE was no doubt that f} the evidence of the village gossip would be valuable z in tion with the Rotherhithe erime, sinee tt showed that another person besides Mr. Sorley desired to obtain posses sion of the peacock of jew “Mrs, Verwin,” thought Alan, ag ho retired to bed, “undoubtedly must have told him that I was paying at- tentions to Marie, so that was why Bakche behaved so amiably to me at the boarding-house, He t# certain to look me up again, and if I pretend to know nothing, he will have to speak out himaelf if he desires my assist- ance. But then there's Soriey——" It was at this point that the young ma ‘8 senses became confused, and H asleep, But next morning he mined to see Marie's uncie, and if he had seen Hakehe in the village or haunting the grounds of the Monastery However, the sole chance of learning more or less of the truth lay in questioning both men, Also he wished to-make a drawing of the peacock, so as to have before hig eyes an exact representation of the bird. He possessed sutlicient technical skill to draw the bird and color the drawing, #o looked up his Japanned tin paint box and took it in his pocket to the Monastery. Luckily on this occasion Marie had kone to see a schoolgirl friend at Brighton, ao Fuller was glad that she would not bé at home to interrupt his interview with Mr. Sorley, He sa- luted his host with @ smile, “L came to say goodby and to asic ou to allow me to make a drawing of the peacock.” “Certainly, since | wish you to work with me in the endeavor to learn where Ferrier ruled the treasure. But I don't want you to show the drawing all over the place, lest some one eise should guess the secret. ‘ “Ob, T shall be careful,” said Fuller ce) eorfully, Satisfied with his promise, Sorley took tha golden peacock from the cupboard of black ouk and un- wrapped the chamois leather cover- ing to display it on the table, But before doing so he locked the library door without apologizing, an action which seemed highly suspicious to bis visitor, ‘The young man looked searchingly at tho beautiful specimen of gold smith'’s work which glittered on the table. ‘Tho breast shone with few — gems, but tho body of the bird was 4 of feathered gold, and. the int seamed to have reserved the full blaze of beauty for the outspread tail, Yet there wore fower Jewels in this than might have been expected, for in the three curved rows which followed the weml ular outline of the t Alin coun niy fiftee: precious stones-— oly eight gems in the firat row in the second, and three in th third, Then between the second an third was the triangle which con- tained fifteen minute rubles on edeh one ita three sides, n four ifteen gems in thrée nes,” mur- mured Fuller thoughtfully, “and tif teen of them in each line of the tri angle, I wonder, Mr. Sorley, If the number @fteen is the key to the secret? “T can't say. I don't know. T cer- talnly cannot see how It can be." re plied the host doubtfully, “I have tried In every way to solve the riddle hut TL eannot even see how to make a beginning. The sec be con: tained tn the positic ho stones, the shapes of the stones or the colpr of the stone: When finished, Alan laid down his brush with « tired sigh and held out the sketch at arm’s ler Mr. So ley the — pe k to Its char leather wrapt and to the cupboard, after which he returned to examine Alan's artistic effort Very good, very A" he salt nodding, “you avy dc it’ very eo vetly, although the drawing ts very arirt. “Rather architectural, n't it, alr? But the original is stiff also, and am not drawing from an artistic point of view, but with the idea of ednesds¥: Ad@?iit 25. 1916 —esfe| By Jack Callahan | NEXT WEEK'S THES by A. 1. OUILLE@-OOt } A'etory of I in 1602, and of @ yor room one who loved him we whe saved; one who saved him wh dir BEGINS IN NEN peril MONI ENoe AD exact Fepresentation of aie Hetore lea Fuller determined to on what “rd dorad- tha Heie ’ ti to din \ ton'e bverding , 4 sould be abrupuy 1 " bout the ' ey. Dick k& Who is Dick? Dick Latimer, @ reporter, the maa who shares my rooms wet him down here, Mr ting about 't” said Sorley abruptiy oe more, me scoundrel silor murs i “Hut the om * asked Fuller, wondering if hin hoat hinted at the dead man's possession of the pea. shrugged his shoulders. mort of pe ie ever any A? Hut let ne this 6 subject promised to ny OWN private collection oh show of ge be pleased to look at the young man, who naw that his last remark had greatly iffected his host, a fact which again sed Kis suspicions, and made him k from the dapper ntleman, Mr, Sorley made no reply, but went to ® panel marked with a cross cut In its wood, which formed a portion of the Inside wall of t brary. He fumbled at some apring for a moment and then the panel alld tnto a groove to display & cupboard with) many shelves upon which were ranged trays of jewels, One by one the ‘ought them to the central d his eyes glittered with fa- nattc Joy as he potnted out their Various beauties: And the jewels were certainly well worth looking at. There were din- monds cut and uneut, rubies colored like port wine, and some of the true emeralds displayed nt tints, id there were the color of @ summer sky, collection was not of extraor- dinary value, but Sorley glonted over his darlings, streaming the stones be- tween his fingers, holding them up to the light and pointing out to Fuller partionlar excellence of each, “It's an expensive hobby,” wald Alan, after an hour had been passed tn this way, for Sorley talked on with the merciless zeal of @ collector. “In & manner it i my boy. I can always sell these if necessary." He shuddered, “I hope it will not be nac- essary, It would be lke parting with my life to give up these. I could tell you the higsory of each gem. ..'t fear that would be too long,” sald Fuller, hastily, “but are you not afraid of these being stolen?” . “Well, of course, there is atx thou. sand pouads worth of gems there, Some one might"——— “Have you any partioular person tn your mind rned gray borley and gasped. Why do you say that?" he asked sharply, my llhe tooked, at him harder than ° “I told you that I dined at Miss Grison'a boarding hous ho explained; “while there I met with « called himeelf Morad- Bakehe!" man, who Mr. Sorley gapped again. “The Indias he muttered nervously. “An! Alan gasppd. “So ween him.” Sn eMee idtesdtal “Seen him, seen him, What 4 mean?" fed “I mean that this Morad-Bakche came down to Belstone to ask after the peacock and gained some infor- mation from Mrs, Verwin at the inn, She told him how, it was suspected that the Grisons had stolen the orna- ment, and gave him the Bloomsbury address."* “So Morad-Rakohe in a Mise Grison’s,"" muttered Sorley, altting down; “that makes it more certain that she is up to no good in connec- tion with me." “TI thought tt strange myself, Alan dryly." “An.” he rose and began to walk up and down tn a startled way, “T see her game now, Alan, She will tell Bakehe how [have tl ck and he will “and he will * The man gripped Fuller's to be th nd roughly frightene Idea of a 1 being made by Indian. ‘The solicitor gently ed ley to sit down again and 1 for an explanation, “You must be frank with mo if Tam to help you,” sald the solicitor, Well, then, he’ did come ta the Monastry about July last, He called here openiy and told me what Mrs. \ 1 stated. He gave me to that he was the repre- we Kam royal people ut the peacock." rm?" and papere which ed that ache Begum had given the to George Inderwick be he ved har life and the life Hum!" murmured Alan to him- self, "So through the excuse of have ¢ ing been toll by an Inderwick in India it was loat “Did Bakehe know that the peacoc would reveal th reabouts of "——= € Interrupte or ar Ll ‘The papers in question told at f ier had manufac- k asa guide, Bakeho tured the peace A that dec! um had no right o » family jewels to Inderwick, and dat T should surrender the ck so that he could trace and reco them, [ said that the bird wa t, ana he went away 1, saying that he sail Alan nodding, “and as win had told him that the Grisons had etolen it, and hat given him the boarding house liress, he went there to get it from ber,” “IL wonder why she didn't give it to COMPLETE PLENDID SPUR casion to see Mr. Fulle change of clothes had at home, NOVEL threatens AY Ss EVENING WORLD hin to ap , od Porter. Khe pret . tw fou* oot A Ye ‘ ' * knew t et } : " hot ‘ anid b . t a a t mive up the eha treasure, It belongs to Marie, Der muard rive up that® Alan thought that Sorley r thinking of himeeclf, than “but whats to be done?* Nothing, E tell you, nothing,” said the oth fereely, “Tahal with my own No one wilt \ e yu shalt Age policeman to ke on the Monastery tn cane Thakehe toe rob » And what wit you do, Alan My course is obvious, Mr. gor Tahail try and solve the riddle.” y yes. And we ean then get the re, and Rakche will be outwit. Kven tf he steala the peacock, © the drawing to unravel the problem. Go! go Alan, gol and hold your tongue, for Misa Grisoh may not have, told the man that I hove the pire “Perhaps,” said Fuller dubtowsty, “time atone will show! and he took Mis leave fooling that Miss Grison had Probably Informed Rakche about the peacock, on the chance t trouble the man CHAPTER X1. N due course Mr. Fuller re. turned to his office and to the chambers tn Barkers Inn, only to tind that Dick had not yet put in an ap. pearance. He heard from his clerk, that during iis absence an Urehin who called Himself Alonzo had haunted the office, demanding on every oo- ir. The reporter came back to London by the night mai fo $oy 4 il, am@ finding when already gone to his offiee Ing that Alan had @ followed as @ bath and 4 made him re- “What the deuce ts the matter?’ asked Mr. Latimer, when the first Breet 8 Were over. “you look sick.” m sick——with worry,” said emphatically, “It's that in- case, lave you been looking tn =" asked Dick ‘provokingiy have him there as soon Bpectable, es, T have, and in consequence 1 scarcely enjoyed my Christmas home,” cried Alan. “Not even with the moat wir) in the world? Canoe “No. Because she asks questions, prety bave keep @ great deal from a Scoount of her uncle?” “Precisel ow. Anyway, the peacock.” mee 3) SM timer pushed back his chair let his pipe fall. “What ae one “He has the peacock. and Mew! more he make @ drawing of 1%," ani fumbled among his papers for’ the sketch. “Here it is, Dicky!" “The de ejaculated the journal- ist, staring at the painted bicd: “then the man murdered Grison after all.’ “Well, you won't be #o sure of thet when you have heard my story,” eald Alan in a tart way, for his aerves were all Jangling. “Tell it, old gon," remarked Lat- imer, recovering his pies The solicitor told him everyt from the time he had arrived at Bek stone until the moment of departure, 4, carried up the narrative as far London by relating how Jot! been haunting the office, ye “Hullo, what's up?” Latimer asked this question because Alan suddenly started to his feet and listened 4: tently to @ noise in the outer office, “I hear @ boy's voice,” said &h solicitor hastily throwing open the door just in time to permit Jotty to ‘be pushed Into the room by the indig- nant clerk. “Oh, it's you, young man, ( thought so, That's all right, Sey- mour, I'll attend to him,” and Full closing the door, “Sit down, Jotty, “Alonzer, please sir,” said the lad quickly, “I don't want t’ hev anythin’ do wiff in’ ole bad self.” “Who's . sir?" asked Jotty, pointing at Dick in negro fashion with his sha "Ye his gentleman, so don't nee,” murmured Jotty 1 surprise, h wosn't y'sir.” Fuller leaned over and gave him a with y'wos at th’ in- No nonsense, boy,” he said sharply, “you have to answer a few questions, I'm glad you have me to © me at you young ‘Oh, T ain't: wot said Jotty readily, y'd help a pore cov respectable.” 1 shall. help you at a price," Fulle Dick kr rip. nothink t* tell,” but Ct thought es es wanta t' be . 4 » Who did all the talking while smoked “Dy w this?" ho ounder sir," said Jotty quickly, r of him es was kad third es ho showed me times an’ in.’ “Well, then,” sald Alan, and Dick's frown relaxed as ho spoke, “this ple- ture, as you call it, was taken long ago, before Mr, Grison got the pea- cock, When did you see the peacock last? e “On the very night kind t me wos murde bs: you sure that Mr. Grisan did not give the peacock to some one, say, & day or so before ho met with his ‘death t" “Him give it away,” with supreme contempt he es wos good t' me, ses t' me es he'd rather die nor give up thet shiny An’ die he did, when it wes (To Be Continued.) erled Jotty “Why, alr, a | j