Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20


with the landlord, and said: "How's things
Fancy any of EN- for the sprint handicap?
Got a ladso your own in. haven't you?"
''Oh, yes kentish replied. Crockett.
Only a young un not got to his proper
mark yet, l reckon. I think old Taylor's
got No. 1 this time"
Capital lad, the other replied, with a
confidential nod. Shouldn't wonder at all.
Want to do anything yourself over it?''
mo. 1 don't think so. I'm not on at pres
ent. Might have a little fiuttsr on the
grounds just for fun; nothing else
There were few more casual remarks,
and then the red-faced man drove away.
who was that?" asked Hewitt, who had
watched the visitor through the snuggery
window.
That's Danby-bookmaker. Cute chap.
He's been told Crockett's missing, I'll bet
anything and come here to pump me. No
good. though. AS matter of fact, I've
worked Sammy Crockett into his books for
about half I'm in for altogether-through
third parties. of course.
Hewitt reached for his hat. I'm going
out for half an hour now. he said. III
back. don't let him. Let him go and
smooth over all those tracks on the cinder-
path. very carefully. And. by the by, could
YOU manage to have your son about the
place today. in case | happen to want a
little help out of doors?'
Certainly; I'll get him to stay in But
what do you want the cinders smoothed
for?'
Hewitt smiled. and patted his hosts
shoulder TN explain all my tricks when
the jobs done" he said. and went out.
On the lane from Padfield to Sedby viii
lage stood the Plough beer house. wherein
J. Webb was licensed to sell by retail beer
to be consumed on the premises or OH, as
the thirsty 1t. Nancy Webb, with very
fine color, very curly fringe and a VIDE
smiling mouth revealing a fine set of teeth,
came to the bar at the summons OF Stout
ish old gentleman in spectacles who walked
with stick.
The stoutish old gentleman had glass of
bitter beer and then said in the peculiarly
quiet voice of a very deaf man: can you
tell me. if you please, the way into the
main Cation road?'
Down the lane, turn to the right at the
crossroads, then first to the left
The Old gentleman waited with his hand
to his ear for some few seconds after she
had finished speaking. and then resumed IN
his whispering voice: I'm AFRAID M very
deaf this morning" He fumbled IN his
pocket and produced q note book ana pen
Gil MAY I trouble you to write 1t down!
I'm so very deaf at times that / Thank
YOU
The girl wrote the direction and the Old
gentleman babe her good morning ana le1t
All down the lane he walked slowly with
his stick At the cross-road he turned, put
the stick under his arm, thrust ms spec
tacles into his pocket. and STROBE away IN
the ordinary guise OF Martin iiewdt,' NJ ne
pulled out his note book, examined MISS
Webbs direction very carefully, ana then
went off another way altogether, toward
the Hare and Hounds.
Kentish lounged moodily in his bar. Nv ELL
nv boy" said Hewitt, has Steggles
wiped out the tracks,?
Not yet: I haven't told him. But he's
somewhere about I'll tell him now.
No don't / don't think We'll have that
done after ALL I expect he'll want to go
out soon-at any rate, some time during
the day Let him go whenever he likes
I'll sit upstairs a bit in the club room
Very well. But how do you know Steg-
giles will be going out?
well. he's pretty restless after ms iost
protege, isn't he? don't suppose he'll be
able to remain idle long
"And about Crockett? Do you give MN
up?" ...o,+
"Oh, no, Don't you be impatient.
can't say I'm quite confident yet OF lay
ing hold of him-the time is so short, you
see-but think shall at least nave news
for you by the evening": A.,
Hewitt sat III the club room until the
afternoon, taking his lunch there. AT
length he saw, through the front WINDOW
Raegy Steggles walking down the road
In an instant Hewitt was downstairs anu
at the door The road bent eighty yards
away. and as soon as Steggies pasSeu 'Ae
bend the detective hurried after hlm
All the way to Padfeld town and more
than half through it Hewitt logged the
trainer. In the end Steggles stopped at
corner and gave note TO a sihdii poy W.
was playing near. The boy ran WIN ne nc
opposite corner Martin Hewitt was inter-
ested 10 observe the legend, II. DSnby'
Contractor" on a board over a gaze IN tne
side wall of the garden behind TINS mousse.
In five minutes a door in the side gate
opened and the head and shoulders OF the
1ed-faced man emerged. Steggies immedi-
ately hurried across and disappeared
through the gate.
This was both interesting and instructive.
Hewitt took up a position in the side street
and waited. In ten minutes the trainer
reappeared and hurried off the way ne had
come along the street Hewitt had con-
siderately left clear for him. Then Hewitt
strolled toward the smart house and took
a good look at it. At one corner of the
snail piece of forecourt garden, near the
ratings a small. baiZe-covered, Slass-front-
ed notice-board stood two posts. On
its top edge appeared the words, H. Dandy.
Houses to be Sold or Let" But the only
notice pinned to the green baize within was
an old and dusty one. inviting tenants 1of
three shops, which were suitable for any
business, and which would be fitted to suit
tenants. Apply within.
Hewitt pushed open the front gate and
rang the door-bell. There are some shops
to let / see" he said, when a maid APP
peared Il should like to see them, if you
will let me have the key
Masters out, sir. You can't see the
shops till Monday
Dear me- that's unfortunate; I'm afraid
I can't wait till Monday. Didn't Mr.. Dandy
leave any instructions, in case anybody
should Inquire?
Eyes, sir-as I've told you. He said any
body who called about EN- must come
again on Monday"
"Oh. very we'll then; I suppose L must
try One of the shops is in High street.
isn't it?"
mo. sir; they're all in the new part
Granville road
.Ah. I'm afraid that will scarcely do. But
III see. Good day
Martin Hewitt walked away couple of
streets lengths before he inquired the way
to Granville road When at last he found
that thoroughfare, in a new and muddy
suburb. crowded with brick-heaps and half
finished streets. he took slow walk along
it's entire length. 1t was melancholy eX-
ample of baffled enterprise. A row of a
dozen or more shops had been built before
any population had arrived to demand
goods. Woud-be tradesmen had taken
many of these shops, and failure and dis
appointment stared from the windows
Some were half covered by shutters, be-
cause the scanty stock scarce sufficed to
fill the remaining half. Others were shut
almost altogether, the inmates only keep
ing oren the door for their own con-
ven:ence. and perhaps, keeping down
shutter for the sake of a little light 9th
ers again, had not YET fallen so low, but
struggled bravely still to maintain show
of business and prosperity. with very little
success Opposite the shops there still re-