Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-13

window was cage containing q gray par
rot. ard the writing table was decorated
VIII sesss S Fl eTs pss.ty eom.or,.s,.
chr zSir James observed. But 1t isn't
likelyanyb0dy would be here while he was
out. the time that bracelet went"
NO. Nreplied Hewitt. meditativeiy. mo.
He staAed thoughtfuliy out of the window.
and thenA stiu deep In thought. ratified at
the wires (of the cage with quill tooth
rot. Thenl looking up at the window again.
he said: THAT is Mr.. Lloyd, isn't 1t. COM
ing back - q fiy?''
Yes. think 90. Is there anything else
you would care to see here?"
mo. thank you," Hewitt replied; II don't
think there is
They went down to the smoking room.
and Sir James went away to speak to his
secretary. When he returned. Hewitt said
quietly: Il think Sir James(I think that
emily"
think? began to believe you were hope
lessly stumped."
We'll. yes. I have rather a good clue.
although l can't tell you much about It
Just yet: But 1t is SO good a clue that 1
should like to know now whether you are
determined to prosecute when you have the
criminal?"
Why. bless me. OF course" Sir James re-
Piled. with surprise. at doesn't rest with
me, you know-the property belongs to my
friends. And even II they were disposed
to let the thing slide. 1 shouldn't allow it
my house."
"Of course, Of course! Then, IL I can. 1
should like to send a message to Twyford
by somebody perfectly trustworthy-not a
servant. Could anybody go?"
We'll. there's Lloyd. although he's only
mus, PACK IRON IRON MS journey. But If it's
1T is important The fact Is we must
nave policeman or two here this evening,
and "a like Mr.. Lloyd to fetch them with
out telling anybody else"
Sir James rang, and, in response to his
message, Mr.. Lloyd appeared. While Sir
James gave his secretary his instructions,
Hewitt strolled to the door of the smoking
room and intercepted the latter as he came
out.
m sorry to give you this trouble, Mr..
Lloyd he said, but I must stay here my
seIr Tor a little, and somebody who can
be trusted must CO. VIII you just bring
PACK police constable with you? or ra;h-
err two-two would be better. That is all
that Is wanted. You won't let the serv-
ants know, will you? OF course, there will
De female searcher at the Twyford po-
ice station? Ah-of course. Well. you
needn't bring her. you know That sort of
thing Is done al the station" And, chat
ting thus confidentially, Martin Hewitt saw
him off.
When Hewitt returned to the smoking
room Sir James said, suddenly: why,
bless my soul. Mr.. Hewitt, we haven't fed
you. I'm awfully sorry. We came in
rather late for lunch, you know, and this
business has bothered me SO l clean forgot
everything else. There's no dinner till IL,
SO you'd better let me give you something
now. I'm really sorry. Come along
Ihank you. Sir James, Hewitt replied;
Il won't take much. A few biscuits, per-
maps. or something of that sort. And by
the by. If you don't mind 1 rather think
l should like to take 1t alone The fact is
want to go over this case thoroughly by
myself. Can you put me in room?'
ANY room you like. Where will you go?
The dining rooms rather large, but there's
my study, that's pretty snug, Or
Perhaps can go into Mr.. Lloyd's room
for half an hour or so; don't think he'll
mind. and it's pretty comfortable"
Certainly. If you'd like I'll tell them
to send you whatever they've got"
Thank you very much. Perhaps they'll
also send me lump of sugar and wal
nut; lists little fad of mne''
A-what? A lump of sugar and wal
nut?' Sir James stopped for moment,
with his hand on the bell rope. "Oh, GER
tainly If you'd like it, certainly" he added.
and stared after this detective with Gu
rious tastes as he left the ROOM
When the vehicle bringing back the Sec
rotary and the policeman drew up on the
drive, Martin Hewitt left the room on the
first floor and proceeded down stairs. On
Mrs. Cazenove, who stared with astonish
ment on perceiving that the detective car
ried in his hand the parrot cage.
Il think our business is about brought
to head now, Hewitt remarked on the
stairs. Here are the police officers from
Twyford." The men were standing in the
hall with Mr.. Lloyd, who, on catching sight
of the cage in Hewtts hand, paled sud-
denly.
This is the person who will be charged
1 think" Hewitt pursued addressing the
officers, and indicating Lloyd with his fin
ger
What. Lloyd?" gasped Sir James,
aghast. ''No-not Lloyd-nonsensev
He doesn't seem to think it nonsense
himself. does he?" Hewitt placidly OBJ
served. Lloyd had sank on chair, and.
gray Of face, was staring blindly at the
man he had run against at the Office door
that morning. His lips moved in spasms,
but there was no sound. The wiIted flower
fell from his buttonhole to the floor, but
he did not move.
This is his accomplish" Hewitt went on,
placing the parrot and cage. on the hall
table, though I doubt whether there will
be any use in charging him. Eth. Polly?"
The parrot put his head aside and
gled. Come alongr'
Sir James Norris was hopelessly bewild-
cred. "Lloyd-Lloyd," he said. under his
breath. "Lloyd-and that"
This was his little messenger. his use
full Mercury" Hewitt explained, tapping
the cage complacently; lin fact, the actual
litter. Hold him up!'
The last remark referred to the wretched
Lloyd, who had fallen forward with some-
thing between a sob and loud sigh. The
policemen took him by the arms and prop
ped him in his chair.
SYSTEM" said Hewitt, with a shrug of
the shoulders, hour or two after in Sir
James study. Il can't say l have a sys-
tenn. 1 call it nothing but common sense
and sharp pair of eyes. Nobody using
these could help taking the right road in
this case. l began at the match. just as
the Scotland Yard man did, but l had the
advantage of taking line through three
cases. To begin with, 1t was plain that
that match being left there in daylight, i'll
Mrs. Cazenove's room, could not have been
used to light the table top, in the full
glare of the window; therefore 1t had been
used for some other purpose-what pur-
pose 1 could not. at the moment, guess.
Habitual thieves. you know, often have
curious superstltions, and some will never
take ANYTHING without leaving something
behind-a pebble or piece OF coal or
something like that-n the premises they
have been robbing. 1t seemed at $hrst ex-
tremely likely that this was case OF that
kind. The match had clearly been brought
in-hecause, when asked for matches. there
we're none in the stand, not even an empty
hoy and the room had not been disturbed