Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-29

istered to him took that form. Anyway,
Brentwood disappeared, and 1t was generally
understood that he met his death by falling
out of a boat when shooting sea fowl That
was the story that one of MS servants
brought back. but we could never ascertain
how far that fellow was IN his masters
pay. Anyway, a year later one of our men
came back from his long leave saying that
he had seen Brentwood at Monte Carlo, and
that he appeared to be bursting with money.
Another Of ours was reported to have seen
him after that, almost in rags, in London.
Anyway, he is an amazingly clever man.
and perhaps one of the greatest scamps that
ever lived. Still, if we get any luck tonight,
he will almost have shot his bolt"
II think you may safely reckon upon
that" Field said dryly. Its exceedingly
lucky for me that l ran up against you in
this way, colonel. But for that accident
should have been utterly at fault ANYWAY
1 should not be here at this moment"
There was no chance for further talk, for
by this time Sartoris had released the straps
of the packing case and raised the lid. The
others stood around him, looking white and
anxious with the exception of Brentwood,
who was smoking cigarette quite careless
ly. With an impatient gesture, Sartoris
pointed to the case by his side.
Now, then," he said CURLY, t'are you
people going to keep me waiting all night?
Do you think that cripple like me can do
everything? Give a hand here, you men,
whilst one of the others clears the table
Pull the cloth off,
There was a clatter of china and glass
and clink of bottles. at the sound of which
Brentwood looked around with a sudden
spasmodic grin on his face. But Sartoris
scowled at him furiously, and he turned his
watery gaze in another direction. The
table was clear now, and the rajah, with the
help of the man called Reggie, and Rich
ford, raised some inanimate object from the
trunk. 1t was limp and heavy, 1t was
swathed in sheets, like a lay figure or
mummy. AS the strange thing was opened
out 1t took the outlines of human body a
n hn cI,cr ton, nf ,rS,,
and murder and violence Bennington
breathed hard as he watched
II we only dared to do something" he
muttered Il suppose it is easy to guess
what they have there?"
Easy enough, indeed, sir" Field said be-
tween his teeth. ITS the body of Sir
Charles Darryll. There is deeper mystery
here than we are as yet aware of. They
are laying the body out on that table as il
FOR some operation 1 don't know what to
think: l.
Shut that door" sartoris commanded in
hard high voice There is a deuce of a.
draught coming in from somewhere. You
don't want that, Ell, Bentwood!'
Brentwood muttered that 1t was the last
thing he did desire. The door closed with
bang. there was long silence broken at
last by feeble cry of pain, cry some
thing like that of a child who suffers under
some drug. Bennington leaped to his feet
AS he would have crossed the hall a figure
came along-the figure of woman in a
gray dress 1t was the gray lady that
Beatrice had seen that fateful evening,
the woman who had sat by the side of Mark
Ventmore in the Paris theater. She wrung
her hands in silent grief
oh if only there was somebody to help
me, she said. IF God would only give to
me and send to me friend at this moment,
l would pray"
Bennington stepped out into the light of
the hall
Your prayer has been answered" he
said quietly. Il am here to help you, Mary"
Go be continued tomorrow