The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-07-04
or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance of
Gerald RathbOne.
BY GUY THoRNE.
BY GUY THoRNE.

answered, smiling genially, his whole
face lighting up and becoming mark
eddy attractive as he did so; you've
always been a good friend to me,
Charliewood."
my banking account is very low
Just at present" the other went on.
Then I'll write you a check at
once" Sir William answered, getting
up from his chair and going to the
writing table in the corner of the
room.
Charliewood's face cleared a little.
Then he noticed his cigar had been
burning all down one side. He dropped
1t into an ash-tray and put his hand in
his coat pocket to find a cigarette.
He took out an ordinary silver case,
when his eye fell upon the crest en-
graved upon the ove He started
and looked again, turning it so that
the light fell full upon it.
The crest of the Charliewood family
was a hand with a battle-ax and the
motto, NE Morare," and, in the usual
custom, it was engraved upon Charlie
woods own case.
But this was not the Charliewood
crest. 1t was a wyvern charged on a
shield, and the motto consisted Of the
ingle word "Gardez."
He gave a startled exclamation.
Whats the natter" Sir William
said. turning round sharply.
I've got ONE other fellows cigar
cite case" Charliewood answered in
a~mazement, opening it as he did so.
There was only one cigarette in the
case, but there were several visiting
cards in one compartment, and, more
over, the name of the owner was cut
in the inside Of the lid.
The case dropped from Charlie
woods fingers with a ~clatter, and he
grew quite pale.
What is it," his host inquired
again.
Have you been playing some in
fernal trick on me, Gouldesbrough?"
~Charliewood said.
mo; why?"
Because this cigarette case, by some
strange chance, is the cigarette case
OF the man we've been talking about,
this Gerald Rathbonei"
He stood up. thrusting his hands
deep into the pockets Of the fur coat
as he did so. Then he pulled put a let.
ter, stamped and addressed and OBJ
viously ready for the post.
Good heavens!" he said, here's
something else. It's a letter for the
post"
Whom is 1t addressed to-" Sir Will
lam asked, in a curious voice.
Ch~arliewood looked at it. then
started again.
"As live" he answered, 'it's adj
dressed to Miss Poole, 100a, Curzon
street,"
There was a curious silence for a
moment or two. Both men looked at
each other, and mingled establishment
The whole thing appeared uncanny.
They seemed, while connecting some
thing like a plot, to have trodden u
awares into another.
Suddenly Charliewood stamped his
foot upon the ground and peeled off
his overcoat.
I've got IT," he cried; why, of
course, I've seen the very man myself
this morning. This Is his coat, not
mine. I went to a hairdresser's this
morning, and left my o in the ante
o while I was going through a
massage treatment. When | came out
there was a man waiting there for his
turn, and must have taken his coat
in exchange for mine. And the man
was this Mr.. Gerald Rathbone, of
course. You know, these dark blue
coats lined with astrachan are quite
ordinary; everybody is wearing them
this year. And I noticed. by Jove, that
the thing seemed a little tight in the
cab! It's about the oldest coinci-
dence that I've ever come across in
my lifei"
Sir William bowed his head in
thought for a minute or two.
We'll, this Is the very best oppor-
tunity you could have. my dear fell
low" he said, 'of making this mans
acquaintance. OF course, you eau take
him back his coat and the cigarette
case at once"
And the letter." Charliewood said,
swiftly; the letter to Miss Poole?'
Sir William looked ~curiously at his
guest.
Il think" he said, slowly, that I'll
just spend half an hour with this let
ter first. Then you can take 1t away
with the other things. assure you
that 1t will look just the same as it
does now"
Charliewood shrugged his shoulders,
+, Have 1t your own way he said.
contemptuously. but don't ask me to
open any letters to a lady, that's all"
Sir William flushed up and was
about to make an angry reply when
the door OF the study was suddenly
thrown open and they saw the butler
standing there.
There was a rustic of skirts In the
passage.
Lady Poole and Miss Poole, sir"
said the butler.