Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-17
CHAPTER xxxv.

any one Of the little group standing there
in the darkness. That some momentous
| event was going to happen everybody knew
without being told. Tacitiy, it seemed to be
understood that everything was in the
| hands of Inspector Field.
| Previously on the arrival Of his two men.
| he had sent one Of them on with hurried
| instructions Of some kind. The other man
| stood by the gate like statue. Mark Vent
more, growing restless at last, turned TO
Field and asked question. The inspector
| was wiping his damp hands upon his hand
kerchief as IL he himself was thief wait
| ing for arrest.
| land there Is an end of the matter"
| Mark felt that he could not say any more
after that. Mary was still crying softly
| to herself. The misery was with her yet, as
she felt that 1t would be to her dying day,
| but the agony of suspense was past. or
| what took place in that house from time to
| time she knew great DEAL but some things
| had been kept back from her. 1t was the
vague feeling of what might be that fright
| ened her.
| Half an hour or more passed in the same
tense, rigid silence, and yet there was no
| sign from the house. A figure crossed the
road and came up the drive, making no
more noise than ghost 1t was Fields
| man returning.
| The inspector turned to him with an eager
| agitation that seemed strange to him.
| WELL he asked, "have you anything
defnite?''
| His voice sounded hoarse and strange.
| The other man touched his cap He seemed
to hesitate before the presence of so many
strangers. Field urged him on impatiently.
Don't be all night" he said. you can
speak before the lady and gentleman. They
don't know everything yet, but they will In
| the course of a few minutes. Did you man
age it?"
| ure In the big coat said. Il got through
| fIn tolo 10 fhn CnY,fh ORR no
| and told them all the particulars They
said that they would send round to Edward
| street without delay"
| "Of course you stayed to see that they
had done So"
"Of course, sir. 1t isn't very far cry
| to Edward street. so I waited. 1 asked the
inspector in charge to telephone me directly
| the raid had been made"
ooh, get on, man." Field cried inpatient
| ly. You're not in the witness box now
! grinding 1t out so that the magistrates
clerk can take 1t all down in long hand.
| What want to know Is whether or not the
raid was effective"
ITO certain extent sir. They took the
| housekeeper who doesn't appear to have
| had much to do with the matter, and an
old gentleman who looked like a clergy
man. So far, there was nobody else In the
| house."
Field gave vent to something that sounded
! like a grunt of satisfaction. Mary said
nothing. but she had a pretty shrewd idea
| who the clergyman was. Field seemed to
be fairly pleased.
80 far, so good" he said. "Are they
going to send round the motor car? shall
be very glad to see our elderly clerical
| friend here"
The officer indicated that everything
would be done in accordance with Fields
desire.
There was one other man wanted" he
said mot that one ever gets everything
in cases like this. Unless am greatly mis-
| taken there was another man In Edward
| street, a tall man."
! "Called the DOCTOR" the officer said eager
| ly. II know all about him. because they
told me over the wire from Southwark ex-
actly how the raid was made. The house
keeper called to some doctor" but the
police couldn't find him. I expect he found
some way of getting or
| He'll come here" Field said emphatical-
ly. Hell come IL only to tell his pals
exactly what has happened. He'll come
post haste in a cab. If he does I shall
bag the lot. This is going to be fine
| evenings work"
Seeing that nothing further was expected
of him. the officer saluted and went beyond
| the gate. Still there was no sign from the
house, and the silence and suspense were
| growing intoerable. Mark ventured to sug-
gest that something should be done.
| Field turned upon him with the fury a
| tiger. BY his anger he showed that he, too,
was feeling the strain of suspense.
| "Confound you. sir" he said. "allow me
| to know my business best Here I am close
| to the solution Of one Of the strangest and
most daring crimes of the century. and yet
you are asking me to spoil it by the raw
| haste Of a schoolboy.'
| Perhaps I had better CO." Mark said.
| Come with me, Miss Sartoris. Let us leave
together. 1t will be better for you that
| way"
mo, Mary said gently. 'I am greatly
obliged to you, but shall stay"
Both stay. please Field said in gen.
| tier tone Mr.. Ventmore. let me make you
the most handsome apology in my power.
| am afraid that this thing has got little
! on my nerves. You see. this is great case,
a far greater case than anybody is aware
more less by accident today. And II
there is anything like struggle, your help
may be Of value
Mark let the matter pass. He could quite
understand Fields feeling Another quarter
| of an hour slipped away; the road was now
| quite deserted, so that the wheels Of a COM
| ing cab could be heard a long way off.
| There was little discussion between the
cabman and his fare, followed by the bang
| ing of a door, and the heavy footsteps came
staggering up the street and big man
passed before the gate of No. 100 Audley
| place. With a sign, Field motioned his
| companion to steal behind the bushes.
Zone of our birds. unless 1 am greatly
mistaken" he said. Yes. he is coming
| this way
Mary held her breath now, for she did
| not fail to recognize the newcomer. She
could see from casual glance that 1t was
| Brentwood.
| lie came with Il luTCn ana Il StdSSer winch
| proved his condition. He seemed a little
| suspicious at first, but the silence of the
| house, the steady CLEAN of the light over
| the fanlight. seemed to dispel any suspicious.
| Then he advanced more boldly to the door.
| AS he stood the bottom step, Field
| emerged from his hiding place.
| Doctor Brentwood" he said, II fancy I
| am not mistaken. You will oblige me oy
taking your hand off the bell. Nobody will
| answer your ring.
| Taken aback for moment. Brentwood
| stepped off the path. He bent and gripped
| Field by the throat.
| you little beast!' he Missed. "I'N kill
YOU. II you only knew who you are talk
| ing tor'
| But Field was made Of whipcord and
steel. He slipped away from the others
| grip and planted two three body blows
that caused Brentwood to groan aloud.
| Mark stepped out at once. but there was no
need Of his services. Field was all over
his man by this time AS he clenched and
| drove his left home, Brentwood came heavily
to the ground. Before he could stagger to
| his feet again, Field had the handouts on
| him.
Its an outrage" Brentwood clustered.
| though his face was white now and his big
red cheeks shook like jelly. What does
| 1t all mean?"
1Case of Sir Charles Darryll Field M nj