Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-26
CHAPTER XVIII.
cunliffe Makes an Amazing State.

At three o'clock that afternoon, with
excuses made to Mr.. Stapleton and Myra,
1 mounted into the car. and with a merry
farewell to the bright-eyed girl who had
SO fascinated me as she sat at my side
at luncheon I was whisked down the
drive and on to Nation station.
There had been no wire from Granny,
therefore feared the worst. Ralph Gar
shore had forestalled me.
On arrival at York / rushed to the big
bookstall and bought several evening pa
pers. which I glanced through. expecting
to see the report Of a sensational arrest.
But there was nothing-not single
mention of the Radcliffe Gardens mystery
could / find.
An express for Grantflam was due In
a few minutes. This l took. and duly
arrived at the quiet, clean old market
town which, having lost its Importance
as a coaching station. has of late become
popular stopping place for motorists.
AT the old Angel and Crown I got a
dogcart and was driven seven miles out
up the hill along the North road through
Great Ponton. past Crabtree House to Col.
sterworth village. where, at sunset / ar.
rived at the inn and was directed &c
kelston cottage.
| experienced but little difficulty in find
ing it-a pretty. well kept house, standing
back in small garden filled with sweet.
smelling. old-world flowers. just outside
the village, on the way to Woolsthorne
The rustic porch was smothered Will
crimson ramblers in full bloom while
upon one side of the place yellow roses
half hid the wall.
My knock was responded to by re-
spectacle old lady whose speech and man
ner told of quiet retirement Probabl,
she had seen better days.
When | asked for DR.. Blakeney she al
once expressed regret that he had left or
the previous afternoon.
She invited me into the clean little mar.
Tor. scented by the musk growing in the
window, and in response to my inquiry
said:
! DIR. Blakeney arrived at the inn a cou
pie of days ago, and took apartment:
with me. He wished to be alone in ordel
to study, he said, and preferred private
rooms"
He is a great student" / said. "He
teleeraphed me only yesterday that he
to see HIM"
Hes a most charming man-such a
good talker for one so deeply studious
He was telling me only yesterday morn.
ing what great traveller he has been
studying ecclesiastical architecture. / told
him he should see Little Ponton Church
which they say is pure Norman
But how came he to leave?' / inquired
anxiously.
We'll. about ) O'Clock yesterday two
gentlemen, strangers in Colsterw H.
called. and he seemed very surprised 10
see them. But he treated them cordially
/ CHANGED to be looking out of the win
dow and saw them approaching. They
struck me as rather suspicious. from the
confidential manner in which they were
conversing.'
Yes said. breathlessly. VIVA,
| them
well. DR. Blakeney received them in
this room. which he had as a sitting
room. The door was shut. and for nearly
half an hour they seemed to be engaged
in long discussion. He came out. looked
brandy and three glasses from the din
ing room. Then a quarter of an hour
afterward he came to me. and. speaking
in tone quite unusual. paid me and ex-
pressed his great regret at being COM
PEELED to leave at Once-on very urgent
business. He only had one suit case
quite new it seemed-and he took that
| with him. All three walked together into
the village. and 1 hear they drove back
into Grantham.
"Did he mention where he was going?'
| I asked. This departure was very sud.
den?'
Very sudden she exclaimed only
an hour before he was quite lively and
cheerful, telling me how much he hao
| enjoyed walk he had taken alone
through the fields on the previous day
But it seemed that his friends induced
him to return to London.
ITO London. Then he went back &c
London
Yes. 1 know that, because as l passed
the door ! heard one Of the men say,