Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06
CHAPTER VIII.
A Timely Warning

CHAPTER VIII.
A Timely Warning
TT was rather late that evening when'I returned
L to the Cayleys: for had to go to the office
and write my report of the murder. 1t would
be a scoop for THE Courier; for though the
other papers might get hold of the bare facts,
the details of the thrilling story constructed
were naturally exclusive. l made it pretty
lurid, and put in all had told Freeman. which
| intended to repeat at the inquest.
The news editor was eXultant. He regarded
Sunday murder as nothing short of Godsend
to enliven the almost inevitable dizziness of the
Monday mornings issue at this time of year.
Lucky you weren't out of town. Wynn, or
we should have missed this and had to run IN
with the rest" he remarked with chuckle.
Lucky!
wish 1 had been out of town." said gloom
lily. Its CHASTITY affair.
"Get outi CHASTITY" he calculated with
scorn. "Nothing's CHASTITY to a journalist, SO
gotten YOU ever possessed any nerves, long ago.
Must say you look a bit off color though. Have
a drink"
l declined with thanks His idea of a drink
in office hours, was, as knew some vile whisky
fetched from the nearest pub, diluted with
warm fiat soda. and innocent of ice. I'd wait
till got to Chelsea, where was bound to hap
pen on something drinkable: AS good Ameri-
can, Mary scored off the ordinary British house
wife, who preserves fixed idea that ice is a sin
full luxury, even during a spell of sultry sum-
mer weather in London.
7 DROVE from the office to Chelsea, and
found Mary and Jim, with two or three
one of the few old fashioned ones left in that
suburb. redolent of many memories and asso-
Citations of witty and famous folk, from Nell
Gwyn to Thomas Carlyle, and Mary was quite
proud of her garden, though 1t consisted merely
of small lawn and some fine old trees that shut
off the neigh boring houses.
"At last! You very bad boy! We expected
you to tea," said Mary, as l came down the
steps of the little piazza outside the drawing
room windows GU don 1 mean W 20 ten on me
ness, Maurice! you look worse than you did
this morning! You haven't been committing
murder, have YOU"
mo; but I've been discovering one" l said
lamely, as dropped into wicker chair.
"A murder! How thrilling! Do tell us all
about it u cried pretty, kittenish little woman
whose name did not know. Strange how some
women have an absolutely ghoulish taste for
horrors
Give him chance, Mrs. Vereker," inter
posed Jim hastily with his accustomed good
nature. He hasn't had drink yet Moselle
cup, Maurice, or long peg!,'
He brought me a tall tumbler of whisky and
soda, with ice clinking deliclously IN 1t, and
drank it and felt better.
"Thats good" remarked. Il haven't had
anything since l breakfasted with you: forgot
all about it till now. You see, happened to
find the poor -Cassavetti-when ran up
to say goodby to him"
"Cassavetti!" cried Jim and Mary simulta-
neousy, and Mary added:
why, that was the man who sat next us
next Anne-at dinner last night, wasn't it, the
man the old Russian you told us about came to
seee"
/ nodded. 1.-The police after him now,
though the old chap seemed harmless enough,
and didn't look if he'd the physical strength
to murder anyone" ! said, and related my
story to a running accompaniment of exclama
tions from the feminine portion of my audience,
especially Mrs. Vereker who evinced an un-
holy desire to hear all the most gruesome de-
tails
TIM sat smoking and listening almost in silence,
> his jolly face unusually grave. This stops
your journey of course Maurice?" he said at
length, and thought he looked at me curiously.
Certainly | met his eyes he avoided my
gaze if in embarrassment, and felt hot and
cold by turns, wondering if he had OWNED the
suspicion that was torturing me, suspicion that
was all but certainty, that Anne Pendennis was
intimately involved in the grim affair. He had
ALWAYS distrusted her.
% For day or two only Even if the inquest
is adjourned. / don't suppose III have to stop
for the further hearing" | answered, affecting
an Indifference l was very far from feeling.
"Then you won't be seeing Anne as soon as
you anticipated" Mary remarked. Il must
write to her tomorrow. She'll be SO shocked!"
did Miss Pendennis know this Mr.. Cassa-
vetti?" inquired Mrs. Vereker.