Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-17
Continued from page 10


the project profitable one
"DoubtlesS. Are YOU we'll acquainted
with this part of the country, Mr.. Blair
yes. I've been coming here for years.
as there an army post nearby"
"Not within a hundred miles.
"Nor any officers on special detail about?"
"\one, so far as know"
Kent produced from his pocket the silver
star with the shred of cloth hanging to it.
"Ths may or may not be an important clue
to curious death that occurred here three
days ago"
"Ycs. I've heard something of it, said the
other indifferently Il took it to be mostly
gossip.
Before the death there was a struggle.
This star was found at the scene of the strug-
gle.
at looks like the star from the collar of
an officer. l should say positively that it
was from an army or navy uniform"
"Positiveness is the greatest temptation
and snare that | have 70 fight against" re-
marked Chester Kent "Otherwise should
say positively that no officer, going to a
dubious rendezvous would wear a uniform
bound to make him conspicuous. Are YOU
yourself an expert in wooden fabrics, Mr..
Blair"
Il have been"
whether or not the whole cloth is all WOOL"
Without replying, Blair gave the steering
handle a quick sweep, and the car drew up
before a drugstore. He took the star and
was gone a few minutes.
Not all WOOL" he announced on his re-
turn.
Exit the army or navy officer remarked
Kent
Why so?'
Because regulations require all wool gar
ments-and get them. What is the fabric?"
something in the nature OF a wOrSted
batistc should Judge. from what | could
make out under the inferior magnifying
glass"
THANK YOU, Mr. Blair You've elimi-
mated one troublesome hypothesis for me.
I'll telephone You before three OF clock. Good
day.
FROM the wooden manufacturer, Chester
L Kent went direct to the Martindale Cen
ter library, where he interviewed the IL
brarian.
DO YOU get the Agriculture Department
publications.
"YeS."
Have YOU a pamphlet issued by the
Bureau of Observation-Disclosures on The
Swarm Phenomenon in Lepidoptera
les, OH II Was Inquired lOI OILY YES
terday by Mr. Blair
"Ah, yes. He's quite interested in the
subject, believe
1T must be quite recent, then, said the
librarian. 1--WE haven't seen him here for a
long time until two days ago, when he came
and put in a morning. reading on insects.
$50. Mr. Alexander Blair. said Kent, ad-
dressing the last fencepost on the outskirts
of the town. after thoughtful walk, that
was a fatal break on Your part, that mention
of Helmund. Amateurs who have wholly
dropped a subject since years back don't
usually know publications issued only within
three months. That casual meeting with
me was we'll carried out. But why am |
worth 50 much trouble to know? And why
does Alexander Blair leave desperately i'll
son to arrange an errand for me at this par
tcular time? And is Hedgerow House, four
teen miles distant and possessing just such
an electric car as woman would use in driv-
ing round the country, perhaps the place
whence came Sedgwick's sweet lady of mys-
terry? Finally, what connection has all this
with the body lying in Annalaka burying
ground"
Eliciting no reply from the fencepost,
Kent returned to the Eyrie called up
Hedgerow House, and declined Blair prop