Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-15
CHAPTER XIV.
And MANY Must Be Questioned.

By the time the police officers reached
the outer hall door, Luke had received his
order of dismissal. He stood on the steI
for a moment, undecided what to do. and
saw the two men coming out of his
uncles study.
They raised their hats as they met him
on the doorstep and one of them said, po
litely:
"AIr. Luke de Mountford?'
THAT is my name,'' replied Luke.
mine is Travers-attached to Scotland
Yard Could ask you q few questions
Certainly. but not in my uncles house
I think.
"Of course not: where do you suggest
Here on the doorstep, II you like"
Hardly. Might l trouble you to steI
into a cab with me and come as far al
Victoria police court?'
It's very late, isn't it? / have an en-
gagement at II, close by here,
He was going to fetch Col. Harris and
Louisa at the Danish legation and piio'
them home to the Langham.
rs an important matter. Mr.. dc
Mountford," retorted the man. Are YOU
lodging anywhere near here?
'In Exhibition road. Kensington'
"Ah, close to Cromwell road?"
mot far"
..Then where shall It be, Mr.. de Mount
ford?''
Just as You like
The taxicab which had brought ths
police officers was standing some few
PAGES farther on. its strong lights only
just piercing the intensity of the fog. ano
it's throbbings, as the taXimeter marked
off twopences with unerring rapidity, fill
ed the night with their strangely familiar
sound.
The three men got into the cab, the Off.
Ger telling the chauffeur to remain sta
tionary until told to move on.
>t>rHs,k tIA hf fa0c
Mr.-er-Travers," remarked Luke. as
soon as all three of them had slowed
themselves fairly comfortably in the in
terror of the vehicle. II suppose 1t Is
about this CHASTITY affair that you wanted
to speak to me-.
Yes. sir. 1t was about that. I thought
YOU could give us some information about
the late Mr.. de Mountford's past life, or
his former friends"
Il know nothing retorted Luke. dry
ly. "of my cousins past or present life.
He did not confide in me.
But you were good friends? inter-
posed the other, quickly.
1--WE knew each other very little"
And tonight?'
81 saw him at his club"
Where was that?"
'The Veterans. in Shaftesbury ave-
nue.
"About what timer
Between and g.
"You had some talk with him."
Eyes"
Pheasant talk?" asked the officer, in
differently.
Family affairs" rejoined Luke, dryly.
"And you parted from him."
Somewhere about 81
I'm the club?'
''In the club
1.-THE doorsteps?"
mo. The lobby"
He was alone then? I mean-besides
yourself was no one with him."
mo one. The hall porter stood there,
Of course
mo one joined him afterward?''
THAT l cannot say. When 1 parted
from him he was alone
You know that Mr.. Philip de Mount
ford was murdered in taxicab between
Shaftesbury avenue and Hyde Park cor
ner soon after 3 O'clock?'
II have heard most Of the details OF
that extraordinary crime"
'And you can throw no light on it at
all?"
"None. How could To-
Nothing" insisted the police OFFICER,
"occurs to you at this moment that might
help US In any way to trace the muir
derer?'
Nothing whatever.
The man was silent. 1t seemed as IL he
was meditating how best to put one or
more questions Up to now these had
been curt and to the point. and as they
followed one another In quick succession
there was a marked difference in the at