Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-19
CHAPTER Xxx.
And That's the Truth.

| Frederick Power was shown in.
| I won't have you think that there was
| anything remarkable about the man. Oh
anything that would-even momentarily-
distinguish him from any number of other
| hall porters, who wear a uniform and
! peaked cap, have the air of having seer
military service and wear a couple OF
medals on a we'll developed chest.
| He was perfectly respectful, all the
| more so because Sir Thomas was Gen
! Sir Thomas Ryder. X. G. B.-a fact which
any other exalted title. non-military in
| character, would have done.
| He saluted and stood at attention, and
as he gave answer to Sir Thomas pre-
| liminary questions his words rang out
clear and direct obviously truthful, as II
| frosty spring morning.
'Your name is?
Frederick Power. SIR
You are hall porter at the Veterans
| Club in Shaftesbury avenue?'
Yes, SIR"
"You were in the lobby of the club las,
| night, as usual?"
Eyes. SIR
| "And Mr.. Philip de Mountford. who is
| a member Of the club, was in the smok-
ing room at 8 o'clock yesterday evening"?
Eyes, SIR
| He came almost every evening, I un-
| derstand?"
That's right, sir
| "Alone mostly?''
Not often. sir. Lord Radcliffe was
| with him most evenings"
! "And Lord Radcliffe and Mr.. de Mount
ford dined together on those occasions in
the club dining room?'
Yes, sir"
| But last night Mr.. de sIountford was
alone?"
Eyes, sir. He had some dinner at about
| half-past Z. and then he went to the
smoking roOm.'
| Later on gentleman called to see
| him?'
That's right, sir. 1t was about a quar-
| ter-past 8. The gentleman asked to see
| Lord Radcliffe, but I said that is lord
ship admit come to the club this night
| Then the gentleman asked If. Mr.. de
| Mountford was in, and ] said yes
| And you showed him into the smoking
| room?''
| Il told i'm he would find Mr.. de Mount
ford in the smoking room; yes. sir
isn't that rather against club rules to
| allow strangers to walk in and out OF the
rooms?''
| well. sir. the Veterans is a new club
| and the committee amt very partik'lar. y
! So far the questions and answers had
| followed on one another in quick success
| sion. Sir Thomas Ryder, with his clever,
lean head, held somewhat OH one side, ap-
! peared to be reciting a Well learned les
| son, so even and placid was the tone OF
| his voice and so Indifferent the expires
! sion of his furrowed face. One leg was
crossed over the other. and his tapenne
| hands, white and Wrinkled like his face
toyed with large ivory paper knife,
| hardly winter In color than they.
He had not told Frederick Power to sit
| down, as he might have done in the case
of witness who was a civilian. He
! preferred to keep the man standing, and
hat ~ hue
| get clearer and sharper replies.
well, Them he resumed, after q brief
| interval, during which he had modified
| his position somewhat, but had not varied
| the placid expression Of his face. ''you
| told the visitor that he would find Mr.
de Mountford In the smoking room. What
happened after that?"
1.-The gentleman walked in. sir. And he
shut the door, sir. after i'm"
Did you hear anything that went on
mo, sir. I didn't pay no attention at
| first, SIR
Then afterward? After awhile you did
pay attention, didn't you?"
ing room Is quite close to the entrance,
sir. and presently heard loud voices like
as il the two gentlemen was quarreIing. +"
Did YOU hear what was said"
NO, sir, not the words. But the voices
they sounded awful. And one other gen.
room and asked me what the noise was
about. There amt many members now
at the Veterans. sir. and being q foggy
night we was partfk' lar.. quiet. But this
SO e just opened the smoking room door
and peeped in, and then did ear few
words"
What were they?'
"Abuss. sir, mostly. One gentleman was
goin' on awful. but couldn't rightly say
which one it was. card the word beg
gar and lazy. idling. good-for-nothing,'
but 1 couldn't rightly say 90 said EN-
How long did this go on?'
oh. long time; sir! I couldn't say
smoking room. And at about 9 o'clock
or soon after the visitor come away. and
e asked me for light"
What did he seem like then?'
Il thought. ed been drinking. sir. His
face was all queer and pale, and moist
like. and is and shook like anything
when he lighted is cigarette"
Mr.: de Mountford did not come out
with him ?"
mo. sir. not just them but e come out
OF the smoking room a moment or two
later, while is visitor was still in the all.
Mr. de MouItford e was quite calm. sir,
didn't look at all as if ed been 'aving a
quarrel. Ed his cigar between lis lips.
his at on and lis Overcoat over is ARM
did he speak to the visitor then?''
Not right away. sir. e seemed to be
'esitating like at first. then e came for
ward and e says: I am going back to
Grosvenor Square now. Would you like
to see Uncle Rad about this business
yourself? But 1 warn you that e is OF
the same mind as myself"
And what, did the other gentleman
say"
:" e just kind o. laughed and shrugged
his shoulders and said: I've no doubt
of that
Then after that they did agree to go
to Grosvenor Square together"