The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-22

! De any one you my GEAR ItIlcN.
long as underneath You are your ow'
ingenious self
Thank you" said Cleek. with a littl
bow. half pleased. half ironical. 'Thel
We'll make ii Headland, and if 1 DON
mistake here is the gentleman come i!
search of us"
He looked toward a motor car whicl
had driven through the park gates AM
in which was seated Mr.. Berwick. hi
anxious eyes staring from side to sid
as he strove to find the superintendent
in the gay crowd of motors and car
riages. The superintendent made littl
gesture of angry lmpatience. Il toll
him to wait. he nuttered irritably. a
he stood up. but his anxiety has go
beyond him One thing IL pretty Ger
tain-I'm not saying he's guilty. nlinC
you. but it would be a pretty good thin.
for him if ANYTHING should happen Il
that boy. and I mean to keep my eye
on him
Quite right. my dear Mr. Narkom. tb.
very thing I should suggest" agreed
Cleek. twitching up his eyebrows as Mr.
John Berwick Joined them. All. glad
to meet YOU. my dear sir-delighted. I'm
sure. Lovely day. what? Want me tc
help YOU. l believe. Anything I car
do" He babbled on in that incense
quent "silly-ass manner which Mr..
George Headland always adopted.
Mr.. Berwick gave him quick. SHARP
look of establishment. Then he. too
bowed, and took the limp hand Cleek ex-
tended to him.
Il think. Mr. Berwick" said Cleek. IF
you will let Mr. Narkom here drive your
car. perhaps YOU can give me the full
details of the case, of which I have but
the barest outline. Mr. Narkom tells me
that your cousin disappeared six months
ago. and since then YOUR sister-in-law
and two out of three of the children have
died. and YOU suspect foul play
Yes" said Mr. Berwick. rather sharp
ly, and Cleek could not help liking the
grave. pure-toned voice. L do suspect
foul play. Mr.-er-''
'Headland. George Headland of Scot
land Yard, at your service"
Berwick notioned Mr.. Narkom to take
his place al the wheel. and when the
three men were seated. the car proceeded
at leisurely rate toward Marble Arch.
and he swung into his story.
II had better begin at the beginning"
he said. with the death of my uncle
Sir Anthony Berwick two years ago
It's like this. Mr.. Headland At the
reading of his will it was found that the
main bulk of his immense fortune. less
requests to servants. was left to his only
son. Maurice. and his male issue. and
in the event of their deaths TO his broth
ers. Edward. who has died without is
sue in Africa. and Gerald. my father,
who is also dead"
So that You are now the sole surviv-
ing legatee" put in Cleek.
Absolutely" and it seemed as If a
note OF envy crept into the smooth tones.
We'll. all went happily enough till six
months after Sir Anthony's death The
first ! heard of anything wrong was
telegram. from Ella. about six months
ago. asking if Maurice was with me. if
not. begging me to come at once.
Well. I hadn't seen any signs OF him
or months. and wired back and made
arrangements to go down TO Torquav.
When l arrived there I found the whole
house in confusion and Ella nearly mad
with suspense Maurice. 1t seems. had
announced his intention of going up toI
London for a Weekend and he had not
The matter was put into the
lands of the police" Mr.. Narkom nod
led grinlv, but to no avail. Ella work
d herself to such pitch of hysteria
hat. acting on the advice of her DOCTOR
Dr. Colton-she and the three children
vent TO stay at his hydropathic home. |
the Crooked House. near Dartmoor."
Cleek twitched up his head. with a
TRANCE. birdlike movement. Then he |
ave an inane laugh. Funny name for |
house. isn't it," said he carelessly.
Yes it is an old house that has
hanged hands many times. and so many
id wings and additions have been made
o it that il had gained that name local
Y. though l believe II is known legally
he air and change of scenery would re-
tore Ella to her normal self. The two.
usband and wife, were so passonately
ttached to one another that l didn't
-onder at her breaking down. I per-
uaded Ella at last TO go to the Crooked
louise and my wife consented to ac-
her. The house was almost
mpty of other patients and it was ar
lnged that the whole family, Ella and
ne three children. and Mrs. Heseltine
leir nurse. and the governess. or COM
anion. should all take up their abode
18th her
What about Mrs. Hazeltree?" asked
leek
ably. oh. one of the old-fas hioned
ind. passionately attached to the fam
'. and hates me as the next heir like
bison: good as calls me a murderer
cry time I see her.
Cleek bent to brush away an invisible
'eck Of dust from his coat sleeve. His
DICE was calm. disinterested. And the
,verness. Mr.. Berwick. said he.
Miss Lorne? Oh. very nice girl and
I old friend Of Elias Well a fort
ght after the removal Ella died-heart-
oxen al Maurice's loss. She never had
strong heart and DR.. Cotton was able
certify heart disease. although he said .
ankly if it had not been for the shock I
ID suspense she might have lived many i
.ars. l think he was nearly as cut up
,out poor Matrices death AS
Hello. what's that" struck in Cleek
arply. jerking up his chin. Il thought |
VI told me just now that the gentleman l
as alive. but missing /
Mr. Berwick bit his lip. He must be. I
said. almost confusedly. ''or he would 6
We returned {
Yes. of course" Cleek had resumed
; air of bland serenity. He sat chew
: his finger nails and looking the pic t
re of idiotic imbecility. We'll. go on. a
RS. Berwick was cremated, l suppose" e.
Mr.. John Berwick gave a start and sur I
we'd him in wide-eyed amazement
What on earth made YOU think of 1
essing that" he spluttered startled il
I of himself by Cleek's sudden ques h
N. Ella left letter in which she r
eyed her husband if he survived her. v
his executors. 10 have her body crem t
I'd Most angry. DR.. Cotton was. too.
,wever. he carried out her wishes and v
haved like the good old man he Is O
:. Berwick stopped short. the beads of
aspiration standing out on his fore a
ad.
Mr.. Headland." he continued in terse "