The evening world., 1915-02-02


nights work, without any question
Of . murder; they'll simply pask him
on to Dartmoor or Portland when
we've saved his miserable neck. And
save 1t We will, no fear about that:
prics!"
II don't sse that you need trouble
about It," said Lady Vera. concerned
At bis distress, beyond putting mo
In touch with Mr.. Vinson. The rest
Will be up to him. as they sey; and.
very terrible to me. 30 now. DR.. Dol
lar, will you crown all your great
Kindness by taking me to see the
Home Secretary at oncef"
He fs not In town"
Have you forgot that I saw you
together at almost . o'clock7"
II think not quite 80 late a. that.
The Home Secretary left huston at
"where sorrs o..
She looked panic-stricksn.
IN tell you, Lady Vera, II you
promise not TO follow him by the next
train"
When does It GOT"
4 want you to leave the whole
thing TO me-from this worry mo-
ment till you hear from me again."
When would that be. Doctor DOL
"As soon AZ have seen Mr.. Vim
son. There is no train until Z that
will take me to-
III you care to motor there, will
have one Of our cars at the door
here for you In ten minutes."
I'm 60 home in q taxi and send
one Of them straight round with a
driver who knows the way, and a
coat that you must promise to wear.
DIR. Dollar. All my people are away
except my mother, and she won't
know; she isn't strong enough to use
the cars"
Dollar had heard from Topham Vim
son-that very day at lunch-that
Lady Vera's escapades had made her
mother. Lady Armagh. seriously III.
In dream he saw a small hand
wave as the taxicab vanished round
the corner to the right; in dream he
sprang upstairs, hiding under his coat
the weapon with which that little
hand had dealt out death. and awoke
In his wintriest clothes. his greatest
coat, to find himself called upon to
top the lot with another Of unkempt
fur sent with the car.
The dapper chauffeur huddled over
the wheel. and, with Dollar beside
him, he started the car on its Journey
to Stockersham Hall. where Vinson
had planned to spend Christpas.
At last they were skirting one OF
the longest and stumpiest stone walls
in feudal England, and all Of a sud
den II parted In twin turrets Joined
by triple gates. Over the central arch
heraldic monsters paved the stars:
underneath an arc lamp hung re-
splendent; all three gates were open
and the drive beyond was q perspev-
tive OF guiding lights. It was eyi.
IDENTIFY a case Of Christmas festivitiei
on q suitable scale at Stockersham
Hall.
Before a comparatively simple por-
tico q superlatively splendid menia
looked askance at the doctors bor-
rowed furs, but was not unimpressed
by curt inquiry for Mr.. Topham
Vinson. and consented to inquire In
his turn.
BE quick and quiet. and give him
this card said the doctor, slipping
half a sovereign underneath II. %
want to see Mr.. Vinson-no one else
on urgent business from the Homa
once"
Yet the next minute merely brought
forth an imposing parsonage whom
the dapper driver did not fail to sa
lutte; even Dollar was not positive
whether II was the host or his butler
until summoned indoors with thu
subtle condescension OF the supreme
servitor.
Soon DR.. Dollar came back. Vim
son was with him. Together they sc
of for London, in the car. For tim,
they rode In silence. Then:
DO you still refuse to give ho
manner" demanded Topham vinson
exactly as though they had been talk
Ing all the time.
II must" said Dollar. in . muffict
voice. and he pointed to the hunchet
shoulders of the chauffeur within q
yard Of their noses.
I'm that case we have no secrets.
replied the Home Secretary. with 9
sneer. But why must you. Dollar
She seems to have made no reserva'
tions with you, yet you would make
this enormous one with me-"
"It's a secret of the consulting room
Mr.. Vinson: those Of the confessiona
are not more sacred. a. you know
perfectly we'll"
And you expect me to eat my de-
cision on the strength of a hearsaI
Anonymous confessionT"
n do--in the first instance" sale
Dollar decidedly. IAN immediate
respite would commit you to nothing
but I don't ask even for that on tn,
unsupported strength OF what tolt
you at Stoekersham. You've got tha
, blackjack In your overcoat pocket
Hand It over to your own analyst
have an exhumation. II you like. an
see II the weapon doesn't actually n
the wound; II II doesn't. hang you
man."
: I'm much Obliged for your valu
, able advice. But it's got to be on
thing or the other. once for all; tn
poor devil has been on tenter-hook
quite long enough"
/ "And have you forgotten how near
, iy you decided In his favor. Mr.. Vim
son. without all this to turn tn
: scale?"
IT'S no good. my dear feilowi" Vim
son exclaimed. II must have tn
: lady's name. upless she's determine
. to defeat her own ends"
do you mean to say that It's he
, name or Croucher's life?"
4 Vera Aoyie was ono OF the Oxfor
4 Street division" vinson remarked, q
last. II know all about her move
ments on the night Of battle; other
!, wise ! should want TO know abou
J. them now, II I thought she was tn
|, whats thatr' said Dollar. lethsr