Charlevoix county herald., 1915-06-19

heart failing although he concealed
his annoyance successfully, as he led
the way into the dining room. No
doubt Martin can still get up fairly
acceptable meal for you. Have a
drink of something ?"
MacBee declined and sat down
YEARLY. II had wire from London
this morning stating that you had
started for here" he explained in an
swer to their queries, "and being in
the neighborhood tonight thought I'd
take chance of finding YOU"
"But what on earth brings you up
to Scotland?" Darlington asked.
Business" MacBee answered.
You're likely to find me most any
where. Perhaps Pm watching you, "
he added slyly.
Indeed laughed Sir Harry.
"Then permit me to offer you bed
for the night and gun in the morn
ing-if you're not too tired to get out
at dawn with u.s."
"I'd like to do it-nothing better,
Sir Harry-really would" said Mac
Bee with genuine regret. "But I'm up
here on a little hunting expedition of
my own that will keep me quite
busy"
Darlington looked sharply at him,
but neither MacBee's tone nor express
sion gave the slightest hint as to his
thoughts. "Is it permissible to ask a
question? ?" Sir Harry said.
"Quite-to ask-but not for me to
answer, | am afraid" MacBee replied.
II must be off at once after l have
eaten, and have had little chat with
you-if you will be good enough to
pardon my seeming rudenes."
Certainly" said Farndale. "But l
wish you could change your mind and
stay over with us. Are you alone in
the carr"
Eyes," said MacBee. 81 have two
men down in the village, but / ran
out myself"
"The inspector ate hurriedly, but
with evident enjoyment. When he had
finished he pushd back his chair and
took out his pipe, declining Sir
Harry's offer of a cigar. 81 suppose
you gentlemen are aware that Mr.
Cornish's yacht succeeded in evading
the revenue cutter that was sent out
in search of her," MacBee said as he
lighted his pipe carefully, watching
the two closely through the blue haze
of rising smoke.
Eyes. We saw the accounts of the
affair in the papers this morning.
Farndale admitted. as there any
later news about her."
mo-" said MacBee. "The Murita
showed the cutter a clean pair of
heels. She was discovered only few
miles off the coast near here, but
slipped away in the darkness. Mr..
Cornish certainly is daring gentle
man-the type of American million
aire that dares anything-even to
evade the law--to attain his own de-
sires."
Both Darlington and Farndale
nodded, and waited with ill-concealed
Impotence for him to continue. Nat
urally they were nervous, specializing
upon the possible knowledge of the
inspector. They were thinking of the
trio hidden upstairs, and wondering
whether MacBee's carefully assumed
ignorance was only blind-if he
really knew or suspected that the
three were there. The thought of Har-
court suddenly regaining conscious
ness end making an cutlery that might
betray him, occurred to both of them.
So they both fidgeted in their chairs,
fervently hoping in their nervousness,
that the detective would go shortly.
81 hope that you will both believe
me to be sincere when | say that ] am
working in the interests of Lord Har-
court as well as those of the law
MacBee said at last, knocking the
ashes from his pipe. "No one wishes
to see his name cleared of this charge
more earnestly than | do, but ] want
to warn you gentlemen that you will
only make my work harder, and harm
both your friend and yourselves if
you make any foolish moves now"
MacBee looked keenly from one to
the other of them.
81 don't think | quite understand"
said Sir Harry.
Pardon me-" said MacBee with an
indulgent smile, "but think you do
perfectly. | may as well
tell you that am perfectly well aware
of the fact that an attempt was made
to set Lord Harcourt ashore when the