The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-05-26
CHAPTER q. "caPta;n TheophiIus Digby of tfee Seventh Goorkhos."

YY ME shook his head mournfuIly. q
 reckoncd you'd ask for that, E M but I haven't got it. It's
 on my chain on the dressing table. I had tq leave it behind, for I couldn't leave any clews to breed suspicious. The gentry who are after me are pretty bright eyed citizens. You'll have to take me on trust for the night, and tomorrow you'll get proof of the corpse business right enough
 thought for an instant or two
 ''Rightt I'll trust you for the night I'll lock you into this room and keep the key. Just one word, MT Scudder. I believe you're straight, but if so be you are not I should warn you that I'm a handy man with gum ii "Surer' he said jumping up with some briskness. Y haven't she privi- lege of your nameI sir; but let me tell you that you're a white man. I'll thank you to lend me razor.''
 took him into my bedroom and turned him loose.
 Tn half an hours time a figure came out that I scarcely recognized. Only his gtnnlety, hungry eyes were the same. He was shaved clean, his hair
 
 cut his eyebrows.
 Further: He carried himself as if he had been drilled and was the very model, even to the brown complexion, of some British officer who had had long spell in India He had mono cle, too, which he stuck in his eye, and every trace of the American had gone out of his speech.
 7. My hat!.I MT. Scudder'' stam- mered.
 sNot MT. scudder,'' he corrected. Captain Theophilus Digby of the Seventh Goorkhas, presently home on leave. I'll thank you to remember that, sir''
 made him up a bed in my smoking. room and sought my own couch more cheerful than I had been for the past month Things did happen occasion ally even in this God forsaken me trcpolis.
 I woke next morning to hear my man Paddock making the deuce of row at the smoking room door.
 Paddock was fellow had done a good turn to out on the Selakwi, and had inspanned him as my servant as soon as I got to England. He had about as much gift of the gab as hip- popotamus and was not great hand at valeting, but knew could count On his loyalty.
 tStop that row, Paddock" I said There's a friend of mine, Captain | Captain q couldn't remember the name) 'tdossing down in there. Get breakfast for two, and then come and speak to me-"
 I told Paddock fine story about l how my friend was great swell, with his nerves pretty bad from overwork, who wanfeds absolute rest and still ness Nobody had got to know he was i here or he would be besieged by com munications from tEc India office and l the prime minister, and his cure would 1 be ruined.
 I am bound to say Scudder played up splendidly when he came to break l fast.
 He fixed Paddock with his eyeglass, | just like British officer; asked him l about the Boer war and slung out at 1 me lot of stuff about imaginary pals l of whom had never heard Paddock l couldn't learn to call me "sir." but he e.sirred'' Scudder as if his life depend ed on it.
 1 left him with the newspaper and a box of cigars and went down to the city till luncheon. When I got back the porter had an important face
 'eNawsty business 'ere this morning, sir Gent in No. 15 been and shot l 'isself They've just took i'm to the
 mortuary- The police are up there now"
 l I ascended to No. 15 and found a couple of hobbies and an inspector busy making an examination. asked a few idiotic questions. and they soon kicked me out. Then found the man that had valeted Scudder and pumped 1 him, but could see he suspected noth- ing.
 | He was a whining fellow with a
 churchyard face, and half 9 crown Il went far to console him. Il I attended the inquest next day. A
 partner of some publishing firm gave
 evidence that the deceased had brought him wood pulp propositions and had
 been, he believed, an agent of ar I American business. The jury found it a case of suicide while of unsoun6
 mind, and the few effects were hand ed over to the American consul | I gave Seudder full account of the affair, and it interested him greatly
 He said he wished he could have at