The Sentinel=record., 1916-11-26

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 dale house. lie was bearer of a message from his mother, in- viting Florence to an impromptu lit- tie dinner which Mrs. Clayton was to give that evening at the Crest Country Club.
 As Clayton neared the house he caught a glimpse of Florence, play ing with her kittens in the rose gar den at the rear.
 Taking advantage of his position IS lifelong friend of the Montroses, he altered his course. Instead of mounting the veranda steps he walked around the house, toward the garden, his footsteps noiseless on the soft turf of the lawn.
 But by the time he reached the rose garden Florence had gathered up the armful of kittens and carried tlem into the house by a rear door. So Bob retraced his steps toward the front veranda.
 As he passed by the long French windows at the side he had an un- obstructed view of the wide hallway that ran the full length of the lower floor
 Idly. half consciously, he glanced in. Then, his brow contracting, he looked more closely Some enc was standing-or, rather crouching-at a curtained doorway in the hall
 Clayton at once recognized the eavesdropper as Felix pr. Mont roses man5ervant, although the serv- ants back was toward him. Before Boo could move on he saw a second man walk into his range of vision.
 IL was Dr. Montrose himself, com ing into the hall from the adjoining library. And SD quietly did the doc tor advance that he was at Felix's elbow before the servant was aware of his employers presence.
 Clayton saw Montrose's face darken with indignation at sight of FeliX's attitude of spying. Then he saw the doctor seize the servant roughly by the shoulder and spin him about. Montrose's lips were moving. Evi- dently he was rebuking the man for eavesdropping.
 But Felix showed no fright or shame at his detection He met Dr. Moutrose's accusing glare with calm eyes. A faint sheer twisted his pallid lip corners.
 As the doctor ceased speaking Clay ton saw FeliN's mouth open in reply, lie could not, of course, hear the servants words, which seemed brief and concise-but he could note their effect on the doctor.
 Montrose's face went pale. His hand dropped from it's grip FeliN's collar He took a hasty step back ward. For an instant he and the servant faced each other in tense silence.
 Then Felix, with an ironic half smile bowed and walked away. Dr. Montrose stared after him in some thing very like abject terror for a full minute.
 Clayton suddenly realized that he himself had been an onlooker at something that did not in the least concern him. He turned 10 continue his progress toward the front door. And as he did so he almost collided with Layton Parrish.
 He had not heard Parrish approach. He did not know how long the de- tective might have been standing there at his side, nor how much of the tableau through the windows he might have seen.
 Good day, MT. Clayton" the de- tective greeted Bob. "I was starting up the steps when l saw you stand ing here, with your mouth open. You seemed so much interested in some thing that l thought I'd join you to enjoy the show, too. Whats up?"
 q saw FeliX--Dr. Montrose's serv- ant, you know-listening at a door way. The doctor caught him at 1t and started to call him down, Felix turned on him and said something that seemed to go through pr. Mont rose like a knife. What do you make of it?"
 '1f I knew what to make of every thing that goes on in this queer old house." slowly replied Parrish, as if choosing his words with infinite care, "Pd know more than is good for any square man to know. and I'd know a lot more than was good for a few other people to have me know"
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