The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-01-07

dressing-gOWn and bedroom slippers
that Toye instantly recognized as be-
longing to Cazalet. The man had a
shock OF almost white hair, and less
gray beard clipped roughly to point.
An unwholesome pallor marked the
fallen features; and the envenomed
eyes burned low in their sockets, as
they dealt with Blanche but fastened
on Hilton Toye.
What do you know about Henry
Crayen's murderer" he demanded in
a voice between croak and crow.
Have they run in some other poor
devil, or were you talking about met
If SO. Ill start d libel action. and call
Cazalet and that lady as Witnessed"
'This is Scruton." explained Cazaiets
'swh0 was only liberated this evening
after being detained week on charge
that ought never to have been brought.
as I've told you both all along" Scru-
ton thanked him with a bitter laugh.
i've brought him here concluded
Cazalet, because | don't think he's
at enough to be about Alone"
Nice of him. isn't IT." said Scru-
ton bitterly. I'm so at that they
wanted to keep ING somewhere else
longer than they'd SLY right; that may
be why they lost no time n getting
hold Of me again. Nice. considerate,
kindly country! Ten years isn't long
enough to have you as a dishonored
guest. Won't you come back for
another week, and see If we can't ar
range for nice little sudden death
and burial for YOU? But they couldn't
you see, blast emf"
He subsidized into the best chair in
the room. which Blanche had wheeled
up behind him; moment later he
looked round. thanked her curtly. and
lay back with closed eyes until sud-
dealy he opened them on Cazalet.
.And what was that you were say
ing THAT about travelling across Hu-
rope and being at Uplands that night7
thought you came round BY sea?
And what night do you mean?'
sThe night it all happened" said
Cazalet steadily.
You mean the night some person
unknown knocked Craven on the
head?"
Yes
The sick man threw himself for
ward in the chair. "You never told
me thisi' he cried suspiciously: both
the voice and TIE man seemed strong
er.
There was no point in telling you"
did you see the person?"
Yes
Then he isn't unknown to your
II didn't see him we'll"
Scruton looked sharply at the two
mute listeners. They were very i'm
tent. indeed who are these people.
Cazalet? No! l know one Of EN-.
he answered himself In the next
breath. Its Blanche Macnair. isn't
1t? / thought at first it must be
younger sister grown up like her.
You'll forgive prison manners. Miss
Macnair. if that's still your name. You
look woman TO trust If there is
one and you gave me your chair.
Anyhow. you've been in for penny
and you can stay in for pound. as
far as care! But who's your Amer
can friend. Cazalet?"
.'Mr Hilton Toye. who spotted that
I'd been all the way to UpIands and
back when claimed to have been in
Rome!
There was a touch of Scruton's bit
terness in Cazalet's voice; and by
some subtle process it had distinctly
modifying effect on the really embit-
tered man.
what on earth were you doing at
Uplands?" he asked In kind Of con-
fidential bewilderment
Il went down to see man.
Toye himself could not have cut and
measured more deliberate .monosyl-
lables.
-craven?T suggested Scruton.
mo; man expected to find at
Craven's."
"The writer OF the letter you found
at Cooks Office in Naples the night
you landed there. guesss"
It really was Toye this time. and
there was no guesswork in his tone.
Obviously he was speaking BY his lit
tie book. though he had not got It out
again
"How do you know ! went to
Cook's?"
Il know every step you took be-
tween the Kaiser Fritz and Charing
Cross and Charing Cross and the
Kaiser FRITZ"
Scruton listened to this interchange
with keen attention, hanging on each
mans lips with his sunken eyes: both
took it calmly. but Scruton's surprise
was not hidden by sardonic grin.
You've evidently had stern chase
with Yankee cIipper!" said he ''If
he's right about the letter. Cazalet.
should say SO; presumably 1t wasn't
from Craven HIMSELF"
sNO"