Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12
-HE inn Of THE Three jolly
Fishermen" which lies on the
left bank of the Thames, within


but empty when Cleek, answering the
superintendent's note. strolled into 1t
and discovered Narkom enjoying his
tea in solitary state at a little round
table in the embrasure of bay WIN
dow at the far end of the little private
parlor which lies Immediately behind
the barroom.
'My dear fellow, do pardon me for
not waiting" said the superintendent
as his famous ally entered. looking
like a college-bred athlete In his boat
ing fannels and his brim. tilted pam
anna. but the fact is, you're little
behind time for once. and. besides. !
was absolutely famishing."
Share the blame on my 1ateness
with me, Mr.. Narkom," said Cleek, as
he tossed aside his hat and threw the
flag end of the cigarette he was smok-
ing out through the open window.
'You said in your note that there was
no immediate necessity for haste. so
improved the shining hour by another
spin down the river. 1t isn't often that
duty calls bring me to a little Eden
like this The air is like balm today,
and as for the river-oh, the river is
sheer delight
Narkom rang for Il fresh pot of tea
and a further supply of butter toast.
and when these We're served Cleek sat
down and Joined him.
IT dare say" said the superintendent.
opening fire at once. that you wonder
what in the world induced me to bring
you out here to meet me, my dear fell
low, instead of following the usual
course and calling at Charges street.
Well the fact is, Cleek. that the gen
tleman with whom I am now about to
put you in touch lives in this vicinity.
and is SO placed that he cannot get
away without running the risk of hav-
fnp the step he is taking discovered"
''Humph, He is closely spied upon.
them" commented Cleek. 1.-THE trouble
arises from some one or something IN
his own Householder?
mo; in his fathers. The trouble so
far as I can gather. seems to emanate
from his stepmother. a young and very
beautiful woman. who was born. on the
Island of Java, where the father of our
client met and married her some two
years ago. He had gone there to probe
into the truth of the amazing state
ment that a runic stone had been un-
earthed in that part of the globe
"Ah, then You need not tell me the
Rentleman's name. Mr.. Narkom." inter-
posed Cleek. Il remember perfectly
we'll the stir which that ridiculous and
unfounded statement created at the
all nations scoffed at the thing and
pointed out that the very term rune
is of Teutonic origin. one enthusiastic
old gentleman-Mr. Michael Bawdrey,
a retired brewer. thirsting for some
thing more enduring than malt to car
~ his name down the ages-became
fired with enthusiasm upon the subject
and set forth for Java hot foot as one
might say. / remember that the papers
made great game of him, hut I heard,
in M a
dear. 1ovable old chap and not at all
like the creature the cartoonists por-
traved him"
what memory YOU have. my dear
Cleek! Yes. that is the party. and he is
dear. 1ovable old chap at bottom.
Collects old china. old weapons. old ar
NOR. curiosities of all sorts-lots of 'em
bogus. no doubt. catch the charlatans
among the dealers letting a chance like
that slip them-and is never so happy
rs when showing his collection to his
friends and being mistaken by the ig-
norant for a man of deep learning"
"A very human trait. Mr.. Narkom.
We all are anxious that the world
should set the highest possible valua-
ton upon US. 1t is only when we are
moderated that we object. So this dear.
deluded old gentleman. having failed to
secure a rune in Java. brought back
something equally crvptic-a woman?
Was the lady of his choice native or
merely an inhabitant of the island?"
Merely an inhabitant. nv dear fell
low. AS a matter of fact. she is Eng
1ish. Her father. doctor long since
deceased. took her out there in her
childhood. She was none too well Off.
believe: but that did not prevent her
having many suitors. among whom was
Mr.. Rawdreys own son. the gentleman
who Is anxious to have you take up this
case"
"Oho" said Cleek with a strong ris-
ing infection. so the lady was of the
full HAT Iii ha
didn't care for youth and all the rest of
1t when she could have papa and the
money chest without waiting. A COM
mon enough occurrence. Still. this does
not make IN an affair and especially
an affair which REQUIRES the assistance
of detective. and you spoke of "a
case What is the case. Mr.. Narkom 90
Il will leave Mr.. Philip Rawdrey
himself to tell you that" said Narkom.
as the door opened to admit young
man of about eight and twenty. clothed
in tennis f1annels. and looking very
much perturbed. He was handsome.
fafr-haired. fair-mustached young fell
low. with frank. bovish eyes and that
unmistakable something which stamps
the products of the varsities. Come in,
Mr.. Bawdrey- You said we were not to
wait tea. and you see that we haven't.
Let me have the pleasure of introduce
ing Mr.
"Headland." put in Cleek. adroitly.
and with a look at Narkom as much as
10 say. Ion give me away | may not
care to take the case when l hear it, so
what's the use of letting everybody
know who I ann" Then he switched
round in his chair. rose. and hsld out
his hand. Mr.. George Headlant of the
Yard, Mr.. Bawdrey. | don't trust Mr..
Narkoms proverbiaIlv tricky memory
for names He introduced me as Jones
once. and ] lost the opportunity of
handling the case because the party in
question couldn't believe that anybody
named Jones would be likely to ferret
IT out"
Funny idea that" commented Young
Rawdrey. smiling and accepting the
pronered hand. Rum lot of people you
must run across in your line. Mr.. Head
land. Shouldn't take you for a detective
myself shouldn't even in a room full of
them. College man. aren't you?
Thought so. Oxon or Cantab?'
acknowledgements
ooh. Lord, Never thought Id ever
live to appeal to an Emmanuel man 10
do anything brilliant. I'm an Oxon
chap: Brasenose is my alma mater. I
say Mr.. Narkon, do give me a cup of
tea, will you? ] had to slip of while
the others were at theirs and I've run
all the way. Thanks very much. Don't
curtain a little. do your his frank. boy
fish face suddenly clouding- II don't
want to be seen by anybody passing. It's
ing spied upon at every turn. Mr.. Head
land. and that want of caution may
mean the death of the person you love
best in all the world
"Oh. it's that kind OF case. is IL
0ueried Cleek. ma kiu,. room for him to