Evening star., 1918-05-19
The Wizards Belt
. 7 WAS exactly three o'clock when
the 2:47 train from Victoria set
Cleek down at wadsworth Com
-.-- o-5 6ftaon

III the 2:47 train from Victoria sci
Cleek down at wadsworth Com.
x mon. and it was exactly fifteen
minutes later when he was shown
into the modest little drawing room
of No. II Sunnington Crescent by
Mrs Culpin herself. handed an after
noon paper, and left in sole possession
of the place.
The letter that drew him to this
particular house at this particular
time had come from Mr.. Narkom. and
was couched in these words:
My Dear Cleek:
A most amasing case-probably the
most amazing you have yet tackled
has just cropped up. and 1 am all
eagerness to have you hear the as
tonishing details as expeditiously as
possible. he client is one Capt
Morrison, a retired army officer liv-
ing solely on his half pay; SO the
reward-if any-must Of necessity
be small. His daughter. Miss Mary
Morrison. a young and extremely at
tractive girl, is involved In the amaz-
ing affair, and it is at her earnest ap-
peal that the matter has been brought
to my notice. AS the captain is In
such weak health that a journey OF
any distance is out of the question. ]
shall ask you to meet me at Wands-
worth Common, where he lives. Will
you. therefore. be at II Sunnington
Crescent, Wandsworth. this afternoon
between the hours of and 4?
The house is the residence of a Mrs
Culpin. widow of one of my Yard
men who was killed last autumn.
n n
knowing your reluctance in the mat
ter Of any clue to your identity be-
ing circulated. I have given you the
name you adopted in the Bawdrey
affair: George Headland." 1 have
also taken the same precaution with
to disclose your identity or not. as
you see fit. after you have interviewed
him and the other persons connected
with this extraordinary affair.
Yours. ETC.. MAVERICK MAROON,
Cleek did not even glance at the
afternoon newspaper which Mrs. Culpin
had SO considerably left him. In
stead, he walked to the open window.
through which the summer sunshsine
was screaming, and. with his hands
loosely clasped behind his back. stood
out thoughtfully at the groups
of merry children who were rompfng
on the not far distant common and
making the air melodious with their
happy laughter. And so he was still
minutes later. the door behind him
opened and Narkom walked into the
room.
we'll. here I am at last. you see.
my dear fellow" said the superintend-
ent. crossing the floor and shaking
it? What are you doing. admiring the
view or taking stock of Mrs. Culpin's
roses?"
Neither. I was speculating in fu-
tures." replied Cleek, glancing back
at the sunlit common and then glanc-
ing away again with a family audible
sigh. How happy. how 4arefrts
they are. those merry little beggars.
Mr.. Narkom. What you said in your
letter set my thoughts barking back
wa, ward snt and ,s,n. -. c.s;n was wonder.
parents. At one time. you know. that
fellow Philip Bawdrey was as innocent
and as guiltless as any Of those little
shavers, and yet in the after years he
proved a monster Of iniquity. beast
Of ingratitude. and oh. well. let
dren always do pay under Gods good
rule. wonder what his thoughts
were when his last hour came"
TT did come. then?"
yes. 1 had letter from Mrs.
Bawdrey the other day. News had
disease. Of course. In Buenos Aires.
His father never knew of his guilt:
never will know now. thank God!
He mourhed bitterly. of course. poor
old chap: but-~ell. heaven tempers
all things with its mercy. The rascal
other now. born three months ago.
The longer live the more sure
become that straight living always
pays, and that heaven never forgets
to punish and to reward"
''Ten years Of Scotland Yard have
emphatically." replied Narkom. 1.-The
riddle of the ninth finger was no diff
ferent In that respect from nine hun
sIred other riddles that have come my
way since I took office. Now sit
down. old chap. and let US take up the
present case. But I say. cleek. speak
ing OF rewards reminds me of what
wrote you. There's VERY little
chance Of one in this affair All the
parties connected with 1t are in very
moderate circumstances. The sculp-
tor fellowS Van Nant. who figures in
Il. was quite well to do at one time.
believe. but he ran through the
greater part of his money. and a dis
honest solicitor did him out Of the
rest.
Miss Morrison herself never did
have any. and. as have told you. the
captain hasn't anything in the world
but his pension: and 1T takes every
the circumstances. I'd have made it q
simple Yard affair. chargeabIe to
the government. and put one Of the
regular stan upon It, Eut it's such
an astounding. such an unheard-o
thing. I knew you'd fairly revel In
. hn A~
ySu have won. you must be quite
q well-to-do man by this time. and
able to indulge in a little philan-
thropy."
Cleek smiled
"I will indulge in 1t. Of course" he
said. but not for that reason, Mr.
Narkom. I wonder how much 1t will
surprise you to learn that, at the
present moment, I have just one hun
dred pounds in all the world?"
my dear fellow" Narkom exclaimed
with a sort of gasp. staring at him
IN round-eyed amusement. You fairly
take away my breath. Why, you
must have received a fortune since
you took up these special cases. Fifty
or sixty thousand pounds at the small
est calculation"
ceived exactly f72.oOo. Mr. Maroon.
But. as tell you. have to-day but
f100 of that sum left Lost in specu-
lation? Oh. dear. no, I've not in
vested one farthing in any scheme
company or purchase since the night
you gave me my chance and helped
me to live an honest life
Then. C1eek. what has become OF
the money!
1T has gone in the cause of my
redemption. Mr.. Narkom," he an
swered In a hushed voice. my good
friend-for you really have been q
good friend to me. the best / ever
had in all the world-my good friend
Jet us for only just this one minute
speak Of the times that lie behind
You know what redeemed me-a wo.