Evening star., 1918-05-19

necessary, unless II was QOne TO make
his helpless state very apparent and
to carry out his assertion that he
hadn't been able to walk a foot un-
assisted for the last week and could
not, therefore. be in any way con-
nected with young Carboys' mysteri-
GUS disappearance. Still even that
had it's contra aspect. He might be
one. Of those individuals who make a
mountain Of agony out Of a molehill
of pain and insist upon a dozen poul-
tfces where one would do.
But Cleek could not forget that, as
shadow of doubt that. in the event of
Carboys' having died possessed of
means. the captain would be the heir
atlaw by virtue of his kinship; and
1t is great deal more satisfactory
to be rich oneself than to be depend
son-in-law. So, after adroitly exer-
cising the pump" upon other mat
ters-
IT suppose. Miss Morrison" said
Cleek in a casual. ok-hand sort of
way. you don't happen to know II
you? am aware. from what Mr..
Narkom has told me of his circum-
stances. that he really possessed
nothing that would call for the exc
cution of such a document: but young
men have odd fancies sometimes. par
so 1t Is just possible that he might
have done such thing. There might
have been ring or something of
that sort he wanted to make sure of
your getting should anything hap
pen to him. OF course, it is an alb
surd suggestion. but"
''It Is not SO absurd as you think.
Mr.. Headland." she interrupted. "As
it happens. Mr.. Carboys did make a
will. But that was very long time
ago. before he knew me. so my name did
not figure in 1t at all. He once told
me Of the circumstances connected
with 1t. 1t was executed when he
was about three-and-twenty. 1t ap-
pears that there were some personal
trinkets. relics of his more prosperous
days-a set Of jeweled waistcoat but
and things like that. which he desired
Mr.. Van Nant to have in the event
of his death (they were then going to
the Orient. and times there were trou-
blous): so he drew up a will. leaving
to Mr.. Van Nant. and left the paper
with the latter's solicitor when they
bade good-by to England. So far as
know, that will still exists. Mr..
Headland; so"-here the faintest sug-
gestion Of culver got into her
ture had happened to him and-and
the trinkets hadn't disappeared with
him. Mr.. Van Nant could claim them
all. and should not have even one
poor little token to cherish in men,
ory of him. And 1 am sure. I am
very sure. that II he had known-if
he had thought
MARY, for goodness sake don't be-
gin to snivel!" chimed in her father
querulously. "It gets on my nerves.
And you know very well how am
suffering! OF course, 1t was most in
ne,II u % NJ .rh~ A1
that will as soon as you and, he were
engaged. but he knew that marriage
invalidates any will a man may have
made previously. and-well. you can't
suppose that he ever expected things
to turn out as they have done. Besides
got something to treasure as re-
membrance. He's a very decent chap,
is Van Nant. Mr.. Headland. although
my daughter has never appeared to
think so. But there's no arguing with
a woman. any way"
Cleek glanced at Maroon. 1t was a
significant glance. and said as plainly
as to many words: what do you
think Of it? You said there was no
motive, and. provided Carboys fell
heir to something of which we know
will was destroyed. one man would,
as heirin-law inherit: ditto, the
other man. II it was not destroyed
and not invalidated by marriage. And
here is the one man singing the
praises Of the other one".
"Collusionr queried Narkom's an
swering. look. Perhaps" said cleek.s
in response. "one of these two men
has made away with him. The ques-
tion is. Which? and also, Why? When?
Where?" Then he turned to the
captains daughter and asked quietly.
would you mind letting me see the
room from which the young man dis
appeared? I confess 1 haven't the
ghost of an idea regarding the case,
captain: but II you don't mind let
ting your daughter show me the
mind? Good Lord. no." responded
the captain. "All I want to know
is what became of the poor boy and
II there's any Likelihood of his ever
coming back alive. I'd go up with
less am. Mary, take Mr.. Headiand
to the room. And please don't stop
any longer than is necessary. TIM suf-
fering agonies and not fit to be left
alone"
Miss Morrison promised to return as
az 0YD0ditiOuQlv aS noRafh1A and than