Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12
8 CLEEK, THE MASTER DETECTIVE MH @THSM1S y

her keys and things like that. That's
the idea. isn't it?"
Something Of that sort. I'll And
out all about her, never fear, said
Cleek in reply. Then they shook hands
and parted. and it was not until after
young Bawdrey had gone that either
he or Narkom recollected that Cleek
had overlooked telling the young man
. that Headland was not his name.
ooh. we'll: it doesn't matter. Time
enough to tell him that when it comes
to making out the check" said Cleek.
as the superintendent remarked upon
the circumstance. Then he pushed back
his chair and walked over to the WIN
dow and stood looking silently out
upon the flowing river. Narkom did
not disturb his reflections. He knew
from past experience. as well from
the manner in which he took his lower
lip between his teeth and drummed
with his fngertips upon the window
ledge. that some idea relative to the
working out Of the case had taken
shape within his mind, and so, with
the utmost discretion, went on with
his tea and refrained from speaking.
Suddenly Cleek turned. "Mr. Narkom.
do me a favor. will you? Look me up
copy of HoIman's Diseases Of the
Kidneys when you go back to town.
I'll send Dollops round to the Yard to-
Fright you are" said Narkom. taking
out his pocketbook and making note
of it. But, I say, look here; my dear
fellow. you can't possibly believe that
it's anything of that sort. anything
natural. I mean. in the face of what
we've heardo"
NO. ] don't. I think it's something
confoundedly unnatural. and that poor
old chap is being secretly and bar
barously murdered. | think that
and-I think. too His voice trailed
off. He stood silent and preoccupied
for a moment. and then. putting his
thoughts into words. without address
ing them to anybody. "Ayupee" he
said. refective1y. "Pohon-Upas. Antjar.
Galanga root. ginger and black pep
per-thats the Javanese method of
procedure. believe. Ayupee:-yes,
assuredly, Ayupee!"
What the dickens are you talking
about. Cleek? And what does all that
gibberish and that word. Ayupee.'
mean?"
"Nothing-nothing. At least. just
vet. I say. put on your hat and let's
go for pull on the river. Mr.. Narkom.
I've had enough of mysteries for to-
day and am spelling for another hour
in boat"
Then he screwed around on his heel
and walked out into the brilliant sum-
mer sunshine.
Promptly at the hour appointed Mr..
Jim Rickaby" and his black servant ar
rived at Laburnam villa. and certainly
the welcome he received at the hands Of
his beautiful young hostess.
He fuond her not only an extremely
lovely woman to the eye. but one whose
gentle, caressing ways, whose soft voice
and simple girlish charm were alto
gether fascinating, and. judging from
outward appearances. from the tender
solicitude for her elderly husbands COM
fort and well being, from the look in
her eyes when she spoke to him, the
gentleness of her hand when she touch
ed him, one would have said that she
really and truly loved him, and that 1t
needed no lure Of gold to draw this par
ticular May to the arms of this one De-
cember.
He found Capt. Travers a laughing.
rollicking. fun-loving type of man-at
least, to all outward appearances-who
seemed to delight In sports and games
and to have an almost childish love Of
card tricks and that species of enter
tainment which is known as parlor
magic. He found the three other MEM
bers of the little house party-to wit.
Mrs Somerby Miles. Lieut.. Forshay and
Mr.. Robert Murdock-respectively
silly. fiirtatious. little gadfy Of
widow; a callow, love-struck. lapdog.
young naval officer, with a budding
mustache and a full blown idea of his
own Importance: dour Scotchman of
glowering scorn Of frivolities. a deep
abiding conviction that Scotland was
the only country in the world for a self
respecting human being to dwell in, and
that everything outside of the Estab-
lished Church was foredoomed to flames
and sulphur and the perpetual prodding
of red-hot pitchforks. And last. but not
least by any means, he found Mr.
Michael BaWdrey just what he had been
told he would find him. namely, dear.
lovable. sunny-t tempered old man. who
fairly idolized his young wife and alb
solutely adored his frank-faced, affec-
tionate. big boy of son. and who ought
not. in the common course OF things. to
have an enemy or an evil wisher In all
the worlt.
The news. which. of course, had pre-
coded Cleek's arrival. that this whilom
college chum Of his son was as great an
enthusiast as he himself on the subject
of old china, old porcelain. brfc-a-brac
and curios of every sort. filled him with
the utmost delight. and he could scarce
ly refrain from rushing off al once to
view his famous collection.
michael. dear. you mustn't overdo
yourself just because you happen to
have been a little stronger these past
two days" said his wife, laying gentle
hand uron His arm Besides, we must
give Mr.. Rickaby time to breathe. He
has had long journey, and ! am sure
he will want to rest. You can take him
in to see that wonderful collection after
UlilneT, dtdT
'Humph, Full of fakes. as I supposed
and she knows it." was Cleek's men,
tai comment upon this. And he was
not surprised when finding herself alone
with him few minutes later, she said,
in her pretty, pleading way:
Mr.. Rickably, If you are an expert,
don't undeceive him. l could not let you
go to see the collection without first
telling you. 1t is full Of bogus things,
full OF frauds and shams that unscru-
pulous dealers have palmed off on him.
But don't let him know. He takes such
pride in them, and-and he's breaking
down. God pity me. his health is break
ing down every day, Mr. Rtckaby, and
l want to spare him every pang, if 1
can; even SO little pang as the dis
covery that the things he prizes are not
real"
set your mind at rest, Mrs. Bawdrey,"
promised Cleek. He will not find it out
from me. He will not find anything out
from me. He is just the kind Of man to
break his heart, to ,crumple up like a
burnt glove and come to the end Of all
things, even life. II he were to discover
that any of his treasures. anything that
he loved and trusted in. is sham and a
fraud
His eyes looked straight into hers as
he spoke. his hand rested lightly on her
sleeve. She sucked in her breath sud
denly. brief pallor chased the roses