Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12
Riddle of the NINTH FINGER

too. that YOU yourself was rather takel
with the lady at one time. and that sh,
threw you over as soon as Mr. Bawdrey
ST.. became possibility
That's a mistake" he replied. "She
never threw me over. Mr.. Headland
She never had the chance. I found hel
out long before my father became any
thing like what you might call a
riral-found her out as a mercenary
designing woman. and broke from her
voluntarily. 1 only wish that l had
known that he had one serious thought
him: could have spoken then. But
/ never did find out until it was toe
late. Trust her for that She waited
until I had gone up-country to look
after some fine old porcelains and
enamels that the governor had heard
about. Then she hurried him off and
tricked him into hasty marriage. OF
course. after that I couldn't speak;
wouldn't speak. She was my fathers
wife. and he was so proud of her. so
happy. dear old boy, that I'd have been
little better than brute to say any
thing against her"
What could you have said If you
had spoken?"
"Oh, lots of things; the things that
made me break away from her in the
beginning. Shed had other love affaire
for one thing; her late fathers Inasque-
rading doctor for another. They
had only used that as a cloak. They
had run a gambling house on the sly
he as the card sharper, she as the de-
coy. They had drained one poor fellow
dry. and she had thrown him over after
leading him on to think that she cared
for him and was going to marry him.
He blew out his brains in front of her.
poor wretch. They say she never
turned a hair. You wouldn't believe 1t
possible. if you saw her: she is so
sweet and caressing. and so young and
o1, holt hnr n
angel. But there's Travers in the
Observation-Disclosures Travers."
drawers, Who is he?'
ooh. one of her old flames, the only
one she ever really cared for. they say
She was supposed to have broken with
him out there in Java, because they
were too poor to marry; and now he's
come over to England. and he's there.
in the house with the dear old dad and
me. and they are as thick as thieves to-
and prowling about together. in the
grounds and along the lanes. after she
has said Good night and gone to her
room and was supposed to be in bed.
three parts of the time. They come
and they go, but Travers never goes.
know why''-waxing suddenly excited,
suddenly vehement-"Yes. know why.
He's in the game with her."
Game! What game. Mr.. Bawdrey?
What is it that she is doing?"
She's killing my old dad.' he an
swered. with sort of sob in his ex-
cited voice "She's numbering him by
inches. that's what she's doing, and I
want you to help me bring it home to
her. God knows what it is she's using
or how she uses it; but you know
what demons they are for secret poi
sons. those Javanese, what means
they have of killing people without a
trace. And she was out there for years
and years. So, too, was Travers, the
brute! They know all the secrets of
those beastly barbarians, and between
them they're doing something to my
old dad"
How do you know that?
Il don't know it, that's the worst of
1t. Bat I couldn't be sure of it if they
took me into their secrets. But there's
the evidence of his condition; there's
the fact that it didn't begin until after
Travers came. Look here. Mr.. Head
land. you don't know my dad. He's got
the queerest notions sometimes. One
OF his fads is that it's unlucky to make
VIII. Well If he dies without one,
who will Inherit his money, as 1 am
an only child?"
Undoubtedly you and his widow"
Exactly And If I die at pretty nearly
the same time-and they'll see to that,
never fear; it will be my turn the mo-
ment they are sure of him-she will
inherit everything. Now, let me tell
you what's happening. From being
strong. healthy man my father has,
since Iravers' arrival. begun to be at
lacked by a mysterious malady. He has
periodical fainting fits. sometimes con-
vulsions- He'll be feeling better for a
day or so; then, without a word of
warning, whilst you're talking TO him,
ne heil drop like a shot bird and go into
the most horrible commissions. The
doctors can't stop it; they don't even
know what it is. They only know that
mes fading away-turning from
strong. Firile old man into a thin, nery-
Gus. shivering wreck But / know
know. They're dosing him somehow
with some diabolical Javanese thing.
those Two. And yesterday-God heIp
me.-yesterday l. too, dropped like a
sh9t blrd l.. too. had the commissions
MY time has begun also"
Bless my soul, what a diabolical
thing put in Narkom agitatedly. NO
wonder you appealed to me,''
NO wonder Bawdrey repl;ed m
feit that 1t had gone as far as I dared
iet IL: that 1t was time to call in the
ponce and to have help before it was
100 late That's the case, Mr.. Headland
want you to find some way of getting
at the truth, of looking into Trayers'
luggage into my stepmother's effects
end unearthing the horrible STUFF with
"hich they are doing this thing, and
perhaps when that is known some an
tidote may be found to save the dear
oid DAD and restore him to what he
was. Can't you do this? For Gods
sake. say that you can"
Al all events / can try, Mr.. Raw
drey. responded Cleek
on. thank you. thank you," said
Rawdrey gratefully. II don't care a
hang what it costs. what your fees
are. Mr.. Headland. So long as YOU run
those two to earth and get hold of
the horrible stuff. whatever il is. that
they are using I'll pay any price in
the world and count it cheap as COM
pared with the life of my dear old
DAD When can You take hold of the
case? Now"
m afraid not Mysterious things
IKE THIS require a little thinking over
suppose we say tomorrow noone Will
that do?" '1'
suppose II must. although 7 should
have liked to take you back With
me. Every moments precious at n time
like this. But if il must he daIa we'd
until 1onorrow-well. il must, l SIM
pose But I'll take jolly good care that
HooohF gets a chance to come with
IN touching distance of the pater. bless
MIN. until you do come # I have to
SIT on the mat before his door until
morning Here's the address on This
caro-. Mr. Headland. When and how
snail expect to see you again? You'll
Us" an alias. of course"
IN. certainly Had you any old
FRIEND IN your college DAYS whom vour
iather knew only by name and u,bo
IS now too far off for the limos.
tufe to he discovered%'
es- Jim Eickaby We were az in