Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-12

Mine fingers" he muttered sentin-
tiously. land the ninth curves inward to
the PALM" He stepped round and view
ed the case from all points-both sides.
the front and even the narrow space
made at the back by the angle Of the
corner where it stood. And after this he
walked to the other end of the room.
took the key from the lock, slipped 1t
in his pocket and went out, closing the
door behind him, that none might re-
member 1t had not been locked when
the master of the place was carried
above.
1t was perhaps. twenty minutes later
that young Bawdrey came down and
found him all alone in the smoking
room. bending over the table wherein
the butler had set the salver containing
and the glasses that were always laid
out there that the gentlemen might help
themselves to the regulation might
cap" before going to bed.
I've slipped away to have word
in private with you. Headland," he
said in an agitated voice as he came
in. "Oh, what consummate actors they
are-those two. You'd think her heart
was breaking, wouldn't you? YOU'D
think-IIello. say! What on earth
er he could see that Cleek had removed
the glass stopper of the decanter and
was tapping with his finger tips little
funnel of white paper the narrow end
the bottle.
Just adding a harmless little sleep
ing draught to the nightly beverage.
said Cleek, in reply. as he screwed up
pocket. "a good sound sleep is an ex,
cellent thing, my dear fellow, and
mean to make sure that the gentlemen
of this house party have it-one gen
tleman in particular-Ga Capt I prawt ~ i.
old chap? I don't want to be drugged.
and you know 1 have to show them
the courtesy of taking night cap
with them"
Precisely. That's where you can
help me out If any Of them remark
anything about the whisky having
peculiar taste you must stoutly assert
that you don't notice; and. as they've
seen you drinking from the same De.
worry over it. It's a very, very harm
less draught; you won't even have
headache from 1t. Listen here, Baw-
drey. Somebody is poisoning your
father"
Il know it. I told you SO from the
beginning. Headland." he answered.
with sort Of wall But what's that
got to do with dragging the whisky.
"Everythfng. I'm going to ma OUT
tonight whether Capt: TrayeT po is tn nat
excited. Yes. that's my game. 1 want
to get into his room while he is sleep
ing, and be free to search his enects
want to get into every man,sNroo I1
here, and wherever I hnd polson-"eh'
you understand"
yes" he replied. Frightening as he
grasped the import of the matter:
what a ripping idea! And so simple:
Il think 30. Once let me find the pol
son and I'll know my man. Now, one
other thing-the housekeeper must
have a masterkey that opens all the
bedrooms in the place. Get 1t for me.
1t will be easier and swifter than pick
ing the locks"
"Riaht YOU are, old chap. I'll slip up
to Mrs. Jarret's room and fetch 1t to
you at once"
mo: tuck it under the mat just out
side my door. AS It won't do for me
you, I shan't put in an appearance
when the rest come down. Say I've
got a headache, and have gone to bed
AS for my own nightcap-well.l can
send Dollops down to get the butler TO
SO that will be all right. Now, toddle
off and get the key. there's a good
chap. And. say. Bawdrey. as shan't
SEN see you :, again until morn'ns7so0d
Good night. old chap" he answered
In his impulsive. boyish way. You are
a friend. Headland. And you'll save
my dad. God bless you! A true. true
friend that's what you are. Thank
God I ran across YOU.
Cleek smiled and nodded to him he
passed out and hurried away: then.
hearing the other gentlemen coming
down the stairs, he, too, made haste
to his own after they had assembled.
and the cigar cabinet and the whisky
were being passed around. and the
doctor was busy above with the man
who was somebody's victim.
The big old granfather clock at the
top Of the stairs pointed ten minutes
past two, and the house was hushed of
every sound save that which is the evil
dence of deep sleep, when the door OF
Cleek's room swung quietly open, and
wadded bedroom slippers, stepped out
into the dark hall, and. leaving Dollops
on guard. passed like a shadow over
the thick, unsounding carpet.
The rooms of all the male occupants
of the house, including that of Philip
Bawdrey himself, opened upon this pas
sage. He went to each in turn. I'M
locked it. stepped in. closed it after
him, and lit the bedroom candle.
The sleeping draught had accomplish
ed all that was required of it. and in
each and every room he entered-Capt.
Travers' Lieut.. Forshay's. Robert Muir
stretched out a full length in the grip
Of that deep and heavy sleep which
comes of drugs.
Cleek made the round of the rooms
as quietly as any shadow. even stop
ping as he passed young Bawdrey's on
his way back to his own to peep in
there. Yes; he, too, had got his share
of the effective draught. for there he
lay snarled up in the bedclothes, with
his arms over his head and his knees
drawn up until they were on a level
with his waist. and his handsome boy
ish face little paler than usual
Cleek didn't go into the room. simply
looked at him from the threshold, then
shut the door. and went back to Dol
Ions.
"An serene. gr'v'ner?" questioned that
young man in an eager whisper.
Yes. quite" his master replied, as he
turned to writing able wherein there
lay a sealed note. and, pulling out the
chair, sat down before it and took up a.
pen. wait bit. and then you can go
to bed. I'll give you still another note
to deliver. While I'm writing it you
may lay out my clothes"
Slipping off, sir?"
Now. then hold your tongue; I'm busy"
Then he pulled sheet of paper to him
and wrote rapidly:
Dear Mr.. Bawdrey-Tve got my man
and am off to consult with Narkom and
to have what I've found analysed.
don't know when I shall be back-prob-
ably not until the day after tomorrow.
You are right. 1t is murder. and Java
is at the bottom of 1t. Dollops will hand
you this. Say nothing-just wait till 1
get back"
This he slipped. unsigned in his haste,
into an envelope, handed it to Dollops
and then fairly jumped into his clothes.
Ten minutes later he was out of the