Evening star., 1918-06-09
By THOMAS w. -HANSHL]EW

and, scurrying about in a panic of
on his clothing and rushed out into
the hail, only to find it alive with
startled people. and at their head Sir
Henry. with dressing gown thrown
on over his pajamas and a bedroom
candle in his shaking hand.
The stable" he cried out e1-
citedly. Come on. come on, for
Gods sake. Some one has touched
the door of the steel room, and yet the
place was left empty. empty"
But it was no longer empty. as
they found out when they reached 1t,
for the doors had been flung open.
the men who had been left on guard
outside the stables were now inside
1t, the electric lights were in full
blaze. the shotgun still hanging where
Sharpless had left it. the impromptu
bed was tumbled and tossed in a
mans death agony. and at the foot of
the steel door Logan lay, curled up
in heap and stone dead!
He would get in. Sir Henry; he'd
have shot one or the other of US if
we hadn't let him." said one of the
outer guards. as Sir Henry and Cleek
appeared. He would lie before the
door and watch, sir, he simply would;
chap; he was faithful to th' last!"
And the last might not have come
for years, the fool, if he had only
opeyed, said Cleek; then lapsed into
silence and stood staring at dust
OF white flour on the red tiled floor
ana at thin wavering line that
broke the even surface around it.
1t was perhaps two minutes later
when the entire household, mistress,
guests and servants alike, came
trooping across the open space be-
tween the hall and the stables in a
state of semi-dishabille, but in that
brief space of time friendly hands
had reverently/ lifted the body Of the
dead man from it's place before the
steel door and Sir Henry was ner-
vously fitting the key to the lock in
a frantic effort to get in and see If
Black Riot was safe.
"Dios! what is it? What has hap
pened? cried Lady wilding, as she
came hurrying in, followed closely by
sharpless and the Rev. Ambrose
Smeer. Then, catching sight of
Logan's body, she gave a little scream
and covered her eyes. THE trainer,
Andrew, the trainer now" she went
on. half Historically Another death
another! Surely they have got the
wretch at last%
The mare! The mare. Henry! Is
she safe? exclaimed Sharpless ex-
citedly. as he whirled away from his
cousins side and bore down upon
the baronet. Give me the key,
you're too nervous" And taking it
from him. unlocked the steel room
and passed swiftly into it.
In another instant Black Riot was
led out, uninjured. untouched. in the
very pink of condition. and in spite
of the tragedy and the dead mans
presence one or two Of the guards
were so carried away that they es-
sayed cheer.
stop that! Stop it instantly"
raped ,Iaop out Sir Henry. facing round
the best, beside the loss of an honest
life like that?" and flung out a shak-
ing hand In the direction of dead
Logan. 1T will be the, story of last
night over again. of course? You
heard his scream, heard his fall, but
dead-and you found no one here?"
Not soul. Sir Henry, The doors
were all locked; no grille is missing
from any window: no one is in the
loft; no one in any Of the stalls; no
one In any crook or corner of the
Send for the constable, the justice
Of the peace, anybody" chimed IN the
Rev. Ambrose Smeers. at this. Henry.
VIII you never be warned, never take
these awful lessons to heart? This
sinful practice of racing horses for
"oh, hush. hush! Don't preach me
a sermon now. uncle" interposed Sir
Henry. MY hearts torn, my mind
crazed by this abominable thing. Poor
ole. Logan! Poor. faithful old chap!
OH" He whirled and looked over at.
Geek. who still stood inactive. star
ing at the fiour-dusted floor. "And
they said that no mystery was too
great for you to get at the bottom of
1t, no riddle too complex for you to
nnd the answer? Can't you do some
thing? Can't you suggest something?
Can't you see any glimmer of light at
all?"
Cleek looked up, and that curious
smile which Narkom knew so well.
and would have known had he been
there was the danger signal" looped
up one corner of his mouth.
Il fancy it is all light Sir Henry"
he said. Il may be wrong. but fancy
1t is merely a question Of compara-
tive height. Do puzzle you by that?
Well, let me explain. Lady Wilding
there is one height. Mr.. Sharpless is
another, and am third; and IL they
two were to place themselves side by
side. and. say, about four inches
apart. and I were to stand immediate.
ly behind them, the difference would
be most apparent. There you-are. Do
you grasp it?"
Not in the least"
Bothered If do either" supple
mented Sharpless. ut all sounds like
tommyrot to me-"
"Does it?" said Cleek. Then let me
explain it by Illustration" and he