Evening star., 1918-02-24
THE CASE OF PAUL BECK RULE OF Thumb DETECTIVE 3

8 - -
Mr. Beck turned the letter carefully
over, as II he half hoped to find the
writer's name there.
after q pause.
Certainly: but 1t won't help you. It's
a common envelope. typewriter. and
dropped by private hand into our let
ter box. No post mark. you see"
waste any more Of your valuable time"
you will pardon me for not being
more explicit, Mr.. Beck" said the
editor. you sec this thing helps us
from the press and political point OF
view. It gives us exclusive and inn
ment. could not give the man away
Don't mention It," said Mr.. Beck.
Besides. I'm not sure that you have
not put me on the right track"
leaving the editor puzzled and uncom-
Portable.
"You don't seem to have made much
advance" said Lord Weldon, when this
interview was related with perfect
frankness next day.
That's as it may be-" said MI Beck.
"one can never be sure"
Gould we catch the letters to the
Times in the post Officer" suggested
the prime minister. TITS a hateful ex-
eases need desperate remedies"
II understand the letters are dropped
in by private hand" said Lord Weldon.
Your lordship has guessed quite
cannot help u.s."
Have you anything yourself to pro-
poser" asked the prime minister. lit
tie impatiently.
THE next step it seems to me-" said
Mr. Beck quietly, ''is to put your sus-
picions to the test"
Can you do that effectively?'
IT think can
without knowing the namer'
Without knowing the name. II you
and his lordship will help me-"
Let US hear your plan" said Lord
Weldon.
First, must know. has the suspect
ed man been present at all the cabinet
meetings whose proceedings were be-
trayed?"
Not ALL" answered the prime min
lister; there were two at least-I am
almost certain there were three-from
which he was absent"
Does not that fact alone clear him %
Tn afraid not, because he would be
entitled to hear. and naturally would
cabinet, what had gone on in his alb
sence remember told him myself on
one occasion"
That brings me straight to my plan
fou can arrange, I presume. that he
shall be absent from the next meeting
Let him have an account Of the pro
ceed1ngs the reverse of the fact, as cir
cumstantial as possible. If this ac-
count appears in the Times there will
be no doubt who put it there"
The prime minister shook his head
L don't like the notion he said: cit
seems a shabby, treacherous trick"
To me. on the contrary, it seems per-
fectly fair" broke in Lord Weldon, "as
well as exceedingly ingenious. If the
man is innocent. as believe him to be
it does not hurt him in any way-Quite
the contrary. II he is guilty, no de-
vice is shabby that convicts him It is
an additional recommendation, in my
opinion. that there is an off chance OF
making fool of the Times"
But who Is to give the false account
to Brandal-there, I've let his name out
now, cried the prime minister, irrita-
bly,; Il for one will have nothing to dc
with that. I could not if I tried
Then. I will" replied Lord weldon
II you wish 1t. l don't share your sus-
picions, Arthur, and I think the sus-
pected man is entitled to the oppor-
tunity OF vindicating his character II
an accurate account appears, he's clear
of it. At the cabinet council, you know
the day after tomorrow, we are to con
slider the inclusion of the compulsory
purchase In our English land bill
There is intense excitement on the
question; it's just the one to tempt s a
spy. II you can keep Brandal away
from the meeting. I'll undertake the
rest"
'Tli have no difficulty at all in pro-
vjding him with an urgent appointment
elsewhere" said the prime minister.
Mr. Beck rubbed his hands in placid
enjoyment of their adoption of his plan
IT'S step in the right direction, >
he said, "and 1t may lead US straight to
the heart of the mystery This is Tues
day. There is nothing for me to do,
fancy. until the Thursdays Times ap-
pears"
But Mr.. Beck proved quite mistaken
in this prophecy. Early on Wednesday
he found himself knocking impatiently
at the door of Lord Weldon's private
house, which was only a short distance
from the prime minister's residence.
His lordship is not arisen yet" said
the footman.
'All right. only want you to take
him a note at once: it is most urgent
and Mr.. Beck offered him a note which
he had brought written and directed.
Lord Weldon got the note on a saIver
with his coffee in bed. 1t ran:
Ny Lord: I think it essential that should
have an interview today with prime minister Al
soon as possible. did not like to disturb him.
so have taken the liberty of calling your
loriship. Kindly let have 4 line to say il
you can see him soon to arrange it.