Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-24

1t is about two hours walk" an
swered Keith, "or little more
"You must walk. I am afraid" said
the captain. Il can spare you a car;
/ they are both in use. There is n lot
to arrange. You had better get some
thing to eat and then you and Price
can start. Can you be back before
midnight"
II think so" answered K,ith. "Oh,
yes. quite easily"
"GoOd.' said the captain. II will
tell Price to be ready. and now I want
as exact and close a description of the
man You believe to be Bert Wentworth
as you can give me. Unfortunately,
Mrs. Wentworth has never met him. -
Keith gave as accurate and detailed
n description as he could of the man
he had twice seen. and the captain
thanked him and went to speak to
Wilks. There was much to do. much
to arrange and see about. and the two
officials became immersed in the reports
they were making and the plans they
were laying for the pursuit of the sus-
pccted persons.
Keith managed to find some food in
the kitchen and ate it there. Recnie
had disappeared. She had been asked
to identify the body of her dead husband
and was now alone in one of the upper
rooms. lying on the bed in stupor of
grief and fatigue. While Keith was still
satisfying his appetite, Price came in
and announced that he was to accom-
pany him alone.
There are such lot of messages
going off, :" he said. "anh one thing and
another to be seen to, they cant spare
another of our chaps
Keith made no remark. He would
have preferred to go alone. but as that
was not to be he did not mind whether
he had one companion or two.
"A terrible lot to do in these cases"
Price went on and sighed with heart
felt gratitude. THANK the Lord" he
said. "the papers haven't got hold of
it yet. But they will soon. Tomorrow
there will be a dozen journalists poking
their noses into everything and worry
ing you out Of your seven senses" He |,
paused. and his countcnanre relaxed
momentarly. Not but what they arc
liberal enough with their cigars" he !,
admitted. Last time | was in big |
case-and it was a kindergarten affair !
to this-I got smokes enough TO last me |
nearly six weeks Good ones too. But |
earned en- all with the worry and |
the trouble | had"
He seemed in chatty and friendly !
mood. but Keith did not respond very |
freely. He was in no temper for talk. |
and besides he had strong feeling that |
the sergeant had been told to try to
draw him out. So he scarcely made !
any answer. and as soon as he had |
finished his meal he rose to his feet |
and suggested that they should start. |
The night was very dark for the
moon had not yet risen. but the SER
geant had provided himself with
powerful electric torch with which he
sometimes lighted up their path. Their
way led them at first through Files |
Wood. and the sergeant, who still seem
ed inclined to chat, in spite of Keith 8 |
failure to respond, remarked that a
good many of the men who had helped |
in the search that afternoon seemed |
very frightened of the place.
"Onp of them" remarked the ser
geant. told me he wouldn't go through |
it at night for a hundred pounds. Seem
cd to think the devil visited it after
dark
II don know that he was far wrong
there observed Keith grimly.
oh" the sergeant explained, but
he meant a real devil"
so do T." said Keith. very real. ."
well" declared the sergeant jovial-
Iy. If | see him I'll soon clap the
handbolts on him. 1t would be a big |
capture, wouldn't it,?
1T would" agreed Keith and as
they went farther into the wood the
sergeant fell silent.
1t was very silent, very still, in the