Evening star., 1920-02-08

my business with Mr.. TredwayS ~
OF an important, vital nature. l
must see him on the instant of his
return. 1t 10 q matter of life and
death. Either l must walk up and
down this confounded street in the
wet, or you will at least allow me to
scribble a line"
May l ask your name?" l inquired.
sharply.
i considered.
II will inform Mr. Tredways the mo-
ment he arrives" made response.
ooh. tut. tut" said he, impatiently.
II have a document to receive from
him a legal document in a blue en-
velope. Possibly he has left tad
dressed to me-"
II will see.' replied. wishing to gain
time.
He made a forward movement with
the innocent intent of getting into the
hall and away from the water spout
that was descending upon his hat. But,
taking courage in both hands, closed
the door in a most ungracious fashion.
re-entered the sitting room, but in
saead of taking the blue envelope
resumed my seat by the fire and tried
to concentrate upon the old women's
tea-ttme chat. 1t seemed pretty hor-
rible leaving that visitor down there,
under the water spout, but l had my
instructions. If anything went wrong
. FrelYays must blanls himself.
Fifteen minutes later the phone bell
. in the room showed the condition of
my nerves by making me jump. l was
enormously relieved to hear my
friends voice float over the wire.
'That you, Francie? Yes. I'm Tired
ways. find / cannot return tonight.
Am making hurried railway journey
up north. Thanks awful1y for waiting
up, but there is no further need. Yes,
go home. by all means. What do you
say? Did send that wire re Bennett?
Certainly did. 1t is quite Q. K. old
man. The affair slipped my memory.
He has called. You sent him away?
Brother! 1t cannot be helped. Am
afraid he will not come again. Never
mind. Am in the deuce of a hurry
What's that? You remember my strict
instructions not to admit any one or
to go away? or course, you do. But
they are Cancelled now. Will see you
tomorrow about midday. Good-by.
Francie. Best of thanks"
l hung up the receiver Ten-twen-
ty minutes passed. The man Bennett
did not come back. He was offended,
and who could deny his reason for
The rain was slashing the panes. The
wind howled with forbidding sound.
My nerves were Jared and ] could
not pacify them. Was i satisfied?
Yes. nine-tenths. But nine-tenths is
not a whole. Tredways' orders, de-
livered with all tho emphasis he
could command. would not be dis
missed. Uneasincss increased. I de-
cided not to leave, and that made me
feel better Tor a time Then a vague.
y gnawing anxiety made me start At
every shout OF the wind, ct the fan
Of every cinder' from the exhausted
IRE. Somehow could not bring into
HH0 uy lElCuu CoNCehu8 VI
more than earnest instructions. Was
something wrong? Yes. by heaven. I
felt 1t in my bones.
Fifteen seconds later I was in COM
munication with the criminal investi-
cation department at New Scotland
Yard. 'Tredways was hand in glove
with the leading lights there. and I
got one Of them. In few carefully
chosen sentences spoke Of his visit
to tho house at Hampstead. said
that feared something was amiss.
More meager information I could not
have impaired. but 1t was enough.
Inspector Reddish's suave voice say
ing: I'VE will look into the matter
instantly. Mr.. Francie," seemed to
push a weight OF my heart.
hung up the receiver. Il waited.
/ knew Reddish-good. old Reddish!
In my minds eye l saw him choose
one Of his slsuths; in a mental vision
I saw his taxi streaking Hampstead
way.
Fifteen minutes past midnight I
heard a. footstep in the silent street.
1t sounded like Tredways'. 1t stopped
before the house. My heart thumped
excitedly. There was = click Of q