Evening star., 1920-02-08
I WORD from my friend Hogg
\ Tredways-that gifted seer in
the NAYR of crime and fhA

VIE eagerness. to his rooms in Half
Moon street one bowling December
night.
= was very kind ard generous of
Tredways. who knew my fondness for
antique inlaid furniture. His acqui-
sition was q small table OF tulip wood
with lovely veneer of dark-hued
tortoiseshell. With rapture and a
thousand thanks 1 was examining this
prize when the bell trillcd and a lady's
name was brought up to us.
"Mss Hilda Bassett," read Tired
ways. Show Miss Bassett up"
1t was an expressive face which 1
f"nnd my eyes dwelling on a minute
later. and just then it's expression was
Of heavy trouble patiently and very
lung endured. 1t was too thin for
beauty. and the nervous lips lacked
ali restraint but it was sweet face
90 girl about twenty-four years of
'',se. and it made me forget my buhl
:, lle.
Perhaps ! should not have called"
''m our visitor with anxious hesita-
lion. Il hope you will not be an
wed. You are Mr.. Hogg Tredways,
you not? 1 have venteured to
'p'rs to ask for your advice-perhaps
'"ur hefp; for dare TO hope that you
WI help me when you hear my story"
AT any rate, shall listen attentive
=. be assured, Miss Bassett," said
T'edways. planting a chair. This is
NY friend-the Rev. Howard Francie,
''.aplain of Chains prison"
bowed. The lady opened her water
i"oof. She was very slender, fragile
''most, and very graceful. She re-
armed my bow and continued, fight
ms her nervousness pluckily.
Il have been told about you. Mr.
f'edways. How that you sometimes
ike up the case Of a man DISCHARGED
''om prison, when YOU believe that
he was unjustly convicted, and how
iou unravel the mystery that sent
him there and re- establish him in the
world"
"lndeed?" smiled my friend in his
Kindly way. well, that has hap
pened occasionally-with the assist
ahce Of the chaplain here, who has
recommended one OF two instances of
'he sort you mention. And you bring
ne one? ALI. you have heard only of
my poor successes. Ny failures are
many. Years of prison life bury 80
much vital data; in them perhaps tho
apparently small clew that was the
key to the riddle. Now. tell mt your
story"
ut is one not of myself" answered
1'iss Bassett, with smile. II am
appealing to you on behalf of another.
OF man, a young man, who has lust
been discharged from prison after a
'wo-yeaf sentence. His name ia Ar;
thur Wrayson. / do not know it.you.
have hear" she broke of, a flush,
terrible hot. burning flush of shame
crimsoning her face and throat. II
will be frank with you." she forced
herself to add. II was engaged to be
married to him. am now, only
only he hides himself from me, from
all who would show some interest
stin in him. And rise he never will
unless I-you-can give him aid. For
he was wrongly convicted, as I can
prove to you."
LET us hope So" said Tredways,
gravely. For your sake. Miss Bas-
sett, let us hope as much. Begin at
the start"
She went on in q low voice: Two
years sgo some Jewels were stolen
from house in Hampstead. They
were recovered with the exception of
= single diamond. The theft was
traced to Arthur Wrayson: indeed,
he admitted taking the stones. But
the actual circumstances of the story
he told only to me. You will hnd
them very strange-startling, even.
''on the night Of the supposed
crime Arthur was crossing one of the
Heath roads at r very late hour. He
was very unhappy. To enable you to
understand the temptation which WAS
put in his path I must tell you that
had that evening declined to marry
him until he had exerted himself to
make some position. That he was in
clined to idleness. that he had form
ed serious debts. ] am compelled now
to tell you. He had left me IN some
thing like despair, with Wild talk of
taking his life .,s - ~"
He wss passing "A lsrae house as-'
tRched from amy others when he