Evening star., 1921-06-07
man held out his empty glass to a

d
More brandy" he ordered. briefly.
Look here, Mr.. Wrayson," he added.
adopting once more his mysterious
manner. "those love letters don't go!
What did the baroness want in my
brothers fat She struck me dumb
when I first saw her. 1 admit it. I'd
have swallowed anything. More fool
me! I tell you, though. I'm not hav-
ing any more. Will you come along
with me to her house now and see
if we can't make her tell us the
TRUTH"
Wrayson shook his head delib-
MIR: Barnes" he said. 'I am sorry
to disappSint you and nosytdn sympathizs hz
you mustn't take it for granted that
I am. shall we say. your ally in this
matter. 1 haven't either the time or
the patience to give to investiga-
tions of this sort. ] have done what
| could for you. and 1 will give you
any way, if you care to come and see
me. But you mustn't count on any
thing else"
Barnes face dropped. He. was OBJ
viously disappointed.
You won't come and see the
baroness with me even he asked.
"I think not" Wrayson answered.
'''ro tell you the truth. l don't think
that it would be of any use. Even
if your suspicious are correct-and
you scarcely know what you suspect,
do you?-the baroness is much too
clever a woman to allow herself to
be pumped by either you or me-
Wrayson felt himself subjected for
several moments to the scrutiniz1ng
stare of those blinking. unpleasant
eyes.
M. arc voue" Barnes asked dis
trustfully.
impatiently. you must be reasona-
BILE. my young friend. have done
of helping yourself. but I am busy
man. | have my own analrs TO LOOK
after. and l cant afford to play the
mart of a twentieth century Don
Quixote."
said slowly. you are going 10 turn
me up"
You are putting very foolish
construction upon what I have said.
Wrayson answered irritably. Il have
gone out of my way to help you. but,
frankly. think that yours is wild
Rarnes rose to his feet and finished
Il don't believe it" he declared,
I'm going to have that two thou
sand a year if l have to take that
man Bentham by the throat and
strangle the truth out Of him. If
| can't find out without I'll make him
tell me the truth if ! swing for it,
BY God. l will"'
They left the place together and
walked toward the corner OF the
street.
81 shouldn't do anything rash: if
were you" Wrayson said. Il fancy
you'd find Bentham d pretty tough
sort to tackle. You must excuse
me now. am going into the club
How are you. Wrayson, a quiet
voice asked behind.
Wrayson turned around abruptly.
1t was stephen Heneage who had
greeted him-the one man whom. at
that moment. he was least anxious
Already he could see that Heneage
was taking quiet but earnest note of
his companion.
Wrayson nodded little abrutly
and left Barnes without any further
farewell.
Coming round to the club" he
asked
Heneage assented and glanced care
lessly behind at Barnes. who was
walking slowly in the opposite di-
rection.
You shook him off little sudden
ly. didn't you
He is not a friend" Wrayson an
swered, and l was trying to get
rid of him when you came up. He
is nobody of any account
Ieneage shook his head thought
fully.
1T won't do. WraXson." he said.
THAT young man possessed a cast
Of features which are positively un-
mistakable."
a VI
manded
II mean that he was a relation
and near relation. too. l should
imagine, of our deceased friend. Nor
ris Barnes" Heneage answered cool
ly 81 shall be obliged to make that
young mans acquaintance"
Damn you and your pryng"
Wrayson exclaimed angrily Il
wish
He stopped abruptly. Heneage was
already retracing his steps.
Wrayson. after a moments inde-
cision. went on to the club. and made
his way at once to the billiard room
/ The colonel was sitting in his usual
corner chair. watching game OF
pool, beaming upon everybody with
his fatherly smile. encouraging the
man who met with ill luck and an
plauding the successful shots. He
| was surrounded by his cronies. bu,
| he held out his hand to Wravson
! who leaned against the wall by his
side and waited for his opportunity
Colonel" he said at last in his
ear. taking advantage of the ap-
plause which followed successful
shot, Il want half an hours talk with
you. quite by ourselves Can Won
slip away and come and dine with
me somewhere?
The colonel looked dubious.
I'm afraid they won't like it,, he
answered. Freddy and George ar.
here and Tempest's coming in later {.
Il can't help it," Wrayson an
swered. You can guess what it's
about. It's a serious matter"
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr