The evening world., 1921-06-14

! you mean that you know some-.
/ thlng-but you won't tell it," Benton
said
81 know nothing" was the old fell.
| lows stubborn reply.
| Il have already made my state-
ment to the police" declared the old
Italian. What else l know l shall
keep to myself"
But I'm interested in ascertaining
whether Henfrey is innocent or
guilty. Only two persons can tell us
that, Mademoiselle, who is, alas in
hopeless mental state, and yourself
You know that Henfrey shot her!"
| 81 tell you / know nothing" retorted
| the old man. "Why do you come
here and disturb me?" he added.
Because want to know the truth"
Benton answered And / mean to-"
GO away" mapped the wilful old
fellow. "T've done with you all-all
the crowd of you"
"Ah!" laughed RSnton. Then YOU
| forget the little matter of the man
| Morel-eh? That is not forgotten by
the police. remember"
And if you said a word to them,
Sgnor Benton, then you would impli-
cate yourself" the old man growled.
Probably. But as ] have no in
tCntion of giving you away. my dear
| Giulio, | do not think we need dis
| cuss it. What | am anxious to do in
to establish the guilt-or the inno-
cence-of Hugh Henfrey.," he went
| on.
mo doubt. You have reason for
establishing his guilt, eh?"
mo. Reasons for establishing his
| innocence"
For your own ends Signor Ben
! ton was the shrewd old mans reply.
AT one time there was suspicion
that you yourself had fired 4t
Mademoiselc."
what" gasped the old man, his
countenance changing instantly. who
says that?' he asked angrily.
THE police were suspicious. | be-
lieve. And as far as l can gather they
are not yet altogether satisfied"
"Ah!" growlcd the old Italian in a
changed voice. They viii have to
prove it,"
well they declare that the shot
was fired by either one or other OF
YOU" Benton said, much surprised AZ
the curious effect the allegation had
upon the old fellow.
so they think that if the Signorino
/ Henfrey is innocent l am guilty of tho
| murdcrous attack-eh?"
| Benton nodded.
| But they are seeking 10 arrest the
Signorino!" remarked the italian
Yes. That is why | am here-'o
| 'H'sA'll''II lllN innocence.
| And If | were to tell you that he
was innocent | should condemn my
| SELF laughed the crafty old man.
| Look here, Giulio," said Benton Il
| confess that | have long ago regretted
| the shabby manner in which | treated
| you when we were in Brussels, and |
| hope YOU will allow me to make some
| little amend"
Then taking from his pocketbook
NJ htrt, 1N.I
doubled them up and placed them on
| the table.
"Ah!" said the old man. II seei
You want to buy my secret No, take
your money!" he cried, pushing Il
back toward him contemptuously. 81
want none Of it"
Because you are now earning an
honest living" Benton sneered.
"Yes-and II Passero knows it'll"
was Catalds bold reply.
Benton was extremely annoyed at
| his failure to learn anything from the
| old fellow.
Was it possible that the suspicious
which both Molly and he had enter
| tained We're true-namely, that the
old man had attempted to kill his
mistress.
| If Henfrey was to be free to marry
Louise, then his innocence must first
be proved. Once Hugh had married
Louise and settled the money upon
her, then the rest would be easy He
had many times discussed 1t with
Molly, and they were both agreed
upon a vile, despicable plot which
would result in the young mans sud
| den end and the diversion of his
fathers fortune.
The whole plot against old Mr..
| Henfrey was truly one OF the most
elaborate and amazing ones ever
| conceived by criminal minds.
Charles Benton was a little too
well known in Nice, hence he took
| care to leave the place by an early
train and went on to Cannes. thence
to London, where he found a tele-
gram lying upon his table among
some letters. 1t was signed SHAW"
and urged him to meet him "at the
| usual place. at o'clock in the eve
ming, II know you are away, but l
will look in each night at T." it con-
cluded.
1t was just before 7 o'clock that
Benton entered n little cafe off War
dour Street, patronized mostly by
foreigners. At one of the tables,
sitting alone, was a wiry- looking,
middle-aged man-Mr Howell, Th
| Sparrow's friend.
"Well?" asked Howell, when a few
minutes later they were walklnl
along Wardour Street together.
How did you get on in Nice?"
Had my journey for nothing"
wouldn't the old man tell any,
| thing?" asked Howell eagerly.
mot a word" Benton replied. ''But
my firm opinion is that he himsel'
tried to kill Yvonne-that he sho
| her"
do you really agree with me
gasped Howell eXcitedly. 'NOf cou,
! there has, all along, been n cert
amount OF suspicion against him.
police We're once on the point of
resting him. l happen to know II
"Well. my belief is that v.
Henfrey is innocent. never tho
so until now"
Then we must prove c.
guilty, and Henfrey can
Louise" Howell said. but tn.
son | wanted to get in touch
you is that the police We
| Shapley"
ITO Shapley!" rasped Bento
Yes. They went there tn
you left London. Evidentl,
body has given you away"
| Do Not Miss To-Morrow's II
instaIn ent.