Evening star., 1921-07-31

the friendly power. would find in this
document very valuable red-herrins
to draw across the path of its own
: perplsxities."
Good heavens" cried Mr.. Llewel-
lyn John. upright in his chair. HOW
on earth did you know?
"It seems (: irly obvious" said Mall
colin Sage, as he returned to his chair
and resumed his stroking OF the
sphinx's back. Who else knew or
the existence of the document ne
inquired. -
mo one outside the admiralty and
! the war" Sir Lyster stopped sui
denly
From the corridor. apparently Just
outside the library door, came the
sound of a suppressed scream. fot-
lowed by a bump against the wooo-
work.
I'm so sorry. Sir Lyster." Filtered
the girl. as she stepped timidly INTO
some one had switched off the lights
and ran into" She turned to the
Jananese. who stood deprecating and
nervous on the threshold.
II lose my passage" he said. barring
his teeth still further: Il go 10 nno
cigarette case of my master; =! ne ,,,l' iea>e
it in beelyard room. 'InR6[
"You rre up late, MISS Bafr, ne
said cooIly, turning to the girE
"I'm so sorry" she said: but Lady
Grayne gave me some f,tetters's and
there was so much copying Tor you
that" She paused. then added. nerV.
ously. 81 didn't know 1t was SO late.
'.You had better ko to bed now
say where is MIR. Sage? He looked
from Mr.. Llewellyn John to >Lord
Beamdale. =,
You see. Sage is not supposed TO
he here" explained Mr.. Llewellyn
John.
"Your secretary has an expensive
,,s,a in perfume" remarked Malcolm
sage casually. as he resumed ms sea-.
at often characterizes an ,ntensss
emotional nature" he added musingIy.
"Emotional n. ture" repeated SIT
1vsiar "As a matter of fact. she is
extremely practical and self-possessed.
So, were.saying-" he concluded with
the air of a man who dismisses
triaing subject In favor OF one OF
some Importance. ;a
"Diplomatists should pe ~ ~traeu
,bvsiopnomists," murmured MaicoiHi
Sage. IA mans mouth rarely hes'
oWow" continued Malcolm Sage, I
should like to know VINO Is staying
here" .o Give some
details of the guests ana S,v Ies"
Among the men-servants was Sir
yrav Trawlor's Japanese valet:
Thars was something in Sir Lysters
,,.ina 90 he mentioned this fact tnat
caused Malcolm Sage to look up at
him sharply. ,,,,. ssen" Sir
Lyster explained. he s,.,, mas in the
ssrWsnts. hall. They object to si.t'ns
se,,,n r.. meals with a Chinaman' as
sHs seems Intelligent" remarked
Malcolm Sage casually. ;s an ex-
"On the contrary. ne the
tremely stupid erea.n, sesrdav myself
found him wandering about the cor
ridor leading to my own Denroo ot
walters has also mentioned the '"~'-
ter to me-" IT,. .f tho
Later 1 may require a list OF .ne
guests" said Malcolm sage; WneM zen
Cir I,yster had completed ms ac-
count "You said. 7 think, that tns
Sew 70 the safe was sometimes leit
In an. accessible place.? ..-.,., =
Yes in a drawer.
$50 that any one having access TO
the room could easily have taken
wax impression. ----=- -. -
II should first like to see the m
side Of the safe and the dummy ,,
nacket.". said Malcolm Sage, rising.
"No. I will open 1t myself NJ you
will give me the key he ADDED. as
Sir Lyster rose and moved over TO
the safe.
How many leaves of paper were
there?" INQUIRED Malcolm Sage.
eight; I think" replied Sir Lyster.
"Njne." corrected Lord Beamdale:
.arhere was a leaf in front blank
but for the words. Plans Depart
ment.'" -, -.
the same department." inquired NAL
COIN Sag 81 Sir Lyster.
Several"
"I should like to see one"
Sir Lyster left the room and NAL
colin Sage removed the contents OF the
envelope. Carefully counting nine
bent down over the paper. with his
face almost touching it.
When Sir Lyster' re.entered with
another document In his hand NAL
colin Sage took 1t from him and pro-
ceeded to subject 1t to an equally
close scrutiny. holding up to the
light each sheet In succession.
I suppose, Sir Lyster, you don't by
any chance use scent?" inquired NAL
colin Sage without looking up.
mfr. Sage" Sir Lyster was on his
dignity.
"I see you don't" was Malcolm
Sage's calm comment as he resumed
his examination of the dummy docu-
ment. Replacing it in the envelope.
he returned it to the safe, closed the
door. locked 1t. and put the key in his
pocket. f-...
well what do you make of it?,
cried Mr.. Llewellyn John eagerly.
We shall have to take the post
master general into our Confidence"
'woldington" cried Mr.. SLlewe1iyn
John in astonishment.r "Why?