Evening star., 1921-09-04

with some people at Maidenhead at
the time OF the murder"
"Oh. my aunt, anybody can have
omas lausSsa Hassle ana shooE hi. head
1T won't do. Reginald. Don't try to
be subtle"
well. that isn't your complaint"
Reggie snarled. and for once they
parted in nasty tempers
Three days afterward q telephone
message called hom to Scotland Yard.
and he found Lomas in conference
with Supt. Bell.
"Ah,. here's the prophet" Lomas
bert both ways? Well. the latest from
the course Is that Herbert has van
ished."
Then it's damned careless of you.
told you to watch him. You're not in
ltelligent in the force, but, hang 1t,
you might be active"
His valet reports him disappeared.
He had dinner engagement last
night. Didn't come home to dress Tor
it. Didn't come home at all. He went
out after lunch yesterday, and hasn't
been seen SINCE"
Reggie sat down. "One of your
larger cigars would do me good.
Lomas." he said. and helped himself.
"Oh. Mr.. Lomas, sir. this is SO sudden.
Cousin Herbert was feeling nervous.
no doubt. But why this dramatic exit?
What gave Cousin Herbert cold feet
yesterday"
supt. Bell coughed. T was won
dering, sir, If Mr.. Fortune had taken
any steps on his own with regard 10
Herbert. To alarm him, SO to speak.
mary step. Why the blazes didn't
you watch him?"
after all. sir. we've not a thing
against him."
| Not now?"
l 1t. Sts, t,,atn n
appear. But I don't mind saying It's
odd, quite odd"
"Oh, / expect Godfrey and the angel
wife murdered him too. Just to round
it OFF, Lomas, old'thing."
You're very merry and bright,
Lomas erumbled. 81 wish you'd tell
me how this helps US. Why should he
bolt now?"
"There is another unknown quan-
tity somewhere" Reggie admitted.
The telephone claimed Lomas: ne
took it up. and his face was eloquent
as he listened. He put it down again
yery gently. Afraid you're right out
of it, Fortune. Herbert Charlecote
didn't bolt. Herbert Charlecote has
been found drowned in the Basins-
Good lord. sirw the superintendent
Pretty conclusive. what?" Lomas
And why the I7s,, Basingstoks st dts ca esna,e nce
places to drown in nearer home: l ask
you, why the Basingstoke canai?"
Lomas and his superintendent look-
ed at each other. "It really Is crazy
case" Lomas said. slowly. i o0h
Reggie jumped up, "oh. come on; 1!.
Lets 20 and look at him. My cars
outside. Where is her
"Woking. Half a minute" Iomas
rang his bell and turned TO MS pa
So Reggie want down first. He dis
missed his chauffeur with some long
instructions. and himself TOOK .as
chauffeur's seat. Supt: Bell ooinee
him. Darker and darker sir' ish
"Changeable weather" Reggie said.
we downhearted? No"' The car shot
forward. And when 1t stopped IN
rs my hair white. FortuneT Lomas
said.
1.-THE two stood humbly aside while
the expert was busy with the
lcorpse. GAS often as I've seen this
lgame. sir. I'll never like It, Bell SAID
1 and Lomas nodded. But Reggie For
tune whistled as he worked.
When he turned from the body and put
la scrap of something in his pocket
|book-"Well, what is it?" Lomas said.
He was drowned. I suppose?"
"He was drowned. all rfght.about
teatime last night. Say at DUSK; NOW ",
Just by a bridge on by-road some
|where between here and Byheet sta
Il ask you. Why does a gentleman
L - mi
come and look for a bridge on by,
road somewhere between here ana
; Byfleet station?'
Somebody's took some pains in this
Charlecote business" the superintend-
Reggie laughed. 1.-The superintend-
ent touches the spot-as ever. Come
He stopped his car some distance
from the bridge, any they went for
There's a big car been over here
Bell said. "You wouldn't think it was
much Of a motor road. 1t was a
narrow gravel road and very loose.
bridge car had been stopped. and in
stopping or starting again had torn
up the loose gravel. Thence to the
canal was only half dozen yards
grass and bushes by the bank beaten
down. "All tht may have been done
, fishing him out" Bell said. But that
, don't explain the car. They took him
off in a wood cart. I suppose since
motors were invented there never was
one came down this road and stopped
| Just here"
mot till last night" Lomas nodded
!, so somebody" said Reggie, some
, body put Herbert in a car, brought
him down here. and chucked him in.
who was somebody? Geoffrey and the
angel wife, eh. Lomas. old thing?
. Somebody put in some fine work.
what? He wouldn't have been found
! | for weeks or forever. but barge
> came along and stirred him up. And
|. they don't have a barge along here
, once a month"
somewhere. Well, let's get busy. Her
bert's happy home comes next"
The car again broke the law on the
| way back.
Herbert Charlecote had lived in a
big block of fats several stories up.
, don't you know" Lomas said, look
ling around the elaborate room.
Hes paid for all now. sir" said
"Do you know. don't feel senti-
mental about dear Herbert's DOOM y
: Reggie smiled. You'd better get on
to his papers. I want a man on the
phone" and he went out and was
: gone some time.
when he came back he sat himself
3 down in the window seat and opened
t 1.-THE big easements. There was a low
, ers. The smel lof oak-leaf geranium
: and verbenas came into the room
. Reggie said. "Tm afraid he was
/ rather oily. the late Herbert How
, are you getting on?