Evening star., 1921-07-03

He is not the only witness sir. One
of my men was behind the curtain
The archduke poured himself out an
other other cup Of r. tea; aor,mahs May give you you
laughed a little And you, sir We
sometimes find u policeman corrupt in
our country. We do not permit him to
trouble US"
"You brought German car into Eng
land. sir Lomas said. where is the
carr"
"Your spies do not seem very good"
Mr.. Lomas. Come, sir. enough of this.
j" The archduke started from his
in bow. A horrible grin distorted
his face. He fell down and was con-
vulsed- He gasped; his pale
cheeks became a dusky blue. He
writhcd and lay still =. -.
$50 that's that" Reggie said. 81
wondered what he wanted with half a
dozen"
What is it?" Lomas muttered.
oh, strychnine poisoning. He's swal-
| lowed grain or So
MY Cod, Can you do anything"
Reggie shrugged. Hes as dead as
After a while well, it's way out
Lomas said. But / can't understand
the fellow
''Oh. don't understand it ALL" Reg
gle admitted. ''He was out to kill his
; brother. That meant being emperor.
But why kill him now more than be-
fore? And the archduchess. She IL
straight enough l know. But just how
she was TO this fellow l don't see.''
"T>HERE'S not much in that" Lomas
said. Maurice couldn't stand the
court and it was common talk he
meant to resign the succession. While
he was quiet over here in England Leo
pold felt safe. But lately they tell me
Maurice has been making up his mind
| to go back Duty 10 his country. don't
you know? The archduchess was strong
against it. She hates all the business
OF royalty. But Maurice is resolute
sort Of fellow even with a woman.
Leopold came over to See what he could
do. / suppose he set the archduchess
F, on to make Maurice give up the idea
! and stay quiet. They worked to-
! gether-or that's the notion of the Bo-
but she's straight. She is not in this.
1t wasn't her car. Well, when Leopold
| found there was nothing doing he set
about the murder. He was bad egg.
don't know? There was woman
in Rome-they kicked him out there
But it was a sound scheme. He had it
all straightforward the wrong tires
on his car. Good touch, the hatpin.
| Seemed like a woman in a rage. He
knew lot about women-one kind OF
| woman"
! There was a tap at the door. The
| two walked forward.
! '.Sir Lawson Hunter. sir" The foot
I man tried in vain to see the archduke.
Yes, bring him up" Reggie said.
Sir Lawson BUSTED in. New case
! for you. sir" The Two men moved
| apart and Sir Lawson saw the body.
| Poisoned himself. Taken strych-
| nine" Lomas said.
"oh. don't bias him. said Reggie.
He doesn't like that"
Good Cad" Sir :-awson's eyes
bulged.
Yes, that beats me. Fortune" Lo-
mas waved his hand at the body. II
would have sworn he hadn't the
pluck"
ooh. he hadn't. He meant it for me
I changed the cups
you" Jomas stared at him.
| THAT was when you heard the carr"
THAT was why l heard the car"
| And you let me take the dose"
Yes. Seemed fair. You see, / pick
last night"
Good CAD" said Sir Lawson.
The footman was again al the door
( DR.. Fortune was wanted at the tele
| phone There's one here. isn't there?
Put me through" The footman, hard
ly able to speak at the sight Of the
dead archduke, retired gulping.
The bell rang. Reggie took up the
receiver. "Yes. Yes. At once" and he
put it down. "I must be going Sc
rious case. Mrs. Jones little girl may
have German meaSels."
Copyrighted and published by z. P. Dutton
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