The Washington times., 1921-09-18

II
= urawisy; and Burgess drove
me to the station. very losth to let
me 90.
I could see. however. that he was
both piqued and puzzled that / had
! not spoken more openly 70 him a.
to what was working in my mind;
but the whole idea was 80 bizarre
ana At such an embryonic stage.
that I frankly did not feel myself
justified m unburdening myself at
the expense Of burdening him with
what could only be throughout my
absence an ever-prssent horror In
HIS mind. a. shsstly IN It's uncer-
tainty ain,ost a. In its actually. II
correct.
Moreover Il waa scmethins en-
tirely outside the scope Oh his men.
tai dlathesis, and would seem TO
him an utterly VIVID absurdity IN
the absence OF any proof. There
fore had decided, after turning
the matter over in my mind from
every point OF view. that Fitzroy
Manders was the only man to
whom ! could talk openiy---the only
man whose help I could enlist in
the nrst Instance 10 such an early
stage Of the ultimate possibilities.
In the train SKINNED through
AL the morning papers. which were
stfil null Of the sensation, padding
out the lack Of anything fresh with
Q whole carnival Of rumor, which
may have served to appease the
hungry public, but certainly took
the matter no further from prac-
tical point OF view.
Among them were one or two
hot and windy attacks upon Scot
land Yard and its ineptitude which
secretly rather pleased me, as they
promised to make the dffficult task
saw ahead Of me easier At the
psychological moment. when I
should find myself forced to cali In
official help IN, what was likely to
b. o very unofficial and certainly
unconventional manner.
From Victoria took the Under
ground 10 the Temple, making my
way IN By the Embanlrment en-.
trance BY the Library. Fitxroy
Manders had chambers IN the new
buildings IN Garden Court overlook
! ing, the beautifs1l old gardens: but
in the train ! had been struck with
unpleasant misgivings as to hnding
him. ~ had suddenly realized that
Il was the vacation. .
And time'was an urgent factor.
However, ] was In luck, a. HIS
clerk told me that. he had just ar
rived, being detained m town cor.
recfing the proofs OF his new book
on NCf1minai Law. which he had
not had time to finish while the
courts wers sitting.
/ He ordered me to BE- shown IN at
once and welcomed me warmly.
.Osgood. BY Jove. this is Q pleas
ant surprise, was his greeting. -
he shook hands cordially. "wher-
svsr have you sprung from IN your
wandsrins- to and fro up and down
the EARTH, -
sCiympinx Manor + replied;
and he started with surprise.
by Jove,s he exclaimed asain,
''of an the peculiar .coincidences!
How did that happenf.
I told him OF my old friendship
with Burgess. and the tie that al
ways drew me there first upon ar
irving IN England.
"And D strange state Of affairs
you found there. he commented.
''Of course Clymping mentioned my
name IN connection with the Bull
ingdon affair. and that 10 what re-
called my existence 20 promptly 70
your mindf.
sNot exactly that" I answsfed.
taking the armchair By the IRE. to
which he pointed. II was intend
ing anyhow 10 renew our very pleas
ant acquaintanceshfp at an early
date, but u n on account OF this
strange mystery that I have run mp
70 consult you to-day, much to the
disgruntlement OF poor old Bur
sess, and I hope 70 enlist your.
help
Ahytn1nB can 40, Oh COuIees Il
ne said warmly. nut howf Have
q ciearf" A.af
ne passed the bon, and / took
one end nc II without haste. pom
dering the best line OF approach.
while he seated himself upon the
leather fender putting at his pipe.
X I'VE are no ngainst q very tough
proposition, Mandsrs.. began. and
he nodded acquiescence -"up
against the toughest thing you ever
dreamed Of In all the annals Of
crime, and I, honestly believe that
You are the only man In England
certainly the only man l. can lay
hands on--who can help me-
Manders shrugged his shoulders
slightly In depreciation.
"They are at the end Of their
tether at the Yard. anyhow. he
said, rand at their Wits end how
TO carry the matter an inch further.
umnnmnusuunnpunnunnnn1nn1nnann