Evening star., 1921-08-21

quired Malcolm Sage. looking keenly
across at the inspector. :.
Just that he had nothing to say"
His exact words. Can, YOU re-
member them?" Queried Malcolm
Sage.
| "He said. inspector Murdy, i have
nothing to say and then he shut up
| like a real Whitstable."
He was away yesterday" re-
| marked Malcolm Sage. who then told
the inspector of his visit. How
he queried.
He practically told me to go to
the devil" was the genial reply. In
spector Murdy was accustomed to
rudeness; his profession invited it..
and to his rough -and-ready form OF
reasoning. rudeness meant innocence;
politeness. guilt.
"And yet the vicar would not hear
of the arrest of Blade" murmured
Malcolm Sage. turning the copper
ash-tray round with his restless
fingers.
Sheer good nature and kindness,
Mr.. Sage he said. Hes as gentle
as a woman"
II once knew a man." remarked
Malcolm Sage, who said that in the
to the worlds mysteries. past. pres
ent and to come"
"a dreamer. Mr.. Sage" smiled the
inspector. I'VE haven't time for
dreaming at the yard" he added
good-temperedly. as he rose and
dog.
Il suppose it never struck you to
look elsewhere than at the curate's
lodgings for the writer Of the let
ters?" inquired Malcolm Sage quietly.
"It nNver strikes me to look about
R<n I'M cff hi
chest" laughed Inspector Mur6y.
True" said Malcolm Sage. "By
the way" he continued, without
looking up. FIN future can you let
me see every letter as it Is received?
You might also keep careful record
Certainly Mr.. Sage. Anything
that will make you happy"
Later, 1 may get you to ask the
vicar to seal up any subsequent
anonymous letters that reach him
without allowing any one to see the
Sonfeatsa So tsats" Do you 'n'hR ne "'o''
"Without doubt, if 1 ask him." said
the inspector. surprise in his eyes as
he looked down upon the cone OF bald
ness beneath him. realizing what
handicap it is to talk to a man who
keeps his eyes averted.
He must then put the letters in
a place where no one can possibly
obtain access to them. One thing
more" continued Malcolm Sage; will
you ask Miss Crayne to write out the
full story of the letters as far as
she personally is acquainted with it?"
Every we'll, Mr.. Sage" said the in
spector, with the air of one humor-
ing a child. Now I'll be going" He
walked toward the door. then sud
denllk stopped and turned.
II suppose you think I'm wrong
about the curate?"
It'll tell you later" was the reply.
when you find the master key?
laughed the inspector. as he opened
the door.
said Malcolm Sage. quietly. and as
the door closed behind Inspector Mur-
dy he continued to finger the copper
ash tray as if it were the master key.
MALCOLM SAGE was seated at
A.A small ,green-covered table play
ing solitaire. A velvet smoking
jacket and a pair of wine-colored
morocco slippers suggested that the
days work was done.
Patience chess and the cinema were
his unfailing sources of inspiration
when engaged upon, a more than
usually uAiuCuiIr case. ne HAu ouSe
told Sir James Walton that they clari-
fed his brain and co-ordinated his
thoughts the cinema in particular.
The fact that in the surrounding
darkness were hundreds of other
brains, vital and active. appeared to
stimulate his own imagination.
Nearly a month had elapsed since
he had agreed to take up the inquiry
into the authorship Of the series OF
letters with which CYL
ston and the Aneighborhood had been
flooded. yet, still the matter remained
a mystery.
For a fortnight Malcolm Sage had
been on the continent in connection
with the theft Of the Adair diamonds. |
Two days previously, after having re-
stored the famous jewels to Lady
Adair, he had returned to London, to
find that the Gylston affair had de-
ve1oped q new. and dramatic phase.
The curate had been arrested for
to murder Mas: Crayue.