Evening star., 1921-10-30

Schofield was not alone. For the
barest second a shadow. evil and sim
lister. crossed his face; then it was
gone. In its place he assumed an
expression OF establishment and con-
Germ.
You? Mr.. schofield" he ex.
was Fred who had come to town and
was rousing me from my slumbers.'
Then as if struck by a sudden dis
tressing thought: Nothing has hap
pened to him?"
He drew a sigh Of relief as Scho-
field responded with negative ges-
ture.
"Ah. that is good. But my curiosity
! Increases. It must be a matter of i'm
! portance to bring you here at this
time Of night: Sit down, won't you?
He pointedly ignored the presence OF
! Ramsey addressing himself entirely
| to the older man. II believe, though
your mission. You want to sign that
will before you sleep?"
Schofield sat down heavily.
| NO" he said in his harsh. dry
voice. "I am in no great anxiety
about that 1t is something OF good
Ito you. The missal which I showed
| you this afternoon has been stolen
"Stolen?. Achison's surprise was
EXPRESSED by a single deep-toned note
Of incredulity. stolen" he repeated
ton. How? When?"
Some time between and
o'clock" -
| Achison apparently made a rapid
mental caiculation. That must have
"The night watchman. who was
l just coming on duty. saw man
| stealing through the grounds in di-
rection away from the house
and"
."Well, that is something to go on
/ interrupted the lawyer with aroused
Interest. Gould the watchman give
a description of him?"
| X X 4
ono" schofield shook his head re-
I ~ gretfully. cit was growing
| dark, and he thought at first the mar
was Frederick or one Of his friends
ft.was not until he heard a car start.
ing up and leaving the grounds a,
high speed that his suspicious were
i matter"
"a bold undertaking" Achison's
brows were knitted ref1ectively;, III
| must have been some one who knew
of the book, its value and also its
hiding-place. An agent of the Italiar
government perhaps, who had sue.
ceeded in running it down? Or no
he would have come directly to you
1t must be the work of group OF
high-class thieves who in some way
had learned OF your treasure. The
first thing to do is to list all the per
Tsons who had any knowledge OF IT!
being in your possession or of 1t:
mo one knew anything about Il
| except myself" Schofield spoke with
obstinate fnality.
Achison raised his eyebrows. &
faint, cynical smile on his lips.
That is something it won't do t.
had cataloguers from time to time
There is always the chance"
4 my only cataloguer has been m,
i ward, Margery Drew" Schofiefd drew
himself up stiffiy. And she had NJ !.
knowledge of the missal. or where +
was kept"
I'm that case,"-Achison leaned hi
arms on the table and looked across
it at his unbidden guest-"I shall hav'
to say something that may both ange
are two or three suppositions thA
force themselves upon me. Your war;
being a woman, it Is hard to say jus
what she knew, or II she had discoy
cred anything. to whom she may hav
"oh"1soothingly. for schoaeld CAV
a gesture of violent impatience--'
m erely offer it as one Of the contin
gencies; we must take them all Int
account.
there he xs.. is .nethsr sa 6at sos
member that this afternoon Fredericl
, entered the room, and saw not onl
the book but the open space in tn
cabinet. More than that, a cues
whom he mentioned BY name wa