Evening star., 1921-07-31

been stripped. The house would then
havet O be gone through; carpets and
boards pulled up; mattresses ripped
open: chairs"
II agree with Mr.. Sage" said Sir
Lyster. looking across at the prime
minister coldly.
Had l been a magazine detective I
should have known exactly where 70
find the missing document" said NAL
colin Sage. "As ! am not'-he turned
to SIR Lyster-"it will be necessary
for you to leave a note for your but
Ter telling him that you have dropped
somewhere about the house the key of
this safe. and instructing him to have
thorough search made for it. You
might casually mention the loss at
breakfast, and refer 20 an important
document inside the safe which you
must have on Monday morning. Per-
haps the prime minister will suggest
telephoning to town for man to come
down to force the safe should the key
not be found"
Leave the note unfolded in a. con-
it," he continued.
I'll put it on the hall-table. said
Sir Lyster.
Malcolm Sage nodded.
'It is desirable that you should all
appear to be in the best of spirits
d
Of Malcolm Sage's mouth. as he lifted
his eyes for a second to the almost
lugubrious countenance OF Lord
Beamdale. Under no circumstances
refer to the robbery. even amongst
yourselves. Try to forget 1T it." ,uoa
Mr. Llewellyn John.
''I will ask you, sir, said Malcolm
Sage. turning to him, Ito give me
letter to Mr.. Wolding1on. asking him
to do as I request. | will give MIN
the details"
prime minister, looking from Sir Ly-
ster to Lord Beemdale. H.,
81 hope to call before lunch. said
Malcolm Sage. You will refuse to
discuss official matters until Monday.
1 shall probably ask you to intro
may happen that I shall disapp
suddenly BY the way. Sir Lyster.
how many cars have you in the ga
rage?" inquired Malcolm Sage. In
case we want them." he added;
II have two, and there are'-he
paused for a moment-'hVe ptners'
he added: seven in all"
"Any carriages, or dOg-carts?
mo. We have no horses
"Bicycles?"
"A few of the servants have
them" replied Sir Lyster, little i'm
"The bicycles are also kept in the
garage, I take it?"
"They are" This time there was
no mistaking the note of irritation
In Sir Lyster's voice.
There may be several messengers
from Whitehall tomorrow" said NAL
clom Sage. after a pause Please
keep them waiting until they show
signs Of impatience. 1t is important
Whatever happens here, 1t would be
better not to acquaint the police
whatever happens" he added with
to Mr.. Llewellyn joint should
Ike that note to the postmaster gen
: But suppose the thief hands the
6ocuments~te an accomplice? said
Sir -Lyster presently, with something
like emotion in his voice.
That's exactly what l am sup
posing" was Malcolm Sage's reply,
and, taking the note that Mr.. Level
'lyn John held out to. him, he placed
it in his breast pocket. buttoned up
his overcoat and walked across to
the window, through which he had
entered. With one hand upon the
curtain he turned.
If 1 call you may notice that
cquired slight foreign ac-
cent" he said, and with that 'he
slipped behind the curtain. A mo-
meHl lAGeT the SouHu was VI
the window being quietly opened and
then shut a~ain. ,
well, I'm jissered" cried Lord orc
Llewleiyn John and Sir Lyster for
got their surprise at Malcolm Sage's
actions in their establishment at their
colleagues remark.
-"
1AJHEN Mr.. Walters descended the
w broad staircase of The Towers
on the Sunday morning he found two
things to disturb him-Sir Lyster's
note on the hall table and the Jap
anese valet "lost" in the conserva-
tory.
He read the one. with attention
and rebuked the other with acri-
r,ony. Having failed to find the
missing key himself. he proceeded
to the housekeeper's room. and
poured into the large and receptive
ear of Mrs. Eames the story of his
woes.
"And this a Sunday. too" the
housekeeper was just remarking. in
u fat, comfortable voice, when Rich
ards, the chauffeur, burst uncere-,
moniously into the room.
Some ones taken the pencils from
all the magnetos," he shouted angrily,
his face moist with heat and lubri4
can. TITS burglars. They've brok-