Evening star., 1921-06-09
Chapter XVIII.
AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE.

AN AMATEUR DETECTIVE.
Wrayson easily discovered the OBJ
| upon lounge in the promenade. her
| ample charms lavishly displayed. and
her blackened eyes mutely question
| ing the passers-by. She welcomed
| Wrayson with a smile which she
| meant to be inviting. albeit she was
a little suspicious. Men of Wrayson's
stamp and appearance were not often
such easy victims.
| Saw you at Luigi's, didn't II" he
\ asked. hat in hand.
She nodded. and made room for him
| to sit down by her side.
| Did you see the old stick I was
WITH she asked. II don't know
| why was fool enough to go out with
| him. Trying to pump me about poor
| old Barney. too. all the time. Just as
! though l couldn't see through him"
"Old Barney" Wrayson repeated, a
| little perpleXed
She laughed coarsely.
"Oh. come. that won't do" she de-
| clared. I'm almost sure you're on
the same lay yourself. Didn't l see
you at the inquest?-Morris Barnes
| inquest. of course? You know whom
1 mean right enough"
Wrayson admitted Yes. I was
there. Queer affair. wasn't it?"
The lady nodded.
Il should like a liquor" she re-
| marked, with apparent irrelevance.
| ''Benedictine"
They were seated in front of a
small table, and were at times the
object of expectant contemplation on
/ the part of magnificent individual
/ in livery and kneebreeches. Wrayson
summoned him and ordered two bene-
! dictines.
! "Now. don't mind telling you" the
lady continued. leaning over toward
! him confidentially, that I'm dead off
| that old man who came pryinS round
and took me out to dinner to pump
| get much out of me. Forsone thing, ]
don't know much. But the little !
do know Id sooner tell you than
| him"
You're very kind" Wrayson mur-
| places good deal. didn't he?'
| She nodded assent.
He was always either here or at
| the Empire. He wasn't bad sort.
| Barney. although he was just like all
| the rest of them. close with his
money when he was sober. and chuck
| ing it about when he'd had a drop
| too much. What did you want to
| know about him in particular"
| We'll. for one thing" Wrayson an
| swered. where he got his money
| from"
| She shook her head
He was always very close about
that" she said. THE only. story I
ever heard him tell was that he'd
made it mining in South Africa"
You have really heard him say
| that" Wrayson asked.
Half a dozen times" she declared.
THAT proves. at any rate" he re-
marked thoughtfully. that there was
some mystery about his income. be-
cause I happen to know that he came
back from South Africa pauper."
Barney was always the sort who
would rather tell a lie than the
truth"
"Did he say anything to you that
night about being in any kind of
danger?" he asked.
She shook her head.
mo, don't think SO. ! didn't take
particular notice of what he said. be-
cause he was a bit squihy. l believe
he mentioned something about
business appointment that night. but
I really didn't take much notice"
"You didn't tell them anything
about that at the inquest Wfayson
remarked.
II know I didn't" she admitted.
"You see. I was so knocked over. and
I really didn't remember anything
clearly that I thought it was best to
say nothing at all. They'd have been
trying to ferret things out of NE that
I couldn't have told Them :
'I think that you were very wise.
wrayson said. You don't happen to
remember anything else that he said
l suppose"
"No, EXCEPT that he seemed a little
depressed. But there's something else
about Barney that always suspected
that I've never heard mentioned yet.
Mind you. it may be true or it may
not but I always suspected it..
.What was that?" Wrayson de-
"I believe that he was married."
she declared impressively.
"Married"'
Wrayson looked incredulous. 1t
certainly did not seem probable.
"Where is his wife them" he asked.
"why hasn't she turned up to claim
his effects? Besides. he lived alone.
He was my neighbor. you know. His
brother has taken possession OF his
fiat"
sion she had made. She was not averse.
either. to being seen in so prominent
a place in confidential talk with
man of wrayson's appearance. 1T
might not be directly remunerative.
but it was likely to do her good: zoe,
she continued. "a baby-faced chit of
girl it was. but he was evidently
very proud of it. A little girl of his
down in the country. he told me.
Then. do you know this? He was
never in London for Sunday. Every
week end he went off somewhere; and
I never heard of any one who ever
saw him or knew where he went
This is very interesting" wrayson
admitted: but if he was married.
surely his wife would have turned up
Why should she"" the lady an
swered. Don't you see that she very
likely has what all you gentlemen
seem to be so anxious about-his in
'By Jove" wrayson exclaimed
softly. "of course, if there was
anything mysterious about the source
Of it. all the more reason for her to
keep dark"
mind," she declared. summon1ng the
waiter. TN take another liquor. if
you don't mind
Wrayson nodded. His thoughts
were travelling fast.
"Did you ten Mr.. Bentham this?"
mot l." she answered. '"The old fool
got about as much out OF me as he
deserved-and that's nothing"
"rm sure I'm very much Obliged"
wrayson answered. drawing out his
pocketbook. "I'wonder If I might be
alowed-?"
He glanced at her inquiringly. She
nodded.