Evening star., 1921-06-02

M their utmost point Of tens
| wv sion Wrayso walked
homeward with the unsef-
ing eyes and mechanical footsteps OF
q man Unable as yet fully to collect
his scattered senses. But for him the
events of the evening were not yet
over. He had no sooner turned the
key In the latch OF his door and en-
tered his sitting room. than he be-
came aware of the fact that he had
visitor The air was fragrant with
TOBACCO, smoke; u man rose deliberate
| ly-fron the easy chair. and. throwing
tae ash from his. cigarette into the
was SO astonished that he could only
gasp out his name.
"Heneage." he exclaimed. ~
,, = Heneage nodded. OF the two he
WAS by lar the moro ut his ease.
Il wanted 10 see. you, Wrdyson. he
keeper-with some j.f1iculty--to lei
me wait. for your arriyai. caa you
spare me Il few minules?'
"Uf course" Wrays,a answered
"Sit down. win you nave any,l.ns"
iiehease shook his mead
Not just now, hanks"
Wrayson took off HIS nat and coat.
threw them upon thc ta3,e and 1t a
cigarette. ~
Well" he said. what is it,"
II have come" Heneage said quiet
ly. TO offer you some very good ad-
vice. You are run down and you look
1t. You need u change. / snouid rec
ommend sea voyage, the longer the
better. They say tnat your paper is
making lot of money. Why not a
voyage round the worid?"
What the devil do you mean?
Wrayson asked.
Heneage fiicked off the ash from
his cigarette and looked for moment
thougntfully into the fire.
Inree weeks ago last Thursday, /
think 1T was" he began, retiectiveiy,
Il had supper with Austin at the
Green Room Club. after the thea,er.
lie persuaded me, rather against ms
viii, l remember. for ! was tired thai
night to go home with him and mai
fourth at bridge. Austin''s nat. as
you know. is just below mere. on the
Albert road"
cigarette burned unheeded between
his fingers. His eyes We're fixed upon
his visitor.
Go on" he said
we played five rubbers" Heneage
continued. still looking into the fire:
where in. the small hours of the
morning and walked along the Albert
rcad on the unlit side of the street.
AS / passed the corner here / saw a
hanson waiting be fore your door. and
you. with somebody else. standing on
the pavement"
Anything else?" Wrayson demand
ed.
NO" Heneage answered. Il saw
you, saw the lady. and / saw the
cab. 1t was a cold morning, and ]
am not naturally curious person.
Wrayson picked up the cigarette,
which had fallen from his fingers. and
sat down. He could scarcely believe
that this was not a dream-that il
was indeed Stephen Heneage who sat
opposite to him. Hencage the impene-
trable. whose calm. measured words
LETT no indication whatever as to his
motive in making tIls amazing reve-
lation.
You are naturally wondering" He
neage, continued. why. having seen
what 1 did see. kept silence. fol-
in the first place. that the presence
Of that young lady was a personal
AFFAIR of your own. and that she could
have no possible connection with the
tragedy itself. You were evidently
disposed to shield her and. yourseIf a;
titude reasonable. if little danger
Gus. No man is obliged to give him
self away in matters Of this sort, and
am no scandalmoager. The situa-
ton. however, has undergone a
change"
wrayson looked up quickly.
What do you mean?' he asked.
Tonight" Heneage said calmly, ~
recognized your nocturnal visitor
with the Baroness de Sturm."
And what of that? Wrayson de-
manded.
Heneage. who was leaning back in
his chair. looking into the fire with
half-ciosed eyes, Strengthened himself
and turned directly toward his COM
panion.
How much do you know about the
Baroness de Sturm?" he asked
Nothing at ALL" Wrayson answer
ed. Il met her for the first time to-
night"
Heneage looked back into thes fire
: "Ah" he murmured. II thought that
it might be so. The young lady is
perhaps an old friend?"
Il cannot discuss her." Wrayson an
swered. Il can only say that / will
answer for her Innocence as regards
any completely In the murder of Nor
ris Barnes"
Heneage nodded sympathet:cally. q
STILL" he remarked. "the man was
murdered"
Il suppose So" Wrayson admitted
!. "And in a most mysterious man
ner," Heneage Continued. You have
gathered. l dare say. from your
knowledge of me. that these affairs
always interest me Immensely. am
almost as great a crank as the colo
nell have been thinking over this