The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-05-17
CHAPTER l..

veal 1t. BY gad!--i VIII mean
1T"
Don't be rash, Hugh" urged ,he
other.
Rash" He cried. IT'S true that
when my father died so suddenly
had an amazing surprise. Ny father
was n very curious man 1 always
thought him to be on the verge OF
bankruptcy and that the Manor and
the land might be sold up any day.
When old Chairman, the solicitor, read
the will, found that my father had
a quarter Of million lying at
the bank, and that he had left It all
to me-provided ! married Louise!"
well. why not marry herr" queried
Brock lIzily. You're always so mys.
terious, my dear Hugh
why? Because OF that Internal
fellow, Charles BENTON. Louise poses
as his adopted daughter. Bcnton is
a bachelor of forty-five, and, accord
ins to his story. he adopted Louise
when she was child and put her to
school Her paientago 8 IL mystery.
After leaving school she went to live
with Mrs. Sheldon, u young widow.
In an expensive suite in Queen Auno's
Mansions, Westminster. and she lives
there now. Mrs. Sheldon ard she
have atA yod with us Mt Wondthorpe a
dozen times, and. both are good run.
rye nothing against Louise except
well, except for the strange, uncanny
influence which that man Benton
holds over her. | hate the fellow"
II scC! And in consequence, though
Louise is Il very marry and attractive
young person. you don't intend to
marry Eer-eh? It's a most iniuuitous
will--dnmnable. | call 1t! Why should
you marry her, after alI?" asked
Brock.
Merely in orier to get back Wood
thorpe and my fathers fortune. sut
| toll yolI, Walter--aS Two told you
lots OF times bofOre-I may be bit
hard mp. and am. but | shall mover
marry Louise. We arc friCuds-gOod
fifnnds-but I'll never marry her
nevGr!"
81 understand. and / certainly
agree" replied Brock.
First. ] intend that this woman
they call 'Mademoisullc of Monte
Carlo tho lucky woman who Is de-
coy OF tho Administration OF the
Balns dc Mer. shall tell me the true
circumstances OF MY fathers dcIth
II know them, then my hand will be
strengthened"
Meanwhile you love Dorlse?"
"Yos. with all my heart. She. OF
COURSE. knows nothing OF the coudi-
tions OF tho will and has never met
Louise"
There was a silence of some mo-
ments, interrupted only by the pop
pop OF the pigeon shots below.
You've never told me the exact
circumstances W your fathers death.
Hugh" remarked Brook at last.
Exact circumstances7 All! That's
what want 70 know. Only that
woman knows the secret" answered
the young man. "All l know is that
the poor old Guv'nor was called up
tn London by telegram, We had n
shooting party at Woodthropc AMI
ne left me in charge, saying that IN
had some business in London and
might return that nightTOr he might
hc away week. Days passed and
no did not return. Several letters
came for him which l kept in the
library. I, was surprised that nc
neither wrote nor returned, when
suddenly, ten days later, we had n
telegram from tho London police in
forming me that my father vas lying
in the MiddlcSCx Hospital.
II dashed up to town, but when ]
arrived ! found him dead. At the In
quest evidence was given 10 show
that at half past two in the morning
constable going along Albcmarle
Street found him in evening dress ly-
ing huddled up in n doorway. Think
ing him intoXicat ed he tried TO rouse
him. but could not. A doctor who
was called pronounced that he was
suffering from some form of poison
ing. He was taken to the hospital in
an ambulance, hut he never recoV-
cred. The post-mortem Investigation
showed a small scratch on the balm
of the hand. That scratch had been
| produced by pin or needle whicn
had been infected by one of the newly
! discovered pOisOns which, admins
tered secretly, give a poSt-morten
appearance Of death from heart dis
| ease"
Then your father was murdered
! eh?" exclaimed the elder man.
Most certainly ne was, And tina
woman is aware Er tho whole cir
| CuIIlSIduSNN, Alll ~ INV 'SNA''NJ
| tho assassin
How do you know that?"
"By a letter / IftGrward opened
one that had been addressed TO hin
at Woodthorpe in his absence. II wa
anonymous. written in bad EngEiSl
in nm ilHterate hand, warning him L
beware Of that woman you know
Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo 1t bor'
. French stamp and the postmark o
Tours"
IT never knew all this" Brock said
you are quite right. Hugh! Tn
whole affair is a tangled. mystery
But the FIRST point we must establish
before VIC commence TO investigate /
who is MademoiSclle of Mont
Carlo?"
I All the evening Hugh idled, chat
ting with men and women he knew
At II O'Clock he returned to tn
cafe and took n seat on the terrac
in dark corner in such position
that he could see any one who en-
tered or left the Casino. For half a
hour he watched the people pHsSin
to and fro. At last in a long jade
green coat, Mademoiselle emerge
alone and. crossing the gardens, mad
her way leisurely home on foot, a
} was her habit. Monte Carlo is not
large place, therefore there Is littl
use for taXis.
When she was out OF sight he calle
the waiter to bring him liQrcur of oil
cognac, which he slipped and then !
I NkaEAR rot to he .