Evening star., 1921-06-04
CHAPTER XIII.
SEARCHING THE CHAMBERS.

wrayson took his guest to popu-
lar restaurant. where there was mu-
sic and a five-course luncheon for
three and six. Their conversation
during the earlier part of the meal
was limited. for Mr.. Sydney Barnes
showed himself possessed of an appe-
! tite which his host contemplated with
respectful admiration. His sallow
cheeks became flushed and his nerv-
arrival of coffee.
II say, this is all right, this place
| is" he said. leaning back in his chair
with a large cigar between his teeth.
Jolly expensive, I suppose. isn't it?'
Wrayson smiled.
TT depends" he answered. II don't
suppose your brother would have
found it so. A bachelor can do him
self pretty we'll on two thousand a
year"
Il only hope I get hold Of it." Mr..
Sydney Barnes declared fervently.
This is the way should like to live
this is"
ed. IAN income of that sort could
scarcely disappear into thin air. could
1T? By the bye. Mr.. Barnes, that re-
minds me of very important circum-
stance which, up to now. we have not
mentioned. | mean the way your
brother met his DEATH"
The young man nodded thought
fully.
"Ah." he remarked. "he was mur-
dered. wasn't he? Some one must
have owed him a nasty grudge. Nor
ris always was a one to make enc
mics"
II don't know whether the same
thing has occurred to you." Wrayson
continued. but I can't help wonder
ing whether there may not have been
some connection between his death
and that mysterious income of his"
"I've thought of that myself" the
young man declared "All the same
1 can't see what he could have car
ried about with him worth two thou
sand a year"
you see the matter stands like this
He was in receipt of about $500 every
three months. as his bank book
proves. This sum would represent
per cent interest on forty thousand
pounds. Now. considering your broth
Town. and tho fact that you cannot
discover at his bankers or elsewhere
any documents alluding to property
or shares of any sort, one can scarce
ly help dismissing the hypothesis
dividends or interest. At any rate.
let us put that out Of the question for
the moment. Your brother received
five hundred pounds every three
months from some one. People don't
give money away for nothing nova
days, you know. From whom and for
what services did he receive that
money!"
Mr. Sydney Barnes looked puzzled.
"Ask me another" he remarked
"You do not know Of any secrets,
I suppose. which your brother may
have stumbled into possession OFF,
mot I! He went about with his
eyes open and his mouth closed. but
I never heard Of his having that sort
of luck"
He could not have had any ad-
ventures on the steamer. for he came
back steerage,' Wrayson continued
thoughtfully, "and he Was in funds
almost from the moment he landed in
England. I am afraid. Mr.. Barnes.
that he must have been deceiving you
in Cape Town."
"If I could only have a dozen words
with him." the young man muttered
1T would be useful" wrayson ad-
mitted, but. unfortunately, it is out
of the question. Either he was de-
ceiving you or he was in possession Of
somtfing which turned out far more
valuable than he had imagined"
Barnes a So maeas is it NJ Va. syansS To1S
Exactly" wrayson remarked. 'but
the question of your brothers murder
comes in there. People don't commit
a crime Hike that for nothing, you
know. If it was Information which
your brother had. 1t died with him.