Evening star., 1921-05-08
BT SAX ROHNER,
Illustrated By LCCoN

Jor. II am the person.. lack Rag
staff-he assaulted. was walking
down from my quarters in Maddox
street on my way to dine at the club
when this flamin' idiot sprang upon
me. grabbed my hat'-he took up his
white hat to illustrate what had oc-
curred-"not this one. but one like it
pitched ii on the ground and jump
ed on it,
Harley was quite unable to conceal
his smiles as the excited old soldier
dropped his conspicuous headgear on
tho floor and indulged in vigorous
pan'omime designed to illustrate his
statement.
Most extraordinary." said Harley.
What did you do?"
What did I do?" roared the major
Il gave him crack on the head with
my cane. and ] said things to him
, which couldn't be repeated in court.
! ] punched him. and likewise hoofed
him. but the hat was completely done
; in. Damn crowd collected. hearin' me
swearin' and bellowin' Police and all
that; names and addresses and all
that balderdash. Man lusged away to
guardroom and me turnin' up at the
club with no hat. Damn ridiculous
spectacle at my time O. life"
Quite So" said Harley soothingly:
Il appreciate your annoyance. but I
am utterly at loss to understand
why you have come here and wha t
, all this has to do with Mr.. De Lena
OF the stock exchange"
He fell out of the window" shouted
the major.
Fell out of Window
| out of window, sir second
moor window ten yards up side
| street. Pitched on his skull-marvel
he WASN'T killed outright"
faint expression of interest began
n irt
derstand you mean. Major Ragstaff," D."
he said deliberately. that while your
struggle with the drunken man was
in progress. Mr.. De Lena fell out of
neighboring window into the
Right" shouted the major. Right.
sir"
DO YOU know this Mr. De Lana ?"
Never heard of him in my life until
the accident occurred. Seems to me
the poor devil leaned out to see the
fun and overbalanced. Felt respon-
s1ble only natural and made in
auiries. He died at s o'clock this
evening, SIR"
Hin" said Harley refectively. II
sun faii to see where I come in. From
what window did he fallo"
window above sort OF tea shop,
ON corner. Don't know name of side
street"
III m. You don't think he was push.
ed out. for instance?''
Certainly not"' shouted the ma ior:
ne Just fell out. but the point is. he's
My dear sir" said Harley patiently
i don't dispute that point: but what
on earth do you want Of me%'
Il don't know what I want" roared
the major. beginning to walk up and
down the room, but I know I amt
wake up of night hearin' the poor
devils yell as he crashed on the pave
ment. That's all wrong. I've heard
hundreds Of death yells. but"-he
TOOK up his malacca cane and beat 1t
loudly on the tablet haven't woke
up of a night dreamin' / heard 'em
again.
TN word. you suspect foul play?"
don't suspect anything" cried tn.
other exeitedly. but some one men
said you could see through concrete
and all that-and here I am. There's
something wrong. radically wrong.
FIND out what II is and send the
bill to me. Then perhaps I'll be able
to sleep in peace"
LIE paused and. again taking out
the large silk handkerchief, blew
his nose loudly. Harley glanced at
me in rather an odd way There will
be no bill. Major Ragstan," he said:
but IL l can see any possible line of
inquiry will pursue it and report tn.
result to you"
What do you make Of it. Harley"
asked.
Paul Harley returned work of ref
erence to it's shelf and stood staring
absently across the study. our late
visitors history does not help US
much" ne replied. "A somewhat dis .
tinguished army career. and so forth.
and his only daughter. Sibyl Margaret,
married the fifth Marquis of Ireton.
She is, therefore, the noted society
beauty. the Warehouses Of Ireton.
Does this suggest anything to your
mind"
Nothing whatever" I said blankly.
Nor to mine" murmured Harley.
The telephone bell rang.
! "Hullo" called Harley. Yes. That