Evening star., 1921-09-04

He testified that Mr.. charlecote had
been much upset by the quarrel with
Godfrey. Mr.. Charlecote had COM
planned a good deal about his health.
But there were no particular symp-
toms. DR.. Newton had been attend
ing him for a long while. But the
valet did not think that he had done
Mr.. Charlecote any good. For one
thing, Mr.. Charlecote did not take his
medicine. There had been a good
deal of medicine. Mr.. Charlecote's 8
instructions were always to pour 1t
And that's that" said Reggie as
they went out.
1--WE don't get anywhere. sir, do
we?" the superintendent sympathized.
Anything you suggest?".
How does it strike Supt Bell?''
Looks like bad case. sir. One
Of those where the criminal has all
the luck. Verdict, persons unknown"
so Scotland Yard leaves it at
that?"
Unless Mr.. Fortune has something
up his sleeve"
Nary card. But you know we've
missed something, Bell"
Have we, indeed. sir? And where
shall we look for it?"
"Oh, watch out. Watch everybody -
Life Is short. SIR" said Supt Bell.
gloomily. and with that they parted
The superintendent was q true
prophet The sensational inquest
upon Stephenson Charlecote ended
In an unsatisfactory verdict of MUIR
known. 1t was obvious that public
opinion. and the coroner. as the voice
thereof. directed suspicion against
Godfrey. He made a bad witness
He was agitated. nervous. and under
the coroners hostile examination
lost his temper.
When he. was asked II he knew
that his father had on the morning
Of the murder made q will leaving
everything to him. he displayed a
violent agitation, swore mot merely
as a witness but with profane oaths)
that he knew nothing about 1t. in
| a declaration that he would not
touch the, money. which disguised
everybody as q bit of false melo-
drama II distrust and dislike were
grounds for hanging a man, the jury
would have made an end Of Geoffrey
but the evidence, as Lomas COM
dog.
bland as ever, called on Geonrey
1t was a very humble house in that
Chelsea cul-de-sac. The aged serv-
ant who took in Reggie's name left
him on the doorstep. from which he
had the glimpse of a~narrow, bare
kept waiting some time. and heard
confused noises. When at last hi
was shown into the studio he met
signs Of storm. Geoffrey was flushed
! and visibly In the sulkiest of, tenn.
pers, his wife pale and tired.
| Well. what is 1t now?' Geoffrey
growled.
His wife smiled. 'Mr. Fortune.
That Is so kind. II you would please
sit down. Some tea, yes?,
And Reggie was saying to himself
"Oh, my aunt! She isn't q woman
she's q child" For Lucia Charlecott
| was SO frail. of such simplicity. tina,
she looked rather like an angel II
one Of the primitive Italian pictures
than a woman. q.
Shut up. Lucia" Geoffrey growled
| What do you want here, Mr., For
| tune? Trying a bit of your detectivt
work?"
! You're rather difficult, aren't you?'
Reggie said, mildly. you know, yot
told me you wanted to have the trutf
brought out. Justice for your father
on it''
Much good you've done. haven
you?"
/; Il don't mind confessin' we've miss
Missed! Yes, you haven't quit,
hanged me. thanks. You've only made
everybody think / murdered my
Thanks very muchw -.
"Well. are you satisiiedy r said Reg
gle. -You know. you're not fair. Tn
maxim every allowance. But you're
not fair. II you want the thing. clear
] ed PIP. you've got 10 give ~ some