Evening star., 1922-05-28
William lie Queux Story
of a Mysterious Crime

rather uneasy, thought He ex-
pressed surprise At my sudden ap.
pearance.
II thought you were back in Lon
don!' he said.
"Yes, I have been, but in the neigh
borhood again, thought I'd call upon
the old lady. Any other guests here?"
only the Treetons. They've been
here ever since left to go to Edin-
burgh. 1 only came here yesterday
to dine and sleep. I'm of again this
evening"
'Where?' I asked. eagerly.
"Oh. well, don't exactly know.
I'm expecting q wire. But these viii
lage post offices are so slow. Lady
Maud and young Bethel are out on
the lake fishing. But ,grew tired Of
it It was SO terribly cold"
"Is the old lady about?" I asked.
mo. She's resting. She won't be
down till s. You know her habits"
he added. with q smile.
Almost as he spoke the footman re-
entered and said:
Her ladyship wants to see you.
sir. Could you wait till s? She says
that Lady Maud is out fishing on the
lake. and perhaps you'd like to join
them"
Thanks" 1 said. Let me know
when Davies comes back"
VERY well, sir" was the mans re-
ply. as he closed the door.
So there found myself face to face
with the man I had so. persistently
hunted down. And now I did not in
tend to lose sight of him again.
~ *-&:.
LIHIE strolled out together along the
w great terrace overlooking the
park, but made no mention of the
thefts. wondered, whether Lady
Cardigan had spoken of 1t Of IL
Davies had referred to the incl
dents. His manner was not SO open
as it might have been. somehow
felt that my presence there was ex-
tremely unwelcome.
Later. after we had taken tea with
our hostess. Lady Maud and her
young cavalier being invited-for
they lived about six miles away-1
managed to have . confidential chat
with Davies.
what brings Mr.. Ellerton back
here. do you think?" I asked the
grave old butler. you, of course,
| know the suspicion that fell upon
him"
Il do, sir. I'm as much puzzled as
you are. l can't think what brings
him back" he replied. when he ar
rived he had a long chat with her
ladyship. 1t seems rs though they
are in close association over some
! thing"
Have you told him anything of
the robbery?"
Not a word, sir. was SO sur
prised when her ladyship told me
that he was coming to dine and sleep
that ! thought I'd keep a still
tongue"
Il wonder il Lady Cardigan has
told him that we suspect him. 1
hope not"
NO, sir. Her ladyship told me
this morning that it was disgraceful
for you all to suspect him, and that
| she would not insult him by telling
him Of our doubts"
Excellent Then 1t makes our task
| all the easier 3"
when you'd gone. sir. Mrs. Worth
inGton-Pearce created a. scene by
roundly abusing her ladyship. and I
was ordered to request her to leave
tho house. She's an impossible wom-
an. sir!"
"she certainly is. But, after all,
she lost her rubies-very valuable
ones, too-and her 1adyship will not
permit any hue-and-cry after the
thief. I suppose there's no suspicion
tupon any Of the servants?"
None, SIR
'Who is taking Mr.. Ellerton to the
station?"
| Forbes, sir"
Then take Forbes into your con-
fdence and ask him to fnd out to
| which station he takes his ticket, and
| low him, but I dare not 90 by the
next train"
II know where he's going, sir.
Only an hour ago he sent Forbes to
the post ONCE with a telegram to a
| Mrs. Stedman in Half Noon street,
London. saying he would be home to-
night
THAT was enough. Once I had him
in London it would be easy to
keep watch upon his movements.
Therefore bade him farewell before
he left. and also took the train to
81. Pancras which followed his
Next evening Raymond rang me
up to say that Mrs. Osler had re-
turned alone from Paris, and wanted
to see me If would call on her. This
did at about 8 o'clock in the even
ing. found that she lived in a large,
well furnished house in Cromwell
| road. whore she greeted me enthusi-
astically, thanked me for all was
doing. and repeated her suspicion Of
Ellerton:
| 'I'm going on q visit to the Ouch
ess Of Ranmore at Cathmayne tomor-
row morning" she said. 'I only wish
could remain in town and help you.
But will be back in . few days.
Meanwhile do keep watch upon Eller-
ton, won't.you? feel confident that
we shall be successful. Oh, II could
only get my pearl back again" she
sighed.
1 - Y.l