Evening journal., 1922-08-25

Z CDA0@JH
Pretend to be Robert. the wastrsl
brother. and make yourself objec-
tionable TO Miss Norris. Borrow
money from her, and that sort of
thing
Robert he said. Yes How
shall we work it?'
There was really a Robert, Mr..
Gillingham, as I have no doubt you
and the Inspector both discovered.
And he was a wastrel and he went
to Australia. But he never came
to the Red House on Tuesday after
noon. He couldn't have, because he
died (unlamented) three years ago.
But there was nobody who knew
this, save Mark and myself. for
Mark was the only one Of the family
left. his sister having died last year.
Though 1 doubt, anyhow. II she
knew whether Robert was alive or
dead. He was not talked about.
For the next two days Mark and
I worked out our plans. You under
stand by now that our aims were not
identical. Marks endeavor was
that his deception should last for,
say, a couple OF hours; mine that It
should go 10 the grave with him. He
had only to deceive Miss Norris and
the other guests; had to deceive
the world.
When he was dressed up as
Robert, was going TO kill him.
Robert would then be dead Mark (of
course) missing. What could any
body think but that Mark had killed
Robert? But you see how important
it was for Mark TO enter fully into
his latest (and last) impersonation.
Half-measures would be fatal.
You viii say that It was impos-
sible TO do the thing thoroughly
enough. I answer again that you
never knew Mark He was being
what he wished most TO bean ar
tist. No Othello ever blacked
himself all over with such en-
thusiasm as did Mark. His beard
was going aDyhowz>possibly q
chance remark OF Miss Norbury's
helped here. She did not like
boards. But It was important for
me that the dead mans hands
should not be the hands of a mani
,ured gentleman. Five minutes
playing upon the vanity of the artist
,ettled his hands. He let the nails |
grow and then cut them raggedly. |
Miss Norris would notice your
lands at once. had said. Besides.
Is an artist
so with his underclothes. It was
hardly necessary to warn him that |
lis pants might show above the |
edge of his socks; as an artist he
lad already decided upon Robertian i
,ants. 1 bought them, and other [
hings. in London for him. Even If
had not cut out all trace OF the
name, he would have in
have done IL. As an Aus
ralian and an artist, he could not
AVE an East London address on his
Inderclothes. Yes. we were doing
he thing thoroughly, both of US; he
s an artist. ! as a-well. you may
ay murderer, X you like. shall
lot mind now.
"Our plans were settled. I went to
,ondon on the Monday and wrote
i'm letter from Robert. (The artis-
Ic touch again) 1 also bought a
evolver. on the Tuesday morning
e announced the arrival OF Robert
{ the breakfast table. Robert was
ow alive-we had six witnesses to
rove IL; six witnesses who knew
nat he was coming that afternoon.
ur private plan was that Robert
1ould present himself at three
clock, in readiness for the return
Z the golfing party shortly after
ard.
THE maid would go to look for
ark, and having failed to find him,
ome back TO the office to find me
Robert in Marks alb
nee. would explain that Mark
ust have gone out somewhere, and
ould myself introduce the wastrel
other to the tea table. Marks alb
nee would not excite any COM
ent, for II would be generally felt
indeed Robert would suggest it
at he had been afraid of meeting
S brother. Then Robert would
AXE himself amusingly offensive to
e guests. particularly, of course,
iss Norris. until he thought that
e Joke had gone far enough.
That was our private plan. Per-
Ips / should say that 1t was
ark's private plan. My own was
fferent-
CONTINUED In Our NEXT Issua)