Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-21

House. By 10 o'clock his bag was
packed, and waiting to be taken to
the George" To Bill, coming up
stairs after a more prolonged break
fast, this early morning hustle was
a little surprising.
Whats the hurry?" he asked.
None. But we don't want to
come back here after the inqiest.
&c. your packing over now and then
We can have the morning to our
selves"
"Righto." He turned to go to els
room, and then came back again. II
say. are we going to tell Cayley that
we're staying at the George"
You're not staying at The
George Bill. Not officially. You're
going back to London"
"Oh!"
Yes. Ask Cayley to have your
luggage sent in to Stanton ready
for you. when you catch a tain
there after the inquest. You can
tel him that you've got to see the
Bishop of London at once The fact
that you are hurrying back to Lon
don to be confirmed will MAKE il
seem more natural that | should Ie-
sumo my interrupted solitude at the
George as soon as you have gone"
Then where do l sleep tonight? ?"
"Unofiicially. in my bed, unless
they've got another spare room at
the George I've put your contirnla-
lior robe--I meal your pajamas and
brushes and things-in my bag
ready for you. Is there anything
else you want to know? No? Then
go and pack. And meet me at ten
thirty beneath the blasted oak or in
the hall or somewhere. l want to
talk and talk and talk, and / must
have my Watson"
Good" said Bill. and went Off to
his room.
An hour later they wandered out
together into the park.
"Well?" said Bill, as they sat
down underneath a convenient tree.
Talk away
Il had many bright thoughts In
my bath this morning" began An
tony. The brightest one of all was
that we were being damn fools, and
working at this thing from the
wrong end altogether"
We'll, that's helpful"
IF we had been professionals. /
believe we should have gone at 1t
from the other end. The Robert
end. We've been wondering about
Mark and Cayley all the time. Now
let's wonder about Robert for a BIT"
1--WE know SO little about him."
We'll, let's see what we do know.
First Of all. then, We know vaguely
that he was a bad lot.
yes"
"And then we know rather a curl
ous thing. We know that Mark told
you all that this black sheep was
coming. Now, why did he tell your
Bill was thoughtful for a moment.
81 suppose" he said slowly, that
he knew we were bound to see him
and thought that the best way was
to be quite frank about him."
but were YOU bound to see him
You were all away playing golf"
1--WE we're bound to see him II he
stayed in the house that night"
Very well, then. That's one
thing we've discovered. Mark Knew
that there was no chance Of getting
Robert out of the house at once"
Bill looked at his friend eagerly.
interesting"
He also knew something else"
went on Antony. He knew that
Robert was bound to betray his real
character to you as soon as o met
him."
Yes. That's sound enough"
We'll, now, doesn't it strike you
that Mark made up his mind about
all that rather quickly"
How do you mean?"
"He got this letter at breakfast.
He read it; and directly he had
read it he began to conf1de in you
all. That is to say in about one sec
end he thought out the whole busi-
ness and came to a d~ecisiOn-to two
decisions. He considered the possiLil-
ity of getting Robert out of the way
before o came back, and decided
that 1t was impossible. He considered
the possibility of Roberts behaving
like an ordinary decent person in
public. and decided hat 1t was very
cisions instantaneously, as he was
reading the letter. Isn't that rather
quick work."
Well, what's the explanation"
Antony waited until he had retiiied
and lighted his pipe before answer
ing.
whats the explanation? Well,
let's leave 1t for a moment and take
another look at the two brothers. In
conjunction, this time, with Mrs.
Norbury."
Mrs. Norbury?" said Bill. sur
prised.
Yes. Mark hoped to marry Miss
Norbury. Now. IL Robert really was
a blot upon the family honor. Mark
would want to do n of two things.
Either keep 1t from the Norburys al
together. or else IL 1t had to ON
new came to them indirectly. Well,
hA fn1a fhnVn plIt tina flInnU Thing
is that he told them the day before
Roberts letter came. Robert came,
and was killed, the day before yes
terday-Tuesday. Mark told Mrs.
Ncrbury about him on Monday.
What do you make Of that?"
coincidence" said Bill, after
careful thought. He'd always meant
to tell her: his suit was prosperi1g,
and just before 1t was finally settled,
he told her. That happened to be
Monday. On Tuesday he got Roberts
letter, and felt jolly glad that hs'd
tolG her In time"
"Well, 1t might be that, but it's
rather a curious coincidence. And
here is something which makes 1t
very curious indeed. 1t only occur
red to me in the bath this morning.
Inspiring place, a bathroom. Well,
It's this-he told her on Monday
morning, on his way to Middleston
In the car"
Sorry, Tony; I'm dense this
morning"
I'm the car, Bill. And how near
can the car get to Jallands?"
About six hundred yards"
Eyes. And on his way to Middles-
ton, Mark stops the a walks six
hundred yards down the hill to jail
lands, says. oh, by the way, Mrs.
Narh,,rv 7 don't think 7 aver told