Evening journal., 1922-08-26


certain that, in that case. the alb
sence OF the collar was unintentional.
In collecting the clothes he had
overlooked the collar. Why?"
1T was the one in the linen
basket?"
yes. II seemed probable. Why
had cayley put It there? The OBJ
vious answer was that he hadn't
Mark had put II there"
Go on" said Bill eagerly
We'll. why had Mark changed
down there instead Of in his bed
room2 The only answer was that
the fact OF his changing had TO be
kept secret. When did he change?
The only possible time was between
lunch (when ne would be seen by
the servants) and the moment OF
Roberts arrival And when did Cay
/ lev collect the clothes in a bundle2 ?
/ Again, the only answer was. Before
/ Roberts arrival So another was
wanted--to At those three eondi-
! tions."
And the answer was that a muir
der was Intended. even before Robert
arrived?"
"Yes. Well now, It wasn't posi-
BILE a murder could be intended with
out any more preparation than the
changing into a different suit in
which TO escape. The thing was too
childish. Also. II Robert was 70 be
murdered. why go out OF the way 10
announce his existence 20 you all1
I began 10 feel now that Robert was
a pilot of Cayley's against Mark
either to get him 10 kill his brother
or 70 get his brother TO kin him
and that for some inexplieable rea-
son Mark seemed 10 be lending him
self to the plot" He was silent for
a little, and then said, almost to
himself. Il had seen the empty
brandy bottles in that cupboard"
"You never said anything about
them" complained BIZ.
Il only saw them afterward.
was looking for the collar. you re-
member. They came back to me
afterward: knew how Cayley
would feel about Il. Poor
devil!"
"Go on" said Bill.
W NAAs AANAAs VIC AAaA AAAN AAAAARhN1 /
and Of course l noticed the curious !
fact that Robert had asked his way |
at the second lodge and not az the
first. So talked to Amos and Par
sons That made 1t more curious.
Amos told me that Robert had gone
out Of his way 10 speak to him.
Parsons told me that his wife was
out in their little garden at the first
lodge all the afternoon, and was cer-
tain that Robert had never come
past It. He also told me that Cay
ley had put him on to job on the
front lawn that afternoon. So / had
another guess. Robert had used the
secret passage-the passage which
comes out into the park between
the first and second lodges. Rob
ert, then, had been in the house;
Il was a put-up job between Rob-
ert and Cayley. But how could
Robert be there without Mark
knowing7 Obviously. Mark knew
too. What did II all mean?"
When was this?" interrupted
Bill. Just after the inquest--after
you'd seen Amos and Parsons. OF
yes. got up and left them.
md came 10 look for you. I'd got |
back to the clothes then. Why did |
Mark change his clothes so Sc
,retly? Disguise? But then what |
about his face? That was much |
more important than clothes. His
face, his beard-he'd have TO
shave off his beard-and then--oh.
IDIOT saw you looking at that
poster. Mark acting. Mark made
up, Mark disguised. Oh, priceless
idiot Mark was Robert
Matches, please"
= But wait moment. What
about the Plough and Horses? ?"
Antony looked eomically at him.
said. s'e nv i'''i' ne
What do you mean7"
Antony sighed
II was a fake. Watson. I wanted
you out Of the way. wanted 10 be
alone. so--2 he smiled and added
Well, knew you wanted a drInL, ="
THE END.
This is the day TO make ana clos.