The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-07-31
Thrilling New Novel:
TheRed House Mystery
BY A. A. MILNE
Copyright. 1859. Y. =. Dutton Coz
CHAPTER /

CHAPTER l
In the drowsy heat of the
summer afternoon The Red
House was taking its siesta.
There was a lazy murmur Of
bees in the flower-borders. a
gentle cooling OF pigeons in the
tops of the elms. From dis
tant lawns came the whir of
a moving machine. that most
restful of all country sounds
making ease the sweeter in
that it Is taken while others
are working.
II was the hour when even
those whose business IL Is to
attend to the wants Of others
have a moment or two for
themselves. In the house
keepers room Audrey Stew
ems. the pretty parlormaid. re-
trimmed her best hat. and
talked idly to her aunt, the
c o o k-housekeepcr of Mr..
Mark Ablett's bachelor home.
Funny thing aeopt that AR.
MARKS brother. Fancy not seeing
him for rs years.
IA told you all thfs morninG."
said her aunt. I've been here five
years. and never heard a. brother
could say that before everybody II
was going 70 die tomorrow
You could have knocked me down
with feather when he spoke about
him al breakfast this morning. I
dldnH, hear what went before. nat.
uraliy. but they was all taking
about tho brother when I went In.
Mr.. Mark turns TO mo. and says
you know his way~'stevens. he
says. my brother II coming 10 see
me this afternoon: I'm expecting
him about three he says. show him
into the office he says. just like
that. Yes. sir says quite quietly.
but I was never 10 surprised In my
lie. not knowing he had a brother.
My brother from Australia he says
there. I'D forgotten that. From
Australia
well. he may have been IA
Australia" said Mrs. stevens. judi.
csaIiy. "sut what DO say is he's
never been here. Not while I've been
here. and that's five years."
well. but. auntie. he hasn't been
here for rs years. I heard Mr.. Mark
telling SIR. cayiey. Fifteen years.
he says Mr.. Cayiey having nrrt him
when his brother was last IN Eng.
land. MFR. cayicy knew OF him.
heard him telling Mr.. Beverley. but
didn't know when he was last In
EnRiard-see7 SO that's why he arst
Mr.. Mark"
I'm not saying anything about Is
years. Audrey. can only speak for
what know. and that's five years
whltsuntide. II he's been in Aus.
tralia. as you say. well. daresay
he's had his reasons"
what rsasonsr' said Audrey
lightly.
Never mind what reasons. Belrg
lf WV DlAtt VI N tttBNhFh ~ EFHs
since your poor mother died. ! say
this. Audrey-when gentleman
goes TO Australia. he has his reasons.
And when hs stays In Australia is
years. he has his reasons. And re-
specially brought-up girl doesn't ask
what reasons"
"Got into trouble. I suppose" ssid
Audrey careiessiy. They we're say.
ing at breakfast he'd been wild
one
The ringing Of bell brought Au.
drey 20 her feet--no longer Audrey.
but now Stevens. sho arranged her
cap In front Of the glass.
There. that's the front door" she
said. "That's him. show him into
tho office said Mr.. Mark. I suppose
no doesn't want the other ladies and
gentleman TO see him. Well. they're
all out at their golf. anyhow-won-
der II he's going 90 stay--P'raps he's
brought back q lot OF gold from
Australia"
Now, now. get on. Audrey"
"Jsut going. darling" she went
out.
As Audrey came across the hall
she gave a little start as she saw MIR.
cayley suddenly. sitting unobtru.
slvely IN a scat beneath one OF the
front windows. reading.
No reason why hs shouldn't be
there: certainly much cooler place
than the golf.links on such a day;
but somehow there was a deserted
air about the house that afternoon.
Mr.. Cayiey. the masters cousin, was
a surprise: and, having given little
exclamation as she cams suddenly
upon him. she bIushed. and said.
"oh. beg your pardon, sir. didn't
see you at first" and he looked up
from his book and smiled at her.
An attractive smile II was on that
big ugly face. such n gentleman.
Mr.. cayiey." she thought to herself
as shr went on. and wondered what
a.. .-..t.r s.ynttII do afifnofit him III