The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-09-17

to complete our arrangements What
| was chiefly concerned about was TO
establish as completely as possible the
identity of Robert. For this reason !
suggested to Mark that, when dressed,
he should go out by the secret passage
TO the bowlng-green, and come back
by the drive, taking care to enter into
conversation with the lodge.keeper.
"ln this way ! would have two more
witnesses of Roberts arrval-frst the
lodge keeper, and secondly one OF the
| gardeners whom | would have working
on the front lawn. Mark, of course,
was willing enough. lie could practice
nls Australian accent on the lodge
keeper II was really amusing to see
how readily he fell into every suggest |
ion which I made. Never was a Kill |
ing more carefully planned by its vic
tim.
"He changed into Roberts clothes in
the office bedroom This was the saf'
est way-for both Of us When he was
ready, he called me in. and | inspected
him II was extraordinary how we'll
he looked the part. ! suppose that thu
marked themselves on his face. but had
concealed hitherto by his mustache and
heard. for now that he was clean
shaven they lay open to the world from
which we had so carefully hidden them.
and he was indeed the wastrel which
he was pretending to bc.
Wonderful, said to myself, No
body could possibly guess.
~ peered into the hall. | was emp
~. We hurried across to the library;
he got INTO the passage and made off.
| went back to the bedroom, collected
all his discarded clothes, did them up
in a bundle and returned with them TO
the passage. Then | sat down in the
hall and waited.
you heard the evidence of Stevens,
the maid. As soon as she was on her
, way to the Temple in search Of Mark,
stepped into the office. My hand
was In my sidepocket and in my hand
vas the revolver.
"He began at once In his character
of Robert-some rigmarole about work.
ing his passage over from Australia; a
: little private performance for my edi-
, fication. Then in his natural voice,
gloating over his wel.planned retalia-
tion on Miss Norris, he burst out. II $
my turn now You wait II was this
:, which Elsie heard. She had no bust
: ness to be there and she might have
. ruined everything, but as it turned out
1t was the luckiest thing which could
have happened For 1t was the one
] It
u dence, other than my own. that Mark
and Robert were in the room together.
. IL said nothing. ! was not going 10
3 take the risk of being heard to speak
in that room. | just smiled at the poor
little fool. and took out my revolver
= and shot him Then | went back into
% | the library and waited-jusr as | said
" In my evidence.
:, "Can you imagine. Mr.. Clllingham
- the shock which your sudden appear
ance gave me? Can you imagine Tho
" feelings of n murderer who has Ia:
- he thlnks) planned for every posslbil
~ lty. and Is then. confronted suddenl,
" with an utterly new problem? Wha
;" difference would your coming make
: | didn't know. Perhaps none; perhaps
all. And had forgotten to open tn
window.
m 'e 81 don, know whether you will thinl
- my plan for killing Mark clever one
w Perhaps not But IL | do deserv
70 any praise In the matter. | think | de
= :, serve Il for the way pulled mysel
~ together In the face Of the unexpecte'
catastrophe OF your arrival. Yes. | go
" q window open, Mr.. Gillingham. unde
70 your very nose; the right window toe
y" you were kind enough to say. An,
~ the keys--ycs, that was clever OF you
" but | think ! was clever.
- II deceived you over the keys. MI
W. Gillingham. as | learnt when | too
w the liberty Of listening to converse
''e tion on the bowling.green between yo
and your friend Beverley. Where wa
US /? An, you must have look for tina
NY secret passage, Mr. Glllingham.
az But what am saying? Did | d.
W. celve YOU ut all? You have found on
W. the seoret--that Robert was Mark
Nv and that Is all that matters. How hav
ne you found oUtg shall never kno'
ak now. Where did | go wrong2 Pc
the window, even about the secret pa
u sage. You are clever man, MIR Gl
llngham.
II had Marks clothes on my hands.
Ids mich, h,,. iaf, ,ha,,, II, ,,. ,,n,,, d,
~ but the secret Of the passage was no.
=" out. Miss Norris knew 1t. That W.
'"o the weak point of my plan. perhal
that Miss Norris had to know H. So
l. hid them In the pond. the inspect'
having obligingly dragged 1t FOR n
e'' first. A couple OF Keys Joined then
ply but l kept the revolver Fortunat
Ieu wasn't IL. MIR. Dillingham;?
mo "Goodby, MIR. Gillingham. I'm sor,
ct that your stay with us was not OF
pleasing nature, but YOU understand q
difficulties In which | was place
n Don't let Bll think too badly OF m
lie is good fellow. look after hlr
tie will he surprised The young a
always surprised. And thank you {,
'" letting me end my own way. e
pect YOU did sympathlze a little. y,
do. know We might have been frien'
In In another world--you and |, and | ~
ing she. Tell her what you like. Ever
In thing or nothing You will know VIII
will Is best Goodby. MIR. GillinEham.
to MATTHEW CAYLEY.
i,s II am lonely tonight without Mar
Is That's funny, isn't it7'
cal CHAPTER XXI
Ugh Good Lordr' said Blll. as he y
ur. down the letter "What did you wri