Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-19
"It's some one else searching |" Ro.

A little way below, the path branched
to the right and the left. To the left
1t encircled the tennis lawn and led to
the manor or back to the road. The
path to the right led to the little look.
out upon which the two men were
standing. The footsteps for q moment
hestitated. Then the light flashed out
and approached. Whoever the intruder
might be, he was making his way
directly toward them. Tallente shrug-
ged his shoulders. .
eve must see this through, Robert" I"
he said. 1--WE were in tighter cor
ner at YpYes, remember. Keep az
quiet as you can. Now, then"
Tallente flashed on his own torch.
who's there?' he asked sternly.
for a moment remained stationary,
then 1t began again to advance.
what are you doing in my grounds?'
Tallente demanded. Who are you3'
A shape loomed into distinctness.
sight. VI,
II, am Gillian--Inspector Gillian.
What are you doing out here, Mr..
Tallente laughed little scornfully.
the other Leg" he said. II should
like to know what the mischief You
mean by wandering around my grounds
at this hour Of the night without my
permission?"
The inspector completed his climb
and stood in the little circle Of light.
He took note Of the rope and Of Tai
lente's condition.
MY presence here, SIR" the in
spector announced, ITS connected with
the disappearance Of the Honorable
Anthony Palliser."
Confidence for confidence" Tallente
replied. $50 is mine"
The inspector moved to the palisad-
Ing. The top rail had been broken, al
though 1t had given under the weight
OF some heavy body. He held up the
loose fragment, glanced downward into
the dark gulf and back again to Tall
lente.
You've been over there" he said.
II have" Tallente admitted. "I've
made a search that I don't fancy you d
have tackled yourself. I've been down
the cliff to the beach,"
What reason had you for supposing
that you might discover Mr.. Palliser' q
body there?" the other asked bluntly.
Tallente sat on the stone seat and lit
a cigarette.
II will take you into my confidence,
Mr.. Inspector" he said. "This after
noon I strolled round here with lady
caller, just before you came, and ]
fancied that heard faint cry. 1 took
no notice Of It at the time, but tonight,
after dinner, wandered out here again,
and again fancied I heard 1t. 1t got
on my nerves to such an extent that I
fetched Robert here, coil Of rope, put
on some shoes with spikes and tried to
remember that I was an Alpine
climber"
you've been down to the beach and
back, sir?' the inspector asked, look
ing over a little wonderingly.
EVERY inch Of the way. The last
eighty feet or 60 had to scramble"
did you discover anything, sir?"
mot thing. I couldn't even find
a broken twig in any of the little clumps
of outgrowing trees. There wasn't q
sign of the sand having been disturbed
anywhere down the face of the cliffs,
and I shouldn't think a human being
had been on that beach during our
lifetimes. I have my nights work for
notking.'
''It was just the cry you fancied you
heard which made you undertake this
expedition"
PRECISELY"
The inspector held up the broken
rail.
"When was this smashed?" he in.
quired.
T have no idea, " Tallente an.
swered. "All the woodwork about the
place is rotten"
Doesn't 1t occur to you, sir, as
being an extraordinarily dangerous
thing to put it back in exactly the
same position as though 1t were sound?"
Ubiquitous, Tallente agreed.
The inspector made mental note.
Tallente threw the remains Of his ciga-
rette into the sea.
IT am going to bed now" he said.
"Can / offer you any refreshment, Mr..
Inspector, or are your investigations
not yet complete?"
II thank you, sir, but require moth
ing. I have some men up in the wood
there and l shall join them presently.
1 am staying in the neighborhood."
Tallente pointed to the rope.
IF you would care to search for
yourself, Mr.. Inspector, we'll help you
down."
The man shook his head.
Scarcely a job for a man Of my
build, sir. have a professional
climber coming tomorrow. l wish you
had informed me of your intention to
go down tonight
If you had informed me of your in.
that might have been possible was the