The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18
MAGAZINE

tent the nature of the conversation. An ab- sence of over minute would suggest good news, and that his host was desirous of ob- taining the full measure of it. To the sur prise of the guest, five minutes elapsed without any sign of the return of his host. That the telephone conversation should have lasted so long seemed improbable.
 The guest, with delicate regard for what was due to host, tried to keep his mind from speculating on the nature of the news by telephone that was keeping Sir George away. He got up to examine the paintings on the wall, but found little in them to claim his attention. Nearly quarter of an hour had elapsed since the telephone bell had rung. With smile the guest returned to his chair. He had alighted or solution of his hosts long absence: Sir George had re- ceived good news and had gone upstairs to announce it to his wife.
 Lady Granville was the second wife of Sir George, and was many years his junior. The baronet was GA, and in spite of the fact that he was an experienced man of the world, whose wealth enabled him to get his own way, he was easily managed by his beau tiful wife. =
 Sir George, with passion for chess and a predilection for quiet life, had at the in- stance of his wife taken big house on the front at the fashionable resort of Staveley and had plunged into its social gayeties. That afternoon he had revolted to the extent of excusing himself from accompanying her to a garden fete in aid of the funds of the Red Cross by declaring that he must stay at home to welcome his guest, who was to motor down from London. Lady Granville had gone unaccompanied to the fete, and on her return home had adopted the wifely revenge of retiring to rest early, on the grounds that she had severe headache.
 When Sir George returned to his guest he was in happy state of mind.
 "It was he, Crewe." he exclaimed.
 And nothing wrong?" asked Crewe.
 ''No, nothing wrong with him." was the reply. "But he has had the most extraor- dinary adventure-gruesome, in fact"
 "Gruesome?" The tone in which Crewe repeated the word showed that his interest had been aroused.
 "Well, you might not call it gruesome, Crewe, as you have had so much to do with gruesome tragedies, but the fact of the mat ter is the boy seems to have discovered a murder" sis sssnds \ M
 "A murder?"
 says Harry rang me up from the police station at Ashlingsea-a fishing village about 12 miles from here along the coast His horse went lame and he was caught in the storm. He came across an old farm house and went there for shelter, but he found the house was empty. He got in somehow, and on going upstairs found the dead body of young man-the owner of the farm. Lumsden the owners name is; quite boy, that is to say, something under 30 Cliff farm is the name of the place. I know it well-I have often passed it while out motoring"
 "How was he killed-did your nephew say?"
 "Shot."
 "The dead body was there and the house empty" said Crewe, in meditative voice. "That looks as if the police will not have much difficulty in picking up the scent. The fact that he would be alone could not have been known to many people,"
 T suppose not. I do not profess to be quite clear about everything Harry told me because I was so pleased to hear his voice and so astonished at his adventure. I went straight upstairs and told my wife. I knew she was anxious about Harry, though she said nothing before retiring-that is her way. Of course, only told her that Harry was