The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25

otherwise found himself one March nern- iI:g on the terrace of the Golf hotel at Hyeres. By his side stood the young man in irreproachable flannels whom he had just intercepted on his way to the tennis courts It was somewhat amazing meeting.
 'Is it Major Hartopp this time?" Mr. Cray inquired.
 "The young man si..nified assent
 Tt :s only bungle ho keep changing their ps,.udonyms,'' hc said. F1 am not a bungier"
 Mir. Cray for once in his life was little taken aback.
 You are taking this pretty coo'ly young fellow, aren't you?" he observed. "I sup pose you know that for seve,al months the police have been looking for the nan who tried to cash check for hous:.nd pounds my account, and for tke scarlet Mephis- iopheies who scooped up about 10000 pounds worth of jeweis at Convent Gar den?"
 The young man shook his head gently.
 'You exaggerate the position, my dear Mr. Cray,' he expostuated ''In the first place, the check for 1000 pounds you signed; in the second place. it could never be proved that it was presented and with regard to the jewels, not one of them has been traced, and there is not shred of evidence to connect the scarlet Mephisto- pheles with those robberies-or, if it comes to that me with the scarlet Mephisto- pheles.'
 There is the matter of your past record in America, Mr. Cray murmured.
 l mt trnL ha man interrupted. -"If you care to communi- cate with the police, 1 will admit that I might find my position untenable. Some- how do not think that you will do so.'
 And why not?" MT. Cray inquired
 ''Come this way, and I will show you
 The pseudo Major Hartopp led his com panion along the front of the terrace to where a little recess formed shelter se- cure from the lightly moving wind, and where the sun came pouring in, soft and and genial. An invalid chair was drawn up against the wall, and lying in it at full length woman. Mir. Cray felt little thrill of pity as the pale, wasted face was turned toward his, and the dark, hollow eyes lit up for moment with min- gied fear and recognition.
 "This is the reason why we are here," Hartopp explained. "The doctors told us that nothing but the sun could leep my wife alive. That is why l accepted the risk"
 MT. Cray leaned over the chair.
 ''l am very sorry to see you so ill., lie said.
 She smiled at hin,-a very mrthless ef- fort
 "It was Christine Saboa," she faltered. She seems to have torn my heart to pieces. Now she has gone, and l am my self again. Only-she went too late''
 '.You must never say that" Mr. Cray en- joined, cheerfully "This place has cured more nvalids than any sport in the south of France
 She looked at him mournfully. Are We allowed to stay here? she said.
 "So far as I am concerned, yes," MT. Cray replied. "I've no call to remember anything 1 don't choose, and I won't. But before we close the subject, will you tell me how you got me to sign those checks?'
 'i didn't do it, she assured him. "It was Christine Saboa, and she has gone''
 No chance of her turning up again, I suppose?" Mr. Cray inquired
 The figure in the char--shooll her head wistfully."
 My body is not strong enough to hold her. she answered.
 Mir. Cray settled down to i've the every day life of the little community. I'c played golf in the morning, dozed with cigar in the sunshine in the afternoon, and played bridge in the evening. All the time he kept his eye upon the Hartopps, and by de-