Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-17
CHAPTER I
A Client for Paul Harley

A Client for Paul Harley
Some of Paul Harley's most inter-
esting cases were brought to his no.
tice in an almost accidental way.
Although he closed his office in
Chancery Lane sharply at the hour
of six, that hour by no means mark
ed the end of his business day.
One summers evening when the
little clock upon his table was rap
idly approaching the much-deslred
hour, Harley lay back in his chair
and stared meditatively across his
private office in the direction OF a
large and very handsome Burmese
cabinet.
Harley office was part of an old
city residence, and his chambers ad-
Joined his workroom, so that now,
noting that his table clock registered
the hour of six, he pressed a bell
which summoned Innes. his conf
dental secretary.
ing around, another uneventful
day."
We'll" replied Innes, laying a
card upon the table, II was just
coming in with it when you rang
Paul Harley glanced at the card.
"Sir Charles Abingdon he read
aloud. staring ~refiectively at his sec
rotary. THAT is the osteologist?" |
Yes" answered lines, "but I
fancy he has retired from practice"
"Ah," murmured Harley, "I won
der what he wants. L suppose l had
better see him, as 1 fancy that he
and l met casually some a ago
in India. Ask him to come in, will
your"
Innes retiring, there presently
entered a distinguished : looking
elderly gentleman upon whose fiorid
face rested an expression not unlike
that of embarrassment.
Mr.. Harley" he began, "I feel
somewhat i'll at ease in encroaching
upon your time, for 1 am by no
means sure hat my case comes
within your particular province"
sit down, Sir Charles" said Har-
ley with luiet g%eniality. "Oficially,
my working day is ended; but IL
nothing m of Jul visit beyond
a chat 1t will have been very well
come. Calcutta, was it not, where
we last metz"
1T was" replied Sir Charles, plac-
Ing his hat and cane upon the table
and sitting down rather YEARLY in
a big leather armchair which Harley
had pushed forward.
Sir Charles evidently was OPP
pressed by some secret trouble, thus
Harley mused silently, as, taking
out a tin of tobacco from a cabinet
beside him, he began in leisurely
manner to>load a briar.
Sir Charles slowly nodded his
head, and seemed in some measure
to recover confidence.
Briefly. then" he said, IT believe
my life is in danger,
HIM." said Harley, replacing the
tin in the cupboard and striking a
match.
You are naturally anxious for
the particulars" Sir Charles pres
emily resumed. "They bear, l regret
to say, a close resemblance to the
symptoms of a well-known form of
h~allucination. In short, with one ex-
c%eption, they may practically all be
classed under the head of surveil-
lance"
Surveillance said Paul Harley.
"You that you are more or less
constantly followed?"
81 do"
Anything else?"
Zone very notable thing, Mr.. Har-
ley. was actually assaulted less
than a week ago within sight of my
W house."
Indeed! Tell me OF this" Paul
Hartley became ware of an
awakening curiosity.
II had been to visit a friend In the
neighborhood," Sir Charles eontin-
ued, whom 1 am at present attend
ing professionally, although 1 am
actually retired. l was returning
across the square, close to midnight
when, fortunately for myself, l de-
: tected the sound of light, patterine
footsteps Immediately behind me.
turned in the very instant that q
man was about to spring upon me
from behind. He was holding In hi:
) hand what looked like a large silk
handkerchief"
What did you do?"
II turned and struck out with mS
stick"
And then?"
cThen he made no attempt to con-