San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-25
Peter Takes the Helm.

xcbCE 1onCo tsiC AAOhhns
As the detectives Travelled through
night hidden Kent and presently board
ed the packet for Boulogne. Mark
Brendon told his story with every de-
tail for the benefit of Mr.. Cams.
They chatted until the dawn, by
which time their train had reached
Paris, and an hour or two later they
were on their way to Italy.
Mr.. Cams had determined to cross
the Lakes and arrive Unexpectedly ut
Menaggio. He had now turned his
mind once more to the problem before
him and spoke but little. He sat with
his notebook open and made an occa-
sional entry as he pursued his
thoughts.
He looked up presently.
1.-The hard thing before us is this"
he said, ito get into touch with Robert
Redmayne, or his ghost. There are
two sorts of ghost, Mark; the real
thing--in which you don't believe and
concerning which l hold a watching
brief; and the manufactured article"
He broke off and changed the sub.
ject.
what I'm doing is to compare your
verbal statement with Mr.. Redmayne's
written communication" he said, pat
ting his book.
you'll find the story of Robert
Redmayne from childhood and the
story of the girl, his niece and OF her
dead father. Mrs. Doria's father was
a rough custOmec-scorpions to Rob
ert's whips apparently-a man bit
out of the common"
Il shall like to read the report"
"It's valuable to us, because writ
ten without prejudice. That's where
it beats your very lucid account. Mark.
There was something running through
your story, like thread of silk in cot
ton. that you won't find here. 1t chal-
lenged me from the jump, my boy. and
I'm inclined to think that in that
thread of silk shall just find the rea
son of your failure, before I've WOUND
it up"
II don't understand you, Cams"
"You wouldn't-nOt yet. But well
change the metaphor. Well say there
was a red herring drawn across the
trail, and that you took the bait an"
having started right enough. presently
forsook the right scent for the wrong.
Brendon made no reply. Neither
his conscience nor his wit threw any
light on the point. Then Peter, turn
ing to his notes. touched on n minoi
incident and showed the other thai
il admitted of a doubt.
"D'you remember the night you left
Crows Nest after your first visit :
On the way back to Dartmouth you
suddenly saw Robert Redmayne stand
ing By n gate; and when the moon
light revealed you to him. he leaped
away and disappeared into the trees
Why?'
"He knew me-
How
I'VE had met at Princetown and
we had spoken together for some min
utes by the pool in Foggintor Quarry,
where I was fishing"
That's right. But he didn't know
who you were then. Even if he'd re-
membered meeting you six months be
fore in the dusk at Foggintor, WHY
( should he think you were a man who
was hunting him.
Mark reflected.
That's true" he said.
Peter did rot pursue the subject.
He shut his book, yawned. took snuiil .
and declared himself ready for a meal.
The long day passed and both men
turned in early and slept till day
break.
Before noon they had left Baveno
on a steamer and were crossing the
blue depths of Maggiorc.
At Luino they left the steamer and
proceeded TO Tresa.
They wound over Lugano and cam"
in evening light to it's northern shore
Then once more they took train
climbed aloft. and fell at last to Mel-
aggio on Como's brink. -,
"Now," said Peter, II guess well
leave our traps here and beat 1T to
Villa Pianezzo right away"
Within 20 minutes their one-horst
vehicle had reached Mr.. Redmayne'