The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-07-12


pants Of the villa emerged he was to
enter the house at once and take
possession of little Maurice. The
other constable was to accompany
me la the wake Of the culprits SO
hat v Nould surprise them at their
rendezvous.
We had not long to wait before a
man and a woman came out of the
gates. With the exception of the
oficer told off to remain the rest Of
Us moved off directly after them,
and. guided by the footsteps of u
ouarry. followed them along Acacia
grove, across a short connecting
road. and SO into another thorough
fare running parallel with the one
whence we had started. The man
and woman turned into the grounds
Of a small house which, like most Of
those around, was empowered In
trees. The front door faced the
road. and from two open French
windows at the side of the house, a
gentle glow Of lamplight shone upon
a cluster of laurel bushes.
.Let them gain admission, and
then we will make an audience at
the window" was my whispered or
der, which was acted on directly the
door was closed. Stealing to the
laurels, We ensconced ourselves. lust
as the visitors were shown into the
room by a maid servant A good
looking man of forty, and a dark
eyed little lady a decade younger.
sitting al dessert were regarding the
newcomers with puzzled surprise.
For conspirators the parties don't
seem particularly well acquainted
/ whispered in Shone's ear, drawing
from him a suppressed snort.
GOOD evening, sir began the
male visitor, a dissipated fellow with
a husky voice. 81 and the missus
have had a stroke of luck by which
you can benefit If youIl make 1t
worth our while-two thousand
quid, in fact, to go abroad with"
The female visitor, a ~coarse-feat-
ured Hebraic woman, took up the
parable. "We should never trouble
you again, and the kid should never
be heard Of she put in.
'sThe fact is this blamed old coun
try IS too hot to hold us, and we are
in a hurry to cross the ditch to New
York"
II really do not understand you
extraordinary people" murmured
the gentleman Of the house, his hand
intuitively seeking the bell.
Don't go too FAST said the first
speaker. we have got old Tres
silian's boy and taken a sight of
trouble to get hifn. planting a nurse
on EN-. hiring the opposite house
and all. Now, isn't it worth your
while to do a ceal-on the basis of
total disappearance OF yours truly
and the young 'un as we'll? 1t oc-
CURED to US through living neal and
hearing that you were a needy toff
that we might be mutually useful.
So we just worked up the scheme"
The owner j. the house rose
slowly from hts chair and with a
swift jerk of the hand seized the
man by the collar. You Internal
scoundrel!" he said. so that is the
secret of my cousins disappearance
it? You thought l was fair game
for a dirty bargain and subsequent
blackmail You have come to the
wrong shop. my son; I'm going to
send for the police"
/ sprang through the window. HIH
save you the trouble, Mr.. Weyland,"
/ said. Here, Jem, you take the
woman" indicating the female In
tru6er to my constable.
But but but" s~pluttered
Shone, who had followed US in, this
is Weyland." and he pointed to the
scowling fellow of whom I had re-
lieyed his original captor.
mo, Mr.. Radford Shone,' l said
quietly. This gentleman here who