Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-28
BEG HERE ID

Sir Charles Abingdon engages
Paul Harley, criminal investigator,
to find out why Sir Charles is kept
un(ver surveillance by persons un-
known to him. Harley dimes at the
Abingdon home. Sir Charles falls
from his chair in a dying condition,
DR.. McMurdoch pronounces death
due to heart-failure. Harley insists
that Abingdon was poisoned.
The last words uttered by Sil
Charles are 'Nicol Brinn'' and Fire
Tongue" Harley calls on Nicol
Brinn and asks him the meaning OF
"Fire-Tongue." Brinn admits that
he knows but refuses to divulge the
secret.
Harley investigates the life OF
Ormuz Khan, Oriental friend of Phil
Abingdon, daughter of Sir Charles
Polly Jones, p~arlormaid, is ques-
toned by Paul.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
"It-was in a box. He said I was
not to open the box until I put the
serviette on the table, and that il
had to be put by Sir Charles plate,
1t had to be put there just before
the meal began"
"Well?"
"That night I couldn't see how II
was to be done. Benson had laid the
dinner table and Mrs. Hewlett was
pottering about. Then, when ]
thought I had my chance, Sir
Charles sat down in the dining room
and began to read. He was still
there and 1 had the box hidden in
the hall stand, all ready, when-Sid-
ney-rang up"
Rang you up?"
Eyes. We had arranged It. He
said he was my brother. 1 had to
tell him I couldn't do it,
"Yes!"
"He said: You must 1 told him
Sir Charles was in the dining room,
and he said: I'll get him away. Di-
rectly he goes, don't fail to do what
1 told you"
"And then?"
another phone call came-fo1
Sir Charles. l knew who 1t was, be-
cause l had told Sidney about the
case Sir Charles was attending In
the square. When Sir Charles went
out l changed the serviettes."
"And now-what was it the sid
ney' stole from Sir Charles bureau
In the study?"
ut wasn't Sidney who took it.
took it."
you took what?"
"A paper"
"You mean that you stole Sir
Charles keys and opened his bu-
reau?"
"There was no stealing. He was
| out and they were lying on his dres-
sing table. Sidney had told me t.
do it the first time / got a chance
"What had he told you to do?'
ITO search through Sir Charles
papers and see If there was any
thing with the word 'Fire-Tongue
in It."
'.Ah" exclaimed Harley, a note Of
suppressed triumph in his voice
"Go on"
"There was only one paper abour
it," continued the girl, now speaking
rapidly, 'or only one that 1 coult
find. l put the bureau straight agar
and took this paper to Sidney"
with stone. This was destroyed b!
fire in 1855, after having withstoot
the waves for many years. The fol
lowing year John Smeaton designed
a lighthouse Of granite blocks, dove
tailed together. They weighed a tol
each and this tower stood until 1877
more than a century. 1t then be
came so weakened that Trinit,
House had Sir J.. N. Douglass bull
the present light.
The old lights were illuminate'
by coal and wood fires and, later
by numerous candles. Trinity House
among scores of other curious an
~Itiques, has a mechanical clock
struck the hours at which the can
dies in the old Eddystone Ligh
should be snuffed.
Mr.. Hoods visit to Washington ]
Of special interest as recalling hoy
the science OF lighthouse buildin
has developed and how Trinit
House has grown from the day
when IL designed the famous shil
the Harry Grace de Deu. for Henri
lynn to the present when It still fune
tons as an important adjunct Of n