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

(- ), SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1923
 "Come," said Crewe q will exchange the hat for a candid statement of what happened at Cliff Farm on that fatefrl night"
 "It is not his,' declared the dwarf. "We know nothing about Cliff Farm-we have never been there."
 CHAPTER 10.
 "Will you come to some place where we can have a talk?"
 "Yes. Where shall we go?"
 Her eyes met his frankly, as she replied, and Marsland as he looked at her was inn pressed with her beauty and the self-posses- sion of her manner. She was young, younger than he had thought on the night of the storm-not more than 22 or 23 at most-and as she stood there, with the bright autumn sunshine revealing the fresh beauty of her face and the slim grace of her figure, she made striking picture of dainty English girlhood, to whom the sordid and tragic sides of life ought to be sealed book But Marsland's mind, as he glanced at her, travelled back to his first meeting with her in the lonely farmhouse, where they had found the body of the murdered man on the night of the storm.
 He led her to one of the numerous tea rooms on the front, choosing one which was nearly empty, his object being to have a quiet talk with her. Since the eventful night on which he had walked home with her after they had discovered the dead body body of the owner of Cliff Farm, several important points had arisen on which he desired to enlighten her, and others on which he desired to be enlight- ened by her.
 "I thought of writing to you," he said after he had found seats for his companion and himself in quiet corner of the large tearoom, and had given an order to the waitress. But I came to the conclusion that it was unwise-that you might not like it.''
 He found it difficult to strike a satis- factory balance in his attitude to her. On the one hand, it was impossible to be dis tant and formal in view of the fact that they were united in keeping from the police T the night of the murder; on the other hand, he did not wish to adopt tone of friendly familiarity based on his knowledge that she had something to hide. When he studied her from the young mans point of view ss merely an attractive member of the oppo- site sex, he felt that she was charming girl whose affection anyone might be proud to win, but his security against her charms was the feeling of distrust that anyone so good-looking should have anything to hide. He had no sentimental illusion that she would confide her secret to him.
 She waited for him to continue the con- versation, and preteaded to be engaged in glancing round the room, but from time to time she gave him a quick glance from beneath her long lashes.
 What wanted to tell you most of all is that, when l went back to Cliff Farm the next day, the detective from Scotland Yard found comb on the floor of the sitting room downstairs where we sat after you let me in.''
 "A comb!' she cried. "What sort of a comb?"
 "A tortoiseshell comb about three inches long, with gold mounting"
 "That is strange" she said. 'It was found on the floor?"
 "Close to the chair where you stood"
 "Do you know whom it belongs to-"
 "No, fortunately. But they are very anxious to find out Naturally, they think it points to the conclusion that there is woman in the case''
 "Of course they would think that" she said.