New Britain herald., 1923-12-22
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY


 Finally. Benson" said Herley. 'what else did you bring into the room after Sir Charles and I had entered?"
 Soup, sir. Here is the turcen, on the sideboard, and all the soup plates Of the service in use that night. Of course, sir, l can't say which were the actual plates used"
 Paul Harley inspected the plates, a set Of fine old Derby ware. and gazed meditatively at the silver ladle, Did the maid, Jones, handle any of these ?'' be asked.
 No, sir''-emphatically she was preparing to bring the trout from the kitchen"
 But l saw her in the room."
 She had brought in the fish plates. a sauce boat, and two toast racks, sir. She put them here. on the sideboard. But they were never brought To the table"
 "H'm, Has Jones left"
 Yes, sir. She was under notice. But after her rudeness Mrs. Howett packed her off right away. She left the very next day after poor Sir Charles died
 Where has she gone?"
 ''To a married sister, believe, until she finds new job. Mrs Howett has the address"
 At this moment Mrs. Hewett en- tered bearing a tableeloth and a number Of serviettes
 This was the cloth" she said, spreading it out, but which of the seryiettes were used | cannot say"
 Allow me to look" replied Paul Harley
 One by one he began to inspect the serHiettes. opening each in turn and examining it critically.
 What have we here" he cx- claimed, presently. Have black berries been served within the week. Mrs. 1lowctt?"
 I've never had them on the table. Mir. Harley. Sir Charlcs---God rest hin sad they irritatcd the stomach. Gand gracious." She turned to l'rason. How Is 1t never noticed oac stains and what can have CaHscd them?"
 Tine sersictte which Paul Harley | d outstrctched was covered all over Niih dark spots.
 CHATTER NIL
 1Tlc icil I> Raised
 Rising from thu writing table in tho library Paul Harley crossed to the manflcpiecc and stared long and hi.nErily at a photograph in silver frame. So, closely did he conccn- trate upon it that he induced sort of auto. hypnosis. so that Phil Abing- don seemed 10 smile at him sadly.
 Benson" he called, opening the library door. As the man came along the hall: '1 have written note to Mir. lnnes, my secretary" he explain td. There it is, on the table. When the district messenger. for whom you telephoned. arrives. give him the parcel and the note. He is to accept no other receipt than that or Ms. Innos."
 Very good, sir.
 lisriey took his hat and cane. and Bens2n opened the front dcor Good day. sir" said the butler. Good day. Benson" called Harley. hnrrf1ng out to the watiing cab. Number 23s South Lambeth Road" he directed the man.
 of moved the taxi, and Harley lay back upon the cushions heaving long sigh. The irksome period O. in- actish Sas ended. For the moment he must focus upon establishing. beyond query or doubt, the fact that Sir Charles Abingdon had not died from natural causes. Turning his head, he glanced back at the traffic in the street behind him. His cab was just on the point Of turning on to the slope of Vauxhali Bridge. And fifty yards behind. speeding along tho Embankment. vas q small French car The features oT 1 the driver he had no time 10 observe | But. peering eagerly through the vim 1 dow, showed the dark face of the pas ! senger.