Evening star., 1923-07-09

Continued from yesterday
wilmore stared at him for mo-
ment half in relief, half in amaze
ment
Good God. Francis, you don't say
so!' he exclaimed. How was he?
What did he want? Tell me about
it at once? We've been worried to
death about the boy"
, We'll, as a matter of fact, | didn't
See him. Francis explained. He
arrived before ! reached my rooms
as you know don't live there
this note"-drawing the sheet or
paper from his pocket-"and when
I got there had disappeared without
leaving a message or anything.
Wilmore adjusted his pince nez
with trembling fingers. Then he
read the few lines through.
"Francis," he said. when he had tin-
ished them, do you know that this
is the first word we've heard of him
for three days.?
Good heavens. Francis eXclalneu
"He was living with his mother,
wasn't he?'
"Down at Kensington. but he hasn't
been there since Monday" Andrew
replied. His mother is in terrible
state. And now this, l don't under
, stand 1t at all"
' Was the boy hard up"
"Not more than most young rel
lows are" was the puzzled reply
Ills allowance was due in a rev
days. too. He had money IN the
bank. ] feel sure. He was saving up
for a motor car"
..Haven't l seen him once or twice
at restaurants lately?" Francis in
Very likely" his brother assented
why not? He's fond of dancing
and we none of us ever encouraged
him to be stay-at-home
ANY particular girl was he in
terested in?"
Not that we know of Like most
young fellows of his age, he was
rather keen on young women with
some connection with the stage, but
/ don't believe there was any one in
particular Reggie was too fond oil
games to waste much time that way
Hes at the gymnasium three eve-
nings week.
~ wish I'd been at the office a few
minutes earlier this morning" Fran
els observed Il tell you what
Andrew I have some pals down at
Scotland Yard. and I'll go down and
see them this afternoon. They'll want
photograph, and to ask a few Ques-
tions, | dare say. but l shouldn't talk
about the matter too much"
You're very kind. Francis" his
friend replied, but it isn't so easy to
sit tight. I was going to the police
myself this afternoon"
me-" Francis begged. II have a par
ticular pal down at Scotland Yard
who / know will be interested, and
want him to take up the case"
You haven't any theory. l sup
pose?" Wilmore asked, a little visit
fully.
Francis shook his head.
Not the ghost of one he admitted.
The reason 1 am advising you to
keep as quiet as possible. though, is
n
terest in a disappearance you have to
satisfy the public curiosity when the
mystery is solved"
Il see." wilmore murmured. "All
the same, 1 can't imagine Reggie
getting mixed up in anything dis
creditable"
Neither can I, from what I remem-
Der of the boy" Francis agreed. Let
me see, what was he doing in the
city,"
He was with Jameson & Scott, the
stockholders" Wilmore replied. He
was only learning the business and
he had no esponsibiiities. Curiously
enough, though, when / went to see
Mr.. Jameson he pointed out one or
two little matters that Reggie had
attended to, which looked as though
he were clearing up, somehow or
other"
He left no message there, I sup
pose?"
Not a line or a word. He gave the
porter five shillings, though, on the
afternoon before he disappeared =
man who has done some odd jobs for
him
well, voluntary disappearance is
better than an involuntary one"
Francis remarked. What was his
usual program when he left the Of
fice?'
played racquets or he went straight
10 his gymnasium in the Holborn. /
.telephoned to Queens. He didn't
call there on the Wednesday night
anyhow"
where's the gymnasium"
"At 147 a Holborn. lot of city
young men go there late in the even
ing, but Reggie got off earlier than
most of them and used to have the
place pretty well to himself. think
that's why he stuck to 1t.
Francis made a note of the address.
TIL get Shopland to step down
there some time" he said. "Or better
still, finish your lunch and We'll take
a taxi there ourselves. I'm going TO
the country later on, but I've half an
hour to spare. We can go without
our coffee and be there in ten min
utes."
"A great idea" wilmore acquiesced.
Its probably the last place Reggie
visited, anyway.
CHAPTER XVII.
The gymnasium itself was a source
of immense surprise to both Francis
and Wilmore. 1t stretched along the
entire top story of long block of
buildings, and was deliberately fitted
with bathrooms, a restaurant and
reading room. The trapeZes, bars,
and all the usual appointments were
of the best possible quality. The
manager, a powerful-iooking man,
dressed with the precision of the
prosperous city magnate, came out
of his office to greet them.
What can / do for you, gentle
MEM" he inquired.
First of ALL" Francis replied, "ac-
cept our heartiest congratulations
upon your wonderful gymnasium"
THE man bowed.
1T is the best appointed = in the
country, SIR" he said, proudly. "Ab-
solutely no expense has been spared
in fitting il up. Every one of our
appliances is of the latest possible
description, and our bathrooms are
an exact copy of those in a famous
Philadelphia club"
s"What is the subscriptions" Will
more asked.
Five shillings year."
And how many members?'
Two thousand"
tThe manager smiled as he saw his