Evening star., 1923-07-03
Continued from yesterday

Continued from yesterday
'we've got to see this thing out"
he replied. Have you forgotten that
our friend promised US a sensation
before we left?'
wilmore began to laugh a little
derisively. Then, suddenly aware Of
some lack of sympathy between him
self and his friend. he broke on and
glanced curiously at the latter
You're not taking him seriously,
are your he enquired.
Francis nodded.
Certainly I am" he confessed.
You don't believe that he was get
ting at us?"
Not for a moment"
You believe that something is
going to happen here in this place. or
II am convinced of It," was the
calm reply.
Wilmore was silent. For a moment
he was troubled with his old fears as
to his friends condition. A glance,
however, at Francis set face and
equable, watchful air treasured him.
we must see the thing through, of
course, then" he assented. Let us
see IL we can spot the actors in the
coming drama
CHAPTER TX.
It happened that the two men, wait
ing in the vestibule Of the restaurant
for Francis car to crawl up to the
entrance through the fog which had
unexpectedly rolled up, heard the
slight alteration which was after
ward referred to as preceding the
tragedy. The two young people con-
cerned were standing only few feet
away, the girl pretty. little peevish,
an ordinary type; her companion,
whose boyish features were marred
ample of the young man about town
going a little beyond his tether.
Its no good standing here. VIC
tort" the girl exclaimed. frowning.
"The commissionaire's been gone
ages already, and there are two others
before US for taxis."
I'VE can't walk" her escort re-
piled gloomily. ITS a foul night.
Nothing to do but wait. what? Let's
go back and have another drink"
The girl stamped her satin-shod
foot impatiently.
Don't be silly" she expostulated.
You know I promised Clara we'd we
there early"
"All very WELL" the young man
'Srumbled, "but what can we do? We
shall have to wait our turn"
why can't you slip out and look
for q taxi yourself?" she suggested.
do, Victor" she added. squeezing
his arm. You're SO clever at picking
them up"
He made a little grimace. but lit
a cigarette and turned up his coat
collar.
"Tll do my best" he promised.
Don't go on without me-"
TRY up towards Charing Cross
road, not the other way" she advised
"Right-oh" he replied, which IL
luminative form of assent, a word
spoken as he plunged unwillingly into
the thick obscurity on the other side
of the revolving doors. was probably
the last he ever uttered on earth.
shiver, as though suddenly cold. She
turned around and glanced hurriedly
back into the restaurant. At that
moment she met the steady, ques-
tioning scrutiny OF Francis eyes. She
stood as though transfixed. Then
talked of for months afterwards. the
sound which no one who heard 1t
ever forgot-the death cry of Victor
Bidlake, followed a second afterwards
by muffied report. A strain of
frenzied surprise seemed mingled
with the horror. Afterwards. silence
There was the sound of some COM
motion outside, the sound of hurried
footsteps and agitated voices. Then
a terrible little procession appeared
Something-it seemed to be a shape
less heap Of clothes-was carried In
and laid upon the floor, in the little
space between the revolving doors
and the inner entrance. Two blue
liveried attendants kept back the
horrified but curious crowd. Francis
vaguely recognized az being somehow
or other connected with the law, was
one Of the few people allowed to re.
main whilst doctor. fetched ou,
the PROSTATE form. He felt that he
knew beforehand the horrible verdict
which the latter whispered in his eaf
after his brief examination.
Quite dead! A ghastly businessr
Francis gazed at the hole in the
hirt-front. disfigured also by q
Scorching stain.
"A bullet?" he asked.
The doctor nodded
Fired within a foot of the pcot
fellows heart" he whispered "Tht
murderer wasn't taking any chances
whoever he was"
Have the police been sent sor?'
The head porter stepped forward.
There was policeman within q
few yards of the spot, sir" he iepiied
Hes gone down to keep every one
away from the place where we found
the body. We've telephoned to Scot.
land Yard for an Inspector"
The doctor rose to his feet.
Nothing more can be done." he
pronounced. Keep the people out
of here whilst I go and fetch my ha,
and coat. Afterwards, I'll take the
body to the mortuary when the am.
bulance arrives"
An attendant pushed his way through
the crowd of people on the innel
side of the door.
Miss Daisy Hyslop. young lady
who was with Mr.. Bidlake, has jus,
tainted in the ladies' room. sir" he
announced. Gould you Gomez"
I'll be there Immediately" the
The rest Of the proceedings fol.
lowed a normal course. The police
arrived, took various notes, the am.
bulance followed a little later, the
body was removed, and the little
crowd of guests, still infected with
a sort of awed excitement, were al.
and Wilmore drove almost in silence
to the formers rooms In Charge.
street
Come up and have a drink, An.
drew" Francis invited.
Il need It," was the half-choked
response.
Francis led the way in silence ur
the two flights of stairs into his sit
ting room, mixed whiskies and sodas
from the decanter and syphon which
stood upon the sideboard, and mo.
toned his friend to an easy chair
Then he gave form to the thought
which had been haunting them both
Wat about our friend Sir Timothy
Brast he inquired. do you believe
now that he was pulling our legs?'
Wilmore dabbed his forehead will
his handkerchief. 1t was chilly
evening, but there were drops o.
neraairation still standing fheHn