New Britain herald., 1923-12-28

; that my uncle would do something for me some day"
 He did his best" I remarked drily.
 "Mr Yates doesn't know the whole story vet" said Screed. "I was not allowed to go and tell him in hospital, and Betty here has monopolized him for the last few days. Mir. Ransden has been abroad a great deal, Mir.
 Yates, and has corresponded with his uncle at intervals. About eighteen months ago Mir. Pigott's letters ceased. An occasional note came from Mrs. Ashe. written at her masters request, as he was suffering from one thing or another which made holding a pen a painful process. A1r. Pigott in his last two or three letters. I must tell you. had expressed desire to see his nephew, and had made tentative suC- gestions that Mir. Ramsden should come home and carry on the business. One or two things caused Mir. Eamsden to be suspicious at last. and very wise ly he wrote to Scotland Yard, and the
 Yard put the matter in my hands very wisely too"
 Ramsden was quick to endorse this. but knowing Screed I only smiled
 q made some careful enquiries" Screed went on. Apparently Mir. Pig ott was ill more or less confined to the house and not in condition to see people on business. Deals were made, however, through James Ashe, who for three or four years had been his con- fidential man.
 Mrs. Ashes husband?" I asked.
 Yes. quite clever fellow in his way. but less enterprising than his wife, l fancy. I shouldn't wonder if he had got the rudiments of conscience 1 somewhere. Macbeth and his lady over again. You know the play"
 Screed spoke as a connoisseur who has recently made discovery. I really believe he was prepared to find that I had never heard of Macbeth.
 One thing was curious" he con- tinued, 'all the deals were sales. There were no purchases. Moreover, Pigott was now selling many things which up to this time no fancy price would tempt him to part with. He could have been much richer man had h. not been m eccentric who fell in love with many of his purchases and re. fused to sell them again"
 "Ilo explained this eccentricity to me" I said
 Clever fellow" Sereed returned. i This fact gave me a theory. On ar- irving in England Mir. Ramsden came to me before attempting to see hi. uncle. I had communicated with him asking him to do so He had had a letter from his uncle, written by his amanuensis, Mrs, Ashe. of course, ask. | ing him 10 go and stay in South | Street, 1T my theory was right, Mfr. ! Esmsden was very much in the way. To test my theory you took his place, Mir. Yates"
 Your theories have way of put ting other people into danger, Jerry,- said Betty.
 "We all have 10 take our chances" Screed returned. q took my chance. | I slipped into the area when your taxi came into South Street. Mir. Yates, 10 a \ window there l had previously exam 1 ined, and when Mrs. Ashe answered your ring I slipped in. It is queer house. That picture of knight in armor is not as innocent as it looks. ! In a small room behind 1t part uf the wall has been removed, and by standing | on steps and raising a little nap. you can put your eyes in the place of the | painted ones" Then they were real eyes which fol- lowed me about the room,' exclaimed. Undoubtedly. Ashes. Did you TO- ! tice the hand which came through the ceiling? I asked you before. but I do not think you observed very closely. II was woman's hand-Mrs. Ashes. l She turned the mechanism while her ! husband watched through the eyes Of the knight in armor to make sure there was no mistake"
 And Pgott?" [ asked. "Ashe was Pirott. Tie real pigott | has been dead for months, buried under | The flags in tho cellars Ashe and his wife. disspproving of their masters unbusncsslike methods. got rid of him. ] They intended to sell tho bes. of the treasures and carry on the business as long as Il was safe to do so then { dccamp. They meant 10 get rid of the nephew. and if Mir. Ramsden had gone there they would have succeeded prob. ably. By following my instructions, MT. Yates. you have helped me to spoil their game"
 { Hut that bed" said Betty. and tn. arrangements for making use of fl. Was Pigott killed that way? Had hs used it to get rid of undesrab1s people?"
 No, he vas rnt killed that way. h. wss sirangled tho doctors bclietr. but il is little difficult to be quite definite after this lapse of time. And l do not think he had ever used the bed I be- liste ihe old gentleman had it frrd up to show how murder was sometimes accomplished in past ages The bed, 10 doubt. has history. and probably he has been offered vast sums for if, and for the picture Possibly il rss one of the treasures he could not bring himself to part with. In the past that bed may have sent scorss of persons : to their account. and indirectly it is going to send Ashe and his wife to theirs. The woman has probably been the leading spirit throughout"
 Aud she locked such rnotheriy soal. I said.
 Never judge by looks" said scresd. The greatest villain I ever had 10 do -ith was as handsome as paint"
 T have 10 thank you. Mir. Yates. for taking my place" said Taunsden. '.Un- fortunately you have had to pay for ths prffneee."
 Don't irt that worry yuu.s said sfT'eed. Mir. Yates retels iB sdTen- iuras. and adventures have 10 De paid for
 Betty looked at rnt and lightly iouched my arm in sort of csress. wss conscious If a thrill and wondered whether ] was in love