The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
PAGE 6

of the distant hills.
 Crewe and Marsland drove slowly along to High school by way of the front after leaving the police station. long row of boarding houses and hotels faced tie sea and there were pleasure boats, bathing ma chimes, pier and a bandstand. The season was virtually over, but number of visi- tors still remained, making the most of the late October sunshine, decorously prone nading for air and exercise. It was a typi. cally English scene, except that the band was playing German music and the Kursaa still Haunted its German name.
 The front was bisected about midway by the main business thoroughfare of the town, and there was sharp distinction be- tween the two halves of the promenade which it divided. The upper half was the resort of fashion and the mode; the hotels were bigger and more expensive; the board ing houses were designated private hotels All the amusements were situated in this part of the front; the pleasure boats, the pier, the band, the goat carts and the batt chairs. The lower part of the front was virtually deserted, it's hotels and boarding houses looked empty and neglected, and its whole aspect was that of poor relation out of place in fashionable surroundings.
 Although Marsland did not know much about Staveley he was able to guide Crewe to Curzon street, and once in Curzon street they had not much difficulty in finding the shop kept by Mir. Grange. It was a curious little white house standi. back a few feet from the footpath, and trays of secondhand books were arranged on tables outside.
 Crewe, after getting out of his car, be. gan an inspection of the books on the trays outside the shop, and while engaged in this way he saw young lady being shown out of the shop. She was well-dressed, grace full girl, not much more than 20. Behind her was the shopkeeper, tall thir man past middle age, with a weak, irresolute face disfigured by some cutaneous disorder small, ferrety gray eyes and a straglling beard. As he opened the door to let the young lady out Crewes quick ears heard him remark:
 Well, as I said, we didn't go because we saw the storm coming up. I'm very glad now we didn't, as things turned out. It's a dreadful affair-dreadful"
 To Crewes surprise Marsland stepped forward when he saw the young lady, lifted his hat and put out his hand. Crewe thought she hesitated a little before responding.
 ''I am glad to see you, Miss Maynard, ' Marsland declared. "You are the very per son l wanted to see. But this is quite an unexpected meeting"
 ''It is very kind of you," said the young lady with a smile.
 To Crewe it was evident that she was more embarrassed than pleased at the meeting.
 Marsland walked along the street few paces with Miss Maynard and then came back to Crewe.
 'Please excuse me for half an hour or so, Crewe. l have some things to talk over with this lady,"
 He rushed back t, Miss Maynard's side without waiting for an answer. Crewe watched them for a moment and then he became aware that the shopkeeper standing at his doorway was watching them with a gaze of perplexity.
 "Mr. Grange, believer" said Crewe
 The shopkeeper produced a pair of spec tacles from his pocket and put them on be- fore replying. With the spectacles on his small gray eyes he peered at Crewe, and said
 What can do for you, sir?'
 Crewe saw that the man was i'll at ease, and he endeavored to bring him back to his normal state.
 Have you copy of book called Noti- tiae Monasticae?" asked the. detective. "It's work on the early British religious estab- ishments,' he explained