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

ing It was evident to him that the yourg man had been good officer. stanch com rade and that he had been extremely popu- lar with the men under him. No word i reference to Marsland's military career had passed between Crewe and his companion.
 Crewe was anxious to respec; the medical advice which forbade Marsland to discuss the war or anything relating to his experi- ence at the front. But in order to clear the way for candor and companionship Crewe thought it best to give an occasional indication that Sir George Granville had confided in him abou. his nephew's state of health and the cause of it. Crewe was somewhat amused at the pains taken to make Marsland forget his past connection with the army, when in so man, ways he betrayed to any keen observer the effects of military training and discipline.
 q can manage it quite easily" said Mars land with smile in reply to Crewe's ques- ton. ''l am not such a wreck as you'd all like to make me out. Come along! I'll get to the bottom before you"
 They walked along to the cliff path. When they reached it they found it was not noticeable from the road, which at that point ran back 300 yards or more from the cliff to enter the hill-cutting. Cliff Farm stood in the hollow, less than a quar- ter of mile away. The commencement of the path screened from view by the furze which grew along the edge of the cliffs at this point. It took Crewe and Marsland some minutes before they could find the entrance to the path, but when they did they found the descent by it to the rocks below tolerably easy, the cliff at this point not being more than 70 feet high. The track ended abruptly about 15 feet from the bottom, but the rocks afford cd good foothold and handhold for the re- maning distance.
 The tide was out and the coastline at the foot of the cliffs showed for miles to- ward Staveley in black rocky outline, with broken reefs running hundreds of yards out to sea.
 "It's bad piece of coast" said Marsland, eying the reefs and the rocky foreshore "If ship had run ashore anywhere be- tween here and Staveley in last nights storm she would not have had much chance.''
 Crewe did not reply his keen eyes were fixed on line of rocks on the right about hundred yards from where they stood. He walked rapidly to the spot, and Mars land could see him stoop down by pool in the rocks and pick up something As he returned, Marsland saw that the detec- tive was carrying mans soft gray felt hat, stained and saturated with sea-water.
 q suppose somebody lost it from the cliffs last night,' remarked Marsland
 Crewe wrung the hat as dry as he could with his hands, rolled it up, and placed it in an inside pocket of his coat before re- plying.
 II do not thnik it blew off from the headland,' he said. 'In fact, it couldn't have done so. There may be nothing in the find, but it's worth few inquiries. But look at that fisherman, Marsland. He's a picturesque touch of color."
 The fisherman who had been mooring his boat had turned to come off the rough landing-stage. He stopped when he saw Crewe and Marsland, and stared suspicious ly at them. He was an old man, but wig orous and upright, with dark, swathy face, hooked nose, and flashing black eyes, which contrasted strikingly with long snow-white beard. He wore a long red cloak fastened to his neck with clasps, and reaching near ly to his feet, which were bare.
 He stood for few moments looking at the two men, his red cloak making bright splash of color against the gray stones of the landing. Then, with slight shrug of his shoulders, he walked quickly off the landing place. Crewe nodded to him pleas antly as he approach and asked him to where the path they had just descended led.