Evening star., 1923-12-24

just enough work to do at the uptown
branch of the bank to keep up his
| self-respect. HE'S awfully decent,
| but he seems "A little bit queer In the
| head to me. he's still got the stock
! market on the brain and he cant keep
away from the old game. That's why
| he seems to get ho OF all the gr.7sip
| of the street before almost any one
| else. but ii was common. talk by au-
! tumn that Mr.. Bernhard and Lane had
| buried the hatchet and were going
| nto some doals together. Say.
| Feoff!" The boy flushed once more:
! IT hate to impose on good nature and
maybe get you In wrong. but there
| isn't another soul / can ask. It's near
! dinner time and you're supposed to
| have knocked off work long ago.
| know, but IL you were to go back
| home through the Cayley place Miss
Mildred might be around the grounds
| here. l haven't seen her in two days.
| and don't want to hang around their
| hoathouse."
! The pleading In his voice was ir-
'esistible. and Geoff vouchsafed him
one of his rare. warm smiles.
Il don't mind tryin' 1t. Mr.. Ashe;
| to-morrer bein' Sunday, ! got to tidy
up where I been workin'. anyways.
| He paused. II don believe l ever see
hat Mr.. Robbins round your place
| the ceilings over for your ma.
I mo. he won't visit U.S., though father
has asked him time and again. he
| getting to be a regular hermit; lives all
! by himself in a wretched boarding
| louse across the street from the bank,
/ replied Rupert trifie tmpatiently.
Hurry. Geor. like a good chap! You
! might miss herr
| Geoff ambled obligingly OFF through
| the trees, and when he reached the cage
\ Of the Cayley's lawn beheld on the ter
| ace a small black-clad figure, with
bobbed head which cleaned like spun
! gold in the last rays OF the setting sun
She appeared to be alone and started
| forward a step half expectantly at sight
| of him; but he went first to the garage.
heaped the wheelbarrow with moids
and implements. and then approached
| the tool box near which she stood:
{, .Evenin. Miss Millie. I'm late git.
| tin. my stuff put away for Sunday-but
| been busy. Hope your ma won
mind"
| with a little catch in her breath. You
you're been working on the garage
al been lookin' for patch o fresh,
clean sand to mix with my concrets:
| don't want to take no more from ciost
| to the boathouse." He glanced cautious
| y through the terrace doors INTO tne
| empty patio and then lowered his
| voice ''I found some Just now. down
| a-past your bound'ry line ana rouho
The Point; Gotta hurES shs thGasn eIaspea and
unclasped her slim hands nervously.
"A YOUNG fellers waitin' there in p
| canoe" Geofrs diplomacy failed him
and he spoke in rapid undertone'
| Reckon II you skip out now for bout
you. He's kinder desp'rit
| I'm desperate, too, Geof There
was a little running sob in her voice.
II don't care whether they they MISS Miss me
| and across the lawn. Geoff arranged
! his tools in the box, then turned the
barrow to start for the second load
| with smartly clipped gray mustache
and small, twinkling eyes. came orisk-
out from the patio. He paused as
| though in surprise at sight OF the
other.
Are you working here?" he asked.
"Gittin' my tools put away proper iii
Monday" replied Geoff literally. and
| his drawing matter of-fact tone gave
| no hint Of the sudden question which
had formed itself In his mind. The
newcomers dark suit seemed too new
and stylish in cut to sit altogether
comfortably upon him; the front part
Of his hair was undoubtedly a toupee;
I and his hands were big and RED, with
spread knuc!Sles and short, thick fingers.
He might have been a retired prize
| fighter in his Sunday clothes or dele
gate from a builders union. but neither
| possibility occupied Geoff's thoughts.
! "Oh. you must be the mason who was
| around when Mr.. Benkard's body was
! found. Heard about you!' There was
bluff camaraderie in his tone. m
! the manager of his Broad street once
| mighty bad about this, Mr.. Bernhard
| was a fine man, wasn't hep
| Reckon So" Geoff responded warily.
his suspicious confirmed. II didn't
dozen times all told. I'm workin' for
| Mis- Cayley,"
He nodded in friendly but decided
| fashion and started of with his bar
row, but the stranger strolled along be-
/ side him.
Had to run out with some papers
| for Mrs. Cayley and the lawyer" he
! conf1ded. THE whole office has gone TO
pieces, Of course, and we're wild to get
the details, but all We know is what
was given out to the press and l
| thought you being right around the
place all the time could tell me more
about what happened. Smoke"
He proffered a Handsomely banded
] cigar, but Geoff shook his head.
| Thanks just the same, but ! can't
| manage to git satisfaction from nothin'
| except my pipe. I only read the Week.
ly Clarion so don't know what the city
papers said: reckon them there reporter
fellers put in all the news there was.
| though
| The other glanced in half-incredulous
| disgust at the mild, stolid face beside
| MIN ana IQSn Tldue dnOLneT SIIOTL-
They didn't have anything to say
about you. Mrs: Cayley told me today
how you'd helped her. How'd Mr.. Ben
kard look when you found him.
Didn't. I was passin. long the ter;
/ start work In the early mornin' when
Lefty screeched to me and / looked In
through them doors. Mr.. Bernhard was
| layin' on the floor and her and the
butler stood starin' at him. I didn't
go a-nigh him; 'twasn't my business" !"
but you took charge and roped OFF
the space around where he lay" the
pseudo office manager remarked. "That
was smart: -. but how did you happen to
him in naive surprise. 'Anybuddy
could a-seen that Mr.. Bernhard was
dead and he couldn't a-done 1t by him
that sanded floor hadn't oughter be ali
tracked up till Mis- Cayley was woke
up and told, SOS she could git help.
| Seems to me I'll just cover up the rest
Monday. There sin't no sign o rain.
'I don't see what made you suspect
1t was murder. though" the other per-
sisted. whats your idea about it,
anyway? Who do you think did it?''
Geoff' leisurely completed his tidying-
up process and then. throwing his coat
over his arm, he turned and faced the
Questioner.
"Ain't got no idees one way or
t'other. City folks and their doin's is
beyond me. just go long and tend
to my work and don't snoop in what
don't consarn me. Have to be gittin'
on home now, mister; I'm late as tits.
Good evenin'"
He grinned afably and slouched of
down the drive, leaving hts new ac-
lQuaintance staring after him In baffied
uncertainty. AS he passed out to THE
main road the big car which had
brought the lady with the floating wells
flor Miss Sherwood that morning turned
in at the gates, and Miss Sherwood
herself, alone In the tonneau, gave him
| a friendly nod and smile Geoff took ofY