Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-22
Continued From Yesterday

81 wonder If you have time to
come with me-" said Phil Abingdon.
Il know the doctor wants to see
you"
81 will come with pleasure" re-
piled Harley, a statement which was
no more than rue.
Accordingly he gave the necessary
directions to the taxi man and seated
himself beside the girl in the cab.
1T am awfully glad of an oppor-
tunity of a chat with you, Mr.. Har-
ley" said Phil Abingdon. THE last
few days have seemed like one long
nightmare to me-" She sighed pa
thetically. Surely Doctor McMur-
doch Is right, and all the horrible
doubts which troubled us were idle
ones after all?"
Now Paul Harley had determined,
since the girl was unacquainted with
Nicol Brinn, to conceal from her ali
that he had learned from that ex-
tr~aordinary a
When he replied he replied eva
sively: 81 have absolutely no scrap
of evidence, Miss Abingdon, pointing
TO foul play. The circumstances were
peculiar. of course, but 1 have every
confidence In Doctor McMurdock's
efficiency. Since he is satisfied, 1t
would be more impertinence on my
part to question his verdict"
Phil Abingdon repeated the weary
sigh and turned her head aside,
glancing down to where with m
small shoe she vas restlessly tap
ping the floor of the cab. They were
both silent for some moments.
Don't you trust me?" she asked,
suddenly. "Or don't you think 1 am
clever enough to share your conf
dence?"
ST both trust you and respect your
intelligence" he answered, quietly.
IF I withhold anything from you,
I am prompted by a very different
motive from the m you suggest"
She did not answer him, but stared
a~bstractedly out of the cab window;
and Harley did not break this sill
ence, much as he would have liked
to do SO. He was mentally review
ing his labors of the preceding day
when, in the character of a Colonial
visitor with much time on his hands,
he had haunted the Savoy for hours
in the hope of obtaining q glimpse oil
Ormuz Khan. His vigil had been
fruitless.
Here we are" said Phil Abing-
don.
She alighted, and Harley dismiss
cd the cabman and followed the girl
into Doctor McMurdoch's house.
Here he made the acquaintance of
Mrs. McMurdoch, who, as expert
ence had taught him to anticipate.
was as plump and merry and viva
cious as her husband was lean,
gloomy and taciturn.
"We were waiting for you, dear"
sne said when the formality of pre-
senting Harley was over. Are you
quite sure hat you want to go?"
Phil Abingdon nodded pathetical-
ly. She had raised her veil, and
Harley could see that her eyes were
full of tears. 81 should like to see
the flowers" she answered.
She was staying at the McMur-
doch's house, and as the object at
present in view was that of a visit
tO her old home, from which the
funeral of Sir Charles Abingdon was
to take place on the morrow, Harley
became suddenly conscious of the
fact that his presence was inoppor-
tune.
But Phil Abingdon had her W
views on the matter. She stepped up
beside him and linked her arm In
his.
AS a result he found himself a few
minutes later entering the hall of
the late Sir Charles house.
The first thing that had struck
Harley on entering the house had
been an empowering perfume of
hyacinths. Now he saw whence 1t
arose; for. conspicuous amid the
wreaths and crosses, was an enor-
nous device formed of hyacinths. It's
proportions dwafted those of all the
others.
TITS wonderful" said the girl,
moving forward and drawing Har-
ley along with her. She glanced
from the card up to his face, which
was set in a rather grim expression.
"Ormuz Khan has been so good"
she said. "EIe SEN his secretary to
see if he could be of any assistance
yesterday, but I certainly had not
expected this"
Presently the party returned to
the neighboring house of the physi-
clan. Almost before they were seat
ed in the DOCTORS drawing room he
voiced his disapproval. Phil" he
said, ignoring a silent appeal from
his wife, this is. mayhap, no time
to speak of the matter, but I'm not
glad to see the hyacinths."
Mrs. McMurdoch's glance became