Evening star., 1923-10-17

MIR. QUINI0N, austere, executive type OF
man, manager of the mines and aspirant for
H.LINGWORTH, ambitious police officer.
INSPECTOR CoRTELYoU, a veteran Scotland
Yard sleuth, who takes up the case for Clin-
MARSHALL STEAD, chief cashier and con-
fideutiaI man for Sir Robert.
~ UINTON knocked the ashes
+: s:: i: = i a. s:' !: ::$$ Ell:
They have been told to me. I was
not here at the time. But-they've
nothing to do with this case, have
they?"
Inspector Cortelyou smiled-one of
the smiles which brought out all the
many wrinkles in his face.
How can I answer that question,
sir, unless l know what they were?"
ne said.
"Ah, lust So" said ouinton. We'll,
briehy-for it's an affair 1 don't care
70 talk about-the facts were these.
A check for $4,000, drawn by Sir
Robert Mannersley in favor OF Mr..
Clinton Mannersley, was presented at
the bank in Stelford through a bank
in London, and after expert eXamlna-
tion was refused payment and was
submitted to Sir Robert, who unhesl-
tatingly repudiated 1t.
"Mr. Clinton Mannersley, question
ed, stated that he received the check
inclosed in letter from his uncle
which he produced. That letter Slr
Robert also repudiated, though IL was
written on his own note paper ana
had, without doubt, been posted mere.
Mr.. Clinton Mannersley had, untor-
tunateIy, cashed this check with
money-lender of his acquaintance,
and as the man could not get his
money he accused Clinton or forgery
and informed the police.
When the case came on Sir ROBERT
was most emphatic in his denial OF
check and letter! and an expert
CIinton's handwriting We're much
alike, but that in the nephew's there
were certain oddities which were In
both letter and check. And the re-
suit was-what you know. a.,
"Ah!' said Inspector Cortelyou. "A
pretty case! Did Sir Robert always
stand to his opinion?"
Sir Robert Mannersley," answered
Quinton, rising and putting on his
hat. was not the sort of man to
change an opinion. Besides, he knew
his own signature"
Aye, of course he would" said the
detective. But, l suppose it never
occurred to him that some one might
some one who wasn't his nephew
eh?"
Good heavens! But why?" ex-
claimed Quinton.
why, to get his nephew into his
bad books and out of the way, and
all sorts of things" said Cortelyou.
There. that's something to think of,
sir. All, we shall see daylight YETI
He went away smiling, leaving
Quinton mystified. And for the next
few days nothing seemed to happen.
Sir Robert Mannersley was laid to
rest in the old churchyard. Sir Clin-
ton waited in Sterford Jail. Inspector
CorteIyou appeared to be doing moth
ing in particular beyond paying oc-
casional visits to the scene of the
murder. Everybody else was looking
forward to the day of the adjourned
hearing.
But before that day something
happened. One evening. as Phillipa
sat with a relative who had come to
stay with her, Mr.. Dauncey an
nounced that Mr.. Stead was in the
morning room and begged to see her.
PhiIlipa Immediately went to inter-
view the man in whom she believed
her father to have had a faithful
Marshall Stead she had always
known, and she sat down to talk
to him.
And. without wasting words, the
cashier, sure they were alone. said in
low voice
Miss Phillipa. it is in my power to
clear Sir Clinton Mannersley of the
charge of your fathers murder