Evening star., 1924-07-11
(CoHtinued from Yesterdays Starr

There's a certain thing you've got
to understand about Lady Renards-
mere in relation to this matter, Mr..
Cranage," said my companion as we
approached the grounds. Il told you
early this morning that, in my opin-
ION, some precious stone was at
the bottom of all this, and that Lady
Renardsmere had no doubt acquired
it from Neamore. Now, I'll tell you
something that's we'll known-Lady
Renardsmere is superstitious about
precious stones to the very last de-
gree of superstition. And if she's got
hold of this and has some strange
superstition about it, heaven and
earth may be moved in the attempt
but nothing will get it out of her,
Not even the fear of murder?' /
exclaimed.
II don't think she knows what fear
is" said Miss Hepple. She's utterly
Indifferent to all that sort of thing.
Still, to use a slang phrase, pile it on
when you tell her of all you saw in
London"
We found Lady Renardsmere in her
surprised to see Miss Hepple, but on
my Immediately explaining that Miss
Hepple had come there at my par
ticular request, to speak to her on
my behalf, she became unusually ami
able and expressed not only willing
was all about.
Shut the door then Cranage, and
sit you both down and go ahead" she
said. Il was going digging, but it'll
wait What's 1t all about, my lad?"
] told her. 1t took just an hour and
twenty minutes to tell-by the clock.
She behaved beautifully. There was
a box of cigarettes-strong, black.
rank things that she imported from
somewhere-and sne smoked one
after another, listening attentiveIy.
And when I'd finished she nodded as
if with great approval
Very well put, my boy"' she said.
Neat, precise, concise, well arranged
I don't know but what you ought to
have been a barrister. Wen have a
talk about that, Cranage, for you're
still a child. But now-what do you
want me to say?"
For the life of me. when it came to
1t, | didn't know what l wanted her
to say.
II wanted you to know every
thing. Lady Renardsmere," ! STAN
Well now l know she said. "And
II don't mind saying that l did buy
something from those three men, be-
lieving they'd a right to sell it"
What was it?" l asked, unthink-
ingly.
That's my business, my boy" she
retorted. Il can be as close as your
Mr. Chang on, that point. I'm not
going to tell anybody
I'm that case said /, these chaps
for there must be more than one
with Chuh Sin as centerpoint and
in spirer-these chaps, Lady Renards-
mere, will go for every single one of
us that's been connected with the af-
fair. and we may as well prepare to
have our throats slit"
CHEERFUL she said, with satirical
laugh. But I'm not bit impressed
Cranage-Tm not afraid"
I'm horribly afraid / retorted
with emphasis. And I'm not
ashamed to say so. either, If you'd
seen what I've seen, Lady Renards-
mere, you-well, think you'd throw
that thing, whatever it may be, into
the nearest ditch
She smiled in her queer, grim fash
ion and glanced at my companion
till then silent.
According to you, my lad" she
said, 'if l did, they'd only cut my
throat to make me tell which ditch
I'd thrown it into. But come-what's
Miss Hepple got to say about it.
You're one of those eminently sensible
women, Miss Hepple, aren't your
II should like to have a few words
with you in private, Lady Renards-
mere" said Miss Hepple. I'm sure
Mr.. Cranage won't mind-he knows
me by this time
] left them together and went out