Evening star., 1924-07-25
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

You don't understand" he said
points and irredeemably mad on a
tenth. The tenth in this case is
that ruby. All very well for me to
say downstairs that perhaps the old
the Eorning-that was to cheer up
Miss Manson. My own belief is she
won't. She'll make the tilly carry
that stone-and the Chinaman's
round,'
He began to undress, and for a
minute or two | sat smoking and
thinking.
Tell YOU what" | said suddenly
Were close to Scotland Yard here.
l suggest that you and | go around
there early TOMORROW morning before
we set off to EPSON and try to see
Jifferdene, and If we get him. tell him
about the Chinaman. He might think
it worth while to go down and to
take assistance with him
Good" he responded Early as
you like. But it'll be something like
the needle in the bundle of hay"
Scarcely" said I. IF, as you say.
the Chinaman's fixed on either Lady
Renardsmere or her horse, he'd have
TO get near one or the other to oper-
ate, eh?"
Neither YOU nor know what that
extraordinary combination of craft
and subtlety will do" he answered
oracularly. However, no harm done
in seeing Jifferdene."
He and | went around to Scotland
Yard as soon as we had breakfasted
next morning. We struck Jifferdene
almost at once, and stared at him
He was in immaculate racing get-up
"a heavy swell, with field glasses
Slung over his shoulders and tall
white hat with black band.
Needless to ask where you're 60
ing, Jifferdene?" l remarked with
laugh which to me sounded very hol-
low. ITS proclaimed-all over you"
he said. ''Buty, sir. There are sew
eral of us-not all arrayed in this
purple and fine linen, housekeeping
down You'll find me in the saddling
paddock if you want me. Bdt-what
brings You here
"Jifferdene," l said the China
mans at EPSON. Listen"
| told him the story of last nights
appa rition and of the subsequent
events. He listened attentively, TAX
And you left Lady Renardsmere
down there?" he inquired as l fin
iShed.
"At Marengo Lodge" I answered.
I'VE don't know, of course, if she
though one of her big cars was wait
ing in the courtyard. But we left her
with her bodysuard.'
I'll soon settle that" he remarked,
turning to a telephone. Il know now
about her ladyship and her body
guard. too. Got information about
her late yesterday afternoon Lady
Renardsmere. gentlemen, attended by
two private inquiry agents, ex-police-
men, has been staying in suite OF
rooms at the Great Central Hotel for
the past ten days, with her maid and
one man servant. III ring them up
and ask if she's still there.
Five minutes later he turned from
the telephone.
Lady Renardsmere went down to
Epson late last night" he said. She
didn't return. So-weIl suppose she's
there. Very well! That simplftes
matters"
How" asked Peyton.
"Our plan will be-unobtrusively-
TO keep close to her and close to her
horse" said Jifferdene. IF this
Chinaman attempts to interfere with
either-eh? You see the point? Now,
then, just tell me precisely where
is stabbed. and within an hour from
now L and my men'll have both under
the closest surveillance. Well be
down there before you are
We gave him the fullest partieu-
lars, left him, and went back to our
hotel. 1t was then a little beeo-n +nr
o'clock. By a quarter past we were
all in Peggie's car and on our way ~
Epson. The usual procession from
town had already got into full swing.
1t was a particularly fine morning,
and from what we saw as we crossed
Westminster bridge and set out
southwark the attendance on the big
race promised to be record one 1t
seemed to me that we should make
slow progress over fourteen miles
that lay between us and the Downs,
but Peggie'S chauffeur, an old cock
ney, knew his district, and by judi
cious use of sundry short cuts and
roundabout turns he got us to the
grandstand at Epson soon after
eleven. And. leaving him there to
park the car among the scores that
were arriving with every minute. all
four of US made for the stable, close
by. where Ripping ruby was quar-
tered.
Before we got close to the place we
saw that things had happened. In
front the group Of private detectives
which Lady Renardsmere had sent
down to Manson Lodge, under Robin
dale, was gathered before Ripping
Ruby's special quarters Between
them and US, apparently on the verge
of tears. stood Bradgett, talking to
Medderfield, the jockey, who, very
smart in mufti, appeared to be puZ-
zled beyond expression. Behind them
and actually in tears lurked Ripping
Ruby's own particular boy, looking
from one to the other, as if in hopes
of consolation. And little way off l
saw Jifferdene in the character of a
spectator in the midst of several other
men.
Peggie made straight for Bradgett
At sight of her the stable boy in the