Evening star., 1924-03-20
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)

"Our profession wouldn't be of much
use without an occasional exercise Of
imagination" retorted Smith solemn
ly. ITO me, the rural occupations Of
Mr. Samuel Pegge on that morning
are possessed of a rare Significance.
and may possibiy-but you don't see
what mean Hextall, so I'll go on to
plain fact. Mr.. Pegge has discarded
his coat, the weather being warm
that coat was lying within Stylers
reach. When Mr.. Pegge went into his
bungalow to dine, or lunch. Styler, be-
Ing the smart and resourceful inves-
tigator that he is, examined the con-
tents of a pocketbook which lay in
the inside pocket of that coat, And
there he made the astounding discOV-
cry that he was in the preSence-in
the actual presence. for he saw Mr..
Pegge through the open window-of
--criminals!'
"Who?" asked Hextall.
Septimus PhilcoX," replied Smith.
nodding his head gravely. "Septimus
Philcox! What-the name doesn't
recall anything to you? Well. we'll.
mercial matter and that you don't
take an interest in such things. Sep
timus Phiicox. my dear Hextall, was
the head and front of the famous I'm
perial Spiendor gang. Turn up
newspaper file of twelve years ago
and you'll know all about the Impe-
rial Splendor affair-rather. The I'm
perial Splendor Development and En-
terprlSe Society was one of the big
gest frauds ever showed down the
throats OF a gullible public. Philcox
was it's head, its front, it's life, it's sou.
and in the end PhilcoX got fourteen
years-seven on each of the two in
dictments, not to run concurrently-
and his principal satellites got lesser
terms. And a few months ago Phil
cox, having been a model convict
those sort of chaps always are, you
knoW-waS released on license, only
to disappear again from public view
and to entrench himself in a pretty
bungalow and to plant cabbages I'M
der the name of Samuel Pegge. You
follow me?"
How" asked Hsxtall. how did
Styler know that Mr.. Samuel Pegge
was Septimus Philcox?"
"A proper question:" said Smith.
But easily answered. You are prob
ably aware that all persons of GRIM
inal nature are not only Unfortunately
vain. but are also morbidly fond OF
hearing and reading anything about
themselves. Now. in that pock tbook
Styler found mass of newspaper cut
tings-accounts of Philcoxs trial anG
so on. But he also found a much more
important document - Philcox's Ii
cense. A license, my dear Hextall, is
what used to be called ticket-of-
leave. When Styler saw that he knew
i'll whose presence he was. And ac-
cording to Styler, the once great head
of the Imperial Splendor Society is
very hale and hearty old gentleman
who is enjoying himself in the eve
ming of his ill-spent days. En-"
Il suppose the police know that
Samuel Pegge is Septimus Philcox?''
suggested Hextall
The Scotland Yard people do, of
course, replied Smith. We have
friend or two there-Styler held con-
they know! You see, Philcox has
couple OF respectable sons, and they
allow the old chap sufficient income
TO enable him to live in similar re-
spectability. And you may be sure
that there isn't soul in the neigh
borhood of Lynne Court who suspects
that Mr.. Samuel Pegge is one and the
same with the Septimus Philcox whose
netarious deeds were matter of so
much public attention twelve years
ago.
Weil?" said HextaIl.
.Mell-what?" asked Smith.
DO you think there's any con-
nection between Philcox or Pegge,
and what's just happened? inquired
Hextal!. DO You think that Pegge
was mixed up at all with kesteven,
Il don't know what we think-yet," ;"
replied Smith, looking at Styier. who
mad listened eagerly to tho narrative
of his own doihgs. But we do know
that Philcox was only released from
ago, and that on r'~kell has been
round 4 chart, or map, or whatever
you like to call it, which most GER
tainiy-in our opinion-has to do
with Portland. And I think Styler
and will know more before many
days are over"
asked Hext1ll.
We go down to Weymouth tomor-
row morning-by the very first ex-
Smith. Naturally. we shall take the
s.trictest precautions. Those precau-
tlons viii begin now-our motto, my
dear Hextall, is Thoroughness. +
usual tourist get-up of loud tweeds
Il may throw in a little touch of
the amateur artist, and carry
Sketch-book, for can use my pencil.
As for Styler, he will be a motor
bicycEst, holiday and will
be accompanied by his machine We
shan't know each other at Padding
ton, and though we shall put up at
the same hotel in Weymouth, we
shall be strangers to each other until
ly-in the smo'ing room. Quite
casually, too. quite accidentally, you
know, we shall both drop in at the
King of Denmark wayside inn, to-
morrow evening. between the hours
Of half-past and half-past s-just
TO see what offers. And we shall be
there-at least one or other Of US
will be there-every evening until
the eighteenth is come and gone"
Let me suggest an Improvement"
n; toI - -
it be far better if one of you put
up-as tourist-at the King of Den
mark?"
Styler made a murmur of approval
and Smith, after a moments consid-
Grafton. nodded in acquiescence.
would. If one can find accommoda,-
tions: and If they haven't got it there,
they'll no doubt be able to find a
room In some neighboring cottage.
be an artist. wanting to make
sketches of the coast scenery. Then
you can nip in and out of Weymouth
ON your machine. Good suggestion,
Hextall-thank you"
Hextall made Smith promise to
keep him informed of what came of
this excursion and went off west
ward. 1t was then s o'clock in the
evening, and as he walked up the
Strand. to make call at a surgical
to him that as he had not wired to
his housekeeper with respect to his
return there would be no dinner
ready for him at home. He had
lun he'd early at Lynne Court and
now he was hungry. Accordingly,
having paid his visit to the surgical
instrument maker, he turned into
Charing Gross railway station, in
tending to dine in the restaurant
And going first to the bookstall, with
a view to the purchase Of a news
paper or two WhereWfth to soIace