The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-23

to bed because she was sleepy-sleepy at
O'Clock. The silver tray and the coffee
service and the cups were still there await
ing removal! And beside them stood a
liquor stand with Chartreuse, Benedietiae,
Creme de Menthe, and haf-dozen tiny
Venetian glasses. He went over and hooked
at the glasses; so much, so very much de-
penSed upon that. If mere than one had
been used; if Ailsa, too, had taken liquor
No, she had not! Only one glass had been
used. and Mrs. Rayner had gone to bed!
He rubbed the tip Of his finger round the
inner side of that one used glass, and put
it to his tongue.
Ailsa Lerne waited fer him at tine shrub
berry; but but it was net to the shrubbery he
went! His way lay round the angle of the
house until he stood directly opposite the
swinging French window Of the library. 1t
was bright with inner light, when first he
CAME in sight of it; but he had barely halted
before that light went out. He had warned
Gen. Raynor to lock that window, and here
he was net only dsregarthng that warning.
hut pushing the sashes wide apart.
Coming again, is she, generat?" said
Cleek in the seuHdless words of thought.
He stopped and ereuehed back under the
tress. and was very still. Through the dark
ness faint rustliAg sound had suddenly
risen, the soft falling of foot, the careful
The shrubbery where Ailsa was waiting
lay but a. ropes cast distant from the spot
where Cleek now crouched; and he had no
sooner graspea the unwelcome fact that the
steps were advancing in direct line with
that shrabbery than a thin, eager whisper
pereed the Stiffness 1t was the voice of
Miss Lorne, saying cautiously, yet dis
tinctly:
why. Purviss! You don't mean to tell
me it's you!"
Purviss! Not Lady Cleavering, but Geoff
Clavering's old valet Purviss.
With the speed of hound, but with no
more neise than a moving shadow, Cleek
left his hiding place, skirted the house, got
round to the front Of it, cfawled up the
steps, then, rising suddenly, appeared to
come out of the doorway.
Hello. Miss Lorne, enjoying an evening
ramble, toe? May be allowed to join you?"
with pleasure, Mr. Barch," said Alisa.
Then she motioned toward the valet.
''Purviss has just come over from Lady
Clavering. 1t seems he has message for
General Raynor."
II thought as much" said Cleek TO HIM
self triumphantly. though aloud he re-
marked calmly enough: All! he has gone
to bed, but if you care to give any message
or letter, ZIP go and wake him up"
''Oh, no, there's no need 20 do that, sin,
replied Purviss hur1iedly. Its only re-
quest for gardening book-of no import
ance ar all, sir. Good night, miss; Good
night, sirv'
THAT man." said Cleek quietly, "came
for the purpose of having an interview.
You remember how 1 rushed past You when
Dollops set me on the track of the lady in
pink? She came and she had an interview.
No, she was not Margor. She was Lady
Clavering. And she had just accused the
man she came to meet OF having murdered
BE Louvisan, when your approach startled
the pair of them and made them separate
hurriedIy. That man was General Ray
nor!
And Margot?" she quered
Lady Clavering, it appears, knows Mar
got. So does the general evidently, for she
mentioned her name to him."
Pear heaven! And you say that she ac-
cused him of the murder? How could she?"
she was there-at Gleer cottage-last
night. She went there to meet him. But
she was not, however, the first to direct any
suspicious against the general. That was
done by his son." and Cleek told her of that
interview with Harry Raynor after dinner,
and of the typewriter letter.
Miss Lorne, I waste no sympathy upon
that worn1," he went on. But he spoke
the truth! His father did type that forged