Evening star., 1924-03-10

Inc vAet mutely S1gninoQ q wish TO
speak, and stopping his car, got out,
They walked over to the side of the
"T,n on my way to. Lynne Court.
sir.-said Fowler. II had this wire a
handed IL to Hextall. who immedi-
ately noted that 1t had been dis
patched from Folkstone. 1t was ad-
dressed to Fowler at the nat in Queen
Anne street, and IL ran:
get the Rolls Royce car from the
garage at once and go down with 1t
yourself to Lynne Court and wait
there until ! come; -
You see where ~ that was sent 1f from.
sir7" said Fowler. pointing to the
postmark. Il expect they've been
the Casino. They'll be turning up at
Hextai stared at the telegram
without seeing the words in it,, His
mind was already preoccupied. He
was wondering if he ought to tell
Fowler about what Ronnie Tress had
told his sister. He wished he had
Smith---or even Styler-at hand ~
Look here, Fowler" he said sud
denly. you've been trusted q good
deal and you'll have to be trusted
"strictly confidential-for the time
being, sir" said Fowler
Just So: L was going to con-
ttnue-but I've no doubt you're aware
that this is, or may be. serious busi-
ness, and everybody concerned in 1t
will have to keep their eyes open
on behalf of the young, people you're
serving. You understand"
Quite so. sir--nobody better. I'll
do my best, DR.. Hextail. Trust mel"
We'll. I've just heard something at
Lynne Court that's disquieting." con-
with it,
He went on to tell the valet of
what the boy Lad seen. And at the
CLEANED, and he smiled knowingly.
"Ab. Just SO, SIR he exclaimed.
TIN not surprised. I've seen Kest-
even and the goyerness talking on
the quiet before now. In a big house
like that, sir, where there are no end
of>nooks and corners. and where ones
going about, sir. at odd times-mes-
sages and so on--one does come
across some queer things. oh, yes
I'm not surprised! But that shows
that kesteven has been there on the
sly since he and the master left Queen
Anne street"
"Evidently," assented Hextal1 He
could not think of anything useful or
some instinct made him keep Fowler
waiting. Well" he went on, after u
pause, II can't think of anything more
to tell you, Fowler. Keep your eyes
as you can--and be sure to wire me
if you think I'm wanted. I'll see that
it's made worth your while"
That's all right, sir; rely on me-"
wrong III let you know at once.
Hextall nodded and returned to his
car and resumed his journey. More
than once before he reached London
he was tempted to tell the driver to
turn round and go back to Lynne
Court. He could easily make an ex-
cuse for his return, and he wonId
be on the spot when Darrell Tress
and his companion came back that
night, as they surely would. But he
exciting Kesteven's suspicious; more
over, Paquita had a capable body
guard. In the end he went home.
wondering what would be the next
into which he had been drawn SO
suddenly and curiously. He would
have been glad to exchange ideas
with John Smith. and twice during
telephone-once at his fat in the
Adelphi and once at his club. But
Smith was neither at home nor at
the club, and he got no news of him.
nat fetdpSt On the
part of patient kept Hextall out of
bed until o'clock; consequently he
slept beyond his usual hour of rising
next morning. He awoke TO hear
voices outside his bedroom door !;
presently. after loud knock, it
opened, and in walked John Smith.
And in his hand Smith carried two
kilograms.
Your maid was just taking this in
as / rode up to your door" he said,
in his usual curt fashion, as he hand
ed a buff envelope to Hextail. $50 l
brought 1T up to you. Read tive
pretty good idea what the contents
are"
Hextall. only half awake, tore open
the envelope and read. The telegram
had been handed in at a. village Office
at s O'clock And what it said was
Kesteyen was found in grounds
here early this morning. shot dead,
Hextall pushed the telegram to
Smith with a muttered exclamation
Of establishment. But Smith glanced
at it almost unconcernedly.
From Fowler-of course" he said
"Just so! Shot dead? Quite so-but
how? Now look at my telegram, Hex
tall. That's from Nurse Palliser. She,
you see, is more precise in her infor
nation. Look"
He tossed the second telegram
across, and Hextall, now thoroughly
wide awake, took in it's contents at a
glance. .
"Kesteven was murdered during
night in Lynne Court spinney."
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's Star.)