Evening star., 1924-07-05
By J. S. FLETCHE
copyrxAt 1s74. b. G. p. put.am's soaa

Renardsmere's - Ripping Ruby-for
the derby" answered the landlord.
some inside knowledge about it."
"WeH?' said Jinerdene, after a
pause. And what them? .
They finished their bottle. Then
the elder man-the man I've just
seem" continued the landlord with q
significant nod-"he glanced at his
watch. Lots o time yet.' he said.
Well have another So they ordered
another bottle of the same, and when
Ia opened it for 'em they took it and
their glasses across to an alcove in
the saloon and sat down"
Were they sober?" inquired Bir-
KEN.
Sober and quiet and as we'll be-
haved as you please" affirmed the
,sndiofd; dn.tsd nesifs eHinfidsntly VERY Yer well CON
couple of bookmakers - something
connected with the turf, anyway"
And they stopped in your place
some time-talking?" asked Jiffer-
Until Within ten minutes of closing
time-chatting quietly over their
wine. Then they lighted cigars, and
as they were going out the younger
one came up to me at the counter and
asked me If / could tell them where
the door with them and pointed the
Way-its not far off. They said good
night and went in that direction"
.Iogether?' asked Jifferdene.
Iogether. said the landlord.
we presently went away and walked
aIong Warrington Crescent in quest
OF De1aWare road, which proved to be
only street or two off. 1t was an
emlnently respectable looking thor
oug ghiare, of the type peculiar to that
dlstrict-solid, stuccofaced little viii
las set in small stone wall inclosed
gardens; nothing in its outward ap-
pearance suggested crime of the muir
oerous sort Yet, as Jifferdene point
eo out, here those two men had come,
very late at night, and not three min
one of them had been done to- death
some two hours afterward.
1ou IL nave to make some search
ing Investigations hereabouts, Bir-
hem' ne remarked. as we stood at q
corner looking about us. "Holliment
-somebo Who?"
birkem took a speculative, discHm-
mating glance on all sides of him.
mere aren't so many houses in this
OF EN- looks as if folk with bank ball
ances and morocco bound PRAYER
books lives in EN-! Highly respect
aoie, call it. 1 can get the names
ana so on of every resident out of
d dne oirectory and 1 can call at every
nody here. that somebody's not yerv
likely to say So"
You'll have to try your luck" said
Jlnerdene. That landlord said these
TWO were talking about the turf. Find
out. to start with, il ANYBODY connactad
with horse-racing, or a betting husinssS
uves th IN this road-you might get a clue
tnere, II there does. ANY bit Of news Of
ase%' ALL |"n-
., For or had suddenly let out a shou. of
up oy gesticulations which doubtless
mace my companions think I had eone
mao. A taxicab running at q high rate
Oh speed had come round the corner.
ano an was now making swiftly for Edge
50 swiftly, indeed, that already the num-
per pate at its rear was blur of fig
ures. But as it passed me / had Just
managed to recognize it's occupa Mt
Quartervayne,
That cab" exclaimed. Quarter
VaEne's in it. Quartervayne the man
We follow it?''
AS there isn't another taxi anywhere
Ia slsnt, we can't" said Jifferdene. But
are you certain?"
Dead certain I assented excitedly.
saw him plainly. Quartervayne, as
sure as I'm alive! II only we could
have stopped him."
=. AysMthat cU,,- might have been q help"
out OF sight now. Um now supposing
ne was the man they came to see here
last night AS we've or you've seen him
nereabouts, maybe he's living here
LOOK mere! give Birkem a full descrip-
tion of him."
l gave Birkem as accurate a descrin-
tion OF Quartervayne as 1 could, and as
remembered him on the Clarence Pier
at portsmouth, and that done Jifferdene
and left him and went away. And for
moment L was half-tempted to tell my
companion about Neamore, for I was
sure that it was Neamore who had been
with Holliment at the Warrington Hotel
on the previous night and had gone with
MIN to Delaware road. But I thought
better-or it may have been worse-of
that, determining to say nothing until I
had seen Lady Renardsmere, or until
something further had developed. I
was sorely puzzled-Holliment, Quarter
wayne. Neamore. Lady Renardsmere
made queer combination.
Look here" said Jifferdene. suddenly
breaking in on my thought. the after
Moons not yet over. Well Just go to the
Chinese legation in Portland place.
want to have word with that Mr.. Shen
who came with us to see you. II that
oId sphinx at the Langham won't tell
view of Heiliment's murder"
we went to Portland place. Mr.. Shen
received US. He was bland, suaye, cour-
teous, interested and absolutely inscruta-
Bile He agreed with Tfferdene that HoI-
liment had doubtless been knitted by the
Chinaman whose face had seen at the
window, and who was undoubtedly the
man that Mr.. Cheng wanted to find. But
having agreed he said no more
Now, Mr. Shen,' said Jifferdene.
wheedingiy, cant you tell me what it's
all about? Why does Mr.. Cheng want to
oh2n1-WyhNco ~, ~
give us"
Mr.. Shenis smooth tones grew sill.ier
than ever.
The thing" he said. 'is to nnd him"
Jiferdene spread out his hands.
Just SOL" he agreed. But let me
ask you-you've got means that We
haven't. Have you tried to find him---in
the quarters where your countrymen
congregate at London-Limehouse. and
so on? You haye?-weil. have you had
NO" answered Mr. Shen, promptly
enough. mo trace! Not word And
he is man who is disngured-good to
Then where the devil is hew ex-
claimed Jifferdene. "A Chinaman with
half his left ear gone and as elusive
Il think" interrupted Mr. shen. quiet
~, he is being carefully sheltered, hid
den, by English accomplices"
He was out last night, anyway. ru
bet.' muttered Jifferdene. Lay a mill
lion to one it was he who knitted Holli-
ment ~
"Yes." assented Mr.. Shen. He smiled
blandly through his spectacles II think
he will knife somebody else yet. Then
perhaps you will catch him"
Jifferdene stared at him and got up.
is Mr.. Cheng going to tell me why
he wants this man caught % he asked.
Better still. theugh-do you know,
"Um" said Mr.. Shen. Good -bye. You
come and Gee me again some time, eh?"
We went or at that, and Jifferdene
swore all the way down Portland place.
Perhaps it relieved his feeling; anyway
he then turned his attention to me.
After a little consultation I decided 70