Evening star., 1924-07-20
RIPPING RUBY
A Thrilling Mystery Story
Bv J. S. FLETCHER
By J. S. FLETCH]
cep,right. 1924. BY G. P. Putn.m,s Son.


Bring him in at once. then. Bur
tom" ] said. ..Has-has he any mes
| sage for you?"
For memo. sir. For you. Il
haven't asked him any questions, sir
| If"
What, Burton?"
Il wish you could get out Of him
where her ladyship is, sir. 1.-THE
fact is. Mr.. Cranage, I'm getting
anxious. upset! And Joycey-he's one
me anything-however much 1 asked
If you, sir"
"All right, Burton; show him in,
Perhaps he's going to clear things
up. Anyhow -
/ stood by my desk awaiting the
| Park Lane buffers approach. He
came presently. an irreproachably
| attired person in black, soft-footed
soft-voiced, suave, polite, a pussy-ca,
sort of man, with the sort of face
that you sometimes see in the pulpit
of a fashionable church and occa-
| sionally under a barriSters wig, and
he made me bow that could not have
been more reverential if it had been
| addressed to royalty.
Good morning. Joycey." I said.
| You have message for me?'
| "Yes, sir. From her ladyship."
All right" said ]. "Sit down.
| What is it?"
He sat down. arranging his silk
hat. his gloves, his umbrella to a
| nicely about him.
IF you would please to wait a few
| moments. sir" he answered. 'The
fact is, the message is to you and to
Miss Manson, conjointly. Miss Man
son was wired to. sir-to be here at
noon precisely. 1t is now within a
minute o.r. two of that hour. SIR
to Miss Manson and myself. very
well. Let's see if Miss Manson is
coming"
crossed over to one of the win
dows and looked out on the drive.
Peggie was just cantering up. I
went out on the terrace to meet her.
She nodded as she jumped off her
cob. as much as to signify that she
knew what was going on.
'Is he here?' she asked, as she gave
| the cob over to a footman who had
hurried out. Il mean Joycey?"
| Hes here in my room," / answered.
Got message for you and me-con-
Prom Lady Renardsmereg' she
Who else? Come on-let's hear all
| We entered the room together:
waved him to be seated again, and
gave Peggie an easy chair opposite
| him.
Now. Joyceyr' I said. Were all
attention. What's the messager'
he cleared his throat-reminding
me more than ever or a fashionabIe
| preacher-and, began in a soft, mel
2, !inuous voice, almost deprecatory in
| it's cadences.
From her ladyship, sir-to you and
| Miss Manson. Her iadyship wishes
You to know that she has taken Ma
rengo Lodge, at EPSON. for the race
week. From Monday morning next,
sir. until the following Saturday
morning. / go down there, sir. with
! a sufficient staff Of servants from the
Park Lane house early on Monday.
Her ladyship will be. obliged to you,
SIT, II you will go there on Monday
AFTERNOON, at any time convenient to
yourself. sir, SO long as you arrive in
time for dinner, which will be served
| at seven o'clock"
| He paused. looking enquiringly at
| me.
quite so, Joycey," I said. ~Tell
Lady Renardsmere I'll be there-well
before dinner"
Il am obliged to you. sir" went on
the bland voice. It's owner turned
himself more particularly to Peggie.
Her ladyship's compliments to Miss
Manson and Miss Hepple," he con-
tinued Her iadyship will be pleased
If Miss Manson and Miss Hepple will
be her guests at Marengo Lodge
during the race week, from Monday
to Saturday.
Once more the enquiring look.
Pegsle glanced at me, and then nod
ded at the emissary.
Very kind of Lady Renardsmere,
I'm sure" she said. Tell Lady Rem
ardsmere Miss Hepple and / will ac-
| cept her invitation, Joycey It comes
at the right moment. for I hadn't