Evening star., 1924-03-29
The Mystery of Lynne Court
(continued from Yesterdav,s starN
Smiths eyes twinkled behind his
By ]. S. FLETCHER


-
Smiths eyes twinkled behind his
sold-rimmed spectacles.
Septimus Philcox. Styler, my son.
no said. was one Of the most unc-
tuous and plausible gentlemen of his
oay. There are a large number OF
iolk who still believe that he was a
very badlytreated man, and that, II
the law had only left him alone, he
would have pulled round the affairs OF
the Imperial Splendor concern and
made vast sums for the investors.
Major Esmondhaugh-retir mill
tary men are notoriously eccentric,
Tor some occult reason which nobody
has ever explained-may be one of
those investors who still cherish a
profound belief in Septimus. But I'll
tell you what. Styler-there's one
little matter we ought to go into,
and that is-who are Maj. Esmond-
haugh and his sister, Mrs. Renton?
We know nothing about them! They
may be members OF the wrong lot, for
all we know. We must look them up.
What books of reference have we in
the place, Styler? What have you got
In your roomg'
Styler rose and disappeared into his
own sanctum, where he began to
search amongst shelf full of ref
We've an old Peerage." he an
nounced through the open door, and
there's a Baronetage-it'S last years,
that-and there's an old Who's Who
and there's a dozen or two of that
Army List that you get every month,
and several Whitaker's Almanacs."
THE Army List, of course" said
Smith, who prided himself on his
connection with military matters as
TALON. Bring that--the majorll be
in there. anyhow. Here we. are, ne
continued, after turning the paper
over a little. Here he is-Godfrey
Hamilton Esmondhaugh, d. 5. o.,
NJ. v. O., late 91st Lancers--thats he,
of course, Styler But that doesn't tell
us anything about his family. Let
me think, now-Ive rather notion
that there's a North country family
OF that name; we really must nave
proper books of reference Styler ~
you must order them at once-aii IL
sorts of them. Esmondhaugh look
in whitaker, and see IL there's any
body of that name amongst the
knights or baronets-there are so
many new ones made in these demo-
cratic days that they're as common
as black berries, and even the biggest
tuft-hunter can't keep 'em in mind"'
There's q Sir Godfrey Dawkes Es-
mondhaugh in the list Of baronets,'
ker's Almanac, and he isn't mush-
room, for he was created in 1881.
Smith uttered an excited exclama-
tion and reached for the Baronetage,
which Styler had brought in from
the other room.
I'd heard the name-see what it is
TO have a good memory! Esmond-
haugh, now-ah, here we are, Styier
we've hit II! Listen.-here's the
what it amounts to--leaving the Or
namental parts out. Godfrey Dawkes
Edmondhaugh, ninth baronet, of Es-
mondhaugh. Northumberlsnd and
b63 Eaton. Square, S. w. a Deputy
Lieutenant. Sometimes NJ. P. Owens
3,f67 acres Born July IL, 1S37-an
old gentleman, Styler widower. Wire
was Joan Cicely. daughter OF Sir
David Chillinglin of Chillinslin
Tower, northumberland. Has Issue
Godfrey Hamilton, major in the
army. born ls75-that's our man; also
Rosalind, born 1884, married 1905,
Arthur Charles Renton, esquire, of
500 Upper Brook street west; also
Maud, born 1885, married 1913, John
Patrick Angus. sixth Earl OF oron-
say. Styler"'
"Sir!" exclaimed Styler. startled by
his masters sharp exclamation.
Did you hear that. Styler? Mrs.
Rentons-and Nal. Esmondhaughs
sister is a countess"
7 heard. sir. | also heard another
thing Her names Maud"
Smith looked up from the pages Of
the baronetage.
'Well?'' he said.
The name of the lady referred to
In that marriage certificate was
Maud" answered Styler.
'Ah." said Smith. $50 it was Maud
Eleanor Rivers of Broom Lodge,
Northumberland, spinster. UNI
we'll, Maud is not an uncommon
Christian name for ladies. Get that
Peerage, Styler-it's only year or
two old, I think"
Styler fetched heavy volume and
Smith turned its pages over until ne
came to the he. entry TRY J he ns sansed sstd John
Patrick Angus Chisholm Huntley,
sixth Earl of Oronsay, etcetera,
etcetera-lot OF details that don't
concern us Born 1SS1-married-
YES, that's it-Maud, second daughter
of Sir Godfrey Esmondhaugh, baronet
Lives Oronsay Castle. n. B., and 50
Upper Grosvenor street. west sty-
ler!"
Again Styler started at the sharp
"Didn't that taxi-cab driver say
that he drove Miss Brock and the
strange man to the corner of upper
S;rosvenor street from Laburnuin
Terrace ?" asked Smith.
"FIe did" replied Styler.
smith closed the book and rose.
were beginning to find out some.
thing, but 7 don't know what 1t Is
ne remarked This"
The telephone bell in the outer OF
nee suddenly rang, and Styler, gong
to 1t, presently came back with a
= "Dr. HextaIl wants us-both!-at
once" he said.