Evening star., 1924-07-19

Continued from Yesterdays Starr
Whose name you've seen in the
papers, Jifferdene. in connection with
our affair of the other night" l said.
You know how those three men
were collared-
I've just come along from seeing
EN-. at Portsmouth Gaol." he inter-
rupted. sitting down between US. Il
went down there first thing this
morning to have a careful look at
all three"
Did you know any of them?" l
asked
Not one. Never set eyes on
mothers son of 'em before" he re-
piled. "Of course. as you know. one
has been dectified-renegade young
medico who's been knocking about
Portsmouth ever since he was turned
out by a. doctor who'd employed him.
and upon whom the police had had
an eye for some time. But the others
-nobodys got a notion about their
identity. yet. Time for that, though.
no doubt they're members of that
gang-the Chinaman's."
The thing-the real thing, Jiffer-
dene, is that the Chinaman's at
large" 1 said. He murdered Mr.
Pennithwaite. One Chinaman-with
the lobe of an ear gone-againSt the
entire resources of the London po-
lice.'
He nodded. as if in full compre-
hension of my meaning, but he look
ed neither offended nor crestfallen
And instead of making any answer or
comment, he suddenly leaned forward
and tapped my knee.
Mr.. Cranage." he said. DO you
know where Lady Renardsmere is
NO I answered promptly. Il
don't. Do you:'
He made no answer to that, either
His eyes suddenly turned to the
newspaper lying spread out on the
table.
"They fetched me to that" he said
in a low voice; Il was thereIaf at LIN,
hour of the head clerks discovery.
That Chinaman-if it was the China
man-must have been in there for
hours-hours. 1t looked as if he'd
examined every speck of dust in the
place, And I'm wondering-did he
find what he wanted?"
He looked from one to the other
of US And it was Peyton who an
swered the question which he put; -.
Il should say not" he said. No.
Jifferdene regarded him attentive
ly and musingly.
"Aye?-and what makes you think
that, sir?" he asked. You'll have
reasons?"
Good ones" sasid Peyton. BE
cause 1 don't believe the thing.
whatever it is-was there to be founo.
Wasted time!'
Where, then, do you think that
thing-as YOU say, whatever it is
may be, then, sir?" inquired Jlffer-
dene. you're evidently well up In
the matter" ;.
Read as much as l coula ol tbere re
the papers, and Mr. Cranage tnere
has told me more,' responded Pey
ton. II think the things in Lady
RenardsmereS pocket.
Jifferdene sighed, and nodded sew
eraI times-at nothing.
myself." he said softly. And OF
course. if this Chinaman gets on to
that. then Lady Renardsmere
will be the next.
IF you haven't laid hands on him
before he gets at her" said l. But
do Won mean to tell me, Jifferdene-"
He got up, holding out hand as
if to stave off further remark
I've had rare lot of ekperlencss'
i've seen some queer things ano
strange things, and I've done some
things myself that have been called
both clever and smart. But I'll tell
Won this-I've never come across the
equal of this chap for dtabollcal Gun =, ,
ming! But you didn't see him!
There's no doubt that he's Deen IN IN
London ever since that affair IN
portsmouth in which you took part,
Mr.. Cranage; no doubt, either, that
those three fellows 1 saw an nour
ago are his tools or his accompnces;
or both. but the man himself,-Lord
save US! he might be a disembodieo
II guess you'll find him very, ma
terial flesh and blood"yellows in1 ind
spirits don't carry knives!'
Jifferdene nodded again-at noth-
ing. Then, remarking that he'd car
at the front and must be off, ne salo
good-morning to Peyton, and motion-
ed me to follow him out. On the ter
race he turned confidentially-
Mr. Cranage," he whispered, "a
word for you alone! You say you
don't know where Lady Renardsmere
is? l don't know where she may be
today, but l know where she was
three days ago. In Paris! She was
seen at the Hotel Bristol there. And
guess with whom?-seen in conver-
sation with him."
Hang guessing." 1 retorted. "Say,
MIR. Cheng" he answered. with a
meaning look. "Mr. Cheng-whom
Chuh Sin robbed!'
CHAPTER XX.