Evening star., 1924-03-04
The Mystery of Lynne Court
By ]. S. FLETCHER
Copyright. 1923. BY Norman Remington companr.)

centuated by her dark hair, piled IN
heavy masses about graceful
head. Somewhat above the middle
height, slender and 1.-the Of figure,
she was In evening dress, and II was
from the bare arm which gripped the
cabinet that the red blood was trick
ling. As Hextall entered she flashed a
quick glance upon him from a pair
of dark eyes Just then blazing with
. anger; II swept him over in q sec
ond and darted back to four men
who sat or stood on the other side Of
Bile on which lay certain cards and
implements which showed that some-
body had suddenly interrupted the
playing OF we'll known game of
chance. =
Hextalrs, quick eyes followed the
girls. Immediately before her. stand
Ing by the card table, watching her
every movement. stood q tall, clean
shaven, keen-faced man. alert, ready,
whose attention visibly relaxed az
Aextali entered. He was a man OF
good looks. obviously astute and
clever, and as he was just as OBJ
viously sober and in very full pos
session Of his wits Hextall took him
to be the Mr.. Kesteven Of whom the
valet had spoken. His eye travelled
younger man. whom. from the re-
sembiance between them. Hextall at
once set down as the girls brother,
sat sprawltnE in an easy chair, his
legs thrust stiffly out before him, his
hands plunged deeply in his trousers
pockets. His chin was sunk on his
breast: his mouth gaped little: his
eyes. heavy and dull, were fixed on
the girl as II the muddled brain be-
nina them was endeavoring to re-
alize and comprehend what was TAX
ing place. A half-burned cigar lay
on the rug at this young mans feet:
on his broad. shining shirt front
there were wine stains. And In the
silence which hung all over the room
he suddenly closed his ayes aad be-
gan to snore.
There were two other occupants Of
the room-younGish men in evening
dress. who stood In the back ground,
close together. whispering. Hextall
set them down at once as foreigners,
though he was uncertain of their ma
tionaiity. One was evidently ex-
postulatfng or persuading: the other
was as obviously listening with an
III grace. He was q ark-skinned,
sinister-eyed fellow this. and he
glared over his shoulder at the girl
as If he were laborinE under some
injury. And Hextall realized that il
was this man whom the girl was
Chiefly watching.
All this was seen by the doctor and
the valet within a second Of their
~ .ne Eoon. He1taiI SIZED up
the situation In glance. Without
hesitation he walked straight to the
girl and held out his hand
Give me that revolver, and then
iet me see your wound" he said, per-
Paquita Tress stared at this sud-
den. cold-voiced command. For an
instant she looked Hextall up and
down; then a frown of annlyance
settled between her eyebrows aad
she shifted her position i:tle.
NOT until those nlel han1 back the
brother" she answered. de.erminei-
~. That man across there. particu-
larly-he's a cheat"
The tall man leaning against the
tsble turned his head and said some
thing In a murmur to the man who
was seowiing in the rear. Then he
stepped forward. smiling a little.
There has been a slight-slight
contretemps." he said. deprecatingly,
as ne nodded to Hextall. Miss Tress
taking place between her brother and
MS guests. and she interfered. I am
sorry to say. with threats Of violence.
For her own sake, I endeavored to
take her revolver from her, and in
.e .ne struggle It went OF. and I'm
And the revolver. too" said the
girl. with a defiant laugh. "And I'll
keep my word! Don't pay any atten-
ton to him." she went on. turning
1or r., the instant to Hextall. and indi-
GUS sneer. Hes as bad as the 9TH
ers-worse! That man behind there
doesn't go out tf here until he puts
that money back on the table,
watched him.
me again. I'll shoot you dead"
The tall man looked at the doctor.
smiled. and shrugged his shoulders.
Then he turned away and moved a
step or two toward the men in the
background. and Hexta,l once more
approached the girl.
You had much better take my ad-
vice" he said, quietly. you are
doing no good. and your wound may
be more serious than you think"
~ II know al abou. my wound" she
shoulder. If you want to know. Bu.
what I've said I've said, and I shall dc
what threatened if-Look here!
she suddenly burst out, pointing to
the figure in the armchair. do you
cheased him-ali Of them!.
The tall man came back. followed
by the others-the sinister-eyed one
in an evident temper:
tall ns man esi Calmly There hss ss'd been sne
no cheating. But for the sake OF
peace and quietness this gentleman
will put down on the table what he
won from Mr.. TreSs. We others won
nothing-we lost. Hand II over and
let us be done with this" he went on.
turning to the angry man. "Ee
Quick". :.
The man addressed growled and
scowled, but he suddenly dived a
hand into his pocket. drew 1t out full
of notes and gold, flung them on the
table and. turned to the door with
a muttered curse. His companion fol-
lowed him; In silence the valet
crossed the hail in advance, helped
them to their hats and overcoats and
let them out OF the fiat. A dead
silence fell. on the room. interrupted
by the younger mans snores.
Nov give me that revolver" said
Hextali, Comet"
let the. revolver drop on the hool
and sank, fainting. after II.
| CONTINUED in .Tomorrow's Star)