Evening star., 1924-03-28
Continued from Yesterdays starD

7 hope his rent dosen't pay him
internal place." soliloquized Styler.
wood into this confounded
window when he was running the
show up there'd have been cracks in
it by now that you could have showed
your finger through. and then l should
have heard what these three are talk
ing about. Can't hear as much as a
fy's buzz. as it is. Anyway. they're
discussing something serious - tell
that by their faces"
At the end of half an hour Mr..
Pegge'S visitors rose and showed un-
mistakeable signs of departing, and
Styler accordingly slipped off to the
gate, secured his shoes and hid him
self in the bushes at the side of the
lane. Presently Mrs. Eenton and her
companion came out of the bungalow
and went homeward, and Styler kept
his ears open, hoping that they might
drop an Illuminating remark or two
as they passed him. But they went
down the lane in silence; the fragrant
smoking faded away; the sound of the
footsteps died and Styier was alone
with the spring night.
After a period of indecision he went
slowly toward the Warren. He was
far from satisfied, in spite of the fact
csting addition TO his store of knowl
edge. 1t was certainly something
perhaps i good deal-to have found
out that Mrs. Renton and this COM
panion of hers were on friendly and
intimate terms with the ex-convict.
some time chairman and director Of
the once famous Imperial Splendor
Development and Enterprise Society
Suddenly StyIer started = almost
jumped in his shoes, which he had
l. f,,1I Il
Cad" he exclaimed. under his
breath. Cad! OF course, they don't
know who the old chap is! They don't
know that Samuel Pegge is Septimus
Philcox, OF course not! Mrs. Renton
only looks on the old fakes as neigh
mere friendly call tonight. Not it!
1t was real, serious business inter-
view. What about? Hang it! Con-
found it. What was it about?"
abreast Of one of the entrance gates
of the Warren. sudden, brilliant
notion struck him: he pushed open
the gate, walked into the grounds.
marched resolutely to the front door
and rang the bell. He heard the
the quiet house: in another moment
he found himself confronted by a
trim parlormaid, who looked at him
with obvious astonishment.
Mrs. Renton Within" demanded
Styler. Just so-thank you. Would
you have the kindness to ask her if
she will see Mr.. Styler-Mr. Smiths
clerk? Tell her I've come down from
London on purpose to see her.
The maid memorized this message
with an effort, and invited Styler to
step within. and disappeared into a
room on the right-hand side of the
hall, in the window of which Styler
had seen lights as he reached the
ho use. Presently she was back with
an invitation to the caller to advance,
and Styler, who had already prompt
ed himself for the part he was going
to play, stepped forward to meet Mrs.
Renton, who, looking very much sur
prised, had come to the door of the
room.
chock full OF self-assurance and con-
fidence. I'm sorry to trouble you at
this late hour, but a question occuS-
red to us after you'd left
Mrs. Renton beckoned him to walk
in, and closed the door when she had
followed him.. She indicated the ell
derby gentleman, who had now fin-
ished Mr.. Pegge's cigar and was just
then selecting a cheroot from an old
fashioned case. He interrupted him.
self in this task to clap a monoole in
with interest.
MY brother, Maj. Esmondhaugh, of
whom you heard me speak this after
noon,'' said Mrs. Renton. Maj. Es-
mondhaugh is quite conversant with
what happened at Mr.. Tress' today,
Mr.. Styler. SO you can speak before
him. What is it and how did you
know that 1 was here?"
Made inquiry at your hotel na'am,
and heard that you had left for the
country" said the unblushing Styler.
$50, as there was a question or two
of importance, ] jumped up on my
motor cycle and ran down. About
that call Of yours on Miss Brock, now,
Mrs. Renton?" he went on, taking the
chair which Mrs. Renton pointed to.
Gould you refresh your memory,
ma'am, sufficiently to remember
whether anything-any little thing
happened which suggested to you or
would suggest itself to you, upon re-
Fiction, that Miss Brock lured you
there - lured you, mind! Ito meet
somebody"
Mrs. Renton. who had been gazing