Evening star., 1924-03-04
CHATTER 4.
The Two O'Clock Call.

fOT once IN 4 way something uaQ
gone wrong with Hextalrs- latch-key
or with the latch into which he
was endeavoring to insert 1t. A
young man infinite and practiced
patience. he spent five minutes In
trying to make things right; 1t was
already 2 o'clock in the morning. and
ne had no wish to ring the bell and
wake his household. And as he stood
there oh the steps of his house, oc-
casionally glancing right and left
along the lights and shadows of
Wimpole street, 1t struck him as q
queer thing that this should happen
on the first night out that he had al
lowed himself for the past six months
Some folk might say that inability
to fit key into a latch was O not
unusual result OF a night out. but
no one who knew Hextall would have
connected this difficulty, with his
amusements. His relaxation, in fact.
had taken the form of a visit to the
annual dinner OF a learned society to
which he belonged: that over. he had
gone home for pi1pe and a chat with
an old fellow-st|dent. and had sat up
The small h9nrs. He was now very
tired. and very sleepy. and he felt in
clined to Curse the patentee OF that
particular latch-an American affair
which had only recently been fitted to
chbdrch clock struck . he gave the at
Lempts up and rang the bell. and at
that moment man came running,
panttng. round the corner.
Hextalrs was a corner house, and
AT the corner itself stood a gas.
lamp. In his yellow light Hextan
looked curiously at the man who ran
and painted He was a big man. In
evening dress; his face was very
btant 1t shone white. as IL from fear
or emotion. The man wore no nat
on his high. bald forehead Hextan
saw great beads Of perspiration gath
ering and rolling. Cnconsciously, the
runner lifted plump hand and wiped
them away, muttering to himself as
he did SO. Then he suddenly caught
sight of Hextall. half hidden IN the
shadow OF his door. and he pulled up
with quick, shaking Jerk OF ms ms
tau's tall figure, gave an equally
quick glance at the house and APP
preached. And Hextall, who had
trick of shrewd observation, set him
the signs of it were written all over
his big. flabby face.
Beg your pardon. sir" !gasped the
man. Are you a doctor?,",
II am" answered Hextall.
Can you come with me. sir?-ciose
BY. IL was running for a doctor.
AT once. If you please, SIR.
Were you going for any particular
doctor?-have you doctor whom you
usually call in?" asked Hextan-
NO, sir-never had occasion before
now" replied the man. Glad II
you'd come back with me, sir, at
once. It's Just round the corner
one Of the new fats in Queen Anne
street-Mr. Tress'. sir
I'm comihg-as soon as my serT-
ants open the door," said Hextail
the natter"
The man glanced nervously up and
down the deserted street. as X he
feared to even whisper to It's lights
and shadows. He wiped his forehead
again as he drew nearer to the young
Accident, sir-shooting-revolver
went off," he replied In low tones.
"And-and It's a lady"
IA lady?" replied Hextall.
'Mr. Tress' sister, Sir. A young
The door opened just then: and
1Iextall notioned the man. to follow
him inside. He went straight along
the hall to his surgery. turned on
light and, picking up a bag ~nicn
was kept ready in case OF emergen-
cie.. opened 1t and glanced at s us
watching him and getting his breath.
where is this young lady wound
ed:" asked Hextall. mechanically.
IL think it's in the shoulder. sir
sir, anyway" answered the man. l
wasn't present, of course.
who's with her?" demanded Hex
tall: o.,.. ,,- r-sss s,r ="
.ep,ed the o,hsr o,her tats
"No woman?"
"No woman. sir"
Hextall picked up the bag. into
which he had placed some extra
.Oh, well:-we can get nurse
within five minutes" he said. Come
along, then"
house with a sigh of obvious reNef.
and once in the quiet street again
ically. "A Shock, sir"
. you'd better tell me how 1t came
about" replied Hextall Il dare say
you're pretty we'll aware that you
can tell medical man anything.
SIR answered the man. "All know
is-it did come about l haven't oeen
long with Mr.. Tress-a few months
and I don't know much about them.
tleman, with a fine place In survey
Lynne Court-and a couple of months
since he took and furnished this nat.
Hewe the truth Is ,onisst neI s66nIs 6Is sise aae
ter Miss Paquita-
"Paouita?" said Hextal, involun-
tarily.
the man. Half Spanish. think; N x;
evening, and said she was going to
stop. I don't think Mr.. Tress half
liked 1t, but he took her out to din
ner and to the theater. and when
thsy 1ask n eE as shss
do, late at night. Miss Paquita. she
went to bed-half-past IL that
was: had to stop up. OF course. AND
was doing. just before O'Clock.
Then Mr.. Kesteven-that's Mr.. Tress'
great friend, sir-came to me, ana
said thered been an accident, and
Miss Tress had shot herself, and sent
ms "sho. m herself. eh?" said Hextall.
so he said, sir-but not dangerous
iy. Here we are. sir.
He had led Hextall round the cor
ner to a block Of newly erected hats
and he now hurried him past
night porter, with a meaning look a,
that functionary and up one flight o,
stairs to a door at which he pausec
for a moment. He gave his companion
an informing glance.
"They're all a bit-you know. sir,
he said. 1.-THE gentleman. mean
they'd all been taking a fair lot. Ex.
cept Mr.. Kesteven. He's never Hke
that. But this may have sooeree
them"
Hextan nodded silently. and fol,
lowed his guide mot n dfmly lighted
richly furnished entrance hail., In ths
oak paneling OF which Several door:
were set. The man threw one o!