Evening star., 1924-07-02
CHAPTER VII
The Check for flO, 900.

The Check for 10000.
The hall door being open, 1 saw at
a glance how Mr.. Percy Neamore,
whoever he was, had contrived TO pre-
sent himself at Renardsmere House
so early in the morning. At the foot
of the terrace steps stood a convey
ance which l knew to have been hi. ed
from our nearest station-it was the
only vehicle to be had there. Evil
IDENTIFY, then. our visitor had come
down from town by the first morning
train-which seemed to argue that
his business was urgent. I tried to
size him up as / walked along the
hall to him. He was, as / have said,
Immediately attired. perhaps a little
overdressed. if anything, and full of
complacent self-asSurance-cert
Jew. and with something about him
that suggested either money or dia-
monds- His manners were good and
he bowed and smiled politely as
drew near
You wish to see Lady Renards-
mere-personally?" l inquired. glanc-
ing at the card which l held in my
hand.
He bowed and smiled again
ON business" he answered. "Pri-
vate business"
Lady Renardsmere is leaving for
town in half an hour or. So" I re;
| she'll see anybody this morning. AS
| a rule she sees no one on business
without an appointment. l am her
private secretary. Can't you tell me
! what your business is?"
He gave me another suave but firm
black. curly head.
I'm afraid not" he replied. Sorry.
but my business is with no one but
Lady Renardsmere."
Does she know you?" asked
"WeII-no" he answered after a
seconds reflection. "But-may / have
my card a minute?"
gave the card to him and he drew
out a gold pencil-case and wrote
something underneath his name
IF Lady Renardsmere sees that"
he said confidently. shell understand
when she sees that"
Upon that 1 opened the door of a
morning room near by and. asking
him to be seated. went off to find
Lady Renardsmere. She was just
down ready dressed for her journey
to town. 1 gave her the card and
explained that its presenter was
awaiting her pleasure. / added that
he wouldn't tell me what his business
was.
"Neamore?' she said. glancing at
the name Don't know him" Then
she looked at the penciled words be-
meath. at which / myself had not
troubled to look: Her tone altered.
we'll take him into my office, Gran
age"
The room which Lady Renardsmere
called her office was small apart
ment opening out Of the hall. 1t
was more like a mans den than a
been taken for a tool shed more
easily than for either. There Lady
Renardsmere kept her own garden
ing implements. her gardening garb
and shoes, her guns. fishing rods and
all sorts of outdoor things. There
too. she had shelves full of books
abut racing and set of Ruff $
! Guide" There, also. was a big desk
stuffed with papers, chiefly relating to
her stud and it's doings. At that desk
whereat 1 presented myself every
| morning. she transacted all her bust
| ness. Here l conducted Mr.. Percy
Neamore. and, after digging a chair
i out of the accumulated confusion
bade him wait. A few minutes later
through the open door of my own
Renardsmere go to him.
| The proceedings of the next hall
hour were. for that house. remark.
able. About ten minutes after Lad!
| Renardsmere had Joined her visitor
Neamore came out of the room, bare
| pleased with himself, and. walking
out Of the front door to his convey
ance. paid it's driver, who at once
| mounted his box and drove away
| Then Neamore went back to Lady
Renardsmere and for the next guar
ter of an hour they were closely
| closeted. At the end Of that time she
| came out and into my room.
"Cranage," she said, give me my
| A account check book. / may want
| it in town"
Since my arrival at Renardsmere
House I had kept all its mistress
check books. She had several, all re-
ferring to different accounts. The
one she now asked for related tc
| what 1 considered her own private
handed it over. She put it away in
her handbag and. merely remarkins
that she supposed she'd be home
some time during the evening or
night. went back to her visitor. Ter
minutes later her car came around to
the front door, and presently she and
Mr.. Percy Neamore emerged from the
sanctum and went out to it. Having
a question to put to her before She
| left. ! went out, too. To my astonish-
ment NedHoIe hdo dheduy euIci
the car and was making himself
| mighty comfortable in one of Its
luxurious corners. Lady Renards-
mere, still on the terrace steps. was
giving orders to her chauffeur.
Go straight to the Ritz, Walker
she commanded. This gentleman and
] are lunching there. Get me there
| by / o'clock sharp. After that you
can take this car round to Park lane
| and I'll ring you up when I want you
later on"
A moment later the big car moved
OF and went back into the house