Evening star., 1924-01-10
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

'T can answer that" the attorney
fnterposed. Mrs. CayIey felt Dunn's
ineGplicable ingratitude very keenly.
but she was distressed about the
mans future, realizing that 1t would
be difficult at his age for him to OBJ
tain a position such as he had held
with Mr.. Bernhard. Since there was
no capacity In which she could en-
pl"y him, she begged me to find q.
place for him in my office, doing
minor work in connection with the
settling of the estate. Ii was | who
sent Mahoney to him with the offer
but he fancied it was in the nature OF
charity and became highly indignant
Mis- Cayley did that, after urgin'
ner brother to turn him out?" Geoff's S
Zone was filled with artless surprise,
but Newbury bit his lips.
She meant on pension, of course!
1r Bernhard could have arranged
more cleverly than we to assist him
without injuring his pride. Is there
anything further that Mrs. Cayley or
I can tell your
Reckon you could" Geoff slightly
emphasized the last word. Amt got
time to ask you now, though. I'll
have to get on bout my business
He paused as the sound of a motor
~hirring up the driveway, came to
them through the open front doors.
Mrs. Cayley glanced toward them,
then rose with low exclamation of
warning.
TT is Miss Sherwood with Mr.. Mid
dleton! Not a word before them of
what you have just learned from
Henry upstairs!"
She hurried forward. and the at
torney followed, while DR.. Hood drew
his deputy determinedly aside.
Look here, Geoff, you're not going
off on any more business of your own
connected with this case unless you
of thtsi You've uncovered q lot of
dirt that'll have to be scattered to the
four winds, but as far as I'm con-
Cerned that's all you have brought to
light. Who killed Bernhard, anyway?
Who knew or suspected, besides old
Henry. that he was the prime mover
tn that embezzlement and shot young
Shirley to prevent exposure?"
Before Geoff could reply e. quick,
buoyant footstep came up behind him
and hand fell upon his shoulder.
Hello, Geoff! L thought you were
working in Long Island City, while
our house is going to rack and ruin!
Good afternoon, doctor" Adrian Mid
dleton, serenely unaware that he had
arrived at a saving moment for his
boyhood playmate. eyedrboth men with
eager curiosity. ANY change in the
situation that you can tell neigh
Dor? We all feel badly about Rupert
.Ashe, particularly Miss Sherwood,
who saw so much of him here. His
arrest was an outrageT :.
Good afternoon. Mr.. Middleton"
the doctor responded. Sorry we
haven't any news at present that we
can give out, but I expect short
1y-"
Good Lo-d. very nearly forgot"
Middleton interrupted. drawing an
envelope from his pocket. Here's
special delivery letter for you.
Geoff. I met the notary in the post
office Just now while old Jed was
sorting the mail, and he said he
thought you were up here. 1 re-
marked that we were going to stop
by for a few moments and Jed in
trusted the letter to me, so signed
for 1t in your name"
Much obliged to you, Mr. Middle
ton" Geoff stood for a moment, turn
ing the envelope over thoughtfully
New York City" and the jerky but
almost mechanically legible writing
was unfamiliar to him; moreover, 1t
bore no name of builders supplies
house, and except for these and an
coca sional demand for his services
from some nearby village, he had not
received three letters In all his life.
But the doctor was looking at him
with an almost threatening interest.
Muttering an excuse, he walked a
little away from his companions. AS
he slit the envelope Miss Sherwood
appeared at the entrance to the patio,
and he bowed to her grayely before
drawing forth its contents.
Wondering still, he turned to the
final page for the signature, then
abruptly crushed the letter in his
hand ignoring the questioning
glances of the rest, he made, for the
terrace, where he seated himself on
the top step. The somnolent sun
shine Of midafternoon lay over the
garden and shimmered on the waters
of the sound, and the low drone of a
distant lawn mower came soothingly
to the ear, but Geoff read on and on
TO the end, oblivious of his surround
ings Then slowly the hands holding
the crumpled sheets slipped down be-
tween his knees. He gazed out over
the shining blue expanse with agon-.
ized eyes bearing mute testimony to
SaaL torture OF uncertainty and con-