Evening star., 1925-02-13

know how long he had been dead.
The telephone bell rang and Henry
jumped UP with relief.
"Hullo!" said a voice--and "Hullo"
said Henry.
rs that Capt March,
Speaking" said Henry.
It's Jane Smith," said the voice,
and Henry very nearly dropped tho
receiver. There was & pause, and
then Jane said:
Il want to come and see you on
business. Can you spare the time?"
"Er-my mothers OUT said Henry,
and ne heard her say, Thank good
ness" with rauch sincerity. The next
moment she was apologiEing.
"Oh, / say, Henry, that sounded aw-
fully rude, but I really do want to
see you about something very i'm
portant. No, you can't come and see
me- I'm one Of tho great unemployed.
and I'm not living anywhere at pres
ent. No. ! won't meet you at \ restau-
rant, either. Just tell me your near
est Tube Station. and I'll come along.
All right then: I won't be more than
ten minutes"
Henry turned away, feeling a little
he proceeded to put away the photo
graphs with which the table was 1T
tered. A little snapshot Of Jane he
kept to the last, and ended by not
putting it away at all. After he had
looked at IL for some time ne put II
on the mantelpiece behind the clock.
The hands pointed to 9 o'clock pre-
cisely. Then he looked At himself In
the glass that was over the mantel
and Strengthened his tie.
Henry's mother naturally considered
him the most beautiful Of created be-
ings. without going quite as far as
this. Henry certainly approved Of his
own looks. Having approved Of him
self. he proceeded to move the clock
back half an inch and to alter the
position OF the twisted candlesticks
on either side OF IL. Then he poked
the hre. Then he began to walk up
and down the room. And then the
bell rang.
Henry went out into the hall and
opened the door Of the nat. and there
on the threshold stood Jane in 4
shabby blue serge coat and skirt
with An old black felt hat. Not pretty,
not ssmart-5ust Jane. She walked in
and gave him her hand.
"Hullo, Henry" she said. Then she
laughed. Or, do I call you Captain
Marchr'
You cail me Henry said Henry,
and he shut tho door.
Il expect you'd like to come into the
drawing room'-this came hurriedly
after moments pause. He moved
across the hall, switched on tho light,
and stood aside for her to pass. Jane
looked in and saw more pink cush.
ions and pink lampshades than she
would have believed IL possible to get
In one small room. There were also q
great many pink roses, and the air
was heavy with scent.
I'm sure that's not where you see
people on business" said Jane, and
Henry led the way into the dining
room
This is my ROOM" he said, and
Jane sat down on a straight, high
backed chair and leaned her elbows
on the table.
Now. Henry" she said. i've come
here to tell you a story, and I want
you to sit down and listen to Il; and
please forget that you are you, and
that I am l. Just nsten.-
Henry sat down obedietly. 1t was
SO good to see Jane again that, Il
she liked to sit there and talk till
midnight, he had no objection.
Now attend" said Jane, and she
began her story.
once upon time there were twin
sisters, and they were called Renata
and Jane Carruthers. They had q
cousin James-you remember him
my darling Jimmy? Jimmy wanted to
marry Renats, but she refused him and
married John Smith, my father, and
when was dve years old she and my
father died, and Jimmy adopted me.
Now We como to the other twin Her
name was Jane, and she ran away to
America with a sort Of anarchist
1rishman named Molloy. She died
young, and she left one dauHhter,
whom she called Renata Jane. I, by
the bye, am Jane Renata The twin
sisters were so much alike that no
one ever knew them apart Jimmy
had photographs of them, and even
he could never tell me which was my
mother and which was my Aunt Jane.
Now, Henry, listen to this. My Cousin
Renata Is in London, and It seems
that she and are Just a much alike
as our mothers were In fact, it's
because Renata's young man took me
for Renata this afternoon that I am
here, asking your advice, At the pro-
ent moment"
Henry smiled a somewhat puEsled
smile Have you asked my advice"
he said: but Jane did not smile. In
stead, she leaned forward a little.
Are you still at Scotland Yard,
Henry?'
He nodded
Criminal investigation depart
ment?"
He nodded again.
Then listen. Renata is in what her
young man calls a position Of deadly
peril In more ordinary language,
shes in a nasty hole. Do you know
anything about Cornelius Molloy?
That's the anarchist uncle, Renata's
father, you know"
There aren't any anarchists nova
days" said Henry meditatively.
was brought up on anarchists,
and don't see that II matters what
you call them,' said Jane "A' for
anarchist, b for bolshevik, and 50
on: The point is. do you know any
thing about Molloy?'
I've heard Of him." Henry admitted
Nothing good?"
we don't hear much that's good
about people-oflcially, you know"
We'll, Arnold Todhunter says that
Renata is supposed to have over
heard something-somethi that her
fathers associates think so import
ant that they're keeping her under
lock and key, and seriously contem-
plating putting her out of the way al
together" -
Did she overhear anything?" asked
Henry, Just as Jane had done.
No one knows except Renata, and
she won't tell. Molloy goes back to
the States tomorrow. They won't lot
him take Renata with him, and Ar
mold Todhunter wants to marry her
and carry her off to Bolivia, where
he's got an engineering Job"
That appears to be a good scheme"
said Henry.
Yes. but you see they'll never let
her 60 80 long as they are not sure