Evening star., 1925-07-05

reading across to his wife and
- stood upon the hearthrug of
the somewhat Veterinarians
ing drawing room, scowling. They
had settled down for a few months
in a remote corner of Surrey.
Read that, Judith" he invited.
She read the paragraph aloud.
"One thousand pounds reward will
be paid for any information as to the
present whereabouts of Sir Joseph
Londe, bart. late of Melbourne, Aus
tralia, surgeon-major in his majesty S
forces. Apply Box III, offices of this
journal"
why, that must mean you,
Joseph" she exclaimed. Somebody
seems TO want you very badly"
Somebody wants me- he repeated
course. 1t is that arch lunatic in this
world of lunatics. Daniel Rookie. /
know what he wants, too. lie wants
TO hang me-"
How ridiculous"' she murmured.
"Are people ever hanged nowadays
You have not much intelligence,
Judith" he went on, but YOU are
beautiful, and that's all that matters
with you. But think OF the horror OF
the situation for me"
Don't think of 1t, dear. she
clever for them"
He nodded assentinG!y.
But mad people are sometimes
very cunning. Not mad people like
YOU" he continued, after q moment S
pause, but man like Griggs. l
have come 10 the conclusion that he
is no longer trustworthy. L nave
made most interesting experiment
upon him.
Poor Griggs!' she sighed. w nat
have you done?'
II have closed up the other cells
in his mind" Londe contided. He
is now not only mad but hopeless
imbecile."
What fun she exclaimed. 81
must see him at once"
You will be very interested, "
Londe assured her.
HE rang the bell and waited. A
into his face. Griggs, pale-faced,
stout. of unpleasant appearance,
stumbled in. He was carrying a
small bunch of flowers.
Thou didst ring, my liege," he
bawled
What are you doing with those
rubbishy t1owers?' his master de,
manded.
"Rubbishy. Why, they are carna.
tions fair. for Phyllis Dare, the fat
man warbled. "As a matter of fact,
he went on, confidentially, Harry
Tate and Marie Lloyd are lunching
with me in the kitchen to meet the
mother-in-law of the President of the
United States
Capital" Londe murmured. You
had better go and attend to your
guests now" he enjoined kindly
Present my compliments and best
wishes to all.
Aye. aye, my master mariner!
He departed. Londe looked vain
gloriously toward his wife.
Judith laughed immoderately, laugh
ed till the tears stood in her eyes
Londe waited patiently for her YER
dict.
And you call me soft"' she ex
claimed. mockingly.
What do you mean?" he asked sus
piciously.
Mean! Why, a special ward case
could tell that Griggs isn't mad at all,
she declared. He was shamming al
the asylum where he used to look after
us l heard il often myself"
"If l believed thatH' he muttered.
Pooh, she scoffed. Il may be soft
and silly, but even l could see that
he was acting. Follow him downstairs
in a few minutes, Joseph
Griggs, on his return to the kitchen
seated himself at the table and re
sumed the letter from which his mas
ters bell had summoned him. He read
It over as far as he had gone:
"Honored Sir:
Replying to your ad in the Times
can put you on TO Londe and shall be
glad to handle the thousand quid.
Il know all about him, for l was his
Warder in Chigwell Asylum, and 1 am
now in his service, also my wife.
was with him at the house in Sails
bury Plain and helped him TO trick the
cops. If / give you the office now
The pen seemed suddenly TO become
wax in his fingers and a great feaI
went through him, like the shiver OF
death. He had heard no footsteps, yet
he knew that he was not alone. He
made an effort. Useless. There was
quick kissing sound, a faint cloud OF
Vapor-and the strength went from
his limbs like the last gasp from ar
empty soda-water syphon.
You feel as though you were going
to die" Londe observed. But you are
not-nct, at any rate, until I say the
word
Give me something" the mar
groaned. Il am dying"
Londe felt his pulse.
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