Evening star., 1925-02-15

under the name OF MI Joseph brlttOn,
turned into the main street of the
small town of Dredley, in Surrey
pushed open the swing doors of the
Offices of Messrs. Harrison & CO., land
and house agents, and tapped on the
mahogany counter with the crook oi
his stick. Mr. Harrison at once
emerged from his private Office. The
two men exchanged greetings.
II want to sell my house. Mr.. Brit
ton announced.
The house agent looked at his Wis
itor over the top of his spectacles
with some surprise
why, Mr.. Britton, / thought you'd
settled down for life among u.s." he
said, slowly drawing his ledger to-
ward him. You're not leaving the
neighborhood. ! hope?"
I'm having some trouble with my
wife" the other explained. "She has
worked herself up into a nervous
state about these two extraordinary
disappearances."
Mr.. Harrison's expression was one
of somewhat irritated concern.
Come, that's too bad" he remon-
strated. IF every one were to adopt
that attitude. what would become OF
the price of property in the neigh
borhood? Why, you'd ruin us all
Il can't help the price of property,
Mr.. Britton replied, coldiy. We've
no children. and my wife's the only
person i have TO consider in the
world. It's seeing the policemen about
the lane, l expect, that has upset her"
Take her away for a change, Mr..
Britton," the house agent advised
Don't you go throwing away nice
little property that you've just bought
because of a lady's spell of nervous
ness. Give her month at Brighton
and she'll come back a different
woman"
Il am afraid the matter is too seri-
Gus for that" the other sighed. Il
have no desire to part with the house,
Just having settled down, but l have
given my word, and there we are.
Take down the particulars"
II don't need any" was the reluc-
tant reply. 'It isn't a couple of years
since l sold you the place What do
YOU want for it?'
Il gave 1000 pounds for it," Mr.
Britton reflected, .'and they say prop
erty has increased in value. I'll con-
slider any offer"
Why, you must have spent hum
dreds upon the garden alone" Mr.
Harrison demonstrated.
"A thousand pounds wouldn't cover
what I've spent on the place, one way
and another. All the same, I've
passed my word of honor that down
1t goes into your books. If you don't
sell it. | can't help ii.
We'll, I'm glad the other residents
aren't adopting your attitude, Mr..
Harrison grumbled. After ALL these
two disappearances might be cleared
up at any moment. They may be en-
tirely voluntary"
That is precisely what ! have
pointed out to my wife, Mr.. Britton
acquiesced. I'm my opinion, the po-
lice are only advertising their In
competence by hanging about the
place and making senseless inuui-
ries. People don't disappear nova
days except of their own choice"
Il quite agree with you, the house
agent answered. Lot Of fuss about
nothing, l call 1t. VIII you
take a glass of sherry with me, Mr..
Britton, before you go?"
with pleasure was the courteous
response
:: X =
THE two men left the place to-
gether and entered the adjoining
hotel. Dredley was one of those half
urban, half-suburban town-villages
which mock the wayfarer from Lon
don who thinks that 80 miles from
the metropolis should bring him to
the country. The shops were mostly
branches of larger establishments.
and the hotel retained its inship to
a public house. The house agent and
his client established themselves in
hard, horsehair easy chairs in an in
ner smokeroom. The floor was COW
cred with oilcloth, the walls hung
with chrome advertisements. The
Young lady who waited upon them
ffa hnf he
second order for refreshments she
brought out a local newspaper.
After all this fuss" she exclaim-
ed, Bert EndelPs people have heard
from him at Newcastle, where he's
got a job, and Mr.. Lancaster'c. writ
ten to his family from London
Mr.. Harrison pounced upon the
paper.
That's right he exclaimed. well,
/ never, What about it now, MIR.
Britton?''
Il should think that might possibly
modify my wife's prejudice against
full reply. Keep the house on the
books and I'll let you know.
The two men separated soon after
ward and Mr.. Joseph Brittor walk cd
homeward. He was a man apparent
ly of early middle-age, of medium
height, powerful build and inconspic-
nous appearance. He was clean
shaven, with black hair, unstreaked d
with gray. massive jaw, firm mouth.
but curiously restless eyes. OF his
antecedents nobody knew anything,
but his bankers reference had been
unexceptionable and his manners and
speech were the attributes of man
of culture.
The residence which he had pur-
chased two year, before was situa ted
on the side of the heath, about a
mile and a half from the town. 1t
was built of white stone half covered
with creepers, and there was about
an acre of garden. bounded on one
side by long and narrow footpath.
which crossed the heath and led iUto
the town. Mr. Britton looked medi-
tatively across at the rock garden,
which was in the course Of construc-
tion, as he rang his front door bell.
The idea was. without DOUBT, a good
one. The proposed addition backed
up against the thin hedge which sep
arated the footpath from his gar
den. 1t would in time, shield the
house from passers-by.
The door was opened by a manserv-
ant, somberly dressed, and Of un-
couth and aggressive appearance. He
took his masters hat and coat, and
glanced at the clock with an air of
disapproval.
Luncheon is on the table, sir" he
announced. gruff1y.
Mr.. Britton nodded and opened the
door of the dining room. A woman
who was already seated at the small
round table looked up at his coming
Have you sold the house?" she
asked, eagerly.
Il have placed it in the agents
hands," he replied.
She continued her luncheon in 81
lence-a striking looking woman, II
not beautiful, with pale cheeks,
stranpa haunting aveS ond ,,,ooroS ~