Evening star., 1925-02-13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
of Jane Smith
Continued from Yesterdays StAr.)
By PATRICIA WENTWORTH



Well. the bit / don't want you to
feu any one is this-I mean to say
hs confidential, absolutely confiden-
tial: when I was at the Engineering
School, I knew chap who had got
MIXED up with Molloy's lot. He
didn't get deep in, you'll understand
They scared him, and he backed out
Well, I remembered yarn he had
told me. He was in Molloy's fiat one
night and II was raided. And I re-
membered that he said n lot of them
got away down the fire escape into a
yard, and then out through some news
at the back. Well, went and nosed
about until found that fire escape, and
j got UP Il. and found Renata's room
and talked to her through the win
dow. It's not 80 dangerous as II
fat at night, and go out And she
IN a frightful position--oh. Miss
Smith, you simply have no idea Of
what a frightful position she's in"
Il might have. il you would tell
ME what it is" said Jane dryly.
She found Mr.. Todhunter diffuse.
We'll, she's prisoner. TO start
with. They keep her locked in her
room
Who's they?" interrupted Jane.
Mr.. Todhunter rumpled his hair.
"she doesn't even know their names"
he said distractedly. His voice
dropped to a whisper. It's the most
appalling criminal organization, Miss
Smith. Molloy's one of them. but
they won't even let Molloy see her
alone now. You see. they think she
overheard something. They don't
know whether she did or not. II they
were sure that she did, they would
Kill her"
We'll did she ." said Jane
Il don't know" said Mr.. Todhunter
Eioomily. She cried such q lot, and
ve. were both rather confused, and
ahe's most awfully frightened, you
know" He glared at Jane as IL she
had something to do with Renata
being frightened. IF I'm to take up
this job of mine, 1 have to sail in
three days time. I want her to
marry me and come, too; but she says
that IL she runs away. they'll make
sure; she heard something. and, IL
it's the farthest ends Of the earth,
they'll find her and kill her. It seems
Molloy told her that. And If she stays
here and they bully her again. she
doesn't know what she may give
away. It's frightful position,
isn't it?"
why don't you go to the police?'
said Jane.
L thought Of that. but they'd laugh
1t me. I haven't heard anything. and
only say that Renata was under age,
and that he had locked her in to pre-
vent: her running away with ma
Then they'd kill her"
Il see," said Jane. Then-"what
do you want mo to do?" she asked.
All the time that Mr.. Todhunter
had been: glooming and groaning,
running his fingers through his hair
and depicting Renata's appalling posi-
tionf the great idea had been slowly
forming itself in his mind.
Every time that he looked at Jane
her likeness to Renata made him feel
quite siddy. The Great Idea intoxi-
Gated him. He began to decant II.
Miss Smith, il you would-you see.
IL we could get q clear start--vhat I
mean to say is. South Americas q
long way of"
Quite a distance" Jane agreed.
And II they thought that you were
Renata, they wouldn't look for her
and once we were clear away
My dear Mr.. Todhunter," said
Jane.
IT could take you up tho fire es-
cape" said Mr.. Todhunter. in low,
thrilling accents 'It would be quite
easy. They would never know that
Renata was not there. You do see
what I mean, don't your
"Oh, yes said Jane in rather an
odd voice. you've made 1t beaut1-
fully clear. Renata is in a position
Of deadly PERIL think that's what
SOU called ie-and the simple way
out Is for Renata to elope with you
to South America, and for me to be
in the position Of deadly peril in
stead. It's a beautiful plan"
Then you'll do it?" exclaimed the
oblivious Mr.. Todhunter.
Jane looked away. Immediately in
front Of her was a strip Of graveled
path. Beyond that there was green
grass. and a bed Of pale blue hya-
clnths, and budding daffodils. Two
and-elevenpence, and then the work
house-the ascent Of fire escape In
rho April darkness, and at the top Of
the fire escape q position Of deadly
peril.
"of course" said Jane, speaking TO
heraen in her own mind. Il might
try to Be housemaid, but one has to
have q character, and I don't believe
Cousin LaRtsa would give me one"
She turned back to the chaf1ne Mr..
Tsdhunter.
Let's talk" she said briefly.
CHAPTER Ill.
Jane took down the telephone di-
rectory. opened 1t. and began to run
her finger along the column OF MS"
As she did so she wondered why the
light In public call Offices is so ar
ranged as to strike the top OF the
occupants head, and never by any
chance to iiIumine the directory:
marriott" - ''Marbottle" - March.
Tho Rev Aioysius'-"March, George
william Adolphus''--''March. Mrs. de
Iattrelle."
Jane made mark opposite the
number.
When Rosa Mortimer married
Henry Luttrell March she thought,
and often said, how much nicer the
Luttrell would look IL IT were written
de Luttrelle. IF her husband had
died six months earlier than he
actually did, the name in this i'm
proved form would most certainly
have been inflicted upon an infant
Henry. AS II WAS, the child was
baptized and registered as Henry
Luttreil. and ten years later took up
the struggle over the name where his
father had left it. Eventually a
dauntng her de Luttrelle and Henry
tending TO suppress his Luttreil under
an initial His mother never ceased
TO bemoan his stubbornness
Amy one would think that Henry
was not proud Of his family. and he
may say what he likes. but there
were de Luttrelies for hundreds of
years before any one ever heard Of
a LuttrelI. And Luttrell Marches Is
bound 20 come 20 him, or practically
bound to. because. whatever Henry
may say. I am quite sure that Tony
will never turn up again"
The very sound Of the aggrieved
voice was in James ears as she un-