New Britain herald., 1925-03-28

diary - at least so you say" Sir Dudley returned. Look here. Ivy. why can't we run this on business lines? We are both tarred with the same brush, and the tar Is thicker on you than on me. Let's call 1t a deal. I don't believe you were fool enough to burn simon's record. which would be your only real hold on me. I will give you ten thousand pounds for it."
 You brute - to suppose l want your money" her anger rang out. You have got to accept my terms or I give you away"
 Sir Dudley shrugged and. walk ing to the table, poured himself a stiff drink.
 If that is your ultimatum, here's mine" he said calmly. "As soon as you start giving me away I shall lay an information against you for doing Simon in."
 Wragge's complacent thought that the information was as good as laid already was interrupted by movement flashed on his vision from a quarter apart from the principal actors in the scene below. It took place outside one of the French windows of the library, and as 1t focused through the monkish sky-hole on the retina of the de- tectives eye 1t gave him the sur prise of his life. The whole pile of evidence built up during the last ten minutes fell with a crash. For standing outside the window, his fishy eyes staring through the plate glass into the library. was MT. Simon Trickey. He didn't look as if he had been buried very deep, un- | less 1t was in the recesses of a saloon bar. His nose was perhaps a little more infiamed, and his check suit hung a little looser than when 1 Wragge had seen him last. But there was no doubt that he was very much alive, and deeply inter- ested in the couple in the library.
 Wragge concentrated all his at- tention on immediate developments | Did the reprobate intend to rev9ll his presence, and If not what were | the chances that he would be able to retreat without being seen? Mrs Coningsby had her back to the win l dow and unless she turned round the apparition there would remain unnoticed by her so long as 1t pre- served silence. But Sir Dudley haC only to raise his eyes from the woman confronting him and he could hardly fail to perceive tht malign countenance of his former clerk.
 This was exactly what happened In setting down his empty glass tht baronet had to turn slightly to the window, and the detective, watch 1 ing him like cat, saw by the gleam of surprised horror that ht had recognized Trickey. Wraggt could scarcely contain himself Would Sir Dudley rush forward fling open the window and demand explanations from the dissolut blackmailer who had so mysterious ly risen from the dead, or would he conceal his discovery from th' woman who had somehow failed t' administer fatal dose to the mai outside?
 Five seconds later, by the master ly manner in which he adopted tn latter course, Sir Dudley had earn ed a grudging need of admiration from the detective. With perfec composure he addressed the lad, in the only way possible if he wa not to loosen his hold on her b. a revealing her failure.
 Well he said. Are you goini to face the music, Ivy"
 "The shortest way down to th garden, Mir. Hinkley?" he begged There is not a moment to spare.
 The butler gave some brief di rections and minute later Wragg emerged from the gun-room doc by which Norman and Kathleel had left the mansion on a certain memorable night. A few step brought him round the angle 0 the house and so into view of hi quarry. Mr. Simon Trickey was stil lowering near the library window having only withdrawn far enougl to be invisible from the interior.
 (To Be Continued)