Evening star., 1925-09-15

heart had almost burst with Joy at the
thought that she was his. And she
had gone, never to come back--gone
where he could not follow this side
of the grave. He would never see her
in this world again.
The thought that Rawdon Wells had
robbed him of her-killed her cruelty
and deliberately in the wicked house
was so strong that Haste cou'd hardly
restrain himself. He had loved Raw
don once, admired him beyond all
other men. and they had gone into the
war together. though Rawdon's smash
up had come soon after.
But now he hated his friend of other
days so hotly that 1t was all he could
do not to spring on him, seize him
from behind. and beat his brains out
on the stone floor.
Something. however, restrained him.
Possibly 1t was Rawdon's limp which
once. In so splendid a specimen of
manhood, had seemed horribly pa
thetic to Ken. Or possibly 1t was
the recollection of Wells word, Give
me the benefit of the doubt"
He had promised to give that bene-
At. and he would keep his word-for
little while yet. Indeed. as his head
cleared Ken realized that nothing
would be gained at this stage by kill
not quite certain yet.-that he had
caused Eve to disappear, though cir
cumstantial evidence of many kinds
gathered thickly around him. If Haste
killed Rawdon Wells he would be
put in prison, and could not work at
unraveling the mystery. That was
the most important thing Of all at
present-to be free!
Without a word he slipped into his
ot~a - 50 >tv,lx L.
ribbon. with It's tag of gay. glittering
fringe, and followed Rawdon upstairs.
There was just one consolation, he
told himself. Wells could not escape.
The stairs led into a long. stone
paved corridor which branched off
from the main hall. But 1t could be
left or entered by a door that opened
into an exterior court, known as the
Dutch tree court" Rawdon, no
doubt, had a key to this door. Haste
reflected, and could easily have let
himself in, to go down to his labora-
tory, unseen by the servants. He
could then have come up by the secret
way. and reached the music room
while Eve was playing. Afterward-
but Kent tried not to think yet what
might have happened afterward. He
had not seen the handkerchief which
Pandora had picked up near the piano.
he knew nothing or that, nor OF the
odd odor which mingled on it with
Ewes perfume. He knew only of the
handkerchief he had found in Rawdon
Wells laboratory. Otherwise. the
strangeness of the fact that Eve
should drop two handkerchiefs. one
after another, might have puzzled
him.
Now i want you to. phone to the
police station at Ardryle Mare. as you
suggested" Rawdon said. Unless
you'd prefer to have me to do 1t. Or
will you wait until we've gone through
the whole house and grounds"
''I'll do 1t myself. thank you," an
swered Haste. And I won't wait for
any further search before pboning-
though search shall be made, OF
course. I'm too sure now that moth.
ing good will come of 1t to risk longer
delay in getting the police
AS he spoke he kept his eyes upon
the others face. 1t had become hard
as classic mask. and did not chanpe
THE local police won't feel them
selves equal to this" Rawdon said
They'll want to throw the responsi-
bility on Scotland Yard. But they'd
think themselves insulted II you
phoned the Yard without warning