Evening star., 1925-02-24
Observation-Disclosures
ofJdne Smith ,',,. B, ,1rs,en RI, |, We rsrrros.a
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr

written. At last he said:
Jane, I think l must tell you
something in confidence Sir William,
as you know, is conducting impor-
tant experiments for the government.
How important you may perhaps
nave gathered from the extraordi-
nary precautions which are taken to
prevent any leakage of information.
Ihese experiments have resulted in
Two valuable discoveries represented,
TOT purposes of official correspond
ence, by the terms formula "A and
formula b. Within the last week
we have had indisputable proof that
formula "A has been offered OF a
foreign power. That is the reason
Tor my presence here. Now these are
1acts Let them sink into your mind,
then read over what ! have Just
taken down and tell me how Won
square those facts with Renata's $
statement"
Jane picked up the notebook. stared
at the written words, set Henry's
Iacts in the forefront of her mind.
and remarked candidly:
II does make your head go round
rather, doesn't it?'
Henry assented Thev botb sst
silent. Then Jane put down the note
book
never mind about our heads going
round she said. Let me go on and
tell you the rest of ii. 1t isn't only
What Renata heard; it's the things
that keep happening-little things in
a way, but oh, Henry. some etimes
thlhk they are more frightening just
because they are little things. |
mean. supposing you know you're go
ing TO be executed, you brace yourself
UP, and it's all in the days work but
II You are out at a dinner party and
you suddenly find poison in the SOUP
or a bomb in the middle of the table
decoration, it's well, it's unex-
peoted-and-and perfectly beastly."
James voice broke just for an in
gtant.
Henry's hand came quickly through
The torchlight, and rested on both
ners 1t was a satisfactorily large
and heavy hand.
She told him about her interview
with Ember at the fiat, and one by
one she marshaled all the small hap
penings which had startled and
alarmed her.
Henry waited until she had quite
finished. Then he said:
| This p-reading-you know. my
dear girl it's CLANCY sort of thing;
IL seems to me that there are un-
limited possibilities of mistake"
Some people are much easier to
read from than others. Lady Heri-
tage is very easy. I'm sure 1 was not
mistaken: she was saying, If she
overheard anything, would she have
the intelligence to be dangerous?
That is what 1 ask myself and she
said, Despise not thine enemy, and
Anything but Formula "A."' Now
Mr.. Ember is very difficult. 1 can't
really make him out at all. His lips
don't move. It's no use not believ-
ing me, Henry. Look here, I'll show
you"
She caught up the little torch, and
turned the light upon his face.
Say something" she commanded.
Henry's lips formed the words,
, sJane, love you very much indeed
and Jane switched off the light.
Henry, you're a perfect beast! Play
fair,' she said, in low, furious
whisper.
Sorry. Wasn't it all right? Try
again"
Jane allowed the ray to light up
Henry's mouth and chin. The hand
that held the torch was not quite
steady. This may have been the re-
suit of anger-or of some other emo
tion. AS a result the light wavered
D good deal.
Henry's lips moved and Jane read
aloud, "A sleuth should never lose it's
temper"
Henry's hand caught the little -shak
ing one that held the torch, and gave
st a great squeeze.
How frightfully clever you are,
and-oh, Jane, what a goose."
I'm not" said Jane.
But don't you see that, with Re-
nata's story in your mind. you would
be looking out for things? You
couldn't help it,"
What do you think, then, of Lady
Heritage saying that Mr.. Ember's
verdict was inclined to be Guilty,
but recommended to mercy whereas
she said that she herself doubted the
guilt, but that if she did not, she
would have no mercy at all? Do you
know, that frightened me almost
more than anything. I don't know
why. That wasn't lip-reading; 1
heard the words with my own ears"
"But-don't you see He paused.
'Let's get back to facts: Formula "A
has been stolen and offered for sale.
Renata, undoubtedly, overheard some
thing relating to Formula A Now,
supposing Mr.. Molloy or one Of his
friends to be the person who is doing
the deal, don't you see that the pos
sibility of Renata having overheard
something compromising would be
sufficient to account for a good deal
of alarm?
L
stolen Formula "A and were trying
TO dispose of IT, it would naturally be
of the highest Importance to them
TO find out how much Renata knew,
and to take steps which would insure
her silence. They would almost GER
tainly try and frighten her-thats
how IL seems to me-"
"Then where does Mr.. Ember come
an?" said Jane. He was there"
Are you sure?'
"Renata described him." said Jane.
~She said he was the worst of them
hll."
"She knew him by name?"
mo. But but"-a little chill
breath of doubt played on James
oertainty-"she called him the man
in the fur coat The others spoke
OF him as Number Two"
But you don't know that it was
Ember?"
For a moment Jane felt that she
was sure of nothing; then, with a
swift revulsion. her old fears, sus-
picions, certainties, received vigorous
reinforcement
Henry" she said, listen. You're
on the wrong SCENT know you are.
can't tell you how / know it, but
I'm quite, quite sure. If you were an
anarchist, and wanted to produce
some horrible thing that would smash
civilization into atoms, how would
you set about it?-where would you
go? Don't you see that the very
safest place would be somewhere
like this, somewhere where you could
carry on your experiments under the
cover of real experiments? It's like
the caterpillars that pretend to be
eticks-what do you call it?-protec-
tive mimicry.