New Britain herald., 1925-07-09
16o REID GRMD[<$] MW79 T[5GRW% uEEn HEADON HILL lEaI 3


 first train, so he had said on de- mandins breakfast. He had been absent only two days instead of tho six he had threatened.
 Presently MT. Danvers came out and joined his host at the doorway.
 Things pretty lively in town, sir?" the landlord inquired.
 T found them so," was the dry response. Not much doing in Cheyerel, suppose, while I have been away"
 Nix. seeing as nothing happens in this village in year and you ain't been gone 4S hours" said the landlord. Come to think of 1t, though. you was inquired for by a nice young lady-Miss Larkin. the parsons daughter. If might make SO bold, you're a quick one to make 1 friends, MT. Danyers." Perhaps 1t wasn't me that showed the turn of speed" laughed the man in clerical attire.
 Well, she's generally accounted 9 rapid mover. but I've always held that she isn't bad sort" said the landlord, "She doesn't have a rosy time with her old man, from all ac- counts. Lazy sweep. and as greedy for money as they make 'en."
 Klyne nodded and stepped out in- to the road. Out of the tail of his eye he caught glimpse of Margaret Lathror entering the post office. He was not supposed to be known to | her in his curate incarnation, but he very much wanted to Communi- cate with her, as doubtless she did with him. The opportunity was too goodto be lost. He also visited the post office and. going to the counter. bought some stamps.
 During the transaction he saw | that Margaret Uas in one of the partitions devoted to people who want to write telcgrams. He went over and occupied the next one, at- fecting to hll up q form.
 T am so glad you are back" whispered Margaret, Did you make any discoveries in town?"
 "I confirmed cert ain doubts which had been worrying me-" replied | klyne, vaguely. "I am not tble to report anything conclusive yet. I found out that the man who tried to kill me is still in this neishborhood -neyer. in fact, left it for more ithan a few hours"
 +oI l Margaret.
 And she proceeded to narrate her terrifying experiences with the dog, and with the midnight visitant at ] her bedroom window. But, except 10 say that he had gone up to Lon don. she did not mention Sir Guy or his unexpected return in the nick of time to defend her. That would have entailed disclosing the secret of the priests hole, and she did not feel justified in doing so till she had lobtained her lovers permission.
 Klyne pondered a long time. "Well" he said at last, you had better be armed in future"
 And he smuggled into her grasp a small automatic pistol, noting that the postnstress, who was also a grocer, was busy slicing bacon for a customer.
 Are you really writing a tele- gram or is it only camoutlage?" he asked
 "Camounage. l saw you at the door of the inn and hoped you would see me and follow me here"
 klyne went on to describe his call at the rectory and Adela's treacher- ous letter introducing him to Mir. Wilfred Symes.
 So absorbed were they in the in terchange that they had shown no sign of having noticed that the third partition had been occupied for the last few minutes and that the oc- Cupant, who now stole quietly out of the post office, was the young lady under discussion. Once outside, Miss Adela Larkin strode briskly away, her ripe lips tTitching in a humorous smile-an acidly humor- ous smile. to speak by the book.
 Him 2 detective and never twigged me-" she muttered over and over again, till she passed through the rectory portals.
 And then the horrid thought: Had the male party to that over- heard conversation manufactured it with intent to mystify the caves dropper in the next compartment |? Had he, after all, 'tWigged' her as she stood at his elbow, separated ! only by a paneof ground glass?"
 In the meanwhile the gentleman n who was causing Miss Larkin such sealChings of heart was taking leave of his client in the village street.
 Thank you so much" said Klyne. You have given me a valuable item of information on which I shall pro- ceed to act. Good-by for the pres ent, Miss Lathrop."
 He raised his clerical hat and sauntered back to the inn. T shall have to draw on my ward robe for change Of garments" he l muttered. If Adela Larkin ha, . spotted the Rev. Charles Danvers a, ., Mr. Adrian Klyne the news ma, t have been imparted. It is a pit, that circumstances forbade m, bringing a wider selection, but tn check-suited hounder will have t serve. And think I'll be an Amer ican millionaire"