Evening star., 1925-02-15

That is where rumor failed" h
replied. IF L am to take you int,
my confidence at all, l will tell yol
that l am weary of officialdom. Now
suppose you tell me what you hav'
come to see me about, Miss Ian
caster"
Doesn't my name suggest my mis-
sion," she inquired. Ann Lancaster? !?
mot in the slightest"
You have read of the Dredley disap-
pearances?"
Yes" he acknowledged.
, MY father was James Lancaster
the first one to CO." she confided
He went out for half-an- hours wall
on the heath while they were gettint
his supper ready. and never returned.
But l thought that was all ex
planned now" he observed. II though
that a letter had been received from
your father, and also from the otheI
young man who disappeared"
That is where these mysterious
disappearance as the Press used L
call them, really do begin to be mys
terious," the girl replied. II hav,
seen both letters. l know nothing
about the young man who wrote from
Newcastle, but 1 am perfectly con
vinced that the communication whicl
came to us with the postmark Beth
nal Green, was neither typed no
dictated by my father"
Have you the letter with you?" h,
aske ed.
She produced it--a half sheet o
common note paper on which the few
sentences were roughly typed:
MY dear wife and daughters:
Il am in trouble and obliged to Ii,
low for a few months. Do as wei
as you can without me. / have found
some work in quiet spot. / shall
return before long.
"Affectionately,
JAMES LANCASTER"
you do not believe that this cam.
from your father" Rookie inquired.
II am sure that it did not"
Why"
MY father was a quiet, home.
loving man." she declared. 'unad-
venturous and contented. 1 have
been to see his employers. They
Were perfectly satisfied with him
and they scoffed at the idea of his
being in any sort OF discreditable trou-
BILE"
Have you been to Scotland Yard?'
Yes" she replied. They were
very non -committal. They went so
far as to tell me that half the mys.
terious disappearances we hear about
are hoaXes- They took a copy of the
letter and promised to make inquiries
but we are not able to offer a reward
and I am quite certain that they in
tend to do nothing further in the
matter"
What about the letter from the
young MANI he asked.
Il borrowed that from his mother
to show to you," she announced, pro-
ducing another sheet of paper
Also typewritten," he murmured
She nodded. Also, believe, q
fraud"
INHE letter was typed upon a sheei
of expensive paper which Nigh,
have been the stationery of a com
mercial firm of repute. The printed
address at the top and telephone
number had been cut out The let
ter itself consisted only of single
sentence:
ITO Mrs Endel:
Madam: Your son. Herbert Endell
has found employment with a firm
in this town. and desires me to lei
you know that he is well and happy
mo reasons for disappearance given
in either case" Rocke pointed out.
None at all" she replied. 'In m,
opinion, this letter is as fraudulent
as the other one"
He laid them side by side upon hi.
desk, and studied them for a moment
Then he folded them up and returned
them to the girl.
''lf one is to accept your theory"
he remarked, the fact of your
fathers disappearance, and thi:
young mans, becomes more mysteri.
Gus than ever"
quite true" she assented.
What do you wish me to do about
it?"
Leave off DECIDING silly ciphe,
messages and turn your attention tC
something worth while" she told hin
bluntly. Il know a great deal abou,
your work at the foreign office. 1,
wasn't always what it seemed to be
1t was you who tracked down Nicho.
las Green at Bristol"
THAT will do he interrupted. "Tell
me where / can communicate with
you when l get there. shall &c
down to Dredley by the next train
"A gentleman to see over the
house, sir the mountaineering but
Ter announced, ushering Daniel Rookie
into the dining room of Heathside, or
the following afternoon.
Mr. Joseph Britton laid down the
volume which he had been studying
His wife looked eagerly up from the
depths Of her easy chair.
Il hope l have not called at an in
convenient time" Rookie observed Mr..
Harrison, the agent. told me that
could see over the place at any hour
you are perfectly in order, sir. >
the tenant of Heathside declared
courteously. as he rose to his feet.
Il will show you over myself, with
pleasure. The house has many good
points, but my wife desires change
The woman looked across at their
visitor. He was at once aware Of the
spell of her eyes.
''It is really my husband who wishes
to travel she said softly. Am I to
show Mr."
Mr.. Rocke," he put in.
Mr.. Rookie over the house, or will
you. Joseph"
Il will show him over myself" was
the brusque reply.
Rookie fancied that there was a
shadow of disappointment in the
womans face as she resumed he1
task. Her husband, however, hustled
him out of the room. The business