Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18

men. let me know. III see the chief
constable at Maidstone on my way
back to town. Now. look here, For.
Underwood thrust forward the
comedy youth who smiled shyly.
Hes your new secretary. And he's
not going to let you out Of his sight. 4
r Under the care Of Sergt. Under
~ wood, who was firm with him but
not fiissy, Fortune resumed his
tranquil life, and Supt. Bell and
Inspector Mordap lived laborious days
trying to trace the lady with the
heart disease and her assistant.
They billetted themselves in Maid
stone. It~was not their desire to ad.
vertise that the Criminal 1nyestiga-
ton Department was anxious about
the safety Of Mr.. Fortune. They
found the country people deeply inter
ested in the affair. and telling the tale
with picturesque decorations. but
anxious for more information, not
able to give any.
Observe the two OF them arriving
at Mr.. Fortunes gate in the gloam-
ing. Mr.. Fortune lay In a long chair
with his first cigar after dinner.
Sergt. Underwood sat by him, study
ing treatise on wireless.
From the sunken Dutch garden
arose the square shape OF Supt. Bell.
with Inspector Mordan's length in
support. ENTER first conspirator and
second conspirator.' Mr.. Fortune
smiled. Hello, Bell You look wor-
ried."
'em." BELL began to open his heart.
t'Find the people that rented the cot.
tage. Well, any fellow ought to be
able to do that, you might say. But
it isn't such soft job. The place
wasn't taken through any agents, but
direct from the owner. He's UP In his
London studio. He, advertised it to
let furnished. A young woman-Mrs.
John Smith by name, IL you please
said she'd take 1t for a couple Of
months, and paid in advance, so he
didn't bother about reference. He
don't remember anything about her
looks; pleasant, he says, and quite the
lady, but he's pretty sure she was
young. Well. that don't help us.
You'd think some OF the country peo-
pie must have seen folks at the cot
tage. We can't find anybody who
ever noticed EN-. You'd think the car
might have caught somebody's eye.
There IL talk of gray two-seater be
ing seen in the lane some time, but
no one can say when, and there's
quite q lot Of gray two-seaters on the
road
"T'm afraid you're having lot of
trouble. Bell" said Reggie pensively.
1T isn't the trouble, sir: it's not
getting anywhere. 1t looked as IL we
had q lot to go on, and It's all frizzled
out"
II don't know what YOU mean. "a
lot9 Inspector Mordan broke In. wye
had nothing, my way Of thinking.
Find an old woman with heart dis
ease, and a young chap with a bit OF
heather In his buttonhole and gray
two.seater! Might as well ask us to
look for woman with two eyes and
q nose. and q boy in trousers
No. wouldn't say that, Mordan, I
Reggie murmured. II wouldn't say
that. There are points.
Are there, sir? Well, i don't see
'em~ Mordan was peevish. Per
haps you wouldn't mind telling us
what you'd do. Mr.. Fortune?''
Reggie stirred in his chair Wen
have to 60 through with it, he said
well. Mordan, should 60 to an
the chemists In Tunbridge Wells,
should ask EN- II, within the last
month or two, they've been selling tc
any new customers, nitric OF amyl---
or nitro-glycerine. "
fNitro-glycerine? That's dynamite
isn't it?n Mordan cried why, sir,
DO yoaa think they're using explo-
sives2"
Reggie shook his head. You've got
such an imagination, Mordan. No; no
bombs. Nitro-glycerine helps the
heart along. But dare say she only
uses nitrite Of amyl Well, II there's
using the stun, and has d young man
and 4 gray two-seater. I'll see what
Lean do about it.
1T beats mer' said Mordan
angrily. IL you knew all that, sir,
why didn't you tell us before2,,
My dear fellow! oh. my dear fel
low. did tell you! said the lady
had q heart. probably used nitrite
OF annyl, and the boy wore heather. \
And where's Tunbridge Wells IN
that, Mr.. Fortune 4
Where the heather grows. The
nearest place to here where there's
any heather is the hills beyond Tun.
bridge Wells. Crowborougi1 way. OF
course, he may have got 1t somewhere
else. They may have had a. long run
in that car. but if they did. he
wouldn't be stoppin' to pick heather.
Most likely they work from base
somewhere near. And most likely he
picks his little flowers near home. ]
should try Tnnbrsdge Wells. Z
That's pretty neat, Mr.. Fortune. 4 |,
Bell said, reyerently.
ne they ever were at Tunbridge
Wells, they'll be on by now, 8 Nor
dan grumbled. We're a day Or two
You think so?. Reggie sighed. 81
don't think they're done with me set.
And don't think they're afraid Of
me. Ol YOU either, M0rdan
TAAYs passed And one afternoon
! hired or ratified up With supt.
Bell.
Il think we've got EN-, sir!'' Fell
slid. Living in = furnished house
a.. 49, = = ft.1N = 1srSS 80