Evening star., 1926-10-03
By II. G.. Bailey
Reggie Again

the valet?" Bell said. 1T turns on
! him to my mind. He's the evidence
| the door was locked and the key in
side"
You heard him. He sounded
straight. He hasn't been long with
Douty. I got his last character over
the telephone. Quite all right. Wen
see anything against him. Like to
see Mr.. kiderlin, doctor?"
Yes" said Reggie.
| Mr.. Kiderlin came, WiSp of man
with n big head and nervous man
ner.
MY names Fortune, Mr.. Kiderlin, "
| Reggie said gently. Il want to know
| if you can help me in this case
Mr. Fortune? l am very glad A
smile passed over the thin, pale lips.
Now that you take the case, every
thing will be done for poor Mr..
Douty"
| Reggie frowned. You knew him
| we'll, Mr.. Kiderlin. / wonder if you
can think of any cause for his sudden
death?"
II? There was much in Mr.. Douty' :
life that I did not know. He worked
very hard He was fond of pleasure.
Sometimes nature exacts a penalty. |
can only think that. But / am not
a doctor"
Reggie Fortune still frowned.
"Youre a man of science. Mr.. kider-
lin. Does nothing else occur 20 you?
l am doctor. and I'm not satisfied y
I'm only chemist" Mr.. kiderlin
spread out his hands. 1T does not
help Mr.. Douty was full of vigor
last night and this morning-dead.'
Some ragging last night, wasn't
there" Inspector Barton broke in.
1111 l1a% I, a f0 rot
it from the servants. Douty ragged
you"
Mr. kiderlin laughed nervously.
"Ragging? But it was nothing. There
was some noise, perhaps. Mr.. Douty
was very jovial. 1t was his way. 1t
happened so often"
"Oh, he often ragged you, did he?''
Barton glared.
when we were in high spirits there
was often good fun
I'VE need not trouble Mr.. Kiderlin
any further, Inspector" said Reggie
Fortune. Mr. Kiderlin bowed his way
out.
"Well. what about the other man."
asked Reggie.
Mr.. Sandbach was a tall, bent, old
fellow, whose clothes and skin hung
loosely. He had really nothing to say
which he had not told Inspector Bar
ton. And his hands plucked at his
knees.
MIR. Douty hadn't been i'll in any
way" Reggie asked.
NO. Mr.. Douty had quite good
health. a bad head now and then, of
course. Mr.. Douty was rather fond of
pleasure, you see
Had he any enemies, Mr.. Sand
bach?"
mo. That is to say. he had his dis
agreements in business. But no per
sonal feeling, none at all"
THERE was silence Then Reggie
said: can you tell me anything
about this ragging last night?"
"Ragging?" Mr.. Sandbach echoed:
But there was nothing. We were all
very merry. Mr.. Douty was in great
Spirits
Have you told me everw:hing"'
Reggie said sadly. You were all
very jolly and happy, then you all
went to bed-and John Douty died in
the night You can't add anything
to that at all?"
Mr.. Sandbach looked at him as
though trying to discover what he
meant. NO, really, 1 uont think |
can, sir"
did you hear anything in the
HlSnL. INSSSlc HiA1h'S'
Mr.. Sandbach's hands clenched on
his knees. 'I--well. l did fancy l
heard a sort of a cry. But I'm not
sure. you see. l hardly like to men
ton it,
did it wake you?"
I'm sure I couldn't say. l may
only have been dreaming. It's all
very vague to me-"
What time was it?'
well, there again I couldn't say.
Everything was dark, I'm sure. But
its all confused in my mind"
1T seems to be- said Barton.
you'd better he frank with us, Mr..
Sandbach."
But I'm trying to be, indeed am,
sir
Il shouldn't wonder If you have to
try again"
"ThatI do, Barton" said Bell.
watching Mr.. Fortune.
II won't keep you any longer now,
Mr.. Sandbach," Reggie said. TRY to
make sure what you really know"
And Mr.. Sandbach SUNK out, twist
ing his hands.