Evening star., 1926-12-12


would naturally be anxious to break
up their party without alarming their
guests.
A T the end of a quarter of an hour s
reflection Goade had discarded
this and every other obvious theory.
he had to come TO the conclusion that
| there was certain quality of terror
in the distraction from which both
Sir Henry and his wife were suffer
ing, which was capable Of no ordinary
explanation. Notwithstanding certain
misgivings, accordingly. instead of
proceeding upon his way, he turned
back, passed the front entrance of
Pullaton Park and. taking a lane to
the left. reached the house by means
| of a back drive. He left his car out
Of sight and presented himself at the
| tradesmen's door.
Il want to speak to the butler. Mr..
Robson he told the maid who an.
swered his summons.
She hesitated for a moment.
Mr.. Robson is serving luncheon
just now,' she replied. II don't sup.
pose he'll be finished for half an
hour"
"Will you let me wait please?"
| Goade begged. Il have business with
| him"
The girl led him into a servants
| sitting room and handed him a news
| paper. In due course the butler-a
man of large presence and imperturb-
able demea nor--nade his appearance
He showed signs Of very natural sur
prise as soon as he recognized Goade.
Robson" the latter began. you
| know who ! am
"Of course / do. sir the man re-
piled. 1T was you who cleared up
that little trouble for us in London
Just So" Goade assented. We'll,
Robson I came in here an hour or 80
ago with your master, and / have
come to the conclusion that there is
something going on in this house
which ought to be looked into
The man stiffened. Goade held out
his hand.
Don't misunderstood me-" he
begged II am not here this time on
behalf of the law. I'm a private in
dividual taking a holiday. One can't
help noticing things. however, and
1t seems quite clear to me that both
your master and mistress are being
seriously worried
I'm not denying but you may be
right, sir" the man assented gravely.
Il believe" GOade continued, that,
but for her ladyship, Sir Henry would
have told me all about it and asked
and charming person, but he is much
too unsuspicious and too easily led.
I'm inclined to believe, Robson, that
you've got some queer people in this
house"
Robson's inexpensive face lit up.
He became almost eager.
That's what I say, sir" he de-
clared, "but you can't get Sir Henry to
see 1t. He takes any ones word. I'm
not saying anything much against
Capt. Dorchester, except that he
spends more than he can afford gam
bling and racing, and he hangs after
her ladyship too much for my liking,
but I've no fancy for the Canadian
doctor gentleman or his nephew. /
don't like either of them, sir. and
that's a fact
Robson" Goade said. you'll have
to take a certain amount Of response
bility In this matter. You'll have to
sit down and tell me just what's hap
penedshere. You won't run the slight.
est risk of getting either your master
or your mistress into trouble. ! prom
ise you that. / like Sir Henry, and
if | find that my inquiries are likely
to do harm, / shall remember that
I'm on holiday and drop them.
That's promise for you. Now
then"
Al idt iIAAlAALCSs SAI AhoDoOh pa oAh7
ised eagerly. I'm just see to the
liqueurs being served-Johnson, my
second, can do the coffee-and I'll
come straight in here and tell you the
whole story. You'll take a glass of
something, sir?"
I'm take a little bread and cheese
and q glass Of beer, If you'll give it
to me-" Goade replied. II was asked
to lunch. if you remember, but think
that her ladyship got scared of me;
anyhow, she seemed very glad when
| backed out"
u X X
THE butler gave a few orders, with
- the result that Il very pleasant
little luncheon was speedily served.
Presently he reappeared.
IF anythings to be done, it's got
to be done quickly. sir" he confided.
for / fancy that things are moving.
This is just what has happened in
this house: Last Saturday Capt. Dor
chester motored down from London
and brought with him DIR. Scott Bar
nett and his nephew, young Mr.. Grim
NETT. We had known both of them
down at Monte Carlo, and Sir Henry
had asked them down for few days"
rs DR.. Scott Barnett a military or
a civil doctor?" Goade inquired.
y
Robson explained. Served in the
war. l believe. Sometimes they call
him Major and somestimes Doctor
Anyway, he and Mr.. Grimmett and
Capt. Dorchester all arrived together,
and from the first evening it seemed
to me that there was likely to be
trouble. You know, perhaps, that
Capt. Dorchester and her ladyship are
a great deal together-a great deal too
much, some OF us thinks. Anyway,
Sir Henry don't seem to mind, so it's
none of our business.
We'll, from the moment these three
arrived Mr. Grimmett acted as
though he couldn't take his eyes off
her ladyship. and her ladyship wasn't
seeming to mind it, either. Capt Dor
chester, he didn't seem to know what
to make of it at first, but pretty soon
1t was clear he was getting furious.
They were both of them drinking more
than two young gentlemen should. and
the long and the short Of it was we
were expecting a bust-up at any
moment.
We'll. the night before last Sir
Henry fetched met must have been
close on 3 o'clock. Mr. Grimmett was
lying on his back upon the floor in her
ladyship's bedchamber, with a thin,
pointed Italian dagger--one of a col
lection they'd all been looking atm
his side. He was bleeding terrible,
and Capt Dorchester was trying to
lift him to the bed We all helped
and got him there. him groaning and
pale. Bit by bit. from what they were
all saying. it game out what had hap
pened. Mr.. Grimmett had had too
much TO drink, and he had made his
way into her ladyship's room. There
was bit of rope hanging from the
balcony of his room. which cut away
afterward. Her ladyship called out,
and Capt. Dorchester must have. heard.