Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-19

found sergt. underwood in pursuit of
butterfly.
II never hit the perishing things
Sergt. Underwood said. and mopped
his brow.
Never mind. You look jealous
Keep an eye on the hut over there in
the hollow. want to know who
comes out and what he does"
After lunch Mr.. Lafkin withdrew
to his bedroom. The lady sat in the
garden. Reggie went out. To the
west of the grounds of Restharrow a
from the wind. Reggie went into one
of the elms and climbed till he was
hidden. He saw Miss Woodall leave
the garden alone. She turned off the
road by sootpath which led across
the moor. Reggie took binoculars
from his pocket. She went some way,
looked about her and sat down in the
heather. He could see that she bent
over a paper. Ahead Of her a little
dark shape moved in the heather.
Miss Woodall rose and walked on.
She stopped, she drew aside. looked
all about her, and went on more
quickly. She was going into the viii
lage, and among the houses he lost
sight of her.
He met her on her way back.
Alone, Miss Woodall? That's very
brave.y
= Isn't it? Do you know what I
found on the path?'
I've seen 1t. A dead stoat."
"Oh, horrible! What does 1t mean,
Mr.. Fortune?".
II shouldn't worry about that"
said Reggie. He went oil. He saw a
butterfly net waving.
This IS a rum business, sir" Sergt.
Underwood protested. "A little fellow
came out of that hut, kind of gypsy
look. and he mooched about over the
heath. Seemed to be looking at snares
he had set He found a beast over
that way, and sat down there making
brooms. Then a woman: came down
from the house, and he chucked the
beast on to the path and cut off. Very
rum game
Nothing in it," said Reggie sadly
We'll. we'd better deal with him.
want you outside that hut after dark. "
X x x
Coon after dinner that night Mr..
~ Fortune went to his room. He
smoked a cigar there, heard the house
hold go to bed, changed into f1annels
and rubber shoes. and dropped unos-
tentatiously out of the window. Among
the rhododendrons he waited. 1t
was~a calm, gray night; he could see
far, he could hear the faintest sound.
Yet he had seen and heard nothing
when from behind the hedge which
marked off the kitchen garden came
that whistling, roaring noise. Mr..
Fortune made for it, stealthily, as it
seemed to him, silently. But he had
only caught sight of a little man
whirling something at the end of a
and the fellow ran off. Mr.. Fortune
followed, but the little man soon van
ished into the moor. Mr.. Fortune, at
a sober trot, made for the howell under
the hill, and as he drew near whistled.
He arrived to find Sergt. Underwood
sitting on a little man who Wriggled.
I'm a police officer, that's what l
am" Underwood was saying. Now
don't you be nasty or I'll have to be
harsh with YOU"
Reggie flashed torch in the wide,
dark face of the broom maker, and
signed to Underwood to let him sit
up. you've given me lot of
trouble" he said sadly. why do
you worry the lady? She don't like
dead stoats.'
Her don't belong on the moor" "
said the little man sulkily. Her
should bide in her own place"
The old gentleman, too. You've
worried him with your noises. 1t
won't do"
He should leave the land quiet.
Tis none of hisn.''
They are quiet. Quite quiet.
They've never done any harm"
File, fie! That they have surely.
master. They do devise to dip up old
Dragons grave. 'Tis wicked, harm
full thing
1T don't hurt you if they see
what's inside the old mound"
Nay, it don't hurt Giles. Giles
was here before they come, me and
mine, ten thousand year and all.
Giles will be here when they be gone
their way. But tits evil to pry into
old Dragons grave. There's death in
it, master"
whoever died there in your time?"
Reggie said quickly.
Nay, none to my time. But there's
death in it, for sure. Bid 'em so their
WAYS. master, and leave the moor
quiet"
They'll do you no harm. my lad.
And you mustn't bother them. No
more of these tricks of yours, Giles,
or wei nave TO put you III SdOl.
The little man squeaked. "Ah.
YOU wouldn't be so hard. 1 do belong
on the moor. me and mine. I don't
break no laws"
"Oh. yes. you do. hunting these
folks. You ought to be in gaol now.
nv lad. You've made a lot of
trouble If there's any more of 1t
you'll be shut up in a little close cell,
not walking in the wind on the
moor"
May, master, you wouldn't do it
to a poor man."
You be good, then. I know all
about YOU. YOU know. If the Rest
harrow folks have any more trouble
it's gaol for Giles"