Evening star., 1926-08-22


him.
The rooms of the Hon. Sidney
Lomas are hung with French prints
Of the eighteenth century. He goes
with them well.
Lomas perched on the fender. Yes.
think we have it all, Reginald he
said. But what the deuce do you
want with it?"
81 don't know" Reggie mumbled.
"My dear fellow, there's quite
enough crime in the world without
eyes. Begin with the facts. do you
| terward."
Lomas shook his head. mot your
usual CHEEKY self, Reginald. Well, the
/ Hartford family--that was your first
| question. The Harfords are old Sus-
sex people. Big place near Loves let
| to Isaacson, the tanner. The present
head Of the house is a young fellow
of 90. His father and elder brother
were both killed in the war. The boys
health is not. good. Lung trouble:
| His mother took him to Switzerland
after the war, They came back this
Spring, II is said he isn't much bet
! ter
| "Why did they come back?"
! "In Switzerland they met an Eng.
lish doctor. Ingram Langton. He isn't
in practice: he does research work
Quite good reputation
Yes. He has a bit of name. Bio
chemistry is his line"
| "Langton and Mrs. Hartford became
friendly. She tells her friends that
he was very kind and helpful with
Wilfrid. Langton said the Swiss doc
tors were doing no good. but he
thought he could. He offered to take
the boy in his house in Sussex and
treat him. So the Harfords came back
| to England with Langton, and they've
been living with him."
"Yes. Why does a biochennist un-
dertake to- treat boy with lung
trouble?"
| Isn't It done?" Lomas shrugged.
| "The mans a doctor. / don't under
! stand the divisions Of the profession
| TITS not usual. Like finding cook
doing parlor maid"
Lomas smiled II should suspect
the cook of being devoted TO her
master, Reginald. 1t has crossed my
mind that Langton liked Mrs. Har-
ford. Not a criminal offense.
"No. She's a comely woman. what
do YOU know about Mrs. Harford?"
"She was beauty in her time and
an heiress. Blameless wife and
mother. Rather shattered when her
husband and the elder boy were killed
Devoted herself to the boy Wllfrid.
| Nobody has a word against her
| "And what happens to the Hartford
| property if Wilfrid dies?"
"If Wilfrid died without making a
| will it would go to his mother, I sup
pose. She's next of kin. and there =
no entail" Lomas frdwned. You're
taking it rather far. Fortune
Yes. Yes. Il think some one Is
| looking rather far ahead"
Good heavens. do YOU mean she is
| planning her sons death? Why should
she? The Hartford property's respect
able. but she's wealthy woman. with
her own money. You're too ingenious,
mot me-" said Mfr. Fortune sadly.
| Are there any more Harfords In the
world?'
THE war wiped them out. Only an
old bachelor. Geoffrey Hartford. some
sort Of cousin. He was out in India
| for years. Lives in Sussex now-Tun-
| bridge Wells way"
IT know where he lives. Next door
| to Langton. And he's next OF kin. Is
he? And it's all very odd and disturb
ing"
What have you got in your head?
You don't imagine this old fellow has
arranged with L.angton to get the
Harfords down there and murder
| them?"
mo. 1 don't ina gine things. But
I'm uncomfortable
well. what's worrying you"'
Reggie blew smoke rings Lang.
ton saved this boys life. That wor.
ries me-"
ua told the story of the Channel
| boat.
whats the. matter with that"
Lomas cried, eff Langton jumped
into the sea to fish him out. Langton
isn't exactly trying to murder him.
Don't you believe the story?"
II verified it. That's what bothers
me. Langton didn't want Wilfrid to
| die then. But e few weeks later VII.
| frid was found in a church near Lang.
tons house-nerves all wrong-strik
| ing symptoms Of drugs-trying to