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

COIISuiI LuIc. lie
sighed and went into the anteroom
Miss Isabel Woodall stood up. g
woman who had been younger, still
dcmurely handsome. She was large
and fair, but SO plainly and darkly
dressed that she made little of her
self. Mr. Fortune?" she asked.
Yes. I'm afraid you didn't know
that I'm not in practice now"
But l didn't come to see you-er-
medically. I'm not i'll. 1 wanted to
consult you about a mystery"
oh. l never go into a mystery ex
cept with the police, Miss Woodall. 81
The police won't do anything,
They laugh at u.s. She twisted her
handkerchief I'm frightfully wor.
riod. Mr.. Fortune. And don't know
what to do" She looked at him with
large, anxious eyes. do you mind
hearing about it,"
Reggie Fortune decided that he did
not mind. He opened the door of
his consulting room.
I'm Mr.. Larkin's secretary" she
explained. mir. Joseph Larkin; do
YOU know him."
The antiquary?" Reggie Fortune
murmuerd.
"Archeologist. Miss Woodal cor
rected him. He's the greatest all-
thority on the Stone Age in England,
Mr.. Fortune. He has a house down
in Dorsetshire. just on the border of
the New Forest country. Restharrow.
stoke Abbas." AS she seemed to ex.
rect il Reggie made a note. I've
been working with him down there.
Eut lately It's been horrible, Mr..
fortune" Her voice went up. LAS
il somebody wanted to drive me
away"
Yes. Now suppose we begin at
the beginning. How long have you
been Mr.. Larkin's secretary?'
oh, more than six months now. j"
And nobody was ever horrible to
you before"
She stared at him. "Of course not.
What do you mean, Mr.. Fortune?
You don't think it's Mr.. Larkin, do
you?"
Il haven't begun to think" said
Reggie. well. you lived a peaceful
life till you became Mr.. Larkin's sec
rotary. And them"
"Oh. yes. and long after that. 1t
was all quite peaceful while we were
in London. But in the Spring Mr.
Larkin took this house at Stoke Alb
has. Mr.. Larkin wanted to study the
prehistoric remains about there.
There's lots of them-ancient earth
works and burial places"
Yes. Several long barrows on the
hills"
That's it. Mr.. Fortune" she said.
"Mr Larkin has been making plans
to excavate the long barrow above
Stoke Abbas."
Reggie smiled.
You see, there isn't anything def
mite" she continued. IT'S as if some
one was working against me; as if
some one wanted to hurt me. I'm
being followed, Mr.. Fortune. When
ever go out alone. I'm followed"
Reggie sighed. "Who follows you?"
he said YEARLY.
But 1 don't know! Only I'm sure
there is somebody. I'm being
watched"
why should anybody watch you.
Miss Woodall?"
That's what I want to know" she
cried. But somebody does. Mr.. For
tune. I've heard him."
"Oh, YOU are sure it's man." Reg
gle smiled.
You don't believe me. do you?"
Miss Woodall was growing angry with
Aim. That isn't all. When l go out
alone. | find dead animals. I've found
two crows and another bird-a Jay. |
think ii was-and a weasel. Horn-
HE" She shuddered. They were
very dead. Just on the path where l
was walking"
Yes, that's very interesting said
Reggie. Yes, I'll look into it, Miss
Woodall."
IN the next day he sat down to
~ lunch in that one of his CLUBS.
The chief of the criminal lnVesuga-
ton department saw him and trlpped
across to his table They engaged
upon a profound discussion whether
the herring when picked is the better
for cloves. I'm the delights of your
conversation, Reginald" the Hon. Sid
ney Tomas protested at last. I'm for
Getting that | wanted to speak to you
\ quaint old bird came to me TINS
movning-one Joseph Larkln, an ar
,Ioniet He Sai,i---'
He said" Reggie interrupted, that
he wanted to eXcaVate long barrow
ut Stoke .Abhas and somebody was IN
lerferin' with the progress. and no
l,plv loved him. and what are the po-
lice for. anyway? Is that right. SIR
How Go you do it. Reginald? Mes
sa@es from the spirit world or just
thought reading"
Reggie smiled. NO magic. The lalr
isabel told me her sorrow
'Thut's Miss Woodall. The score
tarv? She came to you. did she? The
old hoy didn't tell me that.
wen. the fair Isabel didn't tell me
Joseph WAS going to you.
The two men looked at each other.
Curious lack of confidence about
them" said Lomas.
Yes. Several curious points. Well.
what's Joseph's story? Is he followed
whcn he goes out alone? Find dead
animals in the path?
NO carcasseS for him. They're
kept for Miss Wuodall. He's followed.
lie hears strange noises at night.
They come from outside the house.
Isabel didn't mention noises, leg
re nuvrlurtd.
NO. The old boy said she hadn't
heard them. and he didn't want to
worry her. tor she was worried quite
enough. lie seems rather gone on his
lair secretary. What did you make
- her. Reginald"
shes got the wind up. all right.
And she wasn't born Yesterday.
Queer case.
Joseph is a man of means. said
Lnmd>. isabel came To him six
months ago. Very highly qualified.
he says. Classical scholar. Woman
in a thousand for his job"
Reggie smiled. His job. My dear
fellow. he hasn't got a job. He's only
:, crank. He's always fuSsing round
here there and everywhere. Why is
hc 80 mighty keen on this particular
long harrow? Why is Isabel so
mighty nervous about being followed?
She's no chicken and no fool
II don't know what you're getting
Ia kecinald" LomaS frowned
Nor do l. That's what worries
mo. want to go and look at Stoke
Ahbas Let me have Underwood.
IN the morning his car picked up
Sergt Underwood and bore that
officer away on the Southampton
road. They were rushing the hill to
,:.cshot before he spoke 10 Under.