Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
Thought Of Anything But Revenge and the Story Is One Of
Thrills and Mystery.

the IhleI PUT them III your puG'NSLt ~
Good was fool enough to make 9
charge we should have got i dis
Eyes. And the next time was
called as an expert witness should
have been cfoss-exalnined about these
enneralds and tire Jury wouldn't trust
q word said about anything. YOU'D
never dare put me in the box IL there
had been a charge like this against
me. This little business would have
made an end Of Mr.. Fortune.
Tomas frowned. You mean some
body wants to get you out Of the way,
DO yon suspect any one
We'll, must have made q few en-,
ennies In my time. And more than
know. "
Most Of 'em have been hanged, !.
said Tomas gfimly. II don't think
the criminal population so to Lady
Blanche Turtles. Did you see any
face you knew7'
NO criminals. No criminal name
on her list. But what's that amount
to? I didn't know q quarter OF the
people, nor.did she.
old Mr.. Parvenn gave a great ball
And Of all the fine guests he knew
no one at all,
Hang 1t. your theary is there vas
a crook In the place.
Yes. but the professional crook
don't bear a grudge against Mr..
Fortune. We didn't worry you with
vulgar stealing. y
mo, no. And / shouldn't have
thought the sbeggars who hate me
would play about to get me charged
with theft. Their idea would be
something with boiling oil IN II. Z
k4onlas laughed. Well. ! shouldn't
lose sleep about that"
II don't" said Mr.. Fortune: Good
by, old thing, | don't like London,
Too dificult for my gentle mind. Z
TT was lazy June evening. The
western sky above the woods still
glowed, but the freshness OF night was
on the air. Mr.. Fortune coaxed his
canoe along In the slack water under
the high bank from which the hops
rose in a network of green. On that
side by the bridge stood an old cot
tage As he came near a man ran
out saw him, checked and hailed him.
Halo! I say, do YOU know where
can get a doctor?"
Mr.. Fortune groaned. I'm a doc.
tor" he confessed. What's the mat.
ter?''
my mothers had an accident
fall can't stop the bleeding. / say,
would you mind? Awfully good of
YOU" Mr.. Fortune swept the canoe
into the bank and tied up to an old
alder root. Thanks most awfully.
and we're all alone In the place. Only
use 1T for week ends" He hurried on,
talking fast Lucky to get you Z.
Mother, I've got q doctor.
Come in, sir.
Mr.. Fortune came into low. dark
room. The man stood aside.
Here you are. Z
Mr. Fortune was thrust forward;
fell: FELL He was on his face on
rough stone. There was slamming
thud overhead. He scrambled to his
feet and found himself In a cellar.
Faint light came into 1t through an
iron grating at one end. The bars
were built into the stone walls Of the
cottage. He peered about him and,
his eyes growing used to the gloom,
saw an old and broken stair leading
UP to the trapdoor through which he
had been thrown. The cellar was q
big place. dug out in the sandstone
under the whole OF the cottage; empty
but for a. chair and a jug on 1t.
He climbed the rickety stair and
thrust at the trapdoor 1t held fast
and when he tried to use more force
the stair cracked under him. He
waited listening. He was aware Of
movement and pungent smell.
'sOh, my aunt, he muttered.
And then woman's voice spoke.
"Good.by. Mr.. Reginald Fortune" it
said, and 1t gave queer painting
laugh.
"Good-by, Fortune the man said.
Just off to sink your canoe. =
"Good-by, Mr.. Fortune" the Wom-
an said again. There's water for
you down there. It's hot weather.
isn't it? You'll soon be thirsty. But
don't drink it till you get bored. 1t
has quite lot Of strychnine in II.
Good-by.'
He heard a door shut and locked.