Evening star., 1927-09-25
Nv Why do people commit
n crimes, Fortune?" said
NV Dr. Birtwistle.
Mr.. Fortune sighed.


said old DIR. Birtwistle.
"Conceit." Reggie Fortune muir
INJURED.
DIR. Birtwistle stroked his white
beard. Il am not sure that ] grasp
that"
Fellow thinks ne's a very inn
rortant fellow" Reggie said sleepily.
fought to have more than he's got
Ought TO have his own way. So he
takes il. Vanity of vanities, all is
vanity"
Again DR.. Birtwistle thought il out
"That is very interesting" he said
brightly. But there are many cases
in which the criminal cannot hope
TO gain anything by his crime"
"Oh. yes Fortune groaned. ut
happens. Conceit. doctor. Desire to
show what a wonderful fellow he is
To prove his power over peoples
lives. Some fellows will do anything
for that Conceit. Napoleon and
Bluebeard and the club bore. Same
sort Of fellows" Reggie yawned, and
stood up.
DR.. Blrtwistle drives his car like a
good little girl. allowed to push the
perambulator. Nevertheless. they all
but bumped a youth on a bicycle.
front wheels
DR.. Birtwistle PLAYED fantasia on
the horn and turned the car into the
bank.
The cyclist looked over his shoulder
and called ont: Hey, doctor" tried
10 turn. and fell off. He picked him
self up. grinning broadly. Hey
doctor, 1 was going for YOU. You're
wanted up 10 the house. Masters
took bad"
The car backed into the drive and
proceeded between hedges of camel
has In point of fact" said DR..
Birtwistle. MIR. Wissenden is not
patient of mine"
His error" Reggie murmured.
They came out to a space above the
valley and there. amid lawns and
roses. stood a house Of red stone. AS
the car stopped, an old servant came
out.
We'll, Hawken. here am" DR..
Birtwistle smiled and rubbed his
hands.
Thank you, sir. Would you come
this way?
IT was not into the house that he
l. led the doctor, but away through
the garden.
well, we'll" said Reggie. and
stopped to light a cigar, then made
himself comfortable again. AS he lay
back, he saw a face at an upper
window, a woman's face, framed in
smooth black hair. eager and troubled.
She saw him, and vanished.
DR.. Birtwistle returned. Fortune
would you be so very kind -
I really think this is more in your
way than mine-I should be so much
obliged"
On the other side of the house the
ground fell away to the sea. Along
the house was a terrace with crazy
pavement in which saxifrage grew.
At a distance stood a chair and table,
on which was glass and fountain
pen. Below, on the path, lay a mans
body.
DIR. Birtwistle ran down the steps to
the path. turned, and looked back.
Reggie was not following him. The
old butler and the gardner Joined
him.
THE master did often use to go
there, sir" the butler called out. "He
liked the wind, he would say"
Yes. Lots of wind. isn't there?"
Reggie said, and slowly went on to
the body. "Who found hin?"
"I did, SIR" the old butler said
sharply. when he didn't come in to
lunch, I went to look for him. He
was lying like that
"You touched nothing?"
81 touched him, sir. When / spoke
to him, and he didn't answer, l felt
he was dead. I didn't move him. 1
called the gardener to see no one
meddled. and 1 sent Amos to fetch
DR.. Birtwistle."
That's right, Mr.. Hawken." the
gardener put in. "No one amt come
nigh. And amt had my dinner"
" You can go get it now" the butler
frowned.
Reggie knelt down beside the dead
man. There was a scalp-wound and
the face was grazed and cut He
looked close. his hands moved here
and there, and he rose and contem-
plated the butler. Send for the
police he said.
I've done that. sir"
"Ah, You haven't lost much time"
Il felt sure he'd had foul play"
Yes. Well, you'd better tell them
about it. Well wait for them here"
Thank you, sir" the butler ac-
cepted his dismissal.
Reggie watched him glide away.
''Not one of our genial spirits" he
murmured.
But it is horrible affair. Fortune"
DR.. Birtwistle protested. mo wonder
the fellow is upset"
Upset? You think SOP"
ooh, Hawken is devoted to his
master. 1t must be a terrible shock
TO him. poor fellow" DR.. Birtwistle
wiped his eyes. so mysterious, too,
lent it? l find it quite battling. For
tune. There is so much blood from
those small wounds"
Yes. Very high blood pressure
But such trivial wounds could not
cause death"
mo, no. He didn't die of his
Wounds"
And that extraordinary appear
ance. Did you notice the flush and
The dilated eyes?"
Reggie Fortune smiled. yes. Poi
eon was used. Probably some alkaloid
Of the atropine family
Poison? Atropine? Oh, my dear
Fortune. What horrible thing. But
the wounds?"
"Ah, / don't think the wounds were
Intentional. Just by-product. The
poison was administered, possibly in
drink. 1t was getting to work when
he fell from the terrace and cut his
head. There is blood on those plants.
The poison had set his heart jumping;
he bled fast and died"
But that's bewilderinc.'
Yes, yes. There are other curious
features" He took out his pocket
book and glanced around the garden
and up at the house. No one could be
seen. He knelt by the dead man and
picked several long. dark, wavy hairs
from his trousers and put them in an
envelope.
What is it, Fortune?"
81 don't know. / don't think we'd
better miss anything, that's all.'
Il can't tell you how glad / am you