Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

CISdlQIS NSSAAAl5 SA0S t"S~'
and fair fSir.
To this scene Of peace entered, with
sprightly grace, like an actor-h anagel
to his love scene. the chief OF the
criminal investigation department
the Hon. Sidney Tomas. He ap
preached the hammock and gaZed al
the still body.
In it. one blue eye opened. "Resi
maid. my dear fellow" said Tomas
allow goes it?"
Reggie Fortune sQuirmed, reveal
ing a face Of delicate complexion, and
brushed back his tumbled hair.
'Lomas, you have walked me up
That was nay after-lunch sleep. And
il isn't time for tea. You have nc
heart, Tomas. I believe you actually
want me to work"
"Oh. no. We're doing splcndidly
without you. There's nothing to do.
| only came ever to see how you
were getting on"
THE patient is going on as wei, as
can be expected. but cannot yet sleep
more than "a hours in the day
Mr.. Fortune was, in fact, recover
ing his strength after the blood-poi.
soning he acquired in his work as
medical expert for the crown upon
the historic crime of the abominable
Armenian Comnenus. For his con-
valescence that ma iestic woman now
elist. Mrs. Hamilton Chapone, lent
him her cottage on the WeSSeX Downs
and there YOU behold him, living the
simple life in beautiful isolation
with his own cookt
4 T ten in the sun-lounge that looks
= 30 al do
to the sea, he ate cakes penSlvely,
while I.oman explained how he came
The chief constable of Wessex had
asked him for advice. so he combined
business with pleasure. the chief con-
stable with Reggie Fortune.
Mr.. Fortune sighed: rs there a
constable i'm WesseX?"
He hasn't much to do. or he
wouldn't have bothered me with this.
A husband has left his wife, Regi-
maid. That's ALL
I'm Wessex?" said Mr.. Fortune.
"Nasty fellow"
Il don't know the local rules. but
it's not a crime"
Depends on the wife. Who are
they?"
"AIr. and Mrs. Julian Brase."
"RraSe? One of our good old coun.
aren't they?"
"Oh, prehistoric. Sos the estate.
Julian Brase. heir Of all the ages and
a lot of land, mortgaged up to the
treetops, married an Australian heir
ess two years ago. She paid off the
debt, and they've been living down
here. The county didn't take to Mrs.
Brase.
They think she's rather free and a
good deal too easy. Julian Brase is
a limp fellow-the sort of stuff these
old families finish in. A week ago.
the Brases were due to dine at the
rectory. Mrs. Brase sent note to
say her husband was i'll. The rector's
wife called at Brase Hall next day.
MRS. Brase was very short with
her Said he had gone to London on
business. Brase has a brother some
where near, ex-army man, little
place of his own, breeds Pekingese,
that sort of fellow. The rector's wife
set him on to call. Mrs. Brase was
very short with him, too.
Told him Julian had gone of for a
holiday and left no address. The
brother thought 1t over and then came
to the county police and said it was
queer. The rector's wife seems to
have stirred him up. The chief con.
stable didn't think much of it. but
he put some men on and they found
out that nobody had seen Julian go
away.
'Tou know what a country sta
tion is. The local magnate gets no.
ticed. Julian wasn't. And the Brase
chauffeur swore he didn't go in one
of his own cars. Then the chief con-
stable asked me what to do about It.
/ said: Have the lady seen by an
inspector and shaken up So an in
spector called, and Mrs. Brase told
him her husband had gone to the
devil and turned him out. The in
spector thought her peevish."
Not one OF our good liars. said
Mr.. Fortune sadly. "He was ill. He
a holiday. He had gone to the devil.
'Quite feminine" Tomas smiled.
'Quite conjugal They've had row,
and the lady didn't want it known"
Eyes. Yes. Does 1t seem to you
that explains anything? When was
the missing husband missed?"
Tomas looked at him with SYM
pathy. IL told you. you know. A
week ago. When they We're due to
dine at the rectory, and Mrs. Brase
said he was ill.'
II know you told me-" said Mr..
Fortune. 81 mean when was he last
seen? Who saw him."
"Oh, I haven't gone into it," Tomas
waved It away. Its no natter
Mr.. Fortune sat up. Hes reported
gagement. He's said to be gone and
no enc saw him go. But it's no mat.
ter"
my dear fellow, He had legs.
when last heard of. He could have
walked to Kingford or Highbury-
say, four miles. and both busy sta
tions. He might have picked up a
car on the road. We know nothing
about it,"
That's what. I'm pointing out,
Lomas."
Yes. I see. Quite. But why SO
earnest? We're not taking it up, you
know. I only told you to amuse you
You mustn't let it bother your head
Don't soothe me-" Mr.. Fortune
cried. I'm not an invalid"
LOT course, not" Tomas smiled
ut him with paternal affection. "Ir
the pink. Well. when we have any
thing, you shall shear all about it
/ must be going"
OF which he had no intention, but
~ as he did intend, he made Reggie
Fortunes hospitable conscience smart
and he was persuaded to dine ant
sleep and was promised one Of Elise
supremes and some Montrachet O
nobility.
The dinner was all that Mr.. For
tunes fancy painted, but afterward
as they sat on either side a fire o.
old apple wood. Tomas was called Il
the telephone. He came back hum
ming. Mr.. Fortune looked at him re
proachfully. "You said should heal
when you had anything, Lomas," h.
complained.
"Confound YOU" Tomas frownet
and laughed. We'll, it is some
thing Mrs Brase has bolted."