Evening star., 1927-12-06

wav unceremoniously through th7
rrouns of negroes, and, reaching the
etars covered them in a bound to the
II say" he burst out hreathlessly
as he halted before Locke. wv nat
ever is the matter? This hour III the
morning and every light on IN ths
house-and all those negroes ou'
there?" ;s
Locke quietly. Come in here" lie
led the way to the French window by
which he had found entry into the
house a few hours before, and passed
through into the room beyond. :,
Cant, Francis Newcombe followed
Il saw" he repeated, closing the
glass door with a push benino MIN
whats up, old man..
"Mr. Marlin is dead" said Locke
briefly.
Dead Capt. Francis New, Nsweombe be
stared incredulously. why ne
wasn't ill-at least not in that way
! don't understand.
II was a small room, sort or ad
iunct to the library which led on from
it toward the rear of the house HOW
ard Locke's fingers were almlessly
turning the leaves of book which lay
on the table in the center of the room,
and beside which he was standing
now.
"A belief that he was being followed
that some one was trying to take his
money away from him, turned MN
from a harmless lunatic into danger
Gus madman," Locke said SLOWLY
"He seemed to believe that l was. TO
use his own words, 'one OF them, ano
he tried to shoot me in my room. Inc
household was aroused. The Servants
came. We tried to subdue him. But
he broke away from us then, and in
running down the stairs fell. think
and his revolver went off in his hand,
killing him instantly"
"Good God.' said Capt. Francis
Newcombe heavily. That's awful
And that poor girl. Miss Marlin
"Yes,S said Howard Locke, his
fingers still playing with the leaves OF
the book.
Capt. Francis Newcombe appeared
to be greatly agitated. He took out
his cigarette case, opened and smut II
several times, and finally restored 1t to
his pocket with it's contents untouched:
IT'S ghastly"' he CALCULATED; and
then i'm q slower. more fheditatlVe tone
but with the shock of it over. l cant
saw I'm particularly surprised. lie
struck me rs dCllitS III a liiOtS NA'e~A-
usually peculiar manner all day yeSter'
day. and especially last night, or.
rather, this morning-as a matter or
fact. it was on account of Mr.. Marlin
himself that was out of the house
when it happened. He telephoned
Polly about 4 O'Clock this morning and
nearly frightened slier to death. She
came to my room in a pitiful state OF
distress He told her her mother was
dead. God knows why-except that
it shows how. mad he was. From
Polly's description of the conversation:
during which she had distinctly hearo
the sound Of waves and the sam OF a
door in the wind, ] decided that he
must have telephoned from somewhere
outside. The only place could think
of was the boathouse. Ii the man
was as bad as that, ] was afraid some
thing might happen to MIN, SO
dressed and went out. 1t Is obviously
unnecessary to say, that did not nho
him. Polly and both decided: on
Miss Martins account, to say nothing
about 1t. but I can see nothing 10 pe
gained now, lin view OF what mas nap
pened, by keeping silent"
mo: there could be nothing gained
nv n now" agreed Locke a little
nnonotonously. "As you imply. 1t is
only cumulative evidence OF the mans
state of mind just prior to his death.
"Exactly. nodded Capt. Francis
Newcombe gravely. but, after all,
that is apart from the immediate pres
ert, / suppose you have alreadv seen
to what you could do here in the
house, but there still must be many
things to do"
Howard Locke closed the hook, and
stepped a little away from the table
a little nearer the other.
There are" he said with quiet de-
liberation. But there is one thing
an particular for you to do. The mail
came over from the mainland very late
last night 1t naturally hasn't been
touched this morning and is still
there"-he motioned toward the door
leading from the rear Of the room
ION the library table. There Is let
ter there for you, a very urgent one
demanding your instant return te
London"
Cant. Francis Newcombe's eyes mar
rowed almost imperceptibly-but MS
voice was drawl:
II don't think I quite understand
May l ask how you happen 10 kno"
the contents of the letter."
"I am speaking in a purely sugges
tive sense" Locke answered. his voice
hardening a little. There is no letter
for YOU that know of. I am suggest
ing a plausible explanation which yol
can make to Miss Marlin-and MIS-
Wickes-for leaving this place a.
once"
cant. Francis Newcombe stiffened
hut his voice still retained its drawl
II am tempted to believe that in
sanity is Infectious" he said; "eithel
that or perhaps my own intelligence
is sadly astray this morning. have
neither the desire nor the Intention tt
leave here, and especially at time
such as this when might possibly bt
of even a little assistance to those who
have been so hospitable to me, and 81
] do not require any excuse, however
plausible or ingenious, for going
away.
Locke's eyes rested appraisingly fol
long moment on the others cool
composed, suave face. Well, was j
any cooler, any more self-possesset
than his own? What of passion tha
was boiling within did not show or
the surface
Nevertheless" he said steadily
"that is the excuse you will give. On
of the motor boats is going over to th
mainland in a little while. and you ar
Going on her. / have already ha'
your baggage-and Runnells'-put ol
board"
"You-what?" The red was sud
denly in Capt. Francis Newcombe'
face. He took a quick step forward
his hands clenched. my baggag
cent out of the house-by you
orders.' he said hoarsely. "You'V
gone a bit too far now: my man, an
,,o,,Il explain yourself-and explai
.,ourself damned quick! Out with i
tVhat's the meaning of this?"
Locke had not moved. His eye
ia not left the others face.
There was something strangel
+ennting about that face; it induce
on almost uncomfortable impulse
mark 1t, to batter 1t. to wreck 1t wit
a rain of blows that would not cea'
until physical exhaustion intervene