Evening star., 1927-09-25

mustache. In the background re-
mained another man, the model. the
| ideal policeman, in spite of plain
| clothes.
"Ah. Fortune. here you are"' DIR.
Birtwistle cried This is Mr.. Regi-
nald Fortune. Maj. Smythe, our chief
| constable, Fortune"
Reggie bowed Mai Smythe grunt-
ed. You're Mr.. Fortune? The Scot
land Yard expert, eh?" His voice was
Of the orderly room. Il don't mind
your assisting the doctor, if he wants
you"
Thanks so much"
but I'm not asking for Scotland
Yard assistance. dye understand?
Now then. Superintendent" The two
of them marched upon the dead body
hriskly. THE man didn't die natu-
raj DEATH" Mai. Smythe announced.
You think not?" Reggie murmured.
I've seen many man die Of
wounds, sir. They don't look like that
poor fellow. Dirty work here. Wis
senden was poisoned"
Are you going to swear that
Reggie asked.
The chief constable swallowed.
That's the Doctors opinion. too, sir. '
"Oh yes. Yes. DR. Birtwistle's opin.
l0Ii 10 Il very SOOu OpllliOil.
The chief constable turned on his
heel. "Er-doctor, You'll make your
examination and let me know the re.
suit Superintendent. Have the body
removed"
But you're not going, are you?'
Reggie said plaintively.
The chief constable swung round
upon him. I'm going on with my in
vestigation, sir"
oh, yes, do. Several curious fea-
lures"
What do you mean?"
"Welr'-Reggie spread out his
hands-"don't you see?" He moved
backward.
The chief constable looked at the
table, took up the glass. A little liQ.
uid remained it in. Might have been
poison in this. eh?" He peered
smelled and grunted. Lemonade"
mo. Barley water"
The chief constable made a petuIant
noise.
quite so. That's our department"
Reggie took the glass away from him.
Il didn't mean that"
what do YOU mean"
Reggie smiled. We'll, the pen, for
instance"
The chief constable took it up.
What about it? Wissendens own
pen. suppose. I'll soon find that
out"
Its his pen, all right" said Reggie
wearily.
The chief constable marched himself
off
We'll, well" Reggie sighed. lie took
the bottle from DIR. Birtwistle, poured
the liquid from the glass into it and
gave both to the doctor. The super
intendent fingered: He knelt down on
the pavement and cut out tuft OF
saxifrage and put it in the box.
Whats that. sir?" said the super.
intendent softly.
That" said Reggie, lis a little
blood"
The superintendent looked about
him. Blood up here on the terrace?
But he hurt his head in falling"
Yes" Reggie smiled.
The stolid constabulary face smiled
back. THE major didn't see that
Sir
NO. The major didn't see it,"
rs there anything else, sir?"
mo. No. l think I've got every
thing" Reggie followed the chief
constable and hailed him. Major!
One moment"
The major halted and waited for
his leisurely arrival. Please look
alive! I've no time to waste. What
do you want now?"
II want to know who saw the
dead man alive last and when; who
brought him his barleywater and
when; and where it came from"
You do, do you? Who's manag-
ing this case, you or me?"
Nobody. That's what l complain
Of"
I'm not to be spoken to like this,
SIR
"Oh, yes. If and when necessary
But I'm not thinking about you"
The chief constable breathed hard.
I'm thinking Of the man that's dead;
of who killed him; and who may be
accused of murder, if you go muddlin'
on"
'Muddlin'. sir?" The chief con.
stable flinched. Come, come, there's
no occasion to lose our tempers."
mo. Remember that"
Beg your pardon" the chief con-
stable grunted. You were saying
people might be accused of the muir
der. Do you mean anybody in par
ticular, Mr.. Fortune?"
II mean everybody, everybody who
was here this morning. or who
wasn't"
''Ha, that's helpful, isn't it?"
'Yes. Avoid vulgar prejudice. And
begin at the beginning"
The beginning?"
THE butler. He seemed to have
something on his mind"
I've known Hawken 40 years.
He's been with the Wissendens all
his life"
"He don't look as if he'd like it,"
"Wissenden wasn't an easy man."
the chief constable said, with reluc.
tance.
You didn't like him?"
Point of fact, l don't know that
anybody liked him. Hawken was de
voted to him.
They went to the house and took
the butler into the library. The chief
constable wanted to hear what Haw-
ken knew about the murder.
HAWkEN was not frightened,
After breakfast, about 10 O'Clock,
Mr.. Wissenden went to the garden
A -