Evening star., 1927-04-21

ana feC0g gnlEeu ms IitAie adeSlVu
cough.
Would he go straight upstairs
or make for the study? Invari.
ably he went to his room first. Foot
steps passed the door and she listened
intentlv. was he going up the stairs?
The stair carpet was so thick that
she could not hear, but after a while
he coughed again, and this time the
sound came from above. instantly
they were in the passage and she had
opened the door.
who is there"
1t was Laftin's voice calling them
from the first landing.
Bill swung the front door close after
him with a crash, and they raced
down the path together, turned into
Camden road and did not slacken
pace until they saw the Shadowy fig
nre of policeman ahead OF them,
and deemed it eXpedient not TO excite
his suspicious.
Now where are you going"
I'm going back 10 my lodgings
she said. Il can't tell YOU how CRATE
ful / am TO you. Mr.. Holbrook. But
how did you get in?'
Bill coughed.
"A friend OF ri1ine opened the door.
When [ say friend of mine," he ex-
planned. "T mean that he's a-er-a
professional door-openef with whom |
am acquainted Why did he lock you
up? / suppose it was Laffln?"
she nodded.
Yes, it was Or. I1affin," she said
quietly, but that is all ] can tell
you. Ills conduct is As much of
mystery to me as it is to you.
know only that | was terribly fright
ened, and that when you came
1,o4 T cn4aId haNa ia Hen
on your neck"
THAT wasn't at all necessary"
said Bill, and the primness of the re-
ply brought her to the verge Of hys-
terical laughter.
But why did you come in? How
Gid YOU know / was there?'
II had been watching the house, In
fact, / saw YOU arrive and heard you
remark that YOU would not be longer
than five minutes. AT the end Of five
hours | began TO think that you had
changed your mind.
They walked along in silence for
ave minutes.
You're queer man." she said. II
think l may have been mistaken in
you"
Bill looked at her quickly.
Until 1 know what your first i'm
DTGSSlDIS were. am uOl dulS 10 Ell
tighten YOU" he said.
"Well, / thought you We're bump
tious, pushful, and-rather thick
skinned" /" she said frankly.
That's right" nodded Bill. I'm
all those. If you We're William K
Holbrook you would also be bump
tious and selfsatisfed,
Did you see Lord Lowbridge?" she
asked.
Lord Lowbridge? Is that the
Apollo Belvedere person? Yes. he
came out at the same time as friend
Laffin. I'll bet he isn't laffin' now
What do you mean?" she asked.
"A low jest, which doesn't bear rep
etition." he said guilty. Yes, L saw
Lord Lowbridge Hes the only lcrd
I've ever seen that looks like one;
most of the peerage of this country
are such miserable devils that l want
to pat them on the back and say
never mind. But l can imagine that
uy-gentleman-in a suit OF armor
chasing dragons and Tescuing
maidens and appropriating other peo-
pies castles Now, Miss Carew, he
stopped-"I won't go any farther with
you or I shall lose my reputa tioh. No
man has ever associated my name
with a lady. and | don't want any of
these snooping reporters To go
spreading reports in Fleet street
about my forthcoming nuptials,"
She laughed.
IF ] didn't know YOU We're joking
I'd be very angry with YOU. Az it is,
] can't tell you how grateful 1 am"
Then don't try. YouH he doing
your window-dr dressing act tomorrow"
NO" she said quietly; that is fin
ished.'
Finished today" His head was
thrus- toward her. his voice was
eager Finished this afternoon? Did
The old man tell YOU that? And he
qinched YOU 1onight-gosh"
She was a little bewildered
j don't see The connection, but II
Is a fact that I m not going to Duke
street any more"
Bill Holbrook was silent Ills nim-
bic mind was turning over an accumu-
lated experience, seeking for the in
eyitable parallel.
Where are you staying tonight.
Miss Carew?" he asked There was no
fippanc In his tone now. Bill Hol.
brook was serious and was incapable
Of a Jest
She gave him her address and he
jotled il down on the back Of an old
envelope,
You have money. I suppose he
asked ana, lnONSh She Sn1lleu, size ap-
preClaled the thought Now hurry
home ne said paternaly.
Where will YOU go? You're not
going back she asked in alarm.
lie nodded.
Yes, I'm curious to see what hap
pens
Bill waited until she was gone. and
then retraced his footsteps. Evidently
something remarkable had occurred
for there was a small crowd before
the gate Of DR.. Laffin's house. The
front door was open and in the hall
lights he saw two policemen talking
10 n dsheveled Latin Pushing
through the crowd. he made his way
np the steps into the hall and al sight
OF him The old mans hroWs met
w hat DO you Waut2" he demanded
sharply.
We just come along to see what
was the trouble said Bill,
All the habituai calm Of DR. Joshua
Iaffin had vanished; he was CULVER
3ug. raging fury.
What has happened he screamed.
'1'll tell YOU what has happened. Some
. thief has stolen golden buckle
worth foyl4AeE ths djamsp4 and