Evening star., 1927-09-25

! "Yes, sir. Mr. Wissenden used to
make great deal of her" lie hesi-
tated Il beg pardon, sir. Hadn't
you better ask Miss Dean herself?"
What" said Reggie sharply.
You'll excuse me, sir. It's not for
me to say what | might happen to
hear between them. Miss Dean could
tell YOU"
You heard something you weren't
meant to hear"
sir The butler Strengthened.
1--WE been with the master, man and
boy. He knew me- He didn't mind
what | knew about him. I've had
him say to me | was the only friend
he had"
.'Bcgad, Hawken," said the chief
constable. Il believe you were"
Il hope not. sir" The butler
looked at him reproachfully. and the
chief constable cleared his throat.
But Mr. Fortune was less affected,
We'll, what did you know about
hm?" he asked,
The butler turned to meet cold,
searching eyes. Nothing bad he
said defiantly. "He was always
kind master"
yes. And what did you hear him
say to Miss Dean?"
IF you will have it. sir-he said
she'd be the death of him."
"1e didn't say how"
Il did think ii was a manner of
speaking. sir"
"She wasn't being nice to him."
''She used to. Till this year. Till
this young gentleman of hers came
along"
"Oh, The master didn't take to
Miss Deans young gentleman"
IF YOU ask me. sir, it's that that
made the trouble
Yes. Now We'll ask her"
"If YOU please, sir" The butler
Wi hdrew.
Reggie turned 10 the chief con-
stable. "Worked up to that neatly,
didn't he?" he said.
"Confound it, sir, the fellows de-
voted to his master"
"Yes. ANYTHING else occur to you?'
about Miss Dean"
con no. About him. He wasn't
surprised that l was interested in the
barley-water. He had a notion his
master was poisoned"
"What about it? SO have YOU"
Eyes. But he isn't a doctor. He
sees his master dead and bleeding
and he takes it quite natural we look
for poison"
"You sent for me-" a low voice
said to them.
REGGIE sprang up. The woman
was in the room. She must
have been very quiet. And the butler
must have found her mighty quick.
She may have been just outside. She
;c-I, ~ o,.d
ought not to know.
"Ah, Miss Dean" The chief con-
stable got to his feet. "Er-deeply re-
gret-very sad affair-sorry to trouble
you-must take your statement
Yes" she said. and that was all.
''This Is Mr. Fortune, our medical
expert. Wants TO know what you
can tell him about"
About everything" said Reggie
quickly.
Yes. she said again. She looked
at Reggie with dun eyes, neither GU
rious nor frightened, waiting pa
tiently.
Il wonder" said Reggie, half,aloud.
and went on, could you tell me if
Mr.. Wissenden had good health?"
1t was a moment before the quiet
voice answered. II don't know"
cried. Never had a days illness. did
he?"
He would never see doctor down
here. He often complained that he
wasn't well"
Down here" Reggie repeated.
Did he go to a doctor anywhere
else?"
Il don't know"
II never heard him complain of
anything" the chief constable de-
clared.
Miss Dean looked at him with meek
and melancholy wonder.
I'm afraid this is all very distress
ing for you Reggie set her chair.
Gould you tell me-what do YOU
think was the matter with him, Miss
Dean?"
81 don't know"
"No symptoms at alp"
"He has complained often. He
was" she could not find a word
fretful."
You've been here some time. Was
he always the same?"
"He was always very interested in
If things weren't as he
wanted, he was-difficult."
but there's been no change late
ly? Nothing happened TO upset
him."
She blushed. 81 suppose Hawken
has told you. 1t is this year. Since
January. Mr.. Wissenden didn't ap-
prove of my engagement" She
paused. "It seems that he thought
should stay with him forever." she
cried.
"Yes. Yes. And now about this
morning He was quite normal?"
II don't know. Normal-it's so
hard to say He was rather cross and
nervous. He took me out to walk
with him. then he sent me in again
to get him some barley-water. ]
brought it and asked him if / should
sit with him. and he said, NO" ]
left MIN on the terrace, and l never
saw him again"
"You haven't been out to see him."
the chief constable cried.
"Hawken told me he was dead"
said the quiet voice, and the chief
constable snorted
Yes. Quite" Reggie murmured.