Evening star., 1927-04-30

big 'un-the man that hit me guess
his heart was pure all right"
"Why?" she asked innocently.
Because he had the strength of
TO-" said officer Brown, and evidently
this was a stock jest with him. for he
shook with laughter. There's no
other trouble? You'n have to get
some bolts on that door and q chain. "
do you think they came after
me?" she asked.
He nodded.
Yes, and l ought TO be kicked for
letting them get past me. Bullott
told me to shoot, but I've got an
Englishman's constitutional objection
to using a gun"
Apparently he telephoned to Bull
lott, for later. as she was dropping to
sleep, she heard that officers voice in
the hail. and. looking at the plfospho-
resent dial of her watch, saw that it
was a quarter to g. She heard no
more, for she slept steadily till her
landlady wakened her at half-past 8.
Mr.. Brown says you're not to go
by bus or train; he has a ear wait
ing for YOU" was her remarkable
news, and Betty found that this was
the case. Looking out of the window
she saw a. handsome car, obviously
hired. and it was in state that she
drove up to AlbemarIe Court, and
Lambert Stone, waiting for her on
t41e tiny balcony of his study draw
ing room, chuckled to himself
You are sensible after all, he said,
as he took her wrap. II told you to
spend money"
THAT car doesn't belong to me-
she interrupted solemnly. II wouldn t
have been guilty of such a. piece
of extravaganza! But Mr.. Bullott
thinks that, having been abducted
once and a second attempt having
been made, the third time may pay
for ALL"
He listened with grave face while
she tried TO make light of her second
adventure of the night.
That's bad" he said. Young
lady, I'm going to take you off to
America"
Her mouth opened.
Not really?"
Yes" he nodded Were sailing
on the Escorial on Saturday week
I booked the tickets Professionally
last night. You needn't stay in Amer
ica," he went on, hastily. II promise
an. heiress Of you. But you ought to
see our great country. and. some
how, / think you'll come often when
you've seen it once! And a'm max
ing up a party; I've just been on to
LoWbridge and he has promised to be
my guest. I'll even invite your
favorite reporter"
please don't" she asked, hastily,
'if by 'faVorite reporter you mean
Mr.. Holbrook."
He laughted again.
why, that's unkind," he said
Considering William discovered you
William and his questionable
friend. Anyway, you1l Gomez"
1T will be fun. Where do we go
to New York;"
"New York will hardly suit you in
July" he said with a twinkle in his
eye. 'No, we're going up to my
camp in the Adirondacks. That will
be an experience for you, young lady,
and l shall be able to look after you
there, with Latin $500 miles away"
You still believe DR.. Latin is the
villain Of the piece?" she asked.
1--WE all believe that-Holbrook,
Bullott and /. / haven't asked Low
bridge; l guess he's too loyal to say
what he thinksw
On the following Sunday afternoon
Bill Holbrool1 aWoke from his after
noon doZe, struggled sleepily to his
feet and filed his pipe before he went
out and filled his bath His unfln-
ished notes for Mondays newspaper
lay on his table, and he read them
over, his lip curling at the thought of
his own inadequacy.
Padding" he growled. padding
and stalling!"
And he was not for from the truth.
The Brother John murder had ceased
to fill the important columns of the
newspapers and had been relegated to
10-line paragraphs on inside pages.
Newer matters OF public interest
usurped the leading columns, and Bill
Holbrook's s raison d'etre was disap-
pearing.
When he had come out Of his bath