Evening star., 1927-11-12

| to which I referred. Socially and
riminologically--if 1 may be permit
ted the world fear that the yard re-
CARDS me from widely divergent an
gles. But damme, sir"-he became
suddenly irascible-"they're too seI'
sufficient! I am a deddering ana IN
terefering old idiot! But, nevertneieSs,
I am firmly convinced that l am rlsht
and they haven't heard the end or tne
matter-if / have to devote every pen.
nv I've got to substantlatlns my
theory and bringing the guiity 10 JUS
ticei'
in an embrassed way.
The old baronet reached for his tum'
bier and drank generously. 1t appear
ed to soothe his feelings.
.eTut. tut" he said, self-chidingiy
.I mean every word of that-tnat Is
as to nv determination to pursue my
own investigations to the end; but per
hans I have not been wholly 1air to
the Ward. So far / lack proof; l nave
onIv theory. And the Yard, too. mas
ita theory. It is a very common uis'
case The theory of the Yard IS tnat
tha man believe to be guilty OF these
crimes of today died somewnersss =
aro1nd the middle stages OF the var.
1Rv love" Capt. Francis New
combe leaned sharply forward on .ns .,p,
arms Of his chair. You uon Say
The old baronet wrinkled ms ofo"e.
and was silent for moment: o,a
"It's quite extraordinary. .a ne n,. say
at last, with puzzled smile. n
for the life Of me underslanu ILL., III" NC
got on this subject, tor l 'i, h,,t vo,,
were discussing democracy-ous ~
- 30 tptnr6Stp ed
ra,That is expressing it mildly. salo
the ex-captain of territoriais earhe..iy.
ayo,, can't in common decency rehese
mo the rest of the story now' Sr
..There is no reason that know OF
,yhv 7 should" said the old baronet;
did YOU ever hear of a man caiieo
Shadow Varne?" . .,s
Can't. Francis Newcombe shook ms
head.
"No." he said.
"possibly. them" said the old baro-
net. 'you may remember the ropoery
at Lord Sections place? 1t was our
ing the war. .,.e,,u,,
"No," said the other thoughtfuily.
"I can't say do. ] don't think ever
heard of It,"
ded the old baronet. "It happened at
a time when, from what you've SAID,
I would imagine you were in the ranks
and-however, it doesn't matter. The
point is that the robbery at LORD See
toms lis amazingly like, could almost
say. each and every one of this series
of robberies that Is taking place today.
The same exact foreknoWledge, tne
hidden wall safe. or hiding place. or
repository, or whatever it might be,
that was supposedly known only to
the family; the utter absence of any
clue; the complete disappearance Of
shall we call it-the loot itself? There
is only one difference. In the case OF
Lord Seeton the jewels-it was prin-
cipaily a jewel robbery-were even
tually recovered. They were found In
Paris in the possession of Shadow
Varne. But"-the old baronet smiled
a little grimly again-"the police were
not to blame for that"
Sir Harris Greaves, amateur crimi.
noloeist, reverted to his tumbler of
Scotch and soda.
i, Capt. Francis Newcombe knocked
the ash from his cigarette with little
taps of his forefinger.
a "Yes?" he said.
ITS a bit of a story resumed the
old baronet slowly. "Yes, quite a bit
Of a story I do not know how Shadow
Varne got to Paris; / simply know
that, had he not taken sick. neither he
nor the jewels would ever have been
found. But perhaps | am getting a
| little too far ahead. l think l ought
to say that Shadow Varne, although
he had never actually up to this time
been known in physical sense to the
police, had established for himself a
widespread and international reputa.
| ton. His name here, for instance,
| among the criminal element Of our
own east end was a sort of talisman.
something to conjure with, as it were
though no one could ever be found
who had seen him or could say how he
got the name Shadow. Some describe
the man. l suppose that is how they
must have known him. of course, but
they were tight-lipped: and even these
L am inclined to believe, would never
have been able to lay fingers on him.
even had they dared. He was at once
an inscrutable and diabolical character
would say, and in this at least Scot
land Yard will agree with me. He
seemed like some evil, unembodied
spirit upon whom one could never
come in a tangible sense, but that hov.
cred always in the background, domi
mating. permeating with his person.
atty the criminal world"
But IL this Is so, il no one knew
| him. or had even seen him." said the
eX-captain OF territorials, in a puzzled
way. how was he recognized as Shad-
ow Varne in Paris?"
II am coming to that said the old
baronet quietly. "As you know very
IN los tlxAxx -,