Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21

doorstep when it opened, II master
was out Of the way. Now, then. Lots
of patter, please"
\ VERY rang the tradesmen's bell OF
the little house. After some min
utes the door was opened by a gaunt
woman in black. Avery was sorry to
trouble her, but they were going over
the water fittings. She objected.
Avery was very sorry. Regular in
spection must go through with it; the
| law was the law.
Constable over there. mum. Go
and ask him. If you like"
They were admitted.
IAN the taps, please, then the run
Of the pipes, then the cistern. All fit
tings. Now, then, where's the main?"
lie listened professionally.
"Ah l thought so. Just have a
look at the scullery, mate. Now,
mum, upstairs, il you please"
lie swept her on before him.
Reggie went into the kitchen.
crossed to the sculery and turned ON
taps. so that a noise OF splashng
water arose, and came back to the
kitchen. He called out:
Taps running. mate" And was
answered: Right. Stand by the
main" And heard Avery in continu-
Gus eloquence and the servant grum-
bling.
He went swiftly from room to room
and saw no child's gear, nor any mark
that a child would make. He could
hear Avery arguing about the lead of
pipes and having doors opened. Avery
was not missing anything.
Hello, mate" Avery called. TRY
the main tap. Now up to the cistern.
if you please, mum" Talking. he
climbed.
Reggie stood in the hall. There
was a cupboard under the stairs. He
opened that, saw darkness and the
CLEAN Of eyes.
my dear" he said gently, whats
your name?"
He switched on an electric torch
and saw a little girl in the corner
Her face was pinched and dirty.
I'm friends said Reggie. and
reached for her hand. Its all right.
where's the kitten?"
1T died. it did. It's in the dust, ."
she gasped.
I'm friends" Reggie said again
"Just wait. It's all right
t He shut off the torch and slipped
out OF the cupboard. The feet Of
Avery We're heavy on the stair.
81 say, mate, waste pipes at the
back" Reggie called.
Have a look at 'em, Bill. Have a
look at EN-" said Avery, and held the
saunt woman in conversation in the
hall.
Reggie went out to the paved yard
While he watched the scullery win
dow, his arm slid into the dustbin and
brought out a bass basket. He but
toned that into his jacket and came
back, calling: That's all right, mate.
Shall ! shut off taps?"
Shut EN- off, Bill. Come on.
Good day, mum. Sorry to trouble
you. Duty is duty"
The gaunt woman slammed the door
on them.
A chauffeur came out of the bon
net of his car as they passed him.
Watch it. Watch it," Avery NUT
tered, and hurried on. 1t was hard
work to keep up with Reggie.
He made for a post office. and. tell
ing Avery to get taxi, shut himself
into the telephone box. 'Superintend
dent Bell? Fortune speaking. What
have you got about the Cabots?
Somebody interviewing them at the
Smithson & Co. office? Let him keep
EN- busy. Child in the house in dan
ger of foul play. Yes. Instant dan
ger. I want a search-warrant quick.
Right. At my house. He joined
Avery in the taxi and they drove
away.
mo sign Of the child. sir" Avery
began, but there was-"
II saw the child" said Reggie.
shes still alive. l got the kitten,
too. He isn't" The basket was pro
duced and from it the body of Per
| sian kitten.
Dead, Ell? Did it die natural, SIR"
Reggie pointed to the eyes. No
What did they want to kill it for?"
What do they want to hide the
child in a cupboard for?''
Hid her there when we came, !
reckon"
Yes"
What is the game, sir? There was
a room I couldn't get into. The
woman said the master had the key.
But 1 made out it had water laid on. .
Yes. Laboratories have" The
, taxi turned into Wimpole street and
| stopped. You go on to the Yard and
sec Bell. I've got to look into the
kitten" But he went first to the
| telephone and talked to his hospital
and asked for certain nurse.
| He was in his own clothes again:
F., he was eating lunch when Bell came.
Got the warrant" he started up.
! Good. Where are the CabotS?"
Il couldn't say for the moment.
sir. Our fellows had orders to keep
:, em talking as long as they could.
But there wasn't anything much to
go ON. They do accountants work for
I the foreign restaurants"
THE man who died in kenSinSton
Gardens" Reggie murmured.
| Bell stared. He was in the restau-
rant trade, sure enough. And he was
drug fiend, you said"
! Come on, come on. / want to get
| back to that child before the Cabots. "
| But as soon as the car was NOV
| ing, Bell returned to his point.
About the drugs, sir. What did you
make of the house this morning?
Avery said there might be a labora-
! tory. Burette says they've been sup
! plying Mr.. Cabot with laboratory
glassware for years"
| Yes. | think we shall find a labora-
tory"
! whats their game. sir? Some
kind Of scientific experiments with
! drugs?"
Il don't know"
The car swung in1r Electors Gate
and stopped just k15rt of the re-