Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-13

q
in India. He had governed province
was now, in retirement, the recog-
nized repository for all family secrets.
and the accepted standby I'm family
quarrels, alliances and disasters. He
had rooms in st. James street and q
cottage at Layton Sudbury. His
tastes were music, golf and Indian
history. He was a widower of many
years standing, and Lacy was his
only child.
His large, cleans shaver face was
grave as he talked with his son.ir.
law in a comfortable, shabby room
which had a great many books in it.
"Of course" Sir Henry said medi-
lively, "as far as the personal factor
goes, stand right outside the prob
lem. I think the Laydon boys were
about ~ when I saw them last, and
I've no real recollection of what they
looked like"
IT'S just as well-yes, it's just
as well. You say you and Lacy can't
find anything to take hold of"
Manning struck his knee; the
swinging foot shot out.
HE has me beat" he said. don't
mind saying so. Honestly, sir, he
makes my head go round. It's al
ways We did this and We did that.
Then II you press him, he'll say Jack
Laydon did so and So or Jim Laydon
went somewhere else.' You can't get
past it.
II went with him to the War ONCE
this morning. They put him through
his PAGES pretty sharply. and he
didn't turn a hair. 1t seems four Of
them went up that day-the two Lay.
dons, Jim Field and a man called
Thursley. Thursley was the only one
who came back. Well, they got Thurs
ley on the phone-he's at Farnbor-
ough-and he came up. They didn't
tell Laydon Of course-sent us to wait
in another room. After an abomina-
bly, long time they had us in-room
full Of people, bad light, beastly fog.
Well, Laydon took a good look
around; then he walked across the
room. clapped Thursley on the shout
der and said--'Hullo! Hulloi Where
did you spring from. Jobbles? Sensa-
ton in court; the blushing Thursley
explaining to a lot of brass hats that
Jobbles was a nickname of his un-
regenerate youth. He didn't like It a
bit. After that they wanted to know
whether he recognized Layton as
either Jack or Jim.
Manning shrugged his shoulders.
HE got ratified, and hedged for all
he was worth--said it might be Jack,
three stone heavier: and then again
it might just as easily be Jim. only
his voice was different. When they
he said he didn't know, and got
frightfully tied up-a perfectly hope
less witness. I.aydon never turned
a hair the whole time. We put in
Anna BUNS statement and came
away. You've got your copy?"
Sir Henry nodded.
us there anything that strikes you
speciality"
Sir Henry took out sheaf Of type
written pages, turned the leaves, and
pat a large, white forefnger down in
the middle of a line.
Eyes, he said, "the identity disc.
She mentions 1t specially, I see-says
she put it with his clothes at the edge
of the stream above the fall. What
happened to it,"
ought to send some one down to make
inquiries on the spot"
yes" said Sir Henry, Certainly"
The large finger jabbed the page
again; the rather colorless eyes looked
mildly at Manning. Yes, certainly.
But hasn't it occurred to you. my boy.
that this Anna Blum must have seen
the name on the disc? She took it off
him, handled it-she must have seen
the name"
"She says she didn't. / put the point
to her when we had her over to get
her statement properly, taken down;
it occurred to me at once, and I rather
urged it. She only said the light was
ho eI IN, Of
ing the name. When I pressed her
she shrugged her shoulders and came
out with Ma, Herr Major. do you not
think had enough on my mind with
out prying into matters that did not
concern me? Why should I care what
his name was? For all knew, he was
going to die. And whether he lived or
died, it was likely enough to be a
stone Wall and some German bullets
for me, as you yourself have said. tt
seemed to me that already knew too
much And when you come to think
of it, sir, she wasn't far wrong"
Sir Henry turned the pages on his
knee, nodded, and folded the papers
again.
well" he said, we've been talk.
ing about every one except the one
person who matters most. We've got
to consider Evelyn's position, you
know, Monkey. What exactly have
you done about Evelyn"
ri wrote from Co1ogne-said / was
coming over and wanted to see her
and I've had a wire to say she is get
ting back to her fiat tonight. I've
written and told her what's happened;
and irlclosed copy Of Anna Blum S
statement"
you've written" There was
shade of surprise in Sir Henry's voice
Manning pulled viciously at his mus
tache.
yes" he said. "Evelyn1I get 1t