Evening star., 1927-11-14


lips. 80.
She swallowed few drops WIN uii'
ficulty. and lay still.
Presently Mrs. Wickes' lips moved.
Cant. Francis Newcomhe. close pe'
side the bed now. leaned over her:
"A lydy 'er mother was, an er
father e was a gentleman horn was.
II don't know nothin' abaht EN- eN-
cent she was guverness an e anh
much money. Neither OF EN- aun .
no family accordin' to 'er, an couh'ih
.-,t appened she told the tru'h' pour
soul" IT,,
Again Mrs. Wickes lay silent. Tier
Inns continued TO move. but they were
.o,,ndless She seemed suddenly TO
become conscious of tins, ana hto'ioh'
ed weakly for the flask.
And again with difficulty she swal'
lowed a few drops.
Years ago this was" Mrs. Wlckes
forced the words with long patlSes h"'
tween. "'Ard times came on en-
r got killed in haccident. An she
took sick after Polly came. an the
money went. an she wouldn't ave
charity. an she got down to this, hHc
us 'uns ere. tryin' to keep body an
soul together on the bit she 'ad LETT
An she died. an | took Polly. TWO
wears old Polly was then. There WASH
no good Of tellin' Polly an ave er
give 'erself airs when she al TO go
out an do er bit an earn something.
An, wot's more, If shed known
wasn't 'er mother she might ave
stopped workin' for mean couldn
ave made 'er. 'avin' lost my hold on
'er-an' | wasn't goin to ave any
thing like that Polly Wickes-Poily
lN-l
posies-pretty posies-that "here
yer saw 'er--"
The woman's voice had thickened;
her words. in snatcfles, were incohe-
rent:
Polly Wickes - Polly Wickes-
Polly Gray-Polly Gray 'er name is
Polly Gray. l got the lines an the
birth paper. l kept 'em all these
years. Ere. 1 got 'em ere"
.'Where?" said Capt. Newcombe
tersely.
bly, at the edge of the bed clothing
Ere"
Cant. Francis Newcombe thrust his
hand quickly under the mattress.
After a moments search he brought
out soiled envelope. 1t bore faded
superscription in scrawllng mana
He picked up the candle from the
chair and read 1t:
"Pollv's papers which Is Gods
truth. Mrs Wickes X her mark.
He tore the envelope open rather
carefully at the end. 1t contained TWO
papers that were turned httle vel.
low with age. Yes. it was quite true!
His eyes travelled swiftly over the
names:
Harold Morton Gray EliZ-
abeth Pauline Forbes. Pauline Gray.
90
There was a sudden sound from the
bed-like long. fiuttering sigh.
Capt. Francis Newcombe swung sharp
ly about. The woman's arm was
stretched out toward him; dulled eyes
seemed to be striving desperately in
their fading vision to search his face.
The outstretched arm fell 10 the bed
covering-and Mrs. Wickes lay still.
Mrs Wickes was dead.
Can't, Francis Newcombe replaced
the papers in the envelope, and placed
the envelope in his pocket. He set
the candle back on the chair, blew 1t
out, and walked across the room TO
the door,
Gray. eh?" said Capt. Francis New
combe under his breath, as he closed
the door behind him. Polly Gray.
eh? Well, it doesn't matter, does 1t?
It's Just as good an iron in the fire
whether it's-Wickes or Gray'
Three OF Them.
Twenty-Five minutes later. Capt.
Francis NeNcombe stood at the door
of his apartment. Runnells admitted
him.
Paul Cremarre here YETI" de-
manded the ex-captain of territorials
briskly.
Yes" said Runnells. Been here
half an hour
With Runnells behind him, Capt.
Francis Newcombe entered the living
room of the apartment. A tall man.
Immediately dressed, with a small t,
very carefully trimmed black mus
tache, with eyes that were equally
black. but whose pupils We're curious
ly minute. stood by the mantel.
"Ah. monsieur" He waved his arm
in greeting. "Salut,"
Back, eh, Paul?" nodded Capt.
Francis Newcombe. flinging himself
into a lounge chair. Expected you,
of course, tonight. Well, what's the
news? How's the fishing smack?"
Paul Cremarre smiled family.
"Such bad weather.! 1t is always the
bilge. II it do not leak so furiously"
He lifted his shoulders, and blew a
wreath of cigarette smoke languidly
ceilingward.
"Sor' said Capt. Francis New
combe. "Been searched again. eh?"
The Frenchman laughed softly.
Two very charming old gentlemen
who were summering on the French
coast, and were so interested in every.
thing. Could they come aboard? But.
why not? 1t was a pleasure. Such
harmless old children they looked
not at all like Leduc and Colferre of
the Prefecture"
One more sign of the times" COM
mented Capt. Francis Newcombe a
little shortly. And Pere Mouche?"
"Ah," murmured the Frenchman,
THAT is another story! am afraid it
is true that his back il really bending
under the load. He has done amaz-
ingIy: but though the continent is
there are always difficulties. He says
himself that we feed him too we'll"
Capt Francis Newcombe frowned.
well. he's right. Of course! Leduc
and Colfere. eh? I don't like 1t. II
We needed anything further to back
us up in our decision lately that 1t
was about time to lay low for while,
we've got it here. There is tomorrow
nights affair. of course, that natural
~ We will carry through, but after
that think we should come to fun
stop for. say--a six months holiday.
Personally, AS you know. I'm rather
anxious to make little trip to Amer.
ica. III take Runnells along as my
man for the looks of it. He can play
at valeting and still enjoy himself il
he keeps out of mischief-which
will see to it'-Capt. Francis New
combe's lips thinned-"that he does
That will account for the temporary
closing up of this apartment here.
And you. Paul suppose it will be
the Riviera for you?'
ho nj, r.i1 o. t,ad his Shnlll.