Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-06

matter of the girl. DO you know her?"
Every one knows her. She is the
beauty of the neighborhood-a real
beauty, Holmes; who would draw at.
tention everywhere. I knew that Nc
Pherson was attracted by her, but /
had no notion that it had gone so far
as these letters would seem to indi-
cate"
But who is she?"
''She is the daughter of old Tom
Bellamy, who owns all the boats and
bathing cots at Fulworth. He was
fisherman to start with, but is now
man of some substance. He and his
son William run the business"
shall we walk into Fulworth and
see them?"
ION what pretext?"
ooh, we can easily find a pretexti
After all, this poor man did not ill-use
himself IN this outrageous way. Some
human hand was on the handle of that
scourge, if indeed it was a scourge
which inflicted the injuries. His cir
Gle of acquaintance in this lonely
place was surely limited. Let us fol-
low it up in every direction and we
can hardly fail to come upon the mo-
tive, which in turn should lead us to
the criminal"
TT would have been a pleasant walk
across the thyme scented downs had
our minds not been poisoned by the
tragedy we had witnessed. The viii
1age of Fulworth lies in a hollow curv-
ing in a semicircle round the bay.
Behind the oldfashioned hamlet sew
eral modern houses have been built
upon the rising ground. 1t was to, one
of these that Stackhurst guided me-
called it. The one with the corner
tower and slate roof. Not bad for
man who started with nothing but
BY jove, look at THAR
The garden gate of the Haven had
opened and man had emerged. There
was no installing that tall, angular,
struggling figure. 1t was Ian Muir
doch, the mathematician. A moment
later we confronted him upon the
road.
"Hullow said Stackhurst. The man
nodded, gave us a sideways glance
from his curious dark eyes, and would
have passed us, but his principal
pulled him up.
What were you doing there?" he
asked.
Murdoch's face flushed with anger.
II am your subordinate, sir under your
roof. / am not aware that I owe you
any account of my private actions"
Stackhurst's nerves were near the
surface after all he had endured.
Otherwise perhaps he would have
waited. Now he lost his temper COM
pletely.
Under the circumstances your an
swer is pure impertinence, Mr.. Muir
/ doch.'
your own question might perhaps
come under the same heading"
This is not the first time that
have had to overlook your insubordi-
nate ways, 1t will certainly be the
last. You will kindly make fresh ar
rangements for your future as speed
lily as you can"
II had intended TO do So l have
lost today the only person who made
the Gables habitable.'
He strobe off upon his way, while
Stackhurst, with angry eyes, stood
| glaring after him. us he not an i'm
| possible. intolerable man. he cried.
The one thing that impressed itself
forcibly upon my mind was that Mr..
| Ian Murdoch was taking the first
| chance to open path of escape from
| the scene of the crime. Suspicion.
| vague and nebulous, was now begin
| ming to take outline in my mind. Per-
| haps the visit to the Bellamys might
| throw some further light upon the
| matter. Stackhurst pulled himself to.
gether and we went forward to the
| house.
Mr.. Bellamy proved to be middle
| aged man with a flaming red beard.
| He seemed to be in very angry mood,
! and his face was soon as ford as his
| hair.
| mo. sir, do not desire any par
= ticulars. My son here--indicating a
powerful young man with heavy,