Evening star., 1927-09-25
THE QUIET LADY
By III. C.. Bailey

"You didn't take him anything but
the glass of barley-water?''
mo, 1 didn't she said quickly.
Nothing at ALL"
ANYTHING else now" Reggie moved
to open the door, but she was before
him and went as silently as she had
come.
Yes. quiet lady" said Reggie.
.'Heartless wench Wissenden
treated her like a daughter. She
knows all about it. Fortune"
Il wonder. There was something
else. YOU know
"What's that?"
Something that nobody allowed for,
when Wissenden was killed. The
wind"
What do you mean"
Don't YOU see? And / showed
you his PEN His pen was there, it
was open, but there was no paper"
my word. he'd been writing. and
the paper blew away" The chief
constable started up That's pretty
smart. Fortune. I'll have a search
made at once"
well, we were meant to think he'd
away. Don't worry. / inferred that
we were meant to find document.
So l did. Here it is"
THE chief constable read, and blood
l. came to his face
The drink Lily Dean brought
me. l know l am dying. :.
Lily Dean . She has"
He stared at Reggie. "He knew.
Poor old Wissenden! What a woman"
"Is it his wrting?" said Reggie.
The chief constable was startled.
What do YOU mean? 1t must be his.
couldn't swear to it. but / think
it's his. Rather a scrawl. of course.
But it's like"
1T would be-"
"Well, it's easily settled Hawken
con tell u.s.
Yes. There is something l want
to ask Hawken. But not that. I
don t know if Hawken is handwrit-
ing expert, but he may know. Don't
say anything about it to Hawken. We
can verify the writing elsewhere. I'd
like 10 have few words with Wissen-
den's solicitor. May l have the
paper? Thanks" He put 1t away
and crossed to the bell. What !
the paper came, from"
II don't know what YOU mean"
"No." Reggie sighed. II dare say
you will" The butler came in.
All Hawken. When Miss Dean
took out the barley water. did she
take out anything else?"
Nothing that l saw, sir"
"Only the glass;"
'fThat's quite right sir"
And no one else took anything to
Mr. Wissenden?"
"Certainly not, sir"
"Thanks, that's all"
The butler departed Reggie turned
to the chief constable. mo one took
him anything. And yet there was
paper all ready for him to write his
last words. That's very interesting"
But again the chief constable didn't
know what he meant.
NO. It's a very curious case,
ior. And poor DR.. BirtWistle's get
in very tired. Good-b
Anything you'd like me to take
up. FOrtuue?"
"Oh, no, no. No rash haste. I'll let
YOU know when l want you to take
any one up. Good-by."
Reggie found DR.. Brtwistle wan
iering among the delphiniums. Sorry
to keep you. Let's go home. Tea is
strongly indicated. Ample, meditatiVe
tea
The little car moved down the drive.
stopped hooted and turned into the
road. Reggie sighed. I'm afraid this
is anxious work for you, Fortune"
The old doctor said.
Another car blared impatience be-
hind. The doctor waved it on and
drew aside
1t came carefully. it seemed to know |
DR.. Birtwistle's driving. Doing the
Jehu act again. doctor?" The young |
nan in it grinned. Your busy day, |
WHAT" He shot ahead.
"A rascal" said DR.. Birtwistle. "He |
will have his joke at me. It's Leary |
'ur veterinary"
Reggie sat up. "Oh. The vet" he
aid and looked back down the road !
Well. well. Stop at the post office. |
will YOU? / want to wire to my man
o bring down some things"
IN the next day. after much work |
~ Dr. Birtwistle sat in the labora- |
nry of the County Hospital, watching |
teggie manipulate chemical apparatus. |
lie had a porcelain dish. which con-
dlneu Il ISHl NelloW uepOSlt. On InlS |
lie poured a colOrless fluid. The yell |
ow matter became purple. violet. dark |
ed, and then vanished. Yes. Quite |
%. One of the mydriatic family. Now !
he trouble begins, DOCTOR
Fortune continued to manipulate |
potion, vessels, flames. and, as he |
worked he bumped droning chan
ey. sudden silence startled DIR. |
3irtwistle. well, we'll" said Mr. For
une. under his breath. and made cal. |
'ulations. He went back to his TASKS |
and beakers. He was trying to dis
solve something. And that's that"
le said at last. "Hyoscyamine."
Are YOU quite satisfied now. For
une?" DR.. Birtwstle's voice was low
"Satisfied?" Fortune stared at him.
NO. doctor. not satisfied. But very
Interested" He put his materials
away in a cupboard and locked it.
Let's go home to tea. The other lit
lie matter we can deal with in your
nice house"
The other matter?" DR.. BirtWistle
was painfully surprised.
II