Evening star., 1927-10-02

Peter Bragg glanced at him sus-
piciouslr.
II trust" he said. that yo, are not
in the habit of allowing sentiment TO
interfere with business. BY the by.
you We're just going to toll mo about
this vase. Where does it come in and
what made YOU bring it away?"
+ "Curiously enough. 30 please the old
boy" Angus explained. He's OH
viously a beginner at this hlackmail-
ing game, and he was terrified lest
his niece should guess what it was
he'd been hurgled for. He knew that
tho vase was a fake and practically
valuoIcss. so. when he realized thai
the game was up and that ] was going
to have the letters. he begged me to
pinch it. The old boys no fool. He'll
tell every one he's been burgled for
the sake Of his vase. and they'll think
he gets hold of some good stuff, now
and then"
THE secretary glided in and handed
a folded piece Of paper to her en-
ployer. He looked at it and passed it
on to Angus. Angus indulged in
whistle.
/ A moment later the butler threw
open the door.
Mai. Dre yton," he announced.
| The ma jOr was wan, almost 4
pathetic figure. His clothes. though
carefully tended, were shabby.
You wish to consult me. Maj.-er
i-Draytono" Peter Bragg inquired
'In confidence" the ma jor replied,
gazing at Angus.
That is as you wish. OF course.
Mr.. Angus. however--by the way. Nj.
Angus-Maj. Drayton-is discussing
= partnership with me. am showing
him some of the details Of my bust
ness. and I can assure you that you
ran speak with the utmost freedom
before him"
II believe" the ma jor murmurcd.
"that ] have met Mr.. Angus. There is
something about him that seems IA
miliar.'
I'VE have net good many time9,
major" Angus assured him. Il USED
to be a member of the Stadium Club.
The major appeared relieved.
II remember. Of course he admit
ted. II wondered where it was L had
seen YOU. Certainly. if Mr.. Angus is
likely to lecome associated with your
business, Mr.. Bragg, he can remain.
am not proud of my story-it might
In0St no CatlPu a tollltSSloft i
should like to get it off my chest.
Il had q friend-Tom Sinclair He
was run over three or four months
ago and sent for me. He seemed to
have no relatives. but there was girl
Of whom he was fond. He hadn't
much money. and it happened. as he
had sold out his share in business. 1t
was all in the bank. While | was
there he sent down an open check Tor
f.. 900. put the notes in an envelope
as soon as he received them and hand
ed them to me.
Sinclair handed me. too. packet OF
the girls letters to return to her, ana
was to let her have the money. We
made a parcel of the lot. l took them
home with me. and-Weil, Tor a time
nothing happened.
DO | understand" Peer Bragg
asked that YOU made no effort to
find the LADY,"
Il rang up the address in Gloucester
terrace the next morning, the major
confided II can assure you. gentle
men that il I'd got into touch with
her that day she'd have had the notes
and letters straight. away. 1t turned
out. though. that she was gOvernesS
with some people called Goldberg and
that they had left for Scotland. | de-
cided to wait until the girl came back
to London.
"I've been hard up al my life" he
went on. "hut never harder up than
the day those $1,000 came into my
hands. I didn't touch the money, but
when the Girl came back l became
nothing more or less than criminal.
| wrote her-I tried not to frighten
her. but I invented some lie about
Sipclair's servant | said nothing
about the money, hut | told her that
I had the letters and that this servant
wanted money for them. ] asked her
to come and see me. The trouble was
that she didn't come.
What was your scheme. if she had
come" Angus asked.
II was going to make her pay
thousand pounds for the letters, he
confessed. Il reckoned that the
thousand pounds she would have
left would be Godsend to her.
She was going to marry a rich man.
and I was almost pauper. Theres
pottery sale next week. wonderful!
nieces and I've never had enough |
monev-but there. I've no excuse.
The worst Of my story is to come
"The worst Peter Bragg muir |
INJURED.
"a tragedy has happened" the |
ma ior croanad. Last night my mouse |
was broken into. The burglar dlscoV-
cred tho sealed packet and went OF |
with it
THE notes and the letters'" Angus |
asked
Both"
There was silence.
There was also a matter OF vase, |
Peter Bragg remarked presently.
The ma ior St3ren,
he dema nded. J
Your niece has been here. Peter /
Bragg explained. "She wanted MS to !
get the .ase back She knew nothing. |
of course, about the rest of the busl-
ness"
The ma jor's hands were shaking.
II begged the burglar to take the
vase" he confessed. II didn't want
Marjorie to think that there was i
ANYTHING else l had worth taking"
The door was opened. Miss Ash
laid slip of paper before her en-
ployer.
THE little governess"' Bragg whis-
pered.
There was moments silence. |
Then Peter Bragg laid his hand upon !
his clients shoulder.
jor." he said. I'VE NAV he able
to help YOU. Please be so good as to |
step into the waiting room for a |
minute" |
Little Miss Burton came In like a |
whirlwind, q roll of bank notes in |
her hand.