Evening star., 1927-10-16

little French restaurant-or-biff
he'd blow up the whole concern"
What's the idea. sir?"
"The idea Is that the case against
the Squirrel was put UP to cover the
man who did the diamond burglaries
You know, If you'd got the Squirrel
convicted you wouldn't have looked for
any one else"
''It's too clever for me, Mr.. For
tune" Bell said.
Yes. It's gamble"
You don't know if it's anything
to do with the cat burglaries?"
mo. But I want you to dine with
me at the Ris de Eeau"
Bell laughed. We'll, sir, 1 don't
mind. But it's all fancy"
THE Ris de Veau shows little win
= dow on narrow street in Soho.
Within it is place of holes and cor.
ners. Supt. Bell found it bustling. Mr..
Fortune welcomed him, and they din.
ed. Then they waited-for hours.
How late are WEI staying. sir?''
Bell grinned. Looks to me like Lo-
thario's turned you down."
Have you got man outsider"
asked Mr.. Fortune quickly.
Not me. I don't draw blanks more
than I can help. It's bad for disci.
pine"
Somewhere clock struck II.
We'll. WE'LL" said Mr.. Fortune, and
rose. THANK you for pleasant eve-
ming"
They went out to the street and
parted.
Mr.. Fortune had gone some little
way when a man crossed the street
behind him. He became aware of it
as a blow was aimed at his head. He
went down on his face.
Thsre was scurry of feet. The
still body was turned and lifted. Go
after him. you fool MIR. Fortune
gasped. He was let fall again and the
feet. fled. away.
A police whistle screamed. Supt.
Bell arrived. did they get you, sir?'
he painted, but Mr. Fortune lay silent.
Bell blew his whistle again and took
the limp arm and fumbled for the
pulse.
People We're coming out of the
houses. constables numbered up.
The body was borne away in an am
bulance.. Bell went with it to the hos.
pital, saw it carried in with respectful
care and turned to meet a brisk young
doctor.
TITS Mr.. Fortune. Mr.. Reginald For
tune. Been knocked on the head by a
couple of crooks.
Some of 'en getting a bit of their
own back?" that young man grinned
He bent over the body and started.
Mr.. Fortune whispered. Get rid of
the nurse" That busy woman was
given an errand. Mr.. Fortune sat up.
Yes. we have no concussion," he said.
only bruise of the right shoulder
blade. Sorry to bother you. I want it
given out Mr.. Reginald Fortune was
brought to the hospital with serious
Can do, sir" the young surgeon
grinned. ..
Now. Bell, if you'll telephone that
to the papers our friendll get me out
Of the hospital" VI
They drove away in a taxi. "You
gave me a start, Mr. Fortune" Bell
him. What's the idea of
lying low"
THE same old idea. I want to know
what's coming next. Something rather
recherche. if it was worth while
knocking me on head first. Why did
they want me out of action? The
Squirrel case is broken down. IL they
think I'm in the hospital we'n have
The next move quick
do you know who hit you. sir?"
mo. dropped as he swung, or
should have had 1t on the head. Only
the end of the blow got me. Quite
enough. Good heavy blow he gave
me-"
But there were two of them. One
had you. after you FELL
'Oh, that was Mordan He ought to
1ave caught the beggar.''
"Mordan? You've put him on the
,ase? You don't trust us much, sir"
We'll. / did think out friend Fargo
help. Here we are. Come in,
Bell"
In the morning, while Mr.. Fortune
vas eating breakfast, he received a re-
bort of Inspector Mordan's operations
rom his chauffeur. The telephone
'ang. Bell was speaking.
There was another cat burglary
asst night. House of Mr.. Maple Van
'ittart. The chap didn't get away with
this time
'How's that?" said Mr.. Fortune.
Had fall, sir. Picked UP dead in
he garden this morning
Well, we'll" said Mr.. Fortune. and
urned to his chauffeur. They've
ound the fellow dead in the garden.
sam
My oath" Sam muttered.
What's that, sir?" the telephone
lsked.
Now we know what was coming
iext, Bell. Anybody seen the corpse?"
Local men say the chap broke his !
leck. Pargo's gone up to the NOR
uary. The divisional surgeons doing /
/ post-mortem. :"
What's the matter with me?"
Wen, sir. you're in the Piccadilly |
dospital-badly hurt"
Stick to that. Come round with a !
'ouple of hefty men," Mr.. Fortune |
lung up the receiver.
X n X X
SUPERINTENDENT BELLS car
drove up. Two large men beside |
he chauffer gazed in surprise at Mr..
Fortune.
What are we doing now. sir?" said
3ell
''supt. Bell is goin' to clear up a
TASTY business"
Thank you very much, SIR" Belt !
vas ruffed. But Is beats me why you
ant talk plain"
We'll, do you know anything about |
Mr. Maple Vansittart?"
Never heard of him before
Had Pargo?"
"He didn't know the name.''
Mr.. Fortune laughed.
The car stopped at the mortuary. /