Evening star., 1927-11-24
(Continued from Yesterdays Starr
INSTALLMENT XIV.

Y OCKE, for the sake OF noncndi'
ance, carefully selected another
cigarette from his case and
IL lighted it. A quarter past two
tomorrow night! Ii IT We're
not pitiable, it would be ABSURD tnat
the old man should have to come
here in this manner to the boatnouse
to make an appointment for tomorrow
night. when in the natural course OF
events he would have been afforded
an endless number of infinitely more
convenient opportunities to make the
same request. And why tomorrow
night, other than tonight, or this
afternoon. or even now? And why at
such an hour? 1t was useless to
ask the question for 1t found its
answer simply in the workings OF
poor, unchanged mind-and yet Locke
found himself asking the question
mechanically.
That's a rather unusual hour, ism t
it, Mr.. Marlin? And why tomorrow
night? Why not tonight, for in
stance"
The old man came close, and grip
ped Locke's arm again with feverlsh
intensity. He looked all around him,
then placed his lips to Locke's ear.
IN tell you why" he whispered.
"Since last night 1 have been watched
and followed-watched and followed
all the time, all the time, all the time.
They think am mad; that my reason
is gone. Ha, ha, can you imagine
that, young man? Wen, they will
see! And so it cannot be tonight,
for must be very careful and must
have time to prepare. And the hour
You do not understand that? Well, l
will tell you something else. The ho1c
is fixed; it cannot be altered; it cannot
be changed. 1t is fixed" He gripped
suddenly with a fiercer pressure on
Locke's arm. "Ha. Did not tell
YOU / was always being watched and
followed?" he breathed excitedly.
Listen. Listen! There is some one
coming now!'
The old man was trembling violent
ly. Locke laid his hand reassuringly
upon the others shoulder. 1t was
quite true that there was distinctly
the sound of some ones footsteps
coming across one of the little bridges
from the shore, the one on the far
side of the boathouse from where
they stood obviously. for the one on
this side was in plain View.
why, Mr.. Marlin" Locke smiled,
"it's only some one coming to the
boathouse. That's quite natural.
There's nothing to cause you alarm
in that. But Just to set your mind
at rest Wen go and see who it is"
mo, no. whispered Mr.. Marlin
fiercely. mo one must know that
1 suspect anything. 1 can elude
them-they're around on the other
side now. You stay here. Don't
move! I'm going now. But remem.
y,i0hff Won xryi1l
remember"
"Yes: of course. Mr.. Marlin" Locke
replied soothingly.
The old man laid his fingers to his
lips.
"And not word about it! No one
must know! Keep silent. You will
see! You will see! But I must be
quick now! will elude them. Keep
silent-nOt wOrd"'
The old man was running at top
speed along the veranda.
Locke leaned against the railing,
his face strangely set, as he watched
the flying figure cross the bridge,
and, with head constantly jerking
around to peer first over one shoulder
and then the other, disappear finally
along the shore.
Good Lofd!' muttered Locke to
himself again. And this morning
he appeared to be as sane as l amv'
He frowned suddenly. Queer osbes.
sion, that-of being constantly watch.
ed! Since last night! I wonderr'
He Strengthened up abruptly, and
drew letter from his pocket. He
read it slowly, carefully, several times,
as though almost he were memorizing
it; and then he began to tear it into
little pieces.
II guess it's safer" he confided to
himself; and then with a grim smile:
Perhaps it's just as we'll l didn't
have anything like this with me that
night on board ship!"
He threw the pieces over into the
water. but one f1uttered back through
the railing. And. staring at this,
he laughed a little shortly as his
eyes deciphered the typewriter frag-
ment on the veranda floor:
II reports approved. Use ev
w Scotland Yard fully pre-