Evening star., 1927-09-25


solicitor.
Mr.. Fortune, Then 7 was not mis-
taken" the solicitor said. Il inferred
from your letter. major. that there
were suspicious circumstances about
Mr.. Wissendens death. That is why
I thought it right to lay before you
facts about his will. | wish to say
that | have no personal knowledge OF
the persons concerned. ! make tins
statement as a duty to my late client.
He coughpd and the chief constable
said it was very correct. "A month
ago Mr.. Wissenden gave me instruC-
tions for new will bequoathing all
his property to Miss Lily Dean.
"Ha, | thought So The chlei
constable nodded.
only one month ago" said Reggie
slowly.
"On June Is. Mr.. Fortune. The
will was signed June 18.'
That's all right, Fortune" tho
chief constable cried. That's what
he wanted"
"There is something more. sir.
the solicitor went on. On the day OF
Mr.. Wissenden's death. ! received
letter from him saying that facts had
come to his knowledge about Miss
Dean which would compel him 10
revoke his will You will observe that
this letter was written on one after
noon and on the next he was found
dead"
NOW we have it" the chief con
stable cried He told her he was
goirg to cut her out of his Will
That, of course. is beyond my
knowledge"
Have you brought that letter."
said Reggie.
"Ah. yes We want something in
to ling you---" The chief constable
was stopped by Reggie's hand on his
arm.
We shall have something interest
ing to tell YOU tonight, sir" Reggie
said. May / have the letter.?
Certainly. Mr. Fortune. Here it is.
I will stay the night. if you think 1t
desirable. am at the Woolpack.
When he was gone the chief con-
stable cried: What did you stop
m, for? There's no harm in his
knowing what Wissenden wrote"
Reggie spread out the letter and
the paper that was found in the
garden They're no good, he said.
''Wi.sendcn wrote both.
The drink Lily Dean brought
me-" the chief constable laid his
fingers on the words. Thank Heaven
Reggie sighed. "And the next
thing ma aior?"
I'm gong over and ask Miss Lily
Dean a few questions. my lad
Reggie put the papers in his pocket.
II shall be there" he said. and went
out.
THE big car was swift. Reggie
sprang out as it stopped at
Wissenden's door. and Sam drove off
again Reggie did not go into the
house; he wandered round to the ter
race where Wissendan had died.
There the chief constable's super
intendent found him. Hello. sir.
Who'd Ia thought of seeing you"
Been keeping an eye on me, super
intendent?"
keeping an eye on everything that
goes on here, sir. Anything you
want?"
mo, no." Reggie smiled. Il was
wrong. superintendent. l said I'd got
everything, I hadn't"
Something you'd like me to look
into. sir?"
NO. no. But it has interest"
whats that, sir?''
THE Iithospermum there
THAT blue flower? Looks rather
Seedy."
Yes. That's what's interesting"
The superintendent puzzled over the
plant and him. and a car hooted.
Hello. Who's that now"
That's your chief. l expect" said
Reggie, and went to meet him.
h tn
bell
Got here already, have you?" he
scowled. Then he added:
Come in. superintendent. I shall
want you. fla, Hawken. Tell Miss
Dean | am in the library
In that room he arranged himself
with dignity. Reggie strolIed away to
the window. When Miss Dean came
in, man came with her. a man with
a firm chin and keen eyes.
You're the chief constable. sir?
My names Collingwood. Miss Dean
is engaged to me. If you want to ask
her anything. | must be with her.
You'd better not interfere with me,
Mr.. Collingwood." the chief constable
scoWled
capt. Collingwood. please" Miss
Dean said.
The chief constable frownsd at her
do YOU want to bring your fiance
into this?'
I'm advising Miss Dean, thanks"
said
"You don't know what you're in for
I'm sorry for you"
Thanks so much. Don't mind me-
Unless you We're meaning to be rude "
A gentle voice spoke from the win
dow. But it's very convenient to
have you here. Capt. Colingwcod You
can tell the chief constable when YOU
got engaged to Miss Dean"
January g."
"And Mr.. Wissenden knew of the
engagement them"
Il told him in the morning"
did he approve?"
"He was like bear with sore
head"
And he's been like that since Jan
uary?"
Ever since" the girl said quietly.
"Ies. That's what the chief con-
stable didn't realize" Reggie muir.
"Realize?" the chief constable ex.
ploded. II knew it all the time. 1t
all fits in
"Oh, my aunt" Reggie murmured. |
The chief constab roared on: 81
didn't come here to ask about your
Miss Dean. / want to |
know what you were doing at Proddo's !
the night before Mr.. Wissenden was
What's that? Murdered?" Colling. |
wood took him up.
But the girl answered: II went to |
Proddo's with a letter Mr.. Wissenden |
gave me. He said it was a prescrip. |
ton from London doctor. They |
gave me some medicine. l had to |
sign book for it. ! gave Mr.. Wissen-
len the medicine and the prescrip-
tion."
did you. though? You didn't tell
rs all that before"