Evening star., 1927-11-12

few yards in the lead he appeared to
have been hit, for he was seen to stag
ger, fall, then recover himself and go
on. He refused to halt. They fired
and hit him again--or so they belieV.
ed He fell to the ground-and rolled
over the edge into the water. And
that was the last that was ever seen
of him.
"My wordr calculated the ex-cap'
tain of territorials again. That's
nice end. And / must say. with all
due Difference to you, Sir Harris, tnat
can't see anything wrong with Scot
land Yards deduction. ! fancy mes
dead. fast enough" -,
"Yes" said the old baronet delib-
erately, II imagine you would say so;
and I, too, would agree We're 1t not
for two reasons. First, had 1t been
any other man than Shadow Varne;
and, second. that the body was never
recovered"
But" objected Capt. Francis New
combe, eff, as you believe, the man
is still carrying On, having been lden'
titled once, he would, wouldn't you
say, be recognized again?"
mot at all"' said the old baronet
decidedly. t'You must take into ac,
count the mans sick and emaciated
subsequent hospital surroundings. Let
those who saw him then see the same
man today, robust. in health. and In
an entirely different atmosphere, 10.
cality and environment. Recognized!
would lay long odds against it, even
leaving out Of account the mans
known ingenuity for evading recog-
nition."
The ex-captain of territorials nod
ded thoughtfully.
eyes" he said. that is quite pos
sible: but. even granting that he Is
still alive, can't SEE
"Why I should believe he Is at the
bottom of what is going on today
here in London?" supplied the old bar
onet quickly. Perhaps intuition,
perhaps the mystery about the man
who has interested me from the time
first heard of him in the early years
of the war, and which has ever since
been q fascinating study with me, has
something to do with 1t. l told you
to begin with that my proof was
theory. But I believe it. l do not
saw he Is alone in this, or was alone In
the Lord Seeton affair; but he IS Ger
tainly the head and front and prains
of whatever he was or Is engaged III.
AS for the similarity of the cases.
I will admit that might be pure com
cidence, but we know that ShadoW
Varne did have the Seeton 9e"eis ~
his possession. The strongest point,
however, that I have to offer in a tan
gible sense, bearing in mind the man
himself and his hideously elusive prop
pensities, is the fact that there Is no
absolute proof of his death. Why
wasn't his body recovered? You VIII
answer me probably along the same
lines that the Paris police argued ana
that were accepted by Scotland Yard.
You will say that it was dark and the
body might not have come to the sur
face Immediately, and under the eX-
listing conditions. by the time they pro-
cured a boat and began their search
it might easily be missed. Very gooq.
That is quite possible. But why, tnen;
was not the body eventually recovered
IN two or three days-a week, IL you
like? You will say that this wouid
probably be very far indeed from be-
ing the first instance in which a Dody
was never recovered from the seine.
And here, too. you would pc quite
right. But / do not believe 1t. 90
not believe it was a dead man, or
man mortally wounded or a man
wounded so badly that he must 1nevi-
tably drown who pitched helplessiy
into the water that night. l beiieve
he did 1t voluntarily and with consld-
cred cunning. as the only chance ne
had, Go into the east end. Listen to
the stories you will hear about him.
The world does not get rid of such as
he so easily The man Is not human.
The crimes he has committed would
turn your blood cold. He is the most
despicable, the most wanton thing that
I ever heard Of. He would kill with
no more compunction than you would
break in two that match you are hold
ing IN your hand. Where he came
from God only knows, and -.
A club attendant had stopped beside
the old baronet's chair.
"Yes?" said the old baronet.
II beg your pardon, Sir Harris, but
your car Is here announced the man.
VERY good! Thank you.' The
old baronet drained his glass and stood
up. "Well, you have heard the story.
captain" he said with a dry smile.
II shall not embarrass you by asking
YOU to decide between Scotland Yard
and myself. but I shall at least ex-
pect you to admit that there Is some
slight justification for my theory"
The ex.captain Of territorials, as he
rose in courtesy, shook his head
quietly.
"If + felt only that way about it."
he said slowly, 'eT should simply thank
you for very interesting story and
your confidence. AS 1t is, there is so
much justification / feel impelled to
say to you that IL this man is what
you describe him to be. is as dan
L t. IL a