Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-08
The Ninety-Ninth Thread A& &1i4zx 2!gs~4s
No Proof, Life Was Stake.

brass lamps and SNOWY carriage work,
There was no installing the woman
IA slightly faded type, with masses
OF fair hair, of which she made brave
display, large eyes, artificially be-
rinSed; features that might once have
been good, hut that showed signs now
of coarSening.
She was standing by the door OF the
| car. her card in her hand, talkins,
eagerly To a man with Il keen. ha!d
face, thin lips and narrow eyes. but
| with q paStN, almost green. complexion
lie was Watching the horses 20 by.
and the very way I've glanced ut them
! seemed tn Indicate knowledge. Tho
woman hung upon his scant words.
They seemed 10 be without com
panions. hut large luncheon hask [
stood open and there were two or
| three empty champagne bottles scat
tered around. Presently there broke
| the hoarse murmur of voices that.
with the accompanying buslc, denoted
the start OF the race.
The woman thrust her hand into her
| bag and took out small handful of
notes. She passed them over to the
| chauffeur. who hurried off toward th,,
hookmakers. Then she climbed to the
back seat of the car and stood there
| holding the glasses to her eyes.
Goo6wood was ut its best that day.
The sun was warm. but not oppreS.
sive. the south breeze brought with IT
tiaver of the sea. The long rows If
tents among the cool of the trees
were more than ever inviting.
Royalty was present and the boxes
were filled with women in graceful!
Summer costumes. The long season
In
was on holiday. Angus. from the rails
in front of the lawn, watched the
finish OF an unexciting race. Joined
his friends in their box and afterwartl
strolled TO Tattersalls.
Mr.. Sammy Martin greeted him
cheerfully, and accepted his modest
bet with enthusiasm. Angus. while he
asked for some other prices. glanced
at the little man who was entering his
name i'm book He had gathered
from Hunley's description that the
central figure in this soflid drama
was barely more than miidle-ay ed.
The mans hair. however, was iron.
gray, his face almost phenomenal
He was like the tragical lay figure of
some ventriloQuist-the perfect human
auiomaton. One could scarcely believe
that he really heard or that the words
tildt t'dsSeu from ms lips were not
mechanically contrived
As he turned. away. Angus ran into
Hunley. We'll. I've seen both figures
in your little drama" Angus .confided.
as they moved off together. They
are. in their way. interesting. Is there
anything to he done?"
Nothing. l daresay the whole thing
will fizzle out. I've been talking to
Coulson."
What did he saw
Il asked him why he was doing
such work when | happened To- know
that his old firm would have taken
him back. His only reply was that
he could never bear the life back i'm
his old office He was perfectly salts.
fled. Martin told me that he was the
best clerk he'd ever had"
You think he's only taken the job
TO watch the race-courses?" Angus
asked.
I'm sure of it," was the terse re.
ply.
GO was Angus sure of il on the fol.
- lowing morning before the first
race. There WIS no mistaking tho
still little figure in plain dark clothes
and derby. In an unostentatious way