Evening star., 1929-10-04

r WAS destined to meet Veronica
again on the afternoon following
Pell's visit to Woodcot. With her
i were Anderson Royle and Martin
Somerfield, whom she introduced to
me, and insisted join them In . pro-
posed speedboat run.
We padded out to the Fiftiper, an ILL.,
smelling craft, composed nearly entirely
Of cowl and engines. will not describe
that run except to say We logged %
miles In an hour. 1t was more interest,"
blue eyes and goleen complexion. But
before we landed learned several
things directly and indirectly.
That Royie and Somerfield were intel
ligent. likable young fellows; both
thought themselves madly in love with
Veronica, ana she declined to treat them
as anything but pals.
That both the young men shared the
commanders dislike for Roger Pell, but
Veronica was quizzical and would not
reveal what she thought Of him.
That smother person was IN disfavor
with both men. who alluded to him as
"the unlicked cub" gathered Mr..
Fred Fotherbury was as Objectionable
as his father was charming: that the
son had dared to cast eyes on Veronica,
&AI ohAOA 8ANOOiC
If I have succeeded in giving an inn
precision Of Pell as disturbing infiu.
ence In Blackwater. I can now pass to
the critical events Of that summer,
which eliminated in the tragedy In the
library at Newplace. Before the crucial
month ended, he was "Pell" to me, and
I to him "Grenofen." think it was
Veronica's attitude toward the man that
created liking between me and Pell. I
soon discovered she did not share her
fathers unreasoning hatred for Pell and
Scmerfield, due to the theory that Pell
had designs on Veronica, was foolish.
Pell decidedly was not in Blackwater for
love-making.
In many talks between Peli and my
SELF the mention Of the Seabrokes would
bring him to what seemed the verge Of q
confidence. But he always drew back
and the confidence never came.
He had introduced me to Mr.. Fother-
bury and had taken me to see the ex-
cavatiOns. When Fotherbury learned
begged me to make sketch plans of his
discoveries. agreed in a neighborly
way.
Pell and I were walking toward the
Newplace Abbey one day when we met
the parson, Mr.. Marling. He was the
most saturnine- looking cleric I had ever
seen, with his fierce dark eyes. and his
tall, meager body. had already di-
vined b rather special animosity between
him and Peli. far different from the
ferocity Of Seabroke and the fussy dis
like OF DR.. Eastley. who obviously was
painfully irked when Pell displaced him
As Fotherbuy's chief confidant and crony.
Mr.. Marltne. as We walked along.
was discussing Fotherbuy's latest discov-
cry. q slab with some painting on it.
The parson remarked Fotherbuy thought
1t scene between Roman general and
q British prisoner when Pell broke in
with sn apparently unrelated remark.
The Roman conquerors were humane
to their British prisoners, weren't they?'
he asked.
..1,,ao Il don't .. know" u replied; e ed, .,
More than can be said of some people
In modern times-modern convict pris-
ons. for example, eh padre?"
During the month had been at
Blackwater, it had become obvious Just
one man seemed to have no enmity for
Pell-Mr. Fotherbury. But 1t had be-
come equally evident the most sinister
of the hatreds was that of Marling for
Pell and Pell for Marling.
We found Mr.. Fotherbury superin-
very edge of the excavations. His tall
figure. large features, silver hair and
spotless black clothes made q notable
picture and certainly looked far more
clerical than Mr.. Marling.
"Ah, my dear pell!" cried Mr. Fother-
bury. Here Is q real find. And Mr.
Grenosen-this will test your skill. How
do. Marling?"
Pen insisted the sensational discovery
should be broadcast. Mr.. Fotherbury
note went to the London Times. supple
mented by q communication from the
papers correspondent at Hollam Bay to
the effect that Mr.. Fotherbury in his
excavations had "the expert help oi
Roger Pell, well-known archeologist."
cannot quite recall how the sugges.
ton arose that I should then and there
do q drawing Of the discovery and my.
self take 1t to the British Museum
Under pressure agreed. and Mr.
Fotherbury left US to write the museum
people to expect me.
Thus. on the following noon arrived
there and found myself awaited. A
pleasant old gentleman greeted me anc
begged me to wait until he telephoneC
Prof. Laxton.
LAxton was announced soon there.
after. had no large acquaintance with
the PROFESSIONAL tribe, but I though,
Laxton a remarkably favorable speci.
men. He was q hard-set, vigorous mar
Of middle age, clean shaven. with q
rather sleepy eye, but capacity to come
awake in an instant.
STEAMSHIPS.