New Britain herald., 1929-09-04
TONGUES OF HATE

l ItluIllcu 1lOIlt llOlIl lily NlSlI with Laxton determined to sound out Pell. The opportunity came the next day and l told him of Lax tons pertinent inquiries. Again Pell seemed on the verge of a confidence.
 "Hmm," said he. Then after pause, "Looke here, Grenofen, you and your mother have taken me for granted. I'll ask you to go on talk ing me for granted till the whore thing blows up. Then youn be amused"
 That ended the promised confi- dence.
 I'otherbury received a letter from I.axton the next day, advising that he would be in BlackWater the fol- lowing Monday. I'otherbury ln- Nited me, Commander Seabrokc, Royle, Som erfield, Dr. Eastley and Mr. Marling to his library Monday afternoon to meet LaNton and hear q paper, being prepared by pell, on the progress of the excavations.
 On Saturday morning, l, too, re- ceived d letter from LaNton and Il queer message it was. He expected 10 motor to BlaCkWater sunday, asked the privilege of staying with HIS at Woodcot and - requested that l say nothing to anyone abou; his presence.
 The letter was typewrittcn, in cluding the heading British Mu- scum" By chance l noted the cn- Vclope and discovered that the let ter tcnsibly originating in the Britis Museum, had been posted at n istocll in Devon, 200 miles away
 At 1 Ills inn, l learned he had gone fo! the day and would be back sunday evening. l had barely re turned to Woodcot, when MarllnS and Dr. Eastley came to see ne.
 That fellow Pelrs fitted" Mar ling bMrted out. "The whole tF:ng's hlown up, Mr. Grcnofen, As soon as 6 real archeolc gist butted in, Pell's bubble was pricked,"
 l stared amazed at MarIing.
 Tn that case" said l, it seems rather a good thing he's fitted"
 Without answering me, Marling contnued:
 'Would you think it a good thing if Miss Seabroke were involved in Pell's flitting?"
 l felt q jump of nerves but Mar ling babbled on about the ghastIy farce Mondays meeting would be. He asked that l intervene to keep Professor LaXton from attending. I his l refused to do and then Mar ling asked that get in touch with Miss Seabrolie. Again, l declined.
 "I thought" Marling said then, you possibly had enough interest in Miss Seabroke to prevent her name being mixed in scandal
 What scandal?" l demanded.
 You force me to Il thing l didn't want 10 say. Pcll is an cX-con}ict. .
 So Markings bombshell burst.
 Why was he dragging me into this business md using Veronica for the purpose? unWillingly, he admitted he had made the same charge 10 Eastley, .jca3roke, Roylc and Somerfield. He cvadcd my question as to Fothcrbury but con- Nincingly disclosed himself as the source of all the anti-Pcll feeling.
 Marilng spoke so confidently that for some moments l did not doubt his statements. Then the thought processes began to function again
 
 Fell was, but could not believe kim criminal. had only Mar linS's word and was thoroughly pre- pared to doubt that.
 After further futile pleas that head off LaXton, they lett. On sud and went to see Koylc at his cot tase and found Somcrfleld with him both in state of abIrctiou and, as I guessed, because of Veronica.
 Veronica had lcfr blachWatcr d week before 10 spend fortnight with Mrs. Fairfax. a friend in Ken sington. Rcyle and Someriiuld, at loose end, had phoncd Mrs. Fair lax to invite Veronica to a new crook play that night. Mrs. Nairf \ informed them that NeroaiCa had left for home that Y orning when young man c2Ilcl for her. Sh" thought him one of them. They thought it was |.
 You thought of me. Next guess -pcil?"
 He must have been one of 'cril. ''
 "One of Whon.2" 1 asked sur rrised.
 "Didn't l tel! you that soon after she'd gone another man cailcd wifi another car. I would say that it was that blightcr, young fothcr- bury"
 "Why not call on Veronica this evening"" said l, "and ask what sort of a trip she had on the road today?"
 "Bnlly ideal" they both shouted.
 did not, however. put the qlcs- tlon to Veronica that Saturday eye nlng, for she was not at home and Mrs. Sea2roke told Us N she was not returning until the following We'd neaday or Thursday.
 sat at Woodcot. later gag ;Ag down to the sea, so ap- +tracted and for so long, that my mother made a startling statement:
 "Tom-you're in love-"
 l passed it off, and for ono" l lad not been thinking of Vcrorca's s blue eyes, q thought that always brought a little disturbance about he diaphragm.
 had been thin in" or }.roniya' ',- ride il, nctor-rar md pJ;sihIe