Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-03

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Hollam Bay road.
At Is minutes to had never seen
Veronica. Before IA minutes to 4
found myself embracing her tightly and
she had clasped her arms about my
neck. Veronica is very charming girl.
She has slight, athletic figure,
mop of light-brown hair, blue eyes, very
red lips and perfectly wonderful COM
plexion. The sort OF girl one likes to
embrace.
It happened thus: had been sketch
ing and was walking back to Black
water. A mile from home I heard
frantic clicking of hoofs ahead. Round
the bend of the road came little roam
horse at gallop with q girl sprawled
on his back and on the point Of falling
every moment. dropped my easel and
paint box and stood in the middle OF
the road with arms stretched out. AS
I caught at the bride the girl shot OF
and landed in my arms.
Fortunately, I did not fall. There
had been just moment to notice how
blue we're Veronica's eyes.
We'll I'm blowed!" said Veronica.
what happened-?" began, but
I never finished the question.
Another clatter Of hoofs preluded the
appearance round Herodsfoot Corner
of another rider. He was q very short
about on the saddle. Then perceived
that the rider wore short black beard
and ferociouS expression.
At the moment failed to understand
the special ferocity with which he glared
at me. Having persuaded his horse to
a standstill, he shouted, What does this
mean and who the devil are you?"
I glanced at Veronica. Are you ac-
quainted with this gentleman?"
Slightly" she replied. ALLOW me to
introduce him. My father, my deliv-
erer."
Veronica explained how had checked
her runaway steed. Then the cause Of
the little mans ferocity appeared. He
had come round the corner expecting
to find Veronica dead or missing. In
stead, he had found her with an I'M
known person and her horse standing
by as If waiting for her to mount again.
He suffered an angry revulsion Of feel
ing and leaped to the conclusion that
the runaway had been got up by
veronica on purpose to annoy him. The
language he used was so rich in variety
and pungent in quality that I really
regretted Veronica's Intervention with:
Nov. Bill! You know the rules. I'll
tell mother if you don't stop"
Wherein he stopped.
acquaintance with Comdr. Seabroke Gre
tired and Miss Veronica Seabroke. I
had to name myself Tom Grenofen, who
had lately come to live at Blackwater.
suppose that must sooner or later
have become involved in the mystery
Of the keyhole Of Fotherbury's library
door and the tragedy Of Roger Pell. But
when Comdr. Seabroke first mentioned
PelIs name to me I was very busy
absorbing the beauty and charm Of little
Veronica.
For some unexplained reason, Sea-
broke seemed to resent my very pres
ence in Blackwater.
Why d. you come here, eh?" he
asked. rudely.
Looking upon veronica's quizzical
face, carefully explained that my ia
my mother had wished to leave her
house to avoid reminders of her loss.
We had bought Woodcot because 1t had
large garden.
The commander was making vague
noises. and turned to see a f1ercer
frown on his face.
Cant see why the devil anybody
should come to live In that nnoldy hole, |"
said he, with queer aggressiveness.
Are you mixed up with that chap
Pell?"
"Pell?" exclaimed. "Who is Pell?"
It was the first time I had heard the
fateful name. If only Veronica and
could have foreseen what Pell would
However, my denial Of any knowledge
Of Pell failed at once to appease the
suspicious of Veronica'S fiery parent.
IF you don't know Fell" said he, Il
now warn you against Pell: I won't
tolerate any associate of Pells-Iu be
damned If dol"
yet he attempted an approach to
cordiality before we parted-but with
obvious labor and anxiety. ..
resumed my walk and found myself
unconsciously falling into the Sea-
brokian dialect; who the devil was
Pell?
The day after the encounter with a
little roam horse set up my easel at
a point above the bridge over the Black
water River, where the walls OF New
place Abbey came down to 1t IN an
angle.
a door in the wall opened and man
came out. He pulled the door FAST
turned and walked almost into me.
"Oh!" he jerked out, sorry"
He was about to walk on, but thought
better of it and pulled up. to stare
coolly at me. I returned the stare.
They were gray, penetrating eyes In
sharp featured face.
Lovely corner this" ne said. Then
as I was dismounting my easel: I'm
afraid I've butted in" =.
"Oh, no; I'd just finished for To-Day"
He fingered while strapped my box.
He walked without invitation by my
side when set OF down the path.
We had crossed the bridge and were
on the road under the woods where my
house stood before he introduced him
self. He was Roger Pell.
"You live at Blackwater?" asked. !.
ooh, no. I'm staying at the LORD
down to have a look at Fotherbury's
excavations. Are you interested In
that sort of thing-Roman remains. you
know"
had no idea what sort Of thing he