Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-18

7NHE sun, whose rays hAQ rouSeo
Sergt. Maj, Flannery from his
slumbers at Healthward Ho that
i morning had not found it nee
essary to perform the same Of
fee for Lester Carmody. IN spite of the
fact that he had not succeeded in get
ting to sleep till well on in the small
hours, Mr.. Carmody woke early. There
is no alarm clock so effective as dis
turbed mind.
And MIR. Carmodys mind was dis
turbed. On the previous night he had
received shock after shock. First, Bolt,
the chauffeur, had revealed the fact
that he had given the fateful ticket to
John. Then Sturgis, after letting fall
the information that Mr.. Molloy knew
that John had the ticket had said
that that young man when last seen
had been going off in the company Of
Dolly Molloy. And finally, John had
not only failed to appear at dinner, but
was not to be discovered anywhere on
the premises at as late an hour as mid
night.
In these circumstances it is scarcely
to be wondered at that Mr.. Carmody's
repoSe was not tranquil. To one who,
like himself, had fr3d the advantage OF
hearing the views of the Molloy family
on the virtues of knockout drops there
could be no doubt as to what had hap
pened John, suspecting nothing, must
have allowed himself to be lured into
the trap. and by this time the heirlooms
of Rudge Hall were probably in London.
Having breakfaSted, Mr.. Carmody.
who had haunted the stable yard till
midnight, went there again in the faint
hope of finding that his nephew had
returned. But Johns room was empty.
Mr.. Carmody wandered out into the
grounds and paced the gravel paths in
growing deSolation of soul. Then he
sought refuge in his study.
1t was there, about an hour later, that
John found him.
Mr.. Carmody's first emotion on be-
holding his long-lost nephew was one
of ecstatic relief.
John" he cried.
Then. chilling his enthusiasm, came
the thought that there might be no
occasion for JOY in this return. Prob
ably, he reflected, John. after being
drugged and robbed of the ticket had
simply come home in the ordinary
course of events. After all, there would
have been no reason for those scoundrels
to detain him. Once they had got the
ticket John would have ceased to count.
"Where have you been?" he asked.
rather peculiar smile came and
went on Johns face.
II spent the night at Healthward
Ho," he said. Were you worried about
me?"
Extremely worried"
I'm sorry. DR.. Twist is a hoSpitable
chap. He wouldn't let me CO."
Mr.. Carmody, on the point of speak
ing, checked himself. His position. he
suddenly saw, was q delicate one. IN
less he were prepared to lay claim to the
possession of special knowledge which he
certainly was not, anything in the ma
ture of agitation ons' his part must In
evitably seem peculiar To those with
Molloy and Dolly we're ordinary respec-
table persons and there was no reason
for him to exhibit concern at the news
that John had spent the night at
Healthward Ho
"Indeed?" he said carefully
Eyes" said John. Most hospitable
he was. can't say I liked him,
though"
Mop"
mo. Perhaps what prejudiced me
against him was the fact of his hav-
ing burgled the Fall the night before
last"
More and more Mr.. Carmody was
feeling that he had been forced into
playing a part to which he was not
equal. 1t was obvious that. at this
point he should register astonishment,
gasp he gave sounded so unconvincing
to him that he fastened to supplement
his words.
What! What are you saying? DR..
Twist?"
DIR Twist"
But -. But =. !"
ats come as quite a surprise to you,
hasn't it?" said John. And, for the
first time since this interview had be-
gun Mr. Carmody became alive to the
fact that in his nephew's manner there
was a subtle something that he did
not like. This might, of course, simply
be due to the circumstance that the
young mans chin was bristling with an
unsightly growth and his eyes red about
the rims. Perhaps II was merely his
outward appearance that gave the sua-
gestion of the sinister But Mr..
Carmody did not think so. He
noted now that Johns eyes, besides
being red, were strangely keen. Their
expression seemed to his sensitive con-
science, accusing.