Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-30
UNDERGROUND s 5ex5 SOP ASs
BY JJEFFERSCN FARJEON Copyright ML ch ns AsMmh s
By JEFFERSON FARJEoN
Copyright. 1898. By Central pr.ss Association. lre.

then went on: "Still, I'll answer.
II you're foolish, you mean we'll.
Yes, I heard the crash"
And you've no idea what it WASP"
Not the slightest"
But you were In the house"
Il had only just come into the
house. A minute or two before you
did. I was looking around when the
crash occurred"
May I know where you we're
when it occurred?"
Certainly. 1 was just here. Where
I'm standing now. No-that's not
quite accurate" she added. Il was
standing where you're standing"
BY this door,"
Yes"
"And the sound"
Game from the other side of the
door. I was just trying it"
Are you a policeman"
Il beg your pardon"
Il grant it. I was trying it be-
cause I thought I heard noises. AS
soon as I tried it, the crash occurred.
Then you flew in through the win
dow"
And that startled you"
TT did. 1 think it would have
startled anybody. All the same, I'm
annoyed with myself for running
stairs like that. 1t was silly"
Il don't think 1t was, Miss Mar
lowe" he replied, shaking his head.
CAS- you say. it would have startled
anybody. And that's one Of the
things that puzzles me. The house
is-unhealthy. You know that, as
well as I do. It must be a pretty
strong motive that keeps you here,
makes you run such big risks"
"Risk?" she queried. again with
that faint, elusive smile. You are
running them, too, Mr.. Blake"
That's different
Forgive me, I don't think so.
Perhaps your motive isn't as strong
as mine"
He answered gravely, Perhaps it's
just as strong, Miss Marlowe," and
she dropped her eyes suddenly. and
frowned.
We're going just round and
round" she said, to the floor.
Then let's try and get back to
the straight line" he responded,
briskly. IT expect you're as curious
to know what that crash was as ]
am-whatever our respective motives
may be. I was going to try and
Smash that door in when you came
along. Does that agree with your
idea? Shall II"
On the point of replying, she sud-
denly turned. A face was at the
window. It was the face of the
check-suited man known as Pip.
And then an amazing little drama
was enacted. AS the man suddenly
began to climb in through the win
dow, the girl darted across to the
front door, threw 1t open-even in
that moment Rupert noted with sur
prise that it was no longer bolted
On the inside-and sped up the gar
den. The little man hesitated, half
in and half out of the window.
Then he withdrew, and fastened
after the girl.
ILQPCLO 1dlI W Vic 0OOI. no 4AO
reached it, he saw the girl run out
Of the garden and turn to the left
towards the village. The man would
probably have followed her had he
not suddenly glanced behind him
and noticed Rupert's attitude. He
turned Solwly, stared at Rupert, and
began walking back towards him.
And as he now had his back to the
road. only Rupert saw Joscelyn Mar
olive double back, and flash by the
gate in the opposite direction to-
wards the old mine hill.
Rupert had seen the individual
known as Pip on two previous occa-
sions-once drugged. at Newcastle.
and once in the shadow of the
church wall-but this was the first
time he had seer him close to.
Pip did not improve on acquain-
lance. He looked best at q distance.
His face was red and pimply, his
eyes were small, and his chin was
negligible. Why such a man should
draw attention to himself by wear
ing a loud check suit vas q sartorial
mystery, the solution of which was
either subtly complex or simple van