Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22

ny r. FORTUNE felt the cold. The
HH frosty trees slid sparkling by, and
/HA he huddled into the corner of the
car, and his fur coat rose to his
ears and from time to time, he
moaned family.
The chief Of the Criminal Investigation De-
partment had snatched him from his breakfast
to look at some bones found in the garden Of
the tax collector of Sandton, which the de-
partment wished to ascribe to the collectors
vanished mother in-law. And the bones were
not human. So you behold him on that cold
November morning, miserable and lavender
pink, with the Hon. Sidney Tomas and Supt.
Bell In car that was seldom doing more than
forty.
"Are you all right, sir?" said Bell anxiously,
for Mr.. Fortune had moaned again.
mo. I'm not dead. Why bring me in Q
hearse?"
Herewith the car slowed to q walk writhed
this way and that through the narrow tor
tuous streets Of Midworth, and stopped at the
police station.
Mr. Fortune rolled into the police station to
find the chief constable in disrespectful laugh
ter under the glacial stare Of Lomas' eyeglass.
$50 it wasn't ma-in-law! Bits Of old musuem
stun! like that!"
Thanks, 30 much" Reggie sighed, and held
out to the fire one small foot.
Wouldn't Hike another job, Lomas?" the
chief constable ehuckled. might get you an
other good laugh, you know. This has Just
come in." He held out q message Burglary
ut Watlings last night. Sir Henry Exon's coll
lection Of iewelry was stolen. What do you
know about that? Perhaps you could find 1t
In the garden. Like ma-in-law."
Thus Mr.. Fortune was thrust into memoir
able case.
Tomas looked at the chief constable and
took the message. Eyes, think it IS rather
beyond you," he said. "If Exon had an eficient
burglar, some intelligence will be required.
Watlings. That's his place In the weald,
isn't it,"
Eyes. Back Of nowhere. I was just go
ing up"
WHO Is this Croesus that collects jewelry and
keeps 1t somewhere on the map?" asked Mr..
Fortune.
Hes the fellow who gave his collection Of
jade to the nation. Hence the nighthood.
But he's quite dear old thing. His father
Was the big antique dealer Of the time. Henry
Exon gave up the shop and collected for the
love Of it. Pretty well everything. China,
miniatures, jewels, silver. His fat in town is
like the Arabian nights. I've dined there. but
they say he keeps the best of his things down
at his country place"
1--WE heard there was some wonderful stuff
at Watlings," said the chief constable. Silver
and such like. American millionaires come
down to see it. I didn't know he went in for
jewels. A collection of jewelry Sounds lus-
cious, doesn't it?"
II know he had the Melrose candlestick, but
he sold that to some man in Boston. He
bought those old things they dug up in France
last year. Snapped 'em up when the Louvre
people were late with bid"
Reggie stirred. "You appeal to my better
feelings LomaS."
"That sort Of collection-just the thing to
catch the eye Of some of the International
crooks" said Bell.
eyes. Yes. The trained taste is Indicated
Reggie murmured.
WATLINGs was timbered farmstead. It
had been made into little country house
with all the comforts, and still loked as II
Queen Anne had built it. Sir Henry Exon, q
little elegant old man. white Of hair, with
white mustache and imperial on skin of am
Der, was in the period, too-his clothes rather
loose, rather q brighter blue than age now
chooses, pink cuffs half hiding beautiful hands,
the picturesque formality of his manners max
ing harmony with his linen-fold paneling and
the furniture In its simple elegance of damask
and gold
There were ceremonious introductions. "And
now" said Sir Kenry, now you will permit me
to explain my misfortune. had here q small
collection Of old goldsmith's work. Some
Etrlscan. some Greek, little Of the Meroving-
ian period and the Celtic culture and several
things Of the Viking age, and rather more
medieval work"
Eyes yes. All museum pieces?" Reggie muir
Injured.