Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-25


looking one Of London's busiest
thoroughfares, he got through con-
siderably larger volume Of work than
he disposed Of in his uninspiring bureau
on the Thames Embankment.
/ Steel. his assistant, christened the
nat Newest Scotland Yard" and GER
tainly had Justification, for here. more
! often than not, we're held the confer
ences which brought the big fve-an
ever-changing quantity - about the
council board.
| Something In the nature Of q subcom-
mittee was sitting on the day that Au-
drey Bedford was released from prison.
| Sergt Steel, who specialized in society
cases-it was the yards boast that he
was the best dressed man in London
and Inspector Lane, late Of Bow street,
now Of Marylebone. was the third.
You didn't see her?" asked the in
spector.
Dick Shannon shook his head.
by the time I got to the governor
was useless looking for her I've given
| instructions to the stations that the mo-
| ment she reports-she hasn't completed
the whole of her sentence-they are to
report to me-"
There was a miscarriage Of justice.
| II ever there was one" he said. And
vet. for the life of me- can't see what
other verdict the jury could have re-
| turned"
But If she was innocent" said Steel,
puzzled. what was easier than for her
to speak? 1t is not innocent to hide the
guilty"
Let us lift the discussion out Of the
| base realms of metaphysics" said Dick
| testify. What about Mr. Malpas?"
Hes a mystery" said Lane unneces-
sarily, land the house Is more so. So
| far as can find. he has been in occu-
patton of ssh Portman square since
January, 1917, and has been there most
| of the time. Nobody has seen him.
| We had a complaint last year from
Lacy Marshall. who lives next door.
that he was disturbed by knockings at
night, but we could only advise him to
take summons. Malpas pays his bills
regularly. and when he came into the
house (which Is his own property. by
! the way) he spent a considerable sum
! in renovation. A big italian firm OF
| Turin fitted the house with electric
lighting, burglar alarms and various
other gadgets. though can't trace any
furniture going in
Are there any servants?"
None; that's the strangeSt thing. NO
| food goes into the house, which means
| that he must eat outside or starve. I've
| had men watch the back and front OF
the house, but he has slipped them
every time, though they're seen Few
interesting things"
Dick Shannon smoothed his chin.
1T isn't an offense to be recluse."
he said. but it is an offense to engage
in a conspiracy. Bring in the girl,
Steel"
Steel went out. to return with an
overpowdered young lady. who nodded
coolly to the company and took the
chair which Steel, with an air, pushed
up to her.
miss Nielsen. you are professional
dancer-diSengaged?
"I'm that" She said laconically.
II want you to tell us about your
visit to ssh Portman square"
She was not particularly anxious or
willing to talk.
IF I had known was speaking to
detective when got so talkative the
other night, wouldn't have said so
much" she admitted frankly. You
haven't any right to question me"
You practically accused gentleman
who holds a responsible position OF at
tempting to engage you in conspr-
acy." said Dick THAT is very serious
accusation to make"
II didn't say it was a conspiracy"
she denied quickly. "All I said was
that the old gentleman, who was per
feet stranger to me. asked me II
would start something at Mr.. Mar
shafts house-that's next door. He
wanted me TO go there one evening and
make a fuss-to start screaming that
Mr.. Marshall was a scoundrel, break
window and get arrested"
He didn't tell you why?"
She shook her head.
mo. It wasn't my job anyhow. And
i was only too glad to get out-the man
gave me the creeps." She shivered
you've heard of ugly men? Well. you
don't know what ugliness Is. And
scared! You have to sit at a table at
one end of the room while he sits at
the other. And the room is all dark
except for little light on the desk
where he sits. The house is full of
ghosts-thats how 1t seemed to me.
Doors open by themselves and voices
talk to you from nowhere. When I
got out on the street again, I could
have gone down on my knees and said
q prayer Of Thanksgiving"
IF you were a stranger to him. how
did he come to know you?" asked
Dick. puzzled and suspicious
Her explanation was logical
He got my name out of a theatrical
newspaper-I'm in the want engage
ment' columns" she said.
Lane questioned her closely, but her
story held and presently they let her
.~n -. 49,. AZ, .