Evening star., 1930-10-02
CHAPTER xxx.
THE MISSING STONE.

A FTER Caroline went up to her
n room found myself with two
II hours on my hands before din
The ruin of the little village
| had dcSpreSsed our spirits and 1t had
left me in a restless mood.
I searched about the place for Flique.
The little man was not to be found, so
/ / set off around The Gut, intending to
inf1ict myself on Prof. Johns.
BY the time I reached the fort 1t was
dark. 1 heard voices and a moment
later found Flique and Johns chatting
| in front of the tower door. Flique had
a game bag slung over his shoulder and
a small rife in his hand.
| Monsieur has the melancholy look, ="
he remarked facetiously as drew near.
Has Ia petite demoiselle abandoned
him?"
why the rife?" I inquired.
FliQue chuckled. THAT excellent
Lum We promised me friend rabbit
for breakfast If should bring one to
him"
"And you got one?"
Flique patted the game bag, the nap
of which was strapped down.
"I am an excellent shot, monsieur" "
he said. "Lum We assured me the tat
ones lived over here"
Probably they do" said, grinning.
"Prof. Johns keeps lettuce patch for
them"
m. lie Professor does not approve of
my hunt" Flique chuckled. rs it not
so, monsieur"
"I do not approve of taking life un-
less it cannot be avoided" Prof. Johns
answered. "But am not crank. I
believe a man has right to please
| himself"
"a wise word, that. 1t is all very well,
no doubt, this passion for the birds and
the fishes and the rabbits, but man
must eat, and to eat he must kill"
F1ique patted his plump stomach. Your
animals kill, do they not?"
"They are as nature made them" :"
Prof Johns replied. "As q scientist, I
accept the cruelty Of nature as neces-
sary to the continuation OF life; as q
human being, I deny 1t"
Monsieur is a philosopher" Flique
| beamed But are we not as we are
made, yes-saint and assassin"
"You mean nothing can change us?"
Prof. Johns said thoughtfully. I'm not
so sure of that. Parados, now-could
anything have changed him? doubt
him? Parados blighted every PERSONAL
ity he touched. Might not the seed Of
murder in the heart Of the one who
killed him have been planted there by
Parados himself?"
Monsieur intrigues me-" F1ique MUIR
INJURED. But will not the seed Of mur-
der that is planted In the-um-essen-
no-lirl-tiaat word, NJ. pAntiquaire?"
Flique demanded sharply.
~Nourishment for it. suggested.
"Precisement! I thank you. E.
Monsieur cofnprehends?"
Monsieur did, it appeared, but he
stuck to his guns.
And If the seed brings its own nour-
ishment, M. F1ique-what them" Prof
Johns took of his glasses. I'VE who
have known Parados over period Of
years-his wife. myself, Miss Celia, Mr..
Annersley, Miss Jahries, average men
and woman, all of us-do you think
.Parados did not touch us with his evil
genius? Monsieur, predict that when
you put your hand on the one who
killed Parados and Granger 1t will be
upon one of our own group"
"a serious charge, mon ami" F1ique
said, frowning.
Prof. John laughed unsteadily. Here
| am boring you with my theories. That
! is one of the results Of living alone.
Won't you come inside?"
FTiuue accepted the invitation and we
preceded John into the tower, the
| ground floor of which was occupied by
| frewood, gardening tools and packing
cases. A stair gave access to the floor
above. Ascending 1t, we found ourselves
\ In q comfortable square room which
evidently served as living quarters and
a study.
Two Of the adobe walls were COW
cred with books-sicentiflc and philo-
sophical works. There were shabby
chairs, a picture or two, several warm
looking rugs, and q battered desk upon
which stood lamp, pair Of field
| glasses and telephone.
/ The desk stood by the north win
down, which would give at daylight an
excellent view Of the house on the other
side of The Gut. Lights marked the
positions of many OF the windows, and
was able to see the fireplace and writ
| ing table in the library and the chairs
| in the sun room.
/ We chatted for perhaps an hour and
a half. Both Johns and Flique revealed
i themselves. as exceptionally well in
/ formed men. When Hendricks, the
boatman, appeared with bundle Of
text books under his arm, we arose
to go.
"You have an excellent teacher!"
F1ique exclaimed
THE best in the world" Hendricks