Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
The Wrist
Mark
By
]. S. Fletcher

/ johnson looked round, and, seeing q
! quiet-looking tea shop, pointing to 1t.
I'm going in there" he said. You
find out this mans name and the rest
of it. Then come to me at that tea
shop with the lad you're talking about
But, on your way, show him the man.
He turned on his heel and made Tor
the tea shop, in corner of which Sill
verstein found him half-an-hour later
johnson looked up to inspect Silver
STEMS companion, young man whose
brilliant eyes took in johnson as OBJ
Servantly as Johnson's critical gaze took
| in him.
Hell do" muttered johnson. Look
here, my lad" he went on, you order
your tea, and order a good one-some-
thing solid-you mightn't get anything
to eat for some hours, 50 tuck in
Wel III HI he S Continued IS the lac
THE mans name Is Beckett. He's a
working farmer ut Starrick, along the
dale: his place is called. Starrick
Priory-it's q queer old spot that was
once a religious house, monastery or
nunnery. He's been there q good many
Fyears-10 or IL. Lives there by himself
"a bachelor"
How far away is this placer" asked
Johnson.
About five miles northwest Of Barows-
burgh. Straight up the dale for the
wild country and you md Starrick
Priory in a sort of narrow ravine that
opens into the dale"
mo village near?"
"There is village of the same name
-Starrick-further up the dale, mile
or so beyond where you turn on for the
old priory. They call it q village, but
It's only collection Of houses"
"Is there a policeman there?" asked
Johnson. For that might be impor-
tant."
"Tnere's a policeman there. yes-his
cottage has the usual constabulary sign
on it. You're thinking Of going out
there? I'll run you out In my car"
NO." said johnson. MY plans are
otherwise. Let that boy finish stunning
himself and III tell him before you
what he's to do"
Silverstein smiled his acquiescence.
you think you've made an important
discovery" he suggested.
II think" replied johnson. that the
mere identification Of Beckett as Set
tie, the ex-warder Of Southmoor, is
very important, Mr.. Silverstein. The
bits of the puzzle seem to be fitting
themselves together. Smelling, the eS-
capped convict, IL found at Barows-
burgh, where he's known as Mr.. San
derson, J. p, a country gentleman with
financial interests; Hardie, who escaped
with him, Is under his roof as butler,
with the name Of Hewitt; close by, en-
gagged in the peaceful pursuits OF the
farmer, is Settle, who now, calling him
self Beckett, herds sheep instead OF
men! Come, come-the whole thing Is
q bit obvious"
"You make of it-what?" asked ST.
verstein.
why, just this" replied johnson.
''That Settle, Of course, was squared to
connive at the escape Of these two men;
probably he helped to engineer 1t.
Afterward he kept In touch with
Smelling. Smelling, no doubt, as San
derson, set him up ct the Starrick
Priory farm, and, knowing what know
now, should say that Settle is In pos
session of the truth about the murder
Of Col Engleden and Millwaters"
And you mean to have 1t out Of
him?"
81 mean to try. And-but your young
mans finished"
silverstein's assistant came across to
them. johnson pointed to chair OPP
poSite his own.
sit down, my lad.s he said as he
bent over the table Nov listen. Mr.
1AAFVAcbGA4A POAl6CA OQt . AA0A1 W JO0
just now in the market and you took q
good look at him? Now, want you TO
go into the market again and look for
that man, and without seeming to do
so you'll just watch and follow him
wherever he goes. It's now 5 o'clock.
Come and look for me at the Brown
Cow at o'clock and report progress.
But, mind you, If the mans left the
town before that come sooner Now be
on-and mind he doesn't spot you'll"
The lad went out of the tea shop and
johnson turned smilingly to Silverstein.
He'll do that better than should"
he said well, now I'll say good-by for
the present"
He went away, affecting indifference
to his surroundings when he got out Of
the tea shop, but he was keeping an
eye on everything as he crossed the
square. and presently, seeing o gun
smiths shop, he walked in. Securing
the attention Of its proprietor, he drew