Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19


two together and found that they made four.
Cardigan had told her because he loved her
very much) about scheme he had been keep
ing up his sleeve ever since he took to flying
a scheme that was to enrich him forever
There's real money in flying" he had
said But about this Just listen to me!
know where can pick up jewels like peb
bles on the beach"
He and she were to lose themselves on the
trip across-not to be heard of for day or
SO; to turn up at last well and sound, with
a story of forced landing far at sea- And
some day, months ahead, it would be found
that Billy-all- alone was missing from his island
And If Messrs Cromwell & James, the famous
jewellers and gem importers of Sydney, whose
name had been on many of old Benison's
checks thought to take alarm and make inquiry
why, it would be too late to find out any
thing.
AS much of this as suited his purpose Bert
got out of the girl She told him further that
her name was Lily Delafield, and that she had
been in trouble of various kinds. Bert drew
his own conclusions.
While she lounged in a long chair carnation
checked, bright of eye, Bert Wills went over
to the windows and looked down. There was
not sign of the pilot. Small wonder. "A man
with his neck broken would sink quickly.
Somebody's hand, soft as snow, fell on his
shoulder Somebody laughed behind him. She
had delectable laugh. this Lily Delafeld.
"What dyou think If you and fly away with
her?
Don't think anything. I can't fly" was
Bert's not very encouraging answer.
Il can" said Lily amazingly. 81 got my
license last year. That's why he took me on
the trip across, instead of any of the other
girls that were crying their eyes out to go.
Think couldn't hop across to New Zealand
from here? Why, it's more than half way, and
the weathers perfect and the bus running
like watch"
Bert was discouragingly silent She went on:
"They don't know him in New Zealand, and
with his spare helmet you'd pass for him
anywhere. Why shouldn't we GO? We could
tell them you flew the bus and just let me do
the landing You tell me where the jewels are.
I'll do everything else. And well go halves.
like you. look at youn
This was nothing new to Bert; women had
always liked him.
He was not in his thoughts unfaithful to
Dorrie or to honesty. Nevertheless, he tenn
porized.
you go and get some Sleep" he told her.
somewhat roughly. Wen talk more when
you're rested"
OF course. he wouldn't do anything dishonest.
But would it be dishonest, according to his own
code? Whom would he be robbing? No one:
if there'd been family, a will
I IKE a sudden stab came the thought of that
long envelop with its seals. He had not
thought of it till now 1t looked like the kind
of envelop that might hold will. But the old
man had had no family. 1t couldn't be will
Bert bit the side of his finger. This matter
held special difficulty for him--difficulty which
ne was not inclined to confide to any one least
of all to Lily.
He locked himself into his room before he
opened the envelop. 1t contained sheet of
thin parchment covered all over with black
characters a in1a he Sflidi cd hold
it to the light and going over and over every
word Then he drew a sigh. Bad he said
folded up the parchment and put it away. The
world had suddenly grown darker, problems
more difficult.
Lily Delafeld was considerably more refiec-
tive when he returned She had smoothed and
tidied herself. and was fully prepared to per-
Suade her companion to her way of thinking
She began harmlessly enough, by asking ques-
lions about Billy-all-alone and what had be-
come of him. Bert's answer seemed to interest
her immensely. She questioned him on the
manner Of Benison's end, the disposal of the
body, the time that had elapsed between death
and slowing away Of the corpse.
You're all right" she assured him. "They
can't do a thing to you. Way take it, he died
of heart attack, unexpected probably never
knew he had it, and P. NJ would tell. that.
Tell the minute he died. and how long it was
before you put him away. Circumstantial evil
dence all in your favor You're lucky"
She seemed to take it for granted that he
was going to need the help of circumstantial
evidence, some time or other. That chilled
him, and, almost more, the plain inference that
she was familiar with trials for murder and
their proceedings.
Before shutdown he had capitulated. Half
unwillingly, he got out the safe key and opened
the safe. She followed him, watching every
step of the proceedings with greedy keenness.
When the gems were out of their cases, tum-
bled forth on the bed where Billy-all-alone had