Evening star., 1932-08-14


"Alors, again." went on Winters "You have
enough money to take care of you for some
time / have a shack down on the island.
suggest that you pull the great disappearance
act &c down there. shoot ducks. tease fishes,
and put in some thinking. I have spoken"
4 hAITLAND VINCENT was sprawled on the
iN' dock Half of his long body was harging
over the end of it. His bare arms were moving
about in the cold water hunting for periwinkles.
A periwinkle is a small univalve mollusk and
is also fairly good bait. He found several
clinging to the granite foundation. Tearing off
a few handfuls, he made pile Of them. He
cracked open the little horns and removed the
meats.
It was Thursday morning and Maitland had
not yet been there a week He would have
denied that but, as you would have Mr.. Phlllp
Winters Mr. Jasper Bellew, Miss Delma Hughes
and the calendar on your side his denial would
get him nowhere. Maitland very close to
nowhere as it was. His mind was lowering on
a cloud of indecsion, which was being bufeted
about by winds Of futile hope and possible
regret
A dory which the ancient mariner might
have known was tied to the side of the dock
There were three inches of unpasteurized water
in it. Winters shack was half mile away,
and the beach was almost as far. Maitland built
I'D more proof concerning Inventions parentage
by placing the end of his legs the thwart
In the stern and the end of his vertebrae on the
thwart amidships, and rowing awkwardly but
calmly away About 500 yards out he pulled in
his oars and, putting large gelatinous peri
winkle on his hook, he dropped his line over
the side
The water wasn't very deep or very active.
On the sea bottom a crab was engaged in prac-
ficip lobster annr0qchpd
ticed the crab and detoured The crab, sens
ing the snub, discontinued his endeavors and
staggered melancholicaly away.
Suddenly cleaning object appeared several
yards from the bait. As it came nearer Matt
land saw that there were two cleaning objects
He decided that they were cod. Side by side
they cut parallel arcs and angles, along which
they Travelled. Then they separated. One Of
them remained short distance away, while the
other circled about the hook and regarded the
periwinkle With movement which indicated
long experience he leaped at the hook.
Maitland found himself looking down at
bare hook and happy fish devouring peri
winkle When the fish had dined it turned
around, apparently to join its companion. But
the other fish had gone
DEFORE the restaurant door was opened for
- him. Maitland could hear the trio roaring
out the Anvil Chorus The anvil Chorus was
not written to be played by trios, nor was it in
tended that it should be played in restaurants
1t was, nevertheless, helpful to Maitland. Its
vigorous notes spelled out the word soup"
which was an excellent omen. Maitland did
not intrust his coat hat and scarf to the care
of the cloakroom girl He kept them on. The
little dark man behind the large light mus
tache started to stop him, recognized him, and
proceeded to beat what those who concern
themselves with such things would call hasty
retreat.
Delma was sitting at her usual table.
Her greeting was so cool that the air threat
ened to become liquid
II know all about it., Maitland said. I'm no
longer one Of your acquaintances and all that
Now, lsten!'
He spoke slowly With delicate attention to
detail, he told her of the dctum which his
uncle had laid down, of his conversation with
Philip Winters, and of the week he had spent
at Winters shack.
When all was told Delma said, in tones which
were warmer but by no means passionate, Sop
I'm here" Maitland pointed out. "Tve dis
obeyed his old order. And we've lost the million.
I'm going back to work tomorrow. Can you
get the afternoon off?"
Delma thought that she could.
Then" said Maitland conclusively, "well be
married"
Wait" demanded Delma, until I finish this
soup"
JASPER BELLEW was sitting in his swivel
- chair, gazing at the map on the wall. One
of the beneficiaries of a trust fund which the
firm handled lived in Calcutta. That fact gave
Jasper a feeling of international importance.
Jaspers nervousness of a week before had van
ished. There was nothing for him to do and he
was quite confident that he was equal to the
task
Miss Dlly opened the door Of Jaspers Office.
Mr.. Vincent is here" she said.
h. roI OfA " UtyHno
were simultaneous. Nor was he alone. Behind
him trailed Miss Delma Hughes and Mr.. Philip
Winters.
Miss Dilley started to leave
Stay here" commanded Maitland. We're
going to need you"
She STAYED 1t was the first time in years