Evening star., 1932-06-22

i Wimbledon instead and have an
Interview with Mrs. Martin
Oering. formerly Miss Sylvia Pearson.
There were no signs of shabbiness
about the Nook. New and shoddy,"
was how Inspector Narracott described
1t to himself.
Mrs. Dering was at home. A rather
pert-looking maid dressed in lilac color
showed him into rather overcrowded
drawing room. He gave her his official
card to take to her mistress.
Mrs. Dering came to him almost i'm
mediately
L suppose you have come about poor
Uncle Joseph" was her greeting. Its
Shocking-really shocking! am so
dreadfully nervous about burglars N.Y.
self. I had two extra bolts put on the
back door last week and new patent
catches on the windows
Sylvia Dering. the inspector knew
from Mrs. Gardner, was only 25, but
she looked considerably over 80. She
was small and fair and anemic- looking,
with a worried and harassed expression.
Her voice had a family complaining
note. Still, not allowing the inspector
to speak, she went on:
If there's anything can do to help
you in any way, of course, I shall be
only too glad to do so. but one hardly
ever saw Uncle Joseph He wasn't a
very nice mani am sure he couldn't
have been, Not the sort Of person one
could go to in trouble, always carpinp
and criticizing. Not the sort of man
who had any knowledge of what litera-
ture meant. SucceSS-true SUGGESTS
not always measured in terms of money,
inspector"
At last she paused.
Il gather you've not seen your uncle
Of late years"
Il have seen him only twice since nv
marriage. On the second occasion he
was really very rude to Martin. OF
course, he was a regular philistine In
every way-devoted to sport. No an
ture"
Husband applied to him for a loan
and got refused" was Inspector Nara
colts private comment on the situation.
Just as matter Of form, Mrs. Der
ing. will you tell me what your move
ments were yesterday afternoon"
My movements? What a very queer
way Of putting it. inspector. I played
bridge most of the afternoon and q
friend came in and spent the evening
with me as my husband was out"
out? Away from home altogether?"
"A literary dinner" explained Mrs.
Dering with Importance. He lunched
with an American publisher and had
this dinner in the evening"
That seemed quite fair and above
board. He went on.
Your younger brother Is in Aus
tralia, believe. Mrs. Dering?"
Yes"
You have his address?"
"Oh, yes, I can find it for you If you
wish-rather a peculiar name-Ive
forgotten it for the minute Some
where in New South Wales"
And now, Mrs. Dering, your elder
brother?"
"Jim?"
Yes; shall want to get in touch
with him"
Mrs. Dering hastened to supply him
with the address-the same as that
which Mrs Gardner had already given
him.
Then, feeling there was no more to
be said on either side, he cut the inter-
view short. BY the time he returned
to town it would be Z o'clock-a likely
time, he hoped, for finding Mr.. James
Pearson at home.
The same superior looking, middle
aged woman took him to a room on
the second floor.
A young man In evening dress was
III llIc VI lllc AOOIil
He was good looking indeed, handsome,
II you took no account of the rather
weak mouth and the irresolute slant Of
the eyes He had a haggard. worried
look and an air Of not having had much
sleep Of late. He looked tnquiringly
at his visitor.
II am detective Inspector Nara
cott," he began-but got no further.
With q hoarse cry the young man
dropped on to a chair, flung his arms
out IN front Of him on the table. bow
ing his head on them and muttering:
"Oh! My Godl It's come"
Inspector Narracott looked exceed
tngly stolid and unintelligent.
Il am investigating the death Of your
uncle. Capt. Joseph Trevelyan. May I
ask you, sir, If you have anything to
say?"
The young man rose slowly to his