Evening star., 1933-07-06
nheWhife { C,oCIkafoo
BY Misses G. Eterksre )

% G. Eterksrs'
for be seemed In q sudden mood to cut
the present inquiry short.
He asked the priest number Of short
questions, to which Father Robart re-
piled imperturbably and with apparent
satisfaction to every one, and q small
man in civilian clothes e. doctor evi-
dently) appeared from somewhere and
made q brief examination Of the body.
It was then removed, and before I
could quite credit my good luck they
we're all leaving.
No, not quite all, for as turned into
my room with sigh Marcel, who had
appeared from somewhere while the
others were leaving, rose from poking
the fire. -
IT will 60 now" he said. "Is there
anything monsieur wishes?"
"No, Marcel. Only sleep and the rest
Of the night in peace. But wait-who
took the dagger from the dead mans
chest and put 1t up there on the clock
AGAIN."
His shining black eyes were bright
impenetrable shield to the knowledge
knew he must have.
II do not know, monsieur" he said
In his politeSt manner.
But as he reached the door he turned
and looked soberly at me.
Monsieur" he said slowly, "s q
brave but a very foolish man."
With which comforting reflection he
left me alone.
Alone, I thought wearily, at last.
hoped most heartily there would be no
more intruders. To make sure Of 1t I
went to the door. But Sue had been
right; there was no key and no bolt. I
moved the table against the door in
such q manner that any one trying to
enter would Immediately wake me.
I must have gone straight to sleep
from very weariness. Once woke with
an immediate recollection Of where
was and what had happened. and the
impression that there was a sound like
sobbing somewhere in that deserted
| wing. But I must have sunk back into
sleep at once, for In the morning 1t was
only Q faint recollection.
The morning was cold and the wind
was still blowing. woke late, and when
I rang for coffee and Marcel brought 1t
asked him what had been done.
Nothing, monsieur" he said. He
looked tired and hollow-eyed but his
eyes were still excited. "The police were
here again but have gone. They are
making inquiry"
That was . curious day.
Only Lovschiem was about when
went downstairs-Lovschiem and his
white cockatoo. The cockatoo greeted
me with a cluck and looked with inter-
| Lovschiem said good morning unctu-
ously and was going for walk. He
made 1t clear at once that, to him at
least, our somewhat strained relation
Of the previous night was thing for
gotten.
"A little fresh air." said. "Is there
any news?"
There was, he said, no news. He
looked bad in the clear morning light
dark and hverish; but he was still
! suave.
Did you have a good sleep?" he
asked too pleasantly and with an oily
effect of rubbing his hands together,
which, in actuality, he was not doing
at all. one hand being engaged in strok-
| ing the white neck of the cockatoo.
Pucci was watching my hand with
| his head on one side and appeared to
| be meditating as to the taste and bite
able qualities Of cigarettes. drew my
hand away and replied shortly and
honestly that I had slept very well,
upon which Lovschiem looked incon-
sistently disappointed.
Americans" he said. forgetting for
the moment his own claims, ARE like
the British. You are phlegmatic You
have no nerves. You would not believe
how nervous become. did not sleep
at all could not"
I thought but did not say that bad
consciences had been known to have
that effect and walked out.
The little town was strange to me,
but I did not feel like exploring it. In
stead. followed the road to the bridge
walked half across 1t, found spot
sheltered from the wind and stood
there. leaning against the railing and
watching the water flowing below, or
looking at the white, clean-swept old
place, with its stretch of white wall
that the Romans had built. and its
close-huddled peaks and red roofs, and
I smoked and tried to think out the
grisly puzzle Of the night.
After awhile I walked some, but
thoughtfully and without noting any
thing in particular, and it was not until
about lunch time when turned again
into the hotel that happened to look
around and discover a blue-capped
figure at discreet distance. I did not
know or care how long he had been
following me, but I must say it gave
me q rather chilly sensation up my
spine.
And the edge of my appetite was q
little dulled when discovered that dur
ing my absence my room and my bags
had been thoroughly searched, and
that with no attempt at concealment,
which could only mean the police
ate alone in the chilly dining room
with Marcel serving me really excel
lent lunch. Father Robart had appar-
emily eaten early, for his table had
been cleared. Mrs. Byng and Sue Tally
did not appear.
fingered for some time in a not un-
natural wish to see her again. She
played so large and important q part
in the train of surmise and supposition
that had set itself going in my mind
that wanted very much to see her,
and that in the cool and logical and
Unconditional light of day.
It was not, however, until toward
evening that I saw her again, and then
she was with David Lorn, and they
were talking.
| Tomorrow, David Lorn takes up his
role in this sinister drama.