Evening star., 1934-12-25
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ANA By VICTOR BRIDGES =
By VICTOR BRIDGES

the trouble of writing me an unpleas-
ant letter"
IF you prefer to adopt generous
attitude, there's no more to be said.
Still, I can't help feeling that you
have behaved in a rather quixotic
manner. Legally speaking, your posi-
ton was unassailable. You have done
nothing which could be regarded as
misconduct, and If the committee was
foolish enough to expel you from the
club, they would undoubtedly be lay
ing themselves open to an action for
heavy damages"
1T wasn't generosity" I objected.
I'm fed up with the whole stupid
bunch, and until I've proved my in
nocence, I don't want TO have any
thing more to do with them" I I'm.
ished my glass and glanced at the
clock. About time I was toddling
home" I added. I'm afraid I've kept
you up to an unholy hour, but it's
your fault for being so kind and
having such wonderful port"
There's plenty more in the cellar
when you feel like sampling 1t again" !"
He rose to his feet. "Well, good
night. my boy. Take care Of yourself,
and if there's any possible way in
which can be of further help to you,
don't hesitate to let me know. I'll
come and see you out because fancy
the servants have gone to bed"
He accompanied me into the hall,
and waving him good night as he
stood on his doorstep, I started of
along the deserted pavement of Bar
ton street.
Considering all Cresswell's kindness
and generosity, I had felt distinctly
uncomfortable at not being able to
tell him the truth. Apart, however,
from the fact that he would certainly
disapprove of the line which Jerry
and proposed to take, there was the
insurmountable barrier Of my prom
ise to Sir William Avon.
It was Sir William who had put
us on to what, at all events, might
prove to be the right track. and until
he gave me permission to disclose
his dealings with Osborne, I was in
honor bound to respect his confidence.
If I could discover the real MUIR
derer through my own efforts, the
whole story would naturally be bound
to come out. Failing that, the o,ly
decent course was to stick to my woro
even If by doing so robbed my If
Of the much-needed help and counsel
which Mr.. Cresswell was in a position
to supply.
As emerged into Parliament
Square, the hands Of Big Ben were
pointing to half-past IL. It was
a dark, windy night. with masses Of
black clouds chasing each other
threateningly across the sky. Spots
of rain were already beginning to fall,
and having no desire to get wet
through, I stopped q passing taxi
and instructed the man to take me to
Whitehall Court.
During the brief drive my mind was
chiefly occupied with thoughts Of
Molly. In the absence Of Jerry, who,
in company with George. had set of,
for Leigh directly after breakfast, she
and I had whiled away q pleasant
and uneventful day wandering about
Hampstead Heath, lunching at the
Spaniards and walking back through
Regents Park.
She had been in the best Of spirits
and apparently not in the least nerv-
GUS. Nothing suspicious or unusual
had happened since the incident with
the waiter on the previous afternoon
and I had finally left her at the
hotel at $50, when she had an
nounced her intention Of having an
early dinner. and reading a novel In
her bed room.
There was nothing in all this tc
make me the least apprehensive, and