Evening star., 1935-12-01
Magazine Section


unsuggestive, depressing. They wandered
listlessly from room to room
I'm glad the furniture is gone" Ann
shivered. One cannot even picture what it
was like that night"
mot thing left that belonged to the poor
fellow" Colin observed. That's natural
enough, though. The lawyers had everything
sold. and the money went into our estate
About two hundred pounds worth of fur
nture believe there was
They wandered into the scullery and out
by the back door Fixed close to the wall was
a small zinc receptacle for rubbish. Colin,
stirred by the idlest impulse of curiosity,
turned over the fragments of torn paper and
cigarette ends with his stick. Suddenly Ann
pointed downwards.
Isn't that letter there2" she exclaimed.
Colin stopped down and gingerly drew out
an envelope He held it up. "It's never been
opened, he exclaimed.
Ann leaned over his shoulder. "Its ad-
dressed to our benefactor, too" she pointed
out. "A foreign postmark What is it"
Looks like Ecuador To Mr. Desmond
Rookie, The North Cliff Bungalow, Isle of
Sark, Channel Islandsr"
well, we have as much right to it as any
one." Ann observed. I'VE are two of the
Rookie legatees. Let's open it. I'm curious"
Colin hestated. I'm not sure" he re-
fected. "lf we sent it up to Eastman, he
would open it on behalf of all of us. Rather
taking it upon ourselves, isn't it?'
Don't be silly" she laughed. "Its prob
ably only an advertisement. Come on -
open it."
Colin did as he was bidden There was an
enclosure which he kept between his fingers.
The letter was dated from an hotel in Quito.
His tone as he commenced to read, was only
mildly Interested. The note of tragedy crept
into it later.
my dear Nathaniel:
hope you are well, still enjoying the
beautiful island and living in the dignihed
seclusion which belongs to your new per-
sOnality. At any rate, you are your own
master now; and if you have bought all the
books you we're talking about, you must be
getting to be quite clever fellow.
This is mar Velous country, and my luck
seems to have held. knowing what careful
fellow you are, / am quite sure that you have
not yet spent the money left, but have
sent you another cheque on Barclays, which
expect you can cash at the branch there. If I
were you | should buy boat and take to
fishing it should keep you amused. You
know | am rich man, and you can accept
the cheque without any fear of robbing me.
rather smile as | address this letter to
myself. but Isuppose you are still living under
my hOnored name. l may be coming over on
business before very long but will give you
plenty of notice and you can. if you like,
come back with me if your health permits.
That doctor chap in Harley Street seemed to
me trife gloomy but the others may work
wonders for you.
hope none of those swine in the city have
been bothering you. | made money with
them. but I'm sorry ever joined up.
You can writ me if you like to the cor
respondent of barclays Bank here Don't for
get the agreed-upOn address. Ever yours,
DESMOND ROOKIE"
Colin turned his head to find Ann staring
up into his face What in heavens name is
the meaning of that. Colin?" she exclaimed.
I'm hanged if know"
He opened out the slip of paper 1t was
cheque for five hundred pounds payable to