Evening star., 1936-03-22

gested taking him up to some club for drink;
then as they were running through Regents
Park in the taxi Phbeach pointed to car
that was speeding bit. When Sandy leaned
forward to look out of the window, Philbeach
picked up the knobkerrie and struck him
over the head"
How terrble!" exclaimed Patricia.
Wasn't it? When poor Sandy came to
again the taxi man was shaking him and
telling him that he had reached the address
that his friend had given in Golders Green. Of
course Philbeach had disappeared, and the
knobkerrie with him."
But didn't the taxi man or anyone in the
street notice what was going on?'
apparently not. Sandy went out to
Wembley this morning, where this chap
PhilbeaCh lives, and was told that he had left
there last night
Il wonder what Phbeach is up to? 1t
looks as though he means to do bit of
treasure seeking, toe" Patricia suggested
That's about the only explanation there is
for it and, as matter of fact, that's why
Sandy decided to tell me what really had
happened. He seems to think Phbeach may
attempt to get the leopard-skin from me-.
How could he know that you have it,"
"If he is sufficiently interested in this thing
to risk cracking Sandy's skull. he probably
knows the whole family history and may even
have been watching us yesterday when we
walked out of old Bullett's office with our
various bits of native gear"
Patricia nodded. "Yes. suppose so, but
why did Sandy take the trouble to invent
that story about taxi smash-up?'
Michael sat back with a sudden chuckle
He dislikes the Benefits 50 much that he
couldn't bear the thought of confessing in
front of them that he had been fooled"
For few moments Patricia sat in silence
When she looked up her eyes were grave and
little unhappy. Michael" she said sud-
denly, do you ever tell lies?"
well - no" he smiled, not about serious
things. 1t makes me feel uncomfortable"
She nodded. Yes so it does me- That's
why want to tell you something"
"Whata" he asked quietly.
Father would be furious if he knew that
l had let the cat out of the bag. but we are
going to Africa - too"
About an hour after Michael had gone,
Patricias step-father telephoned to say that
he was bringing friend home to dinner and
when they arrived Patricia did not know just
what to make of this new acquaintance -
introduced as Philip Wisdom. A big. clustering
man of about fifty whose small, pig-like eyes
looked even more minute in his coarse, heavy
face and were calculating and unsmiing even
when he laughed. Instinctively Patricia felt
that he was not to be trusted.
During dinner Henry Long gave Patricia
brief explanation of VISIONS presence. He
was it appeared, not actually a South
African but had lived there for many years
and, curiously enough, had known Uncle
John. He had been concerned in some small
transaction between the two brothers a
number of years before and, his name having
occurred to Henry that morning, he had gone
along to Wisdon's old address. The ensuing
conversation had resulted in Mr. Wisdons
being engaged as their courier and general
assistant on the trip.
After dinner they adjourned to the study,
where Henry outlined the whole of the situa-
tion for VISIONS benefit When Henry had
finished, Wisdom shook his head gavely
We've got to fly - that's all there is for it,"
he stated. 'Of course we may run up against
McDiamid i if he goes by air too, but we've
got to chance that"
Sandy is returning to South Africa on the