Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-01-20
CHAPTER So

JAMES face assumed sallow
color as Selden told of James COM
ing home on the Inflated P. & O.
boat from India with his master,
Henry Severinge, and the latter's
friend, Colonel CIR a h a m. His
hands trembled, but Selden went
on in a cold impressive voice.
1.-THE Lucknow went down in a
gale off the Casquet rocks, with
terrible loss of life. The boats that
were launched were smashed to
pieces, and only the arrival Of a
tanker which was able to throw a
lifeline by means of a rocket over
the vessel saved a few survivors,
among whom were the three 1 have
mentioned. - f '"s
Colonel Graham shortly after
wards threw up his commission
and came to settle down at Payn-
ton Manor, and you know the
story of Sir Henry and James.
$50 far had we got, and there
was little doubt that the sudden
wealth must have had some con-
nection with this wreck. I asked
my man to find out all he could
about the other passengers, and
received his information only yes
terday. 1t is conclusive.
ION the same boat there was a
rich tea planter who was coming
home with his young wife-then
shortly to become a mother. He
had brought all his money with
him-a very big fortune-in bonds,
and had boasted about it on the
vessel. He was drowned, but his
wife was saved, half mad with
grief. She seems to have told the
authorities that her husband had
all this money, and that she was
penniless, but in her distracted
condition little notice was taken
of this statement, though it was
recorded at the time. With her
on the boat were the maid and
valet, who had copied their mas
ter's example and been married
before leaving Assam. Their
names were given as Sarah French
(naid) and John Brown (valet) in
the list, but inquiries at Assam.
show that they We're man and
wife.
'By a lucky chance, my man
was able to get hold Of an old
newspaper photograph of some of
the survivors, with the names"
Selden took from his papers a
faded newspaper, and spread it
out.
"There are the two servants,
with the names given, and in spite
Of Hucks' broken nose and his
wife's pince-nez, that she always
wore, and the passage Of time, it
is not difficult to recognize these
two as Mr.. and Mrs. Hucks."
He passed the paper round to
the astonished Ii ers, who
viewed it in complete silence, wait
ing fol-, the rest.
"There are gaps, of course, but
have no shadow of doubt in my
mind that these two servants sus-
pected that Severinge and Graham
tl1U SCO10II L1I01T 1IIdSCCI . 1IlOI1GY
and had followed them up with
implacable hatred, and have final
ly taken their revenge on both Sir
Henry and Colonel Graham"-he
looked straight at James-"for the
theft, and probably the murder of
their master, Henry Escott."
A strangled cry came from
James, who had half risen to his
feet, and Hutchins forced him back
into his chair.
Colonel Graham dead!" His
immobility had gone, and he shook
like man with palsy.
"He was burnt to death in his
own strong room," Selden said
solemnly. 'Now, perhaps, James,
you will tell us the truth"
The butler sank to his seat with
sob, and covered his face with
his hands. They waited for him
to recover, feeling that at last a |
revelation would be made that
would clear up the mystery. He