A ROMANCL ROV

I had not sent my name up to him, but simply an urgent message that a %ntlumm wished to sce him on very pressing and important business.

“Whom have I the pleasure to address 27 he inquired as he bowed suffly,

“ My name is Dick Donovan, “Lam- '

He mtunuptul me by exclaming :

I answered.

“ O, ves, 1 have heard of you. You are A detective.” T bowed,

• Presumablv.” he con-

tinued, vou have come ;

here in connection with the case of my dear nicce 2’ He seemed to be overcome by cmotion, and turning towards the window he applicd a large bandana handkerchief to his eyes.

“71 am not mdifferent to the faet,” T answered, “ that the subject 15 necessarly a delicate and - painful one. But from an interview 1 had with vour nicee Tam forced 1 to the conclusion that she is only guilty i degree.”

“How do vou mean?” | he asked, turning quickly 0 towards me, with an expres- ston of mental suffermg on s face.

1 mean that she 1s a victim to the machimations ol a villam.”

“A vietim,”? hoarscly. A whom ?”

“To your coachman.”

He almost recled at this announcement, and passed his hand over his bald head m a confusced, distressed way 5 and then, with some- thing like a waill he ex- clammed :

“My God, this 15 an ML awful revelation.”

He rushed towards the hell and was about to ring 1t when 1 stopped him by saving +—

“What arc vou gomg to do?”

“Send for Tupper, the coachman.”

“Wait a bit,” I saad. 1 should Like to have some particulars of Tupper. What 1s his Christtan name 27

“lohn.”

“ Has he been with vou long 27 “Just twelve months, 1 think.”

PR

T

he echoed, victin 1o

TAMWORTIL

A DETECTIUES CASE-BOOK. 201

" Have \()u cver had occasion o suspect hm honesty ? “ Never for a single mstant.”

“Is he married 27

1 cannot tell vou | nothing about his ~affarrs.”

“Well now, I have a suggestion to make, Mr. Tamworth. 1 should like vou to send for “Tupper, and question him closely about what happened on the day that the pendant was stolen. And particu- larly 1 would like vou to put this question to him, after you have skilfully led up to 1t : *Is 1t possible, Tupper, that my unhappy and mis- cuided nicee handed vou the pendant. and vou know what has become of it 277

“ T owill do so. T answered Mr. Tamworth, as he went towards the bell.

“Stopa minute, sin” sard. There 1s one other tmportant pomt. lTtis desir- able that Tupper should not sce me. Can vou con- ceal me behind that sereen m the corner, and m such a posttion that T can sce with- out bemmg scen? And vou must not foruet o place Tupper mosuch o wav that [ can get a full view of his [ace.”

“I don't think there will be any ditheulty o that,” Mr. "Tamworth answered, il and he requested me to o, follow him behind the - sereen. T did so, and taking out his penknife he bored a hole 1 one leal of the screen, so that anvone look- ing through the hole com- manded a full view of the room,

There,” he sad, 1 think that will answer your now we will have the old

flwulutcl_\' know

purposc. And villam here.” He rang the bell, and a very respectable- lookimy mim servant appeared. ' rt,” sand Mro Tamworth, L()ril\ “send the coachman here. T upper s oaway, sir’ “Away Y es.

come back.’

peremp-

He went out last mght and dldnt

")