THE MYSTERY OF RED GABLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 112, 14 May 1938, Page 20

THE MYSTERY OF RED GABLES

(Concluding Chapter of ft Story by Cavell Nichd.)' SEATEDona velvet, heliotrope divan was the mystery woman, minus , her veil. She was smiling at the three children as they came closer, almost timidly. , "So you're, the children I've been told about," she greeted them. "How do you do," stammered Hariy, blushing slightly. "I suppose it's only natural for you to think that there is an air of mystery here," she continued. "But first, please sit down." Doreen, Dick, and Harry ttt down gingerly in deep armchairs, then stared with interest at the "lady—twenty-six, Harry judged'her to be—but then who can tell nowadays? "My liame is Marion; Crawford—" . . ' , U "The film star?" burst out; Doreeii excitedly.; "OhiVjres, Miss Craw* ford, I've heard a lot about you." "Perhaps so," said Miss Crawford, with a smile. 'Silt, let me explain why I took this rambling old place. Sometimes it's noioke being a star. People flock about one like files round a cake. I've grown sick and tired of the public's attention. In London ! was simply mobbed. Press reporters, photographers, autograph hunters, souvenir huntera, and, oh, scores more. All clamoured for my blood, so to speak. I wte tired, of being chased here'.and hunted there, so I decided to have a couple of weeks' complete rest away from everybody, save the servants. "That is why I came to this quiet neighbourhood. X sent my secretary on ahead to look over the place first to make sure it was suitable for me." "Has he got a green limousine?" put in Harry. "Why, yes," agreed Miss Crawford. "I believe hehas." "That clears up the mysterious man who hid his ear among the trees," smiled Doreen. "He didh't want to attract any attention' when looking the place over." ■. '/ "He attracted more attention by hiding his car than otherwise," murmured Harry. ~ .• "Of course," went on the film star, "he found it suitable- Then it didnt take the workmen long to. fix. everything up" 1 * - "Why did you wear that veil?" interrupted Dickie, v; ■ ' , "To avoid being recognised in case anybody sawme/'Miss Crawford explained. "You see, I .didn't want anyone to know lam staying here. But now, of course, the cat's out. of the bag." "Oh, it: won't go past us," burst out Doreen.' "We can keep a secret, can't we, Harry?" "We can," drawled Harry, winking at Dickie, who grinned. "But I'm not sure about you females." ~ > "Oh, you boys are exasperating," Doreen snapped, and tossed her head angrily. , "Come, come," laughed Miss Crawford. "Why fight over it?" , "Oh, yes," said Harry suddenly. "I heard the butler say that Herman is going to shoot you oir Easter Tuesday." "That's right," nodded Marion. "Th-thin you know?"'gasped Harry in amazement, "Oh!" chuckled the star. "I see your meaning 0} it. You see, Herman is our director, and when a scene for the films is being taken it is called 'shooting a scene.' And lamto be 'shot' on that Tuesday, meaning they are going to phatograph me then. See?" "Oh!" gasped all three, like fish out of water. V / "Others are going to be shot at the same time, too, so now you know there's nothing murderous going on." Miss Crawford rose and pressed a button, "I know you all feel like a cup of tea," she smiled. "So make yourselves at homs." The time at Red Gables went all too soon, and at ten o'clock the children bade Marion Crawford good-night. Her secret was to be safe with them, they promised, and home they went to bed. Later next morning Doreen received the shock : of her . young life when, on entering the sitting-room, she raw Harry on the sofa reading "Fairy Dewdrop's Good Deed." "What's happened to 'The Corpse'?" she asked. "Threw both books away," jerked Harry, "Gives me too much imagine tion, so I'm taking up learning about fairies.", Doreen tottered out of the room and took an aspirin. .(THE END.).