OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 170, 5 July 1911, Page 9

OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

BY

CHAPTER XI. A SYMPOSIUM OF THREE. (Continued.) And for Mi- Kelly, too, there lias a psychological crisis, though in his case not quite so acute. His chief trouble was whether Harold would give him away before the inspector as having been at Meidrelh’s office on the same morning--whether, in fact, Harold would be betrayed by surprise into doing so, or prove himself a fool. He did not anticipate that he would, for he had long ago guessed that the young doctor was standing in with Mr AleldretJi, and that he siisjx-eled him. Mr Kelly, of a hostile influence. He would not be likely, merely for tin- sake of venting his spleen, to throw the merchant out of the frying-pan into the. fire by adopting a course which would enhance the value of any clue that Grey steel might have obtained. The astute .surmise proved correct, for, not meeting with an immediate reply. Harold simply repeated his question.

HEADON HILL.

"I beg your pardon. 1 didn’t catch what you said,’’Air Kelly lied easily, as he rose from tin- table. "if you’re the doctor it’s me that wants to consult you.” "Then perhaps nr had better adjourn to your room," rejoined Harold curtly. "I opine that we needn't go further than the window here; it's nothing serious,” said Kelly, suiting the action to the word, so that Harold had perforce to follow him to the window, -arrived there. Moll Trcgeagk-’s kites’ admirer ilcscribi d in a raucous whisper certain pains and symptoms which ra.sed a doubt in Harold’s mind, whether lor some purpose best known to himself he was nor malingering. "I don t think rhere’s much tlu' matter with you, except perhaps a little uver-Jiidiilgcm-o j n spirits on a hot dn.x,” said Harold. I will .semi you something that will put \<m right." Ami he made a note that there should be an ingredient in tin’ "something” that would curtail th-

patient’s sphere of activity for .wroral days. He could not know that Air Kelly, as a bit oi a thought-read-er, was actually determining to throw tlii- "something into the sea directly it reach d him. Harold was i timing towards th ’ door, when he was not surprised to find his way barred in quite friendly fashion by Inspector Greysteel. He. had felt intuitively that an examination of Mr Kelly’s bilious tongue was not to he the end of his visit to the Blackamoor that night. "I don’t suppose that you remember me, sir,” said the inspector civilly, "but I had the pleasure of seeing you in the offices m AJeldreth and Co., Queen Victoria Street, London, a few weeks back.” “Sou certainly have the advantage of me.” returned Harold grimly, wondering if the colloquialism was to be constructed literally. "I have on several occasions ht*-n at Air Meldreth’s city offices, but I cannot recall you.”

"No, we were tint formally introduced,” repoined the inspector, with suave politeness. "My only excuse for addressing you at all is that th/ occasion of my seeing you then led up. in a sense, to the occasion of my seeing you in Port hi nan to-day. It struck me as so singular that I ventured to speak. 1 trust that there is no offence t” "None whatever, sir,” said Harold, awaiting the attack, ami feeling that, though the jiersonality of Mr Greysteel was a good deal more imposing than that of Kelly, he dreaded the latter infinitely mote. "And what is the connection between our two meetings, sir, which strikes you as so singular?” he added, irresistibly tempted by Gre.yste<Ts thoughtful silence to try and draw the enemy’s fire. "Well, it’s like this.” said the inspector slowly. "I must tell you that 1 am an officer • f the Citi of

! London police. The first time 1 saw j you I had just dismissed with Mr Alel- ’ dreth—quite casually, for I had calk'd jon another matter altogether— the unaccountable conduct of a certain I person in making an appointment j which he apparently did not keep, j The second time I so? you I have ■come all the way to Cornwall to disi cuss the same person with Air MelIdreth, but under very different cjri cum stances. This time the diseu.s--i sion of tire pci-sen j n question in question ranks first m importance—i I may say very serious importance—j in the enquiries it will be my duty to I make of Mr MeldietL.” ; "I iimlerstaud—itmt. a coincidence.’' ’ said Harold with affected eareless- ' noss, glancing at Kelly, who had reI sumed his seat at table and was going on with his meal without showing I much interest in tho conversation, 1 though far too wily te show none at I all. I (To be continued.)