A FOOL AND HIS FOLLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12859, 6 May 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

A FOOL AND HIS FOLLY.

[I'Ur.LISHED in SPECIAL ARRAS'GEiIEXT.]

BY Q. XT, API'LETOX, Author of "A Forgotten Past," "A Tiagedy of Error," "Doubles and Quits," etc., etc, SYNOPSIS OP PREVIOUS chapters. qiurTEna I. ixo 11.-Tha story is told hr one f, r ".' k Braei-bringo regn-dius 11)5 cousin *nd wan!, Ke-uiaia BTac'ehridge, of Twrford Hall, Suffolk, a scapegrace, whose father left « will bequeathing his property to Reginald, who h ant to tome into it until he hiA attained, the ago of "5. \lxmt two years after his uncle's decease Frank has a summons to Paris by ah anonymous writer, who informs him of Reginald'* doings, lie set's off at once ; bin fails to find Reginald, arid, in the course of his search, is shown a telegram which purnorta to be from Reginald in Brussels, who gtatos'that he has had to leave Paris at a moment's notice. At ten that same evening Frank catches a train for falsi?. lie recognises in his sole travelling companion the woman who had a struggle with a ruffian soma months ago. The recognition ft mutual; and she cniisU his help once more. At CiljU" a porter, shouts '.'.V telegram for Madame U Parotitic .Slavinsky." This lady claims it. roads, .in.l turns pale. She ask? Frank to look after her Irtmk, and see it placed in the cloakroom at Charing Cross, and sires him the voucher and the ker. At the Custonishoiuse it is opened, and disclose* the corpse of his cousin Reginald, in evening dress. Chatter 111 Frank Braccbridifc ia arrested on suspicion and is marched oft: to Bowstreet. That same day he is removed to Holloway Gaol, where he remains for two days. At the expiration of that time evidence is forthcoming which proves the truth of his assertions, and he is allowed bail for five days..

Chapter IV.—Frank Braceijridso attends the coroner's .Court, where he identifies the body A that, of his cousin, Reginald Bracebridge. 'The coroner and jury are impressed by his recital of fact*. Before the close of the proceedings Frank Bracebridge'B managing clerk makes bis appearance and bands orer. to hie master a. telegram from Brussels. This states that * young man named Reginald Rracebridge had died" there that morning, the result of a motor-car accident. It is from the St. Jean Hospital, and requests the presence of Frank Bracebridge.

Chapt'eb V—Frank shows the telegram lo the coroner. Tho inquest is adjourned for a v.-cck, and Frank and Inspector Walter start on their wav to Brussels to investigate the mystery.

Chapters VI and Vll.—They arrive at Brussels. At the hotel.they recognise Reginald's signature in the visitors' beck, and at the hospital Frank is able, to ill entity many of the articles found on the body of the man killed by the. motor-cat. He sees a letlei addressed to himself in his cousin's handwriting, and opens it. It is still more confirmatory, for i' is written by Reginald in the spirit ol: contrition. Incidentally he vindicates the character of the Baroness Slsviuskv, and states that he is being pursued by her husband. They visi* the second corpse, and after some hesitation, identify it. a.a the body of Reginald. 'they then wire to London tor Harris, a lnoneylcudct, who identified the first body in London. CHAPTER Vll.—(Continued.) It was just as the clerk had said. There was, indeed, very little to examine—a. few toilet accessories on the dressing-table and a small portmanteau of French make containing underlinen and other essential items of haberdashery -nothing more. All this I could readily understand, as it quite accorded with Reggie'-) telegram to the Hotel Scribe, where his luggage still remained. His was doubtless a very precipitate departure from Paris, lie had probably made a, few hasty purchases oil his way to the station. Inspector Walter concurred with mt in' thinking this a very reasonable conjecture, and we were both more convinced than ever that, a grievous mistake had been made in London, and that we were indubitably on the right track at. last.

A Tew minutes later we were out on the boulevard again—this lime in quest of the Prefecture of Police. It is needless (< give a detailed account, of what, took place there and at the English Embassy afterwards. Let it suffice that all difficulties were satisfactorily smoothed over, and every formality duly complied with, so that, within a. couple of houn. or so J was legally empowered to take possession of poor lieu maid's body and all his effects. On our way back we slopped at the general post office and found the expected telegram. ft simply said :- — "All right; coining, though don't understand. Meet me at station to-night.—Hah-Rts."

"So far, so good,'' said I. " That relieves my mind a bit. " Now let us go bo the hotel and engage a room for Harris, and then we shall have the rest of the day to play with." " Bj'-fhe-bye," said the hotel clerk, as we were coining away. " one thing J. forgot to tell you. sir. Mr! Braeebridgft seemed veryanxious about a telegram lie expected to receive from Berlin, lb' was in and out half-a-dozen times a day inquiring it is. had come. Li case a telegram should arrive aftei you leave, shall I forward it on to you'."" " I should lie extremely clad if you would." 1 said, producing my card. "Enclose it to this address, and 'thank you very much for the suggestion.'' Then we went, out upon the sweltering boulevard again and felt life healed asphalt yielding softly to every foot-tread. " What do you say to the shady side and the Cafe Continental?" said the inspector, mopping bis forehead, " with something nice and cool under an awning." "With a. lunch to follow," I interposed, Capital. We breakfasted on honors. Let us change the menu. A bottle ot dry monopole frappee will make v. pleasant prologue to the same. To be quite frank will', you, 1 am as thirsty as—" "So am J," said lie, " and here we. are." pointing to a truly palatial establishment Just opposite.

A quarter of an hour later, as I lighted a cigarette and leaned back in 'my chair, with; a comfortable sense of refreshment, I said: "Well, what do you think about thafi letter " Your cousin's.' * " Yes." " J don't know. It.-; too hot to attempt to think to-day.'' " But you may have an idea/' - " Perhaps." "I don't like parables—perhaps what'/" "That the Baron Slavinsky might be able to throw some light upon the mystery— viding lie were alive." " Wl/y shouldn't he be alive':'" "God knows! Who was the dead man, you tried to pass through the Customs?"' "Slavinsky'.' Absurd "Why absurd? Read tho letter again. Your emisin distinctly stales that there was v striking resemblance between the baron and himself." '•True, lie said that." " Well, suppose your cousin, made one mad and final attempt to see the baroness. Half-a-dozen glasses of absinthe, for instance, might have worked him up to that pitch, and then—-" "Yes-and then," I said excitedly. "Juit so—and then?" "Well, and then something probably hap* pened. Somebody went ovei to London in at Saratoga trunk, 'it was not your cousin." "(loot! heavens!"' 1 exclaimed. "I can never believe that. No, no, no. Besides, my cousin was absolutely wrong ir his description of the baron. As you know, I had mice the pleasure of nearly knocking daylight out of that gentleman." . " How do vuu know that he was her bushand?" '• She told me so." "Just so—she told vou so. And you I). lieved it?' " . .' " Yes, I did ; and 1 do." • "Still?" ■' Yes, thoroughly."- . ■;". "A woman who planted ; corpse on you and then ran away leaving you to take tin consequences! You could accept the word of a woman like that?" - . • -'."'■ "Well," 1 said, in some confusion,: "of course circumstances are very much against her. still—" . '•:■'■'< "Fiddlesticks, man!" said he; * "I wtuit to lieip you out of this mess, and mean to dr> so, V.ut. don't, for goodness' talk 'such toinmyiol. Tire truth is, excuse my blunt way of putting it, but the truth is she is a very fascinating woman and you have fallen in love wit her."

.1 stored blankly- at tin; audacious speakerand for a moment felt inclined to bo,very angry, then I laughed somewhat shamefacedly" ' " .;....' . . , ' ' "Dash it' oil!" 1 sail!. "You really shouldn't make Mich a remark as that." He laughed in turn. , • '"Beg pardon,'' said he. "Slipped out like. Suppose we chuck the whole blooming business for the rest of the day. Ain't you tired of it':" Infernally so." "Ain't, you a. bit peckish, too, by rhif time".'"' "By jove 1 you are right. (.'nine inside.'"" And .we. went. - . CHAPTER VIIL ' .The remainder of the afternoon clipped away in some fashion, and at halt-past, teal we blood upon the platform of this northern station awaiting the arrival.of Mr. Harris. Punctually to the- minute the train steamed into,the station, and the next moment Mr. Harris, having perceived us from, the carriage window, hastily crossed the platform to where we blood. ■ "'You here, too, Mr. Inspector!" lie ex-. claimed as he recognised the smiling official. "What the deuce dots all this mean, any? hoSV-V" [■ i r, . "Come on," I said, "can't explain here. 1 will tell you all about it ill the cab. .1 have taken a room for you at --the f Grand Hotel. Belter drive there first and leave your 1)3g." - ■.". . "All. right.'' said he. "My word, though, your telegram did make me sit up a bit; haven't got it out of my thoughts for one minute since.'' As we rolled down the Boulevard Anspach 1 related as succinctly as possible what had happened. When 1 had done he gave a low whistle. • ' "A rum star' this!" said he. How on earth could both of us have made • such a mistake'/ That is something ■ rather hard to believe." '' I found it so," I replied. ' " "And stil' you think we were wrong 2" " Absolutely!" "Well, I'm dashed! What is your opinion, Mr. Inspector?" " The same as Mr. Bracebridge's — is not a shadow of doubt about it!" said Mr. Walter in ,1 tone that would have carried conviction to the mind of the most sceptical. "Well, it flahbergastcrs me!— me clean over! It's a good job, Mr. Bracebridge, that you have the inspector here to back you up in your opinion. lam afraid I shall require a. lot of convincing, and oh! this is the hotel, is it''" "Yes," I; replied; "we will resume the subject later on." Shortly'afterwards we found a quiet little cafe in the neighbourhood, and until bedtime we discussed the situation from every conceivable point of view. Mr. Harris proved very obdurate at first. He had. eyes — could see as well a* anybody, he hoped ; and had he not met the young fellow a' hundred times. How on earth could he bo mistaken'' All this caused me great uneasiness, for without his confirmatory evidence I felt that grave complications might possibly arise and place me in a very awkward position indeed.

However, in the finish Ins had become the open mind, and he admitted that our presentation of the case was a very strong. one indeed. At all event* wo should Bee on the morrow who wis right, and there the discussion ended.

We arrived at the Hospital St. Jean.at. an surly hour the next morning, and wepo at once admitted to the presence of the director. - .

I first produced and slowed him the:.various official documents entitling me to tako possession of the body,, and the valuable* found.upon it, These proving to be satisfactory, he suggested. that I should eoinniu'uicafe with the Pompes Funbres, v.-ho would remove the body from the hospital and forward it to whatever address 1 wi*h#d. Ai. foi the. dead man's clothes they vers at soy immediate disposal. 1 thanked him and said that I should wish, first of all. to submit them to the inspection of my friend, Mr. Harris, whom I lira introduced to him.

Nothing, it. appeared, would afford aim greater pleasure, and within a very few minutes the articles in question were placed before the astonished moneylender.

"Oil, Lord—yog!" he said at once. "1 recognise this suit of clothes perfectly. It coiner from Poole*; or course, here's Vk* name, on the tab.' Why, bless your soul, bo wore this very suit -when he last called at my office. What an extraordinary thing! And this watch and chain, —know it? O c course, I know it: and that gold cigar ease, toohad many a Larranga out of iV This beats the very deuce. And these are) the banknotes, are they'! 1 Why—certainly. There is my private mark on every blessed one of "em. Lord!—no. There is not tip slightest doubt about, this little lot!"

"Very well,' 1 said, ''so far, so good and now for the identification of the body."' I made, a sign to the director', who at once rang for an attendant, who once mora conducted us to tin mortuary in the vaults below. The body had been coffined, though. the lid had not yet been placed in position. '* Now. Mr. Harris," I said," I want you to take a good look at that face.". He stepped up at once to the bier. ll* was silent for a moment, and a very anxious moment, ihat Mas for me. At last he facet! about.

"Hern battered about, a lit," said he: "but I'm dashed if it isn't the poor chap after all," and he was on the point of turning away when he suddenly paused—as i; struck by a suddeu idea—and took a second look at (he dead face. '•. " I sajv though," he went, on, "what ha.3 become of the mole'.'"

"Mole? What mole?" I asked. with * sudden sinking at my heart. "Why, you know, that little green mole oh hi', forehead above the right eve. Tin West if-I cm sec it now."

(To bo continued daily.)