THE GREEN SHADE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16943, 18 January 1923, Page 11

THE GREEN SHADE

OUR SERIAL.

* By HEADON HIIiL Author oi .millions of Mischief. ** “ Guile.” etc., etc. CHAPTER. X.—-Continned. And divulged in Mr Cole’s lurid tirade riier© shot across Knyvett's I horizon a lightning flash of information that had not appeared in the newspapers. Maud Bates, the disgruntled lady-love of the murdere l heir, had been discharged by Sir- Jasper, and having nowhere to go at Uiort notice had been charitably taken in at the Rectory, from which harbour ol refuge she had next day disappeared without a word of thanks to her kind befrienders. Sergeant "Wolfram, having been given the slip by the girl, j was naturally keeping this phase of the case dark, but the butcher had it cn the unimpeachable authority of Solomon Burbidge. the handy-man at the Rectory, who was to have driven Miss Bates to the station. Knyvett, who had been drinking this in with thirsty ears, was on the point of putting a. question when a hush fell on the company and. follow »ng the direction of their gaxe. lie saw a good-looking young fellow in a neat blue suit standing m the doorway. An amused smile creased the corners of his rather grim mouth as he surveyed the occupants of the bar-parlour. “ Hood evening, gentlemen,” he said. ‘ Sorry to intrude if you’re busy hang mg me and half the village.” “ Come in. Tod. and don’t be ratty.” the landlord hastened into the breach. “Wllat’s your poison? The drinks Grimsdale crossed the bar-pnrlour and seeming to single out Knyvett sat down opposite him and Vameck. His stare at the stranger was so marked that once more Mr Oheeseman came to the rescue. ‘•'That gentleman as is honouring us b~ stopping at The Arms is going to make n picture of the church,” he ex plained. The set hardness in the chauffeur’s faoe„ to which it had reverted after its fleeting smile of contempt, relaxed again. He looked at Knyvett arid fiankly grinned. “I know the gentleman.” he said. * I hope T see you well. Mr Vincent.” Knyvett was bewildered, his only definite sensation for the moment being one of thankfulness that this young man’s recognition of him had stopped short at his Christian name—the name under which lie had registered at the inn. But there was another side to it. The young man must have been nretty close to him in the past to address him so intimately. Yet when and where they, had forgathered he could not for the life of him remember. The strong, firm features called up no responsive chord. At any rate be had clean forgotten them. The old adage recurred: “There are more know Tom Fool than Tom Fool knows.” “ You have the advantage of me,” lie said pleasantly. “My fault, no doubt. Perhaps it was a long time ago.” ‘ All of ten years, sir,” the chauffeur replied. “ T expect I’ve altered more than you have. I used to be your lady mother’s pet choir boy at your old home. Ted Grimsdale, my name it ” A light broke in upon Knyvett. “ I remember you now.” he said, exten 1 • ing his hand. “ How wags the world with you, Ted? If lam not mistaken you have been in the newspapers lately over this murder case into which I seem to have stumbled. I am frightfully excited about it.” “ Good for you. Mr Vincent,” re plied Grimsdale. “ You don’t- thins from what you read that I did it, “ T couldn’t see a particle of evidence against you,” was the guarded reply. “No, I am sure w© didn’t breed murderers at the old place. Ted.” ‘ Then you have come to the foun-tain-head for what will whet your interest,” said Grimsdale. “So long as you believe in me I’ll talk free I’ve got my friends and T’ve got my enemies in this crowd, but they don’t count. Stroll a little wav wit-h me. sir, on my way back to the Hall. My job js there, as the papers will have told you.” The frequenters of the inn did not catch all of this conversation, but with w hat they caught they were greatly impressed. When Knyvett and Grimsdale presently quitted the bar-parlour together Mr Dimpsey voiced the gen eral opinion by remarking: “Now ain’t that queer?” CHAPTER XT. THLF DFEt OF TIIK TORCHES. The cottage lights were twinkling in the main street of the village when Knyvett and Grimsdale Jeft the inn. The latter chose tlio longest way, which by a wide sweep would take him pa'it Itv Cottage to the ledge gates of tin Hall. “1 trust that his lordship and my lady are well, sir?” said the chauffeur as they strolled side by side. “ Quite well, thank you,” replied Knyvett. “ 1 have not seen them very lately. The war has made u-q as a family, beastly poor. I have had to go to work in London.” “As an artist, sir?” hazardec* Grimsdale. “ Cheeseman said something about a picture of the church ” “As an architect, and the worthy landlord should have used the word ©rawing, not picture.” Knyvett sup plied tlie correction. “3 hope id any rate that you will be the architect of your own fortune, fir. and that in Fancourt Magna you will be able to lay a good solid foundation for it.” What the deuce was the fellow driving at? A certain dryness in Grimsriale’s tone caused Knyvett to speculate. He half turned to liis companion. but ir. the darkness he could not read his face. “ 1 hope so. too.’ lie said and al>inptly changed the subject to the murder in which he had already professed an interest. • Hugh Fancourt seems to have been a bit of a rotter?” ht suggested, waiting eagerly more for the manner than the words of the reply. Instead of the bitterness he ha 1 half-expected it Mas in a tone of contemptuous pitv. •Poor devil. yes.” Grimsdale agreed. “ Rotter :s the term that fits him like a glove No forehead, and pigeon-chested. To do him justice, hf did try to join up. but the doctors turned him down fir.-t and every time.” “ You were out. V suppose?” ‘ As driver at G.H.Q.. Mr Vincent."' “Weil now. as r<> this murder,” Knyvett continued “The police i seem to have collected a fine lot of I starters for the gallows stakes, yourself among the number. Whom shall 1 put my money on? Those old tattlers ai. the inn appeared i. be a bit mixed about it . thought to me as a mere spectator Mr Adam Fancourt seemed to be backed with the greatest show of reason.” Knyvett was conscious that he bn 1 t-cuched a raw spot. (To be Continued.)