The Mazarof f Mystery
-By-
J. S. FLETCHER
Waitrationi by IRWIN MYERS
(, by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.)
W. N. V. 8rvlce
CHAPTER XI Continued
18
"And you jot out, how?" asked
Maythorne.
"This evening, when we were about
done tip, for lack of fresh air though
to toll the truth, I'd long since broken
the window!" replied Sheila, "we
suddenly heard sounds outside the
door. Then we hoard the bolt with
drawn, and the key turned, and some
body outside ran awny the hall door
banged. We Immediately wont out
the place was all In darkness and
silence. We left the house and hur
ried off to find a cab"
The door of Mrs. Elphlnstone's bod
room opened and the nurse looked In
on us.
"Mrs. Elphlnstone wishes to see Mr.
Elphlnstone and Miss Merchtson," she
said.
A moment later, Maythorne, I, and
the two policemen were alone. May
thorne rose from his chair, rut his
hands in his pockets, and looked In
quiringly at Corkerdale.
"Well?" he said.
Corkerdale smiled Inscrutably and
nodded at the door through which Mr.
Elphlnstone and Sheila had Just van
ished. "Don't believe that yarn!" he said,
almost contemptuously. "Romance!"
I was on my logs at that I dare
ay I turned on the detective In a
fury.
"What the devil do you mean!" I
demanded. "Are you questioning Mls9
Merchison'a word?"
"I moan that however true the
young lady's story may be and I ain't
questioning It," said Corkerdule, "I
don't believe that the old lady, in
there. Isnl In this! She and the wom
an, Murdoch put-up Job between 'em !
The kidnaping ! a piece of bluff to en
able the other woman to get away. Of
course, the other woman Bownas
came across her, and she tricked him
Into that alley, and did him In! Ob
vious ! Rut Mrs. Elphlnstone'! In it,
and I'm not going out of this hotel,
nor Manners, either, till we've done
a hit of questioning. That's that!
ai they say nowadays."
I was still boiling with rare, but I
looked at Maythornp, Inwardly won
dering that he was so calm, lie had
kept on nodding his head, while Cor
kerdale spoke, and he was evidently
about to give him some meditated re
ply when a knock came at the outer
door and a waiter looked In.
"Mr. Maythorne?" he Inquired,
glancing round the room. Then, as
Maythorne moved towards him, he
added: "Will you come to the tele
rhone, sir? name of Cottlngley unk
ing for you."
CHAPTER XII
The Boat Train
Maythorne hurried out of the room,
leaving mo, still Indignant and glower
ing, alone with the policemen. Pres
ently Corkerdale, who had been whis
pering to Manners, turned to me.
"It's all very well, and I've no doubt
very natural, for you to be a bit
hufflsh. Mr. Holt." he said, half pro
testlngly, half apologetically. "You're
wet-t on the young lady, as anybody
with half an,eye can see, and"
"Leave the young lady's name out
ff the question, If you please!" I ex
claimed. "And mine, too!"
"Hit difficult to leave her out. Isn't
It?" he retorted, smiling. "After what
we've Just heard! I don't disbelieve
her tale not I! though I'm more
than a bit surprised that a young
woman of her Intelligence clever
girl ! should let herself be trapped
In that fashion. Trapped she was, no
doubt! hut I don't believe her mother
wus trapped !
"What?" I exclaimed. "Why, you've
Just heard"
"I've Just heard what we've all Just
heard." he Interrupted. "My opinion Is
that It was all a put-up Job between
Mrs. Elphlnstone and this woman Mur
doch, and that Miss Merchlson's been
taken In by both. I think that Mrs.
ElphlnMone went willingly to that
house and stood the detention there
she wanted for nothing. You heard!
so that her daughter, who was be
ginning to know too much and to get
dangerous, should be kept safe and
quiet while the Murdoch woman got
rU'ht awny! And I'll lay nil I'm worth
to a penny piece that Murdoch knocked
that chap liownas on the head In that
back alley, and that by now she's
soniew here !"
"You don't think tlu.t Mrs. Elphln
stone knew anything about liownas!"
I said. "Good Lord, according to
you "
"According to me, sir, Murdoch mur
dered Mazuroff, nnd Mrs. Elphln
Mone's well aware of It," he said, de
terminedly. "There's what the Inw
yirs call prima fucle evidence of that,
anyhow, and Manners here agrees with
uie! And we're not going out of this
hotel until that doctor comes hark,
nnd then we're going to see If Mrs.
Elphlnstone Isn't (it to he questioned.
And If she Isn't Just yet then we're
going to stay on the premises till she
Is! So there!"
lid'oie I could say anything the
outer door opened and Maythorne
fctuck half his face Inside the room.
"llolt!" he f.:;!d.
1 went to him; he drew me into the
corridor and eloi-ed the door.
"Message from Cottlngley," he said
In a whisper, "lie's been carrying on
a close Investigation of steamship
offices this last forty-eight hours, work
ing like a nigger. And at hist he's
hit on something! This afternoon a
woman, closely answering to the de
scription I gave him of Alison Mur.
doch, booked two passages for Now
Zealand at the New Zealand Shipping
company offices In Cockspur street, by
their ship the ltlmertaka, which loaves
Southampton early tomorrow morning.
The boat train Is the ton o'clock to
night from Waterloo, Cottlngley'!
down there he'i got a couple of de
tectives with him from the Yard? to
save time he wont there and told what
he'd discovered. We'll get down there
at once the Immediate question Is
shall we toll those follows Inside?
What do you think?"
"Corkordnle'a Just declared that he
won't leave this hotel till he's quos
tloned Mrs. Elphlnstone," I replied.
"He's going to wait for the doctor's
return."
"Then come on !" he said. "It's now
about nine-twenty we shall be at
Waterloo in plenty of time. Gad! I
shouldn't wonder If Cottlngloy's struck
the trail at last! I told you what a
sharp chap he Is."
We ran down to the entrance hall;
outside there wore two or throe taxi
cabs standing about: Maythorne made
for the first,
"We'd bettor pull up a little short
of Waterloo," he remarked as wo pt
In. "Stop in York mid by the hotel
there." he added to the driver. "You
see, Holt," he went on as we moved
off southward, "if this woman is Mur
doch, she'll know you, from having
soon you at the Woodcock: she may
know me, though I don't remember
her. So we must move warily: if
she's attempting a total clear-out, the
least thing will put her off. Hut she
booked two passages, this woman of
whom Cottlngloy's heard; Now, for
whom can the other bo?"
"Can she have had an accomplice?
If this woman really is Murdoch?" I
suggested.
"She's had accomplices here In Lon
don, In that Harrow road affair, with
out doubt," he answered "May be
the brother she spoke of to Mrs. El
phlnstone and Miss Merchlson. Hut
as to an accomplice In the Maznroff
business now! If she had"
He paused there and remained silent
so long that at last I asked him what
he was thinking about.
"I was thinking this." he answered
slowly. "This! that if this woman
Murdoch really murdered Mararoff nnd
had an accomplice, and If Murdoch is
the woman who booked two passages
for New Zealand this afternoon, and
If It's all if. you see! If the second
passage Is for the accomplice, why,
then, we're probably going to have a
very astounding surprise and revela
tion ! Hut as I say. It's nil Ifs."
We got out of the cah at the corner
of York road and walked quickly
toward the hi? station. I'.ofore we
were half way up the Incline we tm-t
('oltingley. He was lounging along
with his hands In his trousers pockets
ami a cigarette hanging loosely from
the corner of his queer mouth, nnd he
looked as phlegmatic and unconcerned
as over.
"Thought you'd come this way," he
said as we passed. "You're In good
time twenty-five minutes yot. I
should say she they, I mean '11 not
turn up till the last thing. Ami all's
ready. The only thing Is, If this
woman Is the woman we think Mur
doch who can recognize her, posi
tively?" "Mr. Holt can," answered May
thorne. Cottlngley regarded me with specu
lative eyes I fear I was not of any
great account In his opinion.
"Knows her?" he asked.
"I know her!" I answered.
Without another word he turned on
his heel toward the frout of the sta
tion. "What'H he done Is this," he said,
walking between us. "The Southamp
ton train leaves Number Four plat
form ten o'clock precisely. I've got
two thoroughly dependable men from
the Yard had to go there nnd tell 'em
everything, of course, If I meant to
do any good and they and I'll be on
the platform. She'll not know us.
Now then, Is there any four of her
knowing either of you?"
"The strong presumption," replied
Maythorne, "Is thut she'll know os
both."
"Very well," said Cottlngley. "Then,
this Is what we do. I've already, with
the detectives, given the tip to the
railway authorities that there may
he un Important arrest, d'ye see?
Now, I'm going to post you two Just
within the harrier, where you can't be
seen, You'll keep there till the pas
senger he'ln coming through for the
train. I shall he close by the dotcc
tlves'll he a yard of two further on,
In touch with me; there'll also he two
or three railway police about, In case
there's any bother. Now If Mr. Holt
there recognizes this Murdoch woman,
he'll signal to me by lifting his hat
the Irwtnnt she passes him and you
can leave the rest. The only other
thing is that If we make the arrest.
I've arranged with the station people
that the detectives are to hurry her
off to little office on the platform
you follow."
"All cltur!" said Maythorne. "We've
got you, Cottlngley."
We passed Into the big brilliantly
lighted station. Even nt that late
hour of the evening It was' crowded.
Cottlngley moved swiftly ahead of us
through the groups, passed us through
u barrier with a whispered word to
tin man in charge, and. suddenly
twisting to his left, ushered us behind
ft high wooden partition, a few yards
away from the gate whereat tickets
were punched. There was n dark
cavernous recess there; ho signed to
u to step In,
"liomombor!" be said. "If It's the
woman wo want up with jour hat I
Hut bo sure!"
Ho swung on his heel, moved off
Into the light of the big lamps above
the platform, and, pulling out his ciga
rette case, began to smoke, loafing
Idly about. A few yards away two
solidly built men, who, from their out
ward appearance might have been
highly respectable clt lions going home
late to their suburban residences after
a day's business In the city, stood;
loafing, too. Hut as they chatted to
gether, I saw that their eyes wore
not long away from Cottlngley, nor
from the barrier, nor from the gloomy
recess In which Maythorne and I
waited.
That waiting was about as big a
trial of my nerves as I had gone
through since I heard tho Inst shots
flrod In Flanders. Folk came stream
ing In upon the platform; porters
went by with pltes of luggage; there
were all the scones nnd sounds, hurry
ing and bustlings. Incidental to the
departure of a big express bound for
a groat shipping center. Hut what we
wal'ed for I with straining eyes and
throbbing nerves waa long in coming.
Across the brond expanse of station,
It q
A Woma.i W.u Jus Coming Through
the Barrisr A Tall, Slim Woman, of
Erect, Easy Carriage.
above some far-distant platform, hung
a clock I could not avoid an occa
sional glance at It. Never, surely, had
the hands of a clock moved more slow
ly! Twenty minutes to ten. Fifteen
minutes to ten. Ten minutes to ten.
Five four three . , ,
"Holt!" whi-pered Maythorne.
"Sharp, now! Is thU she?"
A woman was Just coming through
the barrier a tall, slim woman, of
erect, easy carriage. I'.y her side was
another woman, slighter In height, of
fuller figure, and heavily veiled. I
could not see her face, but the face
of, the taller woman was that which I
had seen two or three times In the
big kitchen at the Woodcock. A see
uiid later she and her companion, each
carrying a substantial-sized valUe, had
passed the ticket puncher and come
full Into the 11, 'U. I had no doubt
then, and my hand went up to the
brim of my bat as If a machine had
moved It.
"Come on!" said Maythorne. "Now
for It! Hut who's the other?"
The two women were being hurried
Into a third-class compartment by an
already Impatient guard as the two
detectives, some railway policemen,
Cottlngley, and Maythorne ami I closed
round them. One o( the detectives
laid a hand on the taller woman's
arm . . .
It was the first time In my life that
I had ever seen an arrest, and I was
amazed at the quickness, the dexterity,
the absence of fun, In IL We lind the
two women Into the little office close
by, and the door locked, and the
blinds drawn, before I hod realized
what was happening as the key
turned In the door I heard the whistle
of the guard and the shriek of the
engine us the ten o'clock sped out to
time. And then I turned ... to
answer a question.
"That's Alison Murdoch yes!" I
suld. "Yes without doubt."
The senior detective turned to the
Criticism of Feminine Dress a Generation Ago
"rress," snld a health article In a
woman's magazine of 1!K1, "Is a
stumbling block In tho way of a
healthy existence for the society worn
un. My lady must assist by long hour!
of standing to be fitted. The weight
of the dress often drags one down so
thut only the strongest can tarry about
the heavy materials.
"The low bodices which have be
come more common are a greater me
nace to health than almost anything.
Women who wear low-necked gowns
In the evening should not wear heavy,
high-necked undergarments, for the
contrast between their protection In
the day and that of the evening Is
very great and they more readily tnke
cold. The nt.ck und shoulders should
be bathed freely with cold water and
with alcohol and water. , , .
"The hips should not meiiburc over
other woman. She was loaning against
a table; her breath was coming In
short, sharp gasps; her whole frame
trembled.
"Take off that veil!" snapped tho
detective. "Como on, now I"
We stood storing Intently as the
woman lifted n hand and diverted
herself of the thick veiling that had
completely obscured her features. It
fell aside and It was from Maythorne,
usually so cool and collected, that tho
Hist excited exclamation broke:
"Hood tl dl Mrs, Musgiuvol"
Mrs. Musgrave burst Into tears and
turned on Alison Murdoch, who stood
close by, grim and defiant.
"You suld it would be all right I"
she walled reproachfully. "You swore
to me that wo were safe, this way I
You said and said again thnt there
wasn't the least chance of 'cm catch
ing us"
"Hold your tongue, you fool I"
napped Alison Murdoch.
I stood by, sick, wondering." while
Cottlngley, under the detectives' super
vision, unlocked the women's valises
and turned out their contents. There
was money there In a surprising quan
tity bank notes that hud been Mur.a
roff's, of course and there were dia
monds, aid Miuaroff's personal prop
erties. And lu Alison Murdock's valise
there whs a gold hunter watch, within
which was an Inscription to the effect
that It was a present to James Itownui
from Ids colleagues , , .
"Thorc'a always something that
these people forget," remarked May.
thorne, when, a quarter of an hour
later, he and I were driving back to
Short's hotel. "Or, rather, always
some absolutely Idiotic mistake they
make. If Alison Murdoch hadn't
thrown that will Into the Elphln
stones' library. It would have been
bard to get at the real truth about
Maznroff, and If she hadn't been so
covetous and grasping thut she couldn't
rufrnln from carrying off that poor
chap 1'ownas' presentation watch, we
should probably never have convicted
her of murdering him. However
there they both are! Hut . . . Mrs.
Musgrave!"
"Which of them shot Ma.aroffr 1
asked.
"Ah I" he replied, knowingly. "That's
a stiff 'un, Holt! Hut-Mrs. Musgrave
knows, and Mrs. Musgrave will tell I
She'll not fur It out like the other."
We hurried upstair as soon as we
reached Short'! hotel to find Corker
dale and Manners talking to the doc
tor and Sheila In an alcove that
opened off the corridor. Corkerdale
wu evidently still Indiscreet; the doc
tor looked somewhat annoyed and
Sheila was obviously angry.
"you must see, doctor, that It's a
question of duty," Corkerdale whs say
ing as we came upon them. "I want
some explanation from Mrs. Elphln
stone" "There's no need now, Corkerdale,"
Interrupted Maythorne. laying his hand
on the detective'! shoulder. "It'i all
over! We've got "em! they're safe
under lock ami key."
Shellu uttered a sharp cry of sur
prise, nnd Corkerdale turned quickly
on Maythorne.
"Cot Yin?" he exclaimed. "Who's
got 'em?"
"Well, If you want to know, my
clerk, Cotll'igley smartest man In
Europe at your game! he got 'mi.
With the help of your own people, to
be sure. Hut the kudos Is Cutting,
ley's," replied Maythorne, "Top hole
capture!"
"And who'd he rapture?' demanded
Corkerdale, almost Incredulously.
"Who?"
Maythorne glanced at Sheila.
"Well," he replied, "there's no secret
about It now. Two women! Alison
Murdoch and Mrs. Musgrave. And
there's no doubt about It, either they
hud property belonging to Muzaroff
and property belonging to Howuas on
them actually on them!"
Corkerdale turned to Manners, who,
at the mention of Mri. Musgrave's
name, had opened his mouth and Ids
eyes to their widest extent.
"Oh, well!" suld Corkerdnle. "In
that case, of course, I think we needn't
wait to see Mrs. Elphlnstone!"
It was some days before I myself
saw Mrs. Elphlnstone. At last I was
admitted to see her. We exchanged
few conventional remarks about her
state of health. Then she sat for
some time In silence, steadily staring
at me staring so steadily that I be
gan to feed desperately uncomfortable.
Suddenly she spoke.
"I suppose," she said, "I mppose
that you and Sheila will became en
gagedeventually?" I thought, then, thnt 1 had better
speak.
"The fact Is. ma'am," I replied, "tho
fact er Is that Shellu and I are
engaged already!"
THE ENI.
twelve Inches more than the waist
or five Inches more than the chest
without corsets. The chest expansion
of the society woman will probably be
one Inch; It should be nearly three."
Ilrendu I'eland In the Saturday Eve
ning I'ost.
No Identical Chapters
No two chapters of the Hlhlc are ex
actly alike, ns so many people suppose,
There Is very little difference, howev
er, between the thirty seventh chap
ter of Isaiah and the nineteenth chap
ter of II Kings. Olher portions of the
I'lble are duplicated also, but there are
no two entire chapters that are the
same. Hat blinder Magazine,
Moles dig swiftly with their spado
like feet; one has been known to tun
tie! more than "00 feet lu a night.
When
are upset
Paly ills and ailments term
twice ai serious at night. A sud
den cry may mean colic. Or a
Hidden attack of diarrhea a con
dition it is always important to
check quickly. How would yoti
meet tins emergency tonight?
Have you a bottle of Castoria
ready? There ii nothing that can
take the place of this harnilesi
but effective remedy for children;
nothing that acts quite the same,
or has quite the same comforting
effect on them.
For the protection of your wee
one for your own peace of mind
keep this old, reliable prcpara-
Acknowledged as a
protection against
Skin Troubles
(jsCfMmiifMi, Mat!, Mae
Mark Ilanna'i Prophecy
of Motor Car'a Future
One Sunday In the summer of l'.si2
Mark l'inna rode buck from Sin-rotary
Hay's bouse to his rooms at the
Arlington with Ihtiilel lloyt Marvin
and took this stranger Into his conn
deuce on the subject of motor cars.
He saw (he motor car revolutionising
commerce.
"It was Just like reading," said Mr.
Marvin, "one of those, articles you
see twenty times a year about what
the motor car has done, but with
everything put In the future tense.
Ills only error was that he counted
on a long war between the steam
motor ami the gasoline motor.
"He salil that some one would put
a motor on the market at prices suit
able to small farmers and change the
whole nature of life In (he country.
I did not believe a word of It, of
course. This was my only encounter
with Mr. Hunmi. and I thought be
was going Into softening of the
brnln." Thomas I'.eor in the Satur
day Evening post,
Saved by Long CliJ
Jim Iienny, a young Australian
pilot, was f nit to a severe lest,
when, while Hying at S.ixsi fi-et, the
propeller spun off his plane and
smashed through a wing. I'etniy had
left Streaky bay on tho west coast
of Australia with two passengers
when the accident occurred, lie
glided for six miles In a moderate
gale to a small field. Although the
plane struck a feme, nobody was
seriously Injured.
Carman Accorded Honor
Pr. I.udwlg '.'randtl, professor at
the (.'Diversity of flottlngeii, Cor
many, and winner of .he second Pan
lei Guggenheim gold medal for not
able achievements In aerotiair'cs,
has been recognized as one of the
world's most eminent authorities on
aerodynamics. Orvllle Wright was
the first holder of the medal.
Look a Lot and Spend LIttU
Ullnks There will be a lot of tired
and disgusted clerks In this town by
night.
Jlnki How do you know?
Minks My wife left early this
morning with Just 12 to spend the
day shopping.
Excellent Idea
Mistress Thursday Is my nt home
day.
New Cook flood. It'a mine, too.
Perhaps we can arrange to receive
together.
Don't
Scratch
I Icrc'i the sure, quick, easy way
to kill all mosquitoes indoors
and keep 'em away outdoors!
'clean smelling J
Mi
u.
W The
II MJwWlMNIwH
Wr in if rtMMflfl ST Titff ti
AieU hii.ai!i J
eua..1 Kti at It
li.. i tM ttd
tw, "
MMi N
-i t
cfNMa ' - i
Hon always on hind. Put don't
keep it just for emergencies; Irt
it be an everyday aid. Its gentle
influence will ease and soothe the
infant who cannot sleep. Its miM
regulation will help an older chihl
whose tongue is coated because ol
sluggish bowels. All druggists
have Caitoria; the genuine bran
Cli.is. II. Fletcher's signature on
the wrapper.
CI.F.ANSING
SOOTHING
ANTISEPTIC
"The World Is Sick"
FROM
CONSTIPATION
Pr. lies Laxative Tonic will re
lievo (hat tired, dragged out feel
ing with iiiimy other ailments.
CONSTIPATION U the cause of
a largo percentage of ailments,
such us nervous diseases, Mom
It' ll troubles, sclutlca, neuritis, etc.
A ONEPoLLAIt HlJ.L will
bring jou a WlloLE MONTH'S
TKEATMENT. SATIS K A CT ION"
(.TAHAN'n.i: or money back.
For your nit, J, k b'Ott'
DiL RES RfStARCH lABCIUTORIfl
Guaranty BuUdlng
MOllYWOOO .... caiir.
HAN FORD'S
OAlsam of Myrrh
Paition Player Modera
Anui Ituli. the peasant girl of
Oberammergau who takes the part
of Mary In this year'j Passion play.
Is distinctively a modern girl. She
and her sisters make n point of get
ting Cermiin editions of fashion
books of the outside world so that
they may hold their own with Amer
ican and other visitors. They make
their own clothes ami nro eiipahl
girls In many ways, being skilled Id
till domestic matters.
Real Worry
"You any your wife Is suffering
from nervous prostration?"
"Yes, bad case, too."
"What caused thnti"
"Worrying over the trouble! of the
kids."
"Hull t What klds7 You haven't
any children."
"Oh, the kids In the comic strips."
Cincinnati Enquirer.
He Returns
"Hill, I thought you wore positive
ly through with polities." "They
asked me to get out the flapper
vote."
Penalty of Lost Caste
In losing caste, an East Indian
does not enter the caste beneath him;
ha become! an outcast.
Flit ii oU only
Irt tin! W!ou
con with th$
blu.k band.
1
World' xvt
OlM0ltb