The Red Redmaynes

he moved would be blown away by a stronger mind and a greater genius than his own; but already he found himself dimly conscious that some fu

gland. Next he returned to Princetown, that he might go over the ground again, even while appreciating the futility of so doing. But the routine had to be observed. The impressions of naked feet on the sand were carefully protected. They proved too ind

losely as it was possible to do so, cast all blame

nd them two days may make just all the differen

," explained Brendon, but the inspecto

oreign police catch

ay, however. I still prefe

I believe he was and is all there; and that being so, you've got to begin over again, Brendon, and find why he did it. Once grant that this was a deliberately pla

n was not

too fantastic. We know, from impartial testimony, that the men were the best of friends up to

? You can't call Mrs. Pen

his niece and her husband to Paignton for the regattas. What is more, both Miss Reed and her parents made it clear that the soldier was of an excitable and uncertain nature. In fact Mr. Reed didn't much approve of the match. He described a man who might very easi

ing was r

Redmayne's possession. It's a peculiar fist. I

all you

ce the craft that left Plymouth during the days that immediately followed the posting of Redmayne's letter

ose chase,

aignton in knickerbockers, and a big check suit and a red waistcoat on the morning after the murder got away with it and never challenge

ours, or a trick has been played to put us fairly out of the running, no doubt you'll fi

in my opinion. Between ourselves, I'm rather ashamed of myself, Halfyard. I've missed someth

pector

nal to a case so clear as the nose on a man's face, and yet, owing to following some other clue, or sticking to a theory that we feel can and mu

d the truth of

n the first case he would have been found, unless he had committed suicide in some such cunning fashion that we can't discover the body. In the second case, he's a very cute bird indeed and the ride to Paignton and disposal of the corpse-that all looked so

a sailors' inn on the Barbican and with the help of the harbour authority followed the voy

ver. Not a skipper of any vessel involved could furnish the least information and no man resembling Robert Re

expense. The case had presented such few apparent difficulties that Brendon's complete unsuccess astonished his chief. He was content, however, to believe Ma

idlands. Months passed, the body of Michael Pendean had not been recovered, and the little

xclusion of every other personal consideration. He longed unspeakably to see her again, for though he had corresponded during the progress of his inquiries and kept her closely informed of everything that he was doing, the excuse for these communications no longer existed. She had acknowledged every letter, but her replies w

my most unhappy hours. I shall never be so happy again and, I ho

rom it that Jenny Pendean, while aware that her greatest joys were gone forever, yet looked for

e had guessed that a year at least, instead of merely these four months, must pass before her terrible sorrow could begin to dim. Indeed he felt sure of it and concluded that he was r

tified them and testified to their previous activities in England, he was free for a while. Without sending any warning, he pr

se the little community on the cliff for another reason. Still some vague suspicion held his mind that Bendigo Redmayne might be assisting his

ithin the space of two hours he had reached a place from which "Crow's Nest" could be seen, perched betwe

w both the story of his secret dream and the chronicle of the quarry crim

that he had reached his destination. Upon the gate "Crow's Nest" was written in letters stamped upon a bronze plate, and above it rose a post with a receptacle for holding a lamp at night. The road to the house fell steeply down and, far beneath, he saw the flagstaff and the tower room rising above the dwelling. A bleakn

barrier of woven wire. It was evidently intended to keep the rabbits from th

still, and the gardener abandoned his work and came forward. He was bare-headed and smoking a thin, black, Tu

sleuth! He has come wi

down at Plymouth again-and thought I'd look up Mrs.

ctives are 'sleuths.' It is American. Italians

s ever

Time passes; tears dry

the rich woman to restore the l

shut his eyes and sucked

a god called Cupid, Mr. Brendon, who overturns our plans as yon

hat Doria possibly referred and felt con

astles may crumble before the tide of love, as a

to descend. He guessed what had happened and was concerned rather with Jenny Pendean than the romantic personality before him. But that the stranger could still be here, exiled in this lonely spot, to

ld sea wolf is an excellent frien

admitt

him. Every dog is a lion in his own kennel. Redmayne rules; but what is the good of a ho

smoke, and went back to his wire netting. But he t

shouted and Mark unders

in five minutes and it was Je

him in a minute. But tell me first if there i

, misty blue eyes shone. She

ng at all. I've exhausted every possibility. And you

st certainly have told me if any news had reached

a little about yourself,

ed it. I'm all right, Mr. Brendon. There is still my

content

oor substitute for happi

ntimately, yet had n

power to brighten your content

iled a

a friendly wish. I a

eed

ndon some day, and then you

I hope you

s cannot even endure my uncle's voice. Then I shut myself up. I cha

d have dis

ut in the launch now and then. I always travel to and fro that way when I have to visit Dartmouth

Ita

. He confided in me when first I came. He then had a dream to find a rich wife, who would love him and enable him to restore the castle of the Doria in Italy

ll possess t

. Her eyes looked out of the

t?" she

, a man that women mig

y handsome and there ar

t any counsel from him would be an impertin

er marry aga

ows all that you have been called to suffer. Not for

out of life. Doria is a child in many ways; but a delightful, poetical child. I think England rather chills him; yet he vows there are no rich women in Italy. He longs for Italy all the same. I expect he will go home again presentl

not keep you

d to see you, Mr. Brendon. You are going to stop fo

ay

. I'll leave you with him for an hour. Then dinner wi

e probably never shared a m

ight of stairs to the

," she said, and Mr. Redmayne too

nd's shifted a point to southward. D

brother had apparently waned. He avoided the subject of Robert Redmayne, though he revealed othe

cy. She's the sort, apparently, that makes men lose their balance a bit. For my part I never had any use for a woman since I was weaned, and have always mistrusted the c

she does, M

ot his eyes on Jenny; and though he's priceless as a single man and she's invaluable as a single woman, if the beggar gets r

good deal embarrass

han we do, or ought to, seeing he's a gentleman; but you can tell him it's damned bad form to court a newly made widow-esp

can see it's only Jenny who is keeping him. You've got to consider her too. I'm not going to say she encourages the man or anything like that. Of course she doesn't. But, as I tel

money-enough money to re?stablish

every side in the race for life. All Doria wants now is Jenny Pendean, and he'll get her if I'm a judge. I wouldn't mind too much either, if they could stop along with me and go on as we're going; but o

e what you can d

He might change his mind after they'd been wed a year and hanker for his ambitions again and money to carry them out. Jenny will have plenty some day, for there's poor Bob's money sooner or late, I suppose, and ther

is, of course, amazingly beautiful, and she has a gracious and charming nature. With such distinction of character you may rest assure

onger. But there it is: they are thrown together every day of their lives and, though Jenny would hide it

He was cast down and

's nobody to make any running in these parts. Giuseppe's got it all his ow

Mr. Red

g might be capable of explanation along some ot

es

s Pendean is concerned. And as for Robert,

little doubt indee

Doria who did the talking while they ate a substantial dinner. He proved a great egotist and delighted to

ning down upon all things is the mighty ruin of the Doria's castle-a great ghost from the past. In the midst of all the human business and bustle, removed by a century from the concerns of men, it stands, hollow and empty, with life surging round about, like the sea on the precipices below us. The folk throng

ho brought charcoal from the mountains on two mules; my uncle grew lemons at Mentone and saved a few thousand francs for

come Count Doria to-morrow if he would put his hand deep enough in his pocket. But salvation lies this way: that tho

uscan cigars, drank a liqueur of some special brandy Mr.

arn Jenny's attitude; but she gave no sign and praised Giu

He was going fishing this afternoon; but it is

It was clear enough that he did not enter into any of Mrs. Pendean's calculations for her own

ude to us. He's as bad as Uncle Ben, who is a very hard-hearted old bachelor. He says, 'Women, pries

a time. When the Start lighthouse opened a white, starry eye over the deepening purple of the sea, and heavy waves beat below them in hollow thunder, they returned to the house and Mr. Redmayne showed Brendon curiosities. They drank tea at five o'clock an

as she saw him to the outer gate. "You've q

came down for a few days after Christmas?" he asked,

d half believed her indifference regarding Doria to be assumed. He guessed that she would be jealous to give no sign until the days of her

e would be there again on the morrow, he determined to remind Bendigo Redmayne of his invitation in early spring. By that ti

ight. Clouds flew fast and, above Brendon's head, telegraph wires hummed the song of a gathering storm. The man's thoughts proceeded as irr

from Italy. The idea was out of the question, for surely a woman of such fine mould, so suddenly and tragically bereaved, would never find in this handsome chatterbox, throbbing with egotism, any solace for so

between a high bank to the windward side and a pine wood on the other, h

road and opened into the depth of a co

as the wind surged over them; while from far below the shout of an angry sea upon the cliffs was carried upward. The red man stood motionless, watchful. He wore the tweed clothes, cap and red waistcoat that Br

opped and confronted him. He appeared to recognize Mark, or at any rate regard him as an enemy, for instantly he turned, plunged in