Clue of the Twisted Candle

h you should have had such an uncomfortableending. As you know, and as I have given you proof, I have

of rendering to you in person,the apologies which are due to you. I feel that anything lesswill n

eorge Gathercole, who has just returned fromPatagonia, - I only received his let

which I have always hoped would be mutuallypleasant. If you will allow Gathercole, who will beunconscious of the part he is playing, to

the letter and inserted it in its envelope. He rang abell on his table and t

land."She inclined her head and stood waiting. K

. X. Meredith?"

rd of him," s

man against whom myfavourite weapon would fail

vourite weapon, Mr

r," he

asdisappointed. Probably he required no such encouragement, for in

somethingdreadful is going to happen either to himself or to someone heloves - better the latter - and you will hurt him beyondforgetfulness. Fear is a tyrant and a despot, m

, Miss Hollan

held in her hand, balancing iton the

the use of such an awf

essential to me, to my happiness, to my comfort, ormy amour-propre, that that something shall be possessed by me. IfI can buy it, well and good. If I can buy those who can use theirinfluence to secu

head quickly. "I suppose that ish

ch is generally very badly wanted by the people who use it,"said the girl, with a little smile, "and, according to yourargument, they are

hom I have a greatdeal of respect. You will probably meet him again, for he willfind an opportunity of asking

cuss your business with any

ds because you suit me most admirably.""Thank you," said the girl quietly, "but I am alre

ront. Half his quarrel with T. X. was thatgentleman's curious indifference to the ben

bell, this tim

ther because he is ratherdifficult to get hold of and I want to see him. I am going outnow and I shall be back at 6.30. Do whatever you can to preventhim going away until

letters in mybedroom, and see that Miss Holland has her lunch."Fisher followed him to his car, wrapped the fur rug about hislegs, closed the door carefully and returned to the h

rs inKara's desk might be excused on the score of diligence,

king friends of his se

d as"Fred," and on more occasions than one, and for no appar

he bank. Thisinterested him mightily and he replaced the cheque book with thetightened lips and the fixed gaze of a man who was thinkingrapidly. He paid a visit to the library, where

he made the bedroomthe scene of his investigations. The safe he did not attempt totouch, but there was a small

y afforded the servant a little amusement. Thiswas the private 'phone which Kara had b

ove," sa

smilingly surveyed the great steel latch which spanned the door

r the purpose -and let it fall gently into the socke

up, left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Hewalked down the c

wn when the one maid of Kara's

Fisher took the card from the salver and read, "Mr. GeorgeGathercole, Junior Tr

visitor stand

ntion, if only from thesomewhat eccentric na

he was plucking with nervous jerks, talking tohimself the while, and casting a disparaging eye upon the portraitof Remington Kara which hung above the marble fireplace. A pairof pince-nez sat crookedly on

r glared roun

d peremptorily, pointing

's handpressed against the other's sleeve and he received a shock, forthe forearm was clearly an artificial one. It was against awooden surface beneath the sleeve that his knuckles stru

ara?" growled

ery shortly, sir," s

s to be out!""Mr. Kara expects you, sir. He told me he would be in at sixo'clock at the latest.""Six o'clock, ye gods

a that I called. Give methose books.""But

se books!" roa

some quick manipulation, and thrust the books, which the valetmost rel

understand, atmy own time. Good morning to you.""If y

ars, Itell you. Tell Mr. Kara to expect me when he sees me!"

. The girl was sealing up somelet

t myself into very serioustrouble.""W

Kara, whom Mr. Karaparticularly wanted to s

her n

t him to stay though."She p

ry cross, but I don't

miss," said Fisher, with a little smile,"but if he co

u want; miss?" he asked

he would be back?""At six o'

enger?""No, I don't think that would be advisable. You had better takeit yourself."Kara was in th

ith pleasure,

X. Meredith, Esq., Special Service Dept., Scotland Yard,Whitehall."He put it carefully in his pocket and went from the room tochange. Large as the house was Kara did not employ a regularsta

save for Fisher, the only other person in thehouse beside the girl, was the

the correspondence before her. She heard the soft thud ofthe front door closing, and rising she crossed the room rapidlyand looked d

rgroundroom with its vaulted roof and its great ranges -

also cook - arose u

eyes to see you in my k

r lonely, Mrs. Beale," sai

hour after hour. It's that door that gives me the hump."She pointed t

s it an' it was broke the next morning.""Mr. Kara keeps some of his private papers in there," said thegirl quietly, "he has told me so himself.""H'm," said the woman doubtfully, "I wish he'd brick it u

lacrity and whilst she was assuming a hat- being desirous of maintaining her presti

from the window the

hness. From her bag she produced a smallpurse and opened it. In that case was a new ste

. There were four steel drawersfitted at the back and at the bottom of the strong box. Two ofthese we

cyand a second key was as efficacious as the first. An examinat

ers to the drawer, pus

er. Her hand shook alittle as she pulled it

took them out one by one and at the bottom she foundwhat she had been sea

co leather. She insertedher shaking hand an

hand grasped her wrist andin a panic she