brook's fondness for racing, he, at considerable personal discomfort, devoted days to travelling about the country from meeting to meeting; but though he met Mr Scarlett and managed to obtain an audience with that busy gentleman, the interview was highly unsatisfactory, and the information forthcoming nil. Mr Scarlett was brusque and dictatorial, and evidently knew no more about Northbrook than did Mr Peabody himself. Later, remembering North- "But yesterday, down at the docks, before I left the ship, I went on board the Southern Cross of our Line, which was lying in the next berth. She's sailing the day after to-morrow, and I know her doctor and thought I'd have a yarn with him before I went on my shore leave. Well, we were having a drink in the purser's cabin when a steward came along and said that a Mr Taylor, who was going to Australia with his wife, had come aboard with a letter from the Company to have a look at a cabin which he was thinking of engaging. The purser read the letter, and said, 'All right; take him along to see it,' and I thought no more about it until you told me this yarn of yours. It's queer, isn't it? I wonder if it can be the same man." 66 And then, just as he was ready to abandon his quest as useless, Dr Michael Costello arrived back from his voyage brown, healthy, and noticeably stouter. He laughed heartily over his discomfiture in the case of Dr MacCormick, and was fully prepared to accept the attitude adopted by Inspector Thesiger. He seemed to have lost to a large extent his manner of cynical suspicion, and Mr Peabody, if he had had more experience of men, would have divined that he had been received as an equal by his comrades on the ship, and had abandoned a pose which had been adopted "No need of that," cried in the first instance merely as Mr Peabody, springing up full a protection for his natural of energy. We'll go to the shyness. When, however, Mr Peabody related his experience at Aintree, Michael suddenly Good Lord! cried Mr Peabody. "Do you suppose it is?" "I didn't see the man," replied Dr Costello ; "but I have no doubt that the steward would be able to describe him if we go down to the Southern Cross." office of your Company and see the fellow from whom he got his passage. Come along with me, or are you busy? Dr Costello professing himself to be at liberty, the friends set out, without more ado, for the palatial offices of the Constellation Line. Arrived there, was staying at the 'Star and Garter' at Richmond, but he said it was inconvenient to be so far out of Town, and he was going to move. He didn't say where he was going to." they had no difficulty in finding can't give you his address. He the clerk who had arranged the accommodation for Mr and Mrs J. Taylor. On the advice of Dr Costello, Mr Peabody represented himself as a friend of a Mr Taylor of Melbourne, wishing to find out whether the gentleman of that name who had booked a passage on the Southern Cross was the same person. The clerk described his client: "Medium height, thin, dark, very sunburnt, grey eyes; seemed a very nice fellow." "Sounds like him," said Mr Peabody. "Can you tell me where he is staying?" While the clerk went off to look up this point, Dr Costello pulled over to him the plan of the ship and the passenger list, which had been left open on the counter. "Mr and Mrs J. Taylor, No. 280," he read, and then turned to the plan. Suddenly he seized his companion by the arm excitedly. "Look!" he whispered, placing his finger on the chart. Mr Peabody glanced over at the spot indicated. "Yes," he said, "280, C Deck: that seems to be the place." "But don't you see the significance?" whispered Michael. "Significance?" repeated Mr Peabody doubtfully. Damn, I don't want to miss him," cried Mr Peabody. Perhaps I can find out his address at his bankers. Do you know who they are?" Again I am afraid I must disappoint you," returned the clerk with a deprecating smile. "He paid us in cash." "Confound the fellow," muttered Mr Peabody, turning away in disgust. "He always pays in cash." "Well, what are you going to do now? " asked Dr Costello when they were again in the street. "I'll have to see Thesiger, I suppose," said Mr Peabody. "He will laugh at me, of course, but I feel somehow that this thing is serious. Confound it! I wish to God I'd never found that infernal ring. I haven't had a minute's peace since." Dr Costello had to catch the afternoon train at Paddington en route for Cork, so Mr Peabody went alone to Scotland Yard. Here he was met by the shattering intelligence that Inspector Thesiger was away in the North on a case. "Is there any one else that you would care to see?" asked the official at the desk. Mr Peabody reflected for a moment. He felt that he simply could not tell his story to a stranger. The thing was the man I saw at the Grand too preposterous. 66 No, thank you very much," he replied. "I would prefer to see Thesiger if it is at all possible. Perhaps you can tell me his address." The official smiled. "I'm afraid not," he replied; "but if you write him a note and leave it with me, I will see that it gets to him by to-morrow morning. You can write it here if you wish," and he indicated a table with the necessary materials. Mr Peabody spoiled several sheets of official paper before he was satisfied with the result. "DEAR THESIGER " he wrote, "I bave spent days trying to find Northbrook, alias Taylor, alias goodness knows what else, but had no success until young Costello turned up this morning, and, when he heard my story, said that there was a fellow called Taylor sailing for Australia on the Southern Cross on the day after to-morrowSaturday. We went to the office and found that a Mr and Mrs J. Taylor of Melbourne have booked a cabin with a private bath, and paid for it in cash. Taylor went down to the docks and looked over the cabin before he took it. Taylor's description tallies with that of National. He did not leave his address at the shipping office. I am certain that there is trouble afoot. What am I to do ?-Yours sincerely, CHAPTER XIII.-INTRODUCING MR TAYLOR. 66 "He's making a When Mr Peabody read In- annoyed. Damn him! he spector Thesiger's telegram on muttered. Friday he was considerably fool of me. I will go; he may On the to the prospect of two months' exile. say what he likes.' crest of this wave of pique he booked his passage, and thereafter he had no time for regrets, as the boat-train was due to leave Cannon Street Station at eleven o'clock the next morning, and, even though he was an exceptionally mobile young gentleman, the time allowed was not excessive. As it was he nearly missed the train, with the result that he boarded the Southern Cross without having had a chance to see "Mr Taylor" at all. On the way down to Tilbury in the train the reaction set in, and he became more and more depressed. His fit of annoyance had passed, and he knew that he had been a fool to come. Here he was, starting off for a two months' trip, chasing a man that he hadn't even seen, on the strength of a set of deductions which even their originator, Dr Costello, had abandoned as being illfounded. "I'm a fool," reflected Mr Peabody, "but I may as well make the best of it now. After all, a sea voyage isn't such a trial," and, recovering his goodhumour, he smiled round at his companions in the carriage, one of whom, he noticed, was a remarkably pretty girl. Mr Peabody was good at breaking ice. He broke it now, and was rewarded for his courage. The rest of the train journey passed pleasantly, and by the time they reached Tilbury he was quite agreeably resigned But he did not forget the object of his adventure, and as soon as he had bestowed his belongings in his cabin he took steps to find out whether Mr Taylor was on board. Descending to "C" deck, he inquired the whereabouts of Cabin No. 280, and was directed along the alleyway on the starboard side. Here he was at once reassured, for he came on a mammoth wardrobe trunk, almost blocking the passage, on which was painted in bold letters, O. S. Taylor. Ha!" thought Mr Peabody, "that must be his wife's trunk," and he attempted to get past. 66 He At this moment a man came out of a side passage just beyond the obstruction. was followed by a steward, to whom he was giving instructions as to the bestowal of his baggage. He turned and pointed to the trunk. One glance at his face was enough. Mr Peabody realised that he was in the presence of the man who called himself "Taylor of Melbourne." Before he had time to do or say anything, the stranger looked up, saw him, hesitant, behind the great trunk, and with a charming smile began to apologise. He had a pleasant voice. "I say," he began, "I'm most awfully sorry to be blocking up the whole passage like this. I'll have it clear in just a minute. Here, steward, let me give you a hand with it." "It's all right, sir," answered Mr Peabody, recovering his power of speech. "I think I must have lost my way. Can you tell me which deck this is? I am looking for 'B' Deck, Cabin No. 120." "This is 'C' Deck, sir," put in the steward. "You'll find your cabin on the deck above this, on the port side; ask any of the stewards." "Oh, thanks very much," said Mr Peabody, and turned to go. 66 Strange ships are damn puzzling, aren't they?" remarked Mr Taylor with a friendly smile. "It beats me," murmured Mr Peabody, and made his escape. Having posted this epistle he made his way to the cabin, and proceeded to unpack his things and make himself at home. His mind was curiously excited, and as he worked he thought over the position. His encounter with Taylor had left him with an impression of a well-groomed pleasant-looking fellow, with the voice and manner of a gentleman. It seemed preposterous to suppose that a man of this type could be a crafty and cold-blooded murderer. Surely there must be some mistake. What grounds had he for suspicion, anyway? Just the similarity to the Northbrook case and the unconfirmed recognition of Taylor by that very unpleasant person, Mr Harry Scarlett. The Northbrook case! Funny how everybody seemed to be coming round to Thesiger's view. Even Costello, who had been so convinced of foul play in the first instance. He didn't see how "DEAR THESIGER (wrote Mr the facts, and particularly the Peabody), I have taken your times, could be accepted as advice, curse you, and am off correct if the case had been to Cape Town for better or for one of accident or suicide. The worse. Taylor and his wife finding of that finger nearly a are on board. I have seen the hundred miles away from the former, and he is unquestion- place where Northbrook swore ably the same man I saw at that he last saw his wife Aintree. I don't know what made the theory of suicide. the devil I am going to do now impossible. And now here was that I have found him, but this fellow Taylor acting in even if I don't get any forarder precisely the same way that I expect you will be glad to be Northbrook had done, and enrid of me for a couple of gaging a cabin with a private months. I wouldn't be sur- bathroom, and coming down prised if you have been right to the docks to look at it all along-blast you!-Yours, before deciding, and everything. A. J. PEABODY." But, after all, why the devil The pilot was to leave in a few minutes, taking the last shore letters with him. There was just time for a line to the inspector : |