riking a four-wheeler

xcited, laughing-eyed Daisy-a si

e a cab if the weather was

othing like two miles from the Marylebone Road, but the man clamoured for one and sixp

eaving them to it, walked up the flagged path to

re fell, with startling suddenness, loud cries on the still, cold air. Long-drawn and wailing, they

d Bunting wonderingly.

! That's what I meant when I said I might 'a got a better fare. I wouldn't say nothink before little missy there, but folk '

woman murdere

had the five thousand constables been a

- within a few yards of one another. He 'ave-got a nerve-But

him?" asked Bunt

hours ago-they was both stone cold. One each end of a little passa

arer and nearer-two news vendor

ear King's Cross!" th

venger

all in his hand, ran forward into the roadway and

these murders seem a personal affair. He hoped that Chandler would come in soon and tell th

d-giving her stepmother a long account of the scarlet fever case, and how at first Ol

rp alarm in his daughter's voice, and he heard her cry, "Why, Ellen, whatever is

Cross-a clue at last!" yelled

h. She laughed, and laughed, and laughed, rockin

hatever's the m

oked qui

-that's what it is

the water-jug.

en was ridiculous-that's what

nd, or maybe the threat of the water-jug, had a magical effect on Mrs. Bun

ust run down into the kitchen. You'll find a piece of pork roast

d, and clutched at the banister for support. But soon, making a great effort over herself, she began to feel

ut querulously; "I think I've caught a chill. I should be obliged if you woul

well

er and giddy, so instead of going into the kitchen, she mad

been settled that a bed should be made up for her in the top back room, but Mrs. Bunting saw reason to change

ly right; the girl would be rather lonely up there, and, after all, they didn

d to make herself useful to her stepmother. "I'll wash up;

om. His wife gave him a furtive glance;

t a paper?" sh

" he answered hastily.

r not look at it, as

ely, but he seemed just as usual-he evid

something in the street-I mea

ight-had been due to the shouting outside. She was not the only woman in London who had got the Avenger murders on her nerves. His morning paper said quite a lot

t was they were callin

o be able to lie, to pretend that she did not know what those dreadful crie

a word here and there. There's b

urders," he

o pale-a sallow greenish-white-that Bu

hink what's come over you about these murders. Turn your mind awa

bout them," cried Mrs.

side of the table, the man with his back to t

ked shrunk. For the first time, so he told himself ruefully, Ellen was beginning to look her full age. Her slender hands-she had ke

dear," he said to himself, "I do hope Ellen isn't

he commanded, in a lo

hear? Be quic

ntly. "There's precious little in this paper, an

el

f 'em this time, and they'd both bee

as done?" she asked lookin

ut it, you see. They seems to have been done in a passage which isn't used no more." And then, as he thought his wife's eyes were beginning to look rather funny, he

and constables weren

ng sl

p of the table, and was

bout it. But wait a minute-" he turned and took up the paper which he

ft, weak, die-away voice, and again, stooping

holding the paper close up to his eyes, and he re

ve they are in possession of a clue which will lead to the arrest of

cloth as she went. She lay there in what appeared to be a dead faint. And Bunting, scared out of h

sense and resource which even at this anxiou

t the little medicine flask, "I can't think what's wrong with Ellen," said Daisy wonderingly. "She seemed quite all right when I first came in. She wa

orse nor I should ever have let you know of, my dear. Ellen's just feeling it now-that's what it i

ed her eyes, and instinctively put her hand up

't stand up-more, that she must fall down. Bunting's words touched a most unwonted chord in the poor woman's heart, and the eyes whic

dislike of any betray

ed "foolishness," and

ke a fuss! I only turn

s right of

had hurriedly poured a little brandy. "I wouldn't tou

elp of the table, on to her feet. "Go down again to the kitch

"Now I come to think of it, you haven't eat half enough these last two days. I always did say-in old

ace. "I'd no idea you'd had such a bad time, father," she said feelingly. "Wh

pect I'm still feeling the worry now. I don't seem able to forget it. Those days of waiting, o

said Bunting eagerly, "all right

e of voice. "Yes, we're all right now, and as y

sat down on it. "I'm just a lit

ot so low but that Mrs. Bunting heard her, "Don't you think Ellen ought to s

n my last place. Thirty-eight doctors in ten months did my poor missis have. Just determine

r last mistress, Ellen,"

tress died. They might have been married some months before they

ke in a softer, kindlier tone than usual. "Daisy? If you won't go down to the kitchen

s prettier every minute

s wife. She was beginning to feel better. "But still, I do agree, B

a bit of fish to-day, isn't it? Hadn't I better just tell Daisy to see to it,

ear her husband speak of the lodger's dinner. They had dinner in the middle of the day, but Mr. S

oesn't he? I can manage all right. Don't