'he Girl in the Fur Coat

)RTSTORY

By PERCY JAMES BREBNER

: 1 »would ers myt-ir

reo Court there Is no palm me acquainted with the , Personally 1 doubt If k a palm tree there, al- ( "john Saunders, the oldest of the Court, declares it ! apot where the stone o a small drain which > rain water. To hear u would think he had seen |lch la ridiculous, and 1 only |a opinion because the drain [be opposite the door of No. ^e third flooi of that buildb to live. This may appear mt way of introducing my. y you will And the method lo of men. Banisters, briefs and recognition, > the pen to keep them- , but 1 never had any this way, let alone the abilhat it has fallen to my lot chronicles they suffer Hk the hands of a novice. At kJ’ou have gathered that I

Mr and briefless.

Htrtultous wind which drifts nil into our particulir nit in think I must have been K the wrong rut. My father’s Bfeecsuse there were many ■ in the family a barrister Rfeave an excellent opponun■egal of my legal relations died Jme 1 was called, and the •lerred to take toeir busieone who had no connec6 family. I do not blame

sooner deal with Their neglect did

tooble me greatly. I had enough HjMEa two ends meet, and to be ■pM, ray youth longed for more ^Hfewadventurc than 1 was likely Bui in the law courts. I lacked the By to jet out of my groove and t adveuiure, but I was quite ready E rme it if it came to me. And It came knocking at my door m nnexpe ted and tartling ■■taphorlcal when I say adKwckcd at my door: as a fact, I ft my window, half an hour Btfast—not a very early meal ■articular morning, by the Evas lute March, the first f Bpi >ng was in the air. and fchtod a cigarette, 1 threw ■Bludov, and looked out. Palm ^t is not a beauty spot. The g'ftrp too Ugh to admit much Bntram a at one end is b a short tunnel: at the other be three arches, which we call pnnade end. It requires a little |Uon If you have ever seen a gJOOgde . This morning there Kas much sunlight as ever got Into but it was the girl going Hd the colonade which lent It Kal grace and beauty. She wore ■if brown fur coat and a toque to Efr, not a particularly distinguishEatume because a lot of girls were HL* these coats Just then, but

wh '" h differenti-

from others. There was an f In her step, a swing to her attracted me; It was not e fact that she was the only Mirld visible at the moment. I of my window had made Ippose and she glanced op. £ I was looking at her from and from the height of a jjbut i got Uie impression B pretty. As she entered she looked up again. | ive a little wave of her j fech she carried her glova ftmnrt hear the thought tough the mtnda of some It a nice type ot girl they jjTcn: mber it was the first |ring. H was in my blood, I the conclusion It was also 6 thought no barm. 1 had Jiny coat and put on my |Oly a few moments elapsed a rushing down the stairs am flight 1 met an elderly toming up—it would perre correct to say I Just

n my hasty descent,

a Mr. Anderson in this e askeu as I went past

I floor, but he hasn’t been I called back over

I far as the Temple Church, 11 »d. wondering whether the |

girl had gone up to Fleet Street or down toward Paper Buildings and King's Bench Walk. 1 suppose 1 had an idea that, having waved, she would linger and give me a chance of catching her, and I was disappointed. I hurried into Fleet Street, glanced westwards and citywards, and seemed as if fur coats and toques were no longer being worn. There was not a girl in sight who was so dressed. Then walking quickly along Fleet Street as far as Mitre Court. I went through to King’s Bench Walk, and was rewarded. She must have somewhere after all, and was now going In the direction of the gateway which 'eads Into Tudor Street. There is little of the bold Ixtthalro about and It never occurred to me that she would resent my having followed her. That wave of her hand had been an invitation to do so; the spring In the March morning was an excuse fo: conven’tonality. Heaflng me close behind her she stopped and turned. "Are you following me?” she asked. ’’No, that is—I beg your pardon.” I am not sure whether she smiled, but if she did there was no imitation continue the adventure. She was handsome rather than pretty and on closer inspection she appeared to lack something which she seemed to possess when viewed from my third floor vindow. Only distance and the angle had lent her piquancy. She did not look like a girl In whose blood lucre tingling for adventure. After looking at me steadily for a moment she went toward Tudor Street, and I took out a cigarette and tried not to look Ilk .• the fool I felt. Two or three men were crossing King's Bench Walk, but 1 came to the conclusion that none of them had taken any notice of the encounter. I walked slowly back Into Fleet Street, remembering, now it was too late, how much more effectively 1 might have answered her quest'on. ■Why had she waved to me? Had I been a little bolder the encounter might have ended differently, yet somehow I was not altogether sorry not done so. I had been attracted by the girl 1 thought she was not by the girl herself, and it was the girl of my fancy which kept the spirit of adventure alive In me. making a return to the seclusion of my chambers impossible at present. 1 lunched up west, at a little Bohemian place In Soho, and drank half a bottle of wine o try and convince myself that I was grasping enjoyment. I do not suppose any girl in a brown fur coat escaped my scrutiny, for i kind of obsession possessed me that the girl 1 had fancied must materialixe. 1 was out for adventure, was prepared for it. and not a ghost of one came over my horiton to disturb the commonplace. About 4 o'clock 1 went to Palm Tree Court in a state of de-

jection.

1 entered the Court through the tunnel, almost running Into a loiterer there as I did sc. 1 saw two men at open windows, and a horrible suspicion came to me that th. girl of the morning had been wa -ing to someone else, and that the Court gossip had already proclaimed that I had mnde an of myself. Old Sir John Saunders on his doorstep, and to avoid being drawn Into conversation by him

I pretended 1 was in a burry.

entered my rooms, pushed the door to behind me. and then stood staring into a corner. The carpet had been turned back, and a bit of the flooring wrs missing. Someone had been there during my absence and What the devil had be been dome? 1 went and looked into the hole. It was acme sort of secret hiding place, made

for the purpose, and was empt> for a few scraps of paper, a doth, and • .mall .trip d

•By Jove! Here Is adventure after

all." 1 said aloud.

"Mr Burford Yates. 1 think." I swung round, suddenly conscious

of danger. A man was standing by the door into my bedroom, and 1 recognized something familiar about him. An instant later I knew he was the t ,,an i had met on the stairs that

morning.

• Yes. my name is Yates, but who

the devil are you*'

• Screed—Jeremy Screed." was the

iswer.

•And what the deuce have you been

i piece of

ifined >ciety Lady

I F there is a lady of refinement and culture hi this town who wishes to increase her income without engaging in commercial activity, she should write to Department R. 211 h. Park Avenue, Haddonfield. N. J No agents will call, and reply s ill be sent in blank envelope.

doing here?" I asked, pointing to th* hole. "My name Is not familiar to you?' he asked. "Astounding! The ignorance gives you away. You must be barristT with nothing to do. Idle hands and the devil—you know thu proverb. That hole? Uke that when I came in. Wanted to see what you thought of It, so stayed. Bather wondered w.iether you would come bac* at all. y<u were iu such a hurry this morning.' He Jetked out his sentences In disconnected fashion suggestive ot cheap <iockwork which was running down. "You do not tell me who you are." 1 said. "And you don’t explain why you were In such a hurry this momlnr." "I hav - no intention of doing sc "Expo t you',1 have to. First of all I must rsk you to come down and see Mr. Ac erson. He is—is waiting for you to see him." ”1 dor t know him." "Not b- sight?" "I have met him on the stairs once or twice, but he hasn't been here for -ths ’He has Co-:*' beck. I expect he will explain why 1 am nere." Screed closed the door of my chambers as we went out and spoke ol the weather as we went down the stairs. I wanted to resent his manner, but was too interested in him. and the adventure, to do so. He was a personality you instinctively wanted to study. Ho might be a burglar, trusting to bluff, and although I went with him meekly enough I was prepared put up a light if necessaryHe knocked at Anderson’s door, which was opened immediately, though it was still daylight, heavy curtains drawn "cross the windows shut it out. and the electric light was switched on. “We've come to see Mr. Andetson.” said Screed to the maa who opened the door. “Ever been in these chambers before. Mr. Yates?” ’Never.” ’No one been here for months, the porter says, and he ought to know. There Mr. Yates?” He had shepherded me across the «m. and as he spoke he whisked a sheet from a chesterfield which was pushed back against the wall. 1 stopped with a half strangled cry in my throat. Lying there was a man—dead, murdered. He had been stabbed in the neck. •Does Mr. Anderson explain why 1 here?” Screed asked after a pause I did not answer immediately. I looked at him, then at the dead man again, and unpleasant ideas rushed into my brain. Here was an adventure I could easily have done without. A detective.” I said slowly. I began have a vague impression that 1 had heard the name of Screed before, had seen it in a newspaper perhaps. "That’s the position." he answered I bent down to look at the dead man. to look closely into his face. "That is not Anderson." I said. "Look at hi a again. Violent death alters the aspect of a man.’ "That Is not Anderson.” 1 repeated. "Very curious." said Screed, taking . case from his pocket. "That is a -holograph of Anderson—authentic. Seems lo me it is the picture of the man lying there.” es. but it is not Anderson," I answered. 'An interesting point.” he said replacing the sheet a.id the case. "We must argue it out. Shall it be here • upstairs?" “In my cnambere." I said. He said soenuhine which I could not catch, to the man as he opened the door for ns. and we went upstairs in silence. Screed took my most comfortable chair without Invitation. ’First suggestion." he said. "Draw the curta'us and switch on the light. Prevents people in tBe opposite houses getting too interested.” 1 complied. "Second suggestion. Don't tell me irihlng yon don't want me to repeat. Talking to me is sometimes like talking into a gramaphore.” Look here. Mr. Screed, are you thinking that I killed the man down stairs?" ’Suggestion three. Should advise j to tell me everything you know." ’You do not answer my question." -eturned. ‘Suggestion four Don't expect it. I hardly ever do answer questions Sp*-nd most of my time asking them. If you haven’t smoked all your dearies HI hsve one.” I passed him my case. "Egyptians, and you us tally smoke Virginians by the ends on the hearth. Dined out last night, and ran short. That Is rather interesting to me, Mr. Yates.” fall to understand why.” •t-rhops naturally, perhaps not. My profession is full of uncertainties only to bo im t by careful method. My thod Is always the same. I always

fix on one t>erson and radiate from him until 1 hit the truth. In this case 1 have fixed on you. See?” I laughed but felt uncomfortable. I defy anyone not to feel a shiver down his spine when Screed shot out gestions of this kind. “You see the Idea, Mr. Yates. The first questions which came into my mind are: “What did you do last night, and why were you in such devil of a hurry this morning? That hole might be the answer to both questions." "It ian’t.” 1 said. "I will tell you why I was In a hurry this morning. "No. I may help things a bit if I tell you." Screed returned. "You were smoking at your window when a girl in a fur coat passed through the Court and waved to you. A signal, eh. Mr. Yates*" “A signal!” "May I ask If you have had a pleasant day?”

"No."

"Then my third suggestion. Tell all you know.” I told him exactly as 1 have set It down here. Further I explained that I l.ad dined alone last night, had f to the theater, and, meeting an qu.>lntance. had gone back to his rooms in Bury Street to play cards r an hour or so. "Do you often do that kind of Oiing?” ‘1 am out a great deal.” ’Constantly home late, eh ” ’Yes. I am often at my club until late, the Oriental.” ’So that If anyone wanted to come and look at that hole during the e ing he might fairly calculate on : not being in?" do not live by rule, and anyone would run considerable risk by entering my chambers uninvPed.” ’He might knock first,” said Screed. “He might be someone you knew, Mr. Anderson, for instance, and therefore make you suspicious i' you happened to be In." ’The dead man is not Mr. Anderm." I said. “Well, you might have a visit from the gentleman you know as Mr. AnderIt would Interest me to hear about him." “I do not know him. 1 have him on the stairs once or twice, and him unlock his door. He v as only about for two ot three weeks. The porter could tell you more about him than I can." “ilow long is It since you have seen m?" Screed asked. "Seven or eight months.” Screed was thoughtful for a few minutes. ‘Now about this girl. What kind of a girl was she? Something very special surely to make you tumble down the stairs In such a hurry." ‘She was disappointing on closer inspection and not at all pleased to find ras following her.” Then why did she Invite you by waving?” i didn’t discuss the matter with her. 1 Just accepted the position, and put my tail between my legs.” ’Are you sure she waved?" ’Quite. She was carrying her gloviin her hand. Of course, it is possible she was waving to someone else." ’Oh. no. it was to you all right.” ’How do you know'?” 'From information received." and he laughed. "Would you know the girl again?” 'Do you mean close to or from any window?” Close to.”

’Yes."

Ton have more confidence In yourself than T have in Jeremy Screed, which is saying a lot. She did no glove waving when you spoke to her?” 'o. She kept her hands in her

muff.’’

ou are observant. Mr. Yates. You will have to come and help me when I get Into difficulties, that la if 1 can get you off this time. Were they brown gloves?" ‘T couldn't swear to that." "But the coat and muff were brown?”

"Yes." "That color?” and Screed suddenly held out a tuft if brown fur to me. ’Something ot that color, but I am not going to swear to that, either.” ’This tuft was found In the hand of the dead man." Screed went on. presumably pulled from the muff or cloak In a death struggle. You did not happen to notice whether there a piece missing when you stood close to the girl?" T did not.” Well. Mr. Yates, that i« all for the ■sent.” said Screed, rising. “You will be asked a lot more questions at the police court tom irrow. no doubt. There is no harm in your putting on thick coat, although I do not think >u will find your cell particularly cold tonight.” "Cell!” "Sorry, but you are under arrest. I ha.e two men on the landing and a revolver in my hip pocket. Take my advice and be philosophical.” a man I found Screed rather amusing, as a detective he was evidently a dismal failure. He had not only got hold of the wrong dead man. but the wrong living one as well. 1 not much interested in the dead U but my own position was start-

word now.” whispered iu’11 see where you are in

ling, and unpleasant. My mind was | -f; ot a ' suddenly full of all the cases of mis-1 Screed, taken Justice 1 bad ever heard of. I a moment.”

Ai n. I.«ri», a.r .| ... I lo a,, ,1,,

bamd lo .dml, U»| Scivrf b.d dot |nlo . , h ^..

h “ Tl "' "’ r Tbra I undorsiood. Wo woro lo So. 5.

■ or or rolo, Troo Coor- who hod r,- ^ ^ .olvod more Hw moo 0.0 .hoo 1 toold ^ oh.o.o,,,. scrood'o

■Itord. did oot rar vory mool,. M: ho ^ M thc Mt th. Mpm, 00 1 ha. I . 0.00 ^ |n , |teep

of irregular habits. The way he put |

I. olio or. coovlorod .„<■ tho. T ««, 1 ’ Ulr - a " d ,hl " k 1

l-otll .hot mooicDi I hod noror ocn

myooir o„ olhora ,«w mo. Tho porior 1 P”' 0 "" *<<«» WWo* hoppoood.

also aworo to the doud toon bolot Sorood rot -

n warning touch, and

Anderson, and when 1 asked what other person had a key to Mr. Ander-

I heard stealthy steps on the stairs below. A man came to the door of

son’s rooms, he declared that 1 could i m >' <’»>»n>«’‘’rs. put a key In the lock, not possibly have seen anyone onIf . r ., apaprcntly. without the (Slightest hesl-

Ing them. 1 Imagine that ever; present, from the magistrate down-

wards. assumed I had looked upon the wine when It was red. But there was more evidence against me A man. quite a young fellow. up from the country, stated that he had come to find a Mr. Wicklow at Nc. 11 Palm Court. He had evidently been given the wrong court for the name was not known there. H, :nlng down the stairs of No. 11. and ia on the first landing, when, look ing from the window, he saw a girl in brown fur coat come out of the house opposite. At the time he did not notice it was No. 5. She went to the colonnade end and made a signal man who had opened an upper window. He recognized n The girt passed through the colonnade. He watched for a moment landing window, rather amused by the little romance, then came down the stairs. As be came along the passage to the door he saw gentleman, whom he now knew to be Screed, and who had come from the other end of the Court, enter the house opposite. The next minute 1 rushed out and went In pursuit of the The recital served to stain my

character further.

Screed's evidence was scrappy. He did not repeat a word of our conversation. nor did he mention the hole In the floor of my chambers. What he did say. however, was sensational. For some time past search bad been made the continent, and In this country, for a gang of thieves and blackmailTheir operations were extensive and miscellaneous in character, extending at times to well-paid spy work. only lately that any real clues regarding the members of this gang had been picked up. and it was discovered that a woman was a very prominent member of It. An unexpected communication had bee a received from a Mr. Anderson of Palm Tree Court saving he was In possession of certain infonnation which would be useful to the authorities, and on the morning In question Screed had called at the time appointed. He had met me rushing wildly down the stairs. When he went Anderson's hamber he could answer, a:.J when, with the help of the porter, he had got in. it only to find Mr. Anderson lying

dead upon the floor.

On the conclusion of his statement i adjournment was asked for as it as expected that further evidence would be forthcoming. I was removed custody, and it was difficult to realize that I did not deserve it- There

times when it ia not easy to believe in your rwn innocence. dark when my cell door opened and Screed came in.

'Hope you’re not too comfortable, Mr. Yates, to object to & night out.” 'More evidence to be knotted about

?" 1 asked.

'Can’t say how it will work out exactly. but at any rate it may afford

you a little excitement."

'Excitement!" and I lauglmd. and we walked away from the station I told Screed how 1 had longed for •nture- The idea seemt\l to amuse

him.

going to Palm Tree Court."

he said. 'The dead man had been re-

ed. the place has resumed its

mal aspect, and yet wc may find

! tation. and entered. He 1 did not quite j close the door after him. and I saw the light of an electric torch flash within. Then came a short exclamation, and almost immediately he came out. Evidently something was not as he had expected and he closed the door quietly, moving even more stealthily than he had done before. For an instant he flashed the light down the stairs, and Screed, fearing, no doubt, that he would flash It upwards. pressed me hack against the wall of the recess. In that Instant I had recognized the intruder. He was the young man who had looked for Mr. Wicklow in No. 14. and had seen me rush after the girl in the fur coat. Apparently it was only from below he feared pursuit, for he came up toward uu without flashing the light, passed, and before I had quite realized the fact, had disappeared through the nar-

row door on to the roof.

"Interesting, eh. Mr. Yates? He was surprised to find that hole in your

floor open and empty.” ’ What was there?” I asked.

"That Is one of the things 1 want

to find out,” he answered.

We went down the stairs and left by Palm Tree Court. Just beyond the tunnel, by the door where the porter had his room, a policeman was stand-

ing.

i-ntu

Been and gone, sir,” he replied In ■Answer to Screed’s question. "I explained that it was his night off.” The time had seemed much longer than it reel!:- was. We were back in the police siatlon long before mid-

night.

1 was brought up again only to be discharged and receive apologies for the mistake which had been made. The young man who had entered my chambers and was present In court weemed surprised, and when the porter was brought in between two constables he betaine suddenly excited. I suppose he thought the porter bad bettayed him. and before anyonccould interfere, he had whipped out a revolver and fired, wounding tho porter m the arm. He was seized and overpowered before he could fire a second time, which he evidently intended to do. ’Take a good look at him. Mr. Yates.” said Screed. "We shall have a talk about him in a day or two when wo have got a little more out of the

porter.”

a retired teashlp In a

turning off Chancery Lane that this

converaatton took place.

■Regular haunt of mine.” Screed explained. ’’Know me here and ask no questions whatever I do. Make use of them at times, too. Often get Information. It is run by a lady. Betty Cameron. Introduce you to her before e ’eave. Charming- You'll like her.

Now for tea and business." long story, made longer

by Jeremy Screed’s desire to impress ils personality upon me. I will he more concise. It was Impossible to say how many people were conceited iu the gang of thieves, but Anderson one. the porter another, and also young man who was a French- . born in England. His real name probably Le Maltre, but he had a dozen others. For months Anderson had been on the continent, his address and appearance being a great asset to gang. His chambers in IbUm i- Tree Court, always under the eye of the porter, were the London center of

io-e than I

i still

'I have already had i

bargained for." in't be selfish, unsatisfied."

Before you reach the tunnel leading into the Court there is a large block of chambers, and taking my arm Screed drew me into the entrance. "Quiet, and go light!'. Don't beive as If you were a criminal." We went to the top floor, meeting i ne. A narrow door, which was unlockid. gave on to the roof, a medley of slates and tiles pitched at vari angles, with flat spaces between

them.

"Follow me.” said Screed. "There it i difficulty to overcome" With several twists he led me over the roofs until we came to a door slmijf our exit. Entering this we were facing a flight of stairs right angle turn in it.

'Continued on Page Six)

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