He went over in his head all that had appeared in the documents about Indian Island. There had been its original purchase by an American millionaire who was brainsick about yachting-and an history of the epicurean modern house he had built on this small island off the Devon seashore. The unfortunate fact that the new 3rd married woman of the American milA­lionaire was a bad crewman had led to the subsequent seting up of the house and island for sale. Assorted glowing advertizements of it had appeared in the documents. Then came the first bald statement that it

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had been bought-by a Mr. Owen. After that the rumor of the chitchat authors had started. Indian Island had truly been bought by Miss Gabrielle Turl, the Hollywood movie star! She wanted to pass some months at that place free from all promotion! Busy Bee had hinted finely that it was to be an residence for Royalty? ? ! Mr. Merrvweather had had it whisA­pered to him that it had been bought for a honeyA­moon-Young Lord L-had surrendered to Cupid at last! Jonas knew for a fact that it had been purA­chased by the Admiralty with a position to transporting out some really hush stillness experiments!

Decidedly, Indian Island was intelligence!

From his pocket Mr. Justice Wargrave drew out a missive. The script was practically illegible but words here and at that place stood out with unexpected lucidity. Dearest Lawrence. . . such old ages since I heard anything of you. . . must come to Indian IsA­land. . . the most bewitching topographic point. . . so much to speak over. . . old yearss. . . Communion with NaA­ture. . . bask in sunlight. . . 12:40 from PaddingA­ton. . . meet you at Oakbridge. and his correA­spondent signed herself with a flourish his of all time Constance Culmington.

Mr. Justice Wargrave cast back in his head to retrieve when precisely he had last seen Lady ConA­stance Culmington. It must be seven-no, eight old ages ago. She had so been traveling to Italy to enjoy in the Sun and be at one with Nature and the conA­tadini. Subsequently, he had heard, she had proceeded to Syria where she proposed to enjoy in yet stronger Sun and live at one with Nature and the Bedouin.

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Constance Culmington, he reflected to himself, was precisely the kind of adult female who would purchase an island and environ herself with enigma! Noding his caput in soft blessing of his logic, Mr. Justice Wargrave allowed his caput to nod. .

He slept. . .

Chapter 2

Vera Claythorne, in a third-class passenger car with five other travelers in it, leaned her caput back and shut her eyes. How hot it was going by train to-day! It would be nice to acquire to the sea! Truly a great piece of fortune acquiring this occupation. When you wanted a vacation station it about ever meant looking after a drove of children-secretarial vacation stations were much more hard to acquire. Even the bureau had n’t held out much hope.

And so the missive had come.

I have received your name from the Skilled Women ‘s Agency together with their recommenA­dation. 1 understand they know you personally. I shall be glad to pay you the salary you ask and shall anticipate you to take up your responsibilities on August 8th. The train is the 12:40 from Paddington and you will be met at Oakbridge station. I enclose five lb notes for disbursals.

Yours genuinely,

Una Nancy Owen.

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And at the top was the stamped reference Indian IsA­land, Sticklehaven, Devon. . . .

Indian Island! Why, there had been nil else in the documents recently! All kinds of intimations and interestA­ing rumor. Though likely that was largely unA­true. But the house had surely been built by a millionaire and was said to be perfectly the last word in luxury.

Vera Claythorne, tired by a recent strenuous term at school, thought to herself- ” Bing a games kept woman in a third-class school is n’t much of a gimmick. . . . If merely I could acquire a occupation at some nice school. ”

And so, with a cold feeling unit of ammunition her bosom, she thought: “ But I ‘m lucky to hold even this. AfA­ter all, people do n’t wish a Coroner ‘s Inquest, even if the Coroner did assoil me of all incrimination! ”

He had even complimented her on her presence of head and bravery, she remembered. For an inA­quest it could n’t hold gone better. And Mrs. HamA­ilton had been kindness itself to her-Only Hugo- ( but she would n’t believe of Hugo! )

Suddenly, in malice of the heat in the passenger car she shivered and wished she was n’t traveling to the sea. A image rose clearly before her head. Cyril ‘s caput, bobbing up and down, swimming to the stone. . . Up and down-up and down. . . . And herA­self, swimming in easy practiced shots after him- spliting her manner through the H2O but knowing, merely excessively certainly, that she would n’t be in time.. ..

The sea-its deep warm blue-mornings spent

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lying out on the sands-Hugo-Hugo who had said he loved her. .

She must non believe of Hugo.. . .

She opened her eyes and frowned across at the adult male opposite her. A tall adult male with a brown face, light eyes set instead close together and an chesty about barbarous oral cavity.

She thought to herself:

“ I bet he ‘s been to some interesting parts of the universe and seen some interesting things. .. . ”

Chapter 3

Philip Lombard, summing up the miss antonym in a mere flash of his speedy traveling eyes thought to himself:

“ Quite attractive-a spot schoolmistressy perA­haps. . . ”

A cool client, he should imagine-and one who could keep her own-in love or war. He ‘d instead wish to take her on.. . .

He frowned. No, cut out all that sort of material. This was concern. He ‘d acquire to maintain his head on the occupation.

What precisely was up, he wondered? That small Jew had been damned cryptic.

“ Take it or go forth it, Captain Lombard. ”

He had said thoughtfully:

“ A 100 guineas, eh? ”

He had said it in a insouciant manner as though a hunA­dred guineas was nil to him. A hundred guinaˆ‘