The Riddle of the Frozen Flame

on into Mr. Narkom's office that day while Cleek was sitting there, and o

her body has ever been found," Cleek sudden

t the thing to find out is what they're there for to hide. When you've discovered that, you'll have got half way to the truth, and the rest will follow as a matter of course.... What's that,

l to Cleek-absolutely. And Cleek had treated the confession with a decent sort of respect which was enough to win any chap over to him. Merriton in fact had found in Cleek a friend as well as a detective. He had been a li

on Nigel-this by look and gesture rather than by use of tongue and speech. And Cleek had already drawn his own conclusions. He heard of Nigel's engagement to Antoinette Brelli

Narkom had promised that before a couple of days were over, they would put in an appearance at Fetchworth, and look into things more closely. It was agreed that

knew of the incident of the pistol-shooting, so far as Merriton was aware. And the young man was too ashamed of the whole futile affair and what it very apparently proved to the listener-that he had certainly drunk more than was good for him-to wish an

stars that he had come to London after all and placed things in proper hands. There was nothing now for him to

ain at Waterloo, carrying his parcels with a happy heart. He got out at Fetchworth station three hours later, hailed the only hack

the great gate. When she saw him she darted a

a child, and it was some time after they reached the ho

le, and for the first time Ni

e lonesome in this great house, and I-I am so frightened at those horrible little flames that twinkle twinkle all nig

ecame more pronounced. He stroked her hair with a gentle hand,

he night. Hang conventions, anyway! And then too I have to make re

ors, N

s coming to spend a short time with

go up for, N

oment to straighten the collar of her blouse. He didn't like lying to

Lorne. And the other one happened to be there so I asked him, too. They won't worry you much, 'Toinette. They're frightfully keen about the country, and will be sure to go out shootin' and snuffin' round like these town johnnies always do when they get in places like this.... Well, as Mr. Brellie

t his. There was a haunted look in them that

?" he said in a l

think of marriage with you until-everything is finally cleared up, and his death or disappearance, or whatever the dreadful affair was, discover

et been snapped, the mystery of his disappearance seemed only to strengthen it. He wondered dully when he would ever feel free again, and then laughed inwardly at himself for making a farce of the whole thing, for building a mountain out of a stupid little molehill. And 'Toinette was

ir coming. But the cloud had dropped across his horizon again, and the sun was once more o