study partaking of some
Burgundy wine and reading a detective story, when the door opened and
Lawrence, entered, tired after a long day in the city.

"Well Mulberry" he said throwing himself down in an arm chair and
lighting a cigar, "no news of Sheene in the Star I suppose?"

"Not a word" replied Mulberry, "it is a most misterious affair
altogether."

"Yes the odd part of it is that Palsey has made off too" answered
Lawrence.

"You dont mean that!" cried Mulberry.

"Yes I do" said Lawrence, "it appears the villain got off while I was
away; you know I locked him in the drawing room and as the landlady had
the key he would not have made his exit in that way.

"No" replied Mulberry "he certainly could not but you forget the
window."

"No I dont" responded Lawrence, "that is just where he did get out, for
when I opened the door of the drawing room, the window was wide open at
the bottom, and a bit of rope was fastenned to a hook on the window
ledge and hanging out of the window, so the wreatch made his escape that
way; it is a wonder he was not detected for the police are every where
on the look out for him and I am sure if ever a man deserved the gallows
he does."

"Yes indeed" replied Mulberry lazily puffing at his cigar "but in my
opinion the disappearance of Sheene is the most extraordinary it was so
very sudden and unexpected, but it was not at all an unlikely thing for
Palsey to do, he was so angry at being locked in."

"My idea is" answered Lawrence "that they both had their own reasons for
wishing to leave so abruptly. I shouldnt be at all supprised if the
villian Palsey knowing the police were on his track, dropped some hint
as to Sheene's share in the murder and so got the blame partly shifted
from himself."

"Then you think Sheene did share in the murder do you?" asked Mulberry,
his black eyes flashing.

"I do" replied Lawrence, "I bet you a shilling that story of Sheene's
will reveal everything. It strikes me Sheene made off on account of the
police too----"

"Well I only hope Miss Winston will soon be well enough to read the
story" replied Mulberry.

"I hope so too responded Lawrence heartily.

"I suppose Netherby still stays at the office?" enquired Mulberry.

"Oh yes" answered Lawrence, "but it will be a good thing for him as soon
as he can leave, he gets very little pay and he is really a very good
fellow indeed."

"Yes he is" rejoined Mulberry "I will try and get something for him as