A Short Head in 



* Ah ! that's awkward. He's not been to Sandown, 

 I think ? Do you happen to know where he is ? ' 



' Well, sir,' the man replied, ' Sir Henry went to 

 Purbright, I know, sir, because he said just as he was 

 getting into the cab that a telegram would come for him,' 

 ( ' It was *' wire " then,' Clifton thought), ' and I was to 

 open it and wire the message on, and about two o'clock 

 I had a wire from Sir Henry asking if there was no 

 message.' 



* Well, I think I'll leave him a note,' Clifton answered, 

 striving to repress his excitement, and with a polite 

 * Certainly, sir ! ' the man led the way into the smoking- 

 room. 



On the table there were three letters, two stamped 

 that had come by post, and the third Clifton's ow^n note 

 of that morning. Happy chance ! Now he only wanted 

 to be alone. 



* You'll find pen and ink on the table, and there's 

 paper in the drawer here, sir,' the man said. 



' Thank you. Don't wait. I can find my way out. 

 Sir Henry is sure to be home to dress, you say ? Do 

 you know where he dines ? ' 



' I think most probably at the Junior Drake Club, 

 sir. I heard him say something about it to Mr. Harvey 

 when he was here this morning.' 



The man withdrew. In one second Clifton had 

 snatched up the letter, put it in his pocket, and his pen 

 was flying over the paper as he wrote : — 



' My dear Weymouth, — I hasten to send the line you 

 ask. Of course I'll do as you wish, and, I need not say, 

 do my best. Five thousand pounds is a lot of money to 

 get on in so short a time, and we shall have to lay odds, of 



