Show aln an A amateur detective no one who had happened to ob serve the figure of mr bromley brown wandering about his garden on a certain mild april morning would have imagined him to be but suf fering from an acute sense of regret tor for his wasted opportunities A girls girl s figure leaned out and a young voice called to him why do you look so solemn papa dear what a perfect day tt it is warm and sunny enough tor for june junet 1 I was thinking he said imbres ot of how very little material comfort signifies and how few of us are satisfied I 1 know I 1 may not look it but since my earliest days I 1 have often told you I 1 have had a curious wild craving tor for adventure for some excitement outside the deadly routine of a business life it Is hard that of a business life valentine laughed and leaned still further out of the window she for her part was absolutely satisfied with the fair face worn by the world around her her father took off his gold rimmed glasses and laid down his newspaper ha hat this Is most curious said he what a splendid chance it if one could only light upon him the plaus ible scoundrel the shrewd young villain I 1 valentine turned her gray eyes on his shining crimson face listen to me N al at he cried you remember the general told us last week that the and the es had both had their pantry windows forced open did he hea I 1 don dont t think I 1 was Us its bening mr bromley brown here proceeded to read aloud an extract from the newspaper the architect burglar for by this soubriquet this accomplished crimi nal Is now known has been seen it Is believed not long ago in this neigh boyhood although probably he is now many miles away from the scene of his late exploits he is described as a young man of gentleman lil e and military appearance with fair hair and mustache and wearing clothed clot herf of fashionable make mr bromley brown was soon ab sorted in meditation he pictured himself resolute terrible cunning hounding down this d criminal bringing him to justice he fell asleep to the ac compani ment of the larks song and dreamed that he was the chief of police in russia waking up with a start he heard the clock block strike 12 A few yards away in the road he saw the figure of a young man tall fair yes and of unmistakably soldier ly y appearance and I 1 ie e was as sketch ing A thrill ran down mr brown a spine he ile might not be the chief ol 01 the russian police but in was as he not on the eve of a discovery an adventure the possible player in a great and dramatic case caseb in one moment his mind hd been made up he would invite this young man obviously no other than the architect burgia with friendly breet ing into his house A hurried word to the coachman would send him on r 4 r t A model of middle class prosperity swift feet for two oi 01 three of the local police another messenger would hasten to gen compton the sternest of the county magistrates and he would arrive in time to be a witness of the discomfiture ol 01 a no corlous criminal and of the ingenuity and promptitude of his old friend brown meanwhile the oung ung man had looked up smilingly in answer to the remarks of the old gentleman by the hedge he said that he had come a considerable distance that and this with a very pleasant laugh well yes he was thirsty and that there would be plenty of time to fin ish his sketch after luncheon and that he thought it a most kind sug of his questioner to invite him to have some for one instant mr brown glanced nervously at a silver box and candlesticks on valentine valentines s writing table inen illen murmuring an excuse he ran panting to the stables in a choking voice dispatched the astonished coachman for the police and a helper with an impressive message scribbled on a card to gen compton on his return he found the arch hect burglar laughing over a favorite I 1 and these are lovely spoons observed the architect burglar with appalling coolness book of valentines the diary of a nobody and they two talked mr brown for his part with a curious absentmindedness absent mindedness of books and dif ferent forms of humor the parlor maid interrupted them to say that some cold meat was ready and the two men adjourned to the dining room the guest seemed truly grateful tor for a whisky hisky and soda that a a beautiful old cup he remarked pointing to a piece of silver of queen anne date in the middle of the table mr air bromley brown 3 expression of mingled triumph and sarcasm passed unnoticed by the cheerful young vis via aitor the clock struck one and he rose quickly to his feet thank you a thousand times for your hospitality he said pleasant ly I 1 am afraid I 1 must be oft off you see I 1 am sketching for duty not pleasure there was a sound of steps at the door and a voice outside which sounded like a word of command said where is the man mana the door was flung open and a tall soldierly figure stepped quickly into the dining room well brown what a all this about gen compton young and alert for his years stared at his friend with a pair of very keen eyes under white eyebrows you told me it was some very urgent business continued the general then his eyes fell on the young man by the further window bless my soul estcourt I 1 didn dian t see it was you in the corner yes and how are you general said the young man advancing with a cordial smile mr bromley brown felt a sudden cold perspiration on his forehead he was entirely unable to utter a word mr mr mra said the young man was so kind as to ask me to have a whisky and soda ah ali then you don t know each other said the general brown this is lord estcourt son of my old friend whom I 1 have oten talked about you know he ile is working like a at the college and the pointed toward a distant kiev of a large chite building miles away beyond the grove of pines estcourt court this is mr bromley blown cne of my best neighbors mr brown felt as if some one had struck him a violent blow on th t lead head papa papa A fresh young oice noice came echoing from the garden and in another moment a young girl ian into the room papa tapa there are two policemen here they say they have come for some one what doe it meana oh ohl only about the chickens that were stolen icy my dear said her father miserably but there are no chickens lou ou know you wouldn t have any because you said sald they spoil the garden did I 1 say 7 9 mr aromi bromy y brown a dreary expression was that of a victim being led to exe executing cutin n of course I 1 mean the forced straw berries valentine ny dear the young man was still gazing at the lovely puzzled face of his host hosts s daughter your lather father has been so kind to me miss brown said he I 1 am struggling over military drawing and in daily terror of being plowed oh ohl you are studying at the col lege yes I 1 wonder would you and your father care to come over and see it some daya oh that would be delightful papa dear t it ita yes indexed indeed it would mr mir brown was still feeling half para lyzen good by estcourt my boy paid gen compton I 1 have got to have a word cow now wath brown on some most important business about which I 1 came down lord estcourt Esto ourt drew a little nearer to valentine you will drive over very soon then miss browna thank you I 1 am sure we shall enjoy it ever so much then we won t say good bye I 1 think said he as he took her hand the king |