Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20
Martin Hewitt,
Investigator
BY ARTHUR MORRISON.
BY ARTHUR MORRISON.
The Loss of Sammy Crockett.

fee. / may have luck, you know, but !
can't promise. of course"
The landlord looked in Hewitt's face for
a moment. Then he said: Done, It's a
deal
Very good Hewitt replied 'get to-
gether the one or two papers you have
and we'll go into my business in the even
ing. AS to Crockett, don't say a word to
anybody I'm afraid it must get out, since
they all know about it in the house. but
there's no use in making any unnecessary
noise. Don't make hedging bets or do any
thing that will attract notice Now Wen
go over to the back and look at this cinder
path of yours
Here Steggles, who was still standing
near. was struck with an idea. How about
old Taylor. at the Cop, guv'nor, eh?'' he
said. rneaningly. His lads good enough
to win with Sammy out and Taylor is
backing him plenty. Think he knows any
thing o this?"
That's likely" Hewitt observed. before
kentish could reply. Yes. Look here
suppose Steggles goes and keeps his eye on
the Cop for an hour or two. in case there S
anything to be heard of? Don't show
yourself. of course"
kentish agreed. and the trainer went.
When Hewitt and Kentish arrived at the
path behind the trees Hewitt at once be-
gan examining the ground. One or two
rather large holes in the cinders were
made, as the publican explained. by Crock
EFT i'll practicing getting off his mark. Be
spiked shoes. The tracks led up to within
couple of yards of the high fence bound
ing the ground, and there stopped abruptly
and entirely. In the fence, little to the
right of where the tracks stopped. there
a stout door. This Hewitt tried and
found ajar
That's always kept bolted," Kentish
said. Hes gone out that wayne could
mt have gone any other without comm
through the house"
n
step three yards long, is he?" Hewitt
asked, pointing at the last footmark and
then at the door, which was quite that
added. opening the door, there's no foot
print here nor outside.
The door opened on a lane, with another
fence and a thick plantation of trees at
the other side. Kentish looked at the
footmarlls then at the door, then down
the lane, and finally back toward the
house. That's a licker!' he said.
This is quiet sort of lane" was Hew-
tits next remark. No houses in sight.
Where does it lead?'
That way it goes to the Old kilns-
dsused. This way down to a turning off
the Padtield and Cation road
Hewitt returned to the cinder path
again. and once more examined the foot
marks. He traced them back over the
grass toward the house. Certainly" he
said The hasn't gone back to the house
Here is the double line of tracks, side by
= J
boots with iron tips, and Crocketts run
ming pumps; thus they came out. Here is
Steggles' track in the opposite direction
alone. made when he went pack for the
sweater. Crockett remained you see va
rious prints in those loose cinderS at the
end of the path where he moved this way
and that, and then two or three PAGES to-
ward the fence-nOt directly toward the
door, you notice-and there they stop
dead and there are no more. either back
or forward. Now. if he had wings / should
be tempted to the opinion that he flew
straight away in the air from that spot
unless the earth swallowed him and
closed again without leaving a wrinkle
on it's face"
Kentish stared gloomily at the tracks
and said nothing.
However, Hewitt resumed II think
I'll take little walk now and think over
it. You go into the house and show your
self at the bar If anybody wants to know
you. BY the by, can | get to the Cop
this place of Taylor'S- this back lance"
Yes, down to the end leading to the Cat
ton road turn to the left and then first on
the right. Amy one'll show you the Cop
and Kentish shut the door behind the de-
tcctive, who straightway Walked-toward
the Old Kilns
In little more than an hour he was back
1t was now becoming dusk and the land
lord looked out papers from box near the
side window of his snuggery. for the sake
of the extra light. I've got these papers
tered. ANY news"
Nothing very great. Here's a bit of
handwriting l want you to recognize, if you
can. Get light"
Kentish lit a lamp, and Hewitt laid upon
the table half dozen small pieces of torn
paper. evidently fragments of a letter
which had been torn up, here reproduced in
facsimile: