The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-10

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"Yes. II you wish, will take you TO
the spot. I can drive you and your as
sistant up there"
Certainly. Let ms co. he exclaimed,
rising at once and ringing bis bell.
"Get three good lanterns and some
matches, and put them in this gentle.
mans trap outside" he said TO the con.
stable who answered bis summons. "And
tell Gilbert Campbell that / want him
10 30 with me up 10 Rannoch Wood"
Eyes, SIR" answered the man; and
the door again closed
Its a pity--a thousand pities, Mr.
Gregg, that you didn't stop those two
men who buried the body"
They were already across the stream,
and disappearing into the tbicket be-
fore / mounted the rock" | explained.
Besides, at the moment ! had no sus.
picion Of what they'd been doing. be-
lieved them 10 be stragglers from a
Deighboring shooting party who had lost
their way"
"Ah, most unfortunate!" he said. II
hope they don't escape us. II they're
foreigners, they are not likely 10 get
away. But IL they're English or Scots,
then ! fear there's but little chance OF
Us coming up with them. Yesterday at
the inquest the identity Of the murdered
man was strictly preserved, and the In
quiry was adjourned for a fortnight"
"Of course my name was not men
tionedp / said.
"Of course not" was the detectives
reply. Then he asked: "When do you
expect 10 get a telegram from your
friend, the Consul at Leghorni l am
anxious for that, In order that we may
commence inquiries in London"
"Thc day after tomorrow, hope. he
will certainly reply ut once, providing
the dead mans father can still be found"
And mt that moment tall, thin man,
who proved 10 be Detective Campbell,
entered, and five minutes later we were
all three driving over the uneven cob
blcs Of Dumfries and out In the dark
ness towards Rannoch.
II was cloudy and starless, with n
chill mist hanging over the valley; but
my uncle's cob was q swift one, and
we soon began To ascend the hill up past
the castle, and then, turning TO the left,
drove along steep, rough by.road which
led 10 the south Of the wood and out
across the moor. When we reached the
latter we all descended, and led the
horse, for owing to the many treach-
erous bogs II was unsafe TO drive fur.
thcr. so, with Mackenzie and Campbell
carrying lanterns, we walked on care.
fully, skirting the wood for nearly a
mile until we came TO the rough wall
over which ] had clambcred with Mu.
riel.
recognized the spot, and having tied
up tho cob we all three plunged into the
pitch darkness OF the wood, keeping
straight on In the direction III the glen,
and halting every now and then TO listen
for tho ripping OF the stream.
At last, after some difficulty, we dis
covered Il, and searching along the bank
with our three powerful lights, / pres
emily detected the huge moss grown
boulder whercon ! had stood when the
pair Of fugitives had disappeared.
"I.0okl" I cried. There's the spotl"
And quickly we clambered down the
steep bank. lowering ourselves by the
branches Of the trees until We came
TO the water into which l waded, being
followed closely by my two companions.
On gaining the opposite side ! clam.
bered up to the base Of the boulder and
lowered my lantern TO reveal TO them
the gruesome evidence Of the second
crime, but the next instant cried
"Whyi It's gonel"
"Goncl" gaspcd tho two men.
eyes. It was here. Lookl this is the
hole where they buried Ill But they
evidently returned, and finding II OK.
humed, they've retaken possession Of IL
and carried Il away"
The two detectives gazed down to
where I indicated, and then looked at
each other without exchanging q word.