The Washington times., 1906-01-14
81. 81. save that II VS. between 8
co g RAJ ETS
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and 10"
Thank you And now. Mr.. Phillips.
/ think we viii go down and have a
look at the causeway walk"
At the end of the terrace we found
a policeman waiting. He touched his
helmet 10 the inspector. and, after ii
few words with him. led the way down
some moss-grown steps and over a
slipping lawn toward tn lake. We
skirted the right-hand edge for per
haps 200 yards. until We came 10 where
a short causeway OF stone had been
built out into the water, Joining the
lawns 10 a shrub-grOwn island The
roof Of a gabled cottage peeped out
from the heart of its yews and laurels-
The causeway, paved with great slabs
Of slate. was never more thru five feet
broad on either side of it was n dense
growth Of feathery reeds. hiding the
lake behind their rustling walls
what cottage Is 'that?'' asked Grey,
pointing a finger
when he was a young man, Sir
William. that was Sir Andrews uncle.
used 10 give lunches and teas there in
the summer months" said the police
man. But the place has been shut up
for a long time now. sir. No one goes
to the island. barring the ducks. and
they nest there by the hundred
where did you catch the prisoner
About this very place. sir. It was
about half-past nine, and / was walk
ing down the public footpath. when
passes the east corner Of the lake,
when I heard the shot. 1t seemed a
strange time OF the year for night
poaching, but there are rascals In the
village who wouldn't hesitate about
the seasons so long as they had duck
for dinner.
.On / raced as hard as I could put
legs to the ground. When I came 70
the causeway head I pulled zap and
looked about me There was a slip
OF moon over the island and plenty
OF stars. so that the night was fairly
bright. No one was in sight, but pres
entity I heard the thump. thump, OF
man running over turf. and who should
come painting down the slope but Jake
Warner. the keeper RE was IN such
a hurry that he was nigh as close as
am II you. sir. before he saw me.
Good Lord.' he cried. jumping
back; and what are you doing here?'
Didn't you hear a shot fired?'
asked
Not a sound of It, he said. with
sulky face on him,
1T surprised me more than a bit.
Indeed / had begun 10 wonder II !
could have been mistaken. when there
came a cIatter on the slabs Of the
causeway, and a man rushed from the
reeds like a mad thing. He gave
little cry like a frightened rabbit when
he caught sight OF US, and tried 20
twist away. but his feet slipped from
under him. and down ne fell Before
he could recover l was sitting on his
chest.
- had no hand in it, he shouted.
I swear To you il was not me. l was
to- meet him on the island. He was
dead when / came 10 him
'Dead-who is dead% asked Jake,
very anxious
sir Arthur Cheyne. said the man,
with a shiver.
7 was that taken .aback that II he
had made a run for it he might have
done so for ail-I could have stopped
him. As for Jake. he gave yelp and
disappeared down the causeway, like
a rat into a hole.
Sir Andrew is in France I said,
for SO Mr. Roberts had told me not a
week before. You're crazy, man.
shut your mouth, you foor-thOse
we're his very words. sir-I tell you
Cheyne is dead. Go and look for your
self.
- must trouble you TO come with
ne. then said I. taking him by the
collar.
I'VE walked down the eauseway be-
tween the reeds. he in front and me
sv. hi
About half way down we came upon
lake. who was knee1ing by the body,
which Law fiat on its back. had never
seen Sir Andrew and no more had
lake SO we had TO take a stranger S
word for it. When we found there
was no sign of life left in him, sent
Jake to get assistance. He came back
with Mr. Roberts and two Of the men
who carried away the body up to the
house. while I arrested my prisoner
and walked him off to the lookup. We
found a loaded revolver upon him. He
refused to say who he was or TO make
any explanation
and afterward?" asked Addingtor
Grey
Il searched the causeway as soon
as 1t was light. There was nothing tC
be found But the evidence against
the prisoner seems clear enough. saw
ing the fact that the shotgun he used
has disappeared. He must have thrown
II into the water. They Will drag the
lake for IT this afternoon. We've got
the real murderer all right. don't you
think. sir?''
Did you search the island before
You left last nightY'
mo, sir"
Might not another man have beer
concealed there?"
The policeman did not reply. save
by coIoring a deeper red and staring
hard at his boots.
We'll. well. no one can think Of
everything" said Grey, with fiicke
of a smne. Come and show me wher'
you found him.
The dark stain upon tho slabs be
tween the nodding reeds was sign
post sufficient. The little detectiv
took one look at the spot, and thei
stood with his hands behind his back