Free press., 1906-09-22
CHAPTER X

CHAPTER *.
Detective Inspector Mackwotth was
an understood man, inclined to stoutfess,
which 1t became the desire of his life to
sabdue. His face was broad, darkroom
plexioned, mobile, his features regular.
SO that his eouhtenai1ee would have been
4 commonplace but for the eyes, which us
TALLY were grave In expression and alb
sent looking, az from the habit of in
ward reflections, but bright, swift NOV
ing and searching when his attention
was reused or his curiosity excited.
Naturally, desiring to acquire all kinds
of knowledge, he had, by continual ap-
plicatlon, and by the sacrifice of pleas
ures deaf to others of his age, succeeded
In educating himself after he had
reached mains estate, and such ihstruc-
ton as he had received from the hard
school of this world, as we'll as from the
books he read and the minds he studied,
be placed at the disposal of the calling
he followed.
From his earliest days human nature
had been to him a source of inexhaust-
ible interest. It's errors, eccentricities and
subleties possessed for him a fascination
greater than any art held for its votary
and any science for It's student. AS he
knew there could be no deeds without
thoughts, 1t was his invariable habit to
ascertain, or, failing that, to presuppose,
the motive and interest likely to actuate
the crime whose perpetrator he. sought
to discover. From such premises, as
from a starting point, he proceeded to
work
Now, after a careful consideration of
the case before him he came to the con-
clusiOn that Mrs. Dumbarton was inno-
cent of the crime laid to her charge, be-
| ing chiefly brought to the decision by
facts in which the coroner's Jury had
failed to give reflection and weight.
George Coris stated in defence that had
the deceased desired to see his wife he
Would, like any other visitor, have gone
to the hail door and inquired for her.
But, though Mackworth considered
that revenge was the most probable mo-
| tive that brought about Dumbarton's
death, he assured himself it was not the
only one which could be made to ac-
count for the tragedy. Another had, in
deed, quickly presented itself to the in
| speetor's mind, a motive at which through
| silent hours he looked from every rea-
sonable point of view, delberating on its
| possibilities, which grew stronger from
being constantly considered, and dwell
ing on its Possibilities with something
like fascination binding him to this men
tai pursuit.
This motive was the love of a man
| for the woman whose husband stood be-
tween the slayer and his happiness.
| And the man whom Mackworth sus-
pected was George Bostock.
He sat one morning after breakfast in
the sitting room of his small house, stu
ated near Kings Cross, pondering over
the case.
A moment later and the housekeeper
| handed him a card reading the name,
the inspector bade her show the visitor
in. With some sense of pleasnrable ex-
citement and expectation Mackworth
stood up to greet Quinton Quave, whom
he had already seen and of whose friend
ship with Mrs. Dumbartor he was well
| aware.
With rapid glance at the young mans
| expressive face and dark eyes Mack
| worth saw he had something to COM
nnunieate.
@Sit down, sir-sit down." the inspec-
tor said, waving Quif1ton to seat.
Then Quintof1 told him of the figure
he had seen in the uncertain light on the
| night the tragedy took place. Mack
worth could scarcely conceal his salts
| faction at what he heard, for it seemed
as IL the evidence of Bostocks presence
IN Hexton Road was now forthcoming.
One statement concerning the figure dis
appointed him. The feeling, however,
was but momentary.
"You say remarked the inspector,
shat the man gave you the impression
of being foreigner. May ask you
how you came to that conclusion?"
Il can scarcely say. Perhaps it was
because of the soft hat he had on" the
young man answered.
"An article any man might wear who
| wished to conceal his identity, its leaf
giving protection to the face Now, sir,
are you quite sure you didn't see that
face with sufficient distinctness to de-
| scribe it. Think we'll"
"Quite AT that distance and by that
light it would be impossible for me to
| see it clearly"
'But his figure"
"Tfe lights flashing on it as they
passed showed the outlines"
"Now," said Macxworth, in low, inn
pressive voice, didn't it strike you there
was something familiar in this figure"
NO." answered Quinton promptly.
Then, with new light dawriing in his
eyes, as If some revelation had been
made TO him, or some mental darkness