Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-17
CHAPTER XVIII.
n HE sergeant turned on his heel

"N HE sergeant turned on his heel
 as he concluded his sentence
 and strode of toward the door
 of the inn. A ghastly sensa- ton of physical fear, as though I had been detected in the act of assassina- ton, overwhelmed me and left me star Ing with my jaw down. Then I ran after Jones. calling upon him and el- lowing my way through the crowd. Bercombe stood for a moment conspic- 0ous in the doorway. and then he van 2shed. But Jones, being small man, was swallowed up among the villagers. I caught sight of Montgomery standing apart by his horse and hallooed to him. He hesitated for an instant and then pushed through to me.
 ~Find Jones'" I said hurriedly. "Wil- Hams is d, murdered by this bloody gang. Oh, there he is!" And we reach Rd him simultaneously. I pressed my questions home, and Jones, beckoning to one of his men Eho stood by. lent half an ear to me-
 ~Nxcuse me, sir," said he, q will at tend to you directly" and whispered some order in the officers ear. The man made his way through the throng and disappeared. "Yes, sir" said Jones. "A little way from the stream we found the body, first discovered by . man, Lewis, going to work. Evident ly attacked by more than one person, but the coroner will determine that"s {.
 "See here, Jones'" said I, ''can see you later?"
 He looked at me with his sharp, un- compromising eyes. "Yes, sir; dare say we'll want your evidence"
 "All right" I answered, and, turning to Montgomery, Come. wed better get back. There's nothing to be got from him at present"
 Montgomery pulled my arm. Hood" he whispered.
 I started The idea flashed upon me in distc steful light. ''To be sure," said. '.I had forgotten" We hurried out of the knot of stragglers. The car riage and Hood were gone!
 This discovery brought my wander ing senses together. We had been duped again and that by sheer acci- dent, of which Hood had cunningly taken advantage. I myself had pre- pared my own disappointment. Mont gomery informed me apologetically that he had tried to keep his eye on the carriage, but that my summons had taken him from his post. We inquired eagerly among the bystanders, but that was of little avail. One or two had seen the carriage drive off, and these all agreed it had taken the road to the, castle. The futility of these. inquiries soon dawned on me- It was not so that Hood should be taken, and went back to Jones with my news.
 If you want the real murderer" I declared, you will find him on the top of a carriage driving somewhere be- tween here and Aberavon."
 The sergeant stared at me.
 Hood" said I.
 Jones smiled. What evidence have you. sir?' he asked, pulling out his note book.
 I stammered and hesitated. He's a scoundrel. said I.
 Jones looked extremely dispassionate, but seemed prepared to copy down my sentiments. All of sudden saw the situation in it's ridiculous light, but, though 1t stopped my tongue, 1t did not dispose me to laughter.
 "If you have any evidence to offer against Mir. Hood, sir, I shall be pleas ed to take 1t down." said Jones, and at the same moment he elevated his eye brows in formal smile at some one behind me. I started around, and there was Hood, immobile and civil, as al- ways.
 I never said a word.
 "I shall be pleased to answer any questions, sir" said Hoods H0ha 1s
 I cursed him in my heart for an amazing scoundrel and turned on my heel. It did not please me to suffer % black an eclipse. Montgomery fol lowed meekly at my heels.
 T would have knocked the beast down if you had given the word" he said.
 His lealty won my heart. Mont gomery." said I. ''if there's any good soul in this world, which have begun to doubt. its you. And now the devil of 1t is that we have Williams in our