The Washington times., 1906-02-11


dingfon Grey was extremely irritating
We walked uD the avenue in silence.
The motor was standing at the front
door. the chauffeur, a bright-faced
youngster. lettering beside il Grey
greeted him politely entering at oncs
into a dissertation upon greasy roads
and the dangers of side-sIips. Was
there nothing that would prevent
them? He had heard that there was a
patent. consisting Of smaAl chains cross.
ing the tires that WAS excellent
It's about the best of them sir
said The lad. Mr. BuIssrode uses it.
on this car sometimes"
So this is Mr. Anstruther Bull
strides carr
Yes, sir. He was the brother Of
the poor gentleman inside
The roads are fairly dry now" con-
unued Grey. but If you had been out
this morning"
Oh. Mr.. Buistrode had the chains
on TINS morning" he interrupted. II
oid not go with him. but when he came
PACK ne told me he was glad TO have
thefn for the roads were very had"
And Mr. BuIstrode thought the roads
were ory enough this afternon to do
without them -
AAe 'oid me TO take them on
He
Il am glad to see the police interest
themselves IN motoring" broke in A
high-pitched voice behind US. II wa.
under the imDression-faIse. as now
observe-that they were confirmed
enemies 10 the sport -
yellow husk of a man was An
struther Bulstrode. as I knew this
stranger must be. Years under the In
dian sun had sucked the English blood
from his veins and burnt their own
dun coiors into his cheeks. He stood
on the top step of the porch with his
hands behind him and his little ewes
slaFlnR at the Inspector like a pair OF
piack heads His mouth, twitchfnR
viciously under his straEgly mustache,
proved that the poor colonel had nor
been the only member OF the Rulstrode
family possessed Of an evil temper-
over his shoulder I could see Miss
Sherriek's white face watching Us.
And now she stepped forward to ex-
plain
This is Inspector Grey. uncle" she
said. nervousIy.
know. my dear. ] know. Do vou
think I can't tell a detective when
see him? So you have caught your
man. I'll. Inspector p
II you come into the library.
MI Bulstrode. I VIII answer what
questions I may"
II was now close upon s O'Clock and
the pleasant twilight Of the long sum-
Iher evening was drawing into heavier
shaoo"s- There was no gas in the old
mouse put Miss Sherrick ordered lamps
10 Ice brought in. We all seated o,,--
al
Grey. who stood on the hearthr,,e
with his back to the flowers that eIlag1
the empty CRATE The shaded IamD
dealt duskily with our faces Tbers
was strain vague anxiety in the
ar that kept me leaning forward in
my chair nervous and watchful.
ell, inspector repeated Mr.. Bull
strode' what Is your news?"
Fof answer, Grey walked up to the
lamp ana laid beneath il the fads
Spe3rhead, now cleaned and polished.
with It's four inches of broken sbsft
rick?' -'-'''s
Inc girl bent over il without alarm.
She had no idea what part 1t had
played IN that grim tragedy.
certainly, she said TT is
unique piece Of stone. and Colonel
BnIstrode priced IL more than anv-
thing else in his collection. I know II
was hanging IN the hall this morn
ing Tor L was at work with a duster.
How did the shaft come 10 be
broken?''
An accident. Miss sherrick.~
My poor uncle would have been
oreadfulIy angry about it, and so
must you be Uncle Anstruther- for
nd al,
We cid not come here, Mary. to
talk about jade collecting. snarled
the old planter.
But does the spear really belong
TO you, Mr. BulstrOde?" asked the in
spector, blandIy
The man stinened himself in his chair
with his fists clenched on his knees
and his beady eyes staring straight
before him.
That spear is mine, Mr.. Detective
Ny brother having practically stolen IL
from me, threatened me with personal
violence if ] attempted to reclaim it.
1t was the most perfect piece of work
manship in my own collection. I shall
take legal steps to claim my rightfuI
property in due course"
Your brother seems to have acted in
a very high-handed manner with you.
Mr.. Bulstrode. l wonder that you did
not walk in here one day and recover
your property"
The planter rose with a twisted laugh.
TIN not a housebreaker," he said
Also, / must point out that 1 don't in
tend TO sit here all night. can I do any
thing more for you, Inspector"
mo. Mr. Bulstrode."
''Or for you. Mary
mo, uncle. 1 have my maid. and
there Is Agatha, the hOUsekeeper.''
SO that's ali right. Let US thank
Heaven the criminal is no longer at
large 1t didn't take long for our ex-
cellent police to make up their minds.
Cad! they're clever beggars. They had
their hands on him smart enough. 1t
is a pleasure to meet such a man as
you. Inspector Addington Grey 4
by thunder, that's what 1 call
you."
He burst out into peal of high
pitched laughter, rocking to and fro aud
the edge of the table with
ms hand. Then he bowed to us all very
low and staggered out of the room
Gray stepped out after him. and | fol-
lowed at his