The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-09-15
CHAPTER IX.

CHAPTER IX.
Detective Inspector Mackworth was
an under-sized man, inclined to stoutness,
which it became the desire of his life to
subdue. His face was broad, dark com
plexoned, mobile; his features regular,
so that his countenance would have been
commonplace but for the eyes, which us
ually were grave i'll expression and abb
sent looking, as 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-
plication, and by the sacrifice of pleas
ures dear to others of his age, succeeded
in educating himself after he had
reached mans estate, and such instruc-
ton as he had received from the hard
school OF this world. as well as from the
books he read and the minds he studied,
be placed at the disposal of the calling
he followed
| had been to him a source of inexhaust-
| ibe interest. Its errors, eccentricities and
| sublcties possessed for him fascination
|
| and any science for its student As he
knew there could be no deeds without
thoughts, it 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 hall 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 haG, in
deed, quickly presented itself to the in
| spector's mind, motive at which through
| silent hours he looked from every rea-
| sonable point of view, deliberating 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, situ-
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 pleasurable ex-
citement and expectation Mackworth
stood up to greet Quinton Quave, whom
he had already seen and of whose friend
| ship with Mrs. Dumbarton he was well
aware.
With rapid glance at the young mans
expressive face and dark eyes Mack
worth saw he had something to COM
muncate
sit down, sir-sit down." the inspec-
tor said, waving Quinton to a seat.
| Then Quinton 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 satis-
faction at what he heard. for it seemed
as if the evidence of Bostock's presence
in Hexton Road was now forthcoming
One statement concerning the figure dis
appointed him. The feeling, however,
was but rnomentary.
you say remarked the inspector,
that the man gave you the impression
Of being a 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 WELL
Quite. At that distance and by that
light it would be impossible for me to
see it clearly"
But his fgure?"
"The lights flashing on it as they
passed showed the outlines"
Now" said Mackworth, 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 dawning in his
eyes, as If some revelation had been
made to him, or some mental darkness