The Washington times., 1906-01-14

~ T WAS on Thursday. May u, lSSS,
that young Sir Andrew Cheyne
was found dead of a gunshot
wound in the grounds of AiTlie
Hail. his house I'm Surrey.
/ was myself especially interest
ed In the case. as / was staying at
cottage within three miles of the hail
al the time. All the gossip came 10 as
first hand. BY breakfast We learned
of the death. An hour later came the
rumor Of murder. and the fact that
an arrest had been made. A man had
been caught running from the spot
where the body lay.
My host was a bachelor and
brother artist His little place was
bound by no conventions. Go or come
but don't trouble to eXplain-such was
the custom He was busy that morn
ing as / knew. so I appropriated his
bicycle and set of through the lanes
10 visit the scene Of the tragedy.
Airlie Hall lay some twenty yards
back from the main road The drive,
framed in wide stretches Of turf, and
flanked by a triple avenue of chestnuts.
ran in straight line from the great
porch To the entrance gates or twisted
iron. Peering through the bars were q
dozen villa gers. Within. mis- hand up
on the lock. stood a policeman. mas
sive red-faced pompous with his pres
ent Importance.
May I come in?" asked, politely.
You may not" he said quite briefly.
put my hand in my pocket. hest
tated and drew it out empty. II was
too public a place for corruption. If
Addington Grey had only been with
me. / thought-and. so thinking, came
by an idea. Even a rural policeman
would know the famous detectives
name
My friend. Inspector Grey I be
gan.
"Addington Grey. OF the criminal in
vestieation department. / hoped he
would be here
His manner changed with CELEBRITY
which was the greatest compliment he
could have paid to the little detective.
y beg your pardon. sir ne said.
1.-THE inspector drove up from the sta
ton not ten minutes ago. If you viii
inquire at the hall you VIII be sure TO
find him"
The servant who answered my mod
est ring led me through a dark passage
OF paneled oak and out upon the ter
race that lay on the farther side OF the
house. Below it slipping lawn ran
down 10 a broad lake fTinged with
reeds Beyond the lake a park stretch
ed away dotted with single oaks now
struggling into foliage II was lovely
view. unmolested by the centuries. As
81 was so # had been 800 years before
when some courtier of Elizabeth. in
tightly fitting hose ana immaculate
rufies. chose it as the outlook from the
windows of his dining room.
In the middle Of the terrace, Adding
ton Grey stood, smoking a cigarette
and talking to a tall and stately person
in a black coat. who looked every inch
the man he was-the butler OF a British
country house.
The little Inspector turned, as he
heard my footsteps on the gravel, and
nodded a benevolent welcome.
"A fine morning, Mr.. Phillips, he
said, Il did not know you were stay
ing i'm the neighborhood."
II cycled over after hearing the
news. Your name opened the gates.
inspector"
''WelI, 7 am pleased TO see you, any
how Mr. Roberts here was giving me
his view of this unfortunate affair.
You may continue, Mr.. Roberts"
The butler had been staring at me
with great suspicion; but apparently
he concluded that, as a friend of a de
tective. / was respectable person.
well gentlemen, he said. in a soft,
oily voice, as from confirmed overeat-
ing. my mind is, so to speak. a blank,
But what I know 1 viii say without
fear or favor Sic Andrew had not
previously honored Us with his pres
ence. he having remained abroad from
the death of Sir William. which was
his uncle. some six months ago. Yes
terday-that is. Thursday moTning-he
wired from London for a carriage 70
meet the 1881 train. We were all IN a
futter Of excitement, as you can wei
imagine But when he arrived, il was
he said. with no intention OF staying
the night During the afternoon he saw
his agent on business. and afterwarC
went for a walk, returning about G
He dined at s. and had his coffee served
in the small library.
The last train to London was a
1925. and we had our orders for a car
riage 20 be ready for him at FIVE min
lites to the hour. At 10 o'clock precise
" ] took the liberty OF entering tn
small library to inform Sir Andrew
that the carriage was waiting. and tina
there was only just time to catch tn
train He was not there. and. the win
dows on the terrace being open,
walked through TO see II he was sitting
outside. she evening being salubriou
for the time of the year. 1t was Will
was there that / heard the footstep
Of some one running on the gravel. and
first thing I knew. who should appea
but Jake Warner, the keeper. Hello
Mr.. Warner, / says, and where ma
YOU be going in such a hurry? Is !
poachers?' I says. No says he. in
sad tone. but Sir Andrews been sho
shot dead. Mr.. Roberts. on the cause
way 10 the island Heaven defend US
] says but do"
Quite so. Mr.. Roberts. said Grey
1--WE understand you were much upse
So YOU have no idea when IL was tina
Sir Andrew left the little library?''