The Holbrook news., 1910-06-24
Inspector Turnbull nodded.

Kruegel?"
 The great secret service agent?"
 But did you know he left for his own country the morning after the murder?"
 You did not tell me-"
 "I should not dare to offer my poor Knowledge to Scotland Yard" he said Besides, it was your place to find it out as much as mine." | We sat up discussing the case until past midnight, but with no satisfactory result.
 Browning had been smoking in si- fence for a few moments. ''Inspec- tor" he said suddenly, will you meet me at Lord Quinton's house at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, and we'll | go through the case together? I'll be Lord Quinton, and act as 1 think he acted on the morning he was mur- dered It may give us a hint that ] will put us On the right track" I went round next morning to Cado- gan place with Browning. and there punctuall at 10 o'clock we were joined by Inspector TrumbulL.
 For a few minutes the two detec- tives discussed the case together In- spector Turnbull was absolutely stolid at times.
 "I cannot for the life of me see what good it can do us to go through that play-2c.ing." he said, when Browning suggested we should com mence.
 My friend smiled. Then you must 4,g, t1 ousness came into his voice "It may all lead to nothing. but it may give us the very clew for which we are looking"
 Exactly" said the representative of Scotland Yard.
 Browning walked to the door, and then returned. leisurely. In the mid dle of the room he stopped for a mo- ment and lighted a cigarette. "I have no cigars, I never smoke them." he said. Then he continued to Lord Quinton's desk, sat down, and com menced reading some letters.
 Browning rose impatiently to his feet. 'I have omitted to do some thing Lord Quinton did that morn ing" he said, and fell to pacing the room.
 He flung the end of his cigarette into the fireplace and sat down in an easy chair.
 You'll come round to my view. l think, in time." said Inspector Turn bull
 Browning leaped to his feet For a moment he stood staring at me. Then, wit hn tO hn fra place and fiiclIed off the ash. inspector" he said a second later. I'm afraid I've wasted a lot of your time; I've been a confounded fool"
 He crossed the room to where. at the inspectors side. stoc- a small ebony table, on which rested, among other things, the ash tray, with its In- dian idol.
 stopping down. he slowly and very carefully passed his hand along the rim of the tray.
 Suddenly, from the mouth of the god there sprang a long. pointed needle. For a second we saw it. and then it disappeared again.
 You see now how Lord Quinton was poisoned" said Browning He pressed the rim of the tray again. and wheh the needle appeared, held it be- tween a pair of tweezers.
 The needle was nearly three inches long, and not more than one-eighth broad at its widest part. It was flat and hollow, giving an easy means of access for the poison.
 What fendish ideal" said the In spector.
 The body was lying in a spare bed room, and we immediately went up stairs to inspect it. There. on the right hand, just above the wrist. was small puncture, lined in blue. It was so small as to be hardly notice able, and had we not known where to look for it, we should never have dis covered it.
 The same afternoon the news of Lord Quinton's death was made pub lie. Newsboys were passing beneath our window; shouting out the intelli- gence when Browning entered.
 We have found where and when Lord Quinton bought that ash tray" he said Three weeks ago he re ceived a letter addressed from a road in Shepherds Bush, saying the writer had a curio for sale and would be pleased to call and show it to him if he would care to see it with view to purchasing it.
 Have you seen the letter." asked !!
 No. Lord Quinton destroyed it. l but Lady Quinton told me about it i Two days later the man called"
 ''yes,' I said eagerly.
 ''I got his description from one oi 1 the servants; it, exactly coincides with l that of Kruegel. the great secret serV- ice agent. Lord Quinton paid him l s20 for the curio. Herr Kruegel has | a subtle sense of humor.'
 And Lady Quinton is willing to let l her husbands death go unavengedC to | let the murderer escape scot free"