The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-12-06
The MYSTERY OF
TIE CAUSEWAY

SfouHuS VI Attic tfdli, MS mousse III
Surrey.
was myself especially interested In
the case, as l was staying at a cot
tage within three miles of the Hall at
the time. All the gossip came to us
first hand. By breakfast We learned
of the death. An hour later came the
rumor of the 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 broth
err 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 morning,
as I knew, SO appropriated his bicy-
Gle and set off through the lanes to
visit the scene of the tragedy.
Airlie Hall lay some two hundred
yards back from the main road. The
drive, framed In wide stretches of
turf, and flanked by a triple avenue
of chestnuts, ran in a straight line
from the great porch to the entrance
gates Of twisted iron. Peering
through the bars were dozen vii
layers. Within. his hand upon the
lock. stood policeman. massive. red
faced, pompous with his present i'm
portance.
"May come IMP" I asked politely.
"You may not" he said quite briefly.
put my hand in my pocket. hest
tated, and drew 1t out empty. It
was too public place for corruption.
II Addlngton Peace had only been
with me, thought-and, so thinking,
came by an idea. Even a rural police
man would know the famous detectives
name.
my friend, Inspector Peace" I
began.
Inspector who?" he interrupted.
"Addington Peace of the Criminal
Investigation Department. hoped he
would be here"
His manner changed with celebrity
which was the greatest compliment
he could. have paid to the little detec-
tive.
81 beg your pardon, SIR" he said.
"The inspector drove up from the sta
ton not ten minutes ago. If you will
inquire at the hall, you will be sure to
find him."
The servant who answered my mod.
est ring led me through dark pas
sage of paneled oak and out upon the
terrace that lay on the farther side of
the house. Below It sloping lawn
ran down to a broad lake fringed with
reeds. Beyond the lake a park
stretched away dotted with single
oaks now struggling into foliage. 1t
was lovely view, unmolested by the
centuries. As It was so 1t had been
three hundred years before. when some
courtier OF Elizabeth, In tightly fitting
hose and immaculate ruffles, chose IL
as the outlook from the windows OF
his dining-room. Lo.
In the middle Of the terrace, Adding
ton Peace stood, smoking a cigarette
and talking to a tall and stately per
son In black coat, who looked every
inch the man he was-the butler OF .
British country house. 49,.
4 The little inspector turned, as no
heard my footsteps on the gravel, and
nodded benevolent yelcoms.oo
- "A fne morning. Mr.. Phillips" he
said. II did not know you were stay.
Ing In the neighborhood."
Il cycled over after hearing the
news. Your name opened the gates,
Well, l am pleased to see you,
anyhow. 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
detective, l was respectable per-
son.
We'll, gentlemen" he said, in a soft,
oily voice. as from confirmed over
eating. my mind Is. so to speak, a
blank. But what I know l will say
without fear or favor Sir Andrew had
not previously honored us with his
presence, he having remained abroad
from the death of Sir William, which
was his uncle, some six months ago.
Yesterday-that is, Thursday morning
he wired from London for carriage |
70 meet the 1882 train. We were all |
n a flutter OF excitement, as you can |
we'll imagine. But when he arrived 1t |
was. he said, with no intention of |
staying the night. During the after
loon he saw his agent on business,
Ind afterwards went for a walk, re.
urning about six. He dined at eight, |
ind had his coffee served in the small
library.
The last train to London was at
0:25, and we had our orders for a
'arriage to be ready for him at five
minutes to the hour. At ten o'clock
'recisely took the liberty OF entering
he small library to inform Sir An.
rev that the carriage was waiting,
nd that there was only Just time to
atch the train. He was not there,
nd, the windows on to the terrace
cling open. walked through to see II
70 was sitting outside, the evening be-
ng salubrious for the time of the
ear. IL was while / was there that
haarI tha eozkotoDc - .o,~x~ ~u- $3.50, |