The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-07-24
THE MYSTERY OF
THE JADE SPEAR
(contInusd.)

(ContInued-)
Az It disappeared up the avenue
towards the house I heard . faint
bubble Of laughter in my ear. turn
cd IN surprise.
why. Peace" said. what il the
joker"
There II no joke. Mr.. Phillips"
he answered. 1T was fats- that
not L.
There were moments when. to .
man Of ordinary curiosity. Inspector
Addington Peace was extremely irri-
| tating.
| We walked up the avenue in d
isnce. The motor was standing at the
| front door, tho chauffeur. q bright
faced youngster. lettering beside It.
Peace greeted him politely. entering
at once into dissertation upon
greasy roads and the dangers of side
slips. Was there nothing that would
prevent them7 He had heard that
there was patent. consisting Of
small chains crossing the tires. that
was excellent.
IT'S about the best Of them. sir"
said the lad. "Mr. Bulstrode uses II
on this car sometimes"
80 this is Mr.. Anstruther Bull
strode's carr
Yes. sir. He was the brother of
tho poor gentleman inside
THE roeds are fairly dry now"
continued Peace, but II you had
been out this morning"
"Oh. Mr.. Bulstrode had the chains
on this morning." he interrupted. II
did not go with him, but whom he
came back he told me he was glad to
have them. for tho roads were very
bad"
And Mr. Bulstrode thought the
roads were dry enough this afternoon
to do without them?"
Yes. He told me to take them
on. He"
Il am glad to see tho police inter-
est themselves In motoring" broke in
high-pitched voice behind us. II
was under the mpression-false az
now observe-that they were con-
nrmed enemies to the sport"
A yellow husk Of man was Mr.
Anstruther Bulstrode, as I knew this
stranger must be. Years under the
Indian sun had sucked the English
blood from his veins and burnt their
own dull color into his cheeks. He
stood on the step of the porch with
his hands behind him and his little
eyes glazing at the inspector like a
pair OF black beads. His mouth,
twitching viciously under his strag-
ely mustache. proved that the poor
colonel had not been the only mem
Der of the Bulstrode family possessed
Of an evil temper. Over his shoulder
could see Miss Sherrick's white
face watching us. And now she
stepped forward to explain.
This Is Inspector Peace, uncle"
she said nervously.
II know, my dear, know. Do you
think can't tell a detective when
see him. So you have caught your
man. Ell, fnspector?"
IF you will come into the library,
Mr.. Bulstrode. will answer what
questions I may"
1t was now close upon eight O'Clock
and the pleasant twilight Of the long
summer evening was drawing into
heavier shadows. There was no gas
in the old house, but Miss Sherrick
ordered lamps to be brought IN. We
all seated ourselves about the big
fireplace save Peace. who stood on
the hearth-rug with his back to the
flowers that filed the empty crate.
The shaded lamp dealt duskily with
our faces. There was a strain. a
vague anxiety in the air that kept me
leaning forward in my chair, nervous
and watchful.
We'll. Inspector" repeated Mr.. Bull
strobe. what is your news7-
For answer. Peace walked up to
the lamp and laid beneath It the Jade
spearhead. now cleaned and polished.
! with its four inches Of broken shaft
DO you recognize that. Miss sher.
rickf"
The girl bent over It without alarm.
She had no idea what part II had
played In that grim tragedy.
Certainly" she said. 1T IN n
unique piece OF stone, and Colonel
Bulstrode prized It more than any
thing else In his collection. I know
It was hanging In tho hall this morn
ing. for l was at work with a duster.
How did the shaft come to be brok-
eny"
An accident Miss Sherrick.-
MY poor uncle would have bean
dreadfully angry about II. and 40
must you be. Uncle Anstruther. for I
understand you claim II to be yourr -
we did not come here. Mary. to
talk about jade collecting" snarlsd
tAe old planter.
But does the spear really bslonr
to you. Mr.. Bulstrodef- asked the
inspector. blandly.
The man stiffened himself In his
chair with his lists clsnchcd ON his
knees. and his beady eyes staring
straight before him
That spear Is mine. Mr.. Detscttxe
Ny brother having practically stolen
II from me. threatened me with par
sonal violence II I attempted to re-
claim II II was the most perfect
piece Of workmanship in my own col
lection I shall take legal steps to
claim my rishtful property IN due
course
Your brother seems to have acted
In very high-handsd manner with
YOU Mr.. Bulstrode- I wonder that
you did not walk In here one day and
recover your property"
The planter rose with a tvists<
laugh.