Elk City mining news., 1913-07-03
THE GgYSTERY OF
TIE CAUSEWAY
}

er or sIuile Come aud show the
where you found him
The dark stain upon the slabs be-
tween the noddlng reeds WAS sign post
sufficien The little detective took
one look at the spot. and then stood
with his hands behind his back. peer
Ing about htln
Were the prisoners clothes wetY"
he asked quietly
mo, sir quite dry
And how deep is the lake?"
From three TO six feet deep. or so
I've always heard "
rs there boat on ft?''
Jake keeps all old punt. | believe.
but the pleasure craft are under LOCK
and key III the boathouse They've
not been in the water for years. and
would leak like sleeves"
THAT is all Go up to the house
and wait for me there. shall be
back In an hour or So
The policeman saluted and retired
down the causeway. his heavy boots
gathering upon the stones.
Nov we can get TO work. Mr.. Phil
nps," said the little man. cheerfully.
his eyes dancing with a pleasant ex-
pectation while | am making lit
tie examination OF the causeway.
should be obliged II you will wait for
me at the cottage on the island yond-
M''
The last thing | saw OF him was
neat boot sticking out from the reeds
INTO which ne was crawling on hands
and knees.
one-storied building The red tiles OF
It's gabled roof had been delicately
toned by age until they had sunk to
l color very restful to an artists eye.
Wooden shutters blocked the win
lows; It's door OF stained and worm
baten oak was firmly secured. path
Ied through struggling laurel bushes
hom the door to the lake, and walked
down to it to the loud outcry OF the
nesting ducks that rose with Tapping
wings about me and ctrcled round to
splash into the water at safe dis
lance. By dilapidated wooden land
ing stage l stopped to light a ciga-
notte- AS | threw away the match
ragged tear in the deep moss that
covered the planktng caught my eye
| stopped to examine It, Under the
moss the wood itself was spIintered
with deep, fresh scar! l studied
the rest OF the landing stage without
result Neither the moss nor the ex-
posed patches of woodwork showed
any similar signs. The one fresh
scar-that was all
/ was still considering the problem
when Peace Joined me. He was in
high good humor. For a time he
stared at the mark with his head on
Dne side like meditatfve sparrow.
Ind then, seizing me by the arm, led
me back by the way we had come.
Picturesque. ehI" he said, pointing
TO the old pavilion. 1T catches your
artistic eye. Perhaps you will have
time to make a sketch of It this
Afternoon"
Nonsense" said. irritably enough
Who shot this poor fellow?"
mo one"
''What-suicide?"
Nothing so simple, I'm afraid
Now don't lose your temper. You
Will understand within the bcur
Come along"
Where are we going?"
To visit our esteemed friend. lake
Warner. There is just a chance he
may show temper. Shall we risk IL
Mr. Phillips, or shall we call the DO
nceman from the house yonderr"
l told him quite briefly that l would
zee the policeman condemned first
Warmers cottage was straw
thatched. Uncovered little placa.
built on the slope OF the park. Be-
meath 1t a brook that carried tn
,Vernow from the lake gurKled mo-
notDnously by. A thin, lone-lerxnd
man, who was digging In q patch of
garden. stopped his work at stxht of
~ aud waited, leaning ON his spade.
"JAhe Warner, isn't ftr' Peace in
uutred oRsr tho low fenoe Of split
pfno.
~Yea, M"
Il am lnapscAor Addinxton Po>ce Of
Ihe CsaznfnA Investigation Depart
neuk"
Wasmsr sd nothing. but l saw his
mm0 dup1h upon his spade, - hs
Emuo ~ dDtsu<fse stare for stare.
- Qn1y sod breeding season fpr
- dn1n. should imagine" CON