Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-05-23
THE MYSTERY OF
THE CkUSEWAY
(Continucd.)

e'efytulnS said Peace, with d lick
er of smile. Come and show uie
where you found him"
The dark stain upon the slabs be-
tween the noddlng reeds was sign post
suhcient. The little detective took
che look al the spot, and then stood
with hls hands behind his back peer
ing about him
Were the prisoners clothes wet?"
he asked quietly.
NO, sir; quite dry"
And how deep Is the lake?"
From three to six feet deep. or SO
I've always heard"
is there boat on it?'
Jake keeps an old punt, believe.
but the pleasure craft are under lock
and key In the boathouse. They've
not been In the water for years. and
would leak like sieVes."
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.
Now we can get to work, Mr.. Phil
1ps," said the little man. cheerfully.
his eyes dancing with pleasant ex-
pectation. While | am making a lit
lie examination of the causeway. l
should be obliged II you will wait for
me at the cottage on the island yond-
er."
The last thing | saw Of him was
neat boot sticking out from the reeds
INTO which ne was crawling on hands
and knees.
The cottage was an old-fashioned.
one-storied building The red tiles Of
Its gabled roof had been delicately
toned by age until they had sunk to
color very restful to an artists eye.
Wooden shutters blocked the win
dows; Its door of stained and worm
led through struggling laurel bushes
from the door to the lake. and walked
down to 1t to the loud outcry OF the
nesting ducks that rose with Tapping
wings about me and circled round to
splash into the water at safe dis
lance. BY dilapidated wooden land
Ing stage | stopped to light ciga-
rette. AS | threw away the match
ragged tear in the deep moss that
covered the planking caught my eye
| stopped to examine 1t. Under the
moss the wood itself was splintered
with deep, fresh scar! 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 time he
stared at the mark with his head on
one side like meditative sparrow,
and then. seizing me by the arm, led
me back by the way we had come.
Picturesque, eh!" he said, pointing
to the old pavilion. 1T catches your
artistic eye. Perhaps you will have
time to make sketch of It this
afternoon"
Nonsense" l said, irritably enough.
Who shot this poor fellow?"
mo one"
"What-suicfde
Nothing SO simple, I'm afraid.
Now don't lose Your temper. You
will understand within the hour.
Come along"
Where are we going?"
ITO visit our esteemed friend, Jake
Warner. There Is just a chance he
may show temper. Shall we risk 1t,
Mr.. Phillips, or shall We call the DO
dceman from the house yonder?"
told him quite briefly that would
zee the policeman condemned first
Warmers cottage was a straw
matched, UNCOVERED little place,
built on the slope of the park. Be-
meath 1t brook that carried the
overflow from the lake gurgled mo-
notonously by. A thin, long-legged
man, who was digging In a patch of
garden. stopped his work at sight of
as and waited, leaning on his spade.
Jake Warner, isn't itT" Peace in
luired over the low fence Of split
pine.
"Yes, STR"
"I am Inspector Addington Peace of
+ he Criminal Investigation Depart
ment."
Warner said nothing. but l saw his
fingers clench upon his spade, as he
gave the detective stare for stare.
"A fairly good breeding season for
The ducks, I should imagine" con-