The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-07-25


inspector, blandly. .
The man stiffened himself in hi
chair with his fists clenched on hi
knees. and his beady eyes staring
/ straight before him.
THAT spear is mine, Mr.. Detective
NV brother having practically stolel
It from me, threatened me with per
sonal violence If l attempted to re
claim 1t. It was the most perfec
piece of workmanship in my own col
lection. shall take legal steps tt
claim my rightful property In due
course"
"Your brother seems to have actet
in a very high-handed manner witt
you, Mr.. Bulstrode. wonder thai
you did not walk in here one day and
recover your property"
The planter rose with a twisted
| laugh.
I'm not a housebreaker," he said
"Also. l must point out that dont
intend to sit here all night Can / dc
anything more for you. Inspector"
mo, Mr.. Bulstrode."
COR for you. Mary?"
mo, uncle. l have my maid, anf
there is Agatha, the housekeeper."
$50 that's all right. Let US thank
Heaven the criminal is no longer al
large. It didn't take long for oul
excellent police to make up their
minds. Cad! they're clever beggars
They had their hands on him smart
enough. It Is pleasure to meet such
a man as you, Inspector Addington
Peace. A celebrity. by thunder. that's
what call you"
He burst out into peal Of high
pitched laughter, rocking to and frc
and clutching the edge Of the table
with his hand. Then he bowed to us
all very low and staggered out OF
the room. Peace stepped out after
him, and followed at his heels.
A lamp hung in the roof Of the
porch, and Mr.. Bulstrode stopped be
meath it. In its light he looked more
fierce and old and yellow than ever.
ut Is no good, Mr.. Bulstrode," said
Addington Peace.
Exactly; can I give you a lift?'
he said quite quietly as he pointed to
the car.
"It would certainly be most conve
nient-"
Mr.. Bulstrode laughed again, leer
ing back at me over his shoulder, as
If my presence afforded an added zest
to his merriment. There seemed an
understanding between him and the
inspector. Frankly, it puzzled me.
"You do not make confidants OF
your assistants, Mr.. Peace" he said.
The little inspector bowed.
"At the same time," continued the
old planter, ri should like to make q
statement before we go. There Is
no necessity to warn me. l know the
law"
ut is just as you like. Mr.. Bull
strode."
IF 1 sneered at the police this
evening now make them my apollo
giles. You have managed this bust
ness well. I still do not understand
how you come to accuse me. Re
member. I did not know he was dead
until l received telegram from my
niece after lunch. 1t was rather q
shock; perhaps at first was of q
mind not to confess. It would have
saved me much Inconvenience"
"And endangered an innocent man.
said the inspector.
well, we'll, you couldn't have
proved 1t against him, and nigh,
have escaped. The whole affair was
an accident. I had no intention even
of wounding him"
Exactly, Mr.. Bulstrode-no more
than the excursionist who throws out
a glass bottle intends to brain the
man walking by the line"
The truth was clear enough now
In some strange fashion this man had
killed his brother. l stepped bach
pace instinctively.
you see," he continued, brother
William had, under circumstances Of
| no immediate Importance, appropriat
ed my jade spear. / made up my
| mind to get 1t back. knew the houl
| at which he lunched, and leaving my
motor in the road l walked down thu
avenue, hoping to find the front doo1
open and no one about. I had a sue
cessful start. The front door wa.
ajar. went in, took the spear from
the wall. and set OF back to my car
was some fifty yards down the driv,
when heard yell, and there wal
brother William tumbling out Of tn,
porch, revolver in hand.
1T startled me. for he had tn,
most devilish Of tempers: but though
/ was the elder man knew had tn,
pace Of him, and set on running
When reached the entrance gate,
and looked back he was nowhere t,
be SEEN I took 1t that he had though
better Of 1t and gone back to lunch.
| IT was driving the car myself, hay
ing left the chauffeur behind: as
did not wish him to know what wa,
about. started up the engines
jumped into the seat, put the spea
beside me, and let her go. We cam,
round that corner at a good thirt,
miles an hour, and there was brothe
William In the road, waving his re
volver and cursing me for a thief
He had run down through the Wilder