The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-04-24
THE MYSTERY OF
The CAUSEWAY
(contInued.l

everything" said Peace, with a flick
or OF smile. Come and show mt
where you found him"
/ The dark stain upon the slabs be
tween the noddins reeds was sign-pos
suf1cient. The little detective tool
one look at the spot, and then stoot
with his hands behind his back. peer
ing about him.
| Were the prisoners clothes wet?'
he asked quietly.
| mo. sir; quite dry"
And how deep Is the lakc7"
From three to six feet deep. or sc
I've always heard"
rs there boat on 1T"
| Jake keeps an old punt, believe
but the pleasure craft are under loch
and key in the boathouse. They've
not been in the w1ter 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.
Now we can get to work, Mr.. Phil
lips" 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.
err"
The last thing saw of him was a
neat boot sticking out from the reeds
into which he 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; It's door Of stained and worm
eaten oak was firmly secured. A path
led through struggling laurel bushes
from the door to the lake. and walked
down to 1t to the loud cutlery 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
a ragged tear in the deep moss that
covered the planking caught my eye.
stopped to examine It. Under the
moss the wood itself was splintered
with deep. fresh scar! I 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
one side like meditative sparrow,
and then. selling 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 a sketch OF 1t this
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
VIII understand within the hour.
Come along"
Where are we going?"
ITO visit our esteemed friend. Jake
There is just chance he
may show temper. Shall we risk it,
Mr.. Phillips. or shall we call the po-
liceman from the house yonder?"
| told him quite briefly that | would
see 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
us and waited. leaning on his spade.
Jake Warner. isn't it?" Peace In
Quired over the low fence of split.
pine.
Yes. SIR"
Il am Inspector Addington Peace of
the Criminal Investigation Depart
ment."
Warner said nothing but saw his
fingers clench upon his spade. as he
gave the detective stare for stare.
"A fairly good breeding season for
the ducks. should imagine" con-
tinued the little man, with a benevo-
lent interest.
There was still no reply.
Il understand the foxes are very
Warner threw down his spade and
strobe up to where we stood. His
eyes had In them the dumb agony OF
A Wild thing In a trap.
Il am married man. SIR" he said.
For my wife's sake take me away
quietly"
Il have not come to arrest you.
lake Warner" said Peace. IF you
ire responsible for your masters
ieath. 1t was by sheer accident. But
he question is, are you responsibleY"
NO. sir, am not. But can never
prove IT,"
Perhaps 1t would be best II you ex-
planned"
We remained where We were. with
he fence between us. while he told
his story.
1t was on Monday afternoon, SIR"
said Jake Warner. addressing Ad-
ilngton Peace OF the Criminal Inuoa4t