Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1913-08-22
The MYSTERY OF
The JADE SPEAR
(Continued.)

(Continued.)
AS 1t disappeared up the avenue
towards the house l heard a faint
bubble of laughter in my ear. turn
ID in surprise.
why. Peace" said. what is the
3oke?"
There is no joke. Mr.. Phillips"
he answered. 1T was fate that
laughed, not l."
There were moments when, to
man of ordinary curiosity. Inspector
Addington Peace was extremely irr1-
tating.
We walked up the avenue In 81
ience. The motor was standing at tne
front door. the chauffeur, a bright
faced youngster, lettering beside It
Peace greeted him politely. entering
at once into a dissertation upon
greasy roads and the dangers OF side
slips. Was there nothing that would
prevent them? He had heard that
there was a patent, consisting OF
small chains crossing the tires, tnat
was excellent
Its about the best of them. sir,"
said the lad "Mr Bulstrode uses 1t
on this car sometimes"
$50 this is Mr.. Anstruther Bull
strode's carr"
Yes, sir. He was the brother OF
the poor gentleman inside"
'-The roads 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. i
did not go with him, but when he
came back he told me he was glad to
have them, for the 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
OF. He"
II am glad to see the police inter
est themselves In motoring" broke In
high-pitched voice behind us. 81
was under the impression-false as
I now observe-that they were con
f1rmed enemies to the sport"
A yellow husk Of a man was Mr.
Anstruther Bulstrode. as l 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 glaring at the inspector like q
pair of black. beads. His mouth
twitching viciously under his strag
gly 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
I 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 detective when !
see him. So you have caught your
man, eh, Inspector
IF you will come into the library
Mr.. Bulstrode, will answer what
questions I may"
It 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 biz
fireplace save Peace. who stood on
the hearth-rug with his back to the
flowers that filled 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.
well, Inspector" repeated Mr.. Bull
strode, what is your news?"
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-
rick?"
The girl bent over It without alarm.
She had no idea what part II had
played in that grim tragedy.
Certainly" she said. 1T 10 a
unique piece Of stone. and Colonel
Bulstrode priced It more than any
thing else in his collection. I know
It was hanging in the hall this morn.
ing. for I was at work with a duster.
How did the shaft come to be brok-
emf"
"An accident, Miss Sherrick."
my poor uncle would have been
dreadfully angry about 1t. and 30
must you be, Uncle Anstrusher, for I
understand you claim 1t to be yours"