The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-07-25
THE MYSTERY OF
The JADE SPEAR
(Contlnued.)

(ContInued.)
AS it disappeared up the avenue
towards the house I heard a falnt
bubble of laughter in my ear. l turn
ed in surprise.
why, Peace" 1 said, what IL the
1oke?"
There is no joke, Mr.. Philips
he answered. 1T was fate that
laughed, not l."
There were moments when, 10
man of ordinary curiosity, Inspector
Addington Peace was extremely lrrl-
tating
We walked up the avenue In 81
ience. The motor was standing at the
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, that
was excellent
TITS about the best Of them; Sir,
said the lad "Mr Bulstrode uses II
on this car sometimes"
$50 this is Mr.. Anstruther Bull
strode's carr"
Yes, sir. He was the brother OF
the poor gentleman inside"
1.-THE roads are fairly dry now,
continued Peace, "but If you had
been out this morning"
ooh, 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?"
Eyes. He told me to take them
of He"
Il am glad to see the police inter
est themselves in motoring" broke in
a high-pitched voice behind US. Il
was under the impression-false as
now observe-that they were con-
firmed enemies to the sport"
A yellow husk Of man was Mr..
Anstruther Bulstrode, as I 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 glazing 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.
Il know, my dear, l know. Do you
think l can't tell a detective when ]
see him. So you have caught your
man, Ell, Inspector"
eff you will come into the library
Mr.. Bulstrode. I will answer what
questions l may"
1t was now close upon eight O'Clock
and the pleasant twilight of the Ions
summer evening was drawing int
heavier shadows. There was no gar
in the old house, but Miss Sherrici
ordered lamps to be brought In. W.
all seated ourselves about the bis
fireplace save Peace, who stood ar
the hearth-rug with his back to tn,
flowers that filed the empty crate
The shaded lamp dealt duskily will
our faces. There was q strain. ,
vague anxiety in the air that kept M,
leaning forward In my chair. neryou,
and watchful
We'll, Inspector" repeated Mr.. Pm,
strobe, what is your news?"
For answer, Peace walked nm !.
the lamp and laid beneath It the lad,
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 ha,
played in that grim tragedy.
Certainly" she said TT IL
unique piece of stone. and Colone
Bulstrode priced 1t more than anv
thing else in his collection. I know
1T was hanging in the hall this NOR
ing. for l was at work with a dnsta,
How did the shaft come to be brol
en?a
An accident. Miss Sherrick..
My poor uncle would have bee
dreadfuily angry about it, and :
must you be, Uncle Anstruther. for
Understand you claim 1t to be yours.