The Holly chieftain., 1914-06-19
>D FLETCHER RODINSON

dow, and set of after his master, who
had by then disappeared amongst the
strawberries.
He Is slow traveller. is the old
man, and he reckons that he was not
more than halfway across the lawn
when he heard a distant scream,
which pulled him up in his tracks
1t put the fear into him, that scream.
He told me that he had seen too
much active service not to know the
cry that comes from sudden and NOR
tai wound. 1t was no surprise to him.
therefore, when at last he reached the
wicket-gate, to find his master lying
dead in the road.
Above him. tugging at the spear
that had killed him. stood Boyne.
There was no one in sight. and
though the road curves at that point
he could see 1t for fifty yards and
more either way. He had no doubt
in his own mind as to who had done
the thing. Boyne must have seen the
suspicion In his face, for he jumped
back. Cullen says. and stood staring
at him as white as table cloth.
ny w yOu lOCh dl ul6 llhe t1dlp
Cullen? he says. You don't think
If you can explain that away
says Cullen, pointing to the body. you
will be, sir. If you'll forgive me for
saying 1t, devilish clever man.
You're mad.' says Boyne. 4
found him like this
And where did you spring from,
If may make SO bold?' asked the
butler Very sarcastic he was, he
tells me.
1 had been in the upper garden,
and as you very well know, Cullen, !
wished to avoid the colonel says the
young man. came round the back
of the house and entered the Wilder
ness at the upper end. was walking
down the center path towards the
wicket-gate, when I heard some one
scream. and set OF running. could
not have been here more than half
minute before you.'
The butler did not argue the mat.
ter. but left him standing beside the
body. and went to get assistance. On
the lawn he met two Of the garden.
ers, and sent them back / believe
he also saw Miss Sherrick near the
porch. 1t was upon those facts, sir,
that l arrested Boyne."
Il don't think" said the inspector.
shaking his head at him, Il don't
think that should have arrested him,
Sergeant Hales."
1T looks very black against him.
you must allow"
Which affects his guilt or limo
cence neither one way nor the other.
Has doctor examined the body?"
Yes, sir, and extracted the spear"
why did you let him do that :"
asked the little man. sharply.
Il knew you would be vexed about
1t, but 1t was done while l was out
of the house. examining the road and
lawn. He was very careful not to
handle 1t more than was necessary.
he said: but he had to saw the shaft
in two"
"And why was that?"
HE said that the force used by the
thrower must have been very great"
very great?"
"Yes. sir. gigantic-that is what he
said''
Addington Peace walked to the
window and stood there staring out
at tGe elm avenue that swayed softly
in the breeze.
rs the doctor still in the house?"
he asked over his shoulder.
mo, sir"
We have none too much light left.
Have you the spear?"
The sergeant opened a side cum
board and drew out two pieces Of
light-colored wood. The polished sur.
face was dulled by stains that were
self-explanatory. The head was broad
and fiat. formed of the finest jade,
microscopically carved. 1t had been
fashioned for eastern ceremony, and
not for battle. That was plain enough.
Peace returned to the window and
examined 1t with the closest atten-
tion. Presently he slipped out a mag.
nifying glass, staring eagerly at a
spot on the longer portion Of the
shaft
DO I understand you, Sergeant
Hales, that you found Boyne endeav.
oring to pull out the spear?"
Yes, SIR
who else touched IT."
NO ono that know Of, save the
doctor"
And yourself?"
"Of course. sir"
Let me see your hands"
The sergeant thrust them out with
smile. They had plainly not been
washed that afternoon.