The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-05-18

Henry Craven had received his
fatal injuries on the Wednesday
OF the previous week. The thing
had happened In his library. at or
about half past seven in the even
ing.
No arrest had been made. No
clue was mentioned, beyond the
statement that the police were still
searching for a definite instru-
ment with which Il was assumed
that the deed had been committed,
There was in fact a close de-
scription of an unusual weapon. a
special constable's very special
truncheon. II had hung as a
cherished trophy on the library
wall, from which II was missing,
while the very imprint of silver
shield, mounted on the thick end
OF the weapon, was stated to have
been discovered on the scalp of
the fractured skull.
But that was a little bit of spe-
terprising sheet that Toye had
procured. The inquest, merely
opened on the Monday. had been
adjourned to the day of issue.
1--WE must get hold of an even
Ing paper" said Cazalet. Fancy
his own famous truncheon,' He
had II mounted and inscribed him
self so that it shouldn't be forgot
ten how he'd fought for law and
order at Trafalgar Square! That
was the man all overt"
His voice and manner had
achieved excessive indifference.
Toye also was himself again, his
alert mind mind working keenly,
yet darkly.
81 wonder if It was MURDER"
he specialized. IL bet 1t wasn't a
deliberate murder"
what else could Il have been ?"
= Kind of manslaughter. Delhi
crate murderers don't trust to
chance weapons hanging on their
victims walls"
"lou forget" said Cazalet,
that he was robbed as we'll"
DO they claim that" said Hill
ton Toye. Il guess | skipped
some. Where does 1t say anything
about his being robbed"
Here" Cazalet had scanned
the paper eagerly; his finger
drummed upon the place.
a" The police he read out. In
some sort of triumph, have now
been furnished with full descrip-
ton of the missing watch and
trinkets and the other articles be-
lieyed to have been taken from
the pockets of the deceased
What's that but robbery"
You're dead right" said Toye
II missed that somehow. Yet who
in thunder tracks man down to
rob and murder him in his own
home? But when you've Drained
man because you couldn't keep
your hands off him, you might de-
liberately do all the rest to make
1t seem like the work of thieves. y
Hilton Toye looked a Judge of
deiiberation as he measured his
irrefutable words. lie looked
something more. CaZalet could
not tear his blue eyes from the
penetrating pair that met them
with an enlightened gusto quite
uncomfortably suggestive at such
moment.
You aren't a detective, by any
chance, are your" cried Cazalet,
with rather clumsy humor.
"No, sir! But I've often
thought | wouldn't mind being
one," said Toye, chuckling. 81
rather figure l might do some
thing at it. If things don't go my
way in your old country. and they
put up big enough reward. why,
here's a man | knew and a place
know, and | might have a mind to
trly my hand.
They went ashore together, and
to the same hotel at Southampton
for the night. Perhaps neither
could have said from which side
the initiative came; but midnight
found the chance pair with their
legs under the same heavy Vic
torian mahogany, devouring cold
beef, ham and pickles.
Further particulars of the
Thames Valley mystery were
found in an evening paper at the
inn. They included a fragment
airy report of the adjourned in
quest, and the actual offer of such
reward, by the dead mans firm,
for the apprehension of his muir
derer, as made Toye's eyes glisten
in his sagacious head.
But Cazalet, though he had
SKINNED the many-headed column
before sitting down to supper. flat
ly declined to discuss the tragedy
his first night ashore.
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