The Holly chieftain., 1914-03-27
THE MYSTERY OF
THE CAUSEWAY
(Continued.)


everything" said Peace. with nick'
er OF a smile. Come and show me
where you found sim."
The dark stain upon the slabs be.
tween the nodding reeds was sign-post
sufficient The little detective took
one look at the spot, and then stood
with his hands behind his back. peer
ing about him.
- Were the prisoners clothes wet?"
he asked quietly.
No, sir: quite dry"
And how deep Is the iake?'
From three to six feet deep. or 30
I've always heard"
rs there a boat on it,"
Jake keeps an old punt, believe.
but the pleasure craft are under lock
and key In the boathouse. They've
not been In the water for years. aud
would leak like sleeves"
That Is all. Go up to the house
and walt for me there. shall be
back In an hour or so"
The policeman saiuted and retired
down the causeway. his heavy boots
tiatleflns upon tne StOueS
Now we can get to work. Mr.. Phil.
lips" said the little man. cheerfuily,
his eyes dancing with pleasant ex.
pectation. while | am making lit.
tie examination OF the causeway. |
should be obliged II you will walt for
me at the cottage on the Island you'd,
er."
The last thing saw OF him was Il
neat boot sticking out from the reeds
into which he was r-aWling on hands
and knees.
The cottage was an old fashioned,
one-storied building. The red tiles OF
its gatied roof had been delicately
toned by age until they had sunk to
u color very rest;ui to an artists eye.
Wooden shutters blocked the win
dows; its door OF stained and worm
eaten oak was firmly secured. path
ted through struggling laurel bushes
from the door to the lake. and walked
down to It to the loud outcry OF the
nesting ducks that rose with Tapping
wings about me and circled round to
splash into the water at a safe dis
tauce. 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 a deep fresh scar. studied
the rest OF the landing stage without
Nat bn
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 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 sketch OF 1t this
afternoon"
Nonsense. | said irritably enough
Who shot this poor fe,low?"
No one"
.-What-suiclde?
Nothing SO simple, I'm afraid.
Now don't lose your temper. You
will understand within the hour,
Come along"
Where are we going?"
To visit our esteemed friend, Jake
Warner. There is Just a chance he
may chow temper. Shall we risk 1t.
Mr.. Phillips, or shall we call the DO.
liceman from the house yonder?"
told him quite briefly that would
SEQ the policeman condemned first.
} Warmers cottage was straw.
matched Uncovered little place,
built on the slope OF the park. Be.
meath It brook that carried the
overflow from the lake gurgled mo.
notonously by. A thin, long.legged
man, who was digging in a patch o,
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"
81 am Inspector Addington Peace OF
the Criminal Investigation Depart
mcnt."
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
his ducks, should imagine" con