The Holly chieftain., 1914-01-30
The TERROR
IN THE SNOW


ture which have already narrated,
left London for round OF country
visits. And II paragraph concern
ing that eminent detective chanced
to appear in a newspaper. the sub
stance Of 1t was brought to me with
my shaving-water in the morning.
Il see e as bin up to is games
again. sir" was Hendry's usual over.
ture. my word. but 'e's sly one.
by all accounts" was the customary
conclusion.
I believe that Hendry often gained
considerable notoriety in the serv'
ants hall by a boasted friendship
with Peace. To this l attribute the
fact Of his being consulted by Mr..
Heavitree's butler on the occasion Of
the burglary that took place while
was staying at Crandon. Hendry's g
ludicrous fiasco, which nearly result
ed In a lawsuit for false imprison-
ment. need not be narrated here.
though 1t was considered a remark
ably good joke against me at the
time.
Towards the end of December l re-
turned to London for few days.
and on the third night after my ar.
rival l decided to visit the inspector
Hendry had discovered that he was a
bachelor. and lived in two little
rooms on the third floor The floors
that separated us were let out as
off1ces. SO that Peace at the top and
l at the bottom had the old house to
The little man was at home, and
seemed pleased to see me. With his
sparrow-like agility he hoped about,
producing glasses and bottle Of
whisky. Finally. with our pipes in
full blast. we sat facing each other
across the fire, and soon dropped
into a conversation which to me. at
least. was Of unusual interest. A
very curious knowledge of London
and It's peoples had Inspector Adding
ton Peace.
An hour quickly slipped by, and
when l rose to go l asked him II he
would dine with me on my return
from Cloudsham in Norfolk, where
was spending Christmas. He would
be pleased he told me; and then, as
he stopped to light spill in the
Goals
''You stay with Baron steen, sup.
pose?" he asked.
"Yes."
And why?"
"Why!" l echoed in some sur
prise.
"You have relatives or other
friends?"
MY nearest relative is sour old
uncle In Bradford. who calls me hard
names for using the gifts Providence
gave me instead of adding up figures
In smoky office. AS for friends
well. am fairly rich man, Inspec-
tor. and. as such, have many friends
What Is there against Baron Steen?"
"Oh. nothing" he said, putting at
his pipe, SO that he spoke as from a
cloud mistily.
Il know that he has played a bold
game on the stock exchange" I con-
tinued. land there may be few out
witted flnanciers growing at his
heels. But 1t would be hard to find a
more thoughtful host. Yes, am 60
ing to Cloudsham tomorrow"
We shook hands warmly on part
ing. and as l descended the stairs
he leant over the rail. smiling down
upon me.
Remember your dinner engage
ment," l called up to him. 81 shall
see you after the New Year"
Yes, II not BEFORE" he said: and
seemed to catch the faint echo of a
laugh as l turned the corner.
1t was on the afternoon of Decem.
"a that stepped from the train at
the little station of Cloudsham. Fresh
snow had fallen. and the wind came
bitterly over the frozen levels of the
fen country. A distant clock was
striking four as the carriage passed
into the crested entrance.gates and
tugged up rising slope of park land
dotted with ragged oaks and storm.
bowed spinnies. which showed as
black stains upon its snow-clad un.
dulations. At the summit the road
bent sharply. and l saw below me
the old manor of Cloudsham, beyond
which-a somber plain. losing itself
in the evening mists that swathed
the horizon-stretched the restless
waters of the North sea.
The house lay in a broad depres-
sion, in shape as the hollow Of a
hand. save only on the seaward side,
whsrc the line Of cliff bit into It like