The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-01

down the long, straight street: and the
rest is as this gentleman has said.
I've got only one thing to say. |
don't question my punishment It is
just-it ought to have happened. But
still question. with bursting brains.
how it can have happened. Am i pun
ished by miracle? Or how can any
one but Philip and myself know gave
him a tiny coin in the middle of the
sear
1T is an extraordinary problem" adj
mitted Flambeau.
Mot so extraordinary as the an
swer," remarked Father Brown. rather
gloomily. Miss Carstairs. will YOU
be at home if we call at your Fulham
place in an hour and half hence?'
The girl looked at him. and then rose
and put on her gloves. Yes" she
said, III be there and almost in
stantly left the place
The detective and the priest were still
talking of the matter as they drew
near to the Fulham house that night.
"Of course, the superficial reflection
said Flambeau, would think first OF
this Australian brother who's been in
trouble before, who's come back so
suddenly. and who's just the man to
have shabby confederates. But | can't
sec how he can come into the thing,
unless
Well" asked his companion pa
tiently.
F1ambcau lowered his voice: "Unless
the girls lover comes in, too. and he
would be the blacker villain. The Aus
tralian chap did know that Hawker
wanted the coin. But | can't see how
on earth he could know that Hawker
had got it. unless Hawker signaled to
him or his representative across the
shore"
That is true assented the priest,
with respect.
And now, take it from the start. 1t
lies between few people, but at least
three You want one person for sui
eide; two people for murder; but at
least three people for blackmail."
why" asked the priest softly.
well. obviously" cried his friend.
three must be one to be exposed; one
to threaten exposure. and one at least
whom exposure would horrify."
After long pause, the priest said:
You miss logical step. Three per
sons are needed as ideas. Only tive
are needed as agents
What can YOU mean" asked the
other
Why shouldn't blackmailer."
asked Brown, in a low voice. threat
en- his victim with HIMSELF Suppose
father forbade a son to gamble. and
then, following him i'll a good disguise
threatened the boy with his own Sham
psternal strictncss: Suppose-but here
We arc, my friend
4 figure ran down the steps OF tho
house. and showed under the golden
lamplight the unmistakablc head that
resemblcd the Roman coin.
Miss Carstairs.' said Hawkcr with
out ceremony, wouldn't so in till YOU
came"
Well observed Brown confidential
ly, don't you think it's the best thing
she can do to stop outside-with you
to look after her? You see. ] rather
guess you have guessed it all YOUR
self
Yes" said the Young man, in an I'M
dertone. Il guessed on the sands, and
now ! know"
Taking latchkey from the girl and
the coin from Hawker. Flambeau lets
himself and his friend into the house,
and passed into the outer parlor IL
was empty except for one person. The
man whom Father Brown had seen
the wall as if at bay-unchanged, save
1. L. I,
wearing brown dressing gown.
We have come" said Father Brown
politely. TO give back this coin to its
owncr.' And he handed it to the man
with the nose.
Flambeau's eyes rolled. Is this man
coin collector ne asked.
This man is Mr.. Arthur CarstairS.
said the priest positively. and he Is
coin collector OF somewhat singular
kind"
The man changed color so horribly
that the crooked nose stood out on his
face like a separate and comic thing
He spoke, nevertheless, with a sort OF
dcspairing dignity.
You shall see, then. he said, that
have not lost all the family quail
ties and he turned suddenly and
strobe into all inner room, slamming
the door.
Stop him. shouted Father Brown.
After wrench or two. Flambcau had
the door open But i, was too late.
In dead silence. Flambeau strobe across
and telephoned for doctor and police.
An empty medicine bottle lay OH the
floor. Across the table the body OF
the man in the brown dressing gown
Law amid his burst and gaping brown
paper parcels. out of which poured and
rolled. not Roman, bu; very modern
English COINS.
The priest held up the bronze head
of Caesar This he said. was all
that was left OF the Csrstairs collec-
ton"
After silence he went on, with
more than common gentlcncsS: 1T
was a cruel will his wicked father
made. and. YOU see, he did resent i;
a little. He hated the Roman money
he had. and grew fonder of the real
money denied him. lie not only sold
the collection bit BY bit. but sank bit
BY bit 10 the baSest ways Of making
to blackmailins his own
family in a disguise. He blackmailed
his brother from Australia for his lit
lie forgotten crime (that is why he
took the cab to Wagga Wagga in Put
ley) he blackmailed his sister for the
theft he alone could have noticed. And
that, by the way, is why she had that
supernatural guess when he was away
m the sand dunes Mere figure and