The Delta independent., 1915-11-26


friend by him still, one who had
edged little nearer in the pause.
But you did see the man you went
to see?" said Seruton---
Cazalet paused. "I don't know.
Eventually somebody brushed past me
in the dark. did think then-but l
can't swear to him even now."
Tell us about it."
DO you mean that, Scruton? Do
you insist on hearing all that hap
pened? I'm not asking Toye; he can
do as he likes. But you, Scruton-
you've been through a lot, you know
you ought to have stopped in bed-do
you really want this on top of all?"
GO ahead" said Soruton. "I'll have
a drink when you've done; somebody
give me cigarette meanwhile"
Cazalet supplied the cigarette,
struck a match, and held it with un-
faltering hand The two mems eyes
met strangely across the flame.
I'll tell you all exactly what hap
pened; you can believe me or not as
you like. You won't forget that l
knew every inch of the ground-ex-
cept one altered bit that explained
itself" Cazalet turned to Blanche
with a significant look, but she only
drew an inch nearer still. well, it
was in the little creek, where the boat
house is, that l waited for my man.
He never came-by the river. 1 heard
the motor. but it wasn't Henry Cra-
ven that wanted to see, but the man
who was coming to see him. Even
tually | thought l must have made
mistake, or he might have changed
his mind and come by road. The
dressinggong had gone; at least
supposed it was that by the time. 1t
was almost quite dark, and l landed
and went up the path past the back
premises to the front of the house. So
far I hadn't seen a SOUL or been seen
by one, evidently; but the French win
dows were open in what used to be
my fathers library. the room was
all lit up, and just as l got there a
man ran out into the flood Of light
and"
II thought you said he brushed by
you in the dark?" interrupted Toye.
II was In the dark; SO was he in an
other second; and no power on earth
would induce me to swear to him. Do
you want to hear the rest, Scruton, or
are you another unbeliever"
Il want to hear every word-more
than ever!"
Toye cooked his head at both ques-
ton and answer, but inclined 1t quick
1n& IN hivo
proceeding.
Il went In and found Henry Craven
lying in his blood. That's gospel-it
was SO I found him-lying just where
he had fallen in a heap out of the
leather chair at his desk. The top
right-hand drawer of his desk was
open, the key in 1t and the rest of the
bunch still swinging! A revolver lay
as it had dropped upon the desk-it
had upset the ink-and there were
cartridges lying loose in the open
drawer, and the revolver was loaded
I swept it back into the drawer, turned
the key and removed it with the bunch
But there was something else on the
desk-that silver-mounted truncheon
and mans cap was lying on the
floor l picked them both up. Ny
first instinct, / confess it, was to re
move every sign of manslaughter ant
to leave the scene to be reconstructed
into one of accident-seizure-a
thing but what 1t was."
He paused as If waiting for ques
ton. None was asked. Toye's mouth
might have been sewn up, his eye!
were like hatpins driven into his head
The other two simply stared.
"It was mad idea, but l had gon'
mad" continued Cazalet. Il had hat
ed the victim alive, and 1t couldn'
change me that he was dead or dying
that didn't make him white man
the poor devil who had probably sui
fered from him like the rest of u
and only struck him down in sell
defense. The revolver On the des
made that pretty plain. 1t was ou
| of the way, but now | saw blood al
| over the desk as well; 1t was soakin
into the blotter, and 1t knocked tn
bottom out of my idea. What was I
be done? ! had meddled already; HOY
could give the alarm without givin
myself away to that extent, and Go
knows how much further? The mos
awful moment of the lot came as
hesitated-the dinner-gong went off i
the hall outside the door! | remen
Der watching the thing on the foo
to see II 1t would move.
Then lost my head-absclutely.
turned the key in the door, to Civ
myself few seconds grace or start
1t reminded me of the keys in m
hands. One of them was one Of thos
little round bramah keys. 1t SCENE
familiar to me. even after so man
years. l looked up. and there was IN