Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-10
OF PAUL BECK, R RULE OF THUMB DETECTIVE
Bv MCDONNELL BODKEN

q " III as.;s;s':s,s,;' '''
left was still loaded. Then he maze
startling dicoyery. Both barrels w.
on half cock. The little prieht Soppt
cap twinkled on the nipple OF .ne 80
barrel. from the right nipple '
was gone. t,+
How had the murderer fred the rlghl
barrel without a cap? How ana why
did he find time in the MIDST o. me-
deadly work to put the COCK pacN ~
safety? ,,,
HAD Mr.. Feck solved this problem
The grim smile deepened on his iips a.
he looked, and there was an ugly hsH
in his eyes that BODIED i'll Tor the uh-
known assassin. Finally he carried tite
gun 70 the window and examined 1t
carefully through magnifying glass,
There was a. thin dark line. as II traced
with the point of a red-hot needle. run
ming a little way along the wood OF the
stock and ending in the right nipple.
Mr. Beck put the gun back quietly
on the table The whole investigation
had not taken ten minutes He gave one
look at the still figure on the couch-
unlocked the door, locking it after him.
and walked out through the corridor-
the same cheerful. imperturbable MI
Beck that had walked into 1t ten min
utes before.
He found Eric awaiting HI him ~ at the he
head of the stairs. weir he SAID
when he saw the detective.
Well" replied Mr.. Beck, ignoring the
Interrogation in his voice, when is the
inquest to be? That's the next thing to
be thought oft he sooner the better
Tomorrow IL you wish My cousin
John sent a messenger to Mr.. Morgan.
the coroner. He lives only five miles
away. and he promised to be here at IL
o'clock tomorrow"
Mr.. Beck, rubbing his hands; the
sooner and the quieter we get those
prelirninaries over the better"
Il have just sent to engage the local
solicitor on behalf of my cousin. He's
not particularly bright. I'm afraid, but
he's the best to be had on a short no.
tice"
Very proper and thoughtful on your
part-very thoughtful. indeed. But So
licitors cannot do much in such cases
It's the evidence we have to go by, and
the evidence is only too plain, I'm
afraid. Now. if you please he went on
more briskly. dismissing the disagree
able subject. as it were. with wave of
his big hand. I'D be very glad of that
supper you spoke about"
The inquest was held at half-past IL
next day in the library.
The coroner. a large. red-faced man,
with very affable manner. went to his
work promptly.
The jury viewed the body" steadily.
stolidly, with a kind OF morose delec
taton in the grim spectacle.
IN some undccounIaDte way, MI beck
constituted himself master of cere
monies.
You had best take the gun down"
he said to the coroner as they Were
leaving the room.
Certainly, certainly" replied the
coroner.
And the water bottle" added Mr..
Beck
There is no suspicion of poison, is
there?"
ITS best not to take anything for
granted" replied Mr.. Beck senten-
tiously.
BY all means if you think So" re-
piled the obsequious coroner. Con
stable, take that water bottle down
with you"
The jury had just returned from
viewing the body when the crunch of
wheels and hoofs was heard on the
gravel of the drive and two-horse
phaeton pulled up at the entrance.
4 moment later there came into the
room a handsome, soldier-like man,
with a girl clinging to his arm, whom
he supported with tender, protecting
fondness that was very touching.
No need to tell Mr.. Beck that here
were Col. Peyton and his daughter. He
saw the look-shy. piteous. loving
that the girl gave John Neville as she
passed close TO the table where he sat
with his head buried in his hands.
The gardener. the gamekeeper. and
the butler were briefly examined by the
coroner, and rather clumsiIy cross
examined by Mr.. Waggles. the solicitor
whom Eric had thoughtfully secured
for his cousins defense.
As the case against John Neville
gradually darkened into grim certainty.
the girl in the far corner of the room
grew white as a lily, and would have
fallen but for her fathers support.
Does Mr.. John Neville offer himself
for examination?' said the coroner, as
he finished writing the las! words of
the buffers deposition describing the
quarrel of the night before.
NO. sir" said Mr.. Waggles. Il APP
pear for Mr.. John Neville, the accused,
and We reserve our defense,
Erie Neville" called out the coroner.
This is the last witness, l think.
Eric stepped in front Of the table
was pale. but quiet and composed. aud
there was an unaffected grief in tie
look of his dark eyes and in the tone
of his soft voice that touched every
heart-except one.
He told his story shortly and clearly.
It was quite plain that he was most
anxious to shield his cousin. But in
spite of this. perhaps because OF this
the evidence went horribly against
John Neville.
With manifest reluctance he described
the quarrel at dinner the night be-
fore.
Was your cousin very angry?" the
coroner asked
He would not be human IL he were
not angry at the language used"
Did he say to your uncle: Well.