The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-04
Used by British in the War


then. just for the moment, Cayley
had lost his head. But, as soon as
Antony suggested trying the win
dows, Cayley saw that that was the
obvious thing to do. So he leads the
way to the windows-the longest
way.
Why? To give the murderer time
to escape? If he had thought then
that Mark was the murderer, per-
haps, yes. But he thinks that Robert
is the murderer. If he is not hiding
anything, he must think so. Indeed
he says so, when he sees the body;
''I was afraid 1t was Mark" he says,
when he finds that 1t is Robert who
is killed. No reason. then. for wish
ing to gain time. On the contrary,
every instinct would urge him to get
into the room as quickly as possible.
and seize the wicked Robert. Yet he
goes the longest way round. Why?
And then. why run?
That's the question" said An
tony to himself, as he filled his pipe,
land bless me IL know the answer"
He sat there with his unlit pipe in
his hand, thinking. There were one
or two other things in the back of
his brain, waiting to be taken out
and looked at. For the moment he
| left them undisturbed. They would
come back to him later when he
wanted them.
He laughed suddenly. and Lit his
pipe.
81 was wanting a new profession"
he thought, land now I've found 1t.
Antony Dillingham;. our own private
sleuthhound. I shall begin today"
Whatever Antony Gillingham's
other qualifications for his new pro-
fession. he had at any rate a brain
which worked clearly and quickly.
And this clear brain of his had al.
ready told Him that he was the only
person in the house at that moment
who was unhandicapped in the
search for truth. The inspector had
arrived in It to find a man dead and
man missing. 1t was extremely
probable, no doubt, that the missing
man had shot the dead man. But 1t
was more than extremely probable.
it was almost certain that the in
spector would start with the idea
that this extremely probable solu-
ton was the one true solution, and
that. in consequence, he would be
less QlSpOSSQ 10
prejudice any other solution.
Inspector Birch was certainly pre-
pared 10 believe that Mark had shot
his brother. Robert had been shown
into the office (witness Audrey:
Mark had gone in to Robert witness
Cayleyl; Mark and Robert had been
heard talking witness Elsie; there
was a shot (witness everybody; the
room had been entered and Roberts
body had been found (witness
Cayley and dillingham;. And Mark
was missing. Obviously, then, Mark
had killed his brother: accidentally,
as Cayley believed, or deliberately.
as Elsies evidence seemed to sug-
gest.
But there were other possibilities.
It would have interested Antony to
know that, just at the time when he
was feeling rather superior to the
prejudiced inspector, the inspector
himself was letting his mind dwell
lovingly upon the possibilities in
connection with Mr.. Gillingham. Was
it only a coincidence that Mr.. Gilling-
ham had turned up Just when he
did? And Mr.. Beverley's curious
answers when asked for some &C
count of his friend. An assistant in
a tobacconist's! An odd man, Mr.. Gill
bingham, evidently. 1t might be as
well to keep an eye on him.
CHAPTER VI
TNHE guests had said goodby to
Cayley. according to their differ
ent manner.
Bill had seen them into the car.
had taken his own farewells with
special squeeze of the hand for Bet
ty). and had wandered out to join
Antony on his garden seat.
well, this is rum show" said
Bill as he set down.
Every rum, William"
And you actually walked right
into it?''
Right into it, said Antony and
proceeded to tell all that he had al
ready told the Inspector, Bill inter-
rupting him here and there with ap,
propriate Good Lords" and whis.
ties.
Il say, it's a bit of business. isn't
it? Where do | come in. exactly?"
Antony smiled at him.
''Well, there's nothing to worry
about, you know. Besides. I need
you. Things are going to hal len
here soon.'