The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-09-17

tain that, In that case, the absence
of the collar was unintentional In
collecting the clothes he had overlook
ed the collar. Why?'
at was the one in the basket"
"Yes. 1t seemed probable. Why |
had Cayley put it there. The obvious
answer was that he hadn't. Mark |
had put it there"
go on" said Bill eagerly.
"Well, why had Mark changed down.
there instead of in his bedroom? The |
only answer was that the fact of his
changing had to be kept secret. When
did he change? The only possible time
was between lunch twhen he would
be seen by the servants) and the mo-
ment of Roberts arrival. And when
did Cayley collect the clothes in n
bundle? Again. the only answer was
Before Roberts arrival So another
was wanted-to fit those three con
ditions."
"And the answer was that a murder
was intended even before Robert ar
rived?"
Yes Well now. ii wasn't possible
a murder could be intended without
any more preparation than the chang
Ing into different suit in which 10
escape. The thing was too childish.
Also. IL Robert was TO be murdered,
why go out Of the way TO announce
his exitence TO you all? / began to feel
now that Robert was an incident only;
that the plot was plot Of Cayley'
against Mark-either to ge; him TO Kill
his brother or to'get his brother TO kill
hlm--and that for some ineXplcablc
reason Mark seemed to be lending
himself to the plot. lie was silent
for little. and then said, almost TO
himself II had seen the empty brandy
bottles in that cupboard"
"You never said anything about
them complained Bill.
"I only saw them afterward. ! was
looking for the collar. YOU remember.
They came back TO me afterward;
knew how Cayley would feel about IT,.
g.. Poor devll!''
: Go on" said Bill
"Wcll. then. we had the inquest and
of course ! noticed the curious fact
that Robert had asked his way at the
! second lodge and not at the first. SO
, talked TO Amos and Parsons. That
made II more curious. Amos told me
+. that Robert had gone out OF his way
to speak to him.
. Parsons told mo that his wife was
out In their little garden at the first
= lodge all the afternoon and was GER
l tain that Robert had never come past
IT, lie also told me that Cayley had
put him on TO n Job on the front lawn
that afternoon. So | had daothcr
i guess. Robert had used the secgcy pas
| suge--the passage which comes cut lrtc
- the park between the first mad second
Q lodges. Robert, then, had been in the
v house II was put.up job between hCA
: crt and Cayley. But how could Rob
I crt he there without Mark knowing
s. Obviously. Mark knew too. What
J. did II all moon2"
when was thls2" interrupted Bill
| "Just after the inquest-after you't
= seen Amos and Parsons. Of course2'
" "Yes. got mp and left them, ant
= came TO look for YOU. I'd got bach
|
l change his clothes so secrotly2 bis
n guise9 Hut then what about his face
g That was much more important thai
l. clothes His face, his beard--he'd have
e, to shave of his beard--and then--oh
IDIOT I saw YOU looking at that pos
y ter. Mark acting. Mark madc.up, Mari
a disguised. oh, priceless IDIOT Mari
'e was Robert Matches, please"
d. YES" said Blll thoughtfully. "Ye
2. Hut wait moment What abou
a. the Plough and Iiorses'9'
70 Antony looked comicaly at him.
'r "youll never forgive me, Bill.' h
said
VI "What do you meanf'
u Antony sighed.
ID at was fake. Watson. | wante'
v YOU out of the way. wanted to b
~ alone. So--." he smiled and added
"Well. knew YOU wanted drink.
THE END