The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-08

don't remember noticing the billiard.
room key at the time; must have
done so without knowing. Probably
when l saw Cayley banging at the
door I may have wondered sub-con-
sciously whether the key of the room
next to it would fit. Well. when /
was sitting out by myself on that
seat just before you came along, I
went over the whole scene in my
mind. and I suddenly saw the bill.
liard-room key there-outside. And
1 began to wonder IL the Office key
had been outside too. When Cayley
came up, told you my idea and you
were both interested. But CayIey
was just a shade too~1ntenested.
daresay you didn't notice it. but he
was"
by JoveP'
"Wen. of course that proved
nothing; and the key business didn't
really prove anything. because
whatever side of the door the other
keys were. Mark might have locked
his own private room from the in
side sometimes. But I piled it on,
and pretended that It was enormous
ly important, and quite altered the
case altogether, and having got Cay
ley thoroughly anxious about 1t, as
1 expected, he couldn't resist. He
altered the keys and gave himself
away entirely"
But the library key was still out
side. Why didn't he alter that?"
Because he's a clever devil. For
one thing, the inspector had been in
the library, and might possibly have
noticed it already. And for an
| other" Antony hesitated.
"what?" said Bill. after waiting
for him to go on
IT'S only guesswork. But
fancy that Cayley was thoroughly
upset about the key business. He
nitely to the statement that the key
was either outside or inside. He
wanted to leave it vague. It was SAT.
est that way"
'I see," said Bill slowly.
| But his mind was elsewhere. He
was wondering suddenly about Cay
ley.
Now then, Watson" said Antony
suddenly. TITS time YOU said some
thing"
Il say. Tony, do you really mean
it?"
Il mean what I said. Bill. No
more"
We'll, what does it amount tor"
Simply that Robert Albeit died in
the Office this afternoon, and that
Cayiey knows exactly how he died.
That's all. 1t doesn't follow that Cay.
ley killed him.
NO. No. OF course It doesn't"
Bill gave a sigh of relief. Hes just
shielding Mark, what2'
That's the simplest explanation If
you're a friend Of Cayley and want
to let him down lightly. But then
I'm not. you see.''
why isn't it simple, anyhow"
We'll, let's have the explanation
| then. and I'll undertake to give you
a simpler one afterward. Only re-
nember-the key is on the outside
of the door to start with
YES; well, / don't mind that.
Mark goes in to see his brother, and
they quarrel and all the rest of it,
just as Cayley WAS saying. ~Gayley
hears the shot. and in order TO give
Mark time to get away. locks the
door and tea5 - can't get in. How's
pretends that Mark has locked the
door, and that he can't get in. How's
that?"
Hopeless. Watson. hopeless"
"Why?"
How does Cayley know that It is
Mark who has shot Robert. and not
the other way round?"
1 "Ohp' said Bill. rather upset.
Yes" He thought for a moment.
"An right. Say that Cayley has
gone into the room first. and seen
Robert on the ground"
"Wen?"
"Well. there you are"
And what does he say to Mark?
That it's a fine afternoon, and could
he lend him a Northumberland?
Or does he ask him what's hap
pened?''
well. of course. l suppose he asks
what happened" said Bill reluctant
ly.
And what does Mark say?"
Explains that the revolver went
off accidentally during a struggle"
"Whereupon Cayley shields him
hy-by doing what. Bill? Encourag-
ling him to do the damn silliest thing
that any man could possibly do
confess his guilt by running awayT'
! Continued i'm Cur Next issueD