The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-08-30
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bachelor brother.
= MARK ABLETT? Roberts body was on
the floor of the locked office, Mark |
had disappeared and in the eyes of
Police Inspector Birch, it was clear |
that Mark who had viewed Roberts
return from Australia with annoyance |
had shot his brother and then dis J
appeared.
But there were mysterious
stances. The shot was heard JA
moments before
ANTON GILLINGHAM, gentleman ad'
venturer and friend Of
BILL BEVERLEY, one of Marks
guests, entered the hall where he
found
MATT CAYLELY Marks constant
companion, pounding on the locked
door and demanding admittance. The
TWO men entered the office through a
window and discovered the body.
Later. Antony vaguely suspects Cay
ley. Bill tells him that Mark was upset
few evenings ago when one of the
guests appeared as a ghost on the bowl
Ing green. Antony and Bill discuss vari'
Gus theories OF the muruer.
GO ON WITH THE STORY
mo, that's rather hopeless, isn't it?"
Bill thought again. "Well." he said re-
luctantly, Suppose Mark confessed that
he'd murdered his brother?"
That's better. Bill Don't be afraid
of getting away from the accident idea.
Well then, your new theory is this.
Mark confesses to Cayley that he shot
Robert on purpose. and Cayley decides,
4 even at the risk of committing perjury,
and getting into trouble himself. to help
Mark to escape. Is that right"
Bill nodded.
well then, / want to ask you two
questions. First. is it possible, as / said
before dinner, that any man would COM
init such an idotic murder-a murder
that puts the rope so very tightly
around his neck? Secondly. If Cayley is
prepared to perjure himself for Mark
(as he has to, anyway, now wouldn't
It be simpler for him to say that he
was in the office all the time. and that
Roberts death was accidental.
Bill considered this carefully, and
then nodded slowly again.
''Yes, my simple explanation is a
wash-out," he said. Now let's have
yours"
Antony did not answer him. He had
begun to think about something quite
different.
CHAPTER TX
What's the matter. said Bill sharply.
Antony looked round at him with
.aised eyebrows.
you've thought of something sud.
ienly," said Bill. What is it?"
Antony laughed.
MY dear Watson" he said. you
rent supposed TO be as clever as this.
Nell was wondering about this ghost
# yours, Bill. This is where she ap.
,eared. isn't t?'
Yes"
How"
How? How do ghosts appear?
don't know. They just appear"
But how did Miss Norris appear sud
denly-over five hundred yards OF bare
park?"
BIZ looked at Antony with open
mouth.
II don't know" he stammered
I'VE never thought OF that.
You would have seen her long before
wouldn't you, II she had come the way
we Gamer"
"Of course we should"
"And that would have spoilt II rath
er. You would have had time 10 recog
nize her walk. She couldn't have beer
hiding in the ditch"
he la natfN aud 1 walk 90
round q bit. We should have seen her.
"Then she must have been hiding II
the shed. Or do you call II the summer
house?"
I'VE had to go there for the bowls
OF course. She couldn't have been there
"Oh"
IT'S dashed funny" said BIZ, afte
AN interval for thought But 1t doe
not matter. does 1t? II has nothing u
do with Robert"
Hasn't IT."
Il say. has it," said Bill, getting eS
cited again.
IL don know. We don't know what ha
or what hasn't. But 1t has got some
} thing to 10 with Miss Norris And Mis-
Norris" he broke off suddenly.
What about herr"
Antony knocked out his pipe and go
up slowly.
well then. let's find the way fror
the house by which Miss Norris came
Bill Jumped up eagerly.
by Jove." Do you mean there's
secret PASSAGE"
"A secluded passage, anyway. Ther
must be"
II say. what fun! love secret pass
ages. Good Lord, and this afternoon
was playing golf just like an ordnar
merchant What lifeg Secret pas
agesv
They made their way down into III
ditch. II an opening was to be foun
which led to the house II would prol
ably ba ON the house side OF the gree
and on the outside OF the ditch. Th
most obvious place at which to begi
the search was the shed where the bow
were kept. There were two boxes
croauet things, one OF them with III
lid open.
Antony tapped the wall at the bac
Of the shed.
This is where the passage ought
begin"
1T needn't begin here at ell. nee
III" said Bill. walking round with bel
head and tapping the other walls. u
was Just too tall to stand upright In u
shed.
There's just one reason why
should, and that is that II would say
us the trouble of looking anywhe'
"A. -. Ia