The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-07

IIHIIIlIIIfiIn
bed, in shirt and trousers, absently
smoothing down his thick black hair
with his brushes. when Bill shouted
an "HalloP' through the door, and
came in.
''I say. buck up. old boy. I'm
hungry" he said.
Antony stopped smoothing him.
self and looked up at him thought
fully.
Where's Mark?" he said. i
MARK? You mean Cayley."
Antony corrected himself with
little laugh. Yes. mean Cayley.
Is he down? I say, I shan't be q
moment. Bill" He got up from the
bed and went on briskly with his
dressing.
''Oh, by the way" said Bill, taking
his place on the bed, your idea
about the keys is a wash-out."
why, how do you mean?"
81 went DOM just now and had
look at them. Some were outside
and some inside, and there you are.
1t makes 1t much less exciting.
When you were talking about it on
the idea of the key being outside
and Mark taking 1t in with him."
TITS going to be exciting enough"
said Antony mildly, as he transferred
his pipe and tobacco into the pocket
OF his black coat. We'll, let's come
down; I'm ready now"
Cayley was waiting for them IN
the hall. The three of them fell into
casual conversation.
You were quite right about the
keys" said Bill. during pause.
''Keys?" said Cayley blankly.
we were wondering whether
they were outside or inside
"Oh! oh. yes!' He looked slowly
round the hall. at the different doors.
and then smiled in a friendly way at
Antony. I'VE both seem TO have
been right. Mr.. Gillingham, So we
! don't get much farther"
No" He gave a shrug. 81 just
wondered. you know. I thought it
was worth mentioning"
"Oh, quite. Not that you would
have convinced me. you know. just
as Elsie's evidence doesn't convince
me-"
"Elsie9" said Bill excitedly. An
tony looked inquiringly at him, won
dering who Elsie was.
"One of the housemaids," explained
| Cayley. You didn't hear what she
told the Inspector
! Cayley told them of what Elsie
had heard through the office door
that afternoon.
You were in the library then, Of
course" said Antony, rather to him
| self than to the other. "She might
have gone through the hall without
your hearing"
"Oh, I've no doubt she was there,
and heard voices. Perhaps heard
| those very words. But" He broke
of. and then added impatiently, ut
was accidental. / know it was acct
dental. What's the good Of talking
| as If Mark was a murderer" Din
ner was announced at that moment.
and as they went in. he added.
What's the good OF talking about 1t
at all, il 1t comes to that?''
What, indeed?" said Antony, and
to Bits great disappointment they
talked of books and politics during
/ the meal.
| Cayley made an excuse for leaving
them as soon as their cigars were
alight. He had business to attend
to, as was natural. Bill would look
after his friend. Bill was only too
willing.
Lets go outside" suggested An
tony. II want to talk to YOU"
Good man. What about the
bowling-green?"
They came out OF the front door
and followed the drive to the left.
| The road bent round to the right,
but they kept straight on over q
broad grass path for twenty yards.
and there in front of them was the
green. A dry ditch, ten feet wide
and six feet deep. surrounded it, ex-
cept in the one place where the path
went forward
yes, it hides itself very nicely"
said Antony. Where do they keep
the bowls?"
''In a sort of summer-house place.
Round here"
They walked along the edge of the
green until they came to it-a low
wooden bunk which had been built
into one wall of the ditch.
They finished their circuit OF the
green-"Just in case anybody's in
the ditch" said Antony-and then
sat down on the bench.
Now then" said Bill, I'VE are
alone. Fire ahead"
Continued In Our Next Issuel