South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-04

it wasn't a pistol-shot after all Az
ter moment or two he goes to the
library door again. The profound
silence makes him uneasy now. No
harm in going into the office Just
to reassure himself. So he tries
the door-and finds it locked!
What are his emotions now?
Alarm, uncertainty. Something is
happening. Incredible though II
seems, it must have been a pistol
shot. He is banging at the door and
calling out to Mark. and there is no
answer. Alarm-yes. But alarm
for whose safety? Marks. obviously.
Robert is a stranger; Mark is an
intimate friend. Robert has written
a letter that morning, the letter of a
man in a dangerous temper. Robert
is the tough customer: Mark the
highly civilized gentleman II there
has been a quarrel. il is Robert who
has shot Mark. He bangs at the
door again.
OF course, to Antony. coming sud
denly upon this scene. Cayley's con-
duct had seemed rather absurd. but
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 10 do So he leads the
way TO the windows-the longest
way.
Why? To give the murderer time
10 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:
Il was afraid II was Mark" he save.
when ne finds that it 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 filed HE
pipe. "and bless me If I 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 undlsturbed They would
come back 10 him later when he
wanted them.
He laughed suddenly, and lit his
pipe
Il was wanting new profession"
he thought and now I've found II
Antony Gillingham. our own private
sleuthhound. I shall begin today"
Whatever Antony Glllingham'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 az that moment
who was unhandicapped in the
search for truth. The inspector had
arrived in II 70 find a man dead and
man missing. II was extremely
probable. no doubt. that the missing
man had shot the dead man. But IT
was more than extremely probable,
il was almost certain that the in
spector would s.ar; with the idea
that this extremely probable solu-
ton was tie one tue solution. and
that in consequence. he would be
less disposed 10 consider without
prejudice any other solution.
Inspector Birch was certainly pre-
pared 20 believe that Mark had shot
T his brother. Robert had been shown
INTO the Office { W Audrey !:
Mark had gone in 20 Robert wit
. ness Cayley); Mark and Robert had
T been heard talking (witness Elsie) :;
there was a shot (witness every
bodT: the room rad been entered
AID ROBBERS body had been found
/ witness Cayley and Dillingham;.
+ And Mark was missing Obviously
then. Mark had killed his brother:
accidentally, a. Cayiey believed. or
deliberately. as Els'e's evidence
seemed - suggest
But there were other possibilities.
7. would have interested Antony to
know that. Just az the time when he
was feeling rather superior 20 the
prejud!ced Inspector. the Inspector
himself was letting his mind dwell
! lovingly upon the possibilities in