New Britain herald., 1922-08-26
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(cont,nued From Our Last 1ssue)

(continued From Our Last Issue)
 The announcement at breakfast went well. After the golfing- party had gone of. we had the morning in which to complete our arrangements. What l was chiefly concerned about was to establish as completely as pos sible the identity of Robert. For this reason suggested to Mark that, when dressed, he should go out by the secret passage to the bowling green, and come back by the drive. taking care 70 enter into conversation with the <odgekeeper.
 Tn this way I would have two more witnesses of Roberts arrival first the lodgekeeper, and secondly one of the gardeners whom I would have working on the front lawn. Mark, of course. was willing enough. He could practice his Australian &C., cent on the lodgekeeper. It was really amusing to see how readily he fell into every suggestion which l made. Never was killing more carefully planned by It's victim.
 ''He changed into Roberts clothes in the office bedroom. This was the safest way-for both of us. When he was ready, he called me in, and l inspected him. It was extraordinary how we'll he looked the part. I sup pose that the signs of his dissipation had already marked themselves on his face, but had been concealed hitherto by his mustache and beard; for now that he was clean-shaven they lay open to the world from which he had SO carefully hidden them, and he was indeed the wastrel which he was pre- tending to be.
 'Wonderful,' said to myself Nobody could possibly guess
 T peered into the hall It was empty. We hurried across to the library; he got into the passage and made off, I went back to the bed room, collected all his discarded clothes, did them up in bundle and returned with them to the passage. Then I sat down in the hall and waited.
 You heard the evidence of Stevens, the maid. As soon as she was on her way to the Temple in search Of Mark, I stepped into the office. My hand was in my side pocket, and in my hand was the revolver.
 "He began at once in his character of Robert-some rigmarole about working his passage over from Aus tralia; a little private performance for my ediflcation. Then in his natural voice, gloating over his well planned retaliation on Miss Norris, he burst out; It's my turn now You wait It was this which Elsie heard. She had no business to be there and she might have ruined everything, but as it turned out 1t was the lucki- est thing which could have happened, For it was the one piece of evidence which wanted; evidence, other than my own, that Mark and Robert were in the room together.
 "I said nothing. I was not going to take the risk of being heard to speak in that room. l just smiled at the poor little fool, and took out my revolver, and shot him. Then l went back into the library and waited-)ust as said in my evidence.
 Gan you imagine, MT. Dillingham; the shock which your sudden appear ance gave me? Can you imagine the feelings of a murderer who has Gas he thinks) planned for every possl- bility. and then congfronted suddenly with an utterly new problem? What difference would your coming make? I didn't know. Perhaps none; per haps all. And had forgotten to open the window!
 T don't know whether you will think my plan for killing Mark clever one. Perhaps not. But if do deserve any praise in the matter, think I deserve it for the way l pulled myself together in the face or : the unexpected catastrophe Of your arrival. Yes, got window open' MT. Gilnngham. under your very nose; the right window too. you were Klno !! enoueh to say. And the keS~yes' that was clever of you, but l think l was cleverer.
 T deceived you over the keys. MT. Gillineham, as learned when l took the liberty of listening to converse ton on the bowling green between you and your friend Beverley Where was I? An, you must have a look for that secret passage, MT. Gilling- ham.
 But what am l saying? Did l deceive you at all? You have found |