The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-08-12

place. knocked out the ashes of his
pipe. and turned back to Bill. He
looked at him gravely without
speaking.
What are you going to say 10
him?" he said at last.
How do you mean?"
Are you going to arrest him, or
help him to escape?"
"T-I-well, of course, T." began
Bill, stammering, and then ended
lamely. well. don't know"
Exactly. We've got to make up
our minds, haven't WEI"
Bill didn't answer.
You know, you can't just say,
'Oh-er-hallor to him." said Anto-
ny. breaking rather appropriately
into his thoughts.
Bill looked up at him with a start.
Nor" went on. Antony, "can you
say. This is my friend Mr.. Gilling-
ham, who Is staying with you. We
were just going to have a game of
bowls"
Eyes. it's dashed difficult I don't
know what to say. I've been rather
forgetting about Mark" He wan
dered over to the window and then
turned back to his friend.
All the same" he said. '4you
wanted to find the passage, and now
you've found 1t. Aren't you going
into it at all?"
Antony took his arm.
Lets go outside again." he said.
I'VE can't go into it now. anyhow.
It's too risky, with Cayley about.
Bill. feel like you-just a little bit
frightened. But what I'm frightened
Of l don't quite know. Anyway,
sou want to go on with it, don't
your"
YES" said Bill firmly. 1--WE
must"
Then Wen explore the passage
this afternoon, IL we get the chance.
And il we don't get the chance, then
Wen try it tonight"
do you really think we might
find Mark hiding there7" asked Bill
It's possible said Antony.
Either Mark or" He pulled him
self up quickly. mo" he muir
INJURED to himself, 'I won't let my.
self think that-not yet. anyway.
It's too horrible"
CHAPTER XII
TN the twenty hours or so at his
1 disposal Inspector Birch had been
busy.
The discovery of Mark was all
that mattered Immediately. Drag
ging the pond might not help toward
this. but it would certainly give the
impression in court tomorrow that
Inspector Birch was handling the
case with zeal.
He was feeling weIl-satisfied with
himself, therefore, as he walked to
the pond. where his men were wait
ing for him, and quite in the mood
for a little pleasant talk with Mr..
Gillingham and his friend, Mr.. Bever-
ley. He gave them a cheerful Good
afternoon" and added with a smile.
Coming to help us?''
IT wish you luck. But I don't
think youn find much at the pond
It's rather out of the way. isn't it,
for anybody running away?"
That's just what l told Mr.. Cay
ley, when he called my attention
to the pond. However. we shan't do
any harm by looking. It's the un-
expected that's the most likely in
this sort OF case"
You're quite right, Inspector.
Well, we mustn't keep you. Good
afternoon" and Antony smiled pleas
antly at him ~
Good afternoon, sir" VsS
Good afternoon" said Bill.
Antony stood looking after the fn-
spector as he STROBE OF. silent for
so long that Bill shook him by the
arm at last, and asked him rather
GROSSLY what wa the matter.
Antony shook his head slowly from
side to side.
II don't know; really don't know.
It's too devilish what | keep think
ing. He can't be as cold-blooded as
that"
"who?"
Without answering Antony led
the way back to the garden-seat on
which they had been sitting. He sat
there with his head in his hands.
"Oh. l hope they find something"
he murmured. "oh, hope they do"
I'm the pond?' ....,.-, a
"Yes." 8tgsssi "a ~ "a
But what?'
Anything. Bill: anything" 5455S
Bill was annoyed.
81 say, Tony, this won't do. You
really mustn't be so damn mys-
terious. What's happened to you
suddenly"
Continued in Our Next Tssuel