Evening journal., 1922-08-26


completely as possible the identit.
of Robert. Fer this reason sug
gested TO Mark that when dressed
he should go out by the secret pass
age to the bowling-green, and CONF
back BY the drive. taking care TO en-
ter into conversation with the lodge
keeper.
I'm this way I would have tive
more witnesses of Roberts arrival
FIRST the lodge-keeper, and secondly
one of the gardeners whom l would
have working on the front lawn
Mark. of course. was willing enough
He could practice his Australian
accent on the lodge-keeper. II was
really amusing to see how readily
he fell into every suggestion which
made. Never was a killing more
carefully planned by its 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 1
Inspected him. II was extraordinary
how well he looked the part. / sup
pose that the signs of his dissipa-
ton had already marked themselves
on his face. but had been copcealeo
hitherto by his mustaohe and beard;
for now that he was clean-shaven
thev Law open TO the world from
which we had so carefully hidden
them. and he was indeed the wastrel
which he was pretending TO be.
wonderful ! said to myself
Nobody could possibly guess
Il peered into the hall. II was
empty. We hurried across to the
library: he got into the passage and
made of. 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 1 sat down in the hall ana
waited.
you heard the evidence OF
stevens, the maid. As soon as she
was on her way 10 the Temple in
search of Mark. stepped into the
Office. Ny hand was in my side
pocket. and in my hand was the re-
volver.
He began at once in his charac-
ter of Robert-some rigmarole about /
working his passage over from Aus
tralia; a little private performance. 1
for my edliication. Then In his nat I
ursl voice, gloating over his we'll
planned retaliation on Miss Norris, |
he burst out. It's my turn now. You 1
wait. It was this which Elsie heard. i
She had no business TO be there and /
she might have ruined everything, I
but as II turned out Il was the lucki- /
est thing which could have hap /
pened. For it was the one piece OF |
evidence which 1 wanted: evidence, /
other than my own. that Mark and !
Robert were In the room together.
II said nothing. I was not going
10 take the risk OF being heard TO
sneak in that room. Just smiled at 7
the poor little fool. and took out /
my revolver, and shot him. Then
went back into the library and
waifed--just as / said in my evi-
dence.
Can you imagine. Mr.. Gilling-
ham, the shock which your sudden
appearance gave me? Can you
imagine the feelings OF a murderer
who has (as he thinks) planned for
every possibility. and is then con-
fronted suddenly with an utterly
new problem? What difference
would your coming make? I didn't
know. Perhaps nonei perhaps all.
And I had forgotten to open the
windowl
Il don't know whether you will s
think my plan for killing Mark a
clever one. Perhaps not. But II 1
do deserve any praise IN the matter,
! think I deserve II for the way
pulled myself together in the face Of
the unexpected catastrophe OF your
arrival. Yes, I got a window open,
Mr. Gillingham. under your very
nose: the right window. too. you
were kind enough TO say. And the
keys-yes. that was clever Of you,
but I think was cleverer.
Il deceived you over the keys. Mr..
Gnlingham, as / learnt when took
the liberty OF listening TO a con-
versation on the bowling-green be-
tween you and your friend Beverley
Where was 1? All. you must have
look for that secret passage, Mr.. Gil
lingham.
But what am I saying7 Did /
deceive you at all7 You have found
put the secret-that Robert was
Mark-and that is all that matters.
How have you found out? I shall
never know now. Where did l go
wrong? Perhaps you have been de-
,eiving me all the time. Perhaps
'ou knew about the keys. about the {
window, even about the secret pas
lage You are a clever man, Mr.. I
5illingham. c
Il had Marks clothes on q my 4
hands. l might have left them in G
the passage. but the secret OF the 7
passage was now out Miss Norris
knew It. That was the weak point {
o. my plan, perhaps. that Miss Nor
rs had 70 know il. So hid them in z
the pond, the inspector having oblig- y
ingiy dragged It for me first. A CT
couple OF keys joined them. but I
kept the revolver. Fortunate. wasn't a
u, Mr. Dillingham; \
"Goodby, Mr.. cuunghan. I'm \
sorry that your stay with us was .
not OF pleasanter nature, but Won
understand the difficulties in which :
] was placed. Don't let Bin think =
too badly OF me. He is a eooa sal- :
low; look after him. He viii he 4
surprised. The young are always +
surprised. And thank you for let ,
ting me end my own way. I ex- {
pect you did synpathize a little. Won
know. We might have been friends
In another world--you and I. and ,
] and she. Tell her what you Ike.
Everything or nothing. You will
know what is best. Goodby, Mr..
MATTHEW CAYLEY.