The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-25
MAGAZINE

the motive for the murder"
 "You spoke just now of young Lumsden's friend. Brett," said Crewe. "Who . is Brett?'
 "He lives in Staveley-a young fellow with little private means. He and Lums- den were close friends-I have often seen them together about the town. They served in the same regiment, were wounded together, taken prisoners together by the Germans, tortured together and escaped to- gether."
 "Brett?" exclaimed Marsland in tone which awakened Crewe's interest. T know no one named Brett"
 "No, of course you wouldn't know him, MT. Marsland," said the inspector, genial ly. "You haven ot been SO long in Staveley that you can expect to know all the resi- dents. It's not very large place. but it takes time to know all the people in il"
 q was thinking of something else," said Marsland.
 ."What sort of man was Brett to look at?" asked Crewe of the inspector.
 About the same age as Lumsden-just under 30, should say. A thin, slight, gen. tlemanly looking fellow. Rather better class than poor Lumsden. I often won. dered what they had in common"
 Crewe, who was watching the effect of this description on Marsland, pressed for further particulars.
 Average height?" he asked.
 "A little under," replied the inspector. Ozark complexion with dark mustache- what, there was of it,
 q think you said he had been wounded and captured by the Germans?" said Mars land.
 "Tortured rather than wounded" replied the inspector. "The Germans are fiends, not men. Brett and Lumsden were cap- tured while out in listening patrol, and because they wouldn't give their captors any information they were tortured. But these brave lads refused, to give the infor- nation the Germans wanted, and ultimate ly they succeeded in making their escape during an attack. I've listened to many of the experiences of our brave lads, but don't think I've heard anything worse than the treatment of Brett and this poor fellow who has been murdered
 "Was it at Armentieres this happened?" asked Marsland.
 q think it was," replied the inspector. sThen you heard the story, too, MT. Mars land?'
 "No, I was thinking of something else." he answered.
 eve must look up Brett" said Crewe. "Just write down his address, inspector-if you don't mind"
 "He lives at No. Al Whitethorn Gardens" said the police officer. But don't think you will find him there today. His land lady, Mrs. Penfield, promised to send me word as soon as he got back When l heard of this murder I went down to see Brett to find out when he had last seen Lumsden and to get statement from him. But he fad gone up to London or Liverpool the day before the murder. Mrs. Penfield expects him back early next week, but it is impossible to be certain about his re- turn. The fact is, MT. Crewe, that he does some secret service work for the foreign office and naturally doesn't talk much about his movements. He is an excellent linpuist, I'm told-knows French and Rus sian and German, speaks these languages like native"
 "There is no hurry about seeing him." said Crewe "Ill loo khim up when he returns. In the meantime, will you write down his address for mel"
 Marsland, who was nearer the inspector, took the paper on which the police officer wrote Brett's address and, before handing it to Crewe, looked at it carefully.
 "And now, can you tell me anything about an old boatman who wears a scarlet
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