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


 Beverley in order to interview young Tom. The house, an old stone building, stood in the midst of it's grounds-well away from the sea-on a gentle eminence which com- manded an extensive view of the rolling downs for many miles around, but the old stone building was sheltered from the fury of channel gales by plantation of elm trees.
 The detective found his man digging in the kitchen garden and preparing the ground for the spring sowing. Young Tom was a thickset man of middle age with a large round face that he had inherited from his father. He was a man of slow thought, slow actions, and hard to move once he had made up his mind, According to Gillett's standards, his appearance scarce ly justified the parental description of him as clever lad.
 The detective was not an expert in gar dening, his life having been spent in con- gested areas of London, where the luxury of plot of ground is unknown, but some thing in young Toms methods of digging attracted his attention. It was obvious that young Tom was not putting much energy into the operation. The fact that his shirt sleeves were not rolled up, but were buttoned at the wrist, seemed to bear out this opinion. With his heavy boot young Tom pressed down the spade vigor- ously, bu: he brought up only thin spade full of earth each time. Then with his spade in his right hand he twisted the blade among the earth so as to break it up.
 Detective Gillett brought the converse tion round from the weather and vegetable growing to his recent visit to young Toms father He spoke of the legacy and ex- pressed regret that old Tom, who, if he had his rights, would be able to pay for proper care and nourishment, should have had to go to the infirmary. But, according to Detective Gillett, even diversity had it's uses. The fact that old Tom was virtually bed-ridden when the murder was commit ted prevented the idle gossip offthe town from trying to connect him with the tragedy.
 The detective had not expected to find in young Tom fluent conversationalist, but after few moments he came to the conclusion that he was a more than ordi- narily hesitating one, even according to the slow standard of Ashlingsea. Apparent ly young Tom did not want to discuss the murder. Detective Gillett kept the con- versation on that subject and soon ar rived at the conclusion that young Tom was uneasy It came to him suddenly that what was wrong with the mans method of dig ging was that to all practical purpose he was using only one arm. Young Tom was careful not to put any wait on his left arm.
 "What is wrong with your arm?" ex- claimed the detective in an imperative tone.
 Tom stopped digging and looked at him.
 Nothing" he replied in a surly tone.
 ''Let me have look,' said the detective, stepping toward him.
 No, won't" answered young Tom, step- ping back slowly.
 Gillet looked him over from head to foot as if measuring him. His eyes rested on the mans boots and then turned to an impression made on the soft earth by one of the boots.
 'I want you to come along to the police station with me-" he said suddenly.
 What for?" asked Tom in a tone of de- fiance.
 Gillett looked himself over again as if to assure himself that he had made no mis- take in his first measurements.
 ''Ill tell you when you get there," was the reply.
 Il had nothing to do with it, said Tom.
 It was plain to Gillett that the man was undergoing mental strain.
 "With what?'' asked the detective.
 With what you want to ask me about"
 For clever lad young Tom seemed to ho hnch of