The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-25

new nome, out Wnll0 not particularly
angry with me, his reply spoke slight
ingly Of my dear husband.
"a week ago I was walking out of
the postoffice, when who should sud-
denly stop in front of me on motor
bicycle but Uncle Robert. I waited
only to see him dismount and set
his machine on rest before the post
office. Then I approached him. He
was lodging at Paignton, down on
Torbay, for the summer months, and
he limited that he was engaged to be
married.
He had been to see an old war
comrade at Two Bridges, two miles
from here, and meant to lunch at
the Duchy Hotel and then proceed to
Plymouth; but prevailed upon him
at last to come and share our midday
meal, and I was able to tell him things
about Michael which promised to
change his unfriendly attitude. When
my husband returned from the bunga-
law I brought them together again.
Michael was on his defense instantly;
but he never harbored a grievance
very long and when he saw that Uncle
Bob was, not unfriendly and very in
terested to hear he had won the o.
B. E. for his valuable services at the
depot, Michael showed a ready incli-
nation to forget and forgive the past.
st think that was almost the hap
piest day of my life and, with my
anxiety much modified, was able to
study Uncle Robert a little. He
seemed unchanged, save that he
talked louder and was more excitable
than ever. The war had given him
wide, new interests; he was a cap
tain and intended, if he could. to stop
IN the Army. He had escaped mar
velously on many fields and seen much
service. During the last few weeks
before the armistice, ne succumbed to
gassing and was invaded; though, be-
fore that, he had also been out OF &C.
ton from shell shock for two months.
HE talked for hours about the
war and what he had done to win his
honors; and we noticed particularly a
feature of his conversation. His mem
DRY failed him sometimes
Michael explained to me afterward
that this defect was a serious thing
and probably indicated some brain
trouble which might get worse. I
begged Uncle Robert to stop with us
for a few days instead Of going to
Plymouth We walked out over the
moor in the evening to see the bun
galow and my uncle was very interest
ed.
He stopped on and liked to lend a
hand with the building sometimes
after the builders had gone. He and
Michael often spent hours of these
long evenings there together; and /
would take out tea to them.
Uncle Robert had told us about
his engagement to a young woman,
the sister Of comrade in the war.
She was stopping at Paignton with
her parents and he was now going
to return to her. He made us prom
Use to come to Paignton next August
for the Torbay Regatta; and in secret
I begged him to write to both uncles
and explain that he was now satisfied
Michael had done his bit in the war.
Last night Uncle Robert and Mich
ael went, after an early tea, to the
bungalow, but 1 did not accompany
them on this occasion. They ran
round by road on Uncle Roberts mo-
tor BICYCLE, my husband sitting be-
hind him, as he always did.
Supper time came and neither Of
them appeared. I am speaking of
last night now. did not bother till
midnight, but then I grew frightened.
I went to the police station, saw In
spector Halfyard, and told him that
my husband and uncle had not come
back from Foggintor and that I was
anxious about them"
Mrs. Pendean stopped and Bren-
don rose.
She shook his hand and fleeing
ghost of a smile, infinitely pathetic
but unconscious, touched her face.
At the policeN station car was
waiting for Mark and in twenty min
utes he had reached Foggintor.
Inspector Halfyard rose as Bren-
don appeared, came forward, and
shook hands.
Have you searched the quarries?"
"Come out to the bungalow and I'll
tell you what there is to tell. There
been murder all right, but we're
more likely to find the murderer than
! his victim"
They went out together and soon
stood in the building.
Now let's have the story from
where you come in" said Brendon,
and Inspector Halfyard told his tale.
Somewhere about quarter after
midnight I was knocked up. Down
I came and Constable Ford, on duty
at the time, told me that Mrs. Pen
dean was wishful to see me.
eHer husband and her uncle. Cap
tain Redmayne, had gone to the bun
galow, as they often did after work
| ing hours, to carry on a bit; but at
midnight they hadn't come home, and
she was put about for EN-. Hearing
| Of the motor bike, I thought there
might have been a breakdown, II not
an accident, so I told Ford to knock
up another chap and go down along
the road. Which they did do-and
Ford came back at half after three
with ugly news that they'd seen no.
body, but they'd found great pool
of blood inside the bungalov-as If
somebody had been sticking a pig
there. Twas daylight by then and
1 motored out instanter.
| ct looked round very carefully for
anything in the nature Of a clew, but
7 couldn't see SO much as a button.
The quarrymen don't work here be-
cause this place hasn't been open for
more than a hundred years; but they