The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-01

Dy turning her mead ana crying Tn Snrlli, cracked voice:
 "Harry, lad, come here and see to the gentleman"
 A man approached from the back in reply to the call He was short and stout and his perspiring face and bare arms showed that he had been hard at work He looked at Crewe, made a movement of his knuckles toward his forehead, and waited for him to speak.
 "I am trying to get in touch with a friend of mine, who I believe motored along this road on Friday last" said Crewe. It was on Friday night that we had the big storm. He must have driven along here on Friday afternoon; he was driving a big gray car. Did you see him?"
 Friday afternoon?" the man repeated. "Tm just trying to get my bearings bit. Yes, Friday was the night we had the storm, and Friday was the day seen this gentleman I'm thinking of."
 'In a gray car,' suggested Crewe.
 'In gray car, as you say, sir. There ain't so many cars pass along this road this time of year.
 "Then you saw a gray car go past in
  ernoon?" said Crewe. He put hand in his trousers pocket and jingled the silver there.
 q did," exclaimed the other, with the positiveness of man who had awakened to the fact that he possessed valuable in- formation for which he was to be paid q was standing here at this very door after selling two bushels of apples to MT. Hope, end was just thinking about going to dig some taters, when I happened to hear motor car coming along. It was the gray car, sure enough, sir. No doubt about that.''
 And was there any with my friend or was he alone in the car?"
 This was a puzzlng question, because it contained no indication of the answer wanted.
 q cant say I noticed anybody at the time, cos 1 was thinking more about my taters-it's a bit late to be getting up taters, as you know, sir. I'd let 'em over late through having so much matching to do, there being so few about as can thatch now that the war is on, and not many at the best O times-thatching being a job as takes time to learn. My father he was best thatcher they ever did have hereabouts, and it was him taught me-"
 And there was no one but my friend in the car?'
 "I couldn't say that 1 did see any one, my mind being more on taters, but, mind you, sir, there might have been. Your friend he went past so quickly didn't right ly see into the car-not from here. It aint reasonable to expect it, is it, sir?"
 "No, of course not" said Crewe. "I'm very much obliged to you." He produced half crown and handed it to the man.
 "Thank you, sir" The unexpected amount of his reward had stimulating ef- feet. "I'll tell you strange thing about your friend, sir, now that Pve had time to think about it. l hadn't dug moren row. or perhaps row and half of my taters, when seen him coming back again"
 Coming back again?" exclaimed Crewe. "Surely not"
 "Yet, sir the same gray car"
 "Driving back in the direction of Slave ley?"
 Driving back along the road he'd come"
 And this would be less than an hour after you saw him pass the first time?"
 Not more'n haf-hour. reckon it don't take me full 20 minutes to dig row O taters."
 But the gray car I mean didn't go back past here to Staveley," said Crewe. "It was wrecked on Friday night about four miles from here in the direction of Ash lingsea."
 That's right exclaimed the man, with childish delight. Didn't I see it go past here noon Saturday-another car drawing