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

you my idea of how this murder was com- mitted. Marsland thought Frank had been killed by the Germans. After riding across the downs beyond Staveley he met Frank, who was walking along the road to meet me. He stopped Frank and pretended to be very friendly to him. They talked over old times at the front, Marsand being anxi- ous to know how Collingwood had died and whether Collingwood had any idea that he had been sent to his death. As there was no sign of my car, Frank turned back with Marsland to the farm. While they were in the house Frank let slip the fact that Collingwood had confided in him be- fore he died. Perhaps Marsland became aware of it through an effort on Franks part to get from hims the name of the girl to whom Collingwood had been prac- tically engaged.
 No doubt there were ai-gry words be- tween them; and Marsland, in order to save himself from being exposed by Frank to the regimental authorities, and to the girl, shot him dead. That would be a few minutes before you reached the farm. When you reached the house Marsland had gone out side to remove traces of the crime-per- haps to burn something or to wash blood stains from his hands or clothing at the pump. He left the key in the door so that he could enter the house again. When he found the key gone he was confused; he was not certain whether he had placed the key in the lock. He did not believe that any one had entered the house, but to make sure on that point he knocked. He was sur prised when you opened the door, but he played his part so well that you did not suspect he had been in the house before. As you"ha not discovered the body, he thought it best that you and he should discover it together. That would be less suspicious, as far as he was concerned, than for you to go away without discovering it. Had you betrayed any suspicion that you thought he was the murderer he would have shot you, too, and then made off"
 "But his horse was there,'' she said. "It was quite lame, He could not have ridden away on it and to leave it behind was to leave the police a convincing clue that he Sad been to Cliff Farm"
 "I was forgetting about his horse,' said Brett. "It was the fact that his horse was there which made him knock after he saw eAc hey Hdu DecH IdheH rum lUe OOOT. ne had to brazen it out"
 ''The police have no suspicion of him, so far as can ascertain,' said the girl.
 "We must direct their attenton to him."
 Will you come back to Staveley and tell was the reply.
 Inspector Murchison?"
 "No, that would be injudicious. My in- stinct was right in telling me to get out of sight when l saw Franks dead body It was after you left the house with Mars land that l got there. The door was open as l said-Marsland left it open purposely, and told you lie about closing it. l went upstairs, as l couldn't see Frank about be- low, and when l saw him dead l felt inn mediately that his murder was but the con- tinuation of some black deed in France. I knew instinctively that if didn't disappear l should be the next victim. And so I should be if Marsland knew how much I know about him. The man is cold -blooded vil- lain, who thinks nothing of taking human life. If I went back to Staveley and ac- cused him, he would take steps to put me out of the way. We must get him arrest ed for the murder, and when he is under lock and key I'll come back to Staveley and tell the police all know about him.
 But how can we get the police to arrest him unless you first tell them all you know?" she asked.
 'We must find a way,' he said thought fully.
 CHAPTER 13
 Crewe engaged room in Whitethorn Gardens in order to watch Mrs. Penfield's