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

"No,'' he said "You go on ahead and I'll follow.''
 Tom accepted this plan and walked up the village street to the police station, with the detective about 40 yards behind Con- stable Heather was in charge of the sta- tion, and when he saw Tom he greeted him affably. When Heather was made to realize by Toms awkwardness that Detec- tive Gillett was responsible for his visit he wl.stled in a significant manner.
 When Gillett entered the building Tom rolled up the sleeve of his left arm and displayed bandage round the upper part.
 "Do you want to see this?" he asked doggedly.
 q do," replied the detective with keen interest. He was anxious as to the nature of the wound but he was too cautious to display curiosity which would reveal his ignorance. He assisted at unwinding the bandage.
 "Be careful said Tom, wincing as the detectives hand touched his arm. "The bullet is in it''
 "Is it?" said Gillett.
 When the bandage was off he examined the wound carefully. It was bullet wound through the fleshy upper part of the arm, dangerously inflamed and swollen from dirt and neglect.
 "You had better get this attended to-" said Gillett. "There is risk of blood pois- oning and the bullet must be removed You'll be more comfortable without that bullet, and I want it..
 "I had nothing to do with him." said Tom He spoke in loud, excited voice. It was evident that he was feeling the strain of being under suspicion.
 "But you were at Cliff Farm the night Frank Lumsden was murdered?" said Gil lett, eyeing him closely as he put the ques- tion.
 Young Tom nodded surly admission but did not speak.
 What were you doing there? How did you get this?" Detective Gillett pointed to the wound. "Take my advice and make a clean breast of it. I'll give you five min- utes to make up your mind" Gillett picked up a pair of handcuffs from the office table as he spoke and jingled them togeth- CT nochalantly.
  glanced at the handcuffs, and from them his eyes wandered to Police Constable Heather, as though seeking his counsel to help Linn out of the awkward position in which he found himself But Police Consta- ble Heather's chubby face was set in inn placable lines, in which young Tom could recognize no trace of the old acquaintance who for years past had made one of the friendly evening circle in the taprooM of the Black-Horned Sheep. Young Tom turned his gaze to the floor, and after re- maining in silent cogitation for some mo- ments spoke:
 'I was in the garden. It was before the storm came on. don't know who killed Frank Lumsden. didn't see either of them. They were in the house before l got there. 1 saw light in room upstairs. Then a gun something O. the kind was fired and I felt that I was hit. I got up and ran"
 Do you mean that some one fired at you from the house?"
 That's what I mean.'
 whereabouts were you?"
 "Just near the cherry tree at the side of the house,
 Did you see who fired it at you?"
 "No."
 "Didnt any one call out and ask you what you were doing there?"
 "No."
 "He just fired-whoever it was?'
 "I heard the gun go off and then I felt pain in my arm. I touched it and saw it was bleeding. Then I ran and that is all I know"