Evening star., 1923-12-15
CHAPTER ".
The Constant ShadOw.

The Constant shadow
You here still. Geoff?" DR.. Hood
emerged from the library to encoun-
ter the stonemason descending the
| stairs with trowel, which he
promptly stuck in his pocket "what
on earth were you doing up there
with that thing?"
Soundin' the railin' put up round
the gallery for flaws You told me
70 stay, Doc, and Mis- Cayley said I
VA asll 10 work on the terrace. and
me olstrlct attorneys feller give or
GERS that nobody was to leave the
mousse Geoff's tone was as matter
ot-fact as ever. "Reckoned I'd put
In my time someways."
n M the doctor observed. $50
you've met the detective from the
county seat. You're pretty sharp
Yourself, Geoff; what do you think of
Seems to me I had the wrong idea
O. detectives" Geoff shook his head.
Kinder thought they went round
quiet and found out what they could
without BLOWN no horn to advertise
VINO they was and what they was here
Tor Shouldn't be s'prised If he made
himself real busy for a day or two.
but l hope he lets my concrete mixer
and tools alone. What's he doin'
now?"
Outside examining all the doors
ana windows to see if any of them
were forced during the night" There
was amused contempt In the doctors
tone. He don't take any stock in
the fact that the terrace doors were
wide omen within a dozen feet of
where the body was found,
Still somebody would have had to
walk across the loose sand on the
floor from the doors O. the terrace to
the bench. and, from all 1 heard tell.
Mr.. Bernhard set facin' EN-" Geoff
spoke meditatively as If to himself
and his companion watched him with
Shrewd. attentive light in his eyes
How'd he git hit on the back O. the
head? Then. unless the feller that
cid it smothered out his tracks as he
left-and the smoothin' out would
show same as footprints-how'd he
go?"
That argument would hold good
If he came from any other direction
of the court. and he certainly didn't
hy." Dr.. Hood retorted. You gave
me some good ideas that helped n lot
when Jim Hicks was found dead in
the swamp, and again when old Mrs.
Beckley was murdered in her ba m.
and l always thought YOU had the
makings of a detective yourself
GecH, for all you're slow-thinkine.
Come on out front a minute: I want
to tell YOU theory OF mine about
this case and see how il strikes you"
trance doors and down the st"Ds to
the driveway. where they halted and
looked about them; but no one was in
sight
I'd like to hear it, Doc. This is one
o the doggonedest things l ever see"
responded Geoff. IT amt heard no
weepin' and wailin' about it, either,
not from anybody"
The doctor darted another quick
glance at him.
"SOnatiuaS folks think mana of
your life insurance and your will
than they do of Your company" he
commented dryly. That's how I size
this situation up so far, and the men
that fight their way through to sue
cess are bound to leave a few sears
and bruises behind them. Now, sup
pose Bernhard was sitting there smok-
ing on that bench last night and some
one he knew well. or perhaps even
expected. came through the terrace
doors and joined him. Suppose they
had heavy hammer or short iron
bar or some other weapon hidden un-
der their coat, waiting for a chance
to brain him with it: suppose they
dropped something on purpose behind
the bench and got up and went
around 70 get it and he. not suspect
ing ANYTHING. didn't turn his head.
but maybe even dropped it forward a
little on his chest, as though he were
thinking. If the blow was struck
then and the murderer went out
through the terrace doors, leaving
them wide open behind him. There's
sidera ton. that would have, helped
him by viDing out his footprints on
that sanded floor. Geoff. and it could
only have done it in that one place in
all the court; the night breeze"
DR.. Hood paused with ar uncon-
sciously dramatic effect. but his COM
panion's expression did not change.
He stared straight before him in
stolid reflection, and his thumbs
sought the straps of his overalls and
crooked there.
We'll, Doc" he vouchsafed at last.
81 don't aim to put forward my opin-
ion, but since you're askin' me for it,
the wind last night was from the
south. not the north that those ter
race doors open out on: and if it had
a-been north how could it have got
under and behind that bench to blow
away the footprints there, too if the
feller walked around it? Then why
would it wipe out his footprints and
leave Benkard's there in front of the
bench. where we both seen 'em as
plain as day? The rest Of it seems a
likely enough idea"
ITS the only one!' the doctor in
terrupted, nettled in spite Of his ha-
bitual good nature by the unenthu-
siastic reception of his theory. NO
matter which way the wind was from
little scurry of breeze was likely
to swirl in at the open door and just
by chance scatter the sand and
one spot. leaving space a few inches
away undisturbed. It's the only ex-
olanation for there being none visible
this morning, and the murderer may
bench; that's a mere detail. tell you,
Geoff, you'll find that I've hit it be-
fore this case is f1nished.'
Il amt got no idees about it a-tall,"
admitted Geoff: Reckon you're right
Seems to me, though. that no matter
how rich and successful I'd be, I'd
want somethin'. even a dog, to grieve
Wnen my time come to be took!
VINO DO you s'pose is a-comin' in
since the town hall burned over to
A dilapidated small car came at q
wild pace up the driveway, swinging
tators hoped nimbly out of it's wav
as 1t drew up before the steps with a
clatter
Hello, Doe" the youthful driver
cried eagerly. ''How's things? ANY
But DR.. Hood was present on off,
cial business, and he merely nodded
to his fnterrogator and stepped for
ward to intercept the single passen-
ger who alighted. Geoff retreated to
I'm the medical examiner in
charge. What's your business here,
sir?'
The newcomer was a frail, slender.
stoop- shouldered man who seemed
prematurely aged. He hesitated, be-
wildered, and the face he turned to
the doctor showed deep, furrowed
lines while he blinked nearsightedly
in the sunlight.
Il am William Dunn, Mr.. Benkard's
private secretary. Mrs. Cayley sent
for me-" His voice was low and
tremulous and 1t was obvious that
la< Lob i..