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

Sergeant Westaway was taken back at such question. It was such an outrageou. attempt to penetrate the veil of official se crecy that he could refrain from rebuking her only by excusing it on the ground of her youth and inexperience.
 "At present I can say nothing" was his reply.
 She turned aside from his official maneuvering and took up her own story:
 "What came to tell you IS that l was at Cliff Farm on the night that poor MT. Lumsden was shot,"
 'eYou were there when he was shot?" eX- claimed the sergeant.
 "No; he was dead when I got there"
 "Did you hear the shot?"
 "No."
 "But you saw someone?"
 q saw MT. Marsland."
 "Ah! The commonplace tone in which the word was uttered indicated that the sergeant was deeply disappointed with her story. "We know all about his visit there. He came and told us-it was through him that we discovered the body. He has been straightforwardness itself; he has told us everything.'
 "Did he tell you I was there?"
 "No; he has not mentioned your name. Perhaps he didn't see you."
 "We were in the house together, and I was with him when he went upstairs and discovered the body"
 "He has said nothing about this," said the sergeant impressively. "His conduct E.. Il-
 q am afraid I am to blame for that" she said. "As he walked home with me from the farm on his to the police station I asked him if he would mind saying nothing about my presence at the house. I told him that was anxious to avoid all the worry and un- pleasantness I should have to put up with if it was publicly known-that I had been there. He readily agreed not to mention my name I thought at the time that it was very kind of him, but in thinking it all over since I am convinced that did wrong. have come to the conclusion that it was very extraordinary thing for him to agree to as he did, not knowing me-we had never met before. l felt that the right thing to do was to come to you and tell you all I know so that you can compare it with what MT. Marsand has told you. In that way you will be able to make fuller inquiries, and to acquit him of any sinister motive in his kind offer to me to keep my name out of it. :"
 The sergeant nodded his head slowly There was much to take in, and he was not rapid thinker.
 "Any sinister motive?" he repeated after long pause.
 "Of course, don't wish to cast any sus- picions on MT. Marsland," she said, looking at the police officer steadily. But it has already occurred to you, sergeant, that MT. Marsland, in kindly keeping my name out of it, had to~depart from the truth in the story he told you about his presence at Cliff Farm, and that he may have thought it ad- visable to depart from the truth in some other particulars as well.''
 The sergeant's mental process would not have carried him that far without assistance, but there was no conscious indication of as- sistance in the emphasis with which he said:
 "I see that"
 "Let me tell you exactly what happened so far as am concerned" she went on.
 "Yes, certainly" He sat down in his chair and vaguely seized his pen. "I'l write it down, Miss Maynard, and get you to sign it. Don't go too fast for me; and it will be better for you if you take time-you will be able to think it over as you go along. This promises to be most important. Detective Gillett of Scotland Yard will be anxious to see it. I am sorry he's not here now he has Been recalled to London, but expect him down again tomorrow"
 "On Friday, the night of the storm, 1oF{ vo,, LanCo about I,,CL-fha% ,u<u,1N ha