The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18

Detective Gillett took up a position by the open window, and sniffed gratefully at the soft air.
 'Fine view here," he said, waving his hand in the direction of the cliff road and open bay. "Fine, bracin' air-sea-coun- try-birds all that sort of thing. You chaps in the country have all the best of 1.-the simple life, and no hustle or bustle."
 Seargeant Westaway looked darkly at the speaker as though he suspected him of a desire to rob him of the grievance he had brooded over in secret for twenty-five years.
 "It's dull enough" he said ungraciously.
 But the air, man, the air!" said the Lon- don detective, inhaling great gulps of oxygen as he spoke. "It's exhilirating it's glorious! Why, it should keep you going until you reach hundred"
 "Too salt," commented Sergeant Westa- way curtly.
 "The more salt in it the longer it will preserve you,'' said Gillett. "What a glor- ious day it is."
 .'The day is right enough,'' said Westa- way. But tomorrow it will be different"
 "Westaway doesn't like to be enthusias- tic about this locality for fear we will shift him somewhere else," said Inspector Payne. However, let us get to business I must be on my way back to Lewes in an hour"
 Sergeant Westaway coughed in order to clear his throat, and then began his nara tive in loud official voice:
 "At five minutes past nine last night gentleman named Marsland came to the po- 1ico ct I .,,n nff xl preparing report. He told me that he had found the dead body of man in this house."
 "Who is this Marsland?" asked Inspec- tor Payne. Docs he live in the district?n
 "He does not" replied the sergeant "He lives at Staveley. That is to say ,he lives in London, but he is staying at Staveley. He is staying there with his uncle, Sir George Granville"
 "I know Sir George" said the inspector "And so this young gentleman who dis covered the body is his nephew. How old is he?"
 About 28, I should say''
 What sort of young man is he? How did he impress you?"
 He impressed me as being an honest straightforward young gentleman. He gave me a very clear statement of who he was and how he came to call in at this farm last night. Nevertheless, I took the pre- caution of telephoning to Inspector Murchi- son at Staveley and asking him to have in- quiries made. The inspectors report con- cides with what Mr. Marsland told me. He has been in ill-heath and came down from London to Staveley for ride on the downs He got lost and was caught in the storm which came up shortly after dusk His horse went lame, and seeing this house he came here for shelter. he horse is in the stable now. There was no light in the house, and when he went to the front door to knock he found it open. He struck match and lit candle which was on the hallstand. He could see no one about Then he lit lamp in this room and sat down to wait until the storm was over. He was sitting here for some time listening to the rain when sud denly he heard crash above. He look the lamp and made his way upstairs. In sitting-room on the first floor he found the dead body of man in an armchair, At first he thought the man had died natural death, but on inspecting the body he found tHae tHe Hah ndu been Snot through the body. As the storm was abating, MT. Mars land made his way down to Ashlingsea and reported his discovery to me-
 "And what did you do?" asked Inspector Payne in an authoritative voice.
 q closed the station and in company with MT. Marsland knocked up Police Consta- ble Heather. Then the three of us came here. l found the body as Mir. Marsland