Evening star., 1924-03-11
The Mystery of Lynne Court
BY J. s. FLETCHER
Copyright. 1928, by Norman Remington Cempany.)

Of the gardeners waved to US across
the lawn, from the edge of the spin
ney. We could see he was in a state
waved his arm he started running to
US and we went out to meet him.
He's man who lives in one Of the
cottages at the edge of the park, just
outside the village here, and he comes
morning. We could see that some
thing had given him a turn. and he
blurted it all out as he came up.
the spinney yonde1H hs sins SAYS seao It's
Mr.. Kesteven. And there's blood on
his face" So then Mountain and l
hurried off with him and he took us
straight to the spot-a bit of a clear
even was lying at the side of it, and
he was dead sure enough, and cold
and stiff. We saw at once how he'd
been killed-shot through the temple.
And SO we took proper precautions"
"Of what nature" asked Smith.
Mountain sent the gardener for
the police and the doctor from the
village; and he stopped by the body
Mr.. Tress and Mr.. Tickell," answered
Fowler. LAS / knew Mr.. Tress would
be a bit heavy at that time of the
rst And mens Se WASN'T so nr there ekss room
The police inspector, who had fol-
lowed Fowler's narrative with ap-
proving interest, coughed, shook his
head and smiled. 1t was evident that
he had drawn his own conclusions
from the fact just mentioned by the
valet.
"He wasn't there" repeated Fowler,
"and his bed hadn't been slept in.
couldn't help noticing it-he'd washed
on A
Washed. Shaved" exclaimed
.;<rI
Might, or early morning, sir. when
ever il was" answered Fowler. He'd
only brought small suitcase with
him, had Mr.. Tickell, and IT was lying
things were on the dressing table,
and he hadn't even bothered to clean
the razor. I saw all that in a glance,
as you might say, sir and l shut the
II hope nobody has interfered with
it since?" said Smith.
The police inspector held up a key.
They haven't. SIR he observed SOL
emnly. I've seen to that. It's un-
touched since the time Mr.. Fowler
saw it,
Go on, Fowler" commanded Smith
What did you do next?"
II reused the footmen, sir, and we
went back to the spinney; I'd decided
for a bit. Nurse Palliser came out
of Miss Tress' rooms as 1 was pass
ing, and / told her what had occurred.
She went to the spinney with US. OF
didn't touch the body nor do any
thing until the doctor and the police
came. When they came, bit later.
they hey,9ok took charge: And And l dare say.
his companion. the inspector can tell
you the rest better than I can"
The listeners turned silently to the
inspector, and the inspectors de-
Tll hara mo fy,ov Mt
I've no objection to telling what's
already common property, gentle
men," he observed. But. of course,
can't at this stage say what the
pressions are, though l don't mind
indicating them. We found the body
at the place and in the position de-
scribed by Mr.. Fowler there, and the
doctor said he judged the man had
thought it was ease of suicide, but
We soon saw that it wasn't, because
there was no weapon at hand. A
of the revolver. and this man had
been killed instantane6usly. We had
the body removed and / had the clear
ing roped off and left man in charge
of it. Then the doctor and I exam
ined the body. He can tell you what
he found and I can tell you what i
found. 1 found nothing! Not a sign
kerchief and a pair Of nail scissors"
"Well?" remarked Smith calmly.
What next?"
The inspector seemed grieved that
| his dramatic announcement had pro-
duced no effect.
We'll, there was nothing exactly
next, as regards the body" he replied,
a little grudgingly. The next thing
was that one of the footmen came to
tell me that a bicycle belonging to
fMr. Tress had disappeared during the
night And. of course, I saw then
how things were. Naturally, And as
a result we've raised a hue and cry
after this Mr.. TickelL We ought to
be on to him by night"
"Ah," said Smith, rising from his
chair. You think Tickell is the mur-
derer?"
II do" answered the inspector. dog
gedly. I'VE shall swing him!"
Smith nodded quietly. Then he
signed to Hextall and Styler to follow
him from the room.