New Britain herald., 1924-01-04

think differently. l am sometimes persuaded that my chief usefulness in Jeremy Screed's eyes is that l may proclaim his cleverness to the world, and ii does nor trouble him tha' his methods have often placed me in coa- siderable danger. had helped him with several cases which did not seem to me worth recording. and then came the Marchmont Street affair.
 The telephone bell called me out of bed early-woke me up in fact-and when 1 had answered with sleepy hello" was requested by some un- known person to go to No. ! March mont Street to meet Mir. Screed, l wanted to argue and ask questions. but l was immediately rung off, There had been a very heavy thunder storm on the previous evening. indeed il had continued to circle round for some hours, but the morning was fine. Per- hap. it was as well I could not get a taxi. The walk did mo good and i'm proved my temper
 policeman opened the door, and I saw screed at the other end of the hall knew it was Screed because he well comed me; otherwise I should have passed him without recognition. Each i,i l. n a r I do not mean that he vas merely dis euised -- his profession necessitated that at tines-I mean that his actual personality seemed changed. But for his ierked-out remarks I should often have doubted whether 1t was Screed beside me. and am not sure now that I have ever seen the real man. Today he looked like the trusted butler Of an ancient family which had a skeleton in ts cupboard.
 Morning, Mr. Yates. You're before the doctor. First impressions always valuable. Come and sec
 His unemotional manner did not pre- mar. me in any way ss followed him 10 the dining room, and 1t says some thing for my steadiness of nerve that l did not cry out at what saw.
 \ man was stretched upon the table lyins on his stomach. his arms tucked und.r him in such manner that the chin rested on his hands. propping the head up a little, as if it were raised SO that the hleary eyes might stare al some horrible thing just beyond the elge of the table. lnstinctively one looked to see 1T there was anything there. The legs were pulled out straight behind him. the feet turned outward. He had apparently been stransled by a thin cord which had been twisted so tightly round his neck that if had cut the skin.
 "It must have taken a long time to aoa said after q pause, and the position must have some meaning
 House in charge Of caretaker and his wife, named Dawson" screed ex- piainsd. "Faniiy in country-Sir John Cornish, wife. son and daughter. Care- tsker made discovery on coming down this morning. Ran for police like frightened rabbit, and like frightened rabbi, ha, now gone for 9 doctor"
 Perhaps he won't come back an- svered.
 see your idea but he needn't have fetched the police in such hurry. An, th. bell. That's the doctor
 I caught a glimpse Of Dawson in the hall as the doctor came into the room. The sight of the dead man was evi- dentlv a shock 70 the doctor. who had 10 pull himself toge her before he could make an exs animation. He introduced himself az Dr Smith or castle Street.
 screed and watched him as he eS- smined the dead man. toHching him carefully. going rery slowly and methodicsllv apout his work His grave and clever 'ace inspired con- hdence. He vas the kind of man from whom one expects vsiua 3le advice. Had he given his address as Harley Street should not have been sur p-ised
 "ouick stranguIatiou." he said at last. He has been dead some hours. and shows no signs Of having struggled. He vas 2 hsalthy young man. muscles ,sirly developed. it is remarkable he made no struggle for life"
 Was he stunned frst-~ i asked The lack of sjl signs Of a struggle had sstonished me. had been on the roint of saving so 70 slereed phcu inc doctor arrived
 His appearance is asainzf that con cIuvson. said smith.
 Been the same in every ease said scresd.
 "what, Do you mean
 -Four cases in the last two years. doctor: one of them a woman"
 "IHst ike thisg Just this position s@
 -Exsctr
 T did not notice anything aB5at them in the paper"
 Nothing got into the papers. We were working on a theort @AS