New Britain herald., 1925-07-14
Me REID GRMDEE9 U[$GRW%
 uEzA HEADON HILL IEaI 9

from London?" he asked cheerily.
 "Ycs, sir, and gone out again." was the reply. He said wasn't 10 sit up for him, so l gave him a key"
 Did he seem happy. landlord ?"
 Not much. He was a bit short with me-"
 On the next morning something occurred which carried Klynes thoughts far from Cheyerel, some- thing destined to carry his body elsewhere as well. When he en- tered the inn colfee-room for breakfast the Daily Planet was laid by his plate, and at another table the now aloof Roake was scowing over another copy of the same journal. The two men did not even nod to each other.
 klyne propped his newspaper against q cruet frame and, as soon as he was served, began 10 scan the contents. The Daily Planet had a keen nose for topical sensation. and a glaring headline caught the read CTS eye:
 MORE "RED RAIN"
 IN SUFFOLK THIS TIME
 The paragraph underneath stated that on visiting his rain gauge at the usual hour on the previous day, Mir, Slas Stampage of RuXton, Suf- folk, had found the gauge half full of red fluid which, on analysis after inquiries duly instituted, proved 10 be human blood,
 CHAPTER XIV
 So late in the afternoon of that day he descended from a crawling train at a tiny branch station reek- ing with the tang Of adjacent salt marshes. It was raining heavily.
 The only railway servant on inc platform was an ancient man who doubled the parts of station master and porter.
 "Phew." klyne addressed this worthy as he handed over his ticket, "there'll be something be- sides blood for Mr. Stampagc's rain gauge 10 register tomorrow morn ing"
 "lou be another Lunnon news paper chap?" queried the old man. "Thcrc's been lot of 'cm down here today"
 "Where are they stopping?" ask ed Klyne. "Is there an inn?'
 Nary an inn, nor yet pub" was the reply. "They've most of 'rm gone to BeccIes for the night, and the rest Of 'em will go by the last train."
 "Then that's what must do," said klyne, leaving it 10 be inferred that the station masters diagnosis of his professional calling was cor rect. He took a few steps and turned back.
 "Can you tell me where Mir, Stampage lives and how far?'' he asked .
 Big house on the edge Of t., marsh. matter of half a mile straight up the road" was the in formation rendered.
 klyne stepped out briskly. thank full that he had brought a water proof coat. The driving rain ob- acurcd all but nearby objects, and though for over a minute he had heard footsteps approaching it was only when the wayfarer was pass jug that klyne recognized him as a journalistic acquaintance. He Cul- tivated the best of relations with the press.
 "Why KnoWlcs!" he exclaimed. "You are working this red rain stunt suppose. thought recog- nizcd your roman fist in that news item in the Planet this morning."
 The other pedestrian expressed joy in a sound like gurgle ending in a grunt He was hawk nosed cadaverous fellow of indeterminate age Where the crime specialist moved on the earth there was gen orally copy" to be garnered, Hence his joy at the meeting, "Ycs, Mir. klyne, it's lit.s old Ted Knowles all right" he made answer. And l am real glad to meet you. as ii shows you're on the l.athrop end of the case. That's all to the good. but I am mostly glad because l can save you heap of trouble in this bcastly weather in this beastly place. It isn't bit Of good you're going on. Mir. Stampago is a human clam or oyster. Tight shut He ordered me off just now, and threatened me with shotgun if didn't clear
 klyne did not seem impressed. "1f Stampage is that sort of person. he said. "how did you get that paragraph for this mornings pa per-"
 Prom the rustics, and eventually from the poice.'
 i "How do the police account fol it?"
 By the line of the least resist ance, as they always do. They thinl that the thing is the work of some local practical joker who took hi cue from the two cases that hav' already occurred, They are working on that theory, trying to discove the person who furnished the blood do not share their opinion. l strikes me that all three instances including the last one, have som common origin and are part an parcel of the same affair"
 "Youve got more sense than tn police" said Klyne. There's yer little joking 10 1t, Knowles, an there's only one murder - Si Francis Lathrop's. Int two late cases were mere camOut1age { cover the first. Well, l am gratetr 10 you for your warning, but ar going to scrap 1t, old man. sha go on and beard the re1nubtabl
 Stampage In his den. by the wa! have you picked up any informa ton about him ?"
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