Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-03
81 J.JEFFERsoN FARJEoN

vanced. and peered down. His ex-
preston. which had previously been
rather cynically buoyant. became in
stantly grave.
That's bad" he said.
Very" agreed Rupert. We were
wondering how he got there
ION the fact Of IT," answered the
old man. he appears TO have drunk
himself to death. ! suppose. by the
way. he Is dead7"
His head Is under water. I've ex-
| amnied him. Yes-he's dead
But. of course" went on Brill, 1T
might be-foul play"
Rupert glanced at Joscelyn. who
| stood calmly silent. hiding whatever
she may have been feeling. Then
he turned again to the old man.
What makes you suggest that?"
he demanded.
II don't know that I suggest it,
responded Brill, with a slight shrug
Of his shoulders. Say. rather. that
] mention IL. Tell me TO think Of q
number. and / say ven ! don't
| suggest seven. I mention seven.
There are plenty of other numbers"
Then I'll put 1t another way"
said Rupert. do you believe it's
foul play?"
do I believe 1t Is foul play? HIM.
I am asked TO make up my mind
rather quickly. I come upon a body
in a ditch. and In the first two min
utes I am supposed to have formed
an opinion" He stared down at the
lifeless form. II believe the poor
fellow is dead. And it certainly may
have been foul play"
We'll. I have been here more than
two minutes. Mr.. Brill. and ! believe
IL to be foul play"
Indeed? You have some reason,
| perhaps?"
Rupert hesitated. and It was JOS
celyn who answered.
The water is discolored,' she
said. quietly.
"Yes. So I note" nodded BrU.
But he may have hit his head
against something In falling"
Its a soft bank. There are no
| stones, or tree stumps.' she pointed
| out, and Simon Brill smiled.
you are an exceedingly obServant
| young lady, he remarked. Exceed
| ingly cbservant. Well, since we all
seem to be intelligent people here
and since, Of course, what we think
or say is of no real Importance be-
fore the police take the matter up
they will have to be notified. OF
! course-I will tell you what I think.
Yes. in this short space OF time. ]
| certainly think 1t Is a case Of foul
| play. Murder Is an unpleasant word.
but / fear that IL will have to be
used In this case"
go you formed your opinion In
| those two minutes, after all" said
Rupert. striving to keep his dislike
Of the old man out Of his tone. rs
that just your quick judgment-or
due to some other cause?"
"A shrewd question. my friend"
answered Brill. a shrewd question.
/ hope my Judgment Is quick. but
yes, there is some other cause FOR my
opinion"
Can we know it?"
"You are going to know i'll" His
voice was suddenly acid. The rea-
son Is that. I am not at all satisfied
with matters in this neighborhood.
/ am not in the least satisfied. And
II we all get murdered here some
day. IL will hardly surprise me-"
whats wrong with the neighbor-
hood?" incurred Rupert, as casually
as he could.
Everything" retorted Brill.
Healthy young men ~pottering about
enervating villages. and having bi-
cycle accidents"
"Eh?" ierked Charlie. SUDDENLY re-
Numbering that he was q live per-
son. and not a block Of wood
And pretty girls wasting their
summer days away from tennis
courts and rivers and fashionable
parades." he went on.
"Are those insinuations, Mr..
Brill7" exclaimed Rupert, frowning.
mo. They are observations. OF
no Importance. IL you think them OF
no Importance. But. I confess. fool
Ssh young people are not my greatest
concern. / do not insinuate that any
foolish Young person murdered that