New Britain herald., 1929-09-07
CHAPTER II THE GHOST OF pEII.

pie He had arrived in the morn ing, walking from Brimpton, whcr" his ear had broken down, and Fotherbury was out. He had walked straight to the site Of the ! excavations and had a look around. Then he had gone to Brin pton, had lunch there, driven back the car. now repaired, left it at the Lord Nelson and come on to the abbey It was a little late when he arrived. There seemed to be nobody at the diggings, so he called at the house He saw no servant in the hall, but thought he heard | footsteps in a stone corridor, walking along it and was passing an opening in the wall when he struck his head against something and struck it so hard that he was stunned.
 Wayne picced this together with 1 other facts. The blow which ! struck LaXton was q punch on the point of the chin. The footsteps were those Of the footman and my self going to the library. His as sailant must have pulled the unCon- scious Laxton immediately into the l passage. and both must have hidden there when the footman returned after showing me the way.
 After this the man lurking in the dark had watched three people pass the entrance; Seabroke, Pell and -lr. Fotherbury.
 Within the next few minutes he must have gone to the library door and removed the key, A view of a small section of the library could be got through the keyhole. How or why he fired through it could not be guessed. But when the leap to the door took place and the unbolting began, the gun went off, and it went off at the precise in stant when Pell's head passed down as he stopped to the lower bolt. Wayne spent long time examin- | ing the keyhole through glasses. But he had to give up any hope of establishing the shot through it by inches thick; the huge iron lock another two inches. The hole 1 pierced in the wood on the inside was rough and shapeless. A dozen ] shots might be fired in it without l leaving any sign. Wayne did fire a blank through, and the keyhole | showed no sign of it.
 If the murderer was Pelrs ghost he might have shot Pcll ] by accident in the attempt to shoot somebody else. If no Pell's ghost well, Wayne had now handed he thing over to the Scotland Yard. l The hue and cry began for The | keyholc Murderer"
 The most curious thing in the | case for me was the success with | which two prevaricators got away | with it; Laxton, whose yarn about | his movements that afternoon was an improvised invention, and Mar ling. who never said a wN'd about i his previous knowledge of Pell.
 So far as Wayne knew, Roger | Pell had no identity but his .lame 1 Fotherbury said he knew of him only as a casual stranger, Marline declared that he had no glimmer- | ing of Pell's meaning in those last wild speeches. Scabroke said Pel vas undoubtedly mad. Royle said Somerfield knew Pell only UIrougt ! Newplace Abbey,
 In Pell's effects at the Lord Mel son no hint could be found to trace | him back beyond the day of his ar. rival at the inn. Pell was dead. IT the public mind he was not only dead, but quickly forgotten.
 For me. however, no sooner haC Pell died than he began 10 live again. to dog my steps and haun my thoughts
 It began the very night of hi
 icath. We finished the business with the officials about eigh
 o'clock, all of US undertaking {, keep the police informed of ou
 movements till after the inquest,
 l went home alone. My mothc
 met me in the hall
 " our ridiculous meetings taste,
 long time" said she. 'Dined
 No? Good; I've waited for you
 Meanwhile there's visitor in tn
 drawing room. Come and speak t
 her"
 My mother was not us1.ally mys
 tcrious, and l wondered why sh
 did not tell me at once who ha
 called. However, followed he
 into the drawing room, and thcr
 was Mrs. Seabroke.
 How dye do, Mrs. Seabroke, said l. " hat a lovely day" You .:eedn't keep it up. Mi
 Grcnofct,~ she said. q know a , about tits all over the place"
 "About-?"
 'The terrible affair at Mr. Foth
 Crbury's. Commander Seabrok hadn't returned. so 1 came along {
 see if by any chance he was wit
 you"
 And then l perceived that Mr' , Seabrokc was almost at breakin 7 point. She clcnched her teeth aftt | she had spoken. and her face Dc
 came hloodleSs.
 "Oh," I assured her, "I saw in l commander talking to Dr. Eastle l in the drive. He'll probably | - along any minute"
 She began, but did not finish Q question. Instead she said: I'll = fairly tough, MT. Grenofen. 2 there's anything to tell. you ca