Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13
The AtJair Mas Reported as a De- "
plorable Accident, but a Master Detecti0e
SaeO the Trace o. Crime -Hozo He
Sol0ed the Mystery and Brought the
Unusual Case to an End.

ut Is Mr.. Fortunes conviction that his
mind is governed by caution. This Is
not admitted by Tomas, the chief Of the
Criminal Investigation Department.
When Mr.. Fortunes theories disturb
the official tranquility, he is apt to be factious
about the bicycle lamp of Police Constable
Napier. Mr.. Fortune is not amused.
He came into the case-which, as Tomas Will
tell you, never began to be case-by way OF
Lord Chunk. They met first as judge and wit
ness. and the clash was severe. But pro
duced friendship which takes Reggie for
week ends to the country place where his lord
ship breeds pheasants.
Across the fire at Yardley House Chunk gave
q considered judgment that the charm of Clos
Vougeot is rather that of claret than burgundy.
and Reggie asked leave to appeal and drank
his seltzer and went to bed. He remembered
afterward looking out on a dark sky in which
the stars were clear And the clocks struck IL.
At about this time Isaac Smallpiece drove up
from the village with the simple purpose OF
poaching Chunks pheasants. The lawful trade
Of Smallpiece was hawking pots and pans,
brushes and brooms round the countryside But
ne was . poacher. The only covert Of Chunks
which he had not worked was far away from
the house. in the eastern slopes Of Yardiey
Down. That mass Of sandstone and heather
clad sand Is lonely in Summer sunshine. You
may climb about 1t by the hour and see neither
house nor man. for the cid homeSteads Of the
ridge are hidden in the hollows. and only one
road crosses 1t. Smallpiece turned his car into
a farm track, put out the lights and went on
foot.
THROUGH the Winter night he saw with
disgust light on the road. He obliterated
himself behind q patch Of gorse. The Light
drew nearer, and he saw it came from bicycle
lamp. He made out the shape Of the cyclist,
stiff way of riding policeman's uniform.
After a little way the man turned and rode
slowly down the hill again. The heart OF
Smallpiece was filled with profanity. 1t was
his own village constable. Napier, and plainly
the man was bent on patroling the BOUNDS OF
the covert where he designed 70 Work. ne
cursed inwardly
But not for long. car whirred down the
hil-a closed car driven fast. In It's head
lights the policeman stood out moMent-a
sharp, black shape. Then he was gone IN
crash and the car rushed on and away.
Smallpiece was q thoughtful man. 1t be-
came clear to him that there would be DIM
Guilty in explaining his assistance aS mid
night disaster to . policeman in the neighoor-
hood Of pheasants He withdrew. Thus the
bicycle and the body of Constable Napier were
left lying in the road, high on the eastern
slopes Of Yardley Down.
Lord Chunk reads all the newspapers and
wants them early When Reggie wandered into
the breakfast room, he found the little man
cursing the kidneys.
BE calm This early rising excftes the nerves
Take a sedative. Watch me eat"
Chunk champed toast, and the butler came In
eff you please, my lord"-he was short Of
breath-"the boy with the papers"
Hang it, hasn't he brought them?"
Yes my lord. I have them, my lord. But
the boy says he was delayed, having found
policeman lying dead on the road"
."Oh, my haiti" Reggie moaned.
"Confound the urchin," said Chunk. What
did he want to do that for?"
He tried to revive the man, my lord He
saysshe's horrible sight. The lad Is much
shook up. He's come on here, being the near
est place to get help. What would you wish
to have done, my lord?"
Telephone for the police and q doctor"
Sunk started up. Don't waste time chatter
Gng. I'll do it myself"
eyes Tell the police" Reggie poured him.
III another cup Of coffee. But I'm the near
est doctor Chunk. My car, please"
Nature has not given Lord Chunk o sympa-
thetic face. An aggrieved criminal once called
him "old Gods head" 1t is true. Reggie came
into the hall to see the paper boy under ex-
not be clear where he found the policeman.
Boys fool" Chunks big mouth snapped
"Eody's on the road somewhere between here
and the station-anywhere in miles"
."Oh, yes. expect he can find it. Come
along, young man." Reggie started toward his
car. He drove through the woodland and
turned across bare, fat country Of sodden pas
lures. The boys hand clutched at Reggie.
YES, see. All right. Just as you found
him, what?" The boy nodded. Reggie stopped
the car A bicycle and body lay in the
road some distance apart. The front wheel of
the bicycle was buckled. The body had suffered
worse Chunk put his hand to his eyes,
Yves. As you say" Reggie murmured, and
knelt down by the body.