The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-02-15
CHAPTER VIII

''That's much BETTER" Tope COM
mented. where's the Holdom linn
ousine?"
But Kell responded with coun-
ter question, his cheek suddenly
purple, his whole body shaking with
a sort Of passion.
where's my wife?" he cried.
where's Mrs. Kell? Where is she?
What have you done with herr"
Tope said simply: eve haven't
seen her, Kell. Was that why you
came here? To look for herr"
"She's gone!" Kell cried desper
ately. 'She's gone! I heard in the
village that there was some one dead
here. I thought it might be her"
The Inspector looked at KelPs
feet; and he demanded:
LET me see your shoes-the bot
toms Of them"
KeN, after a moment, lifted one
foot, standing on the other; and
Tope turned the lifted foot with his
hand to look at the sole. Kell top
pied and almost fell; and Tope re-
leased his ankle, caught his arm,
steadied him. Then the old man
asked:
''Do you ever wear heel-plates?"
Kell's eyes fiickered. ''No sirl"
''Sure?"
"Why-I've got an old pair Of
shoes with plates on them"
''Worn them lately?"
''No sir"
Tope nodded; and he said: "Kell,
: there were some things in the pock-
eta of those overalls this dead man
wore. A valve-clearance gauge, and
q knife with a steel handle marked
IN a scale, inches and centimeters.
Did you ever see knife like that?"
Kell shook his head stubbornly.
well, that's funny" Tope protest
ed. 'That's queerl You work for
HoldOm; you're his chauffeur. You
live over his garage. Well, this dog
blanket came from his garage; and
the overalls and sweater came out
Of the machine shop behind the ga
rage, where you keep your work
clothes. I think they are yours.
They're big enough to fit you. You're
an Englishman. That knife came
from England. / never saw one like
1t in this country"
81 heard. that the coupe came
here" Kell muttered. "And she was
In it. She drove it away from the
house."
''Well," said Tope, II don't know
where she is, but I can tell you
where the car is. It's in the quarry
hole, up in the mountains above the
Holdom place. We're lifting it out
tomorrow"
Kell uttered low, startled ejacu-
lation; and Tope stopped, expecting
the man to speak. When Kell did
not, the Inspector demanded:
Know anything about that?"
mo SIR" The answer was prompt.
Il suppose you didn't put it
here?"
Kell cried harshly, on the verge of
breaking: mol"
"All right" Tope said sharply.
pressing his advantage. ''Why didn't
you bring Holdom and Ledforge I'D
here to their homes last Friday?"
And, quickly: ''Now, don't lie! We
know you left New York, with them
IN the car; and we know you got
home alone. What did you do with
Ledforge and Holdom on the way?"
After moment Kell answered:
SWhy-I had engine-trouble, sir. It
looked like long job to fix it; so
they hailed car and got a ride
10 Springfield, told me they'd come
on home by train. / got the car
axed quicker than ! expected, and
came on, and met the train at Mid
dleford, but they weren't on it."
"Hahl" said Tope scornfully.
Took you long enough to think Of
khatl Where have you been since
then?"
Looking for Mira. Kell-places /
thought she might be-"
'.Where?"
We'll, one was In Boston, and one
n Worcester. Then Mr.. Ledforge
had a lodge back in the hills where
he sometimes went for a rest. l
hought she might be there"
"Why?" Tope demanded; and KEEL
hesita!ed. did not answer. Tope
aried: "Wel, was she?"
mo sir" said Kell, and Tope de-
handed sharply:
But you found some one there?"
Mr.. Eberly was there. But he
hadn't seen her."
"Eberly?" Tope looked at Adam.
Hes there now?"
Eyes sir. He and Mr.. Ledforge
sometimes went there together"
Tope frowned, startled and dis
hrbed. did Mr.. Eberly know Mrs.
"oh. no sir. but he said no one
nd been therei"