|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 54
CHAPTER XII
A Shadow on the Wall
In the twenty hours or so at his disposal Inspector Birch had
been busy. He had telegraphed to London a complete description
of Mark in the brown flannel suit which he had last been seen
wearing; he had made inquiries at Stanton as to whether anybody
answering to this description had been seen leaving by the 4.20;
and though the evidence which had been volunteered to him had
been inconclusive, it made it possible that Mark had indeed
caught that train, and had arrived in London before the police at
the other end had been ready to receive him. But the fact that
it was market-day at Stanton, and that the little town would be
more full than usual of visitors, made it less likely that either
the departure of Mark by the 4.20, or the arrival of Robert by
the 2.10 earlier in the afternoon, would have been particularly
noticed. As Antony had said to Cayley, there would always be
somebody ready to hand the police a circumstantial story of the
movements of any man in whom the police were interested.
That Robert had come by the 2.10 seemed fairly certain. To find
out more about him in time for the inquest would be difficult.
All that was known about him in the village where he and Mark had
lived as boys bore out the evidence of Cayley. He was an
unsatisfactory son, and he had been hurried off to Australia; nor
had he been seen since in the village. Whether there were any
more substantial grounds of quarrel between the two brothers
than that the younger one was at home and well-to-do, while the
elder was poor and an exile, was not known, nor, as far as the
inspector could see, was it likely to be known until Mark was
captured.
The discovery of Mark was all that mattered immediately.
Dragging the pond might not help towards this, but it would
certainly give the impression in court to-morrow that Inspector
Birch was handling the case with zeal. And if only the revolver
with which the deed was done was brought to the surface, his
trouble would be well repaid. "Inspector Birch produces the
weapon" would make an excellent headline in the local paper.
He was feeling well-satisfied with himself, therefore, as he
walked to the pond, where his men were waiting for him, and quite
in the mood for a little pleasant talk with Mr. Gillingham and
his friend, Mr. Beverley. He gave them a cheerful "Good
afternoon," and added with a smile, "Coming to help us?"
"You don't really want us," said Antony, smiling back at him.
"You can come if you like."
Antony gave a little shudder.
"You can tell me afterwards what you find," he said. "By the
way," he added, "I hope the landlord at the 'George' gave me a
good character?"
The Inspector looked at him quickly.
"Now how on earth do you know anything about that?"
Antony bowed to him gravely.
"Because I guessed that you were a very efficient member of the
Force."
The inspector laughed.
"Well, you came out all right, Mr. Gillingham. You got a clean
bill. But I had to make certain about you.
"Of course you did. Well, I wish you luck. But I don't think
you'll find much at the pond. It's rather out of the way, isn't
it, for anybody running away?"
"That's just what I told Mr. Cayley, when he called my attention
to the pond. However, we shan't do any harm by looking. It's
the unexpected that's the most likely in this sort of case."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|