n the Hesketh case that it'll be easier to follow if, in this chapter, I put down what

lear understanding of a case that baffled the police and pretty nearly.... There I go ag

o her. She carried a hand bag, wore a long dark fur coat and a small close-fitting hat that showed her hair. Both men also noticed in her hand the gold mesh purse with a diam

nt at the Junction, saw her step from the car to the platform. After that he lost track of her as he was busy with the branch line t

s that after the message from Mrs. Fowler saying Sylvia had eloped, he told Mrs. Dalzell he would have to leave, having been called away to an important case. When the Dalzells' chauffeur brought his car round he asked the man several questions ab

, asking him how to get to the Riven Rock Road. Clark gave him the directions, then saw him disappear round the station building. Neither C

that everybody was most interested

m. When Mrs. Gilsey was packing this he joked her about having a good time while he was gone, and she told him that, as there'd be no dinner that night, she and Gilsey'd go over to a neighbor's, take supper there and spend th

he Longwood Station in the direction of Maple Lane. He said he came back through the

ks' farm, where they spent the evening, coming home at ten and finding the house dark an

trying to roll the doors back very slow and with as little noise as possible. Casey's a bold, nervy boy, and he reached for his revolver and crept barefooted to the head of the sta

ar, so, with his revolver

re. What ar

start, and then he he

I've come back unexpectedl

dy hardly listened to him, but was gruff and short. All he said was that he'd changed his mind about the trip, and then unstrappe

ongwood. I'm getting a little sick o

ard spattered. At seven he crossed over to the house for his breakfast and told the Gilseys that Mr. Reddy was back

gone by turnpike and Jim Donahue saying he'd seen Sylvia leave on the train. I worked it out that they'd made some change of plans at the last moment. But the way they'd eloped did

o drive up with the Doctor and a strange man in it. I twirled round quick and was the business-like operator. I'll bet no one wou

yes sunk and inflamed. He didn't take any notice

e Coron

the window. I didn't know then that he was a detective, and I don't think anyone ever would have guessed it. If you'd asked me I'd have said he loo

ward very cautiously, lifted up the ca

his G

e old voice, "Yes

's was qui

t matter. Do you happen to

hadn't caught them! They'd

, Mr. Red

orts of ideas went flashing through my head the way they say you see things befo

at Fir

age? Mr. Reddy was out very la

very cordially, all the

m. No, I won't bother with a message. I'll

the booth. He had a queer look, his eyes keen and bright, and there was some color in his face. The strange man turned round, and

deep breath and flattened out agains

ldn't have him any more than I could have had the Kohinoor diamond. It was because I knew

hat made the world turn upside down and left me white and sick. It was from the Coron

. Fowler

e. I heard it, too, and it raised my hair-and then a lot of words coming thin and shrill

the receiver hanging down. I could hear them, a babble of tiny little voices as if

leaf and feeling like I'd a blow in the stomach. Then Mapleshade called

u by any chance know if th

with a man calling up Firehill.

got to find him. Give me Firehill. He ma

er tell a man at the

. I've pieced it out from the testimony at the inquest

'd call him. The Doctor, however, said the matter was urgent and they couldn't lose a minute, so the three of them went upstairs

f it. On a sofa just opposite the door was Jack Redd

ut Gilsey and sat up wit

atter? Does a

o see you," and stepped to one sid

didn't say "Good morning" or any sort of greeting, but was silent, as if he

he Doctor, in the doorway

aid he, "where

in a quiet, c

know, Dr.

You ran away with her last nigh

n the same d

nothing about her. I haven't any

t beside himself. He

ade a lunge at Reddy to seize him. But Mills jumped in and grab

to Reddy: "There's no good prevaricating. Your letter to Miss Hesketh has been found. Now we're all agreed that we don't want any talk or

ly, as mad as the Doctor, and before Mills coul

away till the Doctor seized him on the other side. They fought for a moment, and then got him back against the do

at telepho

phone and took down the receiver. Anne Henness

ke he was stabbed, and turned to Mr

ped out. "Miss Hesketh's dead. She's murd

e instrument out of Gilsey's hand

s eyes staring like a man in a trance. Gilsey thought he was going to die and was for running to him, crying out, "Oh, Mr. Ja

hone and said: "It's true. M

he only sound. The three other men-the Doctor as white as death, too-stood star

pike where she said she'd be. I was up and down there most of the night. And-and--" he stopped

to a chair, his hands over his fa