LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2644, 27 September 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A STRAYGS SHOT—A DETECTIVE’S STORY. ( Concluded .) At last I have it all. Going though the woods to-day, I came across a small circular pond surrounded by a belt of ground hazels, I had my moth-net with me, which I had sent from London as a blind. 4 Supposing 1 try a little dragging,’ I thought; ‘there maybe a chance of something turning up ’ Something did tarn np. The brass hoop of the net is very strong, and can bear a good strain. 1 swept the net along the bottom just near the bank. It touched something heavy. I managed to get the metal hoop of the net underneath It. Whatever It was, 1 could feel it slipping Into the depths of the net, whioh was of very strong, though thin, gauze, and could bear a good weight. I raised up the net, and—good luck! —in it was an old single-barrelled gun. I hauled it in. It had the maker’s name, 4 Reilly,’ on the stock. It had been in the water for a little time, for it had hardly sunk into the mnd. ‘Evidently a poacher with a spite against the general and J. P, ’ In the evening fishing as usual. The general came up, and I told him of my prize. 4 You have got a olue at last, MrParatoff,’ said he, with a good natured smile; 4 the longer Marlborough took when he set out for the war, the sooner he wound np the campaign.’ Have got a men down from town under pretence of looking after mantel glara. He has taken the bnllet, whioh was embedded in the wooden wainscot behind the glass. Crashed np as It is, I can see that it is an old mnsket ball which will just fit the gun. Have dropped In at several of the laborers’ cottages on the Lioton road. At last think I have got the man. One of the oottases occupied by a porter on the line. His wife only was at home. Sharp woman, evidently from London. Chatted with her over the fence. Worked tbe talk round to poaching. 4 Bill doesn’t go In for that; we’ve not got a gun in the place; th; re arn’t m»ny osn say that about here.’

She spoke In a little too positive fashion. * Ho, I suppo e you go got rid of It when there was such a fuss made about the poaching o fortnight ago.” She looked rather uneasy. ‘ We haven’t got cne,’ she said, still more positively. I am convinced her husband is the man. She evidently had a gun in the house at ore time or the other. Strolled down to the railway station direotly I loft her, took the train to St, Albans, and bought a small zinc bath ; brought it with me to Licton, saw her husband, the only porter at tho station, and asked him if ho would bring it on to Brook Farm in the evening before he wont home. The man is to be sent up Into my room. It is a largo bedroom overlooking the garden and the fields beyond. In the distance are the woods ahont Harkbam Heights. About half-past six the railway porter was shown in. ‘Sit down and have a glass of beer,’ I said to him. He sat down by ths little ronnd table. Across It was laid tho gun. The instant be saw it he turned pale and shivered from head to foot, ‘ That was a good shot yon made at the generaland I looked him straight in the eyes. ‘ What shot at the general V he asked. Oddly enough there was an expression of surprise in his face as well as alarm. ‘On Thursday night, at half-paat eight,’ I continued, * you were In the Barkham Woods; yon were in the point opposite the house. The gun was loaded with a musket ballot, and yon fired through the open window at the general, while he was sitting at dinner with hia two daughters.’ ‘Good God, sir.’he cried, ‘I was not—l wu not; and\ what’* more/ hs added, * 1

oan bring witnesses to prove it. I was here the whole evening. ’ ‘ Hava a care, Mr Joa Kill urn, ’ I said ; ‘that is your gun. T can bring witnesses to prove that very easily. ’ '1 was not in Bukhara Woods on Thursday,’he said, with a dogged air ;* I was not there on Thursday. Paohett, the landlord dovn-stalrs. and his misses, can speak to thnt.’

‘Shall I ring the bell for them?’ I answered.

‘ Yon can do as yor likeand he half chuckled. T hero was evidently a greater mystery in the affair than 1 had at first supposed. The man could prove an alibi. ‘ That Is vour gun, and you have been seen in the woods before now ; come, you can’t get out ot that,’ He made no anower. ‘Now look here, Kllburn/ I said, determined to get at something, ‘ let me know how that gun got Into the woods, lam a private detective acting for the general. If you tell mo the truth i’ll guarantee In his name that no charge of poaching shall be brought against y- u ’ * You’ll stick to that, sir?’ he said, nervously, rubbing his month with the back of his hand. ‘Yea. Qo on with what you know and what you have done.’ ' Well, a fortnight ago I was out in the woods with the gan. 1 heard the voice of Jim Jones and hia brother Bill the keepers. They were close up to me. I stepped It pretty quick, but the gun caught in a bit of blackthorn. I couldn’t wrench it away ; so 1 hooked it and left it there, that’s all.’ * You may go,’ said I, ‘and for the sake of your own akin had best hold your tongue.’ ‘ Thankee, sir, ’ ho answered, looking almost happy.

Then he left mo alone. So for the time being my work has been all for nothing. After all I don’t lose hope. Taking the gun In my band this morning, I amused myself with slightly pulling the trigger. I made a discovery. Between the trigger and the look waa squeezed la a sm;ll piece of thin, but rough kid—what Is known os Swedish kid. I palled the trigger. Of course it went fearfully hard from being so 1 ng In the water ; but, for all that, It must have been a hard pall rt any time. The man who fired that pun mast have had a loose glove on, ani a piece of it had caught. But why should a poacher or a farmer wear Swedish kid gloves? Have been lying awake half the night. The piece of kid has been in my pocket book under my pillow. The clocks have struck one, two, and three! When I got up this morning, after a feverish doze, I locked at the small piece of kid first thing. Another discovery ! Although only an eighth of an inch In length, one side of it, 1 can plainly see has been out quite evenly with a pair cf scissors. Thera is as much mystery as discovery in all this. I have seen the general this morning, and told him ail, excepting about the small piece of glove He seemed very moody and depressed. ‘ I shall have to ask your assistance in something else,’ he said with a troubled voice, ‘ you are used to family secrets, and can of course keep them.’ I bowed. * My son,’ he said, looking over the lawn towards where the lawn tennis courts were marked out, ‘baa caused me much trouble. Ik is not the question of Ms havieg raised post obits cn this place. There are some bill matters; but 1 will eak to you later on.’ Then be left me. I strolled out down the gravel path which bordered the lawn tennis ground. It was a fresh bright morning, and the scent cf the newly mown gross waa very sweet and pleasant. There was a quiet air of peace about everything. How strange if scandal, shame, or crime should ever come to disturb it! The general’s son waa sitting on a garden seat, which had its book to the path, and was playing with a lawn tennis bat. I looked over bis shoulder. He was buttoning a white glove, or part of a white glove ; fer the fingers were cat off down to the second joint. Yes, yes, It was so! On the forefinger of the right hand a little piece of the kid was snipped out. The attempted murderer was the general’s own son! It waa a momentsry inspiration t I walked up in front of him. ‘A word with you, sir,' I said, ‘lt is too open to speak hers; let ns walk behind the lauraetlnas.’ There was a nervous twitching at his mouth ; bat be rose and followed me.

* When you take it into your head to mistake year father for a p'geon, it would perhaps be better not to think it such a fashion ■ able proceeding as to require the honor of wearing gloves. ’ The wretched creature collapsed In an Instant. He had neither courage, sense, nor self-possession of any short. He govelled in the gravel, and whined, and gasped, •You found that gun In the wood,’ I said, ‘you got that ballet. Yon reckoned, being a crack shot, to hit your father as a matter of course. You went out to play tennis somewhere as a blind. You knew the woods, and doubtless had made up some sort of an alibi. I wonder what your notion was—money, of course, ’ But to the quiet of the autnmn morning no ft'swer came to break its silence—at least from him. * You had 1 better go,' said I, ‘I can make good terms with yon. They are these leave hero at onoe, and never return at your peril.’ He tried to raise his eyes to mine, but failed. Then he turned away, and soon his footsteps were lost in the distant windings of the path. A week has passed; ths general has sent for me. His son has not returned. I must dad out the reason of his abaenoe. Ido not pretend to bo a man of mighty conscience, but what was Xtodo ? At last my resolve was taken. I wont to the hall door. The man opened It, * Toll the general that Professor Richardson wishes to see him, 1 was shown Into the modest little study. The old man was sitting smoking a cheroot. ‘You have heard something about my son ?’ I shook my head. 4 There Is no need to teU General Headle atone how to bear—a—tnddan— * I paused, 4 My son is dead ?’ he said, ‘No.’ 4 He will return.’ ‘ He will never return. ’ The general rose from his seat and looked me firmly in the face. 4 My Ison —my son was my disgrace. I asked him here to try what oonld be done for the last time. He only counted on my death to Inherit—” 4 He did more than count, ’ I answered. The old man looked at me, and gradually his face seemed to become as white even as his hair. 4 He oould not have fired that shot!’ But looking In my eyes he saw the truth. He remained silent. There was no spasm on his face, and h ; s eyes were cold and steady. I hen he broKo the silence. 4 lt la well, sir,’ he said ; 4 but I shonld like to pay the Spartan father by myself ; kindly leave me. ’ It eeems but a day or two ego that the news came of General Hoadlaatone’a death In Africa. He had been insufficiently rap ported with men by a patriotic but economical Government, and fell In the massacre of a handful of British troops by an army of natives. I have received a letter from his son offering me £5003 to keep my silence if he should come to England to claim his estate, which wsa entailed. lam looking at my sleeping child. For bis sake shall I take it, or shall I not ?