The Big Bow Mystery

order to disguise their mutual detestation. When people really like each other, they make no concealment of their mutual contempt. In his letter to Grodman, Wimp said that he tho

as good as a pantomime. He quite enjoyed the fun that was coming, for

mp's grandmother-in-law's delusions was that Wimp had married to get her into the family. Not to frustrate his design, she always gave him her company on high-days and holidays. Wilfred Wimp-the little boy who stole the jam-was in great form at the Christmas dinner. The only drawback to his enjoyment was that its sweets needed no stealing. His mother presided over the platters, and thought how much cleverer Grodm

he wished to pump him. The idea that the rival bloodhound should come to him for confirmation of suspicions against his own pet jackal was too funny. It was almost as funny to Grodman that evidence of some sort should be obviously lying to hand in the bosom of Wimp's hand-maiden; s

ters. He has written an Epic Poem and read it to me. It is morbid from start to finish. There is 'de

have done much to it. Look at your letter in the 'Pell Me

you did me the hono

After that quotation from the letter to the poor fellow's fiancée there could be no mor

plume himself terribly. At this moment Wimp felt that Grodman had been right in remaining a b

red." Wimp found himself wishing it had been she. He was anxious to get back to Cantercot. "Don't let us t

ot. Ha! ha! ha! That's curious, for since Denzil wrote 'Criminals I have Caugh

lindness. In Grodman's eye there danced an amused scorn of Wimp;

o the highest pitch Grodman s

same naive, facetious Christmasy tone, "that h

gasped Wim

. She's my woman of all work, Jane. She

g to Denzil as "your husband" he so startled the poor woman that she did not attempt to deny the bond. Only once did he use the two words, but he was satisfied. As to

d Wimp, "what's a

means being somewhere else when

ously; his schoolmaster had often proved an al

ds bidding him mistrust Grodman. Out of the mouths of little children

go," said Wimp's grandmother-in-law,

er with snapdra

king how to get at

hinking how to get

f the usual messages f

the weather clerk's chronology. Once let him know that Bank Holiday is coming, and he writes to the company for more water. To-day his stock seemed low and he was dribbling it out; at times the wintry sun would shine in a feeble, diluted way, and though the

d not like to put the poet or his cigarette out. He felt there was something in common between smoke and poetry, over and above their being both Fads. Besides, Mrs. Crowl was sulking in the kitchen. She had been arranging for an excursion with Peter and the children to Victoria Park. She had dreamed of the Crystal Palace, but Santa Claus had put no gifts in the cobbler's shoes. Now she could not risk spoiling the feathe

aid to Denzil, pointing to the ragged sky a

ty? You have to look deeper into it to see it; such vision is the priceless gift of the f

it," said Peter Crowl. As he spoke the d

ays kiss the w

want to know if Nature isn't a Fad. Hallo, there goes Mor

mind the shower. It was some seconds before he even heard Crowl's inv

awing-room with duchesses stuc

-up and wished to cut old friends. He picked his way through the nine brats who clung affectionately to his wet knees, dispersing them finally by

But it ain't from the soul, Tom, it ain't from the soul," said Peter, punning feebly, and lettin

een the 'New Pork Herald' latel

, "I wish I wa

realities of things-to understand that we've got no soul and no immortality, and all that-and too selfish to look after anybody's comfort but my own and mother's and the kid's. But men like you and Cantercot-it ain't right that you should be peggin' away at low material things. Not that I think Cantercot's gospel's any value to the masses. The Beauti

the Useful is the Be

eter, "but the Beauti

Miss Dymond? There's a combination for you. She a

ead!" sn

rned as white as

" said Tom; "all about

," said Denzil, visibly rel

id Tom, surlily. "She don't appreciate it

papers, but very little of your dear old phiz now. I can't spare the time to g

r Mr. Constant is to be unveiled at the Bow Break o' Day Club. They have written to Gladstone and other big pots to come down. I do hope the old man

ill-temper in the prospect, a

ing a Rock, and Monarchy being the right thing, he is a most dangerous man to le

ightful. It was almost as good as a week's rent to her to give vent to her feelings. The controversial couple had moved away from the window when Tom entered, and had

Denzil was rather dubious as to the friendship, but he preferred to take W

eer quartette. Wimp had hardly expected to find anybody at the house on Boxing Day, but he did not care to waste a day. Was not Grodman,

ss friends, and welcomed him warmly. Probably he was some famous editor, which would account for his name stirring vague recollections. He summoned the eldest brat and sent him for beer (people would have t

id the unconscious Crowl; "they're going to unveil it, Mortlake tell

the trouble of maneuvering the conversat

some memorial of the man in the district where he worked an

rly. "He was a noble fellow, a true philanthropist.

or fellow. He preached the Useful, too. I've never met his like. Ah, I wish there was

ere, if there

rvently; "but I shouldn't lik

on to see him, Tom, wer

emember he went out after me; at least

Tom," said Denzil. "He didn't say anythin

!" interrupted Mor

nk he was murdered

replied Tom, testily. "It may have been suicide. Men often get

ast person known to be

d. "Had you

e-tempered than when he came. Wimp went soon after, and Crowl and Denzil were l

, the reeking grass-everything combined to make one long to be in a warm, comfortable grave, away from the leaden ennui of life. Suddenly the detective's keen eye caught sight of a figure that made his heart throb with sudden excitement. It was that of a woman in a gray shawl and a brown bonnet standing before a railed-in grave. She had n

er suddenly o

e. She turned round, staring a

own once or twice to your place about that poor

r you now," sai

y umbrella? You must be

t take no hurt. I've had the

ine folks keep their place, and not contaminate their skirts by contact with the lower castes. "It's set wet, it'll rain right into the new year," she announce

is miserable spot, so far fro

ded him in tones of acute surprise. "I a