The Black Patch

ture without seeing her. It argued that he was guilty, and feared to face her.

ome to see me?"

t business to attend to, connected with you, and went up to town the day before y

repeated Miss Hedge, much pe

trice, and let Mrs. Lilly look after you--she knows about herbs and things, and you look so pale. And no wonder, seeing what a shock you have

st is over," said Beatrice, ra

d t

. It depends u

mean," said D

all him Vivian," repl

hat he had asked you to be his w

rectly at the girl "did he

under

coated constable moving heavily round the garden, and gradually d

asked the a

e hurriedly; "that is, when I have

n, and has been for ages and ages. Sometimes he's jolly, and then he's as dismal as a sick cow. I thought it was love, for Jerr

do you

on't know what it is,

doubts put into speech. "It's money troubles that annoy him, and probably, now that Mr.

er her arm. "You'll get the money, of course. It ought to be a lot, Beatrice, for

read. Go away, dear, and come back

Beatrice. He was a nasty old man, and never did any good in

in

ather won't allow him any money, and Mrs. Snow is a cat. Our only chance of getting married, and living in a tweeny-weeny house, with a

ated on her over-strung nerves, "and don't tell even Jerry t

te without a chaperone. But you will marry Vivian, darling, won't you?" she went on coaxingly. "He is so p

of the gates past the sleepy policeman, who blinked in the sunshine like an over-fed ca

is irritating. He is such a---- Well, I'm going. There's Tommy Tibbs holding Fly-by-Night. Hi, Tommy, bring her

opened his eyes and looked at the tall, slim young lady with approval as she went past him. He thought she was a trifle too pale, and she had black circles under he

been removed. Again, he had gone up to town on hearing of Alpenny's murder, and without ascertaining whether she had reached home, or not, on that fearful night. He had not even left a message; and then in her pocket was his handkerchief, dyed

was summoned from Hurstable to examine the body, and pronounce if possible the hour when the murder had taken place. Then the corpse was conveyed to the solitary inn of Hurstable, a

t, Cheapside--but seldom went there, as he preferred the quiet of the country--probably on account of his age, which was considerable. Nevertheless, from habit apparently, Mr. Jarvis continued to do business up to the very hour o

said the Coroner emphatically, "t

urprise. The murder was very deliberate, as the criminal had first stunned the old man, and then had cut his throat in a most brutal and thorough fashion. Therefore, as the Inspector suggested, the motive of the crime was more th

taken from the room

d particular as to facts. "Yes; the safe was opened with the keys of the deceased--proba

an, exactly?" a

y, "that the safe was as bare as the palm of my hand. All papers were rem

ust have carrie

edge. The police were called in, and everything had been done to discover the whereabouts of the assassin, but in vain. Villagers, labourers, railway officials, chance folk travelling in carts and motor-cars and on bicycles had been questioned, but no suspi

rainy," said the

ecuted. I have inquired at the Trunk Street office, and cannot learn from the confidential clerk there

the Coroner, as the Inspector, severely official, stepped down to give place to a rosy

mitted, and he had been asked to examine the corpse. He found that it was that of an old man. The body was badly nourished, but healthy enough for a man who certainly was over eighty. The blow on the head would not have killed a man with such vitality, old as he w

es that mean? Do you insinuate that a doctor cut t

the sneer of the Coroner; "it might have been a butcher, who is quite as d

"and you are all butchers, whether you are called so or not. C

the little doctor doubtfully. "I should say the crime was committed between e

previous night," wrote the Coro

ded. Miss Hedge had stated that her stepfather was from home, but she--witness--had glanced into the railway carriage which was called the counting-house of Mr

he carriage wa

assin killed poor Mr. Alpenny, and after robbing the safe, went ou

aster carried the keys--all the keys, including that of the coun

said the Coroner sharp

eyes, "save that I am sorry for Miss Hedge. And I may add," she continued, after a moment of hesi

er, who was an old resident of the ne

the assassin of Mr. Alpenny are one a

two?" asked the Coroner co

other," said Mrs. Snow, "and did some business together.

Snow. I cannot see what the old

ox with a triumphant glance in the direction of Beatrice. Why that glance, and one of such a nature, w

d man dead. Mrs. Snow had first informed him of the fact. He had burst open the door with a beam, as it was locked, and then had discovered that Mr. Alpenny's throat was slit from ear to

t the assassin could have

eeing that the ke

e not ano

t peculiar make, and there was no duplicate. Mr. Alpenny was always carefu

other way of getting i

en thoroughly examined. "There is no way of entering the railway

y inside, the assassin must have got ou

barred that a child co

n. "You were the confidential servant of the deceas

Mr. Alpenny's servant, but he made no confidant of me. I took letters to the London o

en in the cou

y life, sir. Mr. Alpenny would not allo

hole mystery seems to centre round the

h a shrug. "People sometimes came and called him names; and he tol

ve you to understand that

red quite happy

any one on the nig

etter, and I was to come back next morning--

id not expect

me precautions had he thoug

t he was not in his late master's confidence, and knew nothing: that he had gone to town on the night of the murder, and had only learned of it through Mrs. Snow. The Coroner and, incide

on she stated the time when she had returned. The Coroner asked her how she knew that she had entered at nine, whereupon she detail

ot go in and s

g-house; and in the third, I found the note left by Mr. Alpenny, which I handed to the sergeant. And in the fourth plac

murmur filled the room. "You saw the

at nine o'clock. He is a tall man, w

xcited. "Colonel Hall was also murdered by a man