The Silver Bullet

ad gone to Town on a Tuesday leaving Herrick at the Southberry Railway Inn. According to his story he had seen Frith and Frith the same afternoon, and again the next morning. The intervening n

had discovered the body of Colonel Carr.

lunged in grief as he appeared to be, when he could call a few days after his mother's death to see if he was to inherit the money. Herrick considered that probably when alone in the flat he had found some paper stating that the five hundred a year terminated at his mother's

e letter, but since Robin had told him the contents he never doubted that it was from the firm of Frith. If he had not called on them, why was the letter sent, and where was he during the two days he was in Town? Herrick re

ason why he should. I am a suspicious fool. He was in London even though he did not call on the solicitors. There is

f the House in the Pine Wood, and had designedly led Herrick that way in order that the murder should be discovered, and suspicion averted f

up his mind to call on Frith and Frith, and also to look in at the Hull Hotel. Nevertheless whatever he found, he resolved to hold his tongue so far as Robin was concerned. Joyc

"I want you to look after yourself

The National Gallery to see; and the Tower, and Westminste

bsently, his thoughts intent on what he had to

bout your practice

usiness. How long do yo

, did we not? I have got all the clothes, I need. They will be read

hat Herrick meant but seeing that his friend was taken up with his own thoughts, he sai

eived him, all the more readily, when he heard the name. On the previous day, Stephen h

Marsh-Carr told us all about you. I am glad he has had the g

nything I can do to make a man of him shall b

m. He could not call his soul his own. I do not think her dea

think she really loved her ste

question," said the young lawyer. "She was, as you say, stormy

d she co

he had made his will in favour of Stephen Marsh, and that both he and Mrs. Marsh could wait until his death. I tried hard to persuade him to a

r opinion of

. The man is dead, and he was a good client to us. But speaking as man to man and

her strong

errible death, and his own familiar friend put an end to him. The Colonel had not much human feeling but when dying

ourite ejaculation, "do you bel

ck, I think the crime can be safely put down to his account. Queer man too," added Frith reflectively, "he was slangy and a good b

ought him from

hing about himself. He seemed fond of his master. That is why it is so strange he should have killed him. But then we know that the coll

Colonel made his mo

of one thing, that it was made in some shady way. Car

name in conjunction with Kidd. He h

n by 'had a trea

t in case of need, his advice was not to be despised. So far as Joyce was concerned, Jim did not intend to say anything at present, as he was not yet sure of his ground and even had he been sure, he would have hesitated to b

details of that expedition we should find it less innocent than this Mexican has depicted. Still, leaving the man amon

are," said H

ith no end of money. We helped him to invest it. As the income is eight thousand a year Dr. Herrick, you may guess what the principal amounted to. Treasure-hunting sounds innocent enough, even romantic, b

ct of his visit, "the man had some good points.

d Frith with a stare. "Ho

th him on a walking-tour when he rec

wrote the man a le

ut the twenty-

which Carr ordered to be paid to Mrs. Joyce. He wanted to know if he would have it also. We communicated with Colonel Carr, who re

was on the twenty

We have not seen him since, nor, as

lie. Whatever he had come to London about, it was not to see the Solicitors as he had alleged

y cheque to Mrs. Joyce at an address at Hampstead. She sent a receipt every time, but she never came to see us, and we had absolutely nothing to do with her. When she changed her address, which she did several times,

o take his leave. "However he has received the reward of his crime

est of conditions. We are now arranging for letters patent for this change of name. Our clien

t considering the re

Well good-bye Dr. Herrick. I am glad to have seen you, and still more

ay. He fancied at one time that Frith might have looked upon him as an interloper, and it was a great

e Strand public-house, but in this instance he proved to be wrong. Directed by a friendly policeman, he soon found the place. It was a small pot-house of anything but a reputable appearance. Herrick stepped inside, and was confron

July last," he said. "He wrote to me from this place on that date, and as I have

s his n

obin J

her nose, and then shouted. "Tilda! Do you know a party as stayed

appeared) not to make such a noise. Then she addressed herself to Herrick. "I need not look at the books sir. I remember Mr. Ro

his friend was known at the address he had given. "He

ack bag and engaged a room. Then he went out almost at once, promising to be back to dinne

e did not sleep he

, he told both of us when he came back

e paid his bill and went awa

he daughter. "I heard him tell t

did not sleep here," were the last words of the daughter. So Herrick departed fully convinced that Robin had told him a second lie. Naturally the little man ne

Saxham on that night. If I can prove that--" he shook his head, and

oyce had gone down to Saxham. Robin would probably take the afternoon train to Beorminster. In that case however he would have had to change at Southberry Junction and as Herrick was at the Junction he might not risk doing so. There was Heathcroft of course. That w

would not go to any theatre, but the two managed to find amusement in exploring London. With the greatest good humour, Herrick permitted himself to be dragged to the Tower, the Abbey, and to several other places which Stephen had already visited. Also there was much shoppin

ts for me. Bess is superintending the whole business. I have told her to do exactly as she pleases,

rry Miss Bess?" sa

ot the wife for me," said Stephen se

(as he had told Joyce) it was not very strong; but in the sunshine of Ida's beauty and charm, it might easily assume gigantic proportions. If it did, and Stephen loved her, why then good-bye to his income. For Herrick felt that under the circumstances the situation wou

s as yet no proof) he would naturally refuse to come. On the other hand he might dare as much. However, on the whole as straws show which way the w

usiness was with Robin, and he went at once to the Mansions. The servant said that Mr. Joyce was absent, but was expected in soon, and that another gentleman

Mexican, shaking Herrick's hand in the most he

el?" said Herrick pol

Robin and this scamp together. Joyce was a scamp also and worse if his visit to Saxham could be proved. Manuel answered the inquiry with a careless speech and a puzzled look, evidently wondering why it was made. After a time he began to walk restlessly abou

go and look for them. Will you come also, Se?or? We had better smoke in the study. Joyce does not like t

e he wanted to smoke. Manuel went to the writing table and shifted the papers about. He sea

em in there," said Manuel and

into all the drawers as the Mexican opened them. In t

e said. "No, it is not a revolver what

t the death wound had been inflicted by a roughly cast bullet, and that at the inquest it was said such had been fired from an antique pistol. Here was the very thing in his hand--an old pistol, silver-mounted,

are no cigarettes here," he said, "Joyce h

to attacks of faintness. I think Don Manuel, that you had better say nothing, to Joy

shrug, "but Joyce would never be ang

riosity shop very probably," replied the doctor carelessl

thing. I will say nothing. A cigarette? Se?or, I will

to shake hands with the man he now believed to be a criminal. Yet in spite of all he had learned, in spite of the discovery of the old-

" said Joyce abruptly,

yman now, that London

the joke. "I pref

returning to Saxham to-morrow, and I want

n at once. "I can put up at The Carr

,'" said Herrick, "but you will come down Robin? I have seen so li

d deceived him, how he had led him to the very house in which to all appearance--he had committed a crime, the doctor's heart grew hard and he was qu

nd if Marsh likes me, he may as you say, ask m

id the Mexican. "I should like to see t

was being brought in, and Herrick wanted to get away at once. He felt that knowing what he did, he could

aid Herrick hurriedly, "

. Won't yo

e. Good-bye until we meet a

of the room and down the stairs. Not till he was in the train did he remembe

fully. His heart told him that he was wrong. The ci