The Valley of Fear

edy of B

urred before we arrived upon the scene by the light of knowledge which came to us afterwards. Only in this wa

residents, whose villas peep out from the woods around. These woods are locally supposed to be the extreme fringe of the great Weald forest, which thins away until it reaches the northern chalk downs. A number of small shops have come into being to meet the wants of the increased po

s back to the time of the first crusade, when Hugo de Capus built a fortalice in the centre of the estate, which had been granted to him by the Red King. This was dest

decessor, the outer had been allowed to dry up, and served the humble function of a kitchen garden. The inner one was still there, and lay forty feet in breadth, though now only a few feet in depth, round the

stic energy, set this right, and the drawbridge was not only capable of being raised, but actually was raised every evening and lowered every morning. By thus renewing the custom of the o

a remarkable man, both in character and in person. In age he may have been about fifty, with a strong-jawed, rugged face, a grizzling moustache, peculiarly keen gray eyes, and a wiry, vigorous figure which had lost nothing of

ects, and attending their smoking concerts and other functions, where, having a remarkably rich tenor voice, he was always ready to oblige with an excellent song. He appeared to have pl

very meet, and took the most amazing falls in his determination to hold his own with the best. When the vicarage caught fire he distinguished himself also by the fearlessness with which he reentered the bui

tered the less to her, as she was retiring by disposition, and very much absorbed, to all appearance, in her husband and her domestic duties. It was known that she was an English lady who had met Mr. Douglas in Lon

med about it. It had also been noted and commented upon by a few observant people that there were signs sometimes of some nerve-strain upon the part of Mrs. Douglas, and that she would display acute uneasiness if her absent husband should ever be particula

tent one, but whose presence at the time of the strange happenings which will now be narrated brou

ced as being the only friend of the past unknown life of Mr. Douglas who was ever seen in his new English surroundings. Barker was himself an undoubted Englishman; but by his remarks i

neither rode nor shot, but spent his days in wandering round the old village with his pipe in his mouth, or in driving with his host, or in his absence with his hostess, over the beautiful countryside. "An easy-going, free-handed gentleman," said Ames, the butler. "But, my word! I had rather not be the man that cross

pectable, and capable Ames, and Mrs. Allen, a buxom and cheerful person, who relieved the lady of some of her h

aled furiously upon the bell. A terrible tragedy had occurred at the Manor House, and John Douglas had been murdered. That was the breathless burden of his message. He had hurried back to the house, followe

wringing his hands in the doorway. Only Cecil Barker seemed to be master of himself and his emotions; he had opened the door which was nearest to the entrance and he had beckoned to the sergeant to follow him. At that moment there arrived Dr. Wood

lamp which had stood on the table. One glance at the victim was enough to show the healer that his presence could be dispensed with. The man had been horribly injured. Lying across his chest was a curious weapon, a shotgun with the barrel sawed off a foot in f

ty which had come so suddenly upon him. "We will touch nothing until my superi

aid Cecil Barker. "I'll answer for that

e sergeant had draw

fire in my bedroom when I heard the report. It was not very loud-it seemed to be muf

he doo

e him. His bedroom candle was burning on the table.

u see n

prevent her from seeing this dreadful sight. Mrs. Allen, the housekeeper, cam

rd that the drawbridge

up until I

ot away? It is out of the question!

ned window was open to its full extent. "And look at this!" He held the lamp down and illuminated a smu

someone waded a

act

lf a minute of the crime, he must have

tain screened it, as you can see, and so it never occurred to me. Then I heard the step

ed head and the terrible marks which surrounded it. "I've

ering the open window. "It's all very well your saying that a man escaped by wading this mo

he question,"

'clock was

x o'clock," said

usually raised at sunset. That would be nearer

aid Ames. "I couldn't raise it until

-if they did-they must have got in across the bridge before six and been

the lights were right. That brought him in here. The man was waiting and shot him. Then he got away thr

ad man on the floor. The initials V. V. and under the

" he asked, h

never noticed it before," he said. "The

can make no

fingers. "What's V. V.? Somebody's initials

ont of the fireplace-a substantial, workmanlike hammer. Cecil Ba

d. "I saw him myself, standing upon that chair and fixing

best brains in the force to get to the bottom of this thing. It will be a London job before it is finished." He raised the hand lamp and w

" said the butler. "It wo

man got into the house after four when the curtains were drawn and before six when the bridge was raised. He slipped into this room, because it was the first that he saw. There was no other place where he c

en't we wasting precious time? Couldn't we start out

considered

th his legs all dripping, it's odds that someone will notice him. Anyhow, I can't leave here myself

rutinizing the body. "What's this mark?" he asked

igh as the elbow. About halfway up the forearm was a curious brown design, a tri

ses. "I never saw anything like it. The man has been branded a

said Cecil Barker; "but I have seen the mar

the master has rolled up his sleeves I have noticed

id the sergeant. "But it's a rum thing all the same. E

of astonishment and was pointing a

his wedding r

ha

eft hand. That ring with the rough nugget on it was above it, and the twisted snake ring o

ght," sa

sergeant, "that the wedding

way

this ring you call the nugget ring, then the wedding

t is

is a smart man. No local job has ever been too much for White Mason. It won't be long now before he is here to help us. But I expect