The Hunt Ball Mystery

ust have gone on

. "But you had no business to send the tr

r protested deprecatingly. "You see, sir, the train was nearly twenty minut

he went on, addressing a tall, soldierly man who strolled up, "a nice

stled. "Ar

o the porter, who regretful

the station-master, and have your case wired for to the next stop. I am sorry, old fellow, I kept you talking i

as my own fault being so casual. The nuisance is that if I don't get

ripping dance. Dick Morriston, who hunts the hounds, is doing the thing

. He wired for the suit-case to be put out at Medford, the next stop, some forty miles on, and sent back by the next up-train. "But that," he explained, "is a slow one

es

inutes' drive. I'll do my best

to the station yard, where a porter wai

rather embarrassed air; "I told him your fly was engaged, s

eople have of taking things for granted. Ch

in a hurry, sir," the por

n the fly," Kelson returned. "I'll have

e is in th

ut, Hugh. Infernally cool." And he

Harry," Gifford said deprecatingly as he followed. He knew

my fly, sir," Kelson was s

n Lion conveyance," a strong, deeply

ou it was engaged," Ke

pant replied in an even tone. "I am sorry if there has b

retorted, his temper rising at the other's coolness. "

st to swarthiness. "Only two? Surely there is no need to turn me out. You don't want to play the dog

t anything o

angrily when Gifford

e fellow seems more or less a gentleman; don't

nal impudence,"

It is not as though there was a

up with the brute," Kelson assented grudg

iage-door. "I think we can all

e," the stranger said, without, howev

"I fancy I am the smallest of the three; I shall

lence. At length as they turned from the station approach on to the main road the stranger spoke. His deep-toned voice had a musical ring in it, yet somehow t

e right thing than from any real touch of regret. "On an occasion like th

ford responded politely. "

ho began to wonder whether their companion could be a profe

men are going to the

ifford a

"Quite a sound idea, I have no doubt Morriston will do us as well-m

t, and the slight surprise in their tone was not quite complimentary. It mus

Why

except that I don't remember to hav

ving down in the south now, and when I'm at home usually turn out with the Bavistock. Quite a d

edly. "Yes, I believe they are

le point the other day, which was good enough in that country. Being in town I thought I woul

Kelson res

man observed, with a rather aggressive touch of irony, "I may as

Gervase Henshaw

rother. You

ssion, the Bar. And I came acro

he has time. He is by way of be

ld say," Giffor

he brains of the family. I'm all

don't look a sportsman. More a viveur than a regular open-air man, more at home in London or

to Henshaw's talk of himself. "I have hunted this country pretty

d Place where we are goi

w asked, curiosit

d, "to an uncle of min

ris

" Henshaw observed casually.

serve as though disinclined to discuss the subject with a stranger. "I

the hands of strangers. Personally, when a thing is irrevocably gone, as, I take it, Wynford

I can retrieve my evening kit, which has gone astray, I hope to enjoy myself

hing that is gone past recall does not pay; though as long as there is a chance o