The Hunt Ball Mystery

ng heard of him. The morning brought no news, and even Ke

th while taking steps to find out what had become of him. But that fellow can take care of himself; and w

to have the momentous interview with Miss Tredworth's father. He anticipated no difficulty t

fford suggested. "There wi

el and Charlie are coming over to Wynford to luncheon. I sh

gized for her absence, saying she had been obliged to keep an engagement to lunch with a friend, but that she had promised to return quite early in the afternoon. Mr. Piercy, the antiquarian, proved t

ight, they should begin their tour of the house; he called upon

son said to his friend as they found themselves side by

had another telegram of inquiry from the br

. "It really does begin to

n interviewing the p

not been playing the fool, or worse,

ancing had taken place, and so to the passage co

Mr. Piercy," Morriston said; "this fourteenth century tower,

gist murmured; "they cou

ures, which in older days had been put to sterner purposes; they admired the solid strength of the ties and hammer-beams in the roofs, and scruti

ston proposed. "It is used only for lumber

he party up the winding s

d. And the key appears to have been taken away," he adde

rrow stairs. "I'll go and ask what has become of t

rned, presently fol

or is locked, Stent?" he as

ing that the door was locked and the key taken

of the ball, when I had those old things broug

ck the door

certain I did not. Per

ire. And have th

good

h should be lovely on a clear day like this. If we have to wait much longer the light will be going. Besides,

urned accompanied by a f

"No one seems to have seen it. Alfred has brough

uld go into the lock, not

to work. But no key would enter. The footman at last took a box of matches

ck, on the other side, sir

be locked," Morrist

ut the door showed no sign of yiel

id. "Hi! Is any one in there?"

y is in the door on

the man replied, striking another match and hol

from his scrutiny. "It is the most extraordinary thi

ad. "No, sir. Unless so

n shouted, but

ay out of the room but t

ndow, and that is, I should say, quite eig

quite that distan

of exit," Piercy o

le to bring a ladder long enough to reach up to that window. Well, we must have the mystery cleared up. I think, Stent, you had better send one of the men on a bicycle into Branchester to fet

tectural features. As they came to the tower the rays of a late winter sun were striking it almost horizontally, lighting it up in a picturesque glow. Piercy

" Morriston said, evidently perplexed and annoyed over the mys

ed with a laugh, as he looked up at the sheer surface of the upper wall; "unless he was bent

orriston was seen coming up the drive.

ix. Can you explain how the door of the top room i

looked surprise

ked and the key missing, and then when Alfred tried another ke

moment. "My dear Dick,

"most certainly locked. We have

someone in the roo

only possible explanation. But I sho

you a trick," and

who?" he

, you'll find out soon enoug

ared making for the servants' entrance

n her stately wa

ing a fuss about it. You will probab

playing this stupid trick,

id turned the key in a panic at bei

th a laugh of ill-humour. "And he'

ity was generally accepted as th

up, and see whether the door is open or not.

all and the corridor beyond

he last turn showed the workman busy at

king at the door, while the footma

ock, inside, isn't i

answered. "There is

ou accoun

from his task an

sir. Unless so be as th

ou ope

l have it turn

screwed tightly, clutching the end of the key. Then fitting a transverse rod to the pli

n unscrewed his instrument; then he

inside of the door. He took a couple of steps farther into the room, only to utter an ex

rd, come here a moment and shut the door. Look!" he said in a breathless whisper, pointing to th

e object which Morriston indicated, and he t

able which had practically hidden it from the doorway, lay the body of a man in evening clothes, one side of his shirt-front

!" Kelso