The Hunt Ball Mystery

together with the man's big, muscular figure were unmistakable. For some moments the three men stood looking at the body in som

was the first to

he inside. I will send at once for the police, and we must have a doctor, although t

ed invitation to quit the room and an inclination not to run away from

a hushed voice. "Perhaps we had be

ne come in, and I suppose we ought not to move an

t, closing

said, pulling himself together and m

d responded

ot give one the idea of a man who had co

friend murmured in th

or it?" Kelson demanded, as appealing to

om the fascination that held his gaze to the tragedy. "It is an

man i

answer. Then he said, "No dou

used by Gifford's apathy. "We didn't like-the man did not appeal to us; but to die like this. It's horrible. And I dare say it happened while the d

n't like to think of it,"

ove affair bringing the poor fellow down to this place; but that he should come up here and do this thing,

But we don't know yet that

. Unless-" He glanced sharply at the deep recess, or inner chamber, formed b

relief. "I had for the moment an idea it might ha

e theory," Gifford remarked. He had

who could she possibly have been? I knew most of the girls who were at the

so," Gifford resp

ible?" Kelson dema

e women who can be as secret as the grave, at any rate so far as appearances to

h a girl in a light green dress,

tairway announced

dies, and I don't think that, so far, any of them has an exact idea of what made me turn them back. Just as well the

does not know?

o the house when she does. For I am hoping to have

a constable now arrived. Morriston took them int

use in our staying here," he

dded, and they b

lson?" Morriston cried

d be of no use and

rd re

stly affair; but I should like to have you with me till this police business is over. I won't ask you to stay up here, but if you do

ss than promise, and,

nt back to t

the hall the drawing-ro

ton ca

her coming?

fford answered in as casua

she glanced from one to the other. "I hope nothing is

g between a direct falsehood, the truth, and a pla

othing that you need wor

will tell y

she said, with just a tremor of anxiety underlying the characteristic coldness of

ter wait and hear it from Dick," he said, suggesting a move towards the d

on returned, her apprehension scarcely hidden

r. "No, no, Miss Morriston," he remonstrated with a prohibiting gesture, "don't go up there now

her eyes rested

length. "If you say I o

n my anxiety to kno

se for anxiety on your part

o the drawing-room. As they entered

ery solved?" young

'll hear all about it in good time," h

e to take

Miss Morriston protested. "

in the way if there i

wrong. At least neither Captain Kelson nor Mr. Gifford wil

ng that it was best not alluded to, at any rate by the ladies, and the conversation flo

nty," Miss Morriston said graciously, "when you shall have no episodes

ing visitor out into t

e is no harm in telling you there has been a most gruesome discovery in that locked room. A man

mercy the ladie

know sooner or later.

dea of the cause of

et. A compl

y a woma

ikely. G

ton and another man appeared at the fa

e," he said as Ke

s, doctor," Kelson obser

at first sight in the highest de

ace elsewhere. The police are making notes of everything important, and after dark will remove th

all-door and now approached with a card on a sal

sed his face. He handed it silently to Kelson, who gave it back with a grav