The Strange Case of Mortimer Fenley

Done Thi

r gifts-so the final refrain of an impassioned love song traveled far that placid morning. T

e knew the policeman. In a week he would have

p and had both thumbs stuck in its belt. "That's a fine thing you w

s' Samson et Dalila," replied Trenh

An' wot may

ad no great vogue in Hertfordshire, he explained, and added that he possessed a copy of the song, which was

had passed through the wicket, "did you he

es

ee any

annoyed about the shooting.

sir, and it's an unusual th

l at any time of the year in an enclosed

policeman. "I think I'll go

ny pockets, brown leggings, and a yellow dog, you'll find him searchin

iceman

"If he was 'wanted,' your descript

g the next hour than with his own unhindered return to the White Horse Inn, it is well to trace the exact cours

lanation. Such a sound heard at midnight would be sinister, ominous, replete with those elements of mystery and dread which cause even a policeman's heart to beat faster than the regulation pace. Under the conditions,

acking of his sketching materials, his conversation with gamekeeper and policeman, and the leisurely progress of the latter through the wood, and it will be found

sing among the trees had not disturbed even a pheasant, though the estate was alive with game. The door of The Towers was open, but no stately manservant was stationed there

nine forty-five. As a rule, he's as reliable as Greenwich. I'l

of the out-door employees as well. He stood there, calm and impassive as Fate, and, without knowing it, represented Fate in her most inexorable mood; for had he betaken

mself may climb slowly to an inspectorship, and pass into the dignified ease of a pension, without being aware of the part he played in a tragedy that morning. Of course, in his own estimation, he filled a highly import

ath of a comet is deflected by encountering a heavy planet. Presumably, neither comet nor

or's motor car panted along the avenue from Easton and pulled up with a jerk in fron

asked, and the words were j

?" inquired Fa

ho shot Mr

ch word in a crescendo of amazement. Being a singer, he un

. Fenley was shot dead on his own doorstep nearly an hour ago. At least that i

men came through the doorway. They were Bates, the keeper, Tomlinson, the butler, and Mr. Hilton Fenley, elder son of the man now reported dead. All were bareheaded. The arrival of the doctor, at the instant alighting from his car, prev

done, Stern! My

ercome with emotion. The shock of a terrible crime had taxed his self-control to i

I'll join you in a few minutes. I mus

ware of Farrow, now within a few yards. At sight of him, Fenley seemed to recover his faculties; the mere

cried. "Go with him, Bates, and

iceman, startled anew by this unexpected refer

in the park, near the lake, just after t

y shot. He hadn't a gun. In fact, he spoke

pieces. I never saw anything like it. It was ghastly-oh, ghastly! The murderer must be found. Why are you losing time? Jump into the car, and

his mouth. His father had been struck dead within a few seconds after they had separated in the entrance hall, both having quitted

magnitude, but he acted promptly and with fixed purpo

rmined eye on the keeper, "where

k of the lodge," cam

em this wa

idn't lose '

left by the Easton gat

's ri

nd Mr. Trenh

om the cedars,

did he

' pointed out the Quarry Wo

t at all in

Spoke quite

r. Trenholme, we account for both gates an' the

im at the

A

ormed a theory in which Jenkins, that young Territ

terance was nearly hysterical. Farrow's judicial calm appeared to stir him to frenzy. He clamored for

's as certain as anything can be that the murderer, if mur

Fenley. "What do you mean? Go and

n' sorry I am to hear of it; but the a

shot dead at his own front door, in a house standing in th

dn't lose sight of that fact just because it's unusual. Now, sir, with your permission,

hy

horoughly, while others watch the open park, to make sure no one escapes without bein' seen. It's my firm belief that the man who fired that rifle i

Fenley's dazed mind recalled som

Scotland Yard half a

ow is to search every inch of the woods.

plenty of

lpers do as I

ns me you are not adopting the best course. I think you ough

the open road. I fancy we'll come across the weapon itself in the wood. Besides, the Ins

hat artist be

m. He's been stayin' at the White Horse Inn the last two days, an' is qui

with my father,

Wot,

on the hunt, stopped as if he hea

pressed a ha

e business matter had vexed him that day, I fancy, and he dashed off the refusal on the spur of the moment. But a man does not commit a terr

ght, and the mere effort at sustained conversation was a torture. He turned th

He's fair off his nu

row. "But we must get busy. Whe

a thumb tow

e helped to carry in the Gov

't do any good now, an' we've

for the dead banker maintained a large establishment. Farrow explained his plan. They would beat the woods methodically, and the searcher who noted anything "unusual"-the word was often on the policeman's li

. The first intimation he had received of the murder was the chauffeur's message.

op of the steps at The Towers. There can't be many such places. Is there even one? I don't suppose the barefaced scoundrel would dare come out into the open drive. Brodie said Mr. Fenley was shot through the right s

shown him the ghastly evidences of a wound which must have been instantly fatal. Now, a shrewd if narrow intelligence was concentrated on the one tremendous question, "Who hath done this thing?" He looked so worried

pitch, lest one of the others might overhear. "Gimme the straig

" muttered the keeper, w

ith grateful memories of many a pheasant and brace o

you things in c

'em from any

, only to expel it fierc

en 'em the other day, Saturday it was. My niece, Mary, was a-dustin' the banisters when the two kem out from

d way. You must give me time.' 'Not another minute,' said Mr. Fenley. 'Oh, dash it all,' said Mr. Robert, 'you're enough to drive

v'nor went off in the car in a fine ol' temper. Mr. Robert left The To

ly ran dry, Farrow felt that there was more

as to what the row w

d something to do

iss Sy

t are pretty good

le, but each scrap of news migh

at part of the wood where care must be exercise

k an' blue I never said it; but I knew the ring of the shot that killed my poor ol' guv'nor. It was fired from an express rifle, an' there's on'y one of the sort in Roxton, so far as I've ever se

le member of the Hertfordshire constabulary. Not that he quite brought himself to believe Robert Fenley his father's murderer. That was going rather far. That wou

his father's secretary and right hand in affairs, both in the bank and in matters affecting the estate. Robert, almost unmanageable as a youth, had grown into an exceedingly rapid young man about town. But Roxton folk feared Hilto

e puzzle would explain itself in the long run, when an exclamation from Bate

ow a rabbit warren, which gave the locality its name; they followed the rising edge of the excavation, treading on a broad strip of turf, purposely freed of encroaching briers lest any wandering stranger migh

alted suddenly. He pointed to

darting ferret eyes now at the telltale marks and now in

," said Farrow. "Footprints are first ra

they could see the east front of The Towers. In fact, while perched there, having climbed its shoulder with great care lest certain definite tokens of a r

e Mortimer Fenley had stood when he was stricken to death. With them were two strangers: one tall, burly and official-looking; the ot

and all were gazing fixedly at that part of the wood w

ates. "Who is t

and his diminutive companion

otland Yar

ho

lton telephoned for 'em. An' wot'

s to go back

eb

eed, only a blind man could have been skeptic

rmly. "Mind how you get down. Them marks may be useful.

agreed Bates, a

ts awaited them. None of the others had found any indication of a strange

announced. "Now we'll be told just

creeping into his voice. He noticed, too, that Tomlinson, the butler, not only looked white and shaken, which was natural

not put i

linson has something on his chest. By jing

majesty of the "Yard," for the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Departmen