The Red House Mystery
ir minds as to what they wanted to do, the plan had to be kept. Mrs. Calladine, who knew this little weakness of their host's, resisted, therefore, the suggestion of Bill that th
e point that, having arranged to be bac
e morning, he wanted to prove to himself in the afternoon that he was really better than
is from Bill. "You'd like to p
ked doubtfully
dear, we mustn't keep you here. Besid
les, mother,"
them that we were having another round, and then
ooler here than I expe
o have them out of the way. So she consented to nine holes; and the match having ended all-square, and everybody h
f, as they approached the h
waved, and he waved back. Then as the car drew up, Bill, who was
n idea. "Don't say you're Mark Ablett's long-lost brother from Aust
tly. "Will you introduce me? I'
Major and Mrs. Calladine were on the near side o
d. "Robert Ablett, Mr. Mark Ablett's brother, has been ki
!" said t
killed himself?" asked Mr
so on in the house-he asked me to tell you. He says that no doubt you would prefer, the house-party having been broken up in this tragic way, to leave as soon as possible." He gave a pleasant apologetic little smile and went on, "I am putting it badly, but what he
was leaning across to Miss Norris and saying, "Who's killed?" in an awe-struck voice, and Miss Norris, who was instinctively looking as tragic as she looked
the place off our shoes because something terrible has happened there. I must see Mark, and we can
anyway," said Bill. "Isn't that
the Major suddenly,
ck unwaveringly-
er to Mrs. Calladine, "that it would be bett
ed quietly. "You will
pected to stay at the Red House for another week, he had nowhere to go to in London, but London seemed to be th
Bill. You have to go anyhow
e with you, Mr
regard any telephoning or telegraphing that you want done." He smiled again and added, "Please forgive me if I seem to have take
Miss Norris
Middleston was just crossing into the library wi
lingham. He'd better come with us." And t
quiringly from
found the body toget
the facts sorted out a bit. I like
all
ith interest. "D'you know w
ere I'm go
e's t
nspector Birch," sai
tor laughe
you as much as I
ing-table, and Cayley sat in a chair by the side of it. Antony mad
the Inspector. "Robert Ablett, didn'
f Mark Ablett,
harpen a pencil. "S
, n
that he knew about Robert. This was news to him. "I see
lve at the time. The sort of age whe
nient qu
act
w whether he had been me
ley. "Perhaps what might seem wicked to a clerg
Inspector. "Anyhow, it was more co
es
never talke
h ashamed of him, and-well, v
ite Mark s
three or four times i
g for
k Mark always answered them. As far
yley. Do you think that Mark was unfa
never any affection between them. I don't know w
ight have give
, "that Robert spent his wh
pector
ll go on to this morning. This le
. He showed it t
add
heet of rathe
is it
In Mark's poc
"Well, we'll come to that. C
u to-morrow, all the way from Australia. I give you warning so that you will be able to co
d it down carefully. "Did
ndo
was Mark's
isgust-" Cayl
ehens
ension of an unpleasant interview, not
aid of violence, or blackmai
't appea
he arrived, you say,
about
in the ho
vants. I don't know which. Of course,
permission.
ou want to see them at all? It isn't very pleasant for them now, naturally, and I suggested-" he turned to Antony, who no
ames and addresses in case I
would like to see him later, but they only cam
ow then, let's go back to three o'cloc
w Audrey had asked him where the master was, and how he
in there I heard a shot. At least, it was a loud bang, I wasn't sure if it was a shot. I stood and listened. Then I came slowly to the door and looked out. Then I went back again, hesitated a bit, you know, and finally decided to go across to the office,
looked at hi
yley. Mr. Mark, now. You thought he was in the Temple. Could he
way, of course. But I wasn't in the hall all the afternoon. He mi
surprised when you
not a
d he say
ng of the sort. I suppose he'd heard
m face? Could he have seen
ht have
el
ort of shrug, and said, 'Don't go too far
u think he m
, you know. I'm his sort of unoff
s meeting rather th
s how he regard
as it before you
Two minute
ting, and then regarded Cayley
theory of Ro
ugged his
n," he answered. "It's your job. I can o
el
m him, there was a little struggle perhaps, and it went off. Mark lost his head, finding himself there with a revolver in his hand and a dead man a
reasonable enough. What do
lose your head," said Antony, getting u
what I mean. It
lanation would make the
ny other ex
ot
d like to correct Mr. Cayley?-anything
described it all
rself. You're not stayin
ned his previ
you hear
s. Just as I came in sight of the house. It didn't ma
were yo
ve. I was just in
use by the front do
d his eyes a
" he sai
certain
hough rather surprised that he
e at 'The George,
g here until after the in
ow, about the