Part 16 (1/2)
It has already been mentioned that, in addition to this palisade, numerous bushes of stunted growth formed a substantial barrier between the grounds of the adjoining estates. It was on a p.r.i.c.kly evergreen that the sc.r.a.p of paper, to which the girl's attention had been drawn by its fluttering in the soft breeze, was impaled.
”Surely not another message from our neighbour?” queried Laurence, with a smile.
”Not exactly,” replied Lena, ”but something belonging to Mr. Meadows, under his military alias, for all that.”
”Indeed!” Laurence bent over the sc.r.a.p of paper, which the girl now held out for him.
It was the left-hand portion of a torn envelope. In fact it was entire, save that the part bearing the stamp and the last few letters of each line of the address were missing. Such of it as there was bore the following address, written in a firm lady-like handwriting--undoubtedly the work of an educated woman--
”Major Farnell-Jo....
”Durley Den....
”Northd....
”Yorksh....
”England.”
”So the worthy Major has lady correspondents who address him by his pseudonym and write from abroad,” remarked Lena.
”It's undoubtedly in a lady's handwriting,” replied Laurence, ”but how do you know it comes from abroad? The envelope is a thick one.”
”That's simple enough. If the person who addressed that envelope had done so from England she would have been hardly likely to write 'England' at the foot of the address. Of course, in using the word 'abroad,' I include in this case Scotland and Ireland.”
”I see. But surely that handwriting is familiar to me. Don't you know it? No? Well, I'm certain that I do. The peculiar formation of the 'J's'
and 'Y's,' and the flouris.h.i.+ng stroke to the 'N' of Northden, I know perfectly. Where have I seen that writing before?”
But, strive as he might, he could not recall whose it was.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE MYSTERY OF THE MANSE BARN
”By all that's wonderful,” cried Laurence to Lena after the solemn mid-day meal was at an end, ”if I haven't forgotten about the clue Mr.
Oliver Potter so generously gave me! Let me think--he said if I went to the cupboard in the Squire's bedroom I should find a cardboard box containing something which would prove of use in our investigation. If you will wait here for half a minute (I know you will excuse me) I will fetch the box, and we will pry into its mysterious contents.”
He left the dining-room, returning, however, a few moments later with a yellow collar-box. From this he permitted Lena to remove the lid. The girl gave a cry of dismay when she caught sight of the unpleasant contents of the box. The odour that arose from the carcase of the bat which the detective had so carefully preserved was none too pleasant, while to a woman the sight of anything so closely resembling a mouse as does a bat is usually enough to cause an exclamation of horror.
Laurence was much annoyed when he perceived the clue which Potter had left behind him.
”It's his pretty revenge for his dismissal,” he said. ”An extremely poor practical joke, which I am surprised that a man of Potter's age should descend to. Here, let me throw it away.”
And he suited the action to the word by flinging the little carcase out of the open window and into the middle of a cl.u.s.ter of bushes.
”Now for the barn,” Laurence proceeded. ”Shall we make our examination of it at once, as Meadows suggested?”
”I am quite ready, if you are,” replied Lena.