Fergus Hume

“ Hustings have told me, I see nothing suspicious in the couple.”
“Neither do I,” chimed in Dick, suddenly, “all the same I am suspicious. I have what the Americans call—a hunch.”
“Like your Whispering word hunch,” said Trant, lightly.
“Yes, and that proved to be helpful,” retorted Dick, nettled. “It led me to Wessbury, where we have found evidence connecting that place with Fryfeld. Oh, Mrs. Jerr seemed to be fair and honest, I don’t deny. But Wu Ti going down the lane when I was engaged with her—Jimmy finding the scarf-pin near the bungalow! Eh, Inspector?” ”

“ He told her it brought him luck and kept him safe.”
“It did neither on the night he was murdered,” commented the Inspector, grimly, and stowed away the scarf-pin in a convenient drawer, “but if Aileen is sure of her facts, this is positive evidence that Slanton was in Wessbury, drawn hither, it would seem, by his desire to investigate this ghost-business. You have gone far afield to find evidence, Mr. Hustings.”
“With success, you will perceive,” said Dick, dryly, “and Jimmy here can supplement the evidence of that swastika-pin. He saw Slanton.” ”

“ Meanwhile, Aileen——?”
“She is still at the cottage with Jenny watching over her. Worried, naturally, but quite well. I have permitted her to see Miss Danby.”
“Good man!” Dick drew a breath of relief now that he knew Aileen was safe.
“Your news—your news!” Trant was on tenterhooks.
“Ah, yes. Help me, Jimmy: fill in my gaps,” and Hustings fully explained his doings during the last few days, the boy putting in a word here and there. At the end of a meticulous narrative, the latter produced the scarf-pin. “So now you know,” finished Dick, breathlessly, “and I hope you’ll let me smoke.” ”

“ Dick, taking her gently by the shoulders, looked with tenderness into her sad and tearful eyes, “you must make an effort to sleep. Only by keeping your health and your self-control can you help your friend. ”

“ To love a girl and yet keep at arm’s length from the girl was much too tantalizing a situation for so hot-blooded a young man. He wrote a note, apologizing for his flight on the plea of over-anxiety for his client, and said that he would come again when possessed of fresh information. ”

“ Jimmy keeps himself to himself, very thoroughly.”
“What do you think, Dick?”
“I think that we are blundering about in the dark, and until we see light, will continue to blunder. Undoubtedly Slanton was in Wessbury on the sixth of October, and on the seventh was found dead in the wood outside, eighteen miles from that village. ”

“ Trant eyed the slim, bright-eyed boy critically.
“He’s a native of Wessbury. Father, once schoolmaster, now sexton—having come down in the world.”
“Why have you brought him to see me?”
“Inspector Trant,” said Hustings, with twinkling eyes, “allow me to introduce to you the future Sherlock Holmes of the C.I.D.”
“If my luck holds,” murmured Jimmy, who was taking in his surroundings swiftly and sorting them into the pigeon-holes of his clever brain.
“Oh, it will hold right enough,” said Dick catching the words, “you’re much too good to lose, youngster. Now then, Mr. ”