ting further
inquiries.

"The divisional surgeon, Dr. Brandon, in an interview with our
representative, made the following statements:

"'The bones are those of the left arm of a middle-aged or elderly man
about five feet eight inches in height. All the bones of the arm are
present, including the scapula, or shoulder-blade, and the clavicle, or
collar-bone, but the three bones of the third finger are missing.'

"'Is this a deformity or has the finger been cut off?' our
correspondent asked.

"'The finger has been amputated,' was the reply. 'If it had been
absent from birth, the corresponding hand bone, or metacarpal, would
have been wanting or deformed, whereas it is present and quite normal.'

"'How long have the bones been in the water?' was the next question.

"'More than a year, I should say. They are quite clean; there is not a
vestige of the soft structures left.'

"Have you any theory as to how the arm came to be deposited where it
was found?'

"'I should rather not answer that question,' was the guarded response.

"'One more question,' our correspondent urged. 'The ground landlord,
Mr. John Bellingham; is he not the gentleman who disappeared so
mysteriously some time ago?'

"'So I understand,' Dr. Brandon replied.

"'Can you tell me if Mr. Bellingham had lost the third finger of his
left hand?'

"'I cannot say,' said Dr. Brandon; and he added with a smile, 'you had
better ask the police.'

"That is how the matter stands at present. But we understand that the
police are making active inquiries for any missing man who has lost the
third finger of his left hand, and if any of our readers know of such a
person, they are earnestly requested to communicate at once, either
with us or the authorities.

"Also we believe that a systematic search is to be made for further
remains."

I laid the newspaper down and fell into a train of reflection. It was
certainly a most mysterious affair. The thought that had evidently
come to the reporter's mind stole naturally into mine. Could these
remains be those of John Bellingham? It was obviously possible, though
I could not but see that the fact of the bones having been found on his
land, while it undoubtedly furnished the suggestion, did not in any way
add to its probability. The connection was accidental and in nowise
relevant.

Then, too, there was the missing finger. No reference to any such
deformity had been made in the original report of the