employees, examined the books which had so interested Mary on the
previous day, went to the scene of the murder. But no one could guess
from his face as to what his conclusions might have been. That he was
anxious and perturbed no one could have doubted; but whether his
inquiries gave him any reason for hope it was impossible to tell.
Strange as it may seem, he did not go to Brunclough Lane, but by means
of many out-of-the-way inquiries he discovered the name of the doctor
who attended the Dodsons in case of illness. He found out, too, that
this doctor was not a fully qualified medical practitioner. Lancashire
is a very Mecca for quack doctors. Long years ago, before legislation
became stringent in this direction, many unqualified men earned large
incomes among the factory hands. Herbalists of all sorts and men who
pretended to cure diseases which baffled all the doctors were in great
demand. In later years, although this practice had been considerably
curtailed, a number of unqualified people managed to eke out a living.
Judge Bolitho discovered that one of these--a certain Ezekiel Ashworth,
who pretended to a knowledge of herbs, and who was also one who held
high place among the spiritualists of the town--had attended in a
medical capacity on various occasions at 27 Brunclough Lane. He also
found out that this man had, during the last few weeks, sent a good
deal of medicine to Mrs. Dodson's house, and, more than all this, that
he had been called in on the previous evening some two hours after Mary
had been in the street.

A little after noon Judge Bolitho found his way to Ezekiel Ashworth's
house. He lived in a small, narrow street in one of a row of cottages
which was let to him for four and sixpence a week. Ezekiel Ashworth
had in his younger days been a weaver, but his mother, who was renowned
as a very wise woman, had imparted her secrets to him before she died,
and he had from that time followed his mother's calling. He also
claimed that the spirits told him many things which doctors were unable
to find out, and thus he imposed upon the credulity of ignorant people.
Indeed, Ezekiel had quite an extensive practice, and many there were,
even among those in affluent circumstances, who sought his aid.

When Judge Bolitho knocked at Ezekiel's door it was opened by the man
himself. He was attired in a suit of shabby broadcloth; a greasy
frock-coat hung below his knees, and his linen had evidently been a