f furniture likely to contain a bulky object; but all in
vain.

Then he recalled the fact that the police officer--a man of experience--
had searched carefully and given the matter up. Still Brettison must
have practiced a great deal of cunning for his friend's sake, and there
was no knowing what he might have done. There were the floors of the
rooms--boards might have been taken up, and concealment made between the
joists; or there was the wainscot; some panel might have been taken out
in front of a recess, and the body placed there.

But Stratton shook his head, and his chin went down upon his chest in
despair. There were sufficient reasons, for Brettison not choosing such
a hiding-place as that. Detection in a short time was certain.

"Seems impossible," thought Stratton; "but he must have taken it away."

"Hadn't you better go home?" said a gruff voice.

Stratton looked up, to find a burly policeman had stopped by his side,
and was watching him keenly.

"Go--go home?" stammered Stratton.

"Yes, sir; that's what I said. You don't look well, and when people
come and sit down here, feeling as you do, they sometimes lets their
feelings get the better of 'em and jump off. Next moment they're sorry
for it, and call for help, often enough when no help can come. You go
home, sir, and have a day or two in bed. You'll come out again like a
new man."

Stratton frowned.

"You are making a mistake," he said quietly. "I had no such thought as
you imagine."

"Glad of it, sir. You'll excuse me. You know that sort of thing
happens here so often that we're obliged to keep a sharp lookout."

Stratton's mind was made up once more, and he hastened off to the
station, caught a later train, and in two hours was down in the old
village, with its quaint ivy-covered hostelry and horse-trough
ornamented with the mossy growth that dotted the boles of the grand old
forest trees around.

The landlady met him with a smile of welcome which faded after his
questions.

Oh, yes, she remembered Mr Brettison, and his green tin candle-box and
bright trowel very well. He was the gentleman who used to bring home
weeds in his umbrella; but it was a long time since he had been down
there. It was only a week ago that she was saying to her master how she
wondered that that gentleman had not been down for so long. But
wouldn't he come in and have some refreshment?

No, Stratton would not come in and have some refreshment, for he