es
marked by Barraclough with the pencil point. They were easily located
but their outward appearance suggested little enough connection with
the mystery. They were fashioned of grey Cornish granite with slate
roofs and the inevitable fuchsia bushes in the front gardens. One of
them boasted a small stock yard roughly cobbled, an open cowshed and
alongside a stable with a heavy double door. As a mere matter of form
Harrison Smith determined to take a glance inside but on approaching
the door he found it was fastened by an iron crossbar secured to an
eyelet by a large and well made padlock. The door fitted closely into
its architrave and there was no crack through which a man might see
into the stable. Once more his excitement revived. With a quick
glance over his shoulder to satisfy himself no one was about he
scrambled over the shale wall of the stock yard and passed to the rear
of the building. High up under the gable a few pieces of stone had
been removed for ventilation. A broken horse trough placed against the
wall served him as a ladder and a moment later he was peering through
the gap into the inky darkness of the stable. Nothing could be seen
so, with some difficulty, he struck a match and dropped it into the
space beyond. It went out in the fall but in the brief space while
still alight it revealed the bright parts of a long, low racing car.

Harrison Smith dropped silently to the ground and his breath came short
and sharp.

"I was right--I was right," he gasped. "Hispano Suisa by the look of
it--and fast too. Shouldn't have much chance against that outfit."

Naturally enough he resolved that it would never do to allow
Barraclough to get as far as the stable. On the other hand it would be
a wise precaution to disable the big automobile in case of accident.
But between him and the carrying out of this resolve was an iron bar
and a padlock. To attempt violence against the door would surely
attract attention from the house. And all at once a simple and
effective alternative suggested itself. If he himself were unable to
enter the stable he would take measures to prevent the entrance of any
other person. There was no difficulty about that and when five minutes
later he strolled down the road toward the inn it was with the
comforting reflection that the keyhole of the padlock was entirely
filled up with clay and grit in such a manner that no key could ever
again force its way in.

He found Dirk