Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/255

244. I don't understand Parker would go as far as that."

"Good Gad!" said Lomas. "Where the devil is Parker?"

"Keeping Mr. Sandford under observation, sir, according to instructions. Beg your pardon, sir. I've heard his story, and I quite agree it all happened like that. But you haven't heard mine."

Lomas looked round him. The house was too near. "We'll walk on the lawn," he announced. "Now then. Parker says the two men quarrelled on the bridge over the lake and Kimball was thrown in, and as he fell he called out, 'You scoundrel, you've murdered me!' And you say that isn't murder."'

"Did Sergeant Parker say 'thrown in'?" said Hall, with surprise in his face and his voice.

"I believe he didn't," said Lomas slowly. "No. He said Kimball was thrown off, and as he fell in he called out."

"That's right, sir," said Hall heartily. "But I reckon there is more to it than that. When Mr. Kimball came out this morning I was waiting for him in the park. It was rather touch and go, because he had some men at work above the lake. He went down that way to the station. As he was crossing the bridge he tried the rails. It's very odd, sir, but a bit of the bar—it's a sort of rustic stuff—was that loose it came off in his hand. He put it back and went on. He met Mr. Sandford in the