Page:The Zeppelin Destroyer.djvu/59

 CHAPTER VI

THEED'S STRANGE STORY

HE following morning while I was writing letters in my room Theed entered, saying that his father had called and wished to see me.

A moment later the sturdy old ex-police sergeant came in, his felt hat in his hand, and when I had sat him beside the fire I saw an unusual expression upon his grey, furrowed countenance.

'I've come up, sir,' he said, 'because something curious 'appened at the shed lars' night.'

'Happened—what's happened?' I asked, staring at him.

'Well—something I can't quite make out, sir. But I thought I ought to report at once.'

'Tell me, by all means, Theed,' I said, instantly interested.

'Well, sir. There were strangers about lars' night,'

'Strangers! Who?' I asked, recollecting Teddy's allegations on the night of our successful test.

'Well—it was like this, Mr. Munro,' the old fellow began. 'I went on at nine o'clock as usual, and met Harry there. We talked together about half an hour, and then he left. I 'ad a pipe in front o' the stove and