Free Comes a Stranger by E.R. Punshon Page B

one side, he directed the light of his torch along the open passage way that ran the length of the hall below the windows on the north side. There was nothing to be seen, no prostrate body, no sign of any struggle. He threw the light next on each window in turn. Apparently, of each one, the shutters were securely fastened. Bobby said:
    â€œAll the shutters are closed. Which window was it?”
    â€œThe middle one. I noticed that.”
    â€œIf you could see in through it, the shutters must have been closed since. Anybody there must have been moved, too.”
    He walked on towards the indicated window. Virtue followed. He said:
    â€œThe body was lying there.”
    He pointed to a spot exactly in front of the window and midway between the two transverse book-cases that here made one of the successive open bays into which on each side the floor of the library was divided. There was nothing unusual to be seen, no sign of any struggle or of any other happening.
    Bobby said:
    â€œI think you told Mills the body you saw was covered with blood?”
    â€œYes, not covered exactly. There was a good deal on the—” He paused and went on: “—from a wound in the chest.”
    â€œDid you see any weapon? what sort of wound? big, small, from a stab, an open cut? a gash?”
    â€œI’m not sure,” Virtue answered. “I was too upset to look very closely. I think it was a small wound, a stab most likely, or it might have been a bullet wound. I don’t know. There seemed to be a good deal of blood. It was all over the front part of the body.”
    Bobby was stooping down. He looked very carefully at the floor. He even lifted the coco-nut matting which here served for a floor covering. He said:
    â€œI can’t see the least trace of any blood.”
    Virtue said nothing He stood still and upright. He was apparently deep in thought, but he did not seem troubled by the incredulity in Bobby’s tone. Bobby went on:
    â€œDid you notice what time it was when you saw all this?”
    â€œYes. I remember looking at my watch. I didn’t know what to do. I’m a stranger here. I didn’t know what a Britisher would do. I thought I had better go find police.”
    â€œYou didn’t think of giving an immediate alarm, of rousing the house?”
    â€œI suppose I thought some of them inside must know already,” he answered. “I daresay I was a bit scared of what might happen if I knocked up the folk indoors. It’s a bit disturbing when you’re a foreigner and never been in the country before to run across what looks like a murder. I just stood and stared and felt mighty scared and then I left quick as I knew how to find police.”
    â€œWas the window wide open or did you see through the glass? Did the shutters show at all? were they partly closed, I mean?”
    â€œThe window was shut. I could see through the glass. It was the bright light shining through it outside I noticed first. I didn’t notice shutters or curtain or anything like that. I knew at night the library was always shut up tight as could be. That’s what made me wonder when I saw the light, why I came across to look.”
    â€œWhere did the light come from?”
    â€œI didn’t notice. The rest of the place was all dark. It was light all round this part, light was shining out through the window, too, but every other place was dark.”
    â€œCurious,” observed Bobby dryly, “for I understand the library has no artificial lighting system of any kind.”
    â€œNo—no lighting?” Virtue repeated. For the first time he seemed startled, taken aback. “But there must be—stands to sense. I mean—” He paused and then said doggedly:—“Well, I don’t know about that. Maybe there was a torch fixed somewhere. I saw what I told you, and there must have been light someway for me to see by.”
    Bobby made no reply. He was feeling