THE BITE OF - - - THE LEECH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 59

THE BITE OF - - - - THE LEECH.

Being one of the Memoirs left by the late Colonel Sir Nigel Lycaita, X.C.8., of Scotland Yard. Edited by Patrick Home.

By W. A. MACKEK2IF, Author of " His Majesty's Peacock," " The Glittering Road," etc., etc. [CorYKicnT.]

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. Chapters I and ll.— This story is related by the late Colonel Sir Nigel Lacaita. The curtain rises in Essex, and the first scene is Bradminster Hall, the country home of the Oxborrows, where the colonel meets a houseparty, all of whom figure more or less in the story. While the gentlemen of the party are on a rabbit-shooting expedition, one of the labourers conies to John Coster, a. gentleman farmer, with the news that a strange gentleman has been found dead in one of John Cobter's barns. LacaiU accompanies John Coster, and they find the corpse as indicated. The colonel examines it thoroughly. All marks of identification have been cut away from the clothing. On the body mysterious numbers and letters are tattooed, while just above the heart there is a red stain, a three-cornered puncture. The other gentlemen arrive, and Oxborrow involuntarily recognises the man as " o'd Joox." But the recognition is a whispered one, reaching only the ears of Lacaita. Just before leaving the barn, Lacaita notices a glint of steel among the chaff on the floor. He possesses himself of a pair of scissors, which, from the initials, undoubtedly belong to one of the ladies in the house. Later on he leturna them to Fraulein Weingerath La«>ita telegraphs to Wilhngale, Scotland Yard, who comes to assit him to unravel the mystery. Lacaita walks over to Dillingham, where lie finds the village postmaster and chemist combined in one man. He has adready heard of the tragedy in the barn, and tries to identify the dead man with a stranger who .had called to buy a leech. He shows the colonel one of them. Lacaita unthinkingly touches it, when the creature seizes his finger and gives him a sharp bite. It is triangular in shape, bearing a very close resemblance -to the mark above the heart of the dead man. The colonel feels himself in a. fog. - , "Chapters 111 and IV.— Lacaita, imparts to Willingale all necessary information. Whep Willingale hears that Sir Ermenred Sword is one of the house-party, be informs the colonel of the stories :urrent about that gentleman. He also tells him about two senstaional robberies which have juet taken place, and gives him "the official 'reports of them. Late that night the colonel has a private interview with his host, and »sks some questions. Oxborrow laughs at his theories and orders him to bed. Once in the privacy of his own room the colonel reads the two reports of the gold ana diamond robberies, and then retires. He is roused from his slumbers by the sound of footsteps. He Ri>ur.gs out of bed and peers through his bedroom door, t< find Oxborrow and Sir Ermenred Sword standing on the landing in dripping garments. Oxborrow explains that las wife has been taken very ill, and that they have been to the village chem.st. Chapter V and VI.-Lacaita meets Willin-«-ale A tlu "King's Head." Willingale Hiforms the colonel that Oxborrow eye'ed to Dillingham, -nd did not walk as previously stated. He also believes that the dead man s name was not Joox, but that the word composes the two first letters of his name. Mr Coster calls and announces another mystery. The bod> has gone! After Coster has taken hi? departure Wilhngnle and tho colonel discuss the situation. Suspicion points to Oxborrow and Sir Ermenred Syord as the kidnappers of the body. Willingale desire* tne colonel t< withdraw from the fight, which he is only too willing to <10. On his Tvay back to Bradminstcr Hall he meet.* Lady Dolly Dawhsh, one of the ladies staying at the Hall. Togethei they visit the " Green Dingon," where the landlord garrulously relates how the stranger who has go mysteriously met his death, visited the "Green Dragon," and sat for three hours before leaving nt closing time. They walk back along the see wall, and Lady. Dolly descries the figures of two women hurrying along the bank— Mrs Oxborrow and Fraulein Weingerath.