 Chapter 21. Mr. Terrence Kirkwood Patton of New York There is Luray, I said, pointing with my whip to the scattered houses of the village as they lay in the valley at our feet. Terry stretched out a hand and pulled the horses to a standstill. Wow! Just a minute till I get my bearings. Now, in which direction is the cave? It extends all along underneath us. The entrance is over there in the undergrowth about a mile to the east. And the woods extend straight across the mountain in an unbroken line. Pretty much so, there are a few farms scattered in. How about the farmers? Are they well to do around here? I think on the whole they are. Which do they employ mostly to work in the fields? Negroes or white men? As to that, I can't say. It depends largely on circumstances. I think the smaller farms are more likely to employ white men. Let me see, said Terry. This is just about planting time. Are the farmers likely to take on extra men at this season? No, I don't think so. Harvest time is when they are more likely to need help. Farming is new to me, laugh Terry. Eastside problems don't involve it. A man of Moses' habits could hide pretty effectively in those woods if he chose. He scanned the hills again and then brought his eyes back to the village. I suppose we might as well go on to the hotel first. I should like to introduce some of the people there. And by the way, he added, it's as well not to let them know I'm a friend of yours. Or newspaper man either. I think I'll be a detective. Your young man from Washington seems to have made quite a stir in regard to the robbery. We'll see if I can't beat him. There's nothing that so impresses a rural population as a detective. They look upon him as omnipotent and omniscient. And every man screams before him in the fear that his own little sins will be brought to light. Terry laughed in prospect, introduced me as a detective by all means. Anything new like I laughed in return. I'll introduce you as the Pope if you think it will do any good. There was no keeping Terry suppressed. And his exuberance was contagious. I was beginning to feel light-hearted myself. The hotel at Lou Ray was a long, rambling structure, which had been casually added from time to time. It was painted a sickly mustard yellow, a colour which the landlord assured me would last forever. But its buoyancy was somewhat toned by a thick coating of dust. A veranda extended across the front of the building, flushed with the wooden sidewall. The veranda was furnished with a railing and the railing was furnished at all times of the day, except for a brief nooning from twelve to half past, with a line of boot soles in assorted sizes. We drew up with a flourish before the wooden steps in front of the hotel, and I threw the lines to the stable boy who came forward to receive us with an amusing air of importance. His connection with the Lou Ray tragedy conferred a halo of distinction, and he realised the fact. It was not everyone in the neighbourhood who had had the honour of being cursed by a murderer. As we alighted, Terry stopped to ask him a few questions. The boy had told his story to so many credulous audiences that by this time it was well nigh unrecognisable. As he repeated it now for Terry's benefit, the evidence against Radner appeared conclusive. A full confession of guilt could scarcely have been more damning. Terry threw back his head and laughed. Take care, young man, he warned. You'll be eating your words one of these days, and some of them will be pretty hard to swallow. As we mounted the steps, I nodded to several of the men whom I remembered having seen before, and they returned and entrusted, how do you do? Pleasant day, as they cast a reconautering glance at my companion. Gentlemen, I said with a wave of my hand toward Terry, let me introduce Mr Terrence Kirkwood Patton, the well-known detective of New York who has come down to look into this matter for us. The chairs which were tipped back against the wall came down with a thud and an awed and somewhat uneasy shuffling of feet ensued. I wished to go through the cave, Terry remarked, in the crisp incisive tones, a detective might be supposed to employ, and I should like to have the same guide who conducted Mr Crosby the time the body was discovered. That's Pete Moser, he's out in the back like plowing. A half-dozen voices responded, ah, thank you, will someone kindly call him? We will wait here. Terry proceeded with his usual ease to make himself at home. He tipped back his hat, inclined his chair at the same dubious angle as the others, and ranged his feet along the railing. He produced cigars from various pockets, and the atmosphere became less strained. They were beginning to realise that detectives are made of the same flesh and blood as other people. I gave Terry the lead. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he took it, but it did not thrive me that he said about his interviewing in a very business life manner. He did not so much as refer to the case we had come to investigate, but chatted along pleasantly about the weather and the crops and the difficulty of finding farm hands. We had not been settled very long when, to my surprise, Jim Madison strolled out from the bar room. What he was doing in Luray I could easily conjecture. Madison's assumption of interest in the case all along had angered me beyond measure. It is not, ordinarily, a part of the Sheriff's duties to assist the prosecution in making out a case against one of his prisoners. Allowing to the peculiar relation he bore to Radner, his interference was not only bad law, but excruciatingly bad taste. My dislike of the man had grown to such an extent that I could barely be civil to him. It was only because it was policy on my part not to make him an active enemy that I tolerated his presence at all. I presented Terry, though Madison took his calling more calmly than the others. Still, I caught several side-wise glances in his direction, and I think he was impressed. Happy to know you, Mr. Patton, he remarked as he helped himself to a chair and settled it at the general angle. This is a pretty mysterious case in some respects. I rode over myself this morning to look into a few points, and I shall be glad to have some help, though I'm afraid we'll not find anything that'll please you. Anything pleases me so long as it's the truth, Terry threw off, as he studied the Sheriff with a gleam of amusement in his eyes. He was thinking, I knew a polymathus. I hope, he added, assuming a severely professional tone, that you haven't let a lot of people crowd into the cave and cramp up all the marks. The landlord, who was standing in the doorway, chuckled at this. There aren't many people that could drive into that their cave at the point of the pistol. He is shortest. They think it's haunted. Least ways, the niggers do. Have niggers been in the habit of going in much? Oh, more or less, the Sheriff returned, when they want to make themselves inconspicuous for any reason. I had a horse thief hide in there for two weeks last year, while we were scouring the country for him. There are so many little holes, it's almost impossible to find a man. Tramps occasionally spend the night there in cold weather. Do you have many tramps around here? Not a great many. Once in a while, a nigger comes along and asks for something to eat. More often, he takes it without asking. One of the men broke in. A week or so ago, my old woman had a cheese and a hand and two whole pies that she'd got ready for a church social, just disappeared without a word. Out of the pantry window. If that ain't the mark of a nigger, I miss my guest. Terry laughed. If that happened in the north, we should look around the neighborhood for a sick small boy. It wasn't no boy this time. Least ways, not a very small one. The man affirmed, for that same day, a pair of my boots that I'd left in the woodhouse just naturally walked off by their selves, and I found them the next day at the bottom of the pasture. It would take a pretty sizable fellow that my boots was too small for. He finished with a grin. They are a trifle conspicuous. One of the others agreed with his eyes on the feet in question. I caught an interested look in Terry's glance as he mentally took their measure, and I wondered what he was up to. But as our messenger and Pete Moser appeared around the corner at that moment, I had no time for speculation. Terry let his chair slip with the bang and rose to his feet. Ah, Mr. Moser. I'm glad to see you. He exclaimed with an air of relief. It's getting late, he added, looking at his watch, and I must get this business settled as soon as possible. I have another little affair waiting for me in New York. Bring plenty of calcium life, please. We want to see what we're doing. As for the four of us, we're preparing to start. Terry paused on the top step and nodded pleasantly to the group on the veranda. Thank you for your information, gentlemen. I have no doubt that it will be of the greatest importance. And he turned away with a laugh at their puzzled faces. The sheriff and I were equally puzzled. I should have suspected that Terry, in the role of detective, was playing a joke on them. Had he not very evidently got something on his mind, he was, of a sudden, in a frenzy of impatience to reach the cave. And he kept well ahead of us most of the way. I suppose, said Madison, as he climbed a fence with tantalising deliberation, we were going by way of the fields as that was shorter. I suppose that you are trying to prove that Radnor Gaylord had nothing to do with this murder. That will be easy enough. Terry threw back over his shoulder. I dropped him long ago. The one I'm after now is the real murderer. Madison scowled slightly. If you can explain what it was that happened in that cave that upset him so mightily, I'd come a little nearer to believing you. Terry laughed and fell back beside him. It's the thing which I imagine may have happened to one or two other young men at this neighbourhood, not inconceivably yourself included. Madison, seeing no meaning in this sally, preserved a salty silence and Terry added, the thing for us to do now is to bend all our energies toward finding cat-eye moes. I doubt if we can completely explain the mystery until he is discovered. And that, said the sheriff, will be never. You may mark my words. Whoever killed the Colonel killed Moes too. It's possible, said Terry, with an air of sadness, but I hope not. I came all the way down from New York on purpose to see Moes, and I should hate to miss him. End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of The Four Pools Mystery This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Four Pools Mystery by Jean Webster Chapter 22 The Discovery of Cat-eye Moes Having lighted our candles, we descended into the cave and set out along the path I now knew so well. When we reached the pool, the guide lit a calcium light which threw a fierce white glare over the little body of water and the limestone cliffs and even penetrated to the stalactite drape roof far above our heads. For a moment, we stood blinking, our eyes scarcely able to see. So sudden was the change from the semi-darkness of our four flickering candles. Then Terry stepped forward. Show me where you found the body and point out the spot where the struggle took place. He spoke in quick, eager tones, so excited that he almost dutted. It was not necessary for him to act the part of detective any longer. He had forgotten that he had ever was a reporter. He had forgotten almost that he was a human being. From where we stood, we pointed out the place above the pool where the struggle had occurred, the spot under the cliff where the body had lain and the jagged piece of rock on which we had found the coat. Moza even laid down upon the ground and spread out his arms in the position in which we had discovered the colonel's body. Very well, I see, said Terry. Now the rest of you stay back there on the boards. I don't want you to make a mark. He stepped forward carefully to the edge of the water and bent over to examine the soft yellow clay which formed the border of the pool on the lower side. Instantly he straightened up with a sharp exclamation of surprise. Did any Negroes come in with you to recover the body? He asked. No, return the sheriff. As Old Man Tompkins said, you couldn't hire a nigger to stick his head in here after the colonel was found. They say they can hear something wailing around the pool and they think his ghost is haunting it. They can hear something wailing, can they? Terry repeated clearly. Well, I begin to believe they can. What is the meaning of this? He demanded, facing around at us, how do you account for these peculiar footprints? What prints? I asked as we all pressed forward. At the moment the calcium light with a final flare died out and we were left again in the flickering candle light which seemed darkness to us now. Quick, touch off another calcium, said Terry, with suppressed impatience. He laid a hand on my shoulder and my arm ached from the tightness of his grip. There, he said pointing with his finger as the light fled up again. What do you make of those? I bent over and plainly traced the prints of bare feet, going and coming and overlapping one another, just as an animal would make in pacing a cage. I shivered slightly. It was a terribly uncanny sight. Well, said Terry sharply. The place was beginning to get on his nerves too. Terry, I said uneasily. I never saw them before. I thought I examined everything thoroughly, but I was so excited, I suppose. What did you make of them? He interrupted, whirling about on medicine, who was looking over our shoulders. I didn't see them, Madison stammered. The heaven-sake men, said Terry impatiently, do you mean they weren't there or you didn't notice them? The sheriff and I looked at each other blankly and neither answered. Terry stood with his hands in his pockets frowning down at the marks, while the rest of us waited silently, scarcely daring to think. Finally he turned away without saying a word and motioning us to keep back, commenced examining the part which led up the incline. He mounted the three stone steps and with his eyes on the ground, slowly advanced to the spot where the struggle had taken place. How tall a man did you say Mose was? He called down to us. Little short fellow, not more than five feet high, returned the sheriff. Terry took his ruler from his pocket and bent over to study the marks at the scene of the struggle. He straightened up with an air of satisfaction. Now I want you men to look carefully at those marks on the lower borders of the pool and then come up here and look at these. Come along up in single file please and keep to the middle of the path. He spoke in the tone of one giving a demonstration before a kindergarten class. We obeyed him silently and ranged in a row along the boards. Come here he said. Bend over where you can see. Now look at those marks. Do you see anything different in them from the marks below? The sheriff and I gazed intensely at the prints of bare feet which marked the entire vicinity of the struggle. We had both examined them more than once before and we saw nothing now but what had already appeared. We straightened up and shook our heads. There the prints of bare feet said Madison stolidly. But I don't see that they're any different from any other bare feet. Terry handed him the ruler. Measure them he said. Measure this one that's flat on the ground. Now go down and measure one of those prints by the borders of the pool. Madison took the ruler and complied. As he bent over the marks on the lower border we could see by the light at the candle the look of astonishment that sprung into his face. Well what do you find? Terry asked. The marks up there are nearly two inches longer and an inch broader. Exactly. Terry I said. You can't blame us for not finding that out. We examined everything when we took away the body and those marks below were simply not there. Someone has been in since. So I conclude. Now Madison he added to the sheriff come here and show me the marks of Radnor Gaylord's riding boots. Madison returned and pointed out the mark which he had produced at the inquest but his assurance I noticed was somewhat shaken. That said Terry half contemptuously is the mark of Colonel Gaylord. You must remember that he was struggling with his assailant. He did not plant his foot squarely every time. Sometimes we have only the heel mark sometimes only the toe. In this case we have more than the mark of the whole foot. How do I account for it? Simply enough. The Colonel's foot slipped sideways. The mark is you see exactly the same in length as the others. But disproportionately broad at the heel and toe it is smudged and on the inside where the weight was thrown it is heavier than on the outside. The thing is easy enough to understand. You ought to have been able to deduce it for yourselves. And besides how did you account for the fact that there was only one mark? The one who was engaged in a struggle must have left more than that behind him. No, it is quite clear. At this point on the edge at the bank there was no third person. We are dealing with only two men Colonel Gaylord and his murderer and the murderer was barefooted. Moes, I asked. No, said Terry patiently not Moes. Then who? That remains to be seen. I will follow him up and find out where he comes from. Terry held his candle close to the ground and followed along the path at the entrance to the little gallery at the broken column it diverged one part leading into the gallery and the other into a sort of blind alley at one side. Terry paused at the opening give me some more calcium life he called to the guide I want to look into this passage and just hand me some of those boards he added it's very necessary that we keep the marks clear. The rest of us stood in a hurl group on the one or two boards he had left us and watched him curiously as he made his way down the passage he paused at the end and examined the ground we saw him stoop and pick up something then he rose quickly out of triumph and came running back to us holding his hands behind him it's just as I suspected he said his eyes shining with excitement Colonel Gaylord had an enemy he did not know what do you mean we're us crowding around here's the proof and he held out towards us a well-nored hand bone in one hand he pretended for the church social the pies I fancy have disappeared we stared at him a moment in silent wonder the sheriff was the first to assert himself what have these to do with the crime he asked fueling the trophies with an air of disgust everything the man who stole those is the man who robbed the safe and who murdered Colonel Gaylord with a low laugh of incredulity and the guide and I stared open mouth and what's more I will tell you what he looks like he is a large very black negro something over six feet tall when last seen he was dressed in a blue and white check flowers and ragged overalls his shoes were much the worse for wear and have since been thrown away he was barefooted at the time he committed the crime in short Terry added he is the chicken thief whom Colonel Gaylord whipped a couple of days before he died and he briefly repeated the incident I had told him you mean I asked that he was the hand yes said Terry he was the second hand he has been hiding for two or three weeks in the spring hole at four pools keeping hidden during the day and coming out at night to prowl around and steal whatever he could lay his hands on he doubtless deserved punishment but that fact would not make him the less bitter over the Colonel's beating when I heard that story I said to myself there is a man who would be ready for revenge if Chance put the opportunity in his way but I expostulated what happened to be in the cave as to that I cannot say after the Colonel's beating he probably did not dare to hang about four pools any longer he took to the woods and came in this direction being engaged in petty thieving about the neighbourhood it was necessary to find a hiding place during the daytime and the cave was his most natural refuge we know that he is not afraid of the dark the spring hole at four pools is about as small a place as a man could find he established himself in this passage in order to be near the water see here in the corner are drops of candle grease and the remains of a fire on the day of the Mathers picnic he doubtless saw the party pass through and recognised Colonel Gaylord it brought to his mind the threshing he had received while he was still brooding over the matter the Colonel came back alone and it flashed into the fellow's mind that this was his chance he may have been afraid at first or he may have hesitated through kindly motives at any rate he did not attack the Colonel immediately but retreated into the passage and the old man passed him without seeing him and went on into the gallery and got the coat in the meantime the Negro had made up his mind and as the Colonel came back he crept along behind him it is hard to trace the marks for another barefooted man has walked over them since but see in this place at the edge of the path there's the mark of a palm showing where the assassin's hand rested when he crouched on the ground he sprung upon the old man from the rear and they struggled together over the water touch up a light please you see how the clay is all trampled over on both sides of the path way out to the brink of the pool there is no second set of marks here to obliterate it we are dealing with just two people my lord and his assassin Terry bent low and picked up from a crevice what looked like a piece of stone covered with clay here you see is the end of the Colonel's candle he probably dropped it when the man first sprung and in the darkness he could not tell who or what had attacked him in his frenzy to have a light he snatched out his matchbox and that too was dropped in the scuffle now even if the original motive of the crime were not robbery but revenge as I fancy it was at any rate the murderer being a tramp and a thief would have robbed the body but he did not why was that? because he saw or heard something that frightened him and what could that have been his master's assistance Terry strayed over to the steps which led to the incline and motioning us to follow pointed out some marks on the sloping bank at the side of the path see here are Moses tracks he was in such a hurry that he could not wait to come up by the steps he tried to take a crosscut he scrambled up the slippery bank so fast that he fell on his hands and knees in this place and slid back that accounts for those long dragging marks which none of you appear to have noticed Moses did his best but he could not reach his master in time the murderer seeing or rather hearing him for it must have been dark was seized with sudden fear and with a convulsive effort he threw the old man into the rock wall here where his head struck on this broken stalactite if you look carefully you can see the marks of blood he then hurled him into the pool and fled it sounds plausible enough said the sheriff slowly but there are one or two points which I am afraid will not bear examining suppose your man did throw the kernel into the water and run for it I should like to know has become a cat-eye-mose that said Terry knitting his brows is still a mystery and a fairly deep one there is something uncommonly strange about those tracks on the lower borders of the pool and I confess they puzzle me only one explanation occurs to me now and that is not pleasant to think of we have some clues to work with however and we ought not to be long in getting at the truth if I had had your chance of examining the cave on the day of the crime he added I think I should know you might and again you might not said Madison it's easy enough for you fellows to come down here and make up a story about a lot of people you've never seen but I'll tell you one thing and that is that you need the truth as the men who've been brought up in the country in the first place it comes natural to niggers to be whipped and they don't mind it in the second place if your tramp did want to take it out on kernel why should he be scared by mose who was a little bit of a sword of cuss that I could lift with one hand tied behind me you may be able to impress your jury with a hand bone and a cheese rind but I can tell you sir that Virginia Dury wants witnesses we shall do our best to provide some said Terry Cooley and perhaps you can tell added Madison with the triumphant air of clinching the matter what has become of the $5,000 in bonds you can never make me believe that any nigger oh, they're back in the safe at four pilbs I found them this morning in the spring hole where the man had thrown them away now gentlemen he added with a touch of impatience I want to try a little experiment before we leave the cave will you all please put out your lights I want to see how dark it really is in here we blew out our candles and stood a moment in silence at first all was black around us but as our eyes become accustomed to the darkness we saw that a faint light filtered in from somewhere in the roof above our heads we could make out the pale blur at the white rock wall on one side and the mirrors glimmer at the pool below no Terry begun he could have seen nothing he must have and gripping my arm whispered out what's that where? I asked up there straight ahead I looked up and saw two round eyes which glittered like a wild beast staring at us out of the darkness a cold chill ran up my back and I instinctively huddled closer to the others for a moment no one spoke and I heard the click of Terry's revolver as he cocked it then it suddenly came over me what it was and I cried out it's cat eye most good lord he can see in the dark strike a light someone Terry said huskily the sheriff struck a match we lit our candles with trembling hands and pressed forward in a body to the spot where the eyes had appeared crouched in a corner of a little recess half way up the irregular wall we found moes shivering with fear and looking down at us with dumb animal eyes we had to drag him out by main force the poor fellow was nearly famished and so weak he could scarcely stand what little sense he had ever possessed seemed to have left him and he jabbered in a tongue scarcely English we bolstered him up with a few drops of whiskey from Madison's flask and half carried him out into the light the guide ran ahead to get a carriage spreading the news as he ran the cat eye moes had been found half the town of Loure came out to the cave to escort us back had not been time enough to collect a brass band End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of the Four Pools Mystery this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information all to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Four Pools Mystery by Jean Webster Chapter 23 Moes tells his story we took Moes back to the hotel shut out the crowd and gave him something to eat he was quite out of his head and it was only my dint of the most patient questioning that we finally got his story it was in substance as Terry had sketched it in the cave Moes had gone back after the coat not knowing that the colonel was before him suddenly as he came near the pool he heard a scream and looked up in time to see a big negro the one my uncle had struck with his crop spring upon the colonel with the cry it's my turn now you wut me and I'll let you see what it feels like the colonel turned and clinched with his assailant and in the struggle the light was dropped Moes with a cry ran forward to his master's assistance but when the negro saw him climbing up the bank he suddenly screamed and hurling the old man from him turned and fled the fella must have taken him for the devil when he saw those eyes and I don't wonder what he had contemplated at this point after the colonel's murder it seems that Moes crazed by grief and fear had watched us carry the body away and then had stayed by the spot where his master had died this accounted for the marks on the border of the pool knowing all of the intricate passages and hiding places as he did it had been an easy matter for the party that had searched for his body he ate the food the murderer had left but this being exhausted he would, I haven't a doubt have died there himself with the unreasoning faithfulness of a dog when he finished his rambling and in some places scarcely intelligible account we sat for a moment with our eyes upon his face fascinated by his look every bit of repugnance I had ever felt toward him had vanished and there was left in its place only a sense of pity Moes' cheeks were hollow his features sharper than ever and his face was almost pale from underneath his straight black matted hair his eyes glitter feverously and their expression of uncomprehending anguish was wonderful to see he seemed like a dumb animal that has come into the contact with death for the first time and asks the reason Terry took his eyes from Moes' face and looked down at the table with a set jaw I do not think that he was deriving as much pleasure from the sight as he had expected we all of us experienced a feeling of relief after appeared at the door we turned Moes over to him with instructions to do what he could for the poor fellow and take him back to four pools as the door shut behind them the sheriff said with a sigh I thought this business proves one thing it's never safe to lynch a man until you are sure of the facts it proves another thing said Terry dryly which is a thing you people don't seem to have grasped and that is that Negroes are human beings and have feelings like the rest of us poor old Colonel Gaylord paid a terrible price for not having learned it earlier in life we pondered this in silence for a moment then the sheriff voiced a feeling which to a slight extent had been lurking in the background of his own consciousness in spite of my relief at the denouement it's kind of disappointing when you got your mind worked up to something big to find in the end that there was nothing but a chance nigger at the bottom of all that mystery seemed sort of a let down Terry eyed him with an air of grim humour then he leaned across the table and spoke with a ring saying you are mistaken Madison the murderer of Colonel Gaylord was not a chance nigger there was no chance about it Colonel Gaylord killed himself he committed suicide as truly as if he had blown out his brains with a gun he did it with his uncontrollable temper the man was an egoist he has always looked upon his own desires and feelings of supreme importance he has tried to crush the life and spirit and independence from everyone about him that once too often he reaped his anger upon an innocent person at least upon a person that for all he knew was innocent and at one stroke his past injustices were avenged it was not chance that killed Colonel Gaylord it was the inevitable law of cause and effect way back in his boyhood when he gave way to his first fit of passion he sentenced himself to some such end as this every unjust act in his afterlife piled up the score against him oh I've seen it a hundred times it's character that tells I've seen it happen to a political boss a man whose business it was to make friends with every voter high and low I've seen him forget just once and turn on a man humiliate him wound his pride crush him under foot and think no more of the matter than if he had stepped on a worm and I've seen that man the most insignificant of the politicians followers work and plot and scheme to overthrow him succeed the big man never knew what struck him he thought it was luck chance a turn of the wheel he never dreamed that it was his own character hitting back I've seen it so often I'm a fatalist I don't believe in chance it was Colonel Gaylord who killed himself and he commenced it 50 years ago it's God's own truth Terry I said so long the sheriff had listened to Terry's words with an anxiously reminiscent air I wondered if he were reviewing his own political past to see it by chance he also had unwittingly crushed a worm he raised his eyes to Terry's face with a gleam of admiration you've been pretty clever Mr. Patton in finding out the truth he acknowledged generously but you couldn't have expected me to find out he added for I didn't know any of the circumstances I had never even heard that such a man existed as that chicken thief and as to there being two ghosts instead of one there wasn't a suggestion of it brought out at the inquest Terry looked at him with his usual slowly broadening smile he opened his mouth to say something but he changed his mind and with a visible effort shut it again Terry I asked how did you find out about the chicken thief I confess I don't understand it he shrugged his shoulders and laughed nothing simpler the trouble with you people was that you were searching for something lurid little commonplace things which in a case like this are the most suggestive you overlooked as soon as I read the story at the crime in the papers I saw that in all probability Rad was innocent his behaviour was far too suspicious for him really to be guilty unless he were a fool he would have covered up his tracks there was of course the possibility that Moe's had committed the murder but in the light of his past devotion to the Colonel it did not seem likely I had already been reading a lot of sensational stuff about the ghost of four pools and when the murder followed so close on the heels of the robbery I commenced to look about for a connecting link it was evident that Radner had nothing to do with it but whether or not he suspected someone was not so clear his reticence in regard to the hand made me think that he did I came south with pretty strong suspicions against the elder son but with the mind still open to conviction the telegram showing that he was in Seattle at the time of the murder proved his innocence of that that he might still be connected with the hand I tried the suggestion on Radner and his manner of taking it proved pretty conclusively that I had stumbled on the truth the hand business I dare say was started as a joke and was kept up as being a convenient method of warning of Eve's droppers why Jefferson came back and why Radner gave him money are not matters that concern us if they prefer to keep it a secret that's their own affair Jeff helped himself pretty freely to cigars roast chicken jam, pyjamas, books, brandy and anything else he needed to make himself comfortable in the cabin but he took nothing of any great value in the meantime though other things commenced disappearing things that Radner knew his brother had no use for and he supposed the workers about the place were stealing and laying it to the ghost as a convenient scapegoat but as a matter of fact they were not a second ghost had appeared on the scene this tramp Negro had taken up his quarters in the spring hole and was prowling about at night seeking what he might devour he ran across Jeff the ghost in a sheet and decided to do some masquerading on his own account sheets were no longer left on the line all night so he had to put up with lap robes as a result the spring hole shortly became haunted by a jet black spirit nine feet tall with blue flames and sulfur and all the other accessories this made little impression at the house until mose himself was frightened then Radner saw that the hoax had reached the point where it was no longer funny and he determined to get rid of Jeff immediately while he drove him to the station he left mose behind to straighten up the lot and mose coming into the house to put some things away met ghost number two just after he had robbed the safe if mose's eyes looked as they did today I fancied the fright was mutual the ghost in his excitement dropped one package of papers that bolted with the rest he made freeze lair in the spring hole and examined his booty the bonds were no more than old papers he tossed them aside but the pennies and five cent pieces were real he lit out for the village with them the robbery was not discovered till morning and by that time the fellow was at Jake's place on his way toward then the drunkest nigger in the county he stayed at the corners a week or so until the money was gone then he came back to the spring hole but he made the mistake adventuring out by daylight the stable men caught him and took him to the colonel and you know the rest as soon as I heard the story of the beating I decided to follow it up and when I heard of a jet black spirit rising from the spring hole I decided to follow that up too at daylight this morning I routed out one of the stable men and we went down and examined the spring hole at least I examined it while he stood outside and shivered an even bigger thine than I had hoped for chucked off in a corner and trampled with mud I found the bonds a pile of clothing and carriage cushions formed the bed there were the remains of several fires and of a great many chickens the whole place was drawn with feathers and bones he had evidently raided the roosts more than once after finished with the spring hole it still lacked something of six o'clock and I rode over to the village hoping to get an answer to my telegram I wanted to get Jeff's case settled Miller's door was not open but jade's place was and it was not long before I got on the track of my man there was no doubt that I had him accounted for up to the time after that I could only conjecture he had not appeared in the village again the supposition was that he had taken to the woods now he might or he might not have come in the direction of Lou Ray all the facts I had to go upon were a man of criminal proclivities who owed Colonel Gaylord a grudge and who was used to hiding in caves it was pure supposition that he had come in this direction and it had to be checked at every point by fact I didn't mention my suspicions because there was no use in raising false hopes and because well you wanted to be dramatic I suggested oh yes certainly that's my business well anyway I felt and I came over here this morning with my eyes open ready to see what there was to see the first thing I unearthed was this story of the church social provisions there had then been a feat of some sort in the neighbourhood just at that time of Colonel Gaylord's murder the further theft of the boots fitted very neatly into the theory if the fella had been tramping for a couple of days his shoes already worn had given out and been discarded the new ones as we know were too small he left them at the bottom of the pasture and went barefooted the marks therefore in the cave which everyone ascribed to Moes were in all probability not the marks of Moes at all actual investigation proved that to be the case the rest I think you know the four pools mystery has turned out to be a very simple affair as most mysteries unfortunately do I reckon you're a pretty good detective Mr Patton said Madison with a shade of envy in his voice Terry bowed his thanks and laughed as a matter of fact I am not a detective of any sort at least not officially I merely assume the part once in a while when there seems to be a demand officially he added I am the representative of the New York Post Dispatch a paper which you may know has solved good many mysteries before now in this case the Post Dispatch will of course take the credit once a little more than that it wants to be the only paper tomorrow morning to print the true details we four are the only ones who know them I should perhaps have been a little more circumspect and keep the facts to myself but I knew that I could trust you his eye dwelt upon the sheriff a moment and then wandered to Pete Moser who had sat silently listening throughout the colloquy would it be too much Terry inquired to ask you to keep silent until tomorrow morning you can trust me to keep quiet said Madison holding out his hand me too said Moser I reckon I can make up something that I'll satisfy the boys about as well as the real thing thank you Terry said I guess you can alright there doesn't seem to be anything that matter with your imaginations down here and now said Madison rising I suppose the first thing is to see about Radner's release though I swear I don't know yet what was the matter with him on the day of the crime I believe you have the honour of Miss Polymath's acquaintance perhaps she will enlighten you suggested Terry look with the illumination flashed over Madison's face Terry laughed and rose I have a reason for suspecting that Miss Mathis has changed her mind and if it is not too irregular I should like by way of payment to drive her to Kennersburg jail myself and let her be the first to tell him I want to give her a reason for remembering me End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of the Four Pools Mystery this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Four Pools Mystery by Jean Webster Chapter 24 Poly makes a proposal I was dropped in Kennersburg to attend to the legal formalities respecting Radner's release while Terry appropriated the horses and drove to Mathis Hall his last word to Madison and me was not to let a whisper reach Radner's ear as to the outcome of the investigation he wanted a spectacular denouement the sheriff ascended very soberly the truth had at last forced itself upon him that his chances with Polly were over Terry reappeared two hours later with a very excited young woman beside him they joined us in the bare little parlour of the jail and if Madison needed any further proof that the end had come Polly's greeting furnished it an embarrassed flush rose to her face as she saw him but she shook hands studiously in personal way and asked immediately for Radner Madison met the situation with a dignity I had scarcely expected he called a deputy and turned us over to him and with the remark that his services were happily no longer needed he bowed himself out I saw him two minutes later recklessly galloping down the street Polly's eyes also followed the rider and for a second I detected a shade of remorse as we climbed the stairs Terry fell back and whispered to me I tell you I laid down the law coming over here we'll see if she's gone as the door of the cell was thrown open Rad raised his head and regarded us with a look a bewildered astonishment Polly walked straight in and laid her hand on his shoulder Radner she said you told me you would never ask me again to marry you did you really mean it Rad still stared confusedly from her to Terry and me well Polly sigh if you did mean it then I suppose I'll have to ask you will you marry me Radner I laid a hand on Terry's arm and backed him much against his will into the corridor Joe you don't suppose he's going to refuse her he inquired in a stage whisper no such luck I laughed we took a couple of turns up and down the corridor and cautiously presented ourselves in the doorway Polly was telling between laughing and crying the story of Moses discovery he came to meet us he's left arm still around Polly his right hand extended to Terry will you shave hands Patton he asked I'm afraid I wasn't very decent but you know oh that's no matter said Terry easily I wasn't holding it up against you but I hope you realise Gaylord that it's owing to me you've won Miss Maters to ask you if yes I should flash Polly I wanted him too much ever to let him slip through my fingers again Terry's voice came through and Radner dined at four pills plantation that night the news of his release had in some way preceded us and as we drove up to the house all the Negroes came crowding out on the portico to welcome home young Mars rate but the one person who whatever the circumstances had always been first to welcome him back was missing and the poor boy felt his homecoming a very barren festival Terry was steadfast in the assertion that he had an engagement in New York the next day and as soon as supper was over I drove him to the station he was in an ecstatically satisfied frame of mind do you know I'm a pretty all round fellow he observed in a burst of confidence I've always known better than the proprietor how the paper ought to be run and I can give the police points about detective work I'm something of a cook and I can play the hand organ like Padda Whiskey but this is the first time I ever tried my hand at matchmaking and it comes as easy as a murder mystery you think that their engagement is due to you but isn't it if it weren't for me they'd have to all to go over again from the beginning and there's no telling how long they take about it I hope they appreciate your services Terry you're so modest that what you do is in danger of being overlooked they appreciate me fast enough return Terry impertably I promise Polly to spend my first vacation with them after they're married oh you'll see I'll make a farmer one of these days I laughed and then said seriously whether you made the marriage or not you have cleared Radner's name from any suspicion of dishonour and I don't know how we can ever sufficiently show our gratitude that's alright said Terry with a deprecatory wave of his hand I enjoyed it never did anything just like it before I've arranged a good many funerals of one sort or another but this is the first time I ever arranged a marriage and joke but I could make a story out of it he added regretfully if she'd only let me tell the truth the events which I have chronicled happened a number of years ago and four pools has never since figured in the papers I trust that it's public life is ended in spite of the most far-reaching search the murderer of Colonel Gaylord was never found Radner and I have always believed that he was lynched by a mob in West Virginia some two years later the description of the man tallied exactly with the appearance of the tramp my uncle had thrashed and something he said in his anti-mortem statement made us very sure of the fact Mose and till the time of his death was an honoured member of the household but he did not long outlive the Colonel the memory of the tragedy he had witnessed me an unreasoning terror looked from his eyes and he started and shivered at every sound the poor fella had lost what few wits he had ever possessed but the one rational gleam that stayed with him to the end was his love for his old master when he knave dying Radner tells me he roused after hours of unconsciousness to call the Colonel's name I have always felt that this devotion spoke equally well for both of them the old man must have had some splendid traits underneath his crusty exterior to awaken such unquestioning love in a person of Mose's instinctive perceptions perhaps after all half idiot though he was Mose could see clearer than the rest of us he now lies in the little family burying ground on the edge of the plantation a stone's throw from the grave of Colonel Gaylord there has never been any further rumour of a hat at four pools and we hope that the family ghost is laid forever the deserted cabins have been torn down and the fourth pool dredged and confined roughly enough within its banks its mysterious charm is gone but it yields every season some 15 barrels of watercress it was the following April a year from the time of my first visit that Terry and I snatched a couple of days from our work purchased new frock coats and served as ushers at Polly's wedding Radner have been living happily at four pools ever since and the house with a young mistress is a very different place from the house as it used to be marriage and responsibility have improved Radner immensely he has developed from a recklessly headstrong boy into a keen, rational upright man I am sure that Polly has never for a moment regret her choice when the estate was settled Radner very justly insisted on breaking his father's will and giving to Jeff his rightful share of the property Jeff has since become middle age and respectable he owns a raisin ranch in Southern California with 50 Chinaman to run it when he comes back to four pools plantation on an occasional visit he occupies the guest room End of chapter 24 End of The Four Peels Mystery by Jean Webster Read for Libra Box by Lucy Burgoyne This recording is in the public domain