Death Comes to Cambers Read Online Free Page A

even so far to have realized that that task was of any great or pressing importance. Nor was he altogether sure how the county police authorities would be likely to regard any action he himself might take in this emergency. But he was on the spot; he was a sworn officer of police; he felt he could not divest himself of responsibility. He said to Farman: ‘I think you had better go back. Let them know what has happened. Better ring up Sir Albert, too. Lock the door of Lady Cambers’s room; make sure, if you can, nothing has been touched. Look after her sitting-room, too; see that’s locked as well. And don’t let anyone move about in the gardens. There may be footprints.’
    Farman, used to obeying orders, returned accordingly to carry out these he had just received, and Bobby, telling young Hardy to come with him, hurried on towards the scene of the discovery.
    At one point the little stream running down the centre of the valley was crossed by a rough bridge of wooden logs, though, indeed, in most places one could easily have stepped across it. Here, too, was a gate in the wire fence that followed the bed of the stream and divided the different fields. Through this Bobby and his companion passed, though not till Bobby had given a moment or two to a close examination of the logs forming the bridge, without, however, being able to find that they showed anything of interest.
    â€˜Anyhow, she almost certainly came this way,’ he thought. ‘And most likely her murderer was waiting for her over there. Only what brought her out so late at night?’
    The field Bobby and young Hardy now entered was laid down in pasture, as was that they had just traversed. In its centre there stood a small shed, apparently of recent construction. At various other points near-by, digging had evidently been going on – as though for some reason it had been desired to sink a number of wells or possibly shallow-depth mining shafts. Beyond was a road leading to the main London highway, a mile or two on the further side of the village. Near the shed a number of people were clustered, or going in and out, and others were hurrying towards it from the direction of the village. Bobby said to his companion: ‘Who did you say found her?’
    â€˜Mr. Bowman,’ Ray repeated. ‘He lives over there with Miss Bowman, only she’s gone now.’ As he spoke he pointed vaguely to where, above the shoulder of the rising ground, the chimneys of a house or two were visible. ‘He goes to get the train for Hirlpool every morning, and he saw her. He said first he thought it was someone sleeping out, and then he thought it was funny, so he went to look. It’s a wonder he saw her. I never did, only it just happens there’s a gap in the fence right in line where he was, and he saw her through it, lying there, and so he went to look.’
    â€˜Do you mean you had been that way this morning?’ Bobby asked.
    â€˜Yes, along the top of the field by the road over there, but I never saw her. You wouldn’t unless you looked, and I never did. Why should I?’
    â€˜You were out early,’ Bobby commented.
    â€˜You’ve got to on a farm,’ the other retorted. ‘We aren’t townsfolk. And I do a bit of rabbiting, too, on our land, so I go round the traps as often as I can – seeing the fuss that’s made by some if they’re heard crying out, as can’t be helped always. Of course, I’m particular to keep to our own land, and we never knew, none of us, what had happened, till Mr. Bowman came running like I told you. Dead-white he was, and father sent at once for Jordan, and the doctor, too. Like dead himself Mr. Bowman looked – upset all right. Shock, you know – the shock did it. Look, that’s where she was lying,’ he added, pointing.
    The spot indicated was about half-way between stream and shed, in a direct line from the gate in the fence by the rough