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Updated: June 19, 2025
"There's the inn straight in front," said Police-Constable Queensmead, pointing to it. The Golden Anchor inn must have been built in the days of Sir Cloudesley Shovel, for nothing remained of the maritime prosperity which had originally bestowed the name upon the building.
The right foot plainly showed the circular mark of a rubber heel, which was missing in the other, though a sharp indentation showed the mark of the spike to which the rubber had been fastened. "The footprints lead straight to the mouth of the pit where the body was thrown," said Queensmead. "What a clue!" exclaimed Superintendent Galloway, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
I found it this morning down the pit where the body was thrown." "How did you get down the pit?" asked Queensmead. "I climbed down the creepers as far as they went. I had a rope for the rest of the descent, but it wasn't needed, for I found Mr. Glenthorpe's pocket-book suspended by a cord about ten feet down. Here it is."
The evidence of the innkeeper and the waiter was a repetition of the story they had told to the chief constable on the preceding day. Constable Queensmead, in his composed way, gave an account of his preliminary investigations into the crime, and the finding of the body. The only additional evidence brought forward was given by two of the men who had been in the late Mr. Glenthorpe's employ.
Glenthorpe might have got up early to go and look at his excavations, but I went up to his room and saw the signs of a struggle and blood-stains on the bed-clothes, and I knew that something must have happened to him. I went into the village and told Constable Queensmead. He came to the inn, and made a search inside and outside and found the footprints leading to the pit on the rise. One of Mr.
Charles nodded an indication that he understood the instruction, and turned away to execute it. "I want Queensmead to get a dozen of the village blockheads together for a jury," he said to Colwyn. "The coroner sent me word before we left Durrington yesterday that he'd be over this morning, but he did not say what time, and I forgot to ask him.
"We must get him out at once," said Colwyn. "We shall need a rope and some men. Can you get some ropes, Queensmead? There's some men in the bar we'll get them to help. "I don't think they're likely to come, sir. They're all too frightened of the Shrieking Pit, and the ghost." "I'll go and talk to them. Meanwhile, you go and get ropes."
"You are quite certain the inn servant can swear that these marks were made by Ronald's boots, Queensmead?" "There's no doubt on that point, sir," replied the constable. "She had the boots in her hands this morning, just before Ronald put them on, and she distinctly noticed that there was a rubber heel on the right boot, but not on the other."
If the police found out that it was his boots which made the prints leading to the pit it would only be another point against him, and as he was sure to be hanged in any case the best thing I could do was to go and inform Constable Queensmead of Mr. Glenthorpe's disappearance and Mr. Penreath's departure, but to keep silence about my own share in carrying the body to the pit.
Henry Manton, of Heathfield, who said he saw the accused when he was brought into the station from Flegne by Police Constable Queensmead. He seemed perfectly rational, though disinclined to talk. "Did you find any symptom upon him which pointed to his having recently suffered from epilepsy of any kind?" asked Sir Herbert. "No."
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