The Agony Column

At three o'clock this afternoon they came for me and I was led back

to the room belonging to Inspector Bray. When I entered, however,

the inspector was not there--only Colonel Hughes, immaculate and

self-possessed, as usual, gazing out the window into the cheerless

stone court. He turned when I entered. I suppose I must have had a most

woebegone appearance, for a look of regret crossed his face.

"My dear fellow," he cried, "my most humble apologies! I intended to

have you released last night. But, believe me, I have been frightfully

busy."

I said nothing. What could I say? The fact that he had been busy struck

me as an extremely silly excuse. But the inference that my escape from

the toils of the law was imminent set my heart to thumping.

"I fear you can never forgive me for throwing you over as I did

yesterday," he went on. "I can only say that it was absolutely

necessary--as you shall shortly understand."

I thawed a bit. After all, there was an unmistakable sincerity in his

voice and manner.

"We are waiting for Inspector Bray," continued the colonel. "I take it

you wish to see this thing through?"

"To the end," I answered.

"Naturally. The inspector was called away yesterday immediately after

our interview with him. He had business on the Continent, I understand.

But fortunately I managed to reach him at Dover and he has come back

to London. I wanted him, you see, because I have found the murderer of

Captain Fraser-Freer."

I thrilled to hear that, for from my point of view it was certainly a

consummation devoutly to be wished. The colonel did not speak again. In

a few minutes the door opened and Bray came in. His clothes looked as

though he had slept in them; his little eyes were bloodshot. But in

those eyes there was a fire I shall never forget. Hughes bowed.

"Good afternoon, Inspector," he said. "I'm really sorry I had to

interrupt you as I did; but I most awfully wanted you to know that you

owe me a Homburg hat." He went closer to the detective. "You see, I have

won that wager. I have found the man who murdered Captain Fraser-Freer."

Curiously enough, Bray said nothing. He sat down at his desk and idly

glanced through the pile of mail that lay upon it. Finally he looked up

and said in a weary tone: "You're very clever, I'm sure, Colonel Hughes."