man；　with　whom　Doctor　Brown　lived　for　some　time；　that　the　doctor　had　this　useful　habit。　And；　last；〃　he　added；　flattening　out　a　corner　of　the　rag　on　the　table；　〃isn't　it　odd　that　it　should　be　marked　T。B。B。？〃
  The　American　gazed　at　the　rudely　inked　initials；　but　hardly　saw　them。　What　he　saw；　as　in　a　mirror　in　his　darkened　memory；　was　the　black　figure　with　the　black　gloves　against　the　blood…red　sunset；　as　he　had　seen　it　when　he　came　out　of　the　wood；　and　which　had　always　haunted　him；　he　knew　not　why。
  〃Of　course；　I　see　what　you　mean；〃　he　said；　〃and　it's　very　painful　for　me；　for　I　knew　and　respected　the　man。　But　surely；　also；　it's　very　far　from　explaining　everything。　If　he　is　a　murderer；　is　he　a　magician？　　Why　did　the　well　water　all　evaporate　in　a　night；　and　leave　the　dead　man's　bones　dry　as　dust？　That's　not　a　common　operation　in　the　hospitals；　is　it？〃
  〃As　to　the　water；　we　do　know　the　explanation；〃　said　the　detective。　〃I　didn't　tumble　to　it　at　first　myself；　being　a　Cockney；　but　a　little　talk　with　Jake　and　the　other　fisherman　about　the　old　smuggling　days　put　me　straight　about　that。　　But　I　admit　the　dried　remains　still　stump　us　all。　All　the　same〃
  A　shadow　fell　across　the　table；　and　his　talk　was　sharply　cut　short。　Ashe　was　standing　under　the　painted　sign；　buttoned　up　grimly　in　black；　and　with　the　face　of　the　hanging　judge；　of　which　the　poet　had　spoken；　plain　this　time　in　the　broad　sunlight。　Behind　him　stood　two　big　men　in　plain　clothes；　very　still；　but　Paynter　knew　instantly　who　they　were。
  〃We　must　move　at　once；〃　said　I　the　lawyer。　　〃Dr。　Burton　Brown　is　leaving　the　village。〃
  The　tall　detective　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　Paynter　instinctively　imitated　him。
  〃He　has　gone　up　to　the　Trehernes　possibly　to　say　good…by；〃　went　on　Ashe　rapidly。　　〃I'M　sorry；　but　we　must　arrest　him　in　the　garden　there；　if　necessary。　　I've　kept　the　lady　out　of　the　way；　I　think。　But　you〃addressing　the　factitious　landscape　painter〃must　go　up　at　once　and　rig　up　that　easel　of　yours　near　the　table　and　be　ready。　We　will　follow　quietly；　and　come　up　behind　the　tree。　　We　must　be　careful；　for　it's　clear　he's　got　wind　of　us；　or　he　wouldn't　be　doing　a　bolt。〃
  〃I　don't　like　this　job；〃　remarked　Paynter；　as　they　mounted　toward　the　park　and　garden；　the　detective　darting　on　ahead。
  〃Do　you　suppose　I　do？〃　asked　Ashe；　and；　indeed；　his　strong；　heavy　face　looked　so　lined　and　old　that　the　red　hair　seemed　unnatural；　like　a　red　wig。　　〃I've　known　him　longer　than　you；　though　perhaps　I've　suspected　him　longer　as　well。〃
  When　they　topped　the　slope　of　the　garden　the　detective　had　already　erected　his　easel；　though　a　strong　breeze　blowing　toward　the　sea　rattled　and　flapped　his　apparatus　and　blew　about　his　fair　（and　false）　beard　in　the　wind。　　Little　clouds　curled　like　feathers；　were　scudding　seaward　across　the　many…colored　landscape；　which　the　American　art　critic　had　once　surveyed　on　a　happier　morning；　but　it　is　doubtful　if　the　landscape　painter　paid　much　attention　to　it。　　Treherne　was　dimly　discernible　in　the　doorway　of　what　was　now　his　house；　he　would　come　no　nearer；　for　he　hated　such　a　public　duty　more　bitterly　than　the　rest。　The　others　posted　themselves　a　little　way　behind　the　tree。　Between　the　lines　of　these　masked　batteries　the　black　figure　of　the　doctor　could　be　seen　coming　across　the　green　lawn；　traveling　straight；　as　a　bullet；　as　he　had　done　when　he　brought　the　bad　news　to　the　woodcutter。　　To…day　he　was　smiling；　under　the　dark　mustache　that　was　cut　short　of　the　upper　lip；　though　they　fancied　him　a　little　pale；　and　he　seemed　to　pause　a　moment　and　peer　through　his　spectacles　at　the　artist。
  The　artist　turned　from　his　easel　with　a　natural　movement；　and　then　in　a　flash　had　captured　the　doctor　by　the　coat　collar。
  〃I　arrest　you〃　he　began；　but　Doctor　Brown　plucked　himself　free　with　startling　promptitude；　took　a　flying　leap　at　the　other；　tore　off　his　sham　beard；　tossing　it　into　the　air　like　one　of　the　wild　wisps　of　the　cloud；　then；　with　one　wild　kick；　sent　the　easel　flying　topsy…turvy；　and　fled　like　a　hare　for　the　shore。　Even　at　that　dazzling　instant　Paynter　felt　that　this　wild　reception　was　a　novelty　and　almost　an　anticlimax；　but　he　had　no　time　for　analysis　when　he　and　the　whole　pack　had　to　follow　in　the　hunt；　even　Treherne　bringing　up　the　rear　with　a　renewed　curiosity　and　energy。
  The　fugitive　collided　with　one　of　the　policemen　who　ran　to　head　him　off；　sending　him　sprawling　down　the　slope；　indeed；　the　fugitive　seemed　inspired　with　the　strength　of　a　wild　ape。　　He　cleared　at　a　bound　the　rampart　of　flowers；　over　which　Barbara　had　once　leaned　to　look　at　her　future　lover；　and　tumbled　with　blinding　speed　down　the　steep　path　up　which　that　troubadour　had　climbed。　　Racing　with　the　rushing　wind　they　all　streamed　across　the　garden　after　him；　down　the　path；　and　finally　on　to　the　seashore　by　the　fisher's　cot；　and　the　pierced　crags　and　caverns　the　American　had　admired　when　he　first　landed。　The　runaway　did　not；　however；　make　for　the　house　he　had　long　inhabited；　but　rather　for　the　pier；　as　if　with　a　mind　to　seize　the　boat　or　to　swim。　Only　when　he　reached　the　other　end　of　the　small　stone　jetty　did　he　turn；　and　show　them　the　pale　face　with　the　spectacles；　and　they　saw　that　it　was　still　smiling。
  〃I'm　rather　glad　of　this；〃　said　Treherne；　with　a　great　sigh。　〃The　man　is　mad。〃
  Nevertheless；　the　naturalness　of　the　doctor's　voice；　when　he　spoke；　startled　them　as　much　as　a　shriek。
  〃Gentleman；〃　he　said；　〃I　won't　protract　your　painful　duties　by　asking　you　what　you　want；　but　I　will　ask　at　once　for　a　small　favor；　which　will　not　prejudice　those　duties　in　any　way。　I　came　down　here　rather　in　a　hurry　perhaps；　but　the　truth　is　I　thought　I　was　late　for　an　appointment。〃　　He　looked　dispassionately　at　his　watch。　　〃I　find　there　is　still　some　fifteen　minutes。　Will　you　wait　with　me　here　for　that　short　time；　after　which　I　am　quite　at　your　service。〃
  There　was　a　bewildered　silence；　and　then　Paynter　said：　〃For　my　part；　I　feel　as　if　it　would　really　be　better　to　humor　him。〃
  〃Ashe；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　a　new　note　of　seriousness；　〃for　old　friendship；　grant　me　this　last　little　indulgence。　It　will　make　no　difference；　I　have　no　arms　or　means　of　escape；　you。　can　search　me　if　you　like。　　I　know　you　think　you　are　doing　right；　and　I　also　know　you　will　do　it　as　fairly　as　you　can。　　Well；　after　all；　you　get　friends　to　help　you；　look　at　our　friend　with　the　beard；　or　the　remains　of　the　beard。　　Why　shouldn't　I　have　a　friend　to　help　me？　A　man　will　be　here　in　a　few　minutes　in　whom　I　put　some　confidence；　a　great　authority　on　these　things。　　Why　not；　if　only　out　of　curiosity；　wait　and　hear　his　view　of　the　case？〃
  〃This　seems　all　moonshine；〃　said　Ashe；　〃but　on　the　chance　of　any　light　on　thingswell；　from　the　moonI　don't　mind　waiting　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　　Who　is　this　friend；　I　wonder；　some　amateur　detective；　I　suppose。〃
  〃I　thank　you；〃　said　the　doctor；　with　some　dignity。　〃I　think　you　will　trust　him　when　you　have　talked　to　him　a　little。　And　now；〃　he　added　with　an　air　of　amiably　relaxing　into　lighter　matters；　〃let　us　talk　about　the　murder。
  〃This　case；〃　he　said　in　a　detached　manner；　〃will　be　found；　I　suspect；　to　be　rather　unique。　　There　is　a　very　clear　and　conclusive　combination　of　evidence　against　Thomas　Burton　Brown；　otherwise　myself。　　But　there　is　one　peculiarity　about　that　evidence；　which　you　may　perhaps　have　noticed。　It　all　comes　ultimately　from　one　source；　and　that　a　rather　unusual　one。　Thus；　the　woodcutter　says　I　had　his　ax；　but　what　makes　him　think　so？　He　says　I　told　him　I　had　his　ax；　that　I　told　him　so　again　and　again。　Once　more；　Mr。　Paynter　here　pulled　up　the　ax　out　of　the　well；　but　how？　I　think　Mr。　Paynter　will　testify　that　I　brought　him　the　tackle　for　fishing　it　up；　tackle　he　might　never　have　got　in　any　other　way。　Curious；　is　it　not？　　Again；　the　ax　is　found　to　be　wrapped　in　lint　that　was　in　my　possession；　according　to　the　fisherman。　　But　who　showed　the　lint　to　the　fisherman？　　I　did。　　Who　marked　it　with　large　letters　as　mine？　　I　did。　　Who　wrapped　it　round　the　handle　at　all？　　I　did。　Rather　a　singular　thing　to　do；　has　anyone　ever　explained　it？〃
  His　words；　which　had　been　heard　at　first　with　painful　coldness　were　beginning　to　hold　more　and　more　of　their　attention。
  〃Then　there　is　the　well　itself；〃　proceeded　the　doctor；　with　the　same　air　of　insane　calm。　　〃I　suppose　some　of　you　by　this　time　know　at　least　the　secret　of　that。　The　secret　of　the　well　is　simply　that　it　is　not　a　well。　It　is　purposely　shaped　at　the　top　so　as　to　look　like　one；　but　it　is　really　a　sort　of　chimney　opening　from　the　roof　of　one　of　those　caves　over　there；　a　cave　that　runs　inland　just　under　the　wood；　and　indeed　IS　connected　by　tunnels　and　secret　passages　with　other　openings　miles　and　miles　away。　　It　is　a　sort　of　labyrinth　used　by　smugglers　and　such　people　for　ages　past。　This　doubtless　explains　many　of　those　disappearances　we　have　heard　of。　But　to　return　to　the　well　that　is　not　a　well；　in　case　some　of　you　still　don't　know　about　it。　　When　the　sea　rises　very　high　at　certain　seasons　it　fills　the　low　cave；　and　even　rises　a　little　way　in　the　funnel　above；　making　it　look　more　like　a　well　than　ever。　The　noise　Mr。　Paynter　heard　was　the　natural　eddy　of　a　breaker　from　outside；　and　the　whole　experience　depended　on　something　so　elementary　as　the　tide。〃
  The