At that moment there arrived Dr. Wood, a
brisk and capable general practitioner from the village. The
three men entered the fatal room together, while the
horror-stricken butler followed at their heels, closing the door
behind him to shut out the terrible scene from the maid servants.
The dead man lay on his back, sprawling with outstretched limbs
in the centre of the room. He was clad only in a pink dressing
gown, which covered his night clothes. There were carpet
slippers on his bare feet. The doctor knelt beside him and held
down the hand lamp which had stood on the table. One glance at
the victim was enough to show the healer that his presence could
be dispensed with. The man had been horribly injured. Lying
across his chest was a curious weapon, a shotgun with the barrel
sawed off a foot in front of the triggers. It was clear that
this had been fired at close range and that he had received the
whole charge in the face, blowing his head almost to pieces. The
triggers had been wired together, so as to make the simultaneous
discharge more destructive.
The country policeman was unnerved and troubled by the tremendous
responsibility which had come so suddenly upon him.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59