The next morning the gate creaked rustily on its hinges under the withered hand of a middle-aged greying gentleman, who was followed by a blue-uniformed police-officer. He walked towards the house with stately tread and tried the door, then noticed the childish fingermarks on the grimy window.
"It looks as if he's been here, sir", he informed the officer.
"Yes, Bartholomews, but he doesn't appear to be here now".
And as they found the doors unyielding, he asked, "Do you know of any other of the boy's haunts in this district?"
"Well, sir, there's Mr. Gulliver".
"Where does he live?"
"Oh, it's a tree. sir".
"A tree?"
"Yes, sir. The child called it that, sir, and often spent hours talking to it. He always went to it for advice when he was troubled".
The officer looked bewildered as he asked Bartholomews to lead the way to it.
As they came in full view of the tree, they saw a human form upon the ground.
"Mr. Nicholas!" cried the faithful Bartholomews as he ran forward to fall upon one knee beside him. He gently took a cold little hand in his own large, warm one and whispered, "Wake up, Mr. Nicholas, sir".
The officer approached and turning the pale features towards him, his face took on a grim mask. He took the hand from Bartholomews' and felt the pulse. Bartholomews looked upon the closed eyes and stroked the wayward curls from the forehead, but the tired form remained motionless, having neither breath nor pulse.
Quietly the inspector's voice framed the words which filled both minds, "I'm afraid he's . . . dead".
"Yes", replied the mournful voice beside him, "he's dead".
After a pause the inspector continued, "I'm afraid you'll have to identify the body as that of Nicholas de Courtney".
"Yes, I can do that", the butler replied steadily.
"Good man!" the officer complimented.
They were silent a moment.
"I wonder how .....?"
"Poisoning", replied the officer. "It looks as if he has eaten some poisonous berries by the stains around his mouth. Poor kid. Lots of 'em do it when they get very hungry. Sometimes when they aren't hungry. It's the colour that attracts them, and hunger too. They don't realise that the things are poisonous. Still, the post-mortem will reveal the causes".
"Poor little Mr. Nicholas!" exclaimed the sorrowing butler.
"How long is it since his parents died?" enquired the officer.
"It is three and a half months since his father was killed in the plane crash".
"Pilot, wasn't he?"
"Yes, sir. And it was only about two weeks later that her ladyship died. She was ill when she received the news, and I'm afraid it was too much for her. Poor soul".
They stood quietly for a few seconds.
"And what happened then?"
"Well, sir, some cousin or other of her ladyship said he'd take care of the child. He'd never been near for years. I think it was the money that enticed him. Took all the furniture away the same day as he came and said he'd have the child. He wanted to sell the house but the solicitor wouldn't hear of it. You see, it was the child's property. Still, I suppose it will be the old scoundrel's now. Poor Mr. Nicholas, no wonder he ran away".
That evening a tcarstaincd sun went down on a grieving garden. The birds sang their mournful dirges. The wind sighed gently through the sobbing trees. The great house remained dark, still and silent. The brook slowly lingered on its way seaward to gaze at the empty bridge, where so short a while ago a cheerful, curly-headed little boy gazed lovingly, dreamily, upon its gentle waters and tenderly wept upon the place where he had bathed his weary body.
A solemn silence fell upon the still garden as the owl sighed for them all: "Poor child. Farewell, beloved master. Farewell".
Solution to Crossword No. 1
A: Greenhill Grammar School.
B: 1, Harem; 2, Ram; 3, Hog; 4, Sill; 5, Log; 6, N.E.R.C.
PHYLLIS WILCOCK, Form 2M.
Solution to Crossword No. 2
ACROSS.
1, Fromologist; 8, Via; 9, He; 10, Roast; 11, Power; 13, Lass; 14 Leap; 15, Oars;
16, Last; 18, Sign; 19, Phi; 20, Lear; 21, Hisn; 24, Iota; 25, Neap; 27, R.N.; 29, Core.
DOWN.
1 (and 28 across), For Auld Lang Syne; 2, Oval; 3, Misanthropy; 4, Oats; 5, Geologist;
6, Shear; 7, Terpsichore; 12, Wean; 17, Spa; 21, Hire; 22, Ion; 23, N.A.T.O.; 26, As.
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