"Close range," murmured Desmond, after glancing at the dead man's
face, "a large calibre automatic pistol, I should think!"
"Why do you think it was a large calibre pistol, Major?" asked
Mr. Marigold attentively.
"I've seen plenty of men killed at close range by revolver and
rifle bullets out at the front," replied Desmond, "but I never
saw a man's face messed up like this. In a raid once I shot a
German at point blank range with my revolver, the ordinary Army
issue pattern, and I looked him over after. But it wasn't
anything like this. The only thing I've seen approaching it was
one of our sergeants who was killed out on patrol by a Hun
officer who put his gun right in our man's face. That sergeant
was pretty badly marked, but..."
He shook his head. Then he added, addressing the detective:
"Let's see the gun! Have you got it?"
Mr. Marigold shook his head.
"He hadn't got it on him," he answered, "he swears he never had a
gun. I expect he chucked it away somewhere. It'll be our business
to find it for him!"
He smiled rather grimly, then added:
"Perhaps you'd care to have a look at Miss Mackwayte's room,
sir!"
"Is Miss Mackwayte there" asked the Chief.
"I got her out of this quick," replied Mr. Marigold, "she's had a
bad shock, poor girl, though she gave her evidence clearly enough
for all that.
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