the family and all pals together, so to speak, had selected some other time, but I inclined the bean gracefully in the constable's direction and uttered a kindly " Ah, Dobson! " I rather think, if I remember, that I also said something about its being a fine night. But apparently this wasn't just one of those chummy gatherings which recall the old-time salon. " Are you aware, sir, that there's a window broke at the back of your residence ? My young nephew here spotted it and thought best to wake me up and have me investigate. A ground-floor window, sir, with a whole pane of glass gone from it." I simpered slightly. " Oh, that ?
Yes, Brinkley did that yesterday.Silly ass I " " You knew about it, then, sir ? " '' Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Quite all right, Sergeant.'' " Well, you know best if it's quite all right, sir, but I should say there was a danger of marauders getting through." And at this juncture the chump of a constable,who had hitherto not spoken, shoved his oar in. " I thought I did see a marauder getting through. Uncle Ted." " What! Then why didn't you tell me before, you young muttonhead ? And don't call me Uncle Ted when we're on duty."
" No, Uncle Ted." " You'd best let us make a search o.f the *ouse, sir,"
said Sergeant Voules. Well, I put the presidential veto on this pretty quick. " Certainly not. Sergeant," I said. " Quite out of the q." " It would be wiser, sir." " I'm sorry," I said, " but it can't be done." He seemed piqued and discontented. " Well, please yourself, sir, but you're shackling the police, that's what you're doing. There's too much shackling of the police these days. There was a piece in the Mail about it yesterday. Perhaps you read it ? " "No." " On the middle page.
Unshackle the police, it said, because public alarm is growing in Great Britain owing to the continuous increase of crime in the lonely rural districts. I clipped it out to paste in my album. The number of indictable offences, it said, has rose from one three four five eight one in 1929 to one four seven nought three one in 1930, with a marked increase of seven percent. in crimes of violence, and is this disturbing state of things due to slackness on the part of the police, it said ? No, it said, it's not. It's because the police are shackled."
The man was obviously cut to the quick. Dashed awkward.
the house when a heavy hand fell on my shoulder,occasioning me both mental and physical distress, and a shadowy form said " Gotcher I " "
Ouch I " I replied. The shadowy form now revealed itself as that of Constable Dobson of the Chuffnell Regis police force. He was in apologetic vein. "I'm sure I beg your pardon, sir. I thought you was the marauder." I forced myself to be airy and affable. The young squire setting the lower orders at their ease. " Quite all right. Constable.
Quite all right. Just going for a stroll." " I understand, sir. Breath of air." " You have put it in a nutshell. A breath, as you astutely observe, of air. The house is quite close." " Yes, sir. Just over there." " I mean stuffy." " Oh, yes, sir. Well, good night, sir."
"Tra-la, Constable." I proceeded on my way, a little shaken. I had left the garage door open, and I felt my way to the old two-seater, glad to be alone once more. In certain moods, no doubt, one would have found Constable Dobson a delightfuland stimulating companion, but to-night I preferred his absence. I climbed into the car and, leaning back, endeavoured to compose myself for sleep. Now, whether I should have been able to
^achieve the dreamless had the conditions re-/0»ained right, I cannot say. The point is ',||pretty moot. As two-seaters go, I had always 3fc»und mine fairly comfortable, but then I had •Sever before tried to get the eight hours in it, sad you would be surprised at the number of knobs and protuberances which seem suddenly to sprout out of a car's upholstery when you seek to convert it into a bed. But, as it happened, I was not given a square chance of making the test. I don't suppose I could have counted more than about a platoon and a half of sheep when a light suddenly flashed on the features and a voice instructed me to come on out of it. I sat up. " Ah, Sergeant! " I said. Another awkward meeting. Embarrassment on both sides. " Is that you, sir ? " " Yes." "
Sorry to have disturbed you, sir." " Not at all." " Can't say it occurred to me that it might be you in here, sir." " I thought I'd try to get a bit of sleep in the old car. Sergeant." •' Yes, sir." " Such a warm night." "Just so, sir." His voice was respectful, but I could not H
conquer a suspicion that he was beginning to look a bit askance. There was something in his manner that gave me the idea that he considered Bertram eccentric. " Stuffy indoors." " Yes, sir ? " " I often park myself in the car in the summertime." " Yes, sir ? " " Good night.
