Landis followed his pointing finger. A few feet behind where Bernard had been standing, the arrow had glanced from the stone foundations of the house and buried two feet of its length in the soft, moist earth of the garden-bed.
He looked back at Bernard. The old detective’s face was pale under its accumulated tan and his mouth was grim.
“It just missed you!” cried Landis. “How in hell—”
“Come on!” snapped Bernard. “We’ve got our criminal—and a damned clever one, Landis—too clever, that’s all!”
Momentarily bemused with astonishment, Landis saw that his companion was running heavily toward the door at the end of the wing. He came to himself with a jerk and sprang in pursuit. Bernard had gained the foot of the wing stairs when Landis overtook him. Landis made no attempt to pass but hung on his heels, marveling alike at Bernard’s words and his lumbering speed as he climbed. They burst into the second-floor hall and Bernard pounded away toward Miss Mount’s room. Landis drew level with him but fell back as they reached her door.
Bernard’s massive figure blocked the doorway for an instant, then moved aside to reveal Sergeant Forbes and one of his men half way between the door and the desk. Landis stared at them in amazement.
Gripped firmly between them, erect and pale, stood Graham.
CHAPTER XXVI
MOTIVE AND METHOD
Bernard was rubbing his hands. He turned on Landis before his younger colleague had fully recovered from his surprise.