"Well, this guy, for instance," motioning toward the slab, "was bumped by a train. The rest met with other accidents ranging all the way from hit and run, down the line to falling off hay lofts and being kicked in the head by a mule. Nobody seen any of the accidents, but the evidence was such that you couldn't help see what happened. For instance, the guy that was kicked by a mule, he had a hoof mark on his head and his mule had a bloody hoof. The hit-run guy, we found in the middle of the high way."
"Coincidence. Accidents almost invariably occur in threes or fours."
"Sure; threes and fours, but not tens and twelves. But there's something else."
"... yes?"
Charlie Ward moved a little closer and glanced behind him as he spoke.
"Of the ten who met with accidents," he said, "nine had these red marks on their cheeks."
"Excellent! Gorgeous!" Mr. Peck enthused through grinning lips. "A multiple murder! Nothing could be clearer or more fortunate!"
"Well, you may be tickled, Mr. Peck, but I ain't. Several of the victims were close friends of mine."
Mr. Peck's attitude changed at once.