"He went after Strode. I told Father Don an' Foxy, an' they swore awful. They couldn't start after him, as they didn't know what 'ud happen, and Merry's an awful one when put out, so they waited along o' me, d'ye see? Next daiy Merry come back, but said he'd left Strode a-goin' to the Red Deeps." "What did Father Don do?" "He went to the Red Deeps an' found the dead bloke. Then he come back and saw Merry. What he said to 'im I don't know: but Father Don sent me with a telegram to send from the St. James's Street orfice, saiying that Strode wouldn't be down till Friday. I think Father Don did that, to give toime to Merry to get awaiy." "That was the telegram received by Miss Strode after nine on Thursday, I think?" said Mask. "Yuss," said Butsey. "I sent it early an' the kid es took it to Wargrove forgot it till laite. I comes down again from town, gits back with the fresh air kids, saime night, to sell the peelers, an' nex' mornin' I comes down agin to tell Mrs. Merry es Cain would be over th' nex' daiy." "Why did you do that? Cain was in the house." "I knowed he wos. But Merry sent me to see if Miss Eva hed heard o' the death. Then I cuts----" "One moment," said Allen, "if Father Don saw the man dead, why didn't he take the wooden hand?" "Cause he didn't know it wos worth anythin' till Mr. Masks here spoke at the inquest." "About its being delivered to get the diamonds?" said Mask; "quite so. And you saw Mr. Hill bury it?" "Yuss. I wos told to watch him, es Merry said he knew a lot about Strode, and if the wust come he might be accused----" "A clever plot. Well?" "I follered him and saw him bury something. I digs it up and takes the cross es he put over it to mark it. Then I gives the 'and to Father Don an' the cross to Merry. He sends it to Hill to frighten him, and sends it through Cain. Then Father Don sees Mr. Mask, and you knows the rest." "Not all, I guess," said Horace, stretching a long arm and shaking the boy, "say straight, you--you imp. Did Merry shoot?" "Of course he did," replied Butsey cheerfully, "he hated Strode, an' wanted to git them diamonds. Merry hed the blue pocket-book, fur when I come down to see Miss Lorry at Shanton, I took the book from Merry's box which wos in his room. He found me with it and took it back, hammerin' me fur stealin'. But I got the notes," added Butsey with satisfaction, "and I spent three." "Merry seems to be guilty," said Mr. Mask; "he was absent from the circus on that night and let his son--who resembles, him closely--take his place. He had the pocket-book and----"