herrings.”
“Red herrings?” repeated Gascoigne blankly.
“So you dashed across here,” said Henry, “just like that.”
“Certainly I did.”
“Why?” asked Dame Beatrice.
“Because, if Henry can’t count, I can,” replied Miss Yale firmly. “The last time I checked the javelins, my four were there, but Henry’s tally was seven, not eight.”
“There are eight here now,” said Laura.
“I confess I didn’t realise one of mine was missing until now,” said Henry. “I only count them at stock-taking. I unlock the cupboard and stand by while the chaps help themselves.”
“Why did you suddenly decide to check?” repeated Dame Beatrice.
“Why?” said Miss Yale, in a tone which indicated that she was unused to being asked to explain her actions. “Oh, I don’t really know. Javelins having entered into the business, I thought it might be as well to look at the College collection of them, that’s all. And it’s just as well, perhaps, that I did.”
“I don’t really see why,” said Gascoigne testily, because he was alarmed. “After all, now that the stains on my javelin are found to be red paint, we still have to question whether the fatal wound inflicted on Davy was caused by a javelin at all. It does not follow automatically, does it?” he went on. “The doctor only mentions a stab- wound.”
“Put your finger on the point of the javelin which Henry is holding, and don’t press too hard,” said Miss Yale grimly. “If that bit of steel was ever issued by a highly respectable manufacturer of sports equipment, I’ll swallow it.”
“Well, yes,” said Gascoigne, gingerly touching the dagger-sharp point which Henry obligingly advanced towards him. “Somebody has tampered with this. Again, though, it may have been meant as a joke, don’t you think? The point, although murderously sharp, is perfectly clean.”
“I think the sooner it’s handed over to the police the better, anyway,” said Henry. “I will take it over to College, Gassie, and perhaps you will ring up the inspector.”
They returned to the Warden’s sitting-room, where the rest of the staff were awaiting them. Gascoigne rang up the police immediately he had taken the javelin from Henry and had locked it up in the ante-room. While he was telephoning, the staff heard the story of Miss Yale’s discovery of the altered javelin. She and Henry told it between them. Gascoigne returned while they were being questioned by their audience.
“When was the last stock-taking done?” asked Jerry, ignoring Gascoigne’s entrance.
“Three months ago,” Henry replied. “I checked all the equipment myself to see what repairs or replacements were necessary. The javelins were all in order then. I can swear to that.”
“Number correct as well?”
“Certainly. We always keep a dozen of them in stock. I can’t think how I came to overlook one, if what Miss Yale says is true.”
“So some clever blighter sneaked one and put a new head on it,” said Laura.
“Well, the workshops are always open and we don’t supervise them much.”
“Three months ago,” said Martin thoughtfully. “Could have been done by some joker who’s left, then. It need not be one of our present lot at all.”
“I think it’s pretty recent,” said Henry. “A javelin with that new head on it wouldn’t behave like an ordinary one. When I held it just now as one would at the beginning of the run-up, I could feel at once that the balance wasn’t right. If we’d been using it before Jonah’s accident, my squad would have noticed it at once, so it can’t have been done very long.”
“I wonder whether I might have a word with you, Mr. Henry?” asked Dame Beatrice.
chapter
8
Recalling the Runners
« ^ »
I wonder whether you’d mind if we talked on the field?” said Henry. “I promised a couple of shot-putters an extra go after tea.”
He and Dame Beatrice strolled out into the grounds, but found none of Henry’s athletes.
“Am I to gather that you did not want to talk to me in front of Mr. Medlar?” she asked, glancing round the empty field.
“Well,” said Henry, “Jones, as you know, was Gassie’s brother-in-law and that makes things awkward. One can hardly call Jones a sweep and a reptile in front of a relative, especially as they always seemed to be on excellent terms with one another.”
“Does your opinion of Mr. Jones coincide with that of the rest of the lecturers, then?”
“So far as I know, it does. I don’t think anybody liked him, and one or two detested him.”
“What about the students?”
“He was anything but popular.”
