A Javelin for Jonah

“She claimed that she was pregnant by Jones.”

“But, my dear Laura, that wouldn’t induce Medlar to murder him! After all, which would damage the College more— a bit of scandal of that sort, or a murder?” demanded Ferdinand.

“Brings us back to Potts himself, you think? Well, we can’t do anything about that. Potts is dead.”

“But not murdered, I think,” said Dame Beatrice. Laura looked at her in surprise.

“I thought that was a very open question,” she said.

“I thought so, too, at first, but I have altered my opinion since we talked to Ferdinand, although, of course, the javelin was taken to the forge with a request that it be altered.”

“Well, we know it wasn’t altered there.”

“And never could have been, as we also know.”

“Do go on,” said Ferdinand to Laura. “I always find your deductions interesting.”

“I didn’t really make any more. I’d thought of Barry, of course, for the reason I gave you. He must have been livid when Colin was injured through Jones’s malicious stupidity. It wasn’t only that he was fond of the boy—over- fond, perhaps, judging by his previous reputation, now that we know what it was—but he had hopes of turning out a really first-class long-jumper. I suppose Colin will be able to take up athletics again?” Laura added, turning to Dame Beatrice.

“I do not know. The young and fit have marvellous powers of recuperation, but his injuries will take some time yet to right themselves.”

“But what about the other boy?” asked Ferdinand.

“Kirk? Well, I suppose, whoever the murderer was, if Kirk was blackmailing him and making him bring those drinks to the College under threat of exposing him to the police, well, there’s as good a motive as any.”

“Yes, that’s obvious, of course, but I still don’t know who the murderer is.”

“I’d also wondered about Miss Yale,” went on Laura. “Hamish said in one of his letters that he’d asked Miss Yale why she was content to look after a few wretched little maladjusted females at Joynings instead of taking on what he considered would be a worthwhile job for a woman of her capabilities. Of course we know the answer to that now, but I didn’t at the time.”

“But why should she murder Jones?” asked Ferdinand. “There would have to be a reason.”

“There could have been, as I saw it. Jones was known to be a pest with women. I think that if Miss Yale had thought Jones was making a set at any of her wretched chicks she would have murdered him quite cheerfully.”

“I think she might have been inhibited, you know, so far as causing the death of another person was concerned,” said Dame Beatrice. “She already had two deaths on her conscience.”

“Yes, it turned out that she had been warned, before she set out on that mountain scramble, about unfavourable weather conditions,” said Ferdinand, “but decided she knew better and so refused to change her plans and took a calculated risk which ended in tragedy and also ended her chosen career.”

“I did just toy with the thought of Lesley, too,” said Laura, “because Jones probably tried to make himself a nuisance there as well.”

“Dear me!” said Ferdinand, laughing. “In your opinion, the female of the species is indeed deadlier than the male! However, you argued pretty logically, I would say, except that, as my mother has pointed out, it was not to any of these people’s advantage to bring scandal and, no doubt, subsequent ruin on the College.”

“People don’t always think about things like that,” retorted Laura, “when they really get desperate.”

“Very true,” said Dame Beatrice. “Well, let us sleep on it. We may need to be up betimes in the morning. Meanwhile, my dear boy, I should like to use your telephone, if I may.”

“The inspector has arrested a man on suspicion of having removed property from enclosed premises with the intention of converting it to his own use?” asked Henry. “The police wish to have a confrontation in the presence of the whole staff? But why, Dame Beatrice? Nobody, so far as I know, has reported anything missing.”

“Perhaps not, Mr. Henry. Nevertheless, concerning this arrest, the inspector and I both feel that we shall be in a stronger position if any of the staff can supply corroborative evidence.”

“I think you will find we shall be loyal to one another, Dame Beatrice”

“But disloyal to the truth, and disloyal to the innocent?” asked Dame Beatrice. “I think you should realize, Mr. Henry, that, since the deaths of Mr. Jones and the lad Kirk, everybody here, whether student or lecturer, has been, to some extent, under suspicion.”

“I don’t care, all the same, for the criminal to be unmasked in public.”

“His trial will take place in public.”

“Well, I’ll see what Gassie has to say, but I don’t think he will be any keener on a staff-meeting show-down than I am.”

“Your scruples do you infinite credit, and I share your sentiments, Mr. Henry. Nevertheless, justice must be seen to be done, and, when it is done, I am sure that you and Mr. Gascoigne will be the last to regret it.”

“Anything which touches the good name of Joynings is a matter for regret, Dame Beatrice, and enough harm has been done to the College already by the reports—exaggerated, in many cases—of these terrible murders.”

“Suppose I told you that the College will benefit from what you call this show-down?”

“I hardly see how that can be, unless it proves that none of us was involved.”

“Well, that may be possible, up to a point. You have had your failures as well as your more numerous