“T know that horse,” Carpenter returned. “Tt is Robinson’s.” Moss studied Carpenter for a moment. “This horse is just like Robinson’s. In fact, I got him from the same person.” Carpenter shrugged. He knew Moss was lying but there was nothing he could do about it. Robinson might have sold the horse to Moss. If so, he, Carpenter, would look foolish if he made an accusation that he couldn’t substantiate. If he could locate Robinson the task would be easier. By now, Carpenter suspected foul play. Robinson’s friend continued his search. By April 11, he was convinced that some- THE STERLING DINING ROOM ALL CLEAN WHITE HELP Next Door to Post Office REAL HOME COOKING Creston, British Columbia NU-WAY CAFE The Best at Moderate Prices SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO TOURIST TRADE CRESTON - B.C. Let Us Clean and Press For You WE CALL AND DELIVER BEN’S Ben J. Gaspers, Proprietor Creston, British Columbia CRESTON HOTEL CRESTON, B. C. iS FULLY LICENSED Dining Room in Connection Headquarters for Tourists when in Creston a) |B Proprietor: JOHN SHEAN MESSINGER MOTORS CRESTON, B.C. SHELL GAS FIRESTONE TIRES TOWING Fully Equipped Shop for Tourists I. H. C. Agents Phone 99 or 103 tee eee Page Sixty thing had happened to Robinson. Every sign pointed that way. No one had seen the missing man and the old age pension cheque had not been called for again. Carp- enter, now alarmed, went to the police at Narromine and had a talk with them. He said he was certain that Robinson had been done away with. The man he suspected of committing the crime was Moss. The police listened to Carpenter’s story. It had the ring of truth. Certain little inci dents relating to Moss’ recent activities kept cropping in their minds and they knew they were on the trail of something out of the ordinary. But just how much it was out of the ordinary they never suspected at the time. The Narromine police got in touch with the District Superintendent. Det.-Sergt. Frankish, Constable 1st Class Turner and Tracker Riley were sent at once. They arrived in Narromine and had a talk with Carpenter. Their next move was to locate Moss. This proved to be easy. The suspect was seated in his camp. He saw the police ofh- cers approach and rose to greet them. They caw that several articles were near his camp. Before Moss had a chance to do anything being in possession of articles suspected of being stolen. The Australian police did nothing by halves. They searched everything most min- utely, even to a small piece of paper which apparently belonged to a writing pad. The writing pad was sent to the Scientific In- vestigation Bureau, where it was discovered that a reversed signature on the blotting paper was that of Timothy O'Shea, and that it had been made recently. Despite close questioning, Moss pretend- ed ignorance of Robinson or O'Shea. He plucked a leaf from a thistle and began munching it. “Lettuce, ah, good lettuce, feigning insanity. The police realised there was nothing they could gain by questioning this man. If they hoped to learn anything they must ferret it out on their own initiative. Days passed. The police were conduct- ing an intensive search of Mack’s Reserve. They found the remains of a large fire about 12 yards away from the river and very close to where Moss had been camping. “We'd better sift the ashes here,” Det.- Sergt. Frankish remarked. “There is no reason why a man should have had a fire that size; not if he was merely camping.” The ashes were sifted carefully. Nothing was found. The police now widened their search. They felt that the huge fire had a sinister meaning. Samples of the ashes were placed in containers and made ready for despatch to the Scientific Investigation Bur- eau. Meantime they went on with their search. Every inch of the ground was combed. Suddenly one of the officers stop- ped. ” he said, CHAS. DAVIS OO INSURANCE IN ALL ITS BRANCHES ig) ie CRESTON - B.C. BURMA CAFE COMFORTABLE ROOMS GOOD MEALS Hot and Cold Water Confectionery, Cigarettes, Cigars and Tobaccos CRESTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA “Look!” he pointed to the ground. The other officials dropped to their knees and examined two small objects. “They look like human vertebrae,” one of the police observed. “They are human vertebrae,” Det.-Sergt. Frankish said positively. “The substance clinging to them is burnt blood and flesh. There is no doubt that Moss killed Robin- son and burned his corpse in that fire.” On being confronted with this gruesome evidence, Moss merely shrugged. These are parts of Bartley’s body,” the police insisted. Moss grinned. “You won’t find Bartley’s body there,” he said. “I did kill him, all right, but not here.” The police, somewhat startled by this open admission, began to question Moss more closely. To their amazement he stated that he had killed several men, but would give no details about the killings or the disposition of their bodies. Though laugh- ing about the killings, he would not name his victims or give any hint as to where they met their fate. The police were puzzled. It had not been their lot to meet a criminal who would ad mit killings so frankly. Practically every murderer they had ever dealt with had forced them to prove that they had the guilty party under lock and key. Moss in sisted that he was guilty of murders, but would say no more. The whole thing emelled of a gigantic hoax. On the other hand, circumstantial ev dence pointed to the fact that Moss indeed had killed several men. More bones and ashes, identified by the Criminal Science Bureau as having been caused by human flesh, were found near where Moss had teen camped. Besides, the suspect was in HARRY REDMILE GENERAL MERCHANT * McConnell Station C.P.R. KITCHENER, BRITISH COLUMBIA THE SHOULDER STRAP