Case with 4 Clowns by Leo Bruce Read Free Book Online Page B

fingers seemed adroit and expert as he worked, unrolling the bandage with a neat, sure touch. Finally, when he had finished, he lifted the girl in his arms, while Margot drew back the bedcovers, and placed Anita in the bed.
    â€œShe’ll be all right,” he said turning to us. “Only a flesh-wound. Her shoulder-blade stopped it being anything more serious. Still, we might send for a doctor, just in case.”
    â€œIs it absolutely necessary?” asked Jackson.
    â€œWell,” answered Beef, “it’s a clean wound.”
    â€œThen we won’t fetch a doctor,” stated Jackson. Gypsy Margot nodded her agreement with this, and Beef merely shrugged his shoulders. I realized that doctors were almost unheard of to circus people. Only extreme cases were taken to them. Used to dealing with the wounds of their animals or their fellow artists, they regarded interference from outside with an almost superstitious eye.
    â€œIn any case,” I said abruptly, “we ought to call in the police.”
    â€œPolice,” said Beef scornfully. “What do we want them in here for?”
    Jackson and Margot were violent in their repudiation of my idea, and feeling slightly crushed, I looked at Beef in bewilderment.
    â€œAnd now,” said the Sergeant, “we want to get to the bottom of this. What I want to know is just what happened in here.”
    Nobody answered. Jackson stood sullenly leaning against the door, Mrs. Jackson was quietly clearing away the remains of the bandages, lint and water that Beef had been using, Helen was sitting on a low stool by the bed staring unblinkingly at her sister’s face, and Gypsy Margot was mumbling gently to herself apparently oblivious of all that was going on.
    â€œNow come on,” said Beef impatiently. “Some of you must know what happened.”
    Helen suddenly moved her eyes and looked full at the Sergeant. “I did it,” she said, and her voice had a vague, uncomprehending quality which changed almost to a scream as she went on, “I did it. I stabbed her. I don’t know what made me … I saw her … her back … I …”
    â€œNow don’t go getting yourself all excited,” said Beef calmly. And then, turning to the others, he went on: “Look, I’d just like to have a little talk with Helen alone, if you don’t mind. Perhaps she’ll be better if there’s not so many people about.”
    We moved towards the door, but he gave me a slight sign that I was to stay. The other three left without a word, and I closed the door softly behind them. Beef turned to Helen.
    â€œNow tell me just what happened,” he said.

CHAPTER VI
    H ELEN looked at the Sergeant for a moment before she began to speak. She seemed to be weighing something in her mind, and I thought she was probably wondering how much she could tell us.
    â€œYou needn’t be afraid,” said Beef. “We’re not trying to trap you, or anything like that. I just want to hear what happened after you left the tent. Start from there. Start where you came out of the ring.”
    â€œI don’t know that I can explain it really,” said Helen. “I still feel that it can’t really have happened to me. I mean, the whole thing is like a dream. But I’ll try. When we came out of the ring we took our horses round to the groom, and then walked to the wagon. We were laughing at a little joke we’d had with Mr. Townsend—you know, so that he wouldn’t know which of us was Anita.”
    â€œYes, I know,” grinned Beef. “Took him in proper, it did, too.”
    â€œI think perhaps that’s what started it,” said Helen.
    â€œWhat do you mean? The joke you played on Mr. Townsend? Did you have a quarrel over it then?”
    â€œNo, not that. I’ll try and tell you. You see, as we were walking along Anita made some remark about how Mr. Townsend hadn’t been able to tell