The Problem at Two Tithes (An Angela Marchmont Mystery Book 7) by Clara Benson Read Free Book Online Page A

speed, and easily dodged all the hands that reached out to grasp it. The children all thought this was great fun and soon a group of five or six boys and girls, with Peter Montgomery at their head, were shouting with laughter as they tried to catch the escaped pig. It reached the tea tent but swerved off to the left as someone emerged. For a second it seemed to hesitate, then it made a bee-line for the cake stall, and Elisabeth gasped in horror as it shot under the table, dragging a line of bunting with it. Unfortunately, the bunting was attached to the tablecloth that covered the stall, and there was an ear-splitting crash as platefuls of bath buns, Bakewell tarts, rock cakes, walnut cakes, sponge cakes and a very fine fruit cake were all dragged to the ground. Angela winced.
    ‘You’ll get the blame for that,’ said a voice by her ear. It was Mrs. Hunter, who wore an expression of great satisfaction.
    Angela glanced at Elisabeth and very nearly laughed at the look on her sister-in-law’s face. Perhaps it had been worth it for that alone. The pig was now rooting happily among the ruined cakes, while a small crowd of people watched it with great amusement. This had been a fine end to the day, and as it gradually became evident that nothing more exciting was likely to happen, the visitors now began to drift off and go home.
    Elisabeth had pulled herself together and was bidding a gracious goodbye to everyone as they left, while the stall-holders began to pack things away and clear up. The pig was still helping itself busily to cake, and Angela regarded it from a safe distance.
    ‘Who will rid me of this turbulent pig?’ she said to herself in consternation. ‘I can’t just leave it here.’
    In the end she was rescued by William, who had been watching the fun with great enjoyment. He caught the animal in his coat and deposited it neatly back in its pen before it could escape again.
    ‘But what am I meant to do with it?’ said Angela after she had duly thanked him. ‘We haven’t room for it at the flat.’
    ‘Don’t worry about that,’ he said. ‘I’ve had a word with old Ben Shaw and he says they’ll gladly take it at Low Meadow farm. He doesn’t think much of Mr. Toft but he won’t say no to one of his pigs, he said.’
    ‘Thank goodness for that,’ said Angela. She looked down at her dress and sighed. If she went to get changed Elisabeth would think that she, too, was trying to avoid clearing up. She brushed at the mud with her handkerchief but to little effect. She would have to see what Marthe could do with it later.
    ‘Come and help me take the bric-à-brac stall down,’ she said to William, and they set to work with the few helpers who remained. They had almost finished when Angela noticed that Elisabeth, instead of helping to clear up, was standing by the gate to the field with Kathie, who was talking animatedly and pointing in the direction of the village. Angela packed away the last few things and then went across to join them.
    ‘Is anything the matter?’ she said.
    Kathie turned to her. She looked very serious.
    ‘I’m afraid there is,’ she said. ‘Someone has shot Mr. Tipping.’

SEVEN
    It was not long before the essential facts of the matter were established. Shortly after lunch-time, Kathie had run home for a spare tablecloth, as there had been a spill in the tea tent and the only one they had was soaked. On the way back she happened to meet Norman Tipping, who was on his way to the fête too. They walked together along Dead Man’s Path and met Norman’s father going in the other direction. Tom said he would see them later and they went on their way. A minute or two later they heard the sound of a shotgun going off, which puzzled them a little but not unduly. Shortly after that, they passed Daniel Tyler from Burdett’s farm, who was heading in the same direction as Tom Tipping. They had almost reached the fête when Tyler came haring after them in a great state, and said they had