Page:The Viaduct Murder (1926).pdf/35

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IN THE ROUGH
21

Let's take a bit of a look round, anyhow. He fell off the arch, and smashed up his face against the buttress, that looks pretty clear. Now, did he fall off the line, or off a train?"

"If you ask me, I should say he fell off the parapet. I've noticed, sometimes, what a long way it really is from the door of one's carriage to the parapet⁠—a man falling from a carriage would never reach the edge."

"Ah," said Reeves, looking up, "but you're imagining the train stationary. He would be hurled forward some way by the impetus, if he jumped off a moving train. And I should say he could have started falling down that bank to the right, just before the parapet begins. He'd roll forwards and sideways, if you see what I mean, till he got to where the stonework begins, up there, and then, plop."

"I dare say you're right. Anyhow, we'd better be quick and look at the body."

As they went towards the tool-house, Reeves gave a sudden exclamation. "By Jove, his hat! And it's⁠—let's see⁠—I should say fifteen yards to the north of the body. Now why?"

"How do you mean?"

"There was no wind this afternoon. If his hat fell with him, it would lie with him. If it lies a dozen yards away, that looks as if⁠—as if it was thrown after him. The considerate fellow-passenger hardly does that, does he?"

"You mean there's been dirty work?"

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