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There's the list we found on the back of it; only four words, but full of suggestion. And there's the golf ball we found on the embankment—there we have the actual clue in our pockets."

"A precious poor sort of clue," objected Gordon. "Leave that ball lying about, and every third man in the club will be prepared to adopt it as his long-lost property."

Carmichael seemed destined to overwhelm them with surprises. At this point he suddenly remarked, "You know, that's not all the clues we've got. There's one that dropped out of poor Brotherhood's pocket as the caddies were carrying off the body to the tool-house. At least, the caddies said so: my private impression is that the young ruffians searched the pockets on their own———"

"Why on earth should they do that?" asked Reeves.

"Well, you know what caddies are—it's a demoralizing profession. Not that I believe much in boys going to school myself, but it does keep them out of mischief. Those two boys, I think, went through the pockets on their own."

"They left four bob there," suggested Gordon.

"Yes, boys are frightened of stealing money; they connect it with going to prison. But they don't mind stealing other things; I think they could tell you why the pouch was empty, and why there was only one cigarette left in the case—they were too clever to clear both completely. After all, you know, it isn't very long since people gave up 'wreck-