Tom

            It was all hectic back at the house, when we got back from our walk to the pond. Everyone seemed to making some sort of noise, when we all trooped in. Albert and Emelie got back first, and they were already upstairs, when I found out from father that the Colonel was dead. His wife had gone into the bathroom adjoining their room to prepare for bed. She left her husband all ready for bed, and sitting in the chair, reading. When she came back into the bedroom, he was slumped on the floor. She rushed to his side, but could not find his pulse. As a trained nurse, she tried to revive him, but could not. She gave a scream for help, and roused everyone. When we arrived at the house, she was in hysterics. You’d think a trained nurse would have more control, but it was pretty awful for her, I suppose. Finding your husband dead, is not something you find everyday. Especially when someone pronounces it murder. I found Campion in the Randing’s room, examining the body. Emelie was standing by, watching interestedly, but the poor old girl was shaking. I tried to send her away, but she refused.

“He’s dead then?” I asked.

Albert nodded his head, “ ‘Fraid so. You should alert the police as soon as possible.”

“The police!” Andrew Randing appeared at the door. Albert looked at him sharply,

“Yes,” he said rather calmly, “He’s been murdered.”

“Murdered! Great heavens!” Andrew appeared astounded and sank into a nearby chair.

“How can you tell?” Peter Wilcox and Cathy appeared at the door in time to hear Albert’s last words.

“He has traces of poison on his lips.”

I bent down to see for myself, and sure enough there was some grayish looking specks around the man’s mouth.

“Poisoned!” Emelie exclaimed, and she was soon all in a fluster. “What was it? Something I served at dinner?”

But Albert shook his head, “No, someone put it in his pipe.”

There on the floor beside the body was the Colonel’s pipe, which was still warm.

“You’re saying someone put poison inside his pipe deliberately?” Andrew stood again.

Albert smiled thinly, “Why don’t we all go downstairs to wait for the police. Ah, Lugg, there you are, I was coming to fetch you.”

Albert’s man, Lugg, stood in the hall, his face grave and set.

“Mr. Wilcox, would you be so good as to get Miss Hebert a glass of wine of some sort? She’s looking rather faint. Mr. Randing, please help her down the stairs.” Albert soon shooed the trio out of the bedroom, and it was just Emelie, Lugg, Albert, and I left. As soon as the others were gone, Albert turned to Lugg in a hasty manner.

“Good heavens, Lugg, where were you? Didn’t I say to keep an eye out for something out of the ordinary?”

“Well, ‘ow was I supposed to know it’d ‘cur to this old geezer.” Lugg muttered, jabbing a thumb towards the body.

“Never you mind.” Albert sighed and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.

“You knew this was going to happen?” Emelie sounded furious.

“Well, no, not to the Colonel, but to you, dear lady.” Campion turned towards my sister. She turned completely white, and her voice trembled a bit, “What?”

“Yes, you see, my man, Lugg, here recognized one of your gypsy friends yesterday. Turns out he’s an old criminal buddy, isn’t that right, Lugg?”

“Buddy isn’t a word I would use. A rat. That’s what he is. A rat.” Lugg shook his head and pressed his lips together in disproval.

“All the same, Lugg here knew he wasn’t up to something good. And shortly after he and his pack of fellow gypsies were sent away, Lugg, noticed something oddly peculiar.”

“That’s right. I followed ‘im out of ‘ere. Just to be sure ‘e left, you know. And I saw ‘im…” but Lugg stopped when Albert raised his eyebrows at him. Albert smiled at him,

“Thank-you, Lugg, we won’t be needing you anymore. Perhaps you can help Stevens out with Mrs. Randing?”

Lugg made a face, and left, grumbling.

“As, Lugg was saying, he noticed that your Andrew Randings followed the gypsies, and met in a secluded area with our certain fellow. They exchanged something. As young Randings was always plastered to your side, I guessed you were his target.”

“But how do you know he was targeting anyone? He could’ve been just paying the gypsy a little extra for his performance!” Emelie sputtered.

“Ah, but Lugg had his curiousity aroused, and he followed the certain gypsy, and nabbed him. After much persuasion, the gypsy admitted to giving young Randings some scopolamine. It’s a dangerous drug, of which an overdose is fatal.”

Emelie glared at Campion.

“So you were bound to protect me? You couldn’t warn me? I assure you, I am quite capable of my well-being, Mr. Campion.” She stormed the room, slamming the door behind her.

“She likes you.” I grinned at him, and he grinned back.

“Come along, Tom.”