BIGGLES GOES TO SCHOOL

by Captain W. E. Johns

XII. TRAGIC NEWS (Pages 151 - 166)

The following morning Biggles hears from a boy named Thompson that old Barnes has been shot dead. Biggles cannot hold back the tears. Biggles doesn't doubt for a minute that the murderer is Dunnage. He immediately goes to the police station to tell them what he knows but the police aren't interested. Mick Dunnage has an alibi; he was in Hayford from 3.00 pm until after midnight. This is supported by Fred Chapman the landlord of the Horse and Hounds pub and Jeremiah Siggins, the butcher. Biggles asks what type of bullet killed Mr. Barnes and discovers it was a point 44. Biggles goes to see Siggins and asks if he can buy a pheasant. He says that Hervey has told him he could buy one from him and Biggles pays half a crown for it (using the half a crown he won at the fair). The pheasant's head has been bashed in and Biggles is confident it is the one that Dunnage had the night before. Back at the dormitory in the school both Biggles and Smith agree to "cut it up in the lav. when everyone is asleep - say, when the clock strikes midnight". This they do, and in the pheasant Biggles finds a .44 bullet. They are then caught by the Headmaster who was attracted by seeing the light on in the toilet and thought a boy was sick. Biggles explains everything to the Headmaster (again without naming the two boys concerned) and he says that he intends to find the rifle next and he thinks he can. The Headmaster says "I dislike very much the idea of you boys being mixed up in this nasty business; but a wicked crime has been committed, and it is our duty to do everything in our power to bring the murderer to justice. Would you like to be excused school in the morning?" Biggles asks if Smith can go as well and he too is given permission. Then the boys are told to go back to bed and leave the pheasant with the Headmaster.