Read "The Shortest Way" by Jane Barlow online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
District-Inspector Rochfort had risen very early on that wet August morning, to go trout-fishing along the Feltragh River. He hoped to get a couple of hours at it before breakfast; so he was not best pleased when Hugh Christie accosted him as he crossed the Ivy Bridge. Hugh was looking over the wreathed parapet up the river, and did not take his eyes off it; only put out a hand as Mr Rochfort passed, and stopped him with a touch on the arm. Undoubtedly Hugh had queer ways. His neighbours pronounced him to be "not all there," which seemed an inappropriate description of his peculiarities, as rather there was more of him than of other people. But the more was something uncanny. He now said, still watching the water: "I was thinkin' the Sargint might come by; howsome'er, sir, you'll do as well."
"That I won't, my man," said Mr Rochfort, "unless it can be done uncommonly smart, for I've no time to waste."