The right foot plainly showed the circular mark of a rubber heel, which was missing in the other, though a sharp indentation showed the mark of the spike to which the rubber had been fastened.
"The footprints lead straight to the mouth of the pit where the body was thrown," said Queensmead.
"What a clue!" exclaimed Superintendent Galloway, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

"You are quite certain the inn servant can swear that these marks were made by Ronald's boots, Queensmead ?" "There's no doubt on that point, sir," replied the constable.

"She had the boots in her hands this morning, just before Ronald put them on, and she distinctly noticed that there was a rubber heel on the right boot, but not on the other." "It seems a strange thing for a young man of Ronald's position to have rubber heels affixed to his boots," remarked Mr.Cromering.

"I was under the impression that they were an economical device of the working classes.

But perhaps he found them useful to save his feet from jarring." "We shall find them useful to hang him," responded Galloway curtly.