Old Charlie Dalston had been the village carrier at Winghurst for many years, like his father before him. One April afternoon, as he approached the railway bridge that spanned the road a short distance from Winghurst, he caught sight of a bundle lying by the roadside. Pulling up sharply he got down to investigate, and to his horror found the bundle was the dead body of a man. A few yards farther on a motor-cycle lay on its side. Not quite so simple as it looked, the accident develops into a most intricate and baffling mystery, in which, of course, Inspector Jimmy Waghorn has to call upon Dr Priestley for assistance.