A Woman Among Thieves.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 57, 7 March 1913, Page 10

A Woman Among Thieves.

By HUGH PHILLIPS.

CHAPTER XXV. Tof Wil?on's mind Beasley's insinuation that I lie May _Martine.au he knew wa.- really Bella Norman amounted almc,<t to au accusation-against May, and for i long while lie sat stunned. ... "V 7,, Wli.it- could be the meaning, of-it? At first ho felt inclined' to laugh the. matter away. It wan too absurd for words; then an idea occurred to him, and'-he asked, "Are you sure the. people who keep the house now were there when the two girls lived in. it?" ,-■•■ "Yes,'' Beasley answered: "that's _ tie curious part.of it. It seems that neither of the girls- /was in the good graces of the landlady.' and yet she sticks up for them."' "Oh. well. I think I see daylight," Wilson said; "can't you imagine the position when Miss Martineau fled to Ha£*gerston on the last occasion? She probably threw herself on the woman's taerpy; perhaps said, 'Say [I'm oiella N-onnan if anyone inquires.' Indeed, thinking the matter over, I feel absolutely convinced that was the case. Knowing that you and the police were looking for her, it is not-likely she would go under her own name." Beasley looked startled. That theory bad not occurred to him, and he pondered the matter over. "There is another matter too," V7TI--son said. "Miss Martineau had qriite a hi"- amount of money in iher possession, and she probably bribed the woman." Wihile the other two had been talking, Malto&m bad (remained a. bflent listener. He had been almost on the point of blurting out what he knew, and he began to think he held the solution of this strange mystery. Knowing the captain's deep attachment to Mies Martineau, however, he dissembled, and said: —

"Oh! I knew the two girls well—used to go to dances with them. Bella Norman was married, and went to Canada — I was at the wedding."

In his heart he knew he was unblushingly prevaricating, but he felt this was an occasion when a lie could be justified.

The effect of this speech on Beasley was almost electrical, and the detective almost jumped from his chair. "Great Scott!" he excitedly exclaimed, "and I had nearly forgotten it. On the day of the inquest you met Miss Martineau, and when you said 'goodbye,' you addressed her as Miss Norman. I |had quite forgotten that. Now explain yourself, young man."

He looked at .Malcolm in a threatening manner, and a red flush suffused the face of : the journalist. He, too, had forgotten the occurrence. It had never occurred that there was any real truth in Keaelev's suggestion, but now he began to wonder.' In his own mind he knew he , had not mistaken May for Bella when he met her at Jarviston. What it all meant he could not fathom, but it only confirmed him in his decision to prevent! Beasley from following his inquiry fur-1 titer. These thoughts flashed through big- mind in a second, and so it seemed ad-if he replied spontaneously and without hesitation when he said:— SOli, yes, yes! .1 remember quite,"well,. I Jfas in a great hurry, and the name "of? tire other girl slipped off my tongue: I 'noticed it afterwards, but it wasn't quite worth while to go back and apologise." Bens-Icy seemed convinced, and after a Ibng pause he said.: /'Thinkink. things o\fer. i am inclined to agree with Cap" tain Wilson.. There's „prp.ba,bly nothing in this-clue, although at first I did attach a lot of importance to it. We'll let it-drop." •• • - >- ■ -.. . .... ~,.. concurred, while Malcolm said nothing. He felt it might be unsafe for him. to speak. .He. knew- that if Beasleyfound out he had told a lie, the detective would easily get back on him. Much of the news he gathered for his paper was obtained at first hand from Scotland Yard, and if lie once offended an official there he knew he need never expect assistance again. '" Well, gentlemen, I must be going," Beasley said at length, and, shaking hands, he left them to their own gloomy thoughts. Malcolm and Wilson sat silent for some time a_ter_,_tee m detecsjye[s,. departure.*- The "was the first" to" break the silence..- T- '-. '- ; "- - ••* Ho matters over very carefully. There were many reasons against his telling the captain what he knew, but, all things considered, he decided it would be best to take the other into his confidence. " This is a very strange development," he began. . - •' Oh, but there's nothing in it," Wilson said, as be slowly lit"a cigarette. -" " But I'm afraid there is," Malcolm replied. " Though' this is not the place to talk about it." The other turned a startled face towards his companion. " What do you mean?" he said, in a hoarse whisper. "Let mc know the worst now, for heaven's sake-." Thus abjured, Malcolm drew his chair closer to "the captain's, and began in a confidential whisper. " Well, really, you know, captain, 1 don't know whether I am to - tell you the truth. It's very strange that I did not drop on this matter before—l, who •pride myself I have a nose for crime and mysteries. You must let mc tell my story in my own way." Wilson nodded. " Get along," he said. "I have.lived for some years in Kingsland, north-east London," Malcolm said. '•' And attended St. Paul's Church, in Queen's Koad. There I met two girls who were marvellously alike. " When 1 say marvellously alike, I do not mean it in an exact sense. Seeing the girls together no one could mistake one for the other. One was Miss Martineau, who was ' common.' The other, Miss Norman, was 'a lady,' to use platitudes. Captain Wilson showed his displeasure, and began to get excited. '•' Stop this foolish rot," he said. Malcolm looked relieved. He began to feel a coward in regard to Miss Martineau, and there was always the chance' he might be making a mistake. " All right," he said. " Let us leave the matter over, till you return from your visit." ___ • This was, however, far from what Wit. son_-wished£ and, he saidj apologetically.; "Noi no, rim <sorxy- I interrupted. -Letme~ Lear" your story to a finish." "I knew these girls quite well," Malcolm resumed. " Used to go to socials ■with them. One of them, Miss May Martineau, married a chum of mine, anti. emigrated to Canada, ■ v I was at the wedding, and went to Liverpool to see them Off." Wilson's face was now • deadly white, and Malcolm, noticing it, called for brandies and sodas before he resumed, « • ........... ~....:5' . r>C.

His companion fumed his impatience at the interruption, and his hands seemed to be clutching the air. At length Malcolm proceeded.

" Miss Norman remained'behind alone. She was-out of work, I know, and then she suddenly disappeared. Search was -ma3e"'fdr"her, but no trace found:""'The general opinion was that she had, perhaps, committed suicide.

".':Wilson began to see daylight through the maze, though as yet he could form no opinion in the matter, and he interrupted : "Have you ever seen Miss Martineau —I mean the Miss Martineau" who lived at Jarviston with Sir John Gordon? She was probably a different person altogether from the Miss Martineau you knew."

" 1 am coming to that," Malcolm said. " I believe I have seen the lady. You know 1 went down to the inquest on Sir John. I missed my train, and was late. Running towards the County Club, 1 met the missing girl, Miss Norman to wit. 1 stopped and spoke for a moment, and bade . her good-oye, addressing her as Miss Norman. She' was in black— coming from the inquest. It must have been the girl." " But you told Beasley it was .Miss Martineau," Wilson said, joyfully. "That was a lie," Malcolm said blandly. "I thought you would wish mc to do what I did. "it was not Miss Martineau, I swear it on oath. It was Miss Norman." "Good heavens!" Wilson said, and the glass he held in bis band fell with a crash to the floor. So tense was his agitation, that it was some moments before he spoke. "1 cannot understand, it," he said at length, in a strained whisper. "But it seems to mc to explain why my darling avoided mc, why she evaded mc, and de.nied' my love. It really seems she must have been living under false that is, unless Sir John was a party to the deception." "He must have been," Malcolm said; but the other recovered, and almost in a murmur to himself continued: "No, Sir John could not have known he was being deceived. I remember the strange facts in regard to his adoption of the girl I knew as Miss Martineau. Sir John's solicitors are the people who have charge of my affairs also. It seems Sir John, advertised for the girl, they investigated her claims, pronounced them genuine. They told mc so."

"What relation was she to Sir John?' : Malcolm asked.

"A very distant cousin,2» Wilson replied. • "Neither J nor the lawyer could understand Sir John's reason for adopting her. His excuse was that he had done her 'lather a grave injury years ago. As a matter of fact, according to the story I have heard from my people, Sir John was a bcsqm".conipaniori of the girl's father many years previously." ' "What do you intend to do in the matter?" Malcolm asked, anxiously. * "I really don't know," the captain replied, as' he flicked the "ash off the cigarette. "My mind seems stunned; f I T3eem unable to think." "May I ask how it will affect your feelings towards Miss Martineau should itv-bje-pcoved *she>ii» Miss Norman, and &a^*taTcen:'another's place?" " Wilson bangeel His fist 'upon the table. "By heavens!" he said, excitedly, almost loudly, "it wouldn't affect mc in the least. The girl I love is the dearest little thing in the whole wide world to mc, and whether she be criminal or saint, I'll'never desert her t'ilf God parts us by death.." _~. , '; ■ His vehemence carried the Other away. He had never loved himself, and could hardly understand his friend standing by a girl who apparently stood a very°fair chance of being involved in a charge of •imposture. "And," Malcolm cogitated, "if guilty of such a vile act as that, it stands to reason she is probably guilty of Sir John's murder." "I suppose you will ask Mies Martineau for an explanation of the matter," Malcolm asked his companion. "Most certainly,?' the captain replied. "I understand now ytyy she fled. '1,-and I alone, am the cause of her flight. When she discovered I loved her, she, being a good, honest little soul, realised her iniquity, and so disappeared;. Itttdo?2.S "6°, -she brought Beasley's suspicions ugon her, and moment, w£re the>.aetective-1;o. find her, he would, ranT'stire, arrest her"for the murder of Sir John." "I quite expect so," said Malcolm, dolefully. "But I don't quite see how you are to blame for her disappearance." "You're a fool," Wilson said, rudely. "Let mc make the matter plain to you. May— and I shall always think of her as May, even though *her name turn out to .be Bella— I -loved her. So, feeling a marriage made while she was' sailing under false colours would be a farce, she ran away. In so doing, she |eau=jrd Beasley's sufipiciions to fasten upon her." "Well," said Malcolm, with an effort of cheerfulness. '.'lt's no use crying about spilt milk. Our endeavours must be concerned with,getting the girl out of the meshes into which she has fallen. But now it's time for you to go and see her." Wilson acknowledged bis friend's kindly reminder, but at' heart he had a dead sick feeling that he would never be able to get his Jpved.one out of her trouble. The thought obsessed him, and gloomily he entered a taxi and departed •on his momentous errand. (To be Continued Daily.)