Was She Wife or Widow ?

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 305, 24 December 1891, Page 6 (Supplement)

Was She Wife or Widow ?

IN SIX NUMBERS.—NUAfIBER 1

By Malcolm Bkt,l,

Author of " Bis Fatal Succoss," "Roanoke

of Roanoke Hall," etc.

CHAPTER IV,

HOW THE DETECTIVE REASONED,

' I think I am not tar wrong in assorting that that lady and her husband did not get on together over well.' The speaker was Mr Wenlock, a private detective, with whom Herbert was closeted hi Professor Purfleet's study. No news of the absent gentleman had come to hand, and in accordance with his resolve of the night before, Herbert had proceeded to asli professional advice and assistance in solving the riddle. Anxious, as far as possible, to avoid the scandal that publicity would give rise to, he had sought out Mr Wenlock, to whom he had told him all that was known about the matter. ' Humph !' said the latter at the end of Herbert's narrative. ' When was he last seen or heard of? , 'He was last seen, as far as I know, about half-past eleven tho night before last, but be was actually spoken to threequarters of an hour later by his daughter.' ' Juat thirty-eight hours' scart,' muttered the detective, consulting his watch. ' Why didn't you come before? With euch law as that, the case is almost hopeleas.' 'I did nob wish to raise trouble, unless ib was absolutely necessary,' remarked Herbert, apologetically. ' Well, well, ib can't be helped now,' said Mr Wenlock, deliberatively stroking the neatly trimmed brown board he wore, much to Herbert's surprise, who had imagined that people of his class always presented a keen, sharp-eyed, clean-shaved appearance, something between a judge and a jockey. 'Anything found to accouot for his absence? , asked Mr Wenlock, carelessly. ' Nothing whatever,' replied Herbert. * Oh, you have looked, then,' he said, sharply. ' Why, of course. It was the only thing to be done.' ' No, sir. The pnly thing to be done twenty-four hours ago was what you have now done, too late, in all probability—bo come to me. Amateur work is the curse of the profession. It's all very well in a book, where it's all arranged before, hand, but in real life it does more harm than good. However, I must have a look for mysolf to begin with, so if you are agreeable, we'll step 'round at ones.' Gladys and Mrs PurQeet were first interrogated, and it was after the withdrawal of the latter that Mr Wenlock made the remark at the head of this chapter. Herbert was unable to deny that his conjecture was correct, but he could not help expressing his'surprise that his companion should have discovered the fact so quickly, an Bertha had been studiously moderate in her tone and manner, and had suppressed all signs of tho wild exultation she had displayed the previous day. Mr Wenlock received this compliment with a smile of conscious superiority, not unmixed with amused pifcv for his innocence. ' Why, bless you,' he said, ' what do you suppose would be the good of mo if I didn't find things out quickly? I could toil you something else about her, but I doubt if it would be for your good to know it sooner bhan you're like to learn it. And now let us see.' He examined the entire contents of the room with a skimming lightness that did not inspire Herbert with great confidence in his ability, though he found- afterward that, brief and casual as his inspection had seemed, every sholf, drawer and table with all their several appurtenances were distinctly catalogued in his mind. ' Ho has bolted !' he observed decidedly, at the conclusion of this examination.