THE DARK AVENUE

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 18

THE DARK AVENUE

By FERGUS HUME

Author of "The Afystery of a Uansotn Cab," "The House," "The Bpidcr," "Tlie Silent Signal," "The Las' Parehmrnt," "Crazy Quill," etc., etc.

IIIAITKH VIII i a sri;iM:sTio\. Altitoiiph the [.ark win thoroughly | Rpiuvlii-i-1. tiif-.-tlirr with tin- village, th'i> i ~urn.ini.linf.- .ountry and the Abbi-v itßclf. nut a si{jn roil 1,1 Iμ- folliul nf tlu" ' ltii.-sin- μ-irl. ijiicHtionitl »h:ir|i|y hy ln*|H>i-tur tirilTcn, I lie pedlar"couM , jrivt- no further infiTinat n>n. ami r\- < use.l hN ilual informal ion' with an iulmi-sion of liavinj; hiM-n ilrinkinj; luird. lU> i-iiuhl not |><> pnviso us to whether he "us on the road or in (he eliiirrliy.ml, l.ut was positive that he had seen.Mis.-, (i rest hesitating before t!ie pustcrn. tirillen \v:is inelineil to believe his .story, for if lie forgot one tliinir hi , very well niijjht fnrjiet anutlier. Hut liamii persisted. However iloilhifnl lie niif»M lie repirdinj; his exact wherealh.ut-. he uas certain us to the coming of the fjirl. It in' ilied for it. In- said he i-oiil.l swear, and ilid swear, that she had entered the. Dark Avenue at noon on the day of the" funeral. The poll.■.•man wn* distinctly puzzled anil admitted as much in the Abbey dniwiiifj room. •■There is n<.thin- more to ho pot from Itanrh," he confessed to Swavtown ami Ijldy Cr.-st. -I am at im wit's end how t<. deal with both no.-*. Vet the two are certainly conmvlcd, for I feel eonvineed that till- (lerson »"lm sii.a Sir Hubert had something to do with M-s ilisappi-aranre." "Mr. .lone-.' - -aid I.ady lirest with marked acerbity. "No! No!" (irilTen spoke quite irritably, for the i|iiestii>n as to the man's IjTliilt or innneenee was rattling his nerves. "TliP evidence jiivrn .it the inquest prows that In' eiiuld not, have i lire.l the shot. And yon can see for your- I self that lie ha- no band ill Miss (Jrebt's ! disappearance." | "I'm not so sure nf tnnt," she re- ' torled smartly. I -Jones mitfht have employe,! another ] farmer ion, "fur il is «tran;;*> that two |~...p1,- who *trx..7 !„ the way ! of property lu-inj; phi I entirely at his : • lispt.sal should have been —removed so opportunely." "Oil, he is puilty," cried l.adv Gγ.-*t positively. "1 haven't the least doubt of that. He wants to be master of the Abbey."' "lint he never will be, my lady. Even should the property come to him, he will only hold it for another person, whose name he wiir not mention." "I can mention it," retorted Doris scornfully, lie will select himself." ■In "that case," said Uriffen thoughtfully, "I will assuredly think | that he has had a hand in the crimes." "And you will wait until then to suspect him," said Lady (Jrest angrily. "To pet to that point, my child has to he taken away. I'm not goinj; to stand that, you know.' , "Then keep a strict watch on Ruby," advised (lervase quickly. "Oh, lam doing that. I scarcely allow her out of my sij_'!\t. But meanwhile this little " beast. should be arrested." The Inspector shook his head. "I have not sufficient evidence upon which to arrest him. We cannot prove hi* actual guilt, or even his complicity in cither rase, my lady." -What are you ;;i>inj; to do, then?" 'I don't know," confessed <;ritren. anfrry at his own helplessness. "All I can do i-< to advertise the appearance of Miss Crest and her disappearance. Some one may have seen her, and if ilr. Swaytown will offer a reward--" "I don't see how I can do that—out of the property, at all events" said the young man, looking perplexed. C'ntil Victoria is found and I fulfil the conditions of the. will, I cannot touch the money." "Well, I haven't enough to do anythin;;," said Lady Grest with a shrug, '■much as T wish to clear up things. What is two thousand a year?" '•1 should advise you to consult Mr. Porry," said the Inspector to Swaytown. "See what he suggests about a reward." , "1 shall do that. And also I shall employ a detective to look into matters." The" officer's face clouded and then cleared. "Well. 1 shan't be sorry, Mr Swaytown," he paid briskly. "These mysteries are beyond mc. With the assistance of a sharp detective they may be solved. You will go to New Scotland Yard, of course." Swavtown nodded. "I know a man in ■ the C.T.D. called Praise. He is extremely I clever, and if any one can find out the I truth he will. I dare say the authoriI ties will allow mc to employ him. MeanI while you can advertise as you suggest. Inspector. By the way"- Oervase was I struck by a sudden thought- "I was not jat the inquest. Tell mc if the revolver I used to shoot my cousin was produced I That might be a clue." "It might." said (JrifTen dryly, ''but .we did not find any revolver. I expect ' the murderer shot Sir Hub.-rt through • the open window, and then carried away : his revolver with him. As there was no ; struggle, the weapon was not dropped." I Gervase struck his hands together with a gesture of despair. "Everything ! seems to be against us," he said doleI fully. "Who can be guilty';" "Jones," said" Lady 'J-est promptly. "He is guilt} - ." "There is no proof of " "I don't care. Jones is giiilty." Nothing could move Doris rrora holding that opinion. Although all proof, even the slightest, was wanting, she still persisted in her belief. But the accusation was so ridiculous that Griffon dismissed this very feminine view with a smile, only adopting Swaytown's suggestion as to the possibility that the librarian might have employed some ono to execute the crimes. He did not say anything at the moment, since he <Jid Dot wish to provoke further argument with the widow. But he went away vvith the idea of watching the liltle man, so as to see if there was any one with whom he was communicating. Nevertheless he had small liopea of implicating Jones, who was either too clever to be caught, or really innocent and impossible to convict. With a dismal inward remark that he was looking for a needle in a bottle of hay, GrifTen left the room. Lady Grest looked scornfully at his retiring form. She saw that the officer was in a quandary, and despised him for his want of decision. He should have accused Jones, and have arrested Jones, i and have had Jones tried for murder j and kidnapping. Nothing less than the 'hanging of her enemy would satisfy her. I "That policeman is a silly ass," she said with contemot, and threw herself gracefully on to a Chesterfield couch. '"Well, say, you don't mind my calling you Gervase. We are cousins by marriage, you know-"

"I don't miml in the least, Lady •■Doris, if 1 call you CiprvasP." "As _vi. ii plcaic," waid Swaytown politely, although inwardly lie did not approve of this too BUdilen intiinai y. •How cold:" she siiid reproachfully. "ulii'ti I pay you v compliment. I am not accustomed Io being treated in tliis ' cliillv way." "I am sorry" Gprvnse sat down with | a tjifrh "but my mind i- tisken up with i nil these troubles. I wish your husband i line! lived and I was still in London doiiiß j my da\\s work. -, "H's nn use cryinu over spilt milk,"] said Doris philosophically "and as you're ! in tlie soup, there's no neei's.-iity to howl. ; What mc yotl Xtnng to do?"' "Finil <nit by hookor .rook, who murdpri.il my .-uusin and kidnappi'd Vi.- j toria." " " "Yuu'vp roI your work put nut. then." : slie retortcl. lin.jerin- the string of! pearls she ronstantly wore: "but I mean! what are yon pciiiiK to do about mcV j "About "you?" Cervasc did not understand, and' looked at hi< rharming companion with n puzzled air. "Yes. As iiiv hn-omirl is dead and! Victoria lias disappeared, of course I am still mi-stress of t)i<> Abbey and have the. propprtv." "I think not." said Swaytmvn dryly, j "Tin , will pi w< mc a year in which to ( marry my cousin. I'ntil twelvp months; end. nr until I refuse to rutisider tin , ronditions of the will a- bindim; on mc, , tilings remiiin in abeyance.' , "What docs that mean , " asked Doris. annoyed by this speech. | "Well, vim remain her.' with your two tliou-and a year, lookinj. , after Unity, to whom half of that in...mc I.elmiL's when she come* of aye. 1 -liall return to ! London and Ljike up my work apatn. I keeping m y name of Swnytown until 1 'decide whether to marry Victoria or I n«l." I "She has to be found yet." Raid Lady 1 Crest tartly. j "Well, we have twelve months in which Uo tin,l her. If course. if si,.- i-unnot be found in a y.:ir. then you become the owner of the property as Ruby's mother and K ,,nr.li.in." "1 ouflht to be the owner now " 'No. 'Hi.- will dnes not perin.t that " "It's n silly will." ' "Certainly'a trying will for mc. Lady I'.rcU I m.'-aii Doris. !<ut no thinp< nri*. I do not ,«■ what e):-e we ran dv than what t surest." "But how am I to keep up this huge | "<>h, I dare r ay Mr. I'orry will be able to arrange something, lie will p:iy yoll your income and tin- serwmlV ipjraeUs, and settle how the hoii-ehold expenses are to be dealt "itli until the twelve months expire." "And if \'ietoria i- found then, or before then, will you marry her'" "I can't say; I don't know. After nil," said Cervase slowly. "1 am not at all inclined to marry ;i girl I have never "I think roil aro WNe," said Pnri.*, riT face liulitinrj up. as <he thought what his refu-al meant to her. "She may be a horrid girl. -, "Report says otherwise." reioined Swavton. who picsfH what was in her mind arid by no means approved of «UPll seKUline.sa. "Well. I hope so. for your =ake. After all. it is natural you should wish to have this place and the title and the position." nervate shook hN head and laughed. "Like Callio, T .are for none of thete things," lie said quietly. "I never met Oallio." ±.i'u\ Dori». who was no student of the Bible, "but he mint he an ass not to like money." "And T, who am like Gallin?" "Vow are an ass al-o a very nice a*s though. Hut I say. Gervase. you don't mind mv havinp a friend down to see mc. Oli, I don't me.in a party of friends." she added hastily. "My" grief over poor Hubert is too great. T shall wear mourninp for a year, of course, and Ihe time will pass very heavily. Rut if mv friend comes •" "Who is your friend?" '•Alfred Flford ne is a well known arti«t and we were broupht up together, so we are like brother and sister." Lady Hrest waited for this lie to sink in and then told another. "Hubert was very fond of Alfred." "You are your own mUtress, Tlori-. and can entertain whom you please." said the young man coldly. "But people are censorious, and I should advise you to invite no one to stay here for at least ;>ix month* or so." "As if I ea-ed for people! Rut you don't object, Hervase?" "Who am 1 to object? Durinjr the interregnum 1 have no power here. Still, for your own sake " "Oh. T can look after myself." interrupted Lady Orest coolly. " "Don't yon bother about mc. my dear. But f am too young to be cooped up here moping my head off." "Yes"— Oervase looked a.t her rjraep and beauty—"you are too younfr." '•And pretty you should have said." "And pretty," admitted the young man gravely. "Well, as we have settled things more or less, T shall straight away pack my portmanteau. Tt is necessary for mc to go to New Scotland Yard us soon as possible, and get hold of Praise." "Won't yoti stay for another night?" urged Lady Orest, raising her eyes In a coouettisli way. "Xo. Thank you all the same!" and Swaytown left the room abruptly, while Doris ,'umed over his coldness i,nd Inwardly called him a bear. He. was by no means so easy to manage, as she had expected. 01erva.se was of two minds over this fascinating widow. Her first attraction of mere beauty had worn ..way in a great degree, and he began to see that she ha* , , her faults. With a husband only lately dead and coming by his death in so terrible a manner. ?he eertainh' should not contemplate having even one visitor for many months. He was learning that she was hearties", caring only for her own pleasure, and thought that she was decidedly uneducated, as well as slightly vulgar. Lady Great's fine manners were only a veneer, and Oervase concluded that if he scratched the varnish he would find the gutter girl. He wondered how so fastidious a man as his late cousin had ever married such a common little wench. But perhaps Doris had for him the same attraction as Madame Dubarry had for Louis XV. "One moment. Mr. Swaytown." said ! a voice at the library door, as fiervase passed through the hall on his way up i the stairs. "I wish to see you for a j few moments. You don't mind." I "Not in the least," eaid the young j man, obeying the librarian's invitation ij to enter the room. "Anything I can do for you —"

"Nut for mc," interrupted the dwarf quickly, and pointing to the chair; "but for my dear friend, fur ;ii.s missing daughter. How are you going to proceed about the discovery of the truth V 1 knew you said something about going away, and I wish to knuvv if you have any plans." "1 intend to gel. a New Scotland Yard detective," said Swaytown. rather coldly, for he still mistrusted the man. "That i- wise " .lones rubbed his. large hands, then suddenly asked a i|up.stiiin bluntly: "N ii for my mis*ha|.on looks that you di-like mc?" "Oh. nil! no , " Cervase was quit" sho.kfd at the idea. "But. yon see. we don't know each other very well, Mr. .10n.M." '•'l'r'in. P.it in searching out. the truth w,. will come to know each other better. Mr. Kwn>lown. You don't like mc. because Lady Oro-t has biased your iiiin.l ui!uin«l »"•■ >>'"■ ''on'! deny it. sir. When you arrived first you were much more friendly than you are now. But lately you luive changed." "l" f,.rni my own judgment s," sairr Swiivtiiwn quietly, and rather impressed by 'il.e pathetic manner of the poor creiit lire. "Then wail until \ou see more of mc iM-fore \ou de-ide ilmi I am not to be j trusted.'" Miid .Lines, keeping his eyes or. (the handsome vexed faro of the > ounsj , man. 'I was Hubert"* best friend. an.l I hope to he your*. l>-> you read Hi,-kens': Have you read 'David I oppcrilield":" "Yes," «aid liervase. rather astonished at the irrelevant questions. i ■Then remember Miss Mowcher's advice to thii-i" wh" went merely by her i|i r 1..1.1*. I am not such a dangerous ■ person ib >oii think. AM my goods are not in m\ shop window." "\ mi mean l.ad\ ' ircM " "Ah 1 -lid's are all displayed, and very ' beautiful y ire. We'll, 'well, I don't !»U!i lii sa\ ainlhing against tier; al-|thoii-.'li she'is m> enemy and has enu/rht ■to do mc liiirm with yi'm. I wish to be j friend- with >oii." I "1 don't make friends easily." said SwH-.town. -tilt in his nvuiner. .l.'.ni- looked -adly at limii. "You are not irent!.,- mo .p.ile fairly." he s ; ,i,|. -linking hi- big luiid. "To know the rind ~f a fruit is no! to know in ere. Mr. Kwiivliiwn. S'.ill. I !mpe to prose by my actions thai ;."ii arc wrong in mixtriistiiiL 1 "»■- Mea'nwhili-. are vnu suflieicntly frm 11■! \ to do something I wish you to do towards elucidating Kip mystery of S ir Hubert's dcutii and the disappeara, f his daughter?" "W.-H cr V-." asseni.-d Oervase. rather a-'.am.'l of his smspi.-ionn. which ait.T all !iit.| in-M t,, n..t!.iii V t.. support them, "tt iuit do >ou «i-h mc Io do?" .1.,1,,-r. pi.k.-d lip a letter from the tnbl... "Ill's is v.rii!c:i to an old friend 'of mine. M!-- Kl-;..-t', Maefarhuie. and intr.Kluee- v.ii. I »ish ymi to see her.' , "For «!,ai rea,..n ?"' a-ked Swayt.iwn, tuking the i.nte, the envelope of which "Si,.- ha- whal t!..- Retell call second•iih. that rubbish'" Swaytown shrug"Dun'i call it that iinti; you understand bclt.-r." -.lid the little man with -...lie, sternness. "Second sight, or elairvi-vni as it is u-uallv called, is a real tiling and a great rhlng. Si-e Miss Macfarlano and give her gjis t.i hold." He picki-d up a -.-end envelope from tho table, "h ,■ .mains a glnve belonging to Sir Hubert. Wish ihat in her hands she '•"lint 1 say." protested Oervase. wrinkling lii-i |.r."ws, "I iKm't believe iii stutf like this. 'I'lio attaii- is tuo nerioiLs for j such lincu-.-|.i.c:i-." i "It is i.e.iu-e i'ic affair is serious that I a.-k yo'i to deal will) what you term We are at tl ml of our tether as regard- the solution of the murder and the kidnapping. This going to a clairvoyant in a forlorn hope. It may bo 1 u*eful. it may m>l !>e ii-eful. At the same time, it "is worth while Irving." i The other man reflected. He suspiH'tcd .lones of knowing more than he 1 cho.* , to admit, and Lady Orest ope.-ily aii'usod him of the two crimes. Yek the man was asking him to deal with the supernatural in tin , hope of arriving at Mhe truth, whatever that might be. Was it pos.-il.lc- Oervasp a-ked himself this quc-ilioii seriously—that Jones hoped to colifu.ie tilings l.y this absurd suggestions Ur was he really innocent, and did he I really believe that mi appeal to ;he I'nseen would s ( .l\e the two problems? SwnytoWii could not find any answers to ' these qnestions. Hut they miffht be an- ' swered if he saw this Mi.-'s Klspetli Maefarlanc. Then he would learn if she intended to trick him on the librarian's In-half. It was po-siMe tliar if .Tones i was Irving to complicate matters, that I the very attempt, if watched by a conj sidoring mind, might result in affording in clue. In any case by following the ! man's lead he might learn what the ! man's game was. "Very well. Mr. Jones." He placed j the glove and letter in his pocket. "I will at-; as you suggest." (To be conrinued Saturday next.)