THE SECRET OF THE SANDS

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 258, 29 October 1921, Page 24

THE SECRET OF THE SANDS

1 By OLIVER DAYTON. 1

(Anthor of "Buried Lira," "An Independent Girl," etc.) )

CHAPTER XVIII. Carstairs waited tor his guests' expression of surprise, and continued: "Patricia Malclon was her maiden name. Stie was the last surviving member 0! her family and very wealthy. £>he married this man Hall—l don't know why. You can never tell what women will do-and then she left him. The solicitor for the estate has told me all about it. There's to be an application in court next week about her money. About two hundred thousand pounds, will go to charities." ] "Didn't the money go to her husband j at her death?" . "No I've gone into that, because l thought that he might have done her in. Certainly he went to this solicitor and made inquiries, but lie was told that in | the event of this girl's death the money, I which was absolutely under her own control, was to go to these various chani tics. He couldn't touch a penny of it. ! Hillv Darting pursed up his lips. I "Dorian Hall is dead," he said. At the same time, might it not be possible that he did not know the terms of this will? I don't want to cast aspersion on I a dead man. Let's call him X. X. mar- | rics a wealthy girl who leaves him for i reasons of her own. Believing that her ! fortune will come to him on her death, Ihe kills her. Do you follow me. I Carstairs smiled indulgently. I "I've gone into all that,' he said. I "Your theory is the obvious one His made more obvious by the fact that Dorian Hall was at lorland Lay the dav before the murder." "Then," said Billy Parting, IU bet he d "' No. He didn't. For the twenty-four hours previous and subsequent to the murder Dorian Hall was at Torland Town, and in bed with a chill. T have proved beyond all doubt that it is quite impossible that he can have killed his ""Yet he did not attend tiic inquest. He seems to have taken no-Interest in true. But we all know the type of man he was. He warned the girl for her money. He got prccious little of it, for it was tied up beyond his i reach. A few days after the inquest he I called on her solicitors, who in ormcd him of what I have already told you I about the charities. I understand h i received the news pretty badly. He cerI tainly behaved all along like the heartless scoundrel he was, but you can t base murder charges on that. No; weve got to look elsewhere and —I don t know where to look. _ "It you could find this Nancy Dorm "All, now you're talking! But she seems to have vanished into thin air. "Lancing is convinced of her innoThe detective smiled. "Lancing is rather a prejudiced party,' he said. I "Have you seen him lately . i "Yes he was down at Swanlake with me, and," Tutt added, "that remmds me of something important 1 ve got to 3 'And Ebenezer Tutt repeated Joe ■Rachctt's story as told to him by detective listened without entliu311Tknow this youth, Rawett. He's not all there—tile loose, you know. "I am aware of that, but there may be something in what lie said. "Couldn t be. "Yhv not Was the body identified? "No; her solicitor was in America and her banker had never seen her. But her clothes were identified. Her underlinen was marked with her name, and 1 !» «n was identified as one made 1 for Mrs. Hall, or Mrs. Maldon, as she called herself, by a dressmaker in South A "Had Sit relations who could have ! relative seems to be a cousin who is in business in A alparaiso. "Nor any friends? "We could trace none. "Dorian Hall could have identified T 1 " tint I have discovered she was Dorian thai i iM friend, "It seems to have taken possesion of T ol anv rate," continued Tutt, "for lie is making all sorts of inquiries said tlin dctcc-tiv-e loftilv. "If we can only find Nancy Dormans I'll bet she , d "How much Will you be*? asua ** not anSWCT f' the detective's landlady came into the room to announce that a m.n wh - k name as Mr. Pinfold wanted to sc. Pinfold was admitted. "Mr. Carstairs," he said, "my business is urgent." "Out with it, then. "It i 3 private." . "Then it wait. As you see, havp guests. . , "Yon," broke in Tutt, "are the b ighto.r who kicked up a shindy outside tile " h »%" replied Pinfold, with dignity, ■'! was then labouring under the stress ot considerable emotion. I had not then ai opportunity of tendering my apologia. [ do so now. At the same time nr. submit that the privilege of visiting a ladv of the company in her <lrc-«ing-roo'm is usually extended to that lady s husband." , ''And wlioec husband are you. "I have the honour, sir, to he the husband of Miss Roma Dale." Tutt'6 jaw dropped. "Gosh! You!" was all lie said, and he relapsed into silence. "What is it you want?" demanded Carstairs. "My wish," said Pinfold, "is to serve the ends of justice." Carstairs smiled. "Tor a change?" he asked. "Don't forget, Pinfold, that 1 know you—well. Cut out the trimmings." "The dead past has, I hope, buried its dead," said Pinfold. "1 come to you with information—valuable information."' • "I'm glad of that. I thought you might have come to borrow money." "I have not come to borrow- money. 1 have come to tell you the identity oi the one responsible for that dastardly crime at Torland Bav." "Eh?" Cantairs sat erect. "Axe you drank or sober?" he asked

'•'I am sober. I can give you definite and absolute proof of the identity of the pereon to whom I refer. "You can? Out with it, then! '"'One moment, I beg you.'' Nathaniel Pinfold raised his hand. "This information is valuable to you. It will enable you to effect an immediate arrest. That will mean, if 1 may put it- vulgarly, a feather in your cap. I suggest"—here Nathaniel Pinfold coughed—"that my assistance is worthy of a little remuneration." "Well, we'll see." "Let us first arrive at an agreement as to the amount this information is worth." "I get you, In a word, you think you know who murdered this girl at Torland Bay, and you want me lo pay you for telling ine?" "That is right." "Then let me tell you you've gone the wrong way about it. You arc liable lo !>c arrested for conspiring to defeat the ends of justice. You are harbouring a murderer. You"—and now the wrath of Carstairs was terrific—"will spend to-night in gaol." Nathaniel Pinfold was frightenedvery frightened. "Surely," lie begged, "a trifle in return for my trouble " "Out with this information of yours," said the detective, sternly. "We'll see about that later." Nathaniel Pinfold drew from bis pocket a letter, which lie handed to the detective. tot: in red assassin". Paul Lancing was at breakfast when Ebenezer Tutt rushed in with his astounding news. "But the letter may be a forgery," suggested Lancing. "Carstairs seems to Tic satisfied that it is genuine," replied Tutt, "You never read such a cold-blooded, merciless letter in your life. I must get Carstairs to show it to you one day. I'm sorry Dorian Hall and Todd Lippy are both drowned. Otherwise, they'd both hang." "Lippy firrd the shot?" "Yes. But Hall gave hiin a hundred pounds for the murder. Hall had evidently been spending some time at Torland Bay noting the habits of this girl. Then lie issued his instructions, and was fool enough to put them into writing. It's quite obvious what his motive was. He wanted to get rid of his wife, who had left him, in order to get her money. In her lifetime he couldn't touch it. But he found out later on that be couldn't touch it even though she was dead. Dorian Hall hadn't the courage to do this dreadful business ' himself, and so he persuaded Tod Lippy to do it for him." "And Nancy Dormans? What about her?" "Well, so far as Carstairs is conccrncd, she simply doesn't count. He'd like to know how she got that cheque and why she disappeared, but his interest ends at that. Hall and Lippy between them killed that girl. Lippy's hand fired the shot, but Dorian Hall's brain conceived the murder." "But supposing this poor girl, Nancy Dormans, still thinks she is suspected. She may be in hiding." "She'll rend all about it In the papers,' said Tutt, reassuringly. "I knew she was innocent!" cried Lancing, triumphantly. "You (lid, boy. You were right, and we were wrong. Now you've got to find this girl, and we'll help you all we can. Carstsirs, too." 'Thanks. If only the search were not so hopeless! Sometimes I despair of ever seeing her again. Tell me more of what happened last night." "There's no more to tell. Yes, there is. Do you know who Nathaniel Pinfold is?" "I haven't any idea." "He's Roma Dale's husband. _ That accounts for a good deal, doesn t i? ITe Iras been leading her the rery douce of a life. But Miss Dale is not the sort of girl to put up with much, and she has evidently got some sort of evidence against' Pinfold, for her divorce case comes on to-day, so Tinfold told ua. I'm going to the Court to hear it. Coming? " "Yes; 1 have nothing else to do. What happened to Pinfold last night? "Nothing. He wanted Carstairs to buy this information from him, but Oarstairs scared him to death instead. When he got that letter he kicked Pmfold out with half a sovereign. Pinfold has lived for years on blackmail and drink, and it won't be long before the latter kills him." "Ts he defending this divorce suit?' "No! He ha? come to the conclusion that lie can get nothing more out of Roma Dale, and I don't think lie ever took his matrimonial obligations seriously. If vou've nothing to do. as you say, come down to Covcnt Garden with me. I want to buy some property baskets. Then we can look in at the Law Courts." . , In the Court an impassive judge w-as stolidly listening to a string of undefended" petitions. Paul Lancing had never been in such a Court before, and the series of sordid stories depressed him. Here the flower of romance took the semblance of a devastating weed. A melancholy procession of diail.nsioned men and women took their places in the witness-box. There must have been a time, thought Paul Lancing, when these people bad looked forward to the future with high hopes, believing in fidelity and comradeship and love. In a voice of utter boredom Roma Dale's counsel told his story briefly the rtorv of a youthful marriage, of speedy disillusionment, of' cruelty, of drink o, desertion. There was also another woman in the case. Rome Dale, left the witness-box with a decree nisi. . , , Kbene/er Tutt and Lancing met her in t he corridor. She was in tears "There, there, my dear, said tutt pattine her arm. "Why didn't you tel P ; e alUboutitlongago?lttough^a something was worrying you. no need to worry any more now "You don't understand,' she said ; brokenly. "I— l loved bim-once; Nathaniel Pinfold bad once been oved' Truly the boy with the bow iakes no thought of the direction of his ' r This visit to tlie Court depressed kmHimself in love, he was aflected nore strongly than was Tutx by the Mtiful tragedies be had heard that He took leave of Tutt and Roma Dale is soon as possible, and made his way jack to bis rooms. The divorce smw iad told a sorry enough tale of married life, but what of that of tbo girl foully nurdered by a 'hired assassin at Tor fend Bay!? Hirer and murderer were dead

,nd beyond human vengeance. but riiat of Nancy Dormans? Would she cad the papers and know that at last lie real murderer was found? _ Would ic ever see her again. And, ii he did, pas that "somebody else" of whom she -a/1 spoken to remain an insurmountable arriert In his rooms he found a. letter awaitn" him. It was from i-ady FaMon. "Dear Jlt. Landing," it ran,—"Will •ou dine with us informally on Thurslay evening? Goine about seven o'clock f that is not too early for you, as we nav go on to a theatre afterwards. Joe ids got something rather particulai •ha;t he wants to talk to you aliout.— tours sincerely.—Edith Faldon." TIIB END OF TIIE CHASE. I'atrieia assumed no pretence ol grief rhen tl.e paragraph in the newspape. eporting the death of Dorian Hall wa tointed out to her. Instead, she felt 1S though the bars of her cage had been ,orn aside and that now she was free Icr persecutor could molest her ni nore Xo longer need she hide from :lic man who was an ever-present danger o her. The shadow had passed. "Shall—shall 1 have to go and sec lirn?" she faltered. ~ "I don't think there will he any need, ;aid Sir Joseph. "But we can ask the lolieitor when wo see him this attciloon." . „ "Did von tell him 1 was coining. •'Old Parkyns? No. I simply said 1 ranted to see him. We'll give him the iiirprisc of his life." Sir Joseph and Patricia drove to the Titv together, and the former ga.ve his lame to the clerk who guarded the pnrate room of the eminent solicitor. Mr Parkvns was an elderly man, and vore powerful glasses. I'Vir a ii.oinent ic did not sec that Sir Joseph was not ilone. When he did, he bowed cere noraiously and pulled a chair forward Chen lie*started suddenly, as an cxclanation broke from his lips. "I beg your pardon," he apologised. is •eallv remarkable likeness. ' "Don't tease Mm any more > s " Josephbegzod Patricia. Mr 'arkyns I am Patricia llali.' 1 "Good heavens! What do you meant vVliat does this mean, Sir Joseph?" u lt means that Mrs. HaJll has comc jack from the dead." "I implore you not to talk in riddles. "I.ct me. explain," said Patricia, and n ten minutes the lawyer, speechless ivith amazement, was in possession oi Mq facts." "[ never came across anything likf ihis before," he declared. "Look at ;hat box." He pointed to a black uctal box, on which were printed in vliite. the words: ".Mrs. Hall; Deceased.' "You'll have to alter that," cried Patricia, "for I'm very nniili alive." ".And wc "want to know, broke in Sir Joseph, "if it is too late to retain some >f her fortune?" "Some of it! What's the matter with ill of it?" 'Ton haven't carried out the terms ol ,hc late Mr. Maldon'a will yet?" _ "Bless you, no! I had a visit from ,hc late Mr. Hall shortly after I got the lews of yoair —cr—death, and I exjlained the situation to him. We. liaxl i rather unpleasant interview, but I was ible to convince him that lie could not ;ouch or tamper with the estate. 1 'ongnitiflate you on your rcsii'rrection, Mrs. Hall, and i venture to hope that ,'ou will live a long time to enjoy your 'orfcune. You have the inestimable jrizc of youth, Mrs. Hall, and that is •verything." Patricia in her heart did not agree, Touth is much, but love is more, and together they are invincible. When they reached home they were net by Lady Faldon. "There's a Mr. Garstairs in the libraTj waiting for you, Joe," she said. "He tells me you rang up Scotland Yard this morning." "I did. The police will have to know that it wasn't Patricia who was mur:lered. I'll :ce the man at once." For the sccond time that day an explanation of the resurrection of Patricia \faldon had to he given. "Die lady and I have just returned 'rom a visit to her solicitor," concluded sir Joseph. "You can get into communi■ation with him if you like. And, of ■ourse, Mrs. Hall will sec you." "It is an extraordinary ease." said Garstairs, slowly. "I don't think we •an be Homed' for having been led Lstray. That cheque for two thousand "Well, obvionslv, Mrs. TTall could not ixist without money. Anil she did not wish to keep on drawing out small imounts, for that would have enta.ilcd her keeping in touch with her Ibank \nd, naturailv, it would Ibo to her bank that "Mr. Hall would apply." "She can tlhrow no light on the perpetrator of the crime?" "No." "Well, that is where T can give yot iome information," said Carstairs, in a more satisfied tone. "Whether you pas: it on to Mrs. Hall or not is a matter foi your own -judgment." "You know who did it?" "Yes. The instigator of the nuirdei was—Dorian nail.'' "Wiliat!" "Yes; and the actual perpetrator was a. boxer called Tod Lippy." "But—why should Dorian Hall want to kill this girl?" "The evidence is very clear,'' saitl ih( :le tec live, slowly. "Tod Tippy shot Nancy Dor-mans in mistake for Mrs Hall.' Tod Lippy had never seen tlu real Mrs. Hall, and so the girl who hat taken her name was killed.'' "Oh. monstrous! Monstrous! Look here, Mr. Garstairs, I will not mention s word of this to Mrs. Hull. If you car keep the part played by Dorian Ilal dark T shall be obliged. If Mrs. Hal should get to know that' her stratagem cost the' life of that poor girl she'd nevei forgive herself. Not that the girl die not' in the eml show in her truf colours as one who meant to betraj Mrs. Hall to lie.r husband if her silencf v.cre. not .'louirlit. But we must try t-c spare 'Mrs. Hall this dreadful knowledge Ah. Patricia, let me introduci Mr. Garstairs. of Scotland Yard." And Detective Garstairs found himsel' bowing to the girl for whom, as Nancj Dormans, he had been searching tin country. "I hope I have not put you to aJ awful lot of trouble, Mr. Garstairs," shf said, sweetly. "More than once yoi have given me a terrible fright —par tieularly at Sand-mouth." "I am glad, madam, that not man} of the people with whom 1 have to dea possess your resource, else I should havi a very trying time of it," replied Car stairs, gallantly, and tool: his departure '•"He's quite a nice man, after all," saie Patricia. "And I used to think him £ perfect ogre. I have led the poor mar such a dance, too! I must send hun £ little gift." She sat down at a desk and scribblec a note. "Dear Mr. Garstairs," she wrote,"Will you please buy something vol really want with the enclosed, and for trive'me for wasting so much of youi time?— Yours sincerely, "PATRICIA. HALL."

I The ''enclosed'" was a cheque for & | hundred pounds. I As the hour erf seven approached signs iof nervousness became apparent in the 'manner of Sir Joseph and his wife. "I've got tickets for the Empress _ for to-night," said Sir Joseph. "Thews a i show on there that I'm told is excop- | tionally good. They've got a funny I man I've never seen before —Billy Barting—who is the talk of London. The) say lie's a scream." . . "Billy Batting?" repeated Patricia. "T saw him in a revue down at Sandmouth." Another glance at the clock, and Lad) Fahloti rose. "Dinner won't 'be ready for five minutes yet, Joe," she said. ''I wonder if you'd mind coming to my room to see if you approve of where I've hung that etching? Exnisc us, dear." She left the room quickly, and Sir Joseph followed her. Patricia watched them with mild surprise, and picked up an illustrated paper. Soon the time would come when she could 110 longer trespass on the hospitality of her' friends. They had begged her 'to make her home with them, But that was out of the question. She supposed she would enter into a period of hotel life, because she did not wish to court the manifold difficulties of sotting up an establishment of her own. Perhaps she would travel. Perhaps she miirht find some useful work to do. She sighed a little. The prospect was rather cheerless. She had wealth, but she felt so terribly lonely, and riches are a poor companion. She remembered the fisherman's cottage in which she had j lived at Torland Bay. Such a cottage Imight bo Paradise ir only The clock chimed the 'hour of seven. Patricia heard a ring at the front door, and remembered that a guest was expected. • A few moments passed and the door j opened. Paul Lancing came into the I room hurriedly. All he could see of the : girl in the chair was a gown and two 'daintily shod feet stretched out to the fire. | "Am I late, Lady Faldou!" he cried. "I simply couldn't get a cab. 1 You 1 . Xancy!" The girl rose slowly. She could not speak. lie caught her hands, his face twitching with emotion. "So I've found you at last!" he cried, hoarsely. (To bo continued Saturday next.)