THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume 23, Issue 23, 28 January 1926, Page 14

THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE MYSTERY.

j I BY CAELTON DAWE. J " ! Author of "Oesppratp Lnrp."' "Knryale in I.omlon," "Vlrptnln." etc.

j CHAPTER V. A Jazz Dandy. Quinoey P. Brookham was a considerable ilanily in his way; one might call iiiiii a jazz dandy, lie wore jazz shirts I mid collar.*, jazz ties, jazz shoes and : sock?. Diamond rings of doubtful value i begemmed liis linger*: a lingo diamond • horseshoe glistened in his scarf, tin , > value of which was not so very doubt- \ ful. Little was really known of him beyond the fiU't that he had come from ! the United States with a nigger orehes- ) tra. and that he helped to make night j hideous in more than one London night : club. He had an abundance of dirty i black wool, which he pleased profusely, a black fact , , squashed nose, enormous mouth and teeth like a shark. As nicely fastidious in the cut of his clothes as the leading juvenile of a revue. Quineey P. Brookham created something of a sensation whenever lie swaggered through Leicester Square nr Charing Cross Road. You might have seen him any day hanging round the Hippodrome corner talking loudly, gesticulating absurdly, grinning consiimedly with his s!iark"s teeth. When nigh"; fell, and the underworld started out on the prowl, or hid itself i:i shady liars, you might further behold Quincey gallantly escorting some frail white woman, or holding secret converse with her at the corner of >ome dark street. He had a penchant for white women, not uncommon in men of his race, and apparently found some of them ilcg.adeu euougn to associate with him. There wt-vt' white men. too, who appeared to have no insuperable objection to his colour: waifs and strays. no doubt, alien riff-raff and degenerate Cockneys. Among them lie was well known, and in a way respected on account of his pugilistic prowess. He was a big. powerful fellow, and carried a punch which he was never loth to distribute on the slightest provocation. If after crossing Shaftesbury Avenue and entering Wardour Street yon proceed northwards, yon will presently find yourself among the numerous poor and .slovenly streets which branch to right and left of the main thoroughfare. Henalien tongues abound, alien men and women, alien children. Here also the immoral traffic of the West End is conducted with unblushing effrontery. The place reeks with many odours." moral and physical. Its narrow streets and secret alleyways invite to evil. Cheap restaurants flourish to the point of obscenity: sallow foreigners with black moustaches, black furtive eyes, watch you from odd sorners; seem, in fact, to resent the presence of an Englishman of apparent respectability. If a new Hercules could divert the Thames through this district it would prove the crowning effort of his labours. In one of the numerous obscure bars which abound in this neighbourhood, a nondescript company of men and women sat or lolled on the red plush bench which ran round part of the room, while a huge negro in a loud check suit di--coureod with much fervour on the prohibition laws of his native land. '"Though I'm Hie always pronounced it 'All'm') v hundred per cent Anuirican." he was saying in an American accent as thick as his skull, "it ain't allus no sort of country for a free man. an' that's why I've decided to pitch my camp in ole England. See here, you guvs don't seem to know when yore well off. The institOOtioilj" of this here blamed ole mud heap was made by free men: it's to hell with cranks an' faddi>ts. an' hooray for the liberty of the subject. That's yore British birthright, an" you can't beat it in a march from Dan to Beerxhuba. Tim drinks is on me."' No one refused: they were not the people who refund • free drinks. Under the influence of the liquor the lassitude of the comnanv teni'iorarilv vanished. Black 0-. in settling the score, had ostentatiously displayed a neat packet of treasury notes. (.'old eyes gleamed in cnviou- admiration. '•Say. ().." drawled a chemical blonde. in imitation of his accent, ''you seem to have struck it nice and rich. Business liummin"!" A low titter went round the room. Mr. Brookham grinned from car to ear. showing all his shark's teeth. "Ain't I jes' been tellin' you that this darned o!e one boss country gives a man a reel chance. It's a dead easy proposition if you've gotten the souse of a barn-door fowl." "Not quite so dead easy a* all that." responded the blonde doubtfully. "Assoomin" intelligence."' said Mr. Brookham. "If the Lord forgets intelli- [ pence in our outfit we ain't good for much in any country."' "Some people are sometimes too clever by half." she sneered. "Well, nobody ain't accused you that way.' . At this there was a general titter. The negro beamed admiringly on his flatterers. ""The laugh's agen you. Xell." he said. Even through her make-up she flamed angrily. "It may be against you before you know where you are, ?, .-he snapped. At this there was an ominous silence. Furtive, frightened glances were turned on the resplendent negro, who had ceased to smile. His blubber lins protruded horribly, his head seemed to flatten. "Say. Xell." he drawled, "what's the bright id-ea?" "You know."' she answered defiantly. "'But I've gotten a notion that you can tell mc better."' Slowly lie drew himself tin to his full height; squared his shoulders, and took a step forward. The woman >hrank deeper into her seat: the rest of the ; company were on tip-toe of expectation. ' Black I), was a genial enough fellow j wli-.mi the humour took him. but rather i dangerous when aroused. They know he i could have laid out every man Jack of them with the greatest of ease, lie advanced towards her with something of the stealthy motion of a huge black panther. In a sudden access of fear she Stiffened herself and looked lin at him. snarling. '•Yon dare tnuch mc. you dirty nigger!" she shri'-k^d. What he might have done remains a mystery to this day. for the approbrious epithet she had hurled at him sent all his black blood boilinfr: but just at that moment the door of the bar swung open and a man -with mournful eyes entered the compartment. Everybody looked at the stranger, who appeared to see no one but Black <•>>. He μ-ame in softly, almost timidly, like ;i i dove fluttering into a nest of vultures, i Vulture eyes began to glare, vulture ; beaks seemed ready to rend. But his j entrance caused a much needed diversion. j Xell, the chemical blonde, seeing him. j forgot her terror of the negro. H>r j eyes v.idened, ■ but with, a newer, a

stranger sort of fear, which caused Quincey P. Brookham to stay has advance and follow the ' direction of her gaze. Tiie newcomer raised Ids right hand and beckoned the negro with his forefinger. Nor .1 word was spoken, which made tiie scene -ingularly impiessive. Th? man behind tho bar fidgeted nervously, tried io signal, but failed, as everyone wa- looking at ihe stranger. His lips formed a word, a magic word lie dare not breathe. Ominous stillness, like the waiting tor a -hell to bur-, and then tbe newromer once more beckoned with his torelinger. Quincey. having sized his man up. began to grin unpleasantly. That j raised forefinger, deeply suggestive, annoyed him intensely. "Say, boss, i- that sign meant for i mc?" The si ranger nod led. "Ain't you got no tongue?" "Your name is Quincey Pho-bus Brookham ':" "That =hurc is as true a word as you over spoke."' "1 want to speak to yon.*' "Wall. I ain't seen nothin" tn prevent you." "1 want you to come with mo." "Now look you here. boss. Quincey P. Brookham ain't oxer fond of stranger-. and lie ant taken to you. Your face don't look good, (.tie-* there's more room for it on t i'.e street." The woman, Nell, uttered a Teinl sort of chuckle, which brought * sudden look of su-jiicion into the negro'- eye-. ITscrutinised bis man more closely, no- n I little impressed by the strangers cool J air of self-pos«e*sion. "Who are you. anyway?" lie a-ked I suspiciously. "Inspector Penbury. of Scotland Yard." was the quiet reply. The woman's chuckle developed in a iow gurgle of joy. The smile died on Mr. Brook ham's lip-, the swajger vanished fri in his demeanour. Then, with an effort, he pulled himself together. "Mighty pleased to sec you. Mr. Inspector." lie drawled. "Heard of you often, but never expected to have the pleasure. Can't ligger out what you want with mc anyway." "Arc you coming':" asked the inspector quietly, like one who has no doubt of the reply. "Wall now. jt-' one moment. As I said Iv fore, somehow I don't kinda cotton to that face o' yores. It don't look good, an' 1 ain't got no particular desire for faces that net my goal. An' figgerin* it out. I don'; know as 1 can take for the Word of our Lord everything you say." A disdainful laugh came from the blonde woman. Penbury pushed open tiie door and a man entered, a thick-set man with ginger hair and moustache; a four-square, pubnacious sor* of man. rather formidable. He took up a position beside the inspector, apparently prepared for any emergency. M.\ Brookham reflectively stroked his chin. Then, quickly recovering his customary equanimity, he began to grin. It might be difficult to say when that huge mouth was the more repellant, in repose or smiling. "Guess yme one up on mc." he said. "Let us institoote an inquiry into tinbright idea, which jes' tickles mc to death. Won't the Amurican eagle ruffle his feathers an' scream when he hears of it! Yes. sah, tliat screani'll be heard right across the pond makin* some of you fellers wish you'd thought twice.' Penbury nodded to the man with the ginger moustache. "No need to get fresh, inspector: I'm comiii* along right now. See you again ill half an hour. boy.-."' be said: "all' you too. Pretty.'' This to the blonde woman. "Not if the piece do their duty."' she replied. "(iue-s you're up against it. Q. Six mouths' hard and an order for deportation."' Brookham scowled at her. stiffened himself, seemed to hesitate for a moment as to how he should proceed, when the man with the ginger moustache touched him sharply on the arm. "White trash." sneered the negro. "Dirty nigger:'" she howled at him. Outside a taxi was waiting, ami into this Mr. Brookham disappeared witli his captor-. ll.' chatted and joked interminably: sail! this was the gladdest bit of fun that had ever come hi- way. But though he rallied hi.-, captors, and from rallying g"t to threatening, he cou.d not make them speak. A pretty gloomy sort of hearse, he called it. and wanted to know wbo-e t'cneral it wa- anyway. but was not enlightened. Finding hi-wiuici-m fail ibu be rcb.p.-e,! int.. silence. Once he suddenly raised his hand to his breast pocket, but Penbury caught it in a grip of steel. "None of of that." he said. Quincey laughed. •'Smart man: sharp as tin tacks on the bedroom floor. Some detective. Gosh."" But they were not to be drawn into discussion of any sort: and when the cab drove into the Yard Mr. Brookham was hustled through a door. where a policeman stood on duty, up some stone steps, and into a room bearing the resemblance of an office. At a desk near the window, pen in band, sat another constable like a recording angel, the. big open book of sins before him. Tho man with the ginger moustache closed the door as they entered and stood with his back against it. Quincey looked at him and smiled. "Now out with it."' commanded Penbury. "With what, boss?"' "The stuff." "Maybe I'm 'lowed to ask what stuff you mean? Shore this ain't a loonatic asylum ?" ■'Search him."" said Penbury. The man with the ginger moustache obeyed, very thoroughly. indeed he seemed to delight in his work: Was something of an expert in the art. But he drew blank as far as cocaine was concerned. Two or three unimportant letters, and a case containing eleven one pound treasury notes, was all that the search provided. "Wall." grinned the negro, "about finished with me?*' "Not yet." "Them notes is mine, inspector."' Penbury laid them on the desk iv front of the recording angel, who appeared to take little interest in the proceedings: who in fact was weary to death of his never ending record of sin and shame. "Now listen. Brookham. I want you to tell nc how you spent Sunday. the 2.lth of July." "Think it'll interest you some, inspector?" "I m hoping." "Bill why Sunday the 2.">tli .Inly?" ■•That was the day Poppy Wilton was murdered at Iter flat in Ivnightsbridge." The negro grinned. "I see tbe brb'lit idea loomin' ahead. But. sah, yore barkin" up tbe wrong tree."' "Cut that out." said the inspector sharply. "Shore this ain't no jazz band ?"' "If it is. the music's for your funeral. Get a move on."' "Wall, now.*' drawled the nigger, "let mc try to remember, inspector. Sunday, the 25th of-luly. Saturday night, feelin" miehtv good, 1 went to bed at a half after nine. But 1 didn't sleep none, inspector, because I was dreamin' of o-ver

home an" my dear ole mammy.*' His grin widened. "That distressed mc pretty considerable. I woke next niornin' with'a headache, and* feelin' awful depressed thought I'd cheer myself up some by going to hear Cassandra Inge preach. That man Cassie is shore the finest tonic this wall-eyed town lias ever manufactured." Tbe inspector neither smiled nor frowned, never so much as blinked bis mournful eves. The recording angel, sadly deficient in humour, looked as though he were falling asleep: the g'iliger moustaclied man went hack to his station by the door and thrust his hand* deep in his trouser pockets, Quincey rolled his eyes and shook his head. The Knglish were a doubly damned dull race. *'l tell you C'as-ic livened mc up some: gave mc a likin* for eats that would have made an alligator jealous. Then 1 guess 1 slep". 1 slop' like a boa constrictor after he swallowed a cw -until it was time to g.i to church again. Seem to spend most of my time church-going. Promised my ole mammy I would when I let"" home."' "When did you last see the deceased?" "I never seen her no time."' "Didn't even know her:" "No. sah: never heard her name till I see it in the papers."' ""Where did you get this money?" "Karned it. sah. by the sweat o' my brow." "1 know how you earned it.** "Then why ask mc?" "I .-hall get you ore of these day?. Brookham.""' "Yore mighty clever, inspector; everybody knows that. lint p'raps you'll lighten mc on what you're goin" to get mc for?" "Let us act to tiie night of Sunday the ■2.->!h." "I was at Pino's club with the band." "And after?"' "To bed like a good lil" boy." "Do you know a Mr. I olistantino Lev it a '.'"* "Never heard of him." "You're a considerable liar. Brookham." •■So yore tellin" mc. Guess the judife is privileged to -ay tilings ] n court that would tie his tongue in a knot outa "A filthy nigger." continued Penbury. trying to ruffle the fellow's equanimity. "I remember 1-ciiig called so on -c before, an' I'm thinkin' the guy who said it ain't forgotten the accident thai happened to him." "A dealer in prohibited drugs." went on the detective. "Yon don't say so, inspector. Wall?" "An associate of rogues and prostitutes.*' "'Any other (nullification, inspector? Shore you do tick 'cm off nice an" smart. I'm je>* get tin" to like you Mime. You make a kinda appeal to the heart an" intellect that ain't soon forgotten." "But I'll give you a chance." "That's mighty generous of you." "For I know you're only the cat's paw. the go-between. Who's your employer/ "Why Pino, shore." '"They say tiie negro skull is thick.*" "(iticss they're wise. You jes' want a hammer and chisel to open it." "\\ ho supplies you with the cocaine?"* "Now yore talkin' some —nonsense." Then lie grew reflective. "Maybe I've heard of the drug, maybe 1 seen it's effects. The vnrry thought of it. inspector, jes' ske-ers mc to death. 1 wouldn't touch it. no. not if you was to offer mc all the money in tiie Hank of England. Quincey P. Brookham may have ids faults, but he never forgets to respect the laws of tiie noble country that gi\es him shelter. He ended on a whine so palprbly mocking, so patently hypocritical, that Penbury began to doubt the usefulness of further questioning. Tin- man was even shrewder than he had imagined. Having no doubt for what purpose Brookham had entered that obscure liar in Soho. he had raided it hoping to catch tin. fellow red-handed. In this, and in tiie >üb--cpient -enrch of the negro's person, he bad failed egreyiotisly. The laugh was now against him: tjuincey P. Brookham knew it. and made no attempt to hide his satisfaction. lie grinned mote consumedly than ever: squared Ids powerful shouldeis: -tuck out ids ape-like face with an e-.aggerated impudence which might ha\e l.een highly amusing ha.l i; not suggested the insolence of victory. "Well, niL'jer. I've eiven you your i-htin c: now I'll give you fair warning. I know what Jim are. and one of tbese days jl'll get you: I'll get you. a- sure a< your reputation i> as lj]ac'< and dirty as your face. Now clear out." "My money, inspector. Yon wouldn't rob a poor lonesome critter of his hard earned dollar*v" Penbury hande.l him tiie little packet of n0..--. Mr. lirookhnni grinned from ear to ear as lie swaggered from the room. ("lo be continued dailv.j