WHAT HARGREAVES KNEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 301, 20 December 1926, Page 22

WHAT HARGREAVES KNEW.

BY REGINAUJ TEMPIJB* CHAPTER XXI. A Wireless Message. "Yes, and it may mean a lot to us," said the Inspector. "You have mentioned that there was some quarrel between your late uncle and this young lady's father. Can you tell mc what it is all about?" '"I wish I could," answered Jimmie. "I haven't the slightest idea, but it was what you'd call a 'hundred per cent' quarrel—they never went near each other, and you can tell what that would mean when their estates were adjoining." The inspector was beginning to take a liking to the man seated opposite him, and was dismissing from his mind the suspicions which he had held concerning Jimmies complicity in the crime which had brought about the old man's'death. He veered round to the confidential. "It seems to mc, Sir James," he said, '"that if we could get to the bottom of that quarrel we might go a long way towards solving this mystery, and it looks as though Miss Romaine's sudden trip to Paris might not be unconnected with it. What kind of man is Mr. Romaine?" Jimmie told him. "But I don't think you'll get anything out of him," he added. "After all, there is no compulsion upon him to speak about his private quarrels." "Well, perhaps you can get the information from Miss Romaine," suggested the inspector, his eyes twinkling. "I would if I could," answered Jimmie fervently; "In fact, when I went up to Beggar's End I was. hoping to meet her to hear her story—but she'd gone, and I'm going after her. May I use your 'phone to get into touch with Croydon ?" A moment later Jimmie was speaking to an official at the aerodrome. "What's that?" he demanded—"l've just missed the Paris 'plane? Well, when's the next? Really, so long as that? Well, I'll have a special one— yes, any sort so long as it gets mc there. I shall be round presently." And so it happened that within an hour Jimmie entered the great aerodrome. It was his first visit there, and he found himself entertained by the experience. Little squat buildings housed offices where records were kept of the tests undergone by machines, where details were taken of passengers, and where masses of data were dealt with. The aerodrome even had its own hotel. Jimmie spent his time strolling about, inspecting the hangars, and one or two of the great air liners, whilst throbbing in the air above him was the machine which was to take him • to Paris. Pre- '' seutly, the thrum and roar of the engines ceased, and Jimmie was informed that all was in readiness for the flight. The machine, a. small, dark blue biplane, came gracefully to earth and taxied along the aerodrome like_a great bird of night. Jimmie was introduced to the pilot, who climbed into the little bucket seat behind'him. With a whirr and roar the machine set off across the ground, until it had attained a position in face of the wind, and then, almost before he knew it, the 'plane had taken the air, and soon, as he loolced over the side, he saw the wide space of the aerodrome receding rapidly. Ha 11-an-hour later, as Jimmie again looked oyer the side of the fusilage, he saw in the far distance below him a line which was the coast,of England. It was at that moment the pilot in the seat before him turned, and handed him with some difficulty a short note, written' on a page torn from a pocket book. "Instruction by wireless to return," it said. "Am doing so." Instinctively, Jimmie looked up, expecting to see a wireless aerial on the aeroplane, but saw nothing. The aerial was beneath the wings of the machine. A.moment later, he discovered that the machine was turning head about, bound for' the direction from whence they had come. A short time later, the machine having made a circuit of the aerodrome, they descended to the ground. Almost before he had time to climb from the aerodrome, Jimmie was greeted by a man whom even the most inexperienced could see was a police officer, accompanied by two officials of the aerodrome. "Excuse mc, Sir James," said the man, "i am Detective-Inspector Grange of the Croydon police. I.have been rung up by Inspector Brent, who says you were going to meet somebody in France. I have to tell you that person is returning, and will you be good enough to see Inspector Brent." A little later, Jimmie.wasHsitting back in a hired car. So Billie, then was returning. What was the explanation of the sudden dash of hers to Paris? Was it going .to throw any light on the mystery which surrounded the recent events at Beggar's End and Barton Street? He hoped so. His mind went back to the burglary, about which Haragreaves had spoken to him. Somehow hr felt there was a connection between the episodes at Beggar's End and the death of his uncle in London. He had fully intended to have a word with Bumpus, the head butler, before he left for London. Whilst Hargreaves was, however, the dominant character at the old mansion, Jimmie felt that the reticent Bumpus, with his somnolent, bilious face, might know more than one expected. He knew that the rotund form harboured a spirit not altogether in keeping with it. He had had that fact in mind when he mentioned to Hargreaves that he would like to speak to the latter's .superior. -Vleanwhile, Bumpus was congratulating himself upon his escape from the interviews with the new baronet. Hargreaves had done his best to frighten the old man, and when he imparted the information to him, if Bumpus felt alarmed he was careful not to show it. Nor was Jimmie the only one who was reflecting upon Bumpus at this particular time, for Hargreaves himself, the alert and penetrative Hargreaves, never really felt safe with Bumpus about. As he had said on a previous occasion, Providence would solve the difficulty for him, but so far Providence had not stepped in to reward Mr. Bumpus for having indulged for ten years in the pleasant occupation of drinking, himself to death. "I should think you must have got innards like an ostrich," observed Hargreaves to him one day, almost as if he had a grievance. "Many a man would have been below the ground with his toes up by this time." "Sorry to be' disobliging!" returned Bumpus wheezily, " but you see I drink wine—good wine at that, and it never did anybody any harm. You will remember, young man, that St. Paul, I think it was, once said: 'Take a little wine for thy stomach's sake.'" "No doubt he did!" retorted Hargreaves, "but if he did, I expect meant for external application only." These days had been pleasant for Hargreaves and Bumpus. They had had the run of Beggar's End, excepting at such times as various members of the family

descended upon it. Most of these were staying within easy distance. Each would have liked to take up residence there, but did not care to lay themselves open to misunderstanding by the others. Hargreaves had assumed an arrogance which was difficult, indeed impossible, to quell, for he had his own stranglehold on each member of the family; even ••-llectively he could dictate to them, much to the astonishment of Mr. Naylor, the solicitor, who, without avail, urged instant dismissal of the under-butler. Of them all, Sir James Fairfield was less under the butler's sway, though even he could see that to offend Hargreaves would be a disastrous policy. Meanwhile, Jimmie was speeding towards Scotland Yard, when he eventually found Inspector Brent. "I'm glad to have got you back in time, Sir James," said Brent. "My Croydon man tells mc that you had already started." "That's right!" assented Jimmie, and it makes one marvel at the age we live in, for who could have imagined a few years ago that I could be bumping the clouds in a machine and receiving messages by an invisible force." The Inspector agreed; then he said-. "What I wished to tell you is that I had a message from Calais saying that Miss Romaine had caught the morning boat. I am having her watched—" "Hardly necessary, is it?" put in Jimmie, without thinking. The inspector smiled. "Don't be alarmed, Sir James," he said. "You may be quite sure that Miss Romaine will be treated with every formality, but I think you will agree it is highly desirable' that we should not lose sight of her at present." "I quite agree," replied Jimmie. "I spoke without thinking." "Assuming she comes straight back, she should reach Victoria at about two o'clock." "In which case," interpolated Jimmie quickly, "I should like to be there to meet her." "That's all right," replied the inspector, "so long as you don't lose sight of her again." "You may be quite sure I shan't do that!" responded Jimmie with emphatic fervour. Accordingly, when the boat train steamed into Victoria, Jimmie was among the crowd waiting at the barrier, scrutinising the passengers as they came out—some of them still bearing the traces of the effects of the sea passage. Presently, to his delight, he saw Billie, as fresh and healthy as ever, striding down the platform carrying an attache case. As soon as she passed thebarrier, he made his way towards her, raising his hat, and said with a whimsical smile: "Miss Romaine, I believe?" For a second, the colour left Billies face, only to return in a warmth of confusion. She did not, however, lose her self-composure. "Sir James Fairfield, Bart.," she said, acknowledging his greeting with a bow. "What an unexpected encounter!" "To you, perhaps," replied Jimmie, "but not to mc. It is all I have been thinking about for the last day or more. Wherever have you—wherever have you been—Billie ?" Again the girl coloured slightly. "You honour mc, sir, by the use of my Christian name," she said demurely. "Alas, that a country girl should call the new squire by his." "Oh, be quiet!" said Jimmie. "I want to know something about this journey of yours." "It's nothing to do with you, Jimmie!" Billie retorted. For the moment, Jimmie accepted her decision. Then, taking her case from her, he led the way to the Grosvenor Hotel, where he ordered coffee, and presently they were seated comfortably, each happy in the other's company. It was with difficulty that Jimmie refrained from making love to the radiant girl sitting by his side, but, knowing that her exterior mien was merely a brave covering of troubles within, he decided not to embarrass her any" more than he could help. Further, he wished to discover as far as possible the extent of her complicity in the mysterious affairs which surrounded them. "I hope the Romaine-Fairfield quarrel has come to an end," he said, referring to the death of his uncle. "So far as possible, I suppose it has," answered Billie cryptically. Jimmie then told her of his visit to Melton Grange, and of old Mr. Romaine's reticence. "You won't get much out of father, I'm afraid," she said. "He's very secretive." "And so are you, I should imagine," laughed Jimmie, "for apparently they did not know where you were." "That's rightj they didn't," answered Billie. "But I don't mind them knowing now where I've been. It wasn't any good." "What wasn't?" demanded Jimmie, sharply. "Oh, I can't tell you," answered the girl. "But you can take it from mc that I didn't go over to Paris for my health. What I mean to say is that the purpose for which I went failed." "Sorry about that," said Jimmie: then, tentatively: "I suppose you couldn't tell mc what it was?" "No, I couldn't," answered Billie emphatically. Then she asked: "Have they found the will ?" Jimmie regarded her curiously for a few moments. "Why do you ask?" he said. "Curiosity only," replied Billie, biting her lip. "It was here that Fairfield decided to make a bold stroke. "Look here, Billie," he began. 'There's something fishy and funny about all this, and you're mixed up in it—and I hate you being mixed up in a mystery of any kind—you, who carry the happy innocence of the country about with you, as you do. You're not meant for schemes and intrigues." "What are you talking about?" demanded Billie. "I'll tell you what I'm talking about," answered Jimmie, putting one of his brown hands in hers. "Don't let it worry you," he went on, "but I must tell you that I know all about the burglary at Beggar's End. I know for a fact that you broke into the place and that Hargreaves caught you at my uncle's desk." For a moment Billie regarded him almost in dismay. "Why, I paid Hargreaves not to say anything about it," she exclaimed. "I'll be even with that little rat before I've finished."