WHAT HARGREAVES KNEW.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 302, 21 December 1926, Page 26

WHAT HARGREAVES KNEW.

BT BXGP?AT_P TEMPI* CHAPTER Bumpus Shows 'ETie; Hand. '"Yes. I'm afraid HHargTeaves' integrity is open to question." replied Jimmie, smiling at Billies temporary anger. "We'll, hell be sorry he*'s told you that."' said Billie ominously. "What are you going to do?" asked Jimmie. "T. haven't decided yet. but 111 do something to make him sit up." "HThat's just what I'm going to E-i: you not to do," said Jimmie. "I have very special reasons at the moment for keepinj: HHaxgreaves placid, so I must be_r of yon not to do anything to upset him. . . . Will you promise:"' "Very well/*"assented Billie, after a momentary hesitation- "I promise—but not for long. I wouldn't have had you know about it for anything." Sudden!v Billies eyes became moist. "Oh. I say! " she" cried. "You're a perfect dear to want to have anything to do with mc at all when you know about my breaking into Beggar's End-' "HXothing would make mc think badly of you/ 5 answered Jimmie, wishing they, were alone together, and not in an hotel lounge. He wanted badly to take her in his arms and kiss away the doubts which lurked in her expression. "Well, I think it's awfully sweet of you." said Billie. "What was it aHU about, anyhow?" asked Jimmie. '-HExac-tly, why did yon take up burglary as a profession:"' "I can't tell you:" answered Billie. "But I'm going to insist that you tell mc all about" it 1"' asserted Jimmie. There was a little flash of determination in two blue eyes and a little juttine out of a dimpled chin. "I shall just do nothing of the kind:" she retorted. "It's no use Jimmie, I simply can't tell you all about it. 1 do wish you wouldn't ask mc." ""There's something else I'm going to ask you."' suddenly put in Jimmie, and as the girl looked into his eyes she found no need to ask to what it referred. Her hand went out impulsively to his, and her eyes sought his beseechingly. "Pleas* don't," she implored in a whisper. "Please don't ask mc anything of the kind, for there's no possible chance | of my agreeing to it. ... . You fan never i understand Jimniie." "I—l thought y.-.u were fond ..f me."l he stammered. "And—and 1 had hoped j that perhaps you loved mc too. and —" "Oh. Jimmie. perhaps I do." she criedthen, nervously, ''but I don't know mv I own self, these days, please, oh, please.) don't ask mc any more:"' ' j Jimmie relapsed into puzzled silence.! and shortly after taey parted. Billie! going to some relatives with whom she j was spending the nicht, prior to her I return to HMelton (.range tbe following) day. it was ou the following day that the resumed inquest was held, at which absolutely nothing transpired. A verdict was returned of "Murder, by some person or persona unknown." and the mystery Of Sir John's death remained a mystery. The case caused considerable sensation and conjecture iv the Tress, and many theories were advanced as to how tir

John met his death in a room locked on the inside, murdered by a bullet wound in which no bullet was found: but there was nothing to throw any light on the matter, and the death of Sir John Fairfield bade fair to become an unsolved crime. During the days which followed, Jimmie devoted himself to a certain extent to his work- Meanwhile, the ' other relatives had several meetings at '. Beggar's End. Individually, they had all spoken to ■ Hargreaves. who. by this time, was : allowing his position to get the better i of him. It was no unusual sight for a ! member of tbe Fairfield family to enter i the library and to find Hargreaves sit - | ting comfortably in the depths of a leather chair, smoking a cigar. On : more than one occasion, when he had j I been thus ensconsced. he had rung the i bell for Bumpus. ', "I think. Bumpus." he said, stroking j ' his chin, "yon miaht bring up a little ! ' Madeia.'' " •_._:. I Bumpus. having recovered from, his astonishment, fulfilled the order. ; "It seems to mc, young man." he said..' •"That there's something funny about all this. If I was one of the relatives of the late Sir John, I'd see yon knocked out of Beggar's End for behaving like this. "When I Hhad the honour of serving the Duke of Burneside, it was one of my points always to respect quality when under their roof." *\A.n when I had the honour of serving the 'Duke of Wellington* it was always one of my points to understand if you can get the upper hand with anybody. well, <zei it. Just at present I've got the upper hand here — why. or bow. I'm not going to tell you." This conversation was interrupted by the entry of HMr. Darwell, who stopped short at the door with an -explosive, ••Hell:'' Presently he advanced to Hargreaves as Bumpus left the room. "What the devil's all this about. Har-1 greaves t" he demanded. "You've no right to be lounging about here as thoush you were the owner of the place. It's in our power to get you turned out." "Oh, no, it isn't.'"" retorted the underbutler imperturbably. "You know better than that." i "What do you mean?" snapped Darwell. ' i _} "I mean this." said Hargreave-. "that I know where Sir John's will is. and that if you're not careful it'll never i>e found. It's :\ very short will, and wouldn't j u»kc a Fire of London to make it dis-, "Why the devil don't you produce it.' iht-n. a- I promised to see you treated i well. If you say my wife is still heir, i that means 1 shall l>e squire of Beggar's End. and it will also mean that Hargreaves remains butler at Beggar's End. with a nice comfortable sum behind him as well. Xow. come along. Hargreaves. what are you going to do about it: I have debts to pay. Something's got to be done." As h- spoke, he fiddled impatiently |^ ,th . bis monocle, tapping it ou the back | ot m_ band, but did not- succeed in distorbing Hargreaves rxasoeratinsr trauj 'Yuitbt v. T ..— j M, & ... i prp*. >oU .„ a j in , e : Madura ; 2 , lfce ]aUer | j tor another cigar. ' j

It was with difficulty that Darnell • refrained from hurling himself upon | Hargreaves. Instead, he managied to j conceal his anger, and spoke in a conciliatory tone. "Very good. Hargreaves." he said, "we j i will have a glass of wine together" —and j that was as far as Montagu Darnell got with Hargreaves on that occasion. There had been similar episodes. The pious Mr. Gales had spoken lo Har- j greaves in what he had considered to be j a Christian spirit on such a matter. Har- j greaves had thoroughly agreed with HMr. : •..ales that the will should he found, hut was equally frank about his intention not to find it until he had enjoyed a j longer spell of the fiesbpots of Egypt at Beggar's Knd. "The only trouble is. Mr. Gales, that ] people like you are too hasty. Patience, j as you probably know, is a virtue, and i .I'm sorry to see it lacking in a circum- ; spec: gentleman like yourself." ; "If 1 were my cousin Darwell." eiacu- j 1 lated "Gales. '"I should probably say I ! •Hell:' Anyway"—recklessly—"consider I ,it said." j With that, and an indignant sniff, he | left the room. The position was indeed strange, and one which seemed likely to continue, for I there was no relative who dared raise his voire or go against the under-butler. J Nevertheless, there was trouble in store j for HHargreaves in a quarter where he did not fully expect it. It was one even- j ing, shortly after his interview with Mr. j Gales, when he had rung the bell for Mr. j Bumpus to appear —which the latter did. wearia? his customary expressionless "countenance. 'Tin boss here, Bumpus." announced Hargreaves." glad to know it." said Mr. Bumpus. *T was just going to suggest that * you went downstairs and cleaned them knives." "Cleaning knives." observed Hargreaves loftily, "is a chapter in my past which I j beg of you not to refer." "I confess you a-stonish mc. young j man." mumured Mr. Bumpus. "Precisely j what has happened to make you take up j this attitude:" I "Well, old sparrow, there's nothing like knowing things that other people want to know, and can't. Tliat's what's behind it." "And exactly what do you know?"j asked Bumpus. ' "I know where Sir John's will is." j 1.-.asted Hargreaves. leaning back, and j regarding Bumpus triumphantly. "And I further, there's a little hit of something j in it which would interest you. so I'm; afraid, old "nn. you'll have to treat mc 1 with respect, for if that will is lost —j or supposing it got burned by mc. acci- j dentally—well, where would you be*" "1 suppose I'd still be here," replied i Bumpus. "much the same as I am now. j for I don't see how the will can possibly j affect me —in fact. I konw it can't." Hargreaves sat up smart ly. "What do you mean by that*" he de- i mantle:?. "1 just mean.'" answered Bumpus j slowly, "tiiat even if you'd got the will, it isn't worth the jjaper it's written on.' I—me1 —mc- —Bumpus. knows the whereabouts oi something better than the wilL" A cold sweat broke out on HaTgrea\e=", i.row. Teii mc." he cried hoarsely,! "'what do you mean.''

"I mean." said Bumpus. deliberately. I that if you know where the will is—and I I doubt it —the knowledge isn't worth a j rabbit skin to you. I know where there's ' some papers which will make it alto- ! gether void. . . . HNow. then, young i man. will you be good enough to get j downstairs and get en with them ; knives?" i (To be continued daily.)

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