The Murder on the Downs

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 175, 26 July 1930, Page 9 (Supplement)

The Murder on the Downs

By ANTONY MARSDEN.

CHAPTER XHL | At Guildford. "Well sir, you'll have to be quick, p iTe an official message coming through ftn y time, and then you'll be inter-, rupted!" In the charge-room at Guildford, Jeb Kennedy stood a little apart from the rest, fingering the receiver nervously as he awaited his reply. Tommy and Fay watched him in silence, hoping against Time- if by some lucky chance Jeb failed to cretin touch with Sturt. . . and this delav might mean that Sturt was out lunching —with Wade, perhaps? Jeb suddenly to speak again, while the police and bis pursuers listened. "He's not'home ? Say, but you Snow a!,ere ttkWto found I «■! Well, ask some more, for Gods sake ' This is urgent, get me ? It means fouth for him. . : Dough-money-aw Tipll°can't you understand English ?. . . STjakc Knottman, mo! That's Suva beon telling you. . . Oi, awfifinatTon to tell the others that his Paul Sturt Had -been TLsful Tommy Braile turned to the inspector, determined to try once H°nnk here Inspector, I don't want to make a fuss; but you've surely no to keep ns here any longer without cut in. "You've exceeded your duty already, officer; an< duty, sir," said rLLn stolidly. "You've been charged by this gentleman with stealing on: "If you're so anxious U> be charged, that's charge ' eU "But"it's no charge against me," protested Tommy. "You've no right to keep m i el i e n's' P ector hesitated. * sir. But vou're the bringcr of the charge, so to 1 ! I'm bound to make inquiries—, take your statement, ask you to substantia H e etok y d o own ledger, «md *itb all the while, lay another ledgei w ■ Tommy bad no difficulty m recognising as the current charge book. The man was playing for time, it dawned on Tommy—whatever his reason might be. iXned his back on Jeb, and spoke in a low, firm tone: # ~ "What's the game, inspector? Let s have it straight. You had my statemeii more than ten minutes ago, iyoud wanted to take at down- here, I m not trying to be unreasonable, you know, but I've been in police stations before. You can't treat people like this. The other paused doubtfully ior a moment, and then said in a louder ihan Tommy's own: You re quite ritfht, Mr. Braile. But I can t help myself. This job's out of my bands. Fact is, we've had a general order from the Yard to detain your car—and all ■persons connected with it. Between ourselves, I dare say the whole things a mare's-nest. ... But I'd take it as a favour if you'd give me a minute or two till I get word from the Yard. Tommy stared. "Then why the devil don't you 'phone them, man?" "I've done so alreadysir —when the car was first stopped outside, ten minutes before you came. All this palaver about theft has nothing to do with it—l'd had 110 notice that the car was stolen till you came here and said so . . . though 111 admit I've used your charge," he added with an awkward smile, "to gain time,

pending fresh instructions." Tommy thought rapidly, "lien, when you get your orders through, I'll he clcftr?'* "Oh, yes, sir, I hope so, certainly." "And I can have this other fellow detained on a charge of theft ?" "I—l dare say that might be bo, sir— if you should insist." But the inspector's tone did not sound very promising. "You bet I'll insist," the boy replied. Jeb had moved closer, sidling up to catch what was being said. "Say, if there's any justice being cooked, I want a hand in the pi®-" But the telephone bell rang then, and the inspector crossed lie room hurriedly. "Guildford speaking." ~ For a short while he listened. "No, sir, there's three of them here now—Kennedy, Braile, Miss Maynard. Your name's Maynard, miss, I believe?" Fay nodded. The inspector- took his hand from the mouthpiece and listened a few moments longer, -and as the others wats=s4 Mai anxiously they saw his face groSy grave. <J Vci'y good, sir. Thank yon. 1 * He rang off and walked towards them. Tommy; missing the sergeant, who had been present throughout the interview, glanced round and saw he was n6w standing with his back to th© door. .The inspector cleared his throat. "It is my duty to detain all three of you," he said, "on suspicion of being con- 1 cerned in the murder of Jacob Knottmann last night." "Murder!" The cry broke simultaneously from their lips. "You need make no statement now unless you wish," the inspector resumed. "But I must caution you that anything you do say may be used in evidence against you." CHAPTER XIV. Meldrum's Story. "Now, my lord, we'll just shelve the question of the two young people —for tiie present, at all events," Buck s#id, as he rang off. But Geoff Wade was still on his feet, his deep-lined face a little* pale under the tan, but cool again, and perhaps the more dangerous for his coolness. No, we won't, by thunder," he said, quietly. "You've had news, inspector. Found the Rolls, I guess T And my girl's & suspect. . . . Come now, we all know what 'complicity' means!" And Buck, wi,th a coolness that watched the American's own: "In a case like this, sir, everyone concerned and within reach of the crime is suspect; g.ll Uie more when an ill-advised attempt is tt ?m e ® over their movements." But Miss Maynard! This is an qutra^nf* r ' * s b a M hold you accountable!" Then you'd best help rue clear her, fir. Wade," was all Buck replied. He returned to Meldrum. "Now, my lord, let's fii i , k Knottman's movements. He a Ued here about six, you say?" ,f or on ce the old man was unexpecty ■ definite. "At six.exactly, inspector." * ou are sure ?" • ~Meldrum pointed to the little clock on J? "My clock strikes —I mean, 6 rem embered to wind it. It $e belL" S^ruck w b en Knottpmn rang

"You said this morning on the phone that you were interested, in the sale of a property- by Knottman to Mr. Wade. Was tbat what he called about?"

The old gentleman's mild eyes roved about the room before be at last replied: "No. At least, not precisely. His business was personal to myself. I—l suppose I shall have to tell you—''

"Let's get his times checked first. Who let him in?"

"My man, -Coverdale. He and his wife are all the staff I keep; they were then just about to leave for their night out; I told them not to wait; Knottman was shown in bere, and they left immediately."

"By the drive?" "By the back lane, I think. That is the nearest way into Leatherhead."

"You received Knottman, then, in here. And he left—?"

"Ju&t before six-thirty—yes, the clock had not struck. I let bim out myself isince the servants had gone."

"And Mr. Wade?" Buck pursued. "Was he present at your interview?"

"No. He got up and left the room before Knottman entered."

Geofferson Wade took up the narrative, cool and deliberate.

"I didn't want to meet Jake Knottman, inspector. Not then. I was to talk with him about the sale to-day; but some hitch sprung up, and last night I just hadn't got the details of my offer ready. I cleared out to the morning room—" Wade's words were addressed to the detective, but his eyes never left Meldrum's face. "I cleared out to the morning room, across the way. And when the talk was through, and the two of them came out into the hall; I stopped till I'd heard Lord Meldrum shut the front door on him. Then I stepped out into the hall and Meldrum and I came back into here together."

"I see. So from six-thirty on you were both here —till when?"

"Till supper —and bed," said Wade,

"Thank you . . . though I was questioning Lord Meldrum, Mr. Wade," Buck observed. , I

Wade stiffened. "You were complaining, a while bK,ck, that "I'd told less than the truth," he drawled. "Maybe that got nie kind o' nervous against keeping my mouth shut."

Meldrum intervened hastily. "I think, inspector, Mr. Wade is as anxious as myself that no detail should be overlooked. I may say I—l concur entirely with the account he has given you."

"Thank you, my lord. . . Now, there's the question of two phone calls made by Mr. Sturt last night. You remember those ?"

"Certainly," said Meldrum.

"Can you recall what Mr. Start said?" "I didn't hear him. The calls were for Mr. Wade."

Buck turned to the American. "Could you repeat them, Mr. Wade ?"

."Middling well," Wade hazarded, and added, with an ironic eye on the detective's notes. "Best take your little book, inspector. Sturt's told you already what he said, I guess—and this is where I'm to be caught napping."

"If you'll recall it to the best of your ability, Mr. Wade —" Buck suggested patiently.

Wade thought for a moment. "Sturt told me first that Knottman was out of gaol and was about to raise some difficulty over the sale of the property. In bis second call, he asked me not to be too quick to buy elsewhere, aa hie hoped to talk Knottman over." "Did he say Knottman was coming here?" "He did not." "And on the second call did you say Knottman bad been?" "No. sir. As I told you before, I'd lain low while Knottman was here. I didn't want to meet him."

"Thank you, Mr. Wade." Buck returned to Meldrum. "Can you remember, my v lord, at what time these two calls were made? . . . Think carefully, please. I sught to tell you that Mr. Sturt has given me as accurately as possible the times when he thinks he made them. The point may prove to be "important, I think."

"He's got us all checked up and taped," Wad© sneered; "so mind how you answer, Meldrum!"

Buck's patience began to show signs of strain. "Mr. Wade! I feel bound to put it to you, that you are making my duty very unpleasant for all of us. "This is essential under our law, believe me."

"I'll take your word for it," shrugged Wade; and to Buck—"As Lord Meldrum's guest, I'm ready to too the line . . . but without prejudice to any complaint I may see fit to lodge with my own consul, la'cer. I'll say no more, sir—yet."

Buck nodded; and continued to Meldrum, after a. glance at his notes —"Mr. Sturt gives the time of bis two calls— the first as being shortly before six, and the second at seven—"

"Then Mr. Sturt is wrong," said old Meldrum, dogmatically; and nodding to the clock —"His first call was made about five-thirty-five-the clock had just struck. And his second was seven-fif-teen, I know—for I remarked to Wade at the time, that Mr. Sturt worked late."

"A trifling difference," Buck commented. "And Sturt's times, of course, were only approximate. . . . You were both here, by the way, at the time each of these calls was made?"

Meldrum was conscious of Wade's eye fixed on him steadily. "Oh, yes. Ob, certainly. Both times."

Buck pocketed his notes. "Thank you, my lord —and you, sir! I've had to trouble you at some length, I'm afraid; but we'll call a halt now."

"You'll have some lunch with us before you go?" Meldrum asked. It was not far short of two o'clock. Buck looked at him.

"I'm not going yet. . . . But I'll just take a turn outside if you don't mind. I shall have to think —"

"Fancy!" murmured Wade.

Buck ignored him, and addressing Meldrum: "Would you be good enough to show me your grounds, my lordt A pipe in the open air, perhaps —" "Certainly, certainly. This way." "I shan't keep him from you long, Mr. Wade," observed Buck pointedly; and the two went out together. As they strolled down the drive: "What's that?' asked the detective suddenly, pointing between the trees. Meldrum peered.

"That is—ah —a motor car. Mine, in fact. I usually keep it there." Buck said no more till they were well away from the house. Then: "My lord, I have a certain question to put to you; but I don't want you to answer it, unless you feel inclined." _ - "I can answer anything," said Meldrum kindly. "It's this. If Knottman didnt come to talk of the sale last night, what was .his business with you?" Meldrum paused; and his mild eye roved round the woods before they finally met Buck's. "He came here to blackmail me, Mr. Buck." "Thank you." But from his tone, Meldrum guessed tbat he had known the answer already. "I'm not asking, any more," the detective resumed. "And I didn't want to put that question to you before your friend." "That was very nice of you, Mr. Buck," the old gentleman murmured. "Though indeed I can see no harm in I telling you now, since the fellow's dead —"

"That might be all the better reason not to have told me," Buck commented quietly. Meldrum stared .... and then went rather red. "By George, Inspector, if I d murdered anyone, I'd be sorry to face you cliaps! I—l fear I'd give myself away." "Most people do, my lord .... But I'm keeping you from your lunch. If I may stroll among your woods for a while ? Very fine timber you have hero!" Meldrum looked pleased. "Ah, you've noticed that! Oak and ash, oak and ash—the heart of old England, sir! They thrive here on the clay." He waved Ilia arm southwards. "Up on tho chalk they have to be content with tlicir yews and beeches. They can't grow oak-woods like thesel" "So I'm told, my lord. A most interesting subject, botany." Meldrum with an abrupt wave of his band, ambled away towards the house. For a little while Inspector Buck Btood motionless in the drive, watching him out of sight; then, thoughtful, turned aside across the unkempt border of grass, and strolled off between the trunks of the mighty oak trees to which the old gentleman had pointed with such pride. He bad a picture in his mind, the vivid picture of a dead man who lay all crumpled and bowed, in such a way as 110 living man could have dropped, however suddenly struck down; a dead man found under the yew trees, on the naked chalk of the downs—a dead man with fresh smears of clay on knee and elbow, and an oak leaf or two that etill clung to his clothes. (To be continued daily.)