THE FRAMING OF INSPECTOR DENVERS

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LX, Issue 18, 7 March 1939, Page 6

THE FRAMING OF INSPECTOR DENVERS

(Continued from page 5)

and she had been so anxious and puzzled until an hour ago! Now she knew ... but did she ? Or, was she only guessing on a series of events —on the few words uttered by the man who had staggered into her room, to fall unconscious at her feet. She felt, rather than saw, that Inspector Nott was watching her keenly, waiting for 9 the moment when he might question her. She j must be careful not to tell the police I anything of vital importance —nothing they could not obtain by question- j ing others. She must make the most of the shock she had received, and of her present condition. At all costs she must gain time —until Luther Banke could speak, and she could explain everything, and receive his in- [ structions. Forcing her nerves under t control she looked up at the detective. '•'Sir Edmund is correct," she said softly. He has been out twice to see "Mr Luther Banke during the past three days. I have been out to 'Rosewood' every evening since Mr Luther Banke was taken ill. I went out hoping Mr Luther Banke had recovered consciousness, and could give me the necessary instructions for carryi ing on his business." "You are in Mr Luther Banke's employ?" asked the inspector. |"I am his personal secretary. When |he is absent from business I am in full charge." I "So you went to Mr Luther Banke's house—'Rosewood,' Moorfield, I believe, you said—every evening to reI ceive his instructions. Did he, at any ! time since has was taken ill, speak to you—give you any sign, when you [spoke to him, that he heard and understood?" Martha Tayne shook her head, a sad little smile on her lips. "Not once," she said. "Since the afternoon Mr Luther Banke was suddenly taken ill he has hot spoken to me, or given any sign he heard, or understood When I spoke to him. "But ..." Nott showed his. bewilderment. "Mr Banke has been completely unconscious since the stroke," Sir Edmund explained. "He has not spoken a word, even to his nurse." I "You told me you went to Mr Luther Banke's house this evening,

Miss Tayne?" Nott turned again to the girl. "Yes." "And Mr Banke was then unconscious?" "Yes. The nurse told me there had been no change." "Who is professionally attending Mr Luther Banke?" "Dr Matthews. He is neighbour to Mr Luther Banke, and ha 3 been his medical attendant for years." "Do you know Dr Matthews' opinion regarding Mr Luther Banke's condition?" "Only what Nurse Pringle has told me." "What is that?" Noticing that the girl hesitated to reply, the inspector added: "This is not a court, Miss Tayne, and hearsay evidence is admissible, and sometimes illuminating." "Nurse Pringle told me that Dr Matthews considered that Mr Luther Banke was in a very serious condition, and that . . . that . . ." "Yes?" encouraged the detective. "That he might not recover consciousness until just before the . . . the end." Martha Tayne spoke in a very low voice. "When did Nurse Pringle tell you this?" "This evening—about seven o'clock." "That was the last- time you saw Mr Banke?" j "Yes—until he opened the door and walked into this room." "And then . -. ." "I screamed." For some seconds tbe girl paused, then added: "I thought . . . perhaps I was foolish ... but I thought I saw a ghost." Again there was silence; then the detective asked: "Were you alone when Mr Banke walked into the room?" "No, Mr Alec Kempton—Mr Luther Banke's solicitor—was here with me." Inspector Nott's eyes went swiftly to the man seated in a corner of the room. "A friendly call?" "Mr Alec Kempton came to see me on business connected with the firm." "How long was he with you before . . ." The inspector did not finish his sentence. He glanced at the still form on the floor. "About twenty minutes." "You admitted Mr Kempton to the flat—you opened the door to him?" "Certainly. I live alone." "You closed the outer door, after you admitted Mr Kempton—you are quite certain?" ' - "Quite certain." "Then, how did Mr Banke gain admission?" "I . . .1 don't know." Martha Tayne paused, then continued;: "I did not know that Mr Luther Banke was in the flat—l did not know that he had regained consciousness—until he came into the room." Suddenly the girl rose to her feet and turned to Sir Edmund: "Please, may I go to my room for a while. 1...1 . . ." The police commissioner nodded. Inspector Nott opened the door for her. As she left the room she averted her eyes from the solicitor. When he had closed the door after the girl, the inspector turned to Alec Kempton: "Your name's Kempton?'' "I am Mr Alexander Kempton, senior partner in the firm of Wallis, Kempton and Co." The solicitor spoke with feeble dignity. "Yeah!" The keen eyes of the detective stared at the man bleakly. "That gets us nowhere. What did you come here for to-night?" "I came to speak with Miss Tayne on business." You heard her say that, didn't you?" "What do you mean?" Alec Kempton tried to look indignant; but failed. "You were here when Mr Luther Banke walked into the room?" "Yes." (Very hesitatingly). "I ..." "Why don't you say it—you look it, y'know." "Look, what?" "Look here." Inspector Nott moved closer, to the solicitor, bending over him aggressively. ""I'm asking the questions—understand ? When was the last time you saw Mr Luther Banke. I'm not referring to when he came here an hour or bo ago?" "Three days ago—at his office." ''Then you haven't been out to his

house at Moorfield since he's been ill?" "No." "The last'time you saw Mr Luther Banke, he was quite well." . "He looked very ill.' Alec Kempton hesitated, then added, as if in explanation: "I was with him early in the afternobn of the day he was taken ill." " 'So!" Inspector Nott paused a moment, then asked: "You say, you came here to see Miss Tayne—on business. What business?" "Mr Luther Banke's business." "What about Mr Luther Bank's business?" "I decline to answer that question. The business is extremely confidential." "So confidential that it cannot be told to the police—when Mr Banke lies . . . there!" Alec Kempton did not answer. The detective continued, mercilessly. "So confidential and private that it could be discussed, however, with one of Mr Banke's employees?" ."Miss Tayne is Mr Luther Banke's confidential secretary. While he is ill she controls his business and private interests." "Leave it at that!" Inspector Nott showed impatience. For some moments he paced the room. Suddenly he halted before the commissioner, to exclaim: "Lor' chief! If only Mark Denvers was here to handle this bird! I bet he's 'cheep' for him!" Sir Edmund nodded. He had seen the quick light flame in the solicitor's eyes at the mention of the detectiveinspector's name—at the suggestion that he could make unwilling witnesses talk. Did the man know, that but a short half-hour before, Mark Denvers had stood in that room, and but for the advent of Inspector Nott would have questioned him. The commissioner believed he did. "So you won't tell me what you and that girl were discussing?" Inspector Nott suddenly ceased his pacing of the room, halting before Kempton and snapping out the question. The solicitor started, but shook his head, negatively. "You are prepared to swear the matter is so confidential that it cannot be mentioned—even when Mr Luther Banke got off his death-bed and travelled eight miles to learn its nature?" The detective drew a bow at venture. Alec Kempton made no answer. "Did Mr Luther Banke speak when he came into the room?" Again Inspector Nott tried to surprise the truth out of the man. v, For a moment Alec Kempton's lips parted. Sir Edmund thought the man was going to answer in the affirmative, but the solicitor remained silent. "So he did speak!" The detective had caught the unspoken affirmative. "What did he say?" The lawyer's lips pressed together into an almost invisible line. "Good enough!" Inspector Nott almost chortled. "So Mr Luther Banke had something to say before he fell, unconscious. But did he fall or did you strike him down? That's possible, y'know. You swon't tell me? Very well; we'll have the girl in to face you. Between the lies you both tell we may get some truth. The inspector turned to Dr Cream: "How's your*patient, doctor? Still unconscious! Humph! When will I be able to question him?" "I am afraid —never." Dr Cream spoke gravely. "You say . . ." The detective hesitated. "Will he die?;' "Eventually." The medical man spoke with a slight.smile. 'He may last, like he is now, without speech, without motion, helpless and inarticu-, late, but perhaps cognisant of everything around him . . ." The doctor paused, then continued: "Can you imagine a living brain in a dead body? Can you realise that the man lying there may be understanding everything that is taking place—seeing everything within range of his eyes; hearing everything; yet unable to move, speak, or even give the slightest indication that he is alive— totally unable to express a single desire?" For some moments the detective stood before Dr Cream, awed by the vivid picture of a living death, then, with abrupt decision, turned and strode to Martha Tayne's bedroom door. . > ' At the door, Inspector Nott knocked gently, bending his head to listen for an answer. Again he knocked. A couple of seconds, and he turned and glanced at the police

chief. Sir Edmund showed his perplexity on his face. He hesitated, then nodded, imperatively, at the inspector. Again Inspector Nott knocked. He waited a moment then turned the handle and flung open the door, striding into the room. A few minutes, and he returned to the ait-ting-room, his face showing perplexity. "Something strange here, chief," he said slowly. "That girl's not in her room—she's not in the flat. I've been right through it. Constable Phillips, on guard at the outer door swears she hasn't passed him. Where the [devil can she be!" (To be continued)