The Little Grey Woman

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1929, Page 10

The Little Grey Woman

[COPYBIGHT.]

By

Aidan de Brune

Author of “The Dagger and Cord’’ “The Shadow Crook” Etc.

CHAPTER IX.

“What do you mean?” “T’m telling you. A boyish sprea” ov” the face' ot the Supermini. “Yon know «> a ‘ ev ’" f" t nlaces a series of marks on a bullet fl ed through its barrel. Those marks nre peculiar to that gun, something £’! the> way that fingerprints are individual to the person. It’s been proved K no two guns marks on bullets. Now 1 Vft-om U e ings on the bullet you took from tn e Almanza wall and the bullet Sred from this gun differ considerably. “Perhaps the boys found the wrong buPet ” The Inspector looked aoubtfu! “Though it’d be funny if: there were more than one bullet m tie . manza walls. Sanderson tells me tlmt allowing for the deflection on striking Gerlach’s head, the bullet was in the place where he expected to find it. “We’ll soon test that.” Bartholomew turned again to the a J? ranging the cartridges m the holdei. A few minutes’ examination and comparison and he turned to the Inspector. “Same error, Knox.” He took the cartridge cases from the instrumen and enclosed them in envelopes. Ihe markings on the cartridge cases do not agree. For one thing, there squ L an appreciable difference m the pin marks. No, either you’ve got a buhec and cartridge that were used in an entirelv different gun, or you ve not yet found the gun with which Gerlach was «hot There’s another problem ioi

y ‘But I took the gun from Fahneys hand!” The Inspector protested. ‘He was searched when he arrived at the Central Police Station, and he had no other gun on him.” “What of Fahney s gun? You say he has one.” . , , “Houston’s gone out to his chambers this morning. But . . .” Knox shook his head, perplexedly, as he followed the Superintendent back to his office. If Denys Fahney had not fired the shot at Carl Gerlach, who had? The Inspector reviewed the statements made to him in the manager’s room at the Almanza, the previous evening. Was the solution of the problem contained in them?

Fahney had stated that, just prior to the shot being fired, ho had been swung round. Swung round ? Was the error in his reasoning there? The barrister had been seated at a table almost at right angles to the stair-head, yet close up to the front of the balcony. He had been asked by the bogus attendant to leave the balcony but stayed a few minutes to finish the drink he had ordered. Another man had stayed in the balcony, excluding the attendant and Sergeant Houston. That man had also remained until the other guests had left the balcony into the lounge below. That left the bogus attendant, Denys Fahney and the unknown man in the balcony. Fahney had risen from his table at approximately the same time as the unknown man. They had converged, walking towards the stair-head. Fahney had noticed the man coming 'to him. Therefore, the arrangements of the parties stood: Denys Fahney in the centre, walking towards the back of the balcony; the unknown man coming towards him and the head of the stairs, at an. angle from the left; the bogus attendant somewhere in the balcony on Fahney’s right. Supposing that the attendant had also converged on the stair-head at the same time as the other man, then Fahney stood between the two men when one of them stopped him and asked for a light. But he had definitely stated he had not seen the attendant after the man had passed behind him, following Sergeant Houston. Fahney had stated he was drugged and swung half-round. In that case, and supposing the mail who had drugged him had swung him round, then the changed positions would be: Denys Fahney, the unknown man, and the attendant. Then . . .

Leaving the Superintendent on the stairs, Knox raced down to the main pffices. Seizing the telephone he rang tip the Almanza rooms, asking for ColJins, tho plain-clothes man whp had found the bullet in the wall.

“Collins! Where did you find that bullet? Yes, yes. I know you found it in the cornice. But, on which side of the gallery? You remember the table Denys Fahney sat at? Supposing you are standing before that table, facing the stair-head, on which side did you find the bullet? On the left? You’re sure? Quite sure? Think man! Don’t make a mistake in this. On your left-hand side with your back to the table. Thanks! I’ve got it now!” Almost running, the Inspector burst into Superintendent Bartholomew’s room.

“More trouble, Knox.” Bartholomew looked up quickly. “I’ve asked foiphotographs of the bullets and cart-ridge-cases to be made and sent to me as soon as possible. I think we have an important point there.” “And I’ve another point!” Knox’s eyes blazed with excitement. “The man who came to Denys Fahney in the balcony, asking for a light—the man who drugged him—was Carl Gerlach. It was a fake attendant who fired the shot! ” . “You’re certain?” Bartholomew half-rose from his chair, his face alight with eagerness. “Jove, that’s strange!”

“Certain? Man, it’s a cinch!” In rapid, graphic, language the detective outlined the position in the gallery, the previous evening. “Collins confirms my theory. He states, definitely, that the bullet lodged in the cornice on the left-hand side of the balcony; supposing him to be standing with his. back to Fahney’s table, facing the head of the stairs. Jove, what a fool I’ve been! I’ve had the man under my hand and let him go! If I’d searched Gerlach that evening I’d have found the source of the drug that made Fahney insensible. But, who would have thought of that? Damn them! They’re slick!” “Not likely.” The Superintendent shook his head. “They’re too clever to pass that up. No, Knox. Before that fake attendant went down the stairs he took care to remove all traces of a frame-up from the bodies of his victims. As it was ...”

“Of course, I wouldn’t have suspect'

ed him, even if I’d found him on the stairs.” Knox ejaculated, obsessed with the line of thought fitting his theory “The fake attendant fired the shot, after his pal had drugged Fahney. Then he took from the floor the biQken capsule the drug had been contained in and strolled down the stairs It anyone had seen him, he was only one of the attendants. More than likely he returned to the balcony with the first batch of attendants Bill Loames brought, up. Perhaps that’s when he removed the rag that had been drawn through the barrel of the gun I found in Fahney’s hand.”

“Wrong reasoning, again.” Bartholomew laughed. “That rag never came within a mile of the Almanza balcony. No, Knox. That automatic came to the ball already prepared and the bullet fired from it. Someone made a mistake and started to clean the barrel. The man who placed it in Fahney s hand didn’t know of that, or he’d have taken precautions. It’s just one of those little slips that get us ahead ot crooks. There’s one point you’ve overlooked. Why did .Carl Gerlach allow his pal to fire at his head? A damned dangerous frame-up to work! Now, if the plan ln\d been to wound the man in the arm or leg—or even the shoulder —y could understand it. But the head . . . You’ve got to explain that, Knox.”

The Inspector sat silent for some ?noments, pondering the problem. Ho was certain Gerlach was the man who had asked Fahney for the match. But, why had he allowed himself to be wounded in the head ? A sudden light came to him.

Gerlach had been framed, as well as Fahney. There could be no doubt of that. Knox remembered the strange glance that had passed between, the wounded niuu and liis supposed fiiend, James Burle. He remembered, again, the hard looks he had intercepted in the Court, that morning. TJie men were antagonistic. Why? James Burle had been the man who bad passed as the attendant! With James Burle in the attendant’s white jacket, he had overlooked him when he had searched the hall for the man who had dropped the cocaine-laden fountain-pen!

Burle had wounded Gerlach, after the latter had drugged Fahney. There was a reason for the antagonism between the men. The facts would fit in with the theory he -was construct-

ing! But, if Burle had wounded Gerlach, why had not the latter denounced him. Was there a reasonable explanation? He knew the Sydney crooks refused to bring the police into their disagreements. They stood without the law. They accepted what fate brought them: awaiting opportunities to conduct their own vendfettas.

Even that theory did not explain the shooting of Gerlach. It was impossible to suppose that the man could have stood up and allowed a fellow crook to deliberately fire a gun at him! Had not the plan been for Fahney to bo shot in some fake dispute in the balcony, expecting that his conduct under the effects of the drug would seem to fit the facts. The modern gunman uses his weapon only after the severest provocation. He knows the risks he runs and prefers the butt to the barrel.

Fahney was to be the victim. He was to be posed not as the person shot, but as the shooter. Gerlach, under some great pressure, or fear, had consented to be shot at. He had stopped Fahney in the balcony, expecting that his confederate would, from behind the barrister, fire at his arm or leg. That would be sufficient to involve the lawyer.

Bufle, for some reason of his own had fired at the man’s head. Gerlach had fallen insensible; hut before losing \consciousness he had realised that his accomplice had betrayed him. He had awakened in the manager’s room with that knowledge :yet he had continued to carry on the plan to which he was a party. He had named Fahney as the man who had shot him, reserving to himself the right to settle with Burle the personal side of the affair. That explanation would fit. A knock at the door. Knox rose from his seat and opened it, admitting a uniformed sergeant. “Excuse me, sir. A message from Central Police Station. Important!” “What is it, Sergeant Adams?” “Inspector Walters told rhe to report to you as quickly as possible.” “Well, well, man! Speak up!” Bartholomew questioned, impatiently. “The Inspector didn’t like to telephone sir. Thought it best to keep the matter as quiet as possible.” The sergeant shuffled his feet, nervously. “Jumping tin hares!” The Superintendent swung round to stare at the man. “What are you making excuses for? Can’t you tell me what’s happen; ed to cause all this stuttering and evasions?” “Mr. Denys Fahney’s escaped, sir.” The red colour rose to the man’s cheeks. “Escaped!” Knox sprang to hiS feet. “What the devil do you mean, Adams? Denys Fahney was sent to Long Bay on remand, this morning. Escaped from Long Bay Gaol! Why, he’s hardly had time to get there, yet!” “Escaped from Central Police Station, sir.” The man spoke stolidly. “After the remand in Court he was brought through the corridor .to the Police Station and put in one of the cells. ■ He seemed quite happy and easy, sir; joking and laughing with the warder and the men in the office. I happened to walk down the corridor outside the cells, and saw him, locked in. Warder Simpson, says that when the van came into the courtyard he let the prisoners out and that Mr. Fahney went to the courtyard with the others.” “Many of them, Adams?” asked the Superintendent, quickly. “Quite a few, sir. That’s the last anyone seems to know of Mr. Fahney. He went out of the corridor into the yard. Next we knew was when we got a message from Long Bay to say our numbers were incomplete—that the missing man. was Denys. Fahney. We searched the station, but ...” The telephone bell rang shrilly. Bartholomew lifted the receiver and spoke < his name; listening a few moments in)

silence. With a word of understanding he shoved the instrument further on to the desk and turned to the Inspector.

“Here’s another side of your problem, Inspector. The commissioner instructs you to immediately prepare a special report on the shooting at the Almanza Rooms and the arrest of Mr. Fahney.’ From the manner in which ) the Chief spoke, I infer the report is called for from higher up.” “Higher up?” Knox blinked, dazedly. “What the little fishes do you mean?” “What I say!” A slight smile curved the Superintendent’s lips. “Prepare that report at once, then get on the trail of Denys Fahney.” The Inspector turned to the door, with a helpless gesture. As his hand touched the handle the Superintendent spoke again. “One other thing, Knox.” His voice was lowered to a whisper. “Get on Denys Fahney’s trail and stick there. Just sit on it, understand?” “Damned if I do.”. The Inspector scratched his head, perplexedly. “What do you mean? Not arrest him?” “No, watch him.” The Superintendent’s words drawled heavily. “Just watch him. I’ve an idea, that Mr. Denys Fahney’s going to introduce us to something interesting.”

(To bo Continued).