WHAT HARGREAVES KNEW.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 April 1927, Page 8

WHAT HARGREAVES KNEW.

CHAP TEE XVIII. MORE MYSTEBV. Mr. Bumpus took out a red pockethandkerchief and moped liis expansive blow. ’ “Do 1 hear you rightly, young luan?” he asked. “Quite correct, old pheasant, ’’ said Hargreaves. “The'will’s gone, and nobody knows where it is, unless you dc. ” “You mustn’t make suggestions of that kind,’’ Mr. Bumpus replied with dignity, rocking himself slowly to and fro in his chair. “Where do you suppose the will is—who’s got it?’’ “That’s what I wanted to ask you,’’ replied Hargreaves. “What have you done, with it ? ”

For a moment Mr. Bumpus looked angry. Then he smiled wanly. “At, well you must have your joke,” he murmured. Then he added: “And what’s going to happen if "they don’t find the will?’’ “No idea,’’ said Hargreaves. “I suppose the property will be split up among them.” “That will be the finish of the Pairfields at Beggar’s End, I suppose,” replied Bumpus. “I can’t see a quarter of Beggar’s End being sufficient to keep up the place. Dear, dear!” “Yes, it’s going to be awkward!” said Hargreaves, “unless the wall is found. ’ ’ “I think you reckon to know what’s in it, don’t you ” asked the butler. Hargreaves slyly winked one eye. “I know a lot,” he asserted; then‘he laughed. “You remember how frightened you were when I let you think that Beggar’s End might lie coming to me? ’’ ° “Change the subject,” begged Mr. Bumpus. “The contemplation of such a disaster upsets me. Please bring a little Madeira. ” 1 Pot some moments he sat quietly thinking, and when Hargreaves returned with the wine, he said: “I wonder what’s going to happen to us?” • “We shall be all right?” answered Hargreaves. ‘Beastway's, H shall — couldn’t be so sure about you .... Good health!” “Good health,” murmured Mr. Bumpus, absent-mindedly. A little later, Hargreaves had occasion to go upstairs. On his way, he gave a brief glance into the library, the doer of which was now open, and h'e saw the relatives rising from their chairs. When he had reached the top landing, he heard footsteps scurrying up behind him. He turned to find Mr. Gales. “Come into this room!” whispered the latter, and Hargreaves, with a< smirk on his face, followed Gales into a small iv-.-m. “What is going to happen?” demanded Gales. “How do you nhean?” queried Hargreaves.

I “Well, if the will’s lost, it means I don’t get Sir John’s estate. “I’m afraid it does, sir,” replied the under-butler. “It’s very unfortunate . . . very strange indeed, but perhaps it’s all for the best, sir, as my friend at the ginger-beer shop says.” “Bother your friend at the beer .1 mean ginger-beer shop,” exclaimed Gales. ‘ ‘ This is a very serious matter. All those people downstairs have got their minds on nothing else but money. It’s going to be very difficult. It’s really appalling. “I agree with you, sir,” said Hargreaves. “Money should be the last thing to enter people’s minds. I can assure you, sir, that I should never, have troubled 3’ou, about money sir. even as I have done, if it hadn’t been necessary. Sorry you seem to have lost patience with my friend, but his business is going very badly. ” Reuben Gales looked exasperated. He knew full well that tp say what he thought about Hargreaves and the Son of Temperance might be disastrous. “I’m soj-ry, ’’ he said, “but I really think your friend is lacking in business ability. He should -have made his place pay by this time.” “Perhaps his -ginger beer isn’t very good,” murmured Hargreaves. “1 haven’t tasted it myself, though I will dp one of these days, do or die. ’ ’ “You speak of it as a kind of adventure,” remarked Mr. Gales. “In any case, we ’re wasting time talking about him when, we should be talking about the will.” “Olli, yes, I’d forgotten the will,” said Hargreaves. “Very disturbing, sir. The thing couldn’t get lost -like that. It would be a great thing if. I can find it -sir, wouldn’t it?’.’ It was a. full moment before Reuben Gales really appreciated the gist of

Hargreaves’s remarks. Then he’ slued a little closer to him. “Look here, Hargreaves,” lie said. “I don’t know what to make of it. Are you suggesting that- you know the whereabouts of the will “Oh, Mr. Gales,”- expostulated Hargreaves-. “How could, you think such a thing ? Why, if I’d known where it was 1 should have produced it—;jt least I think I should. However, sir, if I do find it I’ll let you know. I must be getting downstairs now, yir. Mr. Bumpus lias been, worrying me about cleaning the dish covers, and them crests take <m bit of cleaning—the whitening .sticks- in the holes.”. “Tut, tut! Never mind the dish covers;” exclaimed Gales, “the point is, do you or dq you- not- know where the will is?’.’.

“As I suggested, sir, it’s a- very unfair question. I quite agree with you, being sole heir, it’s a misfortune if it isn’t found, and I’ll do my best.” Hargreaves closed one eye- slowly as he said- the words, and Mr. Gales’s hand stole to- bis pocket. Olice again the crisp sound of notes was heard. Hargreaves had just transferred the money -safety to- his- own person, when Mr. Harwell -appeared at the door. He had come up noiselessly in his rubbersoled shoes. “Oh, here you are, Hargreaves! ” he exclaimed. “Dammit, I’ve been’looking for you all over the house.” Suddenly he caught -sight of Mr. Gales. “Oh, you’re here, are you?” Yes, Montagu,” . replies- Gales. “I have ju-st been giving Hargreaves a few instructions about the- house. Yon see, the management is in my hands at the moment.” “Quite right” assented Da-rweli. “But what’s going to. be done about that will? Where is it? Yon saw Sir John more than any of us. Didn’t- he ever tell you where- it was or where, he kept it?’ ’ “I would prefer that you did not make such suggestions, Montagu,” -replied Gales, “especially before the servants.” “Well, it’s a deuce of -a business” grumbled Darwell. -Sonietliing’s got to be done about it. What do- you suggest-?”- , . “I suggest nothing,” -said Mr. Gales frigidly. “This »s not the -place todiscuss it.” So saying he walked out or the room. v “Mr. -Gales is apt to he -a little short, I think,” observed Darwell when the solicitor had gone. “Yes sir, he can be very terse when lie likes. I’ll bet he’ll -curse when he finds out where the money is, though.” Darwell laughed, -and slapped; Hargreaves on the back. “It will be dashed funny! But what about that will. Hargreaves? Wliat’.s happened to it?” “I don’t know,” said Hargreaves, “but I don’t suppose it would he elite beyond me to find out.” “It’s got to- be found,” asseverated Harwell, “otherwise my wife will only get -a small share of the estate-—I don’t quite know how much —that will be for the lawyers to settle.” _ “Yes, I quite see that, sir,” replied Hargreaves. “It’s most essential that it should be found.’.’ “Look here, let’s- be straight, ’ -said Darwell. “Do you know where it is?” Hargreaves laughed slightly. “Oh, Mr. Darwell,” he exclaimed. “You mustn’t be too impatient!” and with that he excused himself and ret turned dpwnsta-irs, where Mrs. Webley literally sprang upon him from behind la door. | “Hargreaves!”, -she said breathlessly. “I want to speak to you quickly.’ What about the will? It will have, to be found —it absolutely must be found!” “I agree with you,”- said Hargreaves. “With -a bit of luck it will be fouud but when, I don’t quite know . . . Mind you. I’m not saying TMinoiy where it is—l’m just sorb of hinting that I’m pretty good. a t finding things. You see, I know Beggar’s End practically insid,e out.”

“Oh. Hargreaves,!”, cpied Mrs Webley. “If you- do know where it is, for heaven’® ssake find it and, produce it quipkly, before it gets really lost! It would be dreadful if I only get a share of tlip estate. Why, I’ve made all sorts of plans -since Sir John died.” “Very unwise, madam, I think.” said Hargreaves imperturbably. “Still, I f know what ladies -are, if you will excuse me saying so.” “I’ll excuse you anything, Hargreaves, if you’ll only -find the will!’’ “All I can do is to promise to do my best,” replied the under-butler. His words were simple, but his method of speaking them left no doubts in Mrs. Webley’s mind that the whereabouts of the will was no- -secret to Samuel Hargreaves. She opened her reticule, and took out five pounds. “Take this, Hargreaves-, ”. she said. “On—on account.” Hargreaves than If ed. her as he took the money, and a few moments later he returned to the butler’.s pantry, (To be continued.)