OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 179, 15 July 1911, Page 9

OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

BY 1

HEADON HILL.

CHAPTER XIIi. “THE COAST IS CLEAR.” (Continued.) I At the front door of the house j Harold, to keep up the delusion which J Rose's fa.mi-lia.rity had just somewhat went through the ceremony iof ringing the bell, and inquiring if ! Mr Meldreth could see him, instead | of walking i.u as had been his privi- ' lege of Lite. The butler Unwed I them into the library, and returned lin a minute to announce that the j master would see the doctor iai his bedroom, but that ho was quite un- * able to rerteire the gentleman who : liad called on business.

“Then I needn't trouble you any further, Simmonds," said Harold, addressing the old servant. “I know my wav- up to Mr Meldreth’s room, and it is possible that. I nuiy have to go up aaid down several timies with messages lietween your master arid this gentleman. If you hear me you will knotv what is going on.” The butler, aware of the confidential footing enjoyed by Harold in the household, flowed anti retired. When lie wan gone Harold turned to Mr Grey steel.

“Noav just tell me what questions you want answered,” he said. “Make them as few and as clear as possible, for the sake of the patient."

Tine inspector, who was nothing if not methodical, produced a halfsheet of notepaper. “1 jotted them down for you, thinking it might save your legs.” he said with a laugh. “Though if airy further questions occur, as the results of Mr AleJdreth’s answers, 1 may liave to trouble you again."

Harold took the pajter, and without showing a personal interest ii» it by so much as glancing at what was written, left the library. Pausing for a moment in the haH to make sure that Simmonds had retired to his pantry and that there were no maids about, he mounted the softly-carpet-ed stairs, but on the first floor, instead of entering Mr Meldreth s bedrooin, ho dived donn a narorw passage leading to the bath-room and, dipping "in, gently dosed and hocked the door. He meant, to play the game off his own bat. ;unl not go m-ar Mr Meldreth till he could pacify him with the news that the inspe-t<ir was safely off the premiws. I'lifoWing the paper with unchecked eager>ne®s now, this is what lie read—(l) Uni Mr Meldreth on reflection think of any business that Mr Bankart might have liad with him ii he had kept the appointment wihich lie alleged to the police ho liad at the office?

I (2) The hall-porter at the Queen 1 Victoria Street entrance to the Mansions in, which the offices of Meldreth and Co. are situated asserts that a man answering to Bankart’s description passed in at a quarter to six on the date of his disappearance. Can Mr Meldreth iufoixn the police if he had at that time gone out to procure a cup of coffee which lie told Inspector Greysteel was the reason why the police found no one in when they called, at Bankart’s request, at a Quarter past six? (3) The eame of the restaurant where Mr Meldreth took his coffee? Harold perused tin. two first questions with unruffled wrenity, but. his brow darkened when he came to the third.

“Number three is a poser,” ho muttered. “Moreover it implies tin germ of doubt ami a desire for verification on the part of our friend downstairs. However, this will have to lie bluff all through, and we may as well begin as we ni< au to go on.” He allowed sufficient time to elapse ta seem natural, and then, with the stealth of a Red Indian on the warpath, quitted the bath-room and gained the staircase without meeting any one. In the library he found Inspector Greysteel awaiting him with undisguised curiosity. ‘•Well,” said Harold, “I'm afraid what I've got from him won’t put you much forrader. To question one niy patient gives a decided negative. Ho reasserts that he never had any business with Bankart., and that lie would not have entertained it if it had ken offered to him. To question two he replies that there are as many entrances to the Mansions as to a rabbit-warren, and that Bankart must have changed his mend and gone out by one of them without going near his office. Mr Meldreth. cannot Im? sure at this distance of time, but he is under the impression that lie did not go out for the coffee till after six o'clock.” (To be continued.)