“All At Sea"

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume XXII, 5 August 1932, Page 4

“All At Sea"

By

CAROLYN WELLS,

“Nothing especially. But I think she is tired of the seashore and she is I nervously sensitive about—about your brother’s death. You must see, Miss Folsom, that though to you the subject is naturally of the deepest interest, it is nerve-wracking for a woman to have a strange man killed—almost at her very side—” “Was he an utter stranger?’’ Anastasia Folsom gave 'Barron a long keen glance from under her heavy eyebrows. i “Surely!” he exclaimed “You didn't ' think they were acquainted, did you? Why, we never saw or heard of Mr Folsom until that morning.” “No,” said the lady. “I’m glad you appreciate, Mr Barron, my own deep interest and anxiety, and I do see how it is a very unpleasant memory for your wife to have in mind. Enough to spoil anybody’s summer vacation.” With one of her sudden, abrupt gestures, she turned and walked away. Angelica rose, and without a word, even to Robin, disappeared into the hotel. Straight to the Barrons’ apartment she went, and, not entirely to her surprise, found Madeline, with her taco down on the bed, sobbing. CHAPTER XXXVI. 4 ‘Dearest,” and Angel Fair smoothed the short, ruffled locks, “don’t mind that horrid woman. 1 don't wonder she gets on your nerves. Forget her; she isn’t worth worrying about." “I know it,” Madeline Barron said, raising her head a little. “I know it —b-b-but oh, Angel, I wish she’d go away from here—or else that w-w-we could." “She won’t go—you couldn’t expect that. But we can all go. Ned will say yes to that in a minute if you ask him." “I know it—bless his dear old darling heart. But he loves it here. Oh, Angel, I am so miserable.” “Why, Maddy, dear," and the girl was truly puzzled, “what is it? You can’t be so deeply alTected by that man’s death—a stranger to you—” “I know. No, it isn’t that —oh, never mind, Angel. Don’t let’s discuss it. Just help me pull myself together and get into shape.” Glad at this opportunity to help, Angel brushed her friend’s hair and brought her makeup box and a fresh handkerchief and soon a transformation had been wrought that resulted in a very lovely and serene Mrs Ned Barron who went downstairs again ready for her luncheon. Dan Pelton crossed the room and paused at the table where Carmelita and Mrs Barnaby sat with Roger Neville. “Golf to-day?” he inquired, for he had rather decidedly attached himself to the train of the beautiful Carmelita. “Yes, if you like,” she smiled at him, and then invited him to sit with them for luncheon. ‘I will, gladly,” he said, taking the fourth chair. “My adored aunt has gone ofT with friends, and I’m a waif and a stray.” Even as he seated himself he saw Madeline Barron enter the dining room and join her own group of friends. “Yes, she IS lovely,” said Carmelita, intercepting his glance, “but you’re not to concentrate on her. We’re here.” “Very much here,” insisted the Duchess, gaily. "It’s a strange thing, as soon as a man is in the company of two of the most beautiful women in the place, his attention immediately wanders to some other woman." “For an instant only,” and Pelton laughed as he devoted himself to his companions. It was not long before the talk drifted to the Folsom case. "But perhaps the subject bores or pains you, Duchess,” Dan said, as he and Neville began to discuss it. “No,” she returned, smiling faintly, “not if you don’t keep it up too long." “Just a minute. You see, Mr Neville, it’s this way. The police people and, well, some others are beginning to whisper the name of Croydon Sears in connection with the taking off of my uncle. Oh, I know that’s putting it rather baldly, but, like my rev - ered aunt, I usually call a spade a spade. Or, at least, some other folks are doing so. Now, Mr Riggs tells me that you assured him that so far as you know Sears had no dealings with my uncle, save one or two of the merest business transactions, that could by no possibility have had any reason to cause ill-feeling between the two men.” ‘You are putting the statement a trifle too strong, Mr Pelton, but I believe Mr Riggs and I did have a slight conversation on the subject of C.R.S.” “Didn’t you give the assurance I spoke of?” ‘Not assurance, no. How could I? There may have been all sorts of connections between those two men of which I knew nothing.” “Weren’t you Uncle Garry’s partner?” “In some of his business pursuits, yes. In others, no. Mr Folsom was a man of many lines of activity.” “So I am finding out.” Dan Pelton looked gravely serious. “And I’m asking you now, as man to man, if you did know of any—l will be plain —of any secret shared by my uncle and Mr Sears that might at any time in their lives have caused unfriendliness between them.” “It’s palpably evident,” Roger Neville said slowly, “that you have somehow learned that your late uncle did share secrets with some of his—clients —that might in certain circumstances cause unfriendliness—” “Or more.” “Or more. Such things are not entirely unknown in lawyers’ relationships, but it is often unwise to place too much stress on them. lam quite sure Mr Sears could have had no secret., shared by Mr Folsom, that would or possibly could have brought about the tragedy that took place.” "You can’t be sure of that, Roger,” Carmelita Valdon exclaimed. “No one can say for sure who did or didn’t or could or couldn’t be implicated in that affair.” “Of course not,” said the Duchess vaguely, for she had a sudden feeling that she was being left out of the conversation. “Why, for all these men know, you or I might have killed the man, Carmy.” “Don’t talk rot!” Carmelita cried,

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k with a reproving glare at her friend, is “’Tisn’t rot,” the Duchess returned ir placidly. “At least it may be for me, is for I’m sure I couldn’t let go of the rope even with one hand to make that •_ stab. But you could, Carmy, you’re n so brave in the water.” 5 t Carmelita gave the speaker a sudden glance of withering anger, and then as suddenly broke into a smile, g “You’re too absurd, Helen!” she !- said. “I am brave enough for anything, but I couldn’t stab a man in the ocean 't without being seen by those near me • —if they were all as lynx-eyed as you, l r dear. You can swear I didn’t do it, can’t you?” u “Oh, Lord, honey, I didn’t mean you p di lit, I only meant —” cv “You haven't the faintest idea what , r you meant," and Dan Pelton laughed h at the bewildered look on the Duch- ” ess’ round pink face. “Well, all I’m )t asking of you, Neville, is whether you Y' can suggest a motive for Croydon Sears or whether you can’t?” ,e “I can’t," said Roger Neville shortly, but his harassed eyes seemed to beit lie the frankness of his assertion. “I suppose you know it’s your dufj !0 to tell anything you can." “Yes, but it’s not my duty to surmise or imagine. I do know that Fol(j som had certain dealings or business rj with Sears that neither side wanted ;r to make public, and thats’ all I can say . • about it.” "You’ll say more if the authorities j ask you.” it “They haven’t asked yet,” said Rog--0 er Neville. e Lacking the initiative that had led Tite Riggs to investigate for himself .* Scars’ possibilities or probabilities ot il Sears’ connection with the Folsom k case, Dan Pelton put the matter from his mind and devoted his afternoon to golf. , He was not on the deck when a tall, dark-eyed man appeared there and imq mediately made himself at home in a u certain pleasant corner, which Robin Sears had held against other wouldbe occupants for this very purpose, j Secluded corners of the deck of ihe Hotel Majusaca were greatly liked by individuals or small groups who wished to be alone, and when at last Groy- } on Sears and his guest arrived, Robin Sears was relieved, for he had been the target for envious glances from those who considered him selfishly mdined. r j He had met Stone before, though not n recently, and he looked with interest at the grave-faced, quietly moving man j whose eyes, however, darted about 4 everywhere and took in everything. _ CHAPTER XXXVII. With Croydon Sears and Fleming B Stone came also Tite Riggs, who was f deeply impressed with Stone’s charm, having expected a much more prosaic l and business-like personage. ! For Fleming Stone was, one who, to

■ a marked degree, took colour from his surroundings. And now, at sight of the sea and the intervening boardwalk with its blare of colour and sound, as well as the gay bustle of the immediate crowd on the hotel deck, Stone’s rather careworn air dropped from him, and he smiled with the delight of a child at spectacle. “Never been here before,” he explained, taking it all in rapidly, as he seated himself. “I‘ve been to the • New England coast resorts and the id southern and western ones. But never before chanced on New Jersey’s Ie shores. Most attractive, too. Well, I suppose that's the spot where the ?c body was found,” and he swept his arm vaguely towards the wide expanss of sea. id “That’s .about it,” agreed Croydon • Sears. “But I say, old man, if you’d rather take a holiday to-day and not S’ even consider the case until to-mor-lD row, just say so.” 1C “Oh, no, I’d rather hear the details l j‘ right off. Then we can have a sea food dinner, and then we can have a bout at the bright lights or whatever )U they offer by way of evening entertainment. Then we can come back at here and settle down to the real work in hand.” Stone’s pleasant smile rested on m Robin, and all at once the boy felt con,u fldence and surety that there was no further trouble in store for his father with a man like that at the helm. So with a light heart he went off 3 ' in search of his Angel, and the three , men settled down to consideration of their case. ‘Don’t think I’m mind-wandering if J" I gaze about,” Stone said, smiling. “I love to absorb these sights and sounds, and instead of distracting my attention : they help to concentrate it." iy “You know, of course, the main details of the Folsom murder?” said 38 Sears. “Yes. All that was in the papers, 5 " and all that I could piece out myself from the newspaper reports. That’s ( all. What else can you tell me?" “I,” Sears said, “will tell you my 3 own personal and individual connection 1,1 with the matter, and then Riggs will ™ fell you what he knows or thirds about other people.” U “You have a personal and individ- ’ ual connection with it, then?" Stone l- i . asked. "Yes, or I shouldn’t have called you j down here in such haste. I’ve no desire to be arrested, and it’s a thing that may easily com about. Unless ‘ v we head off the energetic and truthseeking policemen." “They are after you?” “Very much after me. You see, 11 Fleming, I lied." “Did it pay?" “It begins to look as if it didn’t, but that’s for you to pass opinion on. You )t see, the inquiry naturally hinges largely on the question of the weapon.” n “They know about that, don’t they?” it “Yes; that is, they assume, and doubtless truly, that the pichaq found in the ocean is the one that killed Folg som. Now, they know also that I s bought two daggers that night in the l, same place that the deadly weapon c was, presumably, bought. They know that I have those two daggers here in o my possession, and they have no fur-

ther interest in them. But they hav< a deep interest in the man who bough i what is called a bundle at the saim ; shop later the same evening.” ; “They don’t know who he was?” I "No; and of late they have come t< - the conclusion that It was I." i “It wasn’t?” t “No, it wasn’t, I mean the murderer wasn’t. But I did return to tha - shop later that evening, and I did bu; ? a bundle that contained two odd, in ? significant daggers. And, when the; ) asked me at the inquest if I had re t turned to the shop that night, I sail j no.” , “H’m.” Fleming Stone looked a j his friend with a glance of affectioi 5 and trust. Not for a moment did h 3 question the good faith of Sears to ward himself, whatever he might hav l done on the witness stand. I “I did it,” Sears went on, “becaus t if I had said I went back there, the; - would have at once assumed that i was one of my daggers that killed Fol » som, and it wasn’t.” i “And to have the matter brough i into question would have wrough r harm to someone else,” Stone said - understanding^. c “Exactly. A harm and a somcou i else that I couldn’t allow.” “No. Well, it got you into l snarl?” “It has begun to look that waj ) Here’s the truth. You listen in, Riggs r Garrett Folsom had a pleasant litl way of making capital out of othe f people’s secrets.” 5 “It has been done, I’ve heard,” re f marked Stone. “Yes. Well, he didn’t make a bi f business of this; he only used a fe\ I choice secrets belonging to a fe\ , choice friends, or enemies, of his. An< i I was honoured with a place amom these. The secret of mine that h - knew had to do with my family tree 1 It is not of a disgraceful nature, bu it is unfortunate. It is a blot on th , Sears name which, if left alone, wii f never be brought into the limelight am 3 can harm no one. If exposed am misunderstood, as it would be, it woul { mean a shadow, not deep, because o i its very vagueness, but a hint of black 1 ness that would mar the future of m 3 boy—that would perhaps stand in th way of the happiness of my son, Robin - I am willing to be more explicit. I an i willing to tell you the whole story, bu not at this moment.” i “Nor'ever," said Fleming Stone ) while Riggs nodded in assent. “G ; on, Croy. You felt that if you wer i questioned, at all this thing would com - out?” “Yes, just that. I knew I was in nocent of Folsom’s death, but thos , hounds of the law would think, am with reason, that as I had bought mor daggers that night, I must of neces t sity be the one who had made the fata i stab. So I denied having returns • and let my case rest on the daggers had bought while with Meeker, wfr » could vouch for the truth of m I story.” [ ‘Why didn’t they know you whei you went back and bought the las r lot?” 3 “I don’t know. I chanced to bu; i them from a man I didn't know, bu : the other clerks stood about. It’s i big shop. But the point is that some body else did go there about the sarm

re time I did and did buy the bundle tha* it held the dagger that killed Garrett ie Folsom. That’s the man we're to find.” ’ “That’s the man we’re to find,” said to Fleming Stone. The programme Stone had suggested was carried out, and, as a result, it - was late in the evening before the conat fcrence took place, iy In the meantime the detective had 2- observed the principals of the case, as 3y pointed out to him by Sears at din- -- ner time, and also had gathered sideid lights from the remarks and comments of the rest of their immediate party, at The Barrons liked Stone at once, >n for no one could do otherwise. ie Fleming Stone was of a type that a- could command interest if he chose, or ve if it better suited his purpose, he could make himself so inconspicuous, se so insignificant, that he attracted no jy attention whatever, it On this occasion he was charming, 1- a man of the world, a good talker, a polite guest, and both receptive and lit responsive to the moods of the others ht Madeline Barron, at first embarrasd, sed at thought of meeting the celebrated detective, soon found herself at je ease in his presence and meeting his chaff with a gaiety of her own. a Angel, too, was fascinated by the newcomer, and Robin declared she had y. forgotten his very existence in her at;s. tention to this new rival. ,le Ned Barron, In his big, hearty way, er smiled genially on them all. But Barron' took little part in the light e- banter. CHAPTER XXXVIII. ig Ned Barron was a simple-minded, vv single-hearted man, whose only interw est, outside his business life, was his id ] devotion to his wife and child. Sevlg eral years older than Madeline, he ie worshipped her as one might adore an e. idol, and if she sometimes sacrificed ut her wishes or preferences to his, it ie was not with his knowledge or consent, id In the present instance, though she \d would have gladly gone away from the id scene of this tragedy that had so disld turbed her peace of mind, she knew of of his liking for the place and took care k- not to let him know she would rather iy be elsewhere. ie Fleming Stone, his dark eyes alight n. with enjoyment of the whole scene, m missed no point or detail of the conut versation, and realised that, though the matter of Garrett Folsom’s death e, was not entirely taboo, yet It was not 5o openly discussed. re This might have been merely bele cause it was no fit subject for table talk, but to Stone that did not seem i- the truth. He sensed a deeper rease son, a subtler cause for the avoidance id of the matter, or for a quick, decided re change of subject if it chanced to be s- touched upon. al This impressed him, and he set to 3d work to find out who were the ones I of them.” 10 He came now to the Barrons’ table iy and was welcomed there. “I bring a message,” he said, as he iD accepted a cup of coffee, “from Miss Folsom. She has learned who our visitor is, and she demands an interview at the earliest possible moment.” “Demands ” and Stone raised his eyebrows a trifle.