The Third Man.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2801, 16 November 1931, Page 3

The Third Man.

By

C. K. THOMPSON.

(Copyright.)

CHAPTER X.—Continued. “We became pretty good friends and I used to take her around a lot. This friendship continued up till about three years ago, when I gave up racing.

"Now, in the meantime, the old Judge had also been paying his respects to her. In fact, he had been doing so for some years, unsuspected by me. My intentions towards the genial Mary were perfectly honourable, and my regard for her was very deep. It did occasion rnc some surprise when she moved from North Sydney into that flat. I had been keeping her pretty well supplied with cash, but not quite enough to run into a flat like that. I found-out later who supplied the cash for It I “Harry Brierley appeared on the scene in the middle of my racing career. She introduced us. It appears that Harry had been trying to grow' apples in Tasmania, but had made a hash of it, as he makes a hash of everything, so he came north to sponge on his sister. 1 got him a good job, but he threw that in, and in the end he gravitated to Redfern, where he maintained some sort of an existence on money supplied by his sister. “At the same time as I decided to give up racing my father died and I hurried to Queensland to attend to his interests. My stay was far longer than I had anticipated and it was not until twelve months had passed that I returned to Sydney. In that interim the secret Intimacy between your late brother and Mary Brierley had grown from a bud into a full-sized bloom. "There was no beating about the bush with Mary when I returned. She told me that she didn't want me any more, but, like a fool, I hung on That brings us up within about a week of the events which nearly made a murderer out of me.

“One night I visited the flat unexpectedly and you may imagine my consternation when I discovered her nursing a child—a bonny little boy of two. She made a lot of explanations and excuses about II and partially convinced me that it was the property of a relation, and I left some hours later. “On the following night Harry turned up al my place, half drunk and carrying a murderous-looking meatchopper which I understand Is a Ghurka kukri. He accused me pointblank of being the father of that brat, and only that he was drunk and unsteady on his pins, he might have done some damage. “Anyhow, I succeeded in disarming him and I locked him in a back room to sober up. Next morning 1 got the whole story out of htrn and had no trouble In convincing him (with the help of three ten-pound notes) that I was not the responsible party Hammersmith said to the inpcctor, after some confusion, “I vrant your permission to call on your niece.” The Inspector' smiled. “Why ask rnc that?” he said. “Yes: but I want you to come with me to sec her,” said Hammersmith, colouring. "Why?" "Oh —er -well . . stammered the other. “Come along, then," said the Inspector, briskly. “Anyhow, I wanted to have another look over that house." “Is she still living there?" asked Hammersmith, in some surprise. “I thought she would have been sick of the plaao and Ils grim associations." "You never know women," said the Inspector, tritely. Ayesha greeted them gravely on their arrival and was Inclined to rebuff Hammersmith. However, her unde motioned him away and had a quiet conversation with the girl, a conversation which lasted ten minutes. Then he signalled Hammersmith to go to her. He watched the pair enter the sit-ting-room and then he made his way to the scone of the murder. His first glance was at the huge old clock and he noted that It had slopped. He smiled slightly as .he suddenly remembered that it was now his property, willed to him by his dead brother. Going to the desk he found the key of the clock, opened the small door and, with another key which ho found Inside, wound it up. He set the old affair by his wrist-watch, set it going, ‘ relockcd it, returned the key to the desk and then, pulling a chair to within a few yards of it, he sat down and stared at It. “Dammit, old thing, I wish you could talk," he said aloud, addressing the clock. "What a lot of trouble you could save us." After that, he gave himself up to deep thought. Over and over again ** in his mind ho turned the facts of the case, but a solution of the mystery eluded him. Every possible avenue of information had been followed up without result. No one had seen Harry Brierley and his mysterious companion enter the house, nor had anyone seen that third party leave it. Gould it have been anyone in the house? Suddenly he struck his knee

with a mighty smack. How on earth had he forgotten that! He arose and went to the door and sent a mighty shout echoing down the passage. Presently the maid appeared and he told her to send Jim, the chaffeur, to him at once. When the man arrived, Basslngton sat him down on a chair and began to question him. “Jim," he commenced. “Didn't you identify the body of Harry Brierley nt the morgue?" "I did, Inspector." “How long had you known him ?" “Well, sir, I might say for years. I was at the front witli him in the same battalion." “Where?" "We were both at (he landing and afterwards In France." “On Gallipoli, eh? Tell me this, weren't there a lot of Indian troops on the peninsula, Indian mountain batteries and what-not?" “There were, Mr. Basslngton.” “Ahl So that explains where Brierley got his kukri from I" Jim nodded. “Yes, sir, and a devil of a Job he had getting It away, too. He pinched it off a dead Ghurka, or one of them Indians, whatever they are called." "It doesn't matter much how he got It away, but the use to which he put it. Now, tell me, did Harry Brierley ever visit you here?" Jim looked confused, but answered straightforwardly. “Yes, sir, he did visit me once or twice." “So, by those means, he knew the lie of the land. Well, that Is one question solved and easier than 1 thought It would be. You can go, Jim." Jim was glad enough to get away. "Funny that he wasn't questioned on that point before." mused the Inspector, and then another thought struck him and he cursed himself for hls forgetfulness. Once again Jim was summoned to hls presence. “Answer me this question straight. Jim. Did you see Brierley on the night of the murder?" The man hesitated and then replied in the negative. Basslngton noted hls reluctance to answer alid put the question again. Once again the motordriver denied 11, this lime raising hls voice a little. “Now, look at me straight, my man," said Basslngton, grimly. "You did see Brierley that night, didn’t you?" “Well, sir, he was here for a few minutes." “Yes, and you let him Into the house, too, didn't you?" “No I didn’t, sir. I swear it. I know nothing about the murder, sir. Brierley came to see me about a matter early In the night and went away about eight o’clock." "Which way did he come, eh? The only visitor that night as far as we know was the clock-mender. If Brierley visited this house he must have flown here as a sparrow or something." “No, sir, he came In the gate just ordinary." “Now, don't tell lies, my man. 111 have you know that this house was under observation from dusk until midnight and no Brierley came In the gate ns you say. How did he got here?" Jim looked sulky.

••He climbed the back fence. If you want to know," he said, defiantly. “The Judge didn't like me having visitors and the maid used to spy on me, so Harry used to drop in over the fence and see me In the garage.” Basslngton was about to correct him again when ho called to mind the foot that he and Green, although hiding In the bushes and keeping a strict watch, had not begun patrolling until quite late, and that it would be possible for a man to enter the grounds on the other side of the house. "Green was right when he wanted to keep on the move. I ought to be kicked from here to Woolloomooloo," he said, under his breath. "Are you sure ho went away as early as you say?" he asked. "Of course he did." snorted Jim. "I don't like your tone, my man," said Bassington, in reproof. "I'm going to put It to you very strongly that he didn’t go away, but lingered about in your company, unobserved, and you let him into the house." "You ain't got no right to talk to me like that," began the man, In a shrill voice, but the Inspector Interrupted him. "I've got my suspicions of you. Hames, and now I'm going to do the thing In style. I’m going to ask you some questions which you are not obliged to answer, but I must warn you that anything you do say, may be taken down and used lattf I# donee." "What’s that? You ain’t gonna arrest me for anything are you?" said the man in terror. “That all depends on whether you can answer my questions to my satisfaction," retorted Basslngton, grimly. "Now, what-have you got to say?" "I’ll tell you all about it,” said the man, who by this time was shaking like a leaf. “Brierley came to me and

said that he wanted to see the Judge alone. I didn't know he had that knife with him, or I would never have consented to It. Well, wc stopped In my room until quite late, and then he said he wouldn’t see the Judge after all, but would go home. He told me that he could And hls way out all right, so I let him go." “You 10l him go out of your room on hls own without seeing where he went to?" asked Basslngton, Incredulously. “Where Is your room?" "Round near the kitchen. Ho only had to go out the door and ho was In the grounds. I thought he would go away nt once." "Instead of which," said the Inspector, drily, “ho hung around nnd waited until you left tho room and then camo back again Into your room and so Into the house. Gould ho have done that?" “I suppose he could have If ho wanted to," said tho man, sulkily. “There Is another door leads out of my room Into the kitchen and if anyone was In the kitchen they could walk into tho hall and all over the place If he wanted to." Basslngton rose from the chair. “I think you had better come to headquarters with me and tell that story to tho Commissioner," he said. "Seo here, you ain’t gonna make me the goat in this business," protested Jim. “I don’t know nothing about the murder. How was I to know that Brierley would hang around and come Into tho house again?" "Como on, James, wo'll got along to the station, and from now on you’d better behave yourself," said the Inspector, as he ushered tho frightened chaffeur to the door. In tho street he hailed a taxi and thty wore halfway to the police station before he remembered that he had left Hammersmith behind. He smiled to himself.

Hammersmith wouldn't mind, he was sure. As the result of a short conference It was decided to hold the ohaffour, the Commissioner being convinced that tho man knew more about tho matter than appeared on tho surface. Basslngton was not so sure. After some discussion DoteotiveScrgcant Green was sent to the Basslngton mansion with certain Instructions and the others awaited his return before they questioned the ohaffeur, Jim Broadway, further. “I'vo soon tho maid," ho reported, on his return about an hour later, “and she says quite definitely that Broadway and the Judge were on good terms; that is, Broadway appeared to have always respected hls boss, while the late Judge was never known to slate the chaffeur In any way." “Wc cannot afford to run any risks over this mysterious third man," said the Commissioner. "On the face of It, Broadway has had no reason to hate hls late employer, but we do not know what went on behind the scenes. He was rather chummy with Brierley, and hls story concerning Brierley’s visit is really too thin for words." “Well," put in Superintendent Perry, "according to the doctor, the one blow may have killed both men, but It would take a Samson to wield the weapon that did it. Broadway doesn’t look tho type of man capable of that strength." “It hasn't been definitely established that the one blow did the trick," said Basslngton, obstinately. “Brierley tnay have killed the old chap with one chop, and before he had a chance to do anything else, he got a chop on hls own account. But here is one thing that appears strange to me: That kukri's position on the floor. That third man, whoever he was, must have had the whole thing worked out be-

forehand. The crime took place inside a minute, yet there was no sign of another party and the weapon was lying In Brierley's hand. Its blade was in a pool of blood, so we really cannot say if it did do the job.” “I don’t think we are quite justified in holding Broadway," he went on, “and what I propose Is this. 1 am going to take up my residence in the house from tonight, and if Broadway is released I’ll undertake to keep an eye on him. If he is free from observation, ho might give the game away." After a great deal of argument, the inspector had his way and the man was released. It was quite late when Basslngton reached hls new home. Ayesha greeted him joyously. "I know wo are going to get along famously together, Uncle Bill, she sa d as she slipped her arm through hls and led him to the sitting-room. “Your friend gone?’ he said, maliciously The -girl blushed. “Mr. Hammersmith and I had quite a long talk together this afternoon," she said, the colour still In her cheeks, “and I know now how much we have all misjudged him. He’s not a bad man, really." . Basslngton wondered just how much Hammersmith had told the girl, and supposed that he had pitched some highly coloured tale which, while Improving, himself in the girl’s eyes, did not give away any information relating to the Judge. He was perfectly right, as events showed. “Anything fresh, dear? the girl asked later, as they sat down to dinne“No°thlng, except that the Inquest will take place at the end of t "Will I be called, Uncle Bill? I do

hope lhat I won’t be," she said, wearily. “I’ll manage that all right, little girl, never fear," he assured her. “It won’t be much of an inquest as we really have nothing to go on. In all probability it will be adjourned to allow us to make further investigations." After dinner they adjourned to the sitting-room, where Basslngton read the evening paper and the girl played quietly on the grand piano. It was, thought Basslngton, the quietest and most pleasant evening he had spent, and once an Involuntary sigh escaped him as he thought of what might have been. Love had never entered the life of this catcher of men, and it was too late now, he realised, with another sigh. Why, Ayesha might have been hls own daughter. As if sensing hls thoughts in some way, the girl came over to him and sat on the arm of his chair. “Do you love me, Uncle Bill?" she whispered, running her fingers through, his hair. He took her in his arms and kissed her white brow. “I do, my dear," he said with a smile, “and the only regret I have is that you are not my own daughter." “Well, it is not too late, Uncle. From now on I will be your daughter," she said, with a silvery laugh. “Done," he said, Instantly, and they shook hands in all solemnity.

To Ibe continued.)