Under Suspicion

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7409, 17 December 1930, Page 7

Under Suspicion

SYNOPSIS Joyce Carnio acts as housekeeper companion to Wilbur Atherton, an eccentric old man who lives at Merlin Court. Joyce is in love with Nioholas Paine, a vouns man from London. John Marston, head man on Lyttleton's Farm, who Joyce has known since ohlldhood, has become intrigued by Olga Brinning, an adventurers. The Rev. C.edrio Dexter, aoting for the rector during the latter’s absence on three months’ sick leave, has somehow or other ingratiated himself with Atherton, the reoluse, arjd is now almost a regular caller at Merlin Court. Joyce arrives homo, one day from a walk to find Wilbur Atherton has had a heart attack and died. The dead man’s will cannot be found, hut it is common gossip that Joyce is a beneficiary to a considerable extent. An anonymous letter is received ny sootland Yard suggesting that Atherton’s death has not been a natural one. Inspector Curtis Burke is sent flown to take charge of investigations.

CHAPTER XL —(Continued.) “I’m afraid I can’t argue with you, Mr Burke,” sighed the doctor; “but [ do sincerely want to help you if I can. I have already told you how the whole thing is affecting me. I must have it cleared up, even if it does oast i slur upon my professional reputation. Y’ou know, Mr Burke, I shall aever feel comfortable in issuing a death certificate again. I think the best thing I can do is to go out of business. In any event the public will have lost faith in me.’’ Burke crossed to where the doctor was sitting and placed one hand on his shoulder. “You mustn’t take it like that,” he said kindly. “Perhaps when everything is cleared up it will be found that you were right after all.” “But how can that be?” protested Dr. Lawton with a gesture of ness.“Don’t ask me,” said Burke. “But in a game like this—you never con toll. That’s one of the things that makes it so damnably attractive to inyone with sufficient imagination and patience.” Burke folded the dooument referring to John Mansion's paternity and wandered carelessly around the room. There was no sign of a safe. The remainder of fhe papers in the despatch box which the doctor hod discovered were of little value. He was turning them over, however, when a small slip of paper caught his eye- It was scarcely more than three inches wide and about six inches long. Upon. 11 were Inscribed a number of figures, which read— April 7—Nos. 13657/D—67. May Ist—Nos. 27856/cj—looo. Burke was perplexed. On these two dates something had happened which had caused Wilbur Atherton to make a note of it on this slip of paper. What had transpired, however, must remain little more than conjecture. Then an idea ocourred to him, and he spun round swiftly to where the doctor svas still gazing out of tho bay window with a dreamy look in his eyes. “Pardon me, doctor, but whenever rou rendered your account to Wilbur. ktkerton how were you paid. Was it >y cheque?” “No; by notes,” answered the doctor readily- “But now you come to mention that I must tell you that Wilbur Atherton had a ourious mtipathy to banks. I understood from what ho once told mo that he kdpt the bulk of his fortune to the house to ready cash. In foot, he used openly to boast about it, and how I know that same about to rather a peouliar way. “About six months ago I waß down in London attending a medloal conference, and, I don't know how It happened, but while I was chatting with soma friends to the lounge of my hotel Atherton's name cropped up. and ona of them sold: ‘lsn’t that the extraordinary fellow who keeps thousands of pounds looked up at home la Bank of England cotes?’ Of •course, I wasn't aware of anything of the kind, hut It seemed to be common knowledge among certain people in London, where at one time ho was well known is business olrcles.”

“Thanks, dootor.” mused Burke; “but don’t you think. It somewhat strange that none of that money seems to have ooma to light during our searoh of the house?” “That’s what I was thinking myself, but then It might be locked away somewhere together with the ■will.” “I hadn’t forgotten that,” Burke replied, glancing at his watch. “Well, there’s only one other room I should like to investigate to-day, I’Ve got to j get along to Carston before to-night.” “Which room do you suggest ?’ “Miss Joyce Carole's, ’* replied Burke tonelessly. Burke, who had a plan of the house, which he had obtained before he had given his orders for it to be closed up, spread it out on the table in front of him. “Here we are,” he exclaimed, pointing to a pencil mark. “Third floor front. That will be on the next landing, and not quite over this one. Would you care to come along with me, doctor; or must you be going?” “If I can be of any assistance," suggested the medical man. “That, of oourse, remains to be seen," said Burko cryptically as they left the room, the deteotlve taking the precaution of looking the door behind them. The room which Joyce Carole had occupied during. her Btay at Merlin Court was not over large, but it was tastefully furnished, and its window overlooked much of the same portion of the park as did the window in Wilbur Atherton's bedroom. The two men paused just inside the doorway and surveyed the room with keen eyes the medical man, however, not knowing quite what it was the detective hoped to find there. Joyce had left the room wonderfully tidy. There was nothing out of place. The bed had been made and a white counterpane was drawn completely j over it. Everything was spick and j span, but none, apparently, of the ■ girl’s personal belongings had been

(By Ralph Trevor.)

Instalment 11.

left behind. Burke stood silent, immersed in thought. Then he worked unconcernedly over to where the dressing-tablo stood. Its appointments were laid out carefully on the polished walnut top, each separated from the surface by ombroidered mats of varying dimensions. Carefully he withdrew the drawers, one at a time. As he had half anticipated, they were empty. He was about to turn away when something arrested his attention. At the back of the dressing l-able, just beneath the central mirror, was a small shelf, with a raised fretted edge protecting the front of it and making it servo the purpose of a lidless box. He put out bis hand and picked up from it the object which had aroused his interest.

It was a small ebony box about the size of half-a-erown, with the letter “J” inset, in imitation mother-of-pearl on the lid. Evidently the girl had overlooked her powder-box. Probably she had been in a hurry when she had gathered together her belongings. Burke decided that he would return it to her. His hand was halfway to his pocket when a curious sensation overcame him. It whs as if something were dragging at his arm to prevent his carrying out his purpose of dropping the little box. into bis pocket. So Curtis Burke did not do as lie had originally intended. On the reverse 3irie of the hinged lid was a tiny circular mirror. In the box itself was a small powder-puff, and beneath that about as much white powder as would conveniently cover a sixpence. Dr. Lawton, not wishing to Intrude upon the detective's cogitations, had drawn a little closer when he saw Burke pick up the little box. “Have you found anything?” he inquired. Burke did not answer him immediately. His mouth was set in a grim line. Then he smiled.

“I suppose I am being unnecessarily cautious, doctor,” he said; “but I can’t get out of my head Hie fact that Atherton was poisoned by arsenic. I suppose arsenic and face powder are not utterly dissimilar?” “White arsenic Is generally obtainable in powdered form,” replied the puzzled doctor. “But you don’t suggest that ” *Tm not suggesting anything,” retorted the detective, still staring down at the box in his hand. “Can you teil the difference between face powder and arsenic?” “Certainly responded the medical man as Burke held out the little box towards him. Burke watched the doctor carefully; saw him hold the box beneath liia nose. Next he took out his pocket-knife, and transferred by means of the tip of it a minute portion of the powder into the palm of his capable-looking hand. Then Burke saw him apply tho tip of his tongue to the fragment and pause for a moment, while the detective watched hie face shrewdly. Dr. Lawton had never, to his knowledge, tasted face plcrwder before, but lie was quite familiar with arsenic, and the acrid sensation which was soon forthcoming on ids tongue told him beyond doubt that this was arsenicum album. He strove hard, however, to cloak his knowledge in his eyes. He realised the damning significance to the elementary test he had Just made. The powder-box belonged to Joyoe Carnie. He had never believed her guilty for one minute, and yet ... he knew he dare not conceal the truth from Burke, who had only to take it to the nearest chemist to have his suspicions confirmed; and Burke was suspicious, thoro could be no doubt about that. “Well?” asked Burke slowly. “What is It?” Tho reply formed itself ou the medical man’s dry lips. “Arsenic I” he said, almost in a whisper.

CHAPTER XIL Tlio Slow Fails. When Joyce CamJo fully understood the purport of 'Nichaloa Raine’s warning she began to experience a sensation first of acute nervousness and afterwards of a soul-numbing; attitude of acute fatalism. Nicholas Raine had been wonderfully kind to her. He had promised to help her ail ho could, and Joyce felt secure in Hie knowledge that he meant exactly what he had said. She had not seen John Marston for nearly a week, though reports had come to her that he had been seen frequently in the company of Olga Brinning. Mrs Carole was quietly indignant, but she was not the type of woman who ever interfered in affairs of the heart even when they concerned her only child. She had accepted the position’stoically and because she saw that Joyce did not appear unduly grieved by this sudden change in the affections of a young man who had oome to be regarded as her future son-in-law, she did not permit the matter to trouble her unduly. What sho was concerned about was Joyce’s position in regard to the police investigation she know to he proceeding, but even in this she felt secure. She know that Joyce could account for everything she had done at Merlin Court with a clean conscience and she knew, too. that innocent people are seldom pilloried in a British Court of Law.

Though Nioholas 'Raine had endeavoured to put as light a face upon the matter as he possibly could, he could not quite conceal from the girl some little trace of the real anxiety he occasionally felt. He knew that she trusted him and that thought comforted him as he knew It must comfort her. Joyce had, as Raine had warned her, received a visit from the detective and she had found him scrupulously polite. He had asked her a great many questions all of which she had answered quickly and with firmness. It was true that Wilbur Atherton had preferred her to prepare all his meals for him. It was equally true that though he partook of the same food as was supplied to the rest of the establishment, it was she who prepared his portions and invariably served him with them. On the night of his death she had taken him his dinner but had left Merlin Court almost immediately aflerwai’ds. (To be continued.) ~