“WHO PAID THE DEBT”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7242, 23 August 1933, Page 9

“WHO PAID THE DEBT”

(By Mary Bradford Whiting)

Instalment 21.

CHAPTER XXlX.—(Continued.) I was still, feeling very heavy and queer, but when I had had another long sleep I woke up clearer and ate some lunch the maid brought me, and then I heard voices and footsteps down below, and I got up and dressed, and when that' crash came I rushed downstairs.” Mr North was listening intently. “It seems to me that the Idea was that Bennett should escape and leave you to face the music,” he said; “he must have got wind of the fact that Mrs Wilkins had been found and was afraid that she would turn against him.” “A fear that was Justified, as we saw by her attaok on him,” said Mrs North. “Then do you think that Bennett was the murderer?" said Daryl. There was a hopeful tone In his voice—he had been so convinced that the Professor was responsible for the crime that he had not even dared to let himself think of the relief that it would be to find that Enid was spared that cruel sorrow. “Well, it looks like it," said Mr North. “Further than that I won’t go at present.” “And I am going to send you away now," put in Mrs North. “We must all get some rest, for tc -morrow is going to be a trying day.” • CHAPTER XXXI. Mrs North’s father had been a judge, and a deep respect for law and justice had been implanted in her from her childhood, but many times In the week that followed she asked herself whether the law was always to be relied on, whether justice did not sometimes go astray.. ■Her interest in Enid was as great by this time as her interest In Daryl, and she longed with all her heart to see them released from their troubles so that they might be happy together. Enid was as innocent as the day—she was convinced of that—but what if her innocence could not be proved? What If the circumstantial evidence should be so piled up against her that she was committed for trial—was condemned —Imprisoned for life —or sentenced, horrible thought, to a shameful death? She hoped that such a foarful thought never crossed Enid’s mind; she felt only too certain that Daryl was never free of it for a moment. For there was one weak spot in the defence that nothing could remedy, and that was that though the doctor’s evidence of the approximate time that death had taken plaoe might seem to clear her completely, no one had seen them go to the opera; Daryl’s friends had seen them as they came out, and the taxi driver had sworn to the time that they reached the house; but what if the murder had been committed first? Even If Daryl knew nothing of it. Enid might have gone to meet him there as a blind. That they had given a true account of ■ their movements, she was - sure, but It was a witness to prove It that was needed, and that witness was not forthcoming, while the fact that her own father believed her to be guilty would go terribly against her. The crowd was even greater. If that were possible, when the week was up,'but this time the proceedings were far shorter, for the Inspector needed more time to complete his -case, and . another remand was made. Legal aid - was necessary now and a friend of Mr North's undertook- to watch over Enid’s interests, while Bennett’s professional adviser —Rufus Hast by name—was busy on hl-s behalf. The case was well known by this time In all Its details, yet it had lost none of Us interest; not only was it the beautiful heroine of the drama who was i-» Jeopardy, but the case was so complicated a one that It was possible that at any moment another of the trio might be forced to change places with her. That Bennett would escape altogether, no one believed, for though he might talk of his impersonation as a Joke there could be no doubt that some nefarious motive lay at the bottom of it. As for Mrs Wilkins, she was not beautiful like Enid, nor clever and impudent like Bennett, so that nobody took much heed of her. One great disappointment was In store for the spectators. Now that the storv of the .prison-house in Hayland’s Wood had become known, the papers had been full of pictures of it, and there was a general curiosity to see the domented gaoler who had kept the keys, but Dr. Walters declared that though there were some signs of returning consciousness, It was absolutely .Impossible for the professor to be brought into Court, and the public felt defrauded, all the more so since Wilkins . was missing also. There was, moreover, a third witness who could not be procured, and that was Enget of the Domestic Stores; the head assistant met all Inquiries with, the stolid answer that he was gone abroad to buy new stock, and that there was no knowing when he would be back, or what his present address was. (Nor could the Inspector put his finger on the Informant who had sent Bennett word that Enid was at the farm; but it was useless to wait for unobtainable witnesses; the best must be made of those who were to hand. It wa3 difficult to get much out of Bennett, so adroit was ho, so prepared at every point; he replied instantly to every question, but In such a way that he gave no information, and when he was required to put on tiis cap and curls he. stood facing the Magistrate with such a oomio expression that the Court rocked with laughter until the Magistrate sternly threatened to dear It. But Mrs Wilkins was in a very different mood, and Rufus Hast ground his teeth under cover of his thick moustache as he listened to her. “When did your husband go to Torquay?” That was one of the first questions put to her, and the answer came as a surprise. "My husband went on Friday, and I went by the half-past ten train on Monday evening.” . ..... “But the man from the newspaper shop said that'he saw you both, on the platform at Paddington on the Friday?", . . , "Yes; I went to see my husband ° ff “Why did you not go with him?” “Because Mr Bennet wanted me to do something for him.”

f An uneasy look stole Into Bennett s 1 eyes; could* It be that tills woman, whom he had regarded as no more . than a convenient tool, meant to go back on him? . "Was It something to do with Stefan Wrangel?” . , , , i A long pause, during which a i breathless stillness prevailed In Court, I and at last a single word that fell Into ! the silence like a stone dropping into a well, i “Yes.” ! if Bennett could have got at her then he would have killed her, but with stalwart policemen on guard at every point he was powerless to move, I or even to speak. “Why did you not refuse?” A bitter smile twisted her lip for a moment. "It was no use refusing; he always 1 got his way. Besides, I didn’t- know . then that it had anything to do with Wrangel; he told me that it was just for a joke." "What was it that you did?’ Again a silence, and again every eye was fixed on her, every ear ! strained to catch her answer. "I took him one. of Miss Denniston’s handkerchiefs.” "Did he tell you afterwards what ho wanted it for?” “Yes; to write something 0n.1t.” The look that Daryl gave Mrs North at that moment was one of utter and Intense relief; but Mrs North was conscious of a lingering doubt, an uneasy sense that the evij dence of this witness would be con- ! sldered too Inconsequent for acceptance. “Now tell us what happened on the Monday evening. You say that you were in London?” “Yes. with a friend In Hoxton. Mr Bennett told me to take my ticket for Torquay, and to meet him at Har- • low Gardens at a quarter to eight In the evening; he knew tho Professor ! would be out, because he always went for his walk after dinner, so as not to lose any time for study while it was light, and that Miss Denniston was going to the opera with Mr Stanford." "Was Mr Bennett at the house when you got there?" "Yes, he was waiting outside. I had the key of the area door and we went In and locked it after us. And then he told mo that someone was coming who was to be taken to task , for treachery." “Did he mention Wrangel’s name?” ' “Yes, ha said that Miss Deniston had thrown him over for Mr Stanford and that, he was longing for revenge sand had been got to the house on pretence of seeing 'her. There was a knock at the front door while we were talking, and I thought he had come, but it was Enget and another man with him.” “What—Enget from the Domestic Stores?” j “Yes, he belonged to what Mr Bennett called the Club. I never knew ! much about it, but the Professor was i a member and so were some of the people who .used to come from abroad.” "And were these two men there when Wrangel came?" “Y'es, but he did not see them at first. Mr Bennett told me to answer the door when he rang and I showed him into the dining-room, and when he saw .them he gave a sort of .stifled cry and turned and .came out again and they followed him into-the hall. ‘You told me I should see Miss Deniston/ he said, and Mr Bennet laughed and held up the handkerohief in front of him and said, ‘This Is the message she sends youl’ He snapped his teeth and snarled at them just like a wolf, but they didn’t care for that and they I pushed him along the hall into the ! conservatory, and while they were taunting him and telling him what they meant to do with him he struok Mr Bennet, and there was a fight." “And who took the knife to him?” "I don’t know; I was in the hall, too frightened to go in; but they were scared when they saw that he was dead and wanted to get away before the Professor came back. Mr Ben- | nett' had had a way made into the next house after it was left empty, and we got the panel opon and Enget and the other man made off, but Mr Bennett sent me for a bag because ho wanted to take some papers that the Professor had, and wo emptied the drawers in -the study so that he oould pick out what he wanted afterwards. We heard tho latchkey in the door while we were doing it, and he told me to go quickly, and before he could ! follow me thp Professor was in the hall and I heard him say—“ Why, Bennett, what are you doing here?" "And what did Bennett reply?” "I don't know; I got away through the panel as quick as I could and went straight off to Paddington. But Enget told me afterwards that when he saw he was caught lie told the Professor that an awful thing had happened and his daughter had done it.” “But you said just now that Enget had left the house?” “Yes, but Mr Bennett told him and he told me when ho was down at Torquay on business.” “And what did the Professor say?” “lie said that that couldn’t be, because his dauhlcr was at the Opera, and Mr Bennett said that she had come back on some excuse, knowing that Wrangel would be at the house and that they had had a quarrel and she had -taken a knife to him and gone ■back to the opera so that no one should know.” “And the Professor believed that?’ “Oh, yes, and ho was all In a fever to get her away before It was found out.” Bennett’s rage seemed to have evaporated by this time; he stood with folded arms and a smile on his face, a smile of mingled amusement and oontempt; but at this point he threw a quick glance at. Rufus Hast—a glance that was responded to with instant comprehension. “I desire to protest on behalf of my client," exclaimed Hast in tones of virtuous Indignation,' “tho story that we have Just heard Is a-farrago of lies from beginning, to end, and since It is entirely unsupported' by any proof I domand -that my client be heard in his own defence. He is here'merely on suspicion,- and it Is -therefore ;; only right that he should be allowed to l state that-he is-perfectly--inno'eent--of the charges brought aginst him.” (To be Continued.)