VAN WYCK MASON'S The CASTLE ISLAND CASE With CANDID CAMERA CLUES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 June 1939, Page 7

VAN WYCK MASON'S The CASTLE ISLAND CASE With CANDID CAMERA CLUES

CHAPTER XXXVI. “Look carefully now and you'll see the \vhite patch is a stamp with an elephant on it. a stamp which we know was in Peter’s nursery because it appears in the same snap as the shuttlecocks. I gave it to him. “When you wanted to cook up a Wanga, you remembered the shuttlecock. went into the nursery and stepped on the stamp. It was lying on the floor, its gum side moist because of the sea breeze. You can see it here slipping off the page in Peter’s bedside picture. You never noticed that;" “Why—l—” “On the hillside from which you tried to kill me, you left a convenient clue in the shape of an African daisy.” Allenby offered yet another picture “See, here’s a snap of you all taken just before dinner the night after Patricia was killed. Who were wearing daisies?

! You and Barbara Grafton. The enlargement leaves no doubt. Lastly, you seem to have forgotten about the infra red picture taken of you stealing your own belt.” . s | "I—you—” Ward gathered himself and for a ! moment Allenby thought that the .32 would come in handy, but suddenly the suspect's face crumpled. "All right. I did it. I killed them both.” 1 "Why?” Tyson asked sharply. "But remember anything you say may be ■ used against you.” Ward however, seemed not to hear; he was cracking violently, as a strong | I nature does when it finally breaks after! 1 a terrific strain. "Damn you. Allenby! But for you ■ I’d have saved the Rio Loja deal after all. It could have been done if you'd i only signed yesterday. Grafton could ’ have fixed the new Minister of the

by HENRY CLAY GIPSON

I Interior. But instead, what happens?” j "I'll tell you what happened.” It was as if Allenby's voice had cut a knot. ! "Grafton funked; lost his courage. When he found his faked suicide note was gone he guessed Patricia took it. Is that right?” "Check!” Heavily. Ward flung himself into an armchair, glowering at the two men barring his way to the door. “I told the jittery fool he’d have to shut her up. A scandal now would have knocked the Rio Loja deal into a flat spin, but he snivelled and whined. Said he’d already pulled off one murder and had the horrors ever since.” In a toneless voice the promoter went on. “To me success has always meant everything. I’ve never been licked for long I did the only thing there was to doshut up Patricia Fortier, and that I did! Would have got away with it, too, but for you. my fine banking friend! "Thought the worst was over, but then Grafton confessed he was short 20,000 dollars of his share. The blasted rat! He said his wife had promised it to him. but backed out when she learned about Ulloa’s crowd getting kicked out. Shrewd Yankee, that girl! I knew she'd some negotiable securities on the island—enough to pull us through. Grafton had gone so yellow by that time I didn't say anything to him. All I knew was I going to have that money!” A metallic resonance entered Ward’s voice as he went on. “Night before lasi when we were swimming Barbara and I bumped into each other down the shore. In a flash I saw my answer. If this woman was out of the way. the deal would go through. "Funny how easy it was to strangle her. With the wind and the sea making up and an ebb tide running I figured the body would never be seen again. Of course, I didn't know about that I back eddy behind Treasure Head.” Ward i sank so deep in his chair he seemed deIflated, yet suggested a tiger momenitarily cowed by a trainer’s lash. | There came a tap at the door and , Constable Turner, appearing, snapped a | salute. "The Chief of Police has arrived, Mr Tyson. He’s asking for you.”

A bitter laugh burst from Ward’s lips. I “Where’s that picture of me taking the 1 belt? I’d like to see it.” You, sir?’ Turner cast the prisoner! a startled look. "But the picture wasn’t of you. It was Miss Fortier.” "What!” Exactly. There was no photo of you Ward.” Allenby could not deny himself this brief moment of triumph. “She had exploded the photo flash bulb before you got there.” “Why, you snooping old swine! You bluffed me!” In a livid fury Townley Ward hurled himself sidewise and then plunged on. A sharp jangle of shattering glass marked his leap through the window, but Ward did not rise, because Constable Lunt, posted outside, had brought his blackjack down with earnestness and dispatch upon the fugitive’s head. Tyson hurried over to help Allenby. "Are you—” he began, but broke off because from above had sounded a noise as of someone slamming a door. It was. however, such a loud, staccato slam that Allenby struggled up and raced for the staircase. “Here! Here! Quick!” Inspector Boyd’s frantic voice was calling and the acrid fumes of burnt ballistite stung the noses of the men who burst into the door of Grafton’s room. Yonder stood the C.I.D. man attempting to support Grafton's sagging body and trying vainly to staunch blood pumping in regular spurts from the wounded man’s side. “Took one gun away from him,”

panted the inspector. “Never guessed he’d another.” “Oh, Daddy! Quick, help him! Dad! Dad!” A low, terribly poignant wail burst from Gail as she darted past Allenby to fling herself on her knees beside her greenish complexioned father. "Somebody do something! Don't just stand there!” "No use, darling. Made a mess of things—but not of this Job,” wheezed the dying nian. “I’d have gone to prison. Bad enough as it is, but—but—” He rallied, looked about. "Too clever—us, Major, and maybe it’s better—” His eyelids sagged and he nodded two or three times to himself, ignoring Gail’s frantic, half-strangled cries. Then his eyes came to rest on the face of Stanley Gibbons, who, ever faithful, had followed Gail into her room. "Look out for her, Stan. You’re good stuff—deep down hoped you two’d make —go of it.” Stanley bent, firmly gathered the shuddering girl into his arms, when as calmly, as if he had long to live, Grafton turned to Allenby. "Sorry ’bout Judy—didn’t mean—kill —-I’ve willed her mother—hundred thousand out—life insurance.” Allenby bent low over the glistening features. How bloodless they were! "Listen! Can you hear me? Judy isn’t dead!” “Isn’t dead?” A look of ineffable joy lit Barnard Grafton’s face. “Then—isn’t so bad—poor Judy—” He struggled to form the words. "When we—in love —1 made her beneficiary for hundred thousand—never changed it.” There was silence as, very tenderly young Gibbons led Gail away front hexfather's body. THE END