THE TERROR BY NIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE TERROR BY NIGHT.

I [PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

BY. J. HiCLAREN COBBAN, Author of "The Iron Hand." "Pursued by ■ the Law," "The- Mystery of ' the v Golden Tooth," "The Last. Alive," 'Etc., . Etc. -,

[COPYRIGHT.] CHAPTER (Continued.) "Very well," said Maudslay, now moved to liveliness, "how shall w© begin that necessary preliminary Townshend raised his lip under his moustache in that peculiar flutter which vigis his smile, and said, "Well, I want to look at the scene of a case that promises to be interesting; the authorities of Queen Mary's Mansions want me to take it up." " What?" exclaimed Maudslay, "Do you mean that Billiter case'?" ' "The very same," answered Townshend. "You have heard of it?" "I have just read about it in the evening paper!" said Maudslay in points of exclamation. "Very odd!—very extraordinary!isn't it?" "It seems so," said Townshend, quietly, "in the reading. But reporters— that kind of personlike to wrap up picturesque mysteries. They have only eyes and ears for what will make good copy. They are as deaf as adders and as blind as moles to the real facts of a case—the facts that matter." "I quite agree with you," said Maudslay, heartily. "Well, now," said Townshend, as if on the spur of a new notion, " why not come with me, and see what there is to be seen?" Maudslay readily assented, and Townshend at once said, " Let us take a cab." "Do you smoke?" said Maudslay when they were seated in a hansom. He handed an open cigar-case. " I do, as a habit," answered Townshend ; "but I won't, thank you, at present. I like to have all my senses free and unembarrassed when I go on a business of this kind; and you can t have your senses fresh and free if you are smoking, or have just smoked." "No," said Maudslay, thoughtfully; "I suppose you can't." He was very closely taken with his companion, and so he listened with interest to all. his views. Maudslay had imagined they were being driven to Queen Mary's Mansions; and he was therefore surprised when the cab drew up at a small door in an obscure street. ""This is the mortuary," said Townshend. "I have arranged to look at the body before I see the scene." Maudslay revolted somewhat from that; but he went through the inspection. The only things he noted were that Mr. Billiter was small, pale, and bald, and that baldness and death probably made him seem older than he was. Townshend lingered a good while; apparently considering the gruesome place as much as its tenant, but what things he noted he was silent about. From the mortuary they walked to Queen Mary's Mansions. Arrived there Townshend

talked freely about things to be noted. " You see," said he, when they had passed through the archway,' and approached the grand entrance with its canopy, " this huge place is practically a hotel, and this door is the door to all these flats." They entered, and were raised in a lift to the seventh floor, and conducted to Banter's rooms. "And," said Townshend to their conductor, "the only way from the street is the way we have come?" "Yes, sir," was the answer. "And there are porters and attendants in the ball at the entrance day and night "Yes, sir. Night and day." They perused the complicated set of locks and bolts .on the door of the flat, and noted the position of the bloodhound. Then they passed into the room where BiUiter , had sat, and whence he had disappeared. | "The room," said their conductor, "is just as it was found." There was the easy, leathern chair by the fire in which Billiter had sat, and there was the little table on which had stood the missing despatch-bos. Townshend considered them, peered at them in the light, and passed his fingers gently over them. Then he stooped and <*melt the leather of the chair near where a head would be likely to rest. "Have you a good nose?" he asked ; oil Maudslay. "I mean, have you an acute smell?" " ".-'■:. "Tolerably acute," answered Maudslay. "Then smell that," said Townshend. "What do you think it is?" ' Maudslay sniffed at the leather, and sniffed again. " Some kind of anaesthetic," he answered. "Ether or chloroform— Townshend slightly, slowly, isheok his head, and turned to the respectful attendant.

"The window was found, open—was it not?" " It was, sir," answered the num. "We'll have it. open again," said Townshend. " I'll open it," he added, when the man was about to step .forward. He carefully scrutinised the sash before he flung it up. Then the afternoon, light was reflected from a wet mark upon the outer sill—a round mark, as of the bottom of ,a basin,. Townshend pounced upon it. He touched it; it was viscous or slimy, He smelt it; it smelt—of what? He invited Maudslay to touch and smell. "It is* very extraordinary said Maudslay. "Once already I have come upon that kind of mark on a window-sill with the same touch and the same smell!'" "Where?" asked Townshend, all alert, ! and With flashing eyeglass. ■ "At Beckford Priory," answered Maudslay. " Oh," murmured Townshend, in a strange tonenot as of surprise or finality, but as of looking into a great void in which something moved. — • CHAPTER XI.

" THAT DEAR OLD THING." "At Beckford Priory!" echoed Townshend. He paused and gazed thoughtfully from Maudslay into the afternoon haze that overhung St. James' Park. He brought his distant look hack; gave Maudslay a glance, booming in a soft voice, " That $ very interesting;" and turned again to the matter in hand. ■■■■_ ■. ■■„■.■ From his pocket he took a pocket-book, and from it he produced two little square slabs of glass. He scraped up slightly but carefully with his knife the viscous substance from the window-sill, spread it upon one of the slabs of glass and laid the other upon it. "A sandwich of conviction,' he murmured, with his singular flutter of. a smile. "And now," said he, putting it away in his pocket-book, " I think we have done." He closed the window, and looked round the room. "Don't move anything yet," he observed to the attendant. "I may be in fain to-night or to-morrow morning. And if the Scotland Yard people come back don't let them move anything." ' __ " Very well, sir," said the man. He added nervously, " What do you think of it, "I think, my friend," ansewred Townshead, *' that it is as neatly done a business as I've ever known." , i " Yes, sir," said the man, without com- ; prehending. " But you don't think Mr. Brereton's had any hand in it do you, sir? Mr. Brereton's dreadfully cut up about! it, "Well," said Tonwsheud, sympathetically, "if I wore a man in authority I think I d discharge Brereton." "Thank you, sir," answered the man"l'll let him know." . (j . . "I don't think you need trouble, said Townshend. "I'll tell him, myself; I'm going to see him." . _ When they passed down again to the entrance hall Townshend held some conversation with the manager, and then he and Maudslay walked forth together in silence into the "street. , ~ ■ , . "I'm afraid," said Townshend, while his singular smile fluttered again beneath his moustache, " that all this is very dull for

"On tie contrary," answered Maudslay, "I am profoundly interested." "Well," said Townshesd, "if you are trulv not tired of it, »I should like to carry my'examination a little further. I want to ask Brereton a question or two—he's with the police at New Scotland Yard—and then I want to call at BilHter's place in the city. You will come with me'/" he queried. "I will go with you—certainly," answered Maudslay. ' ' " ; , T They walked to New Scotland Yard, which" (as all Londoners are aware) is no

great distance from Queen Mary's Mansions. - Arrived at the police headquarters, : Towns-'; hend alone was admitted to an interview " with the unfortunate Brereton, while Maudslay waited in the outer office. And as he lingered he became interested in the come and go of business. There, he conceived, ' was the police sensorium of the whole British Empire; and all moved as silently as the working of a. brain. He was develop.ing and adorning that idea for his own amusement when the silence was broken by an incident that seined his attention. There entered hurriedly and in excitement a hale, handsome, amiable-seeming old man, wear- : ing ; gold-rimmed glasses, It" you had ever seen the late Sir John Bennett, of Cheapside, you would have said the man must be Sir John come to life again. He first addressed himself to the sergeant-in-waiting. "My name is Billiter," said he. " When. I tell yon that you will know my business." " Come this way," said the sergeant, guiding him off. ' , "I'm just come up from Seaport," said the old gentleman in his excitement. "I suppose that despatch-box has nob been found jet? It must be found! _ am prepared to offer a large reward for it!" And so he passed away out of sight and hearing—" the dear old thing," obviously of Henslow's story. " You have missed something interesting," said Maudslay when Townshend returned. " An old chap has just gone in—calling himself Billiter—from Seaport." " j "Ah!" said Townshend, " a relation of i the dead man Billiter." "'. ! " And asking anxiously," continued j Maudslay, "about the despatch-box." j At that Townshend came to a halt, and thoughtfully bit the side of his thumb. " Obviously then," said he, in a deep, earnest booming note, " he knows, or fears, that the despatch-box contained something' of value—knows it, for preference. Well, now," he added, marching off, "well go to Billiter' in the city; well hear something definite there, I hope, and perhaps meet with this old man." They took a cab to Basinghall-street. There they found the proper number in an extensive block of new offices, and on a large brass plate the legend, " Billiter and Billiter,. Solicitors and Commissioners for Oaths," with the phrase at the lower corner and in smaller letters, as if the plate were half-ashamed of. the confession, " And at

Seaport." "That," said Townshend, indicating tfa< brass plate, "makes it pretty clear thai Billiter. of Seaport is father or uncle of the dead Billiter, and probably head of tin business, which—probably again—existec at Seaport long before it was establishec here. What do you say?" "I quite agree with your deductions,' answered Maudslay. "Besides," he aided " I have h sard that the Billiter of Season has charge of the affairs of the lady o Beckford Priory." "Oh, you know that, !do you?" said Cownshenc:. Well"and there came thai lutter of ' a smile—'-'I can tell you :a.oi« :han that. Now, we'll go upstairs." Townshend was a person of distinguishec md impressive bearing. ; That may hay< seen the reason why the head cld;k oJ Billiter and Billiter received him like a, wal >f ignorance and suspicion. He did not jven ask Townshend and his companion tc sit, but stood himself, and let them (staid, vith a formidable desk between, while slowly and obstinately rubbed his chin anc )bstinately and thoughtfully maintained Mi position of ignorance and suspicion. ' "The authorities of Queen Mary's Matt: dons," said -Townshend, " have requested ne to elucidate this matter." ' "Scotland Yard, sir," answered the clerk, 'has charge so far as we are concerned." "Perhaps you can tell me,"'said Townslend, tempting him, "if Mr. Billiter :had my reason to expect a visitor in his flat ast night?" "I can't, sir." "And I suppose you can't tell met 'why $r. Billiter took the despatch-box home frith so much precaution?" "No, sir; I can't." " You mean you won't," said Towniihend) while his little smile fluttered .under the md of his moustache. "Take it as you please, sir." "And there is no Mr. Billiter here whom [ might ask about'these points?" "No, sir." " Old Mr. Billiter, of Seaport,, has nol arrived yet?" ■ '- ' There was the merest spark &> iiateresl md surprise in the head clerk's eye that h( should know anything of the movements o: old Mr. Billiter,"of Seaport; and he merelj mswered,'" Not yet, sir." But the reply.was barely made when the ioor opened brusquely and old Mr. Billitei —"Sir John Bennett,"' as Maudslay insisted on calling: him—marched briskly'in. He glanced quickly from the clerk to the two strangers, and apparently divided at Mice that his subordinate was either keeping >ff or dismissing unwelcome- visitors. " These gentlemen, sir," said the s clerk, "have come to ask questions about this unfortunate affair." ■■■'*■' "From Scotland Yard?" inquired old Mr. Billiter. ' "No, Mr. Billiter," answered Towashend n a tone of pleasant sonority, while his smile again fluttered. "My name is Townsbend. lam not unknown in connection with difficult cases of inquiry." ' \ "Never heard of you, sir," said Mr. Biliter, brusquely. " The loss is mine, sir," said Townshend yith elaborate politeness. "That may or may not be,"- said Mr. Biliter, somewhat irritably. "But "X have lothing more to say. So far as lam con» jerned Scotland Yard—the proper f, police luthorities—have charge of the inquiry." - "And on behalf of the Queen Mary's Mansion authorities.! have special charge," aid Townshend. " Too many cooks, sir," said the old solicitor. "Private, or amateur, detectives ire a nuisanceand an extravagant ex-

pense." ■.'..: , : ' >'■" '"Some cases cannot be conducted' with * out them," said Townshend, in serene self- \ possession and confidence. ■.'■'" This :is such a case. Scotland Yard will, make nothing of it; and I venture to prophesy. you will come to me yet. You will find me at 25, Jermyn-street. Allow me. There is my card." He placed it on the corner of the desk and bowed himself out, with Maadslay. His sangfroid was plainly disturbed!. "Never had such a rebuff before," said he, buttoning his coat as they descended the stairs. " But their suspicion, and their determination to tell nothing, tell a good deal. There's something in it that they don't want to become known. Don't you think so?" j "Certainly it seems so," answered Maudsiay promptly, for he had followed all. with earnest attention. .'■; It had been dark some time by then, and the pavements were filling with the tide of population which ebbs from the city in the late ". afternoon. . Locomotion was therefore difficult to those; who were not accustomed to elbow and hustle and dodge, and conversation was impossible., "I propose we take a cab again," said Maudsiay, stepping aside out of the ..stream.'. " And look here, Mr. Townshend," Ihe added, briskly, "you have been entertaining me all the afternoon with this Billiter case, Come and dine with me somewhere, and I shall have the opportunity of telling you my business." . ."Very well," answered Townshend. "It will suit me to dine early. And I foresee," bo added with his fluttering smile, " that. we shall have lots to talk about." So they 'drove away in a hansom westward again, and, after an absinthe at the Cafe Royal they dined together. Over dinner Maudsiay told the story of his going down with his friend, Dr.. Montague Smith, to Beckford Priory as a ghosthunter, and all that happened thereupon— a« you have read. He told also of': the'. coming of the nurse, of whom Mortimer had some knowledge and suspicion, and of the mention of " that dear , old ; thing," ! Biliiter, by Mr. Henslow. And to i all Mr, Townshend gave the ' closest: and ;most thoughtful attention, interjecting new and then a question to get'■ some point more sharply aefined, but making no comment. He had been softly smoking a fragrant Larranaga while Maudslay told his story.! When the story was finished he continued to smoke for a minute or two, and seemed to be merely 'considering the blue spirals as they curled and rolled and melted in' the air, until Maud slay began to think there was an end of the matter; he did not yet sufficiently understand - his Townshead. At length Townshend carefully placed his unfinished cigar in. the ashtray, leaned his arms on the table, turned the light of his eyeglass upon Maudsiay, while his perverse forelock fell lower upon his forehead, and began: I (To be continued on Saturday next),