THE DOUBLE CHANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE DOUBLE CHANCE.

BY J. S. FLETCHER

Author of "The Threshing Floor," "When Charles I. Was King," " Daniel Quayne." " The Pinfold." etc. '■

con-me. i it.

CHAPTER Vlll.— (Continued.)

Quinton glanced across the ripurt, and saw the man she indicated. He was a little, soberly-dressed man. middle-aged, and having pretty much the appearance of an undertaker, seeing that everything about him was very decorous and solemn —from the. top of* his bald head to the I mints of his well-polished boots. He carried an old-fashioned silk hat—very wide in the brim and very 'ugh in the crown — one hand, and an usually oldfashioned umbrella in the other, and was altogether something of an oddity. But what Quinton most remarked about him was that his clean-shaven face was literally one mass of curious wrinkles were wrinkles about his eyes, his mouth, his chin —there were wrinkles everywhere. And out of all these wrinkles, from beneath a pair of bushy grey eyebrows, peeped out a pair of eyes as black as coal, and as sharp and penetrating as a ferret's. " Yes," said Quinton, " I see him. A quaint, interesting figure, isn't he? Do yon know him. Miss Mannersley?" " Yes," she answered, still watching the little man. "Ho is a famous Scotland Yard detective — Cortelyou. It was he who took charge of the case when some of my jewellery' was stolen from our town house last summer, and who traced the thieves. He is very clever and very interesting. Do you think he can have come down —about this, Mr. Quinton?"

" I should sav so," replied Quinton. "•' And—" He was interrupted at that point by the return of Stanford and the solicitor for the defence, and presently the magistrates came back into court, and Clinton was brought back to the dock. Stanford at once rose.

'•' During the last few minutes, your worships," ho said, "I have had a short conversation with, my client, and, in consequence of what he has said, I am going to take a very unusual course, but a course which I feel absolutely justified in taking. After what you have heard it must be evident that this case must be adjourned for expert evidence on certain obvious points. But the prisoner is anxious—painfully anxious—to make a statement to you from the dock, and though it is more usual for legal advisers in these circumstances to counsel their clients to say nothing, I think it well to let mine speak. .That is, of course, with your worships' ■ permission.'' The chairman, after a whispered consultation with his colleagues, bowed his head in token of assent.

' Very good. Mr. Stanford," he said. Clinton, resting his hands on the front jf the dock, looked at Phillipa. Ho held ip his head after that look, and faced the nagistrates with something of pride. " Look here," ho said, with a species of boyish simplicity that carried him still nrther into the affection of the crowd, ' I'm nothing of a speaker, as most of you enow, but I can tell the truth in a plain way. Well, the truth's this, as far as I'm joncerned. I made my escape from Dartnoor for two reasons. The first was that [ should have been a fool if I hadn't when [ had the chance I had. And I could lave been in America or Canada now, but "or the second reason— wanted to see my ancle. I wanted to beg of him, to pray :>f him, to reopen that beastly business of nearly three years ago—you all know what [ mean. I wanted to convince him of the truth of my innocence of that. I'll acknowledge that I felt hard about his treatment of me. Just because I'd been "a bit racketty at Eton and Cambridge, and had got into an awful hole in the way of debt; ho seemed to think that I was an out-and-out rotter, whereas, really, I'm not, if you only knew me—l was only a bit—well, you knowand I always meant to shake down into a real steady-going sort— did indeed ! Well, when I got here, the other day, I managed to see my cousin, and what she told you in her evidence is true, of course. Now, I hid in the shrubbery in the castle garden last night, right opposite the private door, until I thought my uncle would bo in the study and alone. I knew the habits of the house, you know. Well, at j last I opened the door and went in. Of course, 1 couldn't see into the room at first, ijecauso of the screen. It all seemed strangely silent. When I stepped round ;he screen I saw—well, what I never expected to see. I must have turned faint, >r sick, or something, because my recollections are not very clear on this point. But I do remember that I went up to— him, and touched him, and I felt he was dead, and just dead! That was how I got the— blood on my shirt cuff and my sleevo that Mr. Quinton spoke of. You see, I hadn't noticed it. And I shrank back, feeling as if I was. going to drop— and that was when Quinton entered from the corridor and collared me. And that's the truth—and I can't say any more. But it is the truth!" With another glance at Phillipa, who had listened to him with parted lips and eager eyes, Clinton stepped back amidst a murmur of applause from the pitmen which nothing could stop. And suddenly from amongst' them, rising high above their clamour, came a stentorian voice, which forced itself upon everybody— "Aye, lad, it is tho truth; it's the real truth! And I can prove it!"

I'.MAMM'KK IX." In the very thick of the closely-packed mass of pitmen at the back of the court a man had risen and was endeavouring to attract the attention of the bench by violent, gesticulation. He was a tall, looselybuilt fellow of apparently 28 or 30, -and was chiefly remarkable for the possession of a crop of carroty hair, an enormous moustache of the same colour, and a long, sharp nose. That he .was making a holiday was evident from the _ fact that he wore what was obviously his best suit of blue serge, and had a silk handkerchief of at least six different colours knotted about his throat. , . " I can prove it," lie shouted again. " I can prove it!" The chairman bent over to the clerk. " Isn't that the man we sent to prison recently?" he said. " Wasn't he here for assault?" " Yes, sir, it's Dick King, Ginger King, as they call him," replied the clerk. "Ho went for a fortnight. His time was only up yesterday." " I say I can prove it!" vociferated Ginger King. The chairman looked across at the interrupter with some impatience. " What is it you can prove?" he demanded. " I can prove that what Mestur Clinton there has just telled yer's true," replied King. The chairman looked at Stanford. Stanford jumped to his feet. "I do not know what this witness's evidence mav be worth, your worships," he said, " but I should like to hear it. Will you step down to the witness-box, my friend?" Ginger King obeyed this summons with alacrity, and went through the process of being sworn with great solemnity. "What is your name, my friend, and your occupation?" asked Stanford. " Name Richard King, only they call me Ginger in generals," answered the witness: "and I'm a collier." " Well, what do you know about this?" "I know, at what Mestur Clinton there's just telled yer is true."* " How do you know it is true?" "Cause I can prove it's true. Didn't I say so?" Now, then, just tell the court what you know." said Stanford, who saw that he had a curious customer to deal with, ' "Tell it in your own way." " That's what I were going to do at first if ye hadn't talked so much," said King, "Ye see, it's this here way. Two weeks sin' I had a bit of a do wi' Jack Green about yon there pup o' mine, and I belted Jack reight, and so V magistrates there sent mo to Stelford Gaol for a fortnit 'cause I wouldn't pav V .fine. Well I como out yesterday, and, of course., I thowt at I'd tak' a holiday for a day or so Now there s a, young ooman in sarvice up at V castle at I'm a bit sweet on, an <f I ho thowt nusen last night 'at I'd go up an

see if I could see owt on her, 'cause some- '■ times when I've whistled 'at t' kitchen window she's come out into t* garden, d'ye, see? Well, I goes up, and I'd just climbed over t' wall into t' shrubbery when I sees Mestur Clinton there nip across to a door. I could see him reight fair, 'cause ho crossed between two lighted windows. Thinks I to myself, 'Well, I didn't know thou were out, mi lad!' and then I wonders what ho were up to. So I nipped across and looked in at t' window of t* loom tha* he'd entered—! could see in, 'cjhiso t' blind doesn't fit close. And as sure as I'm standm' . here it all happened as he said just now. Thocr were t' poor old gentleman ]yin' over t' writing-table v.v t' knife stickin' out on him, Mestur Clinton touched him on t' shoulder and looked down at his face', and then ho .started back like, and (hen t' manager come in at a back door and collared ho'd on him. And then I made misen scarce, and so I didn't see onny more. But that'* t' truth 'at I've tolled yer." Stanford looked at the magistrates. "I think youiNsvorships will agree that this is very remarkable evidence," he said. "There are two questions I should like to put to the witness which relate to two important points. King, you say the blind of the window through which you looked did not fit closely. How much space had you through which you could look?" "A good couple of inches, sir," answered King. "What were you standing on when yoa looked through the window?" " A flower-bed, sir, a sort o' ornamental border."

Stanford turned to the police officials. "Perhaps you will look into both these matters at once?" he said. "I need not show you how important they are. Where? are the hoots you were wearing last night. King ' . " I'm wearin' em now, sir." '' Very well—the police will want to set them. That will do." But Rowland Parke rose— great Mr. Miller-Stanford was not to have all his own way. And when Rowland Parke betrayed a tendency to sneer, those who knew that brilliant young gentleman knew that he. had something up his sleeve. "Wait a moment, King," ho said, as Ginger was about to leave the box. "I want to ask you a question or two. What time did you leave Stelford Gaol tester* day?" J "Same time as I alius do," answered Ginger, amidst laughter. ' 'And what time is that, pray?" "Eight o'clock, o' course." " What was the first thing yoa did?" '"Went and. had a pint, to be suresame as you would if you'd gone without for a fortnit," retorted Ginger. "And what time id you come home?" _ ' S<me time durin* t' A forenoon," said Cinger. "I were none particular." > "You'd nothing to do and plenty of money to do ( it with, I suppose," said larkc, sarcastically, "Now, where did i'ou spend the rest of the day You may »s well tell the truth, because I can easily find out." ■ • . " "I've, no objection to savin' where I spent t day," replied Ginger. "I.were a piece at home, dressin' misen up and havm a bit o' dinner, and then I went to V Flym' Horse and stopped there all t afternoon."

'Oh, and where did you go then?" v < " Nay, I went up f street to t' Blue Lion and stopped there till J bethowt misea I'd go up and see if I could get, a word wi' V sarvent lass." ' ,', . "And pray how many pints of ale had you had-by that time? *' asked Parke, villi a the bench, , ' •

" I'm sure I never kept no count," answered Ginger, cheerfully.. . .• "A good many, I should think," said. Parke. " Now, on your oath, were you sober when you went to the castle?" :•*< Aye, as sober as what you ; are i ustJ now!" , ';,, ■":; '.''

"Why didn't you go at- once to tell the* police what you'd seen?" ; , v _• " ' Cause J. were so ' upset, MesturParke. It made me feel : reight bad. I \ , } didn't know what to do. ■ So I considered ' to sleep ower it, and to come ; here this '■ • mornin' and hear what were said." '•;■:' "Now, I don't want to appear too iiu quisitive," said ' Parko, 5 "but isn't it "a > ; fact that you have been ■ convicted' several times at this court for assault, and for; fighting, and disorderly conduct?" '■■'■%/'■■ "Well. I know I'm handy wi\" ml fists," admitted King. "And you've also been convicted aH least six times for poaching? " "I'm fond of a bit of sport." . >; Parke motioned him to leave the box and turned to the bench. "I shall leave it to your worships to say what amount of reliance can be placed upon the evidence of a witness of this sort," he said, "and I again claim that I have demonstrated to you that I am right- in asking ;: for a committal. The evidence •• .'■ -. But the chairman, who had during this, last few minutes been engaged in a whis- 1 -' pered consultation with his colleagues, in-'; : terrupted the young solicitor with uplifted ; r finger. ' .... ;..1,'.., ,'.■,.■;, ■->■.*/;i0. "We have already decided . upon an adjournment, Mr. Parke," he said/ "lb ' ,:•; is obvious that a mora searching investi- ' % 1 gation must be made. The evidence ; of- . : the last witness— I must say ;: thatS despite his; career as a brawler; and [ a '; ; poacher I see no reason to doubt his word' ; > —«vjil have to be' thoroughly sifted and V tested. v : The prisoner is remanded ; > for ;; ; eight days.", .... . , ■ <, ■■ : - v > ■> ':. *-i It seemed to the sharp-eyed little man V' from Scotland Yard; who , had listened in ':■?'* silence to all that had gone on since his\ n arrival, that he had lighted upon as queer .:) a lot of people as ever he had encountered -"'"';> in. the. whole 0f... his long professional .'.':-•;_ career. , With the retirement of the magis- ; , trates from the bench and .the disappear- : ance of the prisoner from the dock a re-: : gular pandemonium broke out over : ; ; those parts of the court which had been . seized upon by the pitmen. Shouts and icries arose everywhere; groups- begun to ' = argue; here and 'there discussions grew) S -\ heated, and fists were raised and shaken 3 it took all the offorts :of : the- locals police to get the noisy mob out: of .doors*. % While the. clearing-out process was jgomigrfy on, _ Inspector Cortelyou • went; across M rapidly-thinning space in the-well,of the -;; court and approached' Phillipa, who held - ; i out her hand to him. ■*..:. iJ • •;.• )f\"[i "How do you ■«■ do,■•.lnspector Cortel- ■;<■ you?" she said. " I recognised you as .;; soon as you came in," '• > ; *Y : * ' "I am deeply sorry to meet you on such a sad occasion, MissMannersley," said the inspector, with an old-fashioned and very polite bow. ,*'The only comfort. I can offer you is that after what I ho.ve heard I sincerely trust I shall be able to establish your cousin's innocence." Oh, how thankful, how grateful I shall be if. that can be done, inspector!" exclaimed Phillip*. '-It is, of .course, a monstrous thing that) anyone could suspect mv unfortunate' cousin of such a ■ dreadful crime. I have just been saying to Mr. Quinton that anyone who really knew Clinton would recognise that it is an ■ ; impossible thing that he could have so far forgotten himself as to—to have done - that. Oh, it is inconceivable—inconceivable The shrewd eyes glanced at Quinton's hard, set face, and the subtle brain be» '■ hind them guessed something of the man* soger's secret. \ ■ ■■ ''; "Well," he said, turning again .to PhiUipa, "we must keep up heart, Miss y Mannersley. I always trust a good deal i lo first impressions, and my own impres-; ;f: sion is that the two witnesses I have heard —your cousin Sir Clinton and the; foxy-: ; ;|! haired gentlemanwere telling . the abso. '■;■';'■■, lute truth. At any rate, between our- . selves take it that this gentleman is a *' friend of the family—l shall not trouble my head further about Sir Clinton in the matter, except by working in a way,which ''(■■■■■ will clear him." ~v . ,'. ; - t < -\ Phillipa' eyes filled with : X tears. She Ws felt as if she could have thrown her arms " ; ■ round the queer little man with the » wrinkled face. " Oh, thank you, thank you a thousand times,' Inspector. Cortelyou!" she exclaimed. i "That gives. me bo much courage. An i: you are so clever that I feel sure you;.wig clear, things up.'"* ■' (To be continued daily). . .\