WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 18

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE?

BY LOUIS TRACY.

SYNOPSIS. liobert Mannering, holidaying on ilio Yorkshire moors, observes black clouds, and, fearing a atorm in that lonely snot, lie i;t rides ahead. TIo notices brick chinincyß 511 tho hollow below the wood. lie races Inward what proves to bo an old farmhouse. A flash of lightning, thunder, rain, ii 'terrific storm. He pains the porch and ]\hoc Us al the door. Xu iinawc,'*. it ia threo o'clock. The storm lessens, 110 leaves his shelter, shoulders his pack, and strolls round the house, coming across a well-kept flower-garden. Dark-blue blinds are lowered behind each window He notices that four panes of glass, -with their wooden frame, jive absent from one window. Mannering investigates. Ho puts his hand through tho ghissless portion, shoots up the blind, and sees the dead hodv of a man stretched 1)1 front of a fireplace. An elderly man has been battered to death. CHATTER I —(Continued). The due!: was a mute, but almost infallib'.e, witness. This ghastly crime had been committed barely fifteen minutes before the storm had driven him, a complete stranger, into tho shelter of the porch. So the person, or persons, rehponsiblo for (his crime could not have, pine fur when lie sprinted along tho road. IS 1 ost certainly they had not passed him, nor had anyone followed that straight and level track in the other direction during many minutes earlier or he Must have seen them. He could not help thinking of the murderers in the plural. 'llie dead man was powerfully built. He had not been taken wholly unaware. He had defended himself. Probably he was grappling with one assailant when another had struck' a coward's blow with 111 0 poker, though, indeed, tho mere use of- such an implement argued a quarrel, lack of premeditation, frenzy rather than criminal intent. Then Mannering remembered that some grouse had been disturbed on the crest of the liili linynnd (lie bog. That v.a.i it. The criminals had made off westward through the heather. Even so, bad be not been so absorbed in (hat stupid map he could hardly have failed to notice them though, to he sure, his mind was occupied by the topograpical pioblem set by the otliei side of the road. He would have liked to examine the house most thoroughly, but uodc knew better than he that every sc.•(•ml was precious now. lie must hurry to the village and raise a hue and c.y. And that is exactly what he did—twenty minutes later! During that interval ho •passed through many unnerving experiences He had seen death s; a ring him in the face not once but several times. At any rato, ho escaped, and v.as com pletely successful in getting away fioni Ihe accursed place unobserved—he was sure of that. Onco on the road ho ran a good quarter of a mile before looking back. He found he could not see the gate owing to the low-lying branches of the trees, but no one was either watching «)<■,_ following him. There was a slight dip in tho road a It tie ahead, so before entering it, he took another look. All was well. . lie estimated that ho could corno in sight again about a hundred yards farther on, but, by that time, he would lie nearly half a mile from tho entrance to the farm, lie had, in fact, reached that point, and had again mado fairly certain that he was not pursued, when the steady beat of an engine driven at normal speed told that a car was approaching. Ho slowed from a jog-trot to a walk, iieing rather breathless and excited ho wanted to be collected enough to appeal for help without alarming tho people in the car. He look it for granted that no one would be driving alone along a road which in August might attract the more sedate type of tourists, so he was dismayed, almost irritated, when ho frund that tho oncoming motorist was a lady, whoso only companion was a fox-terrier. Still, lie had to make (ho best of a queer business, and try (o explain the urgency of his requirements without creating a suspicion that lie was a sensation-monger, if not a veritable lunatic. So ho signalled in good time that he wanted a word, though ho believed that tho ladv heiself was of (ho same mind, because the engine slowed before iie raised Ins hand. The car was an open two-seater with a dicky, In which a couple of leather suitcases wero housed. The dog barked in a friendly way, as though he were entitled fo open the conversation. " Oh. do keep quiet, Tags," commanded his owner, an apparently self-possessed young .woman, who was by way of being remarkably good-looking. "(.in you tell me," she went on, examining the man with a candid si are, "if (here is-a farm-house in tho hollow behind that plantation on the left ?" T> Mannering's cars at that moment (ho whole range of tho English languange could not have have yielded a more surprising question. " Yes," ho said. "Are you thinking of going there?" " Yes. I'm 3 bit late, too. T must push on. Did you want anything?" Thus far ho had been standing a little on one side. Ho drew nearer, and rested a Toot on tho off-side running-board, stooping, too, seemingly to case the weight of tho rucksack. " You must have passed through a village a little over two miles away—did you happen to notice if a police-constable is stationed ' here ?" he said. The girl sniled at that. " Yes,'' she answered, readily enough, for Mannering was me of those men in whom all women, children, arid dogs place instant confidence. " 110 was at the door of his collage, which was labelled. In- j deed, ho told mo how to reach Black- ! flown Farm. I should have arrived there fully half -nn-lioi;r ago but was held lip j by (he thunderstorm." " Are you, like me, a stranger in this : locality 1" " I don't mind tolling you thai T have never been here before," but her tone stiffened, and her foot moved to tho clutch. " Please listen to what I have to say, and believe it," said Mannering gravely turning to look back along the road as though he expected some evil thing to appear. " You cannot go to (ho farm. There has boon a. tragedy. I want yoi, to take me. without another moment's delay, to that policeman. Then, if you choose, you can hear what I have to tell him." lint this is nonsense!" protested (he girl, with heightened colour. She was not alarmed in (ho least, vhieh ! was satisfactory. She merely resented being (old she must act thus and so without any option on her part. •No. It, is most distressingly true," Insistc,l Mannering. "Are you a friend of Mr. Hope's?"! she demanded. H that, is the name of the elderly man ww lying dead in the farm, I am not. Dead ! Do you really moan that ?" p s. I cannot tell vou how sorry I am to lie forced to blurt, out (lie facts' in 1 Ibis open-mouthed way. Nor can I offer ' an explanation. I !1!n I,, flcn to vo ,, . thu holh the house and'its ; S , ut Mr , w cdn th;;,,;. was k,lied. Ill)0ut ;m , lom . , ago, ,Hid-- hero Mannering's brows fur owed slightly, for he had never ceased !;> keep an eye on the edge of the wood- i . 1 »«> greatly mistaken one of two men who. f am sure, are responsible i i'l'e ni ? \ ls , T wnU-hiBK us from the g, t e, which leads to the house. p os . i s.bly he heard yo , r car, and wondered > )' y ll htf, l'! , « (| . 'Now more strongly than ' ever, demand that you take mo to ' Hl<! Vllli'lQJO. The girl was a iitlb) frightened, per- i haps, bul; she was annoyed too, i "If what you nay is Irno cannot wo' ' do something other than run away"'" she < BHked will} just a hint or scorn in her 1 I voice, 'there are two of us. and Tirr*' I .Will tackle an elephant if I bid him." '

A CAPTIVATING STORY OF MYSTERY AND LOVE

(COPYRIGHT.)

| " I have no doubt. Tho elephant would probably hook it, being usually a timid beast, f admit I am running away, for tho excellent reason that an oak stick would make a poor show against a pair of automatic pistols. l!ut 1 assuro you I am coming back. And wo must not waste more time. Tf you refuse me as a passenger I shall travel as the driver. ' " What on earth ?" " t'loaso don't argue. I won't let you. 1 simply have to save you. and Tags as well, from very leal danger. You can sco for yourself how interested that chap is in our movements. So, to put mailers j plainly, unless you give in at once I shall j grab Tags by the scruff of the neck ami chuck him out, at tho same time pushing I you away from tho wheel, using all the ! force that may be necessary. Tags must follow as host, lie can." ] The girl actually laughed. Were she not. face to face with a tragedy she would prob I ably have twitted him as acting like a j cave man. " I really believe you mean it." she I said " Very well. Come round to the other sido and hop in. Never mind the whelp. He's accustomed to being squeezed when the dicky is full." Mannering passed in front of the car. The engine was running, so tho girl might have knocked him over had she chosen. | "Thanks!" said lie, opening the door, and giving the dog a chummy pat. She ignored the tribute completely. I " 1 imagine that the man watching us | from the gate will now get the wind up I rat her badly; of course, operations have j not gone just as I wished, but that cannot : be helped." he went. on. The car was backed and turned quite ' skilfully. Onco headed the other way Mannering kept his eyes front. 'I here was I in sense deliberately apprising the distant watcher that he had boon seen. " I don't quite understand," said the gill, when tiie engine was running j smoothly. I " Weil, my scheme was to send to (lie village for assistance, and try meanwhile to keep tab on a pair of scoundrels at I the farm, but that, is now impracticable." j " You said nothing of it to me." i " Xo. I found you a trifle difficult. ! Moreover, I doubt whether the polieci constable would have believed you, ; because, at the best, you could only have I told a cock-and-bull story." | " Supplied by you." " A fair retort. You see, T did not count on meeting a woman, so I have suppressed a lot of most uripleanant details." i " Such as ?" " I renew my offer. You can hear j what T tell the policeman." ! " lias Mr. Hope been murdered, then " Yes. I think so. Indeed. T can go ! so far as to say I am certain of it." " How horrible! I don't know him, but he wrote charming letters. He engaged me for some secretarial work. But I —was ho alone? lie stated that a man and his wife ran the establishment and would look after me well during the next two months." " There could hardly have been any other member of the household there when this affair took place. I look forward to getting some definite information on that and other points in tho village. By the way, my name is Robert Manner- ; ing. During the past eight years I have i been a sort of tea planter and general I roustabout in Assam. Four days ago, at ! Northallerton. I began a walking tour through the North Riding. Half an hour ago the_trip might have come to a sudden ;tnd violent end." I "Were you attacked?" " Oh, no. There would have been no attack. I would merely have passed out before I knew what struck me." " Then what would have happened to , mo if I had not met you?" . I " I don't know. T can only hope that you might have been sent off again on some plausible pretext. T don't suppose those two thugs would have killed you in mere lust of killing. But they would not have spared you for one second if ' t hey thought you even suspected what they had done." i "It sounds awful, but quite thrilling. ; As you have given me your name you : ought to know mine—Betty Ifardacre— Miss Betty Ifardacre. of course—assistant lecturer and demonstrator in applied science at tho West Yorkshire College of Technology. That is why I am hero , to-dav." "Because of both reasons?" Miss ITardacro was puzzled for an instant. Then her blue eyes glinted ominously, " I am only clearing the ground before we moot the policeman," she said with cold precision. "My story, will bear analysis. Mr. Hope—the name is a thin disguise adopted bv an eminent scientist Ito shut out. intruders—is a friend of the l Principal of my College, lie is in need ' of skilled help for a couple of months. I j was recommended for the job. It eats up • the whole of my holiday and a bit more, T expect, but the work is of national importance. so for many more than two reasons I trust you are making a great mistake in saying that—that Mr. llopc • is dead." I Mannering was holding the dog's collar. Tho car was roomy enough, but not so , wide that the girl should be unaware- of ! a sudden muscular tension of his right forearm. " Hope ?" he said, and his voice became almost harsh with restraint. "An eminent scientist?" . . Good Lord! Yon are not tolling mo that tho man I found lying dead in that house is Sir William llopo Sandling, of Oxford ?" Now it was Miss Betty's turn to yield to excitement. Up to this moment she had not been half convinced that matters were so bad as this distinguished-looking wayfarer wanted to make out. Nhe was genuinely startled, but kept her wits about her. Do you happen to know Sir William ?" she countered. " I have not seen him for twelve years. Oh, this is too ghastly for words! I—l might have recognised him. Yet, 1 \ failed. Don't ask why, Miss Ifardacre." | With a real effort he conquered his I agitation. I think I see our village down there I in the valley," he continued. " Will von forgive mo if I suggest that vou should ende.-ivoiir to dissociate yourself from the . inquiry which will start in a few ! minutes ?" " How is that possible?" she said. " I believe I know what you have in mind. ; I'm sure you are being kind and thought- ! fill. Put. T cannot picture our policeman ! lolling either of us off so easily. 110 had a wiHV eve for me a quarter of an hour j ago. Now that 1 conie to think of if ho j may have been instructed to give Sir— j Well, I mav as well admit that 'Mr. j Hone' is Sir —to give him any assistance in his power. . . My aunt ! | T am right for once! Here ho comes on his bicycle." Thcv were still a good half mile from !be village when tho constable drew alongside. He halted, having recognised tho •ar. Disregarding Mannering ho said uirnrisingly:— " You arc Miss Ilardacro, I suppose, niss ?" " Yes." The huh' was astonished, and showed t. " Couldn't, you find (lie form?" I did not go so far, This gentleman vill exnlain." Mannering had Ik on thinking hard dureg the past minute. The shock of a -rave and far-reaching discovery in the nere identity of (he dead man had. in a v.iiso cleared his hr-in. It was vitally •isenti.il now that this country policewho looked rather intelligent, and ilr'ii i '? rnoro awkward to deal ■ln the"TiT." H 1• shrewdness, should '» Ho rif'ht thing at f , nco> , |tul nol I'he'oHl !l t0 Wlia i, v ay 1,0 described afc tho oi tliodox, or Police Manual, method. ('!o bo continued daily.)