THE ORANGE TAXI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20641, 13 August 1930, Page 20

THE ORANGE TAXI.

BY C. D. LESLIE. (COPYRIGHT.)

SYNOPSIS. Emerging from the Minerva Club in an apparently dazed condition, u tall, fashion-ably-dressed girl is driven to her Oat in an. orange-coloured taxi. The driver has. to rouse her from a stupor on reaching Birkenhead Mansions and is bidden to wait while she fetches tbe fare. On the nonreturn of the sir., tho taximan goes in pursuit, discovers trom the porter that her name is Miss Feo Sark, and enters her apartment. She is seated smoking, and bids him help himself from a wallet. He wonders whether sho is drunk or drugged, but a keen scrutiny reveals that she la suffering from nicotine poisoning. He remonstrates with her, makes tea and brings hor out of a 6emi-trance. Then ho obtains her promise to givo up smoking. lhere has been a change in tho driver s tone ol voice, and, attracted by the transformation, Miss Sark presses for his name. It is obvious that ho is a gentleman. .Smith is tho name he prefers to be known by. There is an exchange of confidences ends in Smith being encaged as cousin and •protector against fortune-hunters (particularly against one, Constantino kucas). Smith is to adopt tho rolo of Sir Arthur Sefton—the owner of the title being abroad and little known. Arrangements are made for a meeting at tho Minerva on the morrow, and Smith departs. Outsido he is accosted by a police inspector and a constable, who accompany him to his taxi. Inside is the sprawlinc form of a man. Examination 'by the inspector I°™- " Strangled." he exclaims. and it strikes mo, young man, you know mora about this than you. pretend." •■■,.*' . Smith is called upon to give an account of his movements during the three-quarters of an hour the taxi has been unattended Ho speaks the truth up to a point, but infers that he is a native of Mies Sark s homo village, and she an old friend. The driver is further interrogated by Inspector Hall of the C.1.D., and is then allowed to go home. He realises that tho murder means publicitv_tho last thing he desires —but decides that m his rolo of Sir Arthur Sefton the disappearance of Smith will be complete. He sends a note to Feo. and asks her to confirm his story to the police. Next day Inspect® Hall interviews Miss Sark. and passes on the news that the dead man is her lawyer—Mr. Cyril Oldham. Smith, now Sir Arthur Sefton, keeps his appointment at tne Minerva.. The details of the arrangement are discussed. They decide to take a holiday at Penrode, in Cornwall. Leo nicknames him "Angel." Everything completed, lunch is taken at the Ritz. where Sir Arthur is introduced to Constantino Lucas, a young man of Eastern origin. "Angel"' attracts the attention of a lady diner, who details a waiter to find out his name.

CHAPTER HI. INSPECTOR HALL GETS BUSY.

The curious lady was the widow of a produce broker named Walpolo, whose death the year before had been, so newspaper biographies ran, ' much lamented in the City." How much his childless widow, twenty years his junior and barely thirty-eight, shared in' 'these lamentations it would bo indiscreet to inquire. • Indubitably she had a grievance. Sho found she had to support life on rather less than ten thousand a year, her husband not dying a millionaire, as confidently expected. '

Having recently emerged from' her retirement, spent partly abroad, and partly at her houso in Kent, Mrs. Walpole had come to town for the season, and, not having found a .furnished flat to suit her, was living at the Bitz. Her acquaintance with Smith w-as confined to seven or eight ,taxi rides. On th<? 'first of these she had caught him of! his guard and discovered he was a gentleman, " out of suits with fortune." He interested her, she wanted to know more about him; but her curiosity had been respectfully countered. She had to be content with patronising him, and sometimes rang up his cab at the garage and bespoke it. And now she had seen him—she was positive it was him—lunching at the Ritz with a lady. In five minutes the waiter was back. "The "lady is Miss Sark," he pered, in his Swiss-English, " ver' well known 'ere." " I've heard of her," Sirs. Walpolo remarked, half to herself. " And tho man?" "Ah! "e stranger, not 'ere before. But if madame wait, by to-morrow, I find out." Before she saw the waiter again, Mrs. Walpole had read in an evening paper of the Orange Taxi murder jnystery, and learned that tho name of the taximan who drove tho cab was Smith, and that the man himself could not be found. She rang up the garage —yes, it was her protege, who was involved in the case, and who had disappeared. TJie murder interested Mrs. Walpole little; what did interest her was the Smith mystery; was she right in thinking tho .missing Smith and Miss Sark's companion were ono and tho same person ? . .

Next day tho waiter approached her with the smile of a man who has done good work and is expecting a tip for', it. The gentleman with Miss Sark was her cousin, Sir Arthur faefton, Bart., and ho had left London that morning in a Sports Adcock, which ho had just purchased and-which he was driving himself; his destination was the. Royal Hotel, Penrode. Miss Sark and maid were also going to Penrode by the Cornish express next morning. "Who Arthur Sefton, Bart?" Sho consulted Burko. A fairly old baronetcy, Lord Melbourne had created the first; tho family seat was in Norfolk. The present baronet, twentyeight years of ago. Sho made other inquiries, tho family house was let, Sir Arthur quite unknown in London. For six days Mrs. Walpole remained at the Ritz; suddenly sho decided tho metropolis and tho season were boring her; told her maid to pack, wired for rooms at' the Royal, Penrodo's one hotel, and left. London.' In the accounts published of the murder mystery, no feature was made of the fact that taximan Smith could not be found. This was due to the police, or, rather Inspector Hall,- who gave the reporters an interview. " Surely," suggested the crimo - investigator of the Daily Argus, "this man, Smith, knows something or he wouldn't have disappeared." "He produced a perfect alibi," answered Hall dryly. " Perhaps his summer holidays were due, or ho felt lie needed change of air. He left his lodgings owing nothing, and giving his employer due notice. I wouldn't worry about Smith, gentlemen. What I want the widest publicity for are these facts; the empty cab stood for three-quarters of an hour from 11.5 to 11.50, before Birkenhead Mansions. Did anyone see anybody like Mr. Oldham in that neighbourhood at that time? I have a strong suspicion he and the murderer were walking together toward Birkenhead Mansions." The case was not developing satisfactorily. In fact Inspector Hall was beginning to feel sorry ho had asked for it. True, he had hardly expected his visit to "Miss Sark would bo productive of a clue; still one never know. It was his failure to pick up a. trail either at tho dead lawyer's office or homo which ho found so ingA ftor dismissing tho reporters no went over the case, in his mind. The situation was as follows:--After leaving Miss Sark, the detective stood a moment in doubt. It would be necessary to go down to the Priory, Eltham, where Mr. Oldham lived. Mrs. Oldham must bo interviewed, but it was doubtful if it would be possible that day. Tho news had been 'phoned to Eltham early that morning, and tho local police inspector had broken it to tho family. The informant. had found the household disorganised at tho absence of tho master. After 'phoning from his office at 5 o'clock tho evening boforp that he

A SPLENDID SERIAL OF ROMANCE, LOVE AND MYSTERY.

would be detained late on business, he had never come home at all and tne butler was consulting with his mistress on the advisability of informing the police. Mrs. Oldham Jiad collapsed at the news, a doctor was in attendance. The butler had come to the Wauchope Street Police Station and formally identified his master. v But there was an office, and a good deal could bo picked up there. Mall took a taxi to Lincoln Inn Fields. lhe offices of Oldham and Co., were of modern dimensions, occupying a floor of four rooms in one of the old houses that have for generations sheltered those who deal in law. Of' late years, lawyers have been moving citywards, and indulging in ifp-to-date modern offices and labour saving devices; but Oldham had clung to old methods, and the musty atmosphere of the old house; and his clients had clung to him. In the room marked " Inquiries, the visitor found a shock-headed boy and two clerks, evidently bccupied in discussing the news. The tragedy, Hall surmised, had struck the firm liko au avalanche, and tho staff were still overwhelmed by it. The detective gave his name and calling and demanded to see the surviving partner —Mr. Philip Fair. While the boy was absent one of the clerks addressed tho detective. "Any news, Mr. Inspector, anyone arrested?" Hall shook his head and murmured a negative. " The poor old guv'nor wouldn t have hurt a fly. Hadn't got an enemy. Whoever could have done it ?" sighed the clerk, who was thin, elderly and rather decayed looking. "'Tisn't as if wo were a firm that dealt in criminal cases," remarked the other, a younger man, " We've no dealings with murderers here. And an easier man with debtors behind in their payments didn't live. Thero must be a homicidal maniac at large in London." The boy clerk returning conducted Hall into Sir. Oldham's room. A state of confusion prevailed; many drawers were open, many bundles of documents strewn about the place. In the middle of it all stood tho junior partner. Mr. Farr was young, thirty or so, and good looking, but at present very much troubled; his thick brown hair was ruffled and stood up, his face tired and haggard. " I can't, deny myself to you, Inspector," was his greeting, but I can't help you. J m half off my head with worry and anxiety over this terrible tragedy." "A terrible affair, sir," agreed Hall, " and I am not surprised to find you upset; but every cloud has its silver lining, and you at least, I take it, won't suffer financially in becoming the head of the firm."

Mr. Farr smiled wryly and struck his hands together to shake off the dust they had collected in handling bundles of documents.

" I wish I could see that particular silver lining you so poetically discern. 1 take it you want to know what the financial position is, and if anyone will benefit by the principal's death? Find a. motive for tho crime, that's a detective s first thought, eh? Well, if anyone benefits, which is doubtful, it won't be me. As far as I can see I shall have to do more work for less money. But. let's sit down."

Tho visitor found a Seat, and lying his hat on the floor, prepared to listen to the lawyer who, occupying tho chair behind the desk, began in an incisive voice. " I was managing clerk up to three years ago, when Mr. Oldham's growing years and, I confess, a threat on my part to leave him if he didn t, led him to take me into the firm. But by the deed of partnership I only receive a quarter of tho profits, exclusive of any new business 1 bring in, and that stands. I shall have all the responsibility and it's more than probable sonio of tho old clients will leave." "Firm's affairs flourishing; clients all satisfied?" bluntly inquired Hall. 1 "Clients seldom are satisfied, but there are nono with any legitimate grievance against the firm. I've been in telephonic communication with the bank manager. Nothing was withdrawn yesterday. _ Of course, I haven't been through the private papers vet, I haven't the keys." " I have a bunch here," the detective said, " but you've charge of a, few," and he glanced at the disorder in tho room. ."I'm making a rough inventory of clients' effects. I don't, think anything is missing-; but I'm doing it to satisfy myself." '

" Miss Sark's affairs all right ?" "Miss 'Bark*? Ob, yes, she'lives at Birkenhead Mansions, outside which stood the cab where tho body was found. There's nothing wrong there. Couldn't be. Her money is all in trustee secruities, the script lying at tho bank. Nothing has been reinvested lately. As a client sVio gives no trouble at all."

" I. understand Mr.. Oldham was in the habit of calling on her occasionally ou business: you,'too, perhaps'?" "I? No. I've hardly spoken'to her," replied the young lawyer. "My principal, officially speaking, kept her in his pocket. Those business visits were quite unnecessary. They were merely to develop the social side "of the acquaintance. Mrs. Oldham has social 'proclivities, and a young and pretty heiress, like Miss Sark, was an asset in her circle, and she spared no trouble to bo on friendly terms with her." " D'.vou think he went to sco her last night?" "It's possible; but you ought to be able to tell better than T-. What papers did you find in his, possession ?" " Nothing of a, legal nature. Two or' three private letters of. no importance. Watch, chain, money, keys, ,cigar case—all tho usual perfon.il effects a, man carries. Apparently there had been no robbery. Farr, after offering the visitor his case, lit a cigarette. "An inexplicable affair," he sighed. In tho friendly intimacy of cigarette smoke the conversation took another turn. "His home life?" queried the detective. "Please bo frank. Everything will'come out sooner or later. Any entaglements ? " Emphatically none," was tho reply. "He was just.on sixty, remember —though, of course, you'll find plenty of old rips of that age carrying oit in the West End. Model domesticated husband, between ourselves slightly under his wife s thumb. I've known him for ten years, and I believe he never ran after women. Devoted j to his homo and bis orchids and his grandchildren." " Son's dead, I understand." "Yes, there was only one son, and lie was killed in the war. Daughter married an Indian Civil Servant; they see very little of her. But tho son's widow lives with them, with her threa children and a governess." " When did you see Mr. Oldham last?" Hall asked abruptly. Most detectives would have begun, with this query, but Hall had his own methods. II.; never forgot anything, but it was his habit to wander from one topic to another with disconcerting celerity. Mr. Farr answered promptly. "About five o'clock. It was my tennis afternoon. 1' always try to get away at five twice a week and play before dinner. I live at. a residential club at Hendon whore there are facilities. I looked iii here, told him I was going, and he nodded and said,' 1 Good afternoon.' " " When did ho usually leave?" " Between five and six, occasionally later." " Yesterday, at five o'clock, or a little later, ho 'phoned homo lie would bo staying lato at tho office; was that unusual?" " I fancy it was. I'vo made inquiries and the last letter ho wroto was to a country client who wanted to raise a mortgage; ho sigued that at six, together with a batch of other letters which the girl typist had brought him." (To bo continued daily.).