THE CRY IN THE NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21252, 4 August 1932, Page 15

THE CRY IN THE NIGHT

By OTTWELL BINNS

(COPYRIGHT)

Author of "TTio Lavenham Treasure," "Diana of the Islands." " The Mystery of the Atoll," etc., etc.

CLEVER AND ENTHRALLING MYSTERY STORY BY POPULAR WRITER

CHAPTER lll.—(Continued) | The inspector resumed his examination jof the papers in the bureau, whilst his i subordinate left the room. Some time elapsed, and a little pile of selected papers at Ransome's right hand steadily grew. Then Dearnley returned. " Blank covers," he commented. " There isn't a thing. But I say. Ranfiome, what about the domestic stiff ? There are two maids' attics and a serving

man's room upstairs, but there isn't a &ign of them." " Holidaying—or gODe out for the night. They've nothing to do with the business, I'll swear. We'll find them to-morrow all right. Better ring up the local station for a constable to be put on guard here when we're gone. There's a telephone in

the hall. Might call up the Yard at the same time and see if there's any message come through from Southampton." He resumed his task at the bureau, and Dearnley went out to the telephone. After a little time he heard the other's voice. '* What name ? . . . Repeat. . . . Spell carefully. Got it. . . . Man's sur6 ? . . . Can't be any mistake he thinks. . . . Good! No. That's all." A moment later, Dearnley was back,

carrying a piece of paper, torn from a pad. " There's the name you're wanting," be said as he handed the paper to his superior. "Address, too!" The inspector read the name, with some eagerness. " Sir Martin Charlton, Charlton Magna, Somerset. Um! I knew he was a

swell." "Adventurous by nature! Just come back from Tonquin. Soldier of the Legion and so on," said Dearnley. " Nov? how the deuce do you know that ? The purser didn't send you all that splosh." " No," Dearnley grinned. "It was in half tho papers this morning. I read it my own little self. . . . Come to think of it, a fellow who'd been in the Foreign Legion might be fit for anything nas.ty. It isn't a school for saints. And that knife handle is of Eastern make or I'm a Dutchman. Sooner we're in touch with Sir Martin Charlton the hotter, I think, and it's a goodish way to Charlton Magna——" " Man's in London!" said the inspec-

tor a little sharply. " I told you that I saw him less than two hours ago. We've got to find him." " A needle in a haystack; a particular dead leaf in a wood; ono pea in a sack of peas " " Bosh! Sir Martin Charlton is an easy mark. The man is distinctive; couldn't hide in a crowd if he tried " " Wonder if, by any chance, he hid in the Legion. I've known more than one man to do that." " Why the dickens should he do that 1" " Why the dickens should the heir to a baronetcy go to the Legion at all?" Well, he's back anyway, and I'm go-

ing to find him to-night. He's the only Jive wire in this business, except that girl. And,.we shall have to find her, too. I'll take that handkerchief and those papers, which don't amount to much, except that they show Studholme did some queer business up and down the world. I'll leave you to have another look round. But, for tho Lord's sake, don't let the local Dick get messing round that knife." " I'll warn him off," laughed Dearrtley. " Think you'll find Charlton tonight ?" " I'll pull him in before breakfast you'll see," answered tho inspector confidently, and went his way. CHAPTER IV. About the time that Ransom© left Pondicherry Lodge, Dick Hadleigh entered his chambers in Lincoln's Inn, to find Charlton there awaiting him with some impatience. "You, old man!" he cried, in a voice that expressed undisguised relief. " Been here threequarters-of-an-hour,"

answered Charlton, tersoly. "Sorry! If I'd known " " Dick, I want Miss Eowthorno's address if you know it." " Well, as it happens, I do, but " he glanced at tho clock, " you're never going to call on her at this hour ?' I am. I've got to. It is so urgent, that if necessary I shall call her from her bed." " I'm!" Eadleigh considered him a moment. There was a certain worried

look in the other's grey eves that was noticeable, and suddenly he shot a question. " Charltoi!, did you go to Fondicherry Lodge?" "Yes, twice!" " See Studholme ?" "No!" "Ah! ho wasn't at homo?" " Yes, ho was. Ha was dead with a knife in his neck!" " Good Lord! What are you telling me? You're not joking, old man?" " No, it's the simple truth. I think he must have been dead when I called the first time. Ho certainly was on the second occasion. Listen, I'll tell you; then you'll know why I want Miss Rowthorno's address." He told the story of his double call at Pondicherrv Lodge, tersely and simply,

and at the end, Iladleigh whistled softly. " Charlton," ho said, " this is serious. If those two fellows tell what they know, or that woman Queenie—and the police learn that yon went lo tho plaeo to find Studholme ' " I know! That's why I must see Miss ftowthorne at once. There's a way out for me, though. That fellow who seat the telegram making ail appointment with Studholme is the man responsible, if I know anything.'' "True! But that telegram? It must have been vague if Studholme thought it had come frcu) you. You can't count on that too much." " No. I'm not counting on it at all. I'm counting on tho silence of those two fellows. Hoppy and Harry. They don't tvant to be dragged into the affair." '' There are taxi-drivers who took you

to Sharpnell's Lane. The police will goi into touch with them in no time." " I know il. That's one of the reasons for seeing Miss Rowthorne. I want to warn her. Thank heaven the man who brought us back can't have her address, and it's little enough that he can tell. Give me the address." Dick Hadleigh asked no more questions. Going to a desk he rummaged for a little time, and returned with a man's card. " That's her brother's card. I know him slightly though I haven't seen him for a goodish bit. He's rather a wild bird.

Bobbie and lie share a flat, but I fancy ho doesn't use his share much. You'll come back here ? Remember, I'm by way of being a lawyer, and it seems to me you're likely to need expert advice." Charlton laughed a little grimly. " Oh, I'll cbme back aud report, never fear." He departed forthwith, taking the visiting card with him. In the Strand he engaged a taxi and presently descended in a quiet Bloomsbury Square, where most of the houses were obviously private hotels. The one he sought doscribed itself as Cleeve Court, and was arranged in flats, with name-plates in the vestibule. He read the plates; found that the Rowthorne flat was number three, and since the lift gate was locked, climbed the stairs. There was a boll push outside number three and as he set his thumb upon it, he wondered if the girl were at home, or if sho had really gone to Euston in flight from London.

He heard the bell ring, and two seconds later caught a sound of movement within. The girl was at home then, thank heaven! Footsteps approached the door, hesitated, and then ceased, and for a moment his mind visioned the girl standing on tho other side of the door, doubtful, tense, apprehensive, wondering who her late caller might be. He knocked gently on the door, and, to reassure her, softly called her name. " Miss Ilowthorne! . . . Open. . . . It is I—Charlton." Instantly there was a response. The door opened and the girl stood there, very pale, dark shadows under the blue eyes, and, as he could see, quivering and afraid.

" What. . . what—" " Suppose you ask me in, Miss Bobbin," ho said deliberately using that friendly name to reassure her. " This is not the place to talk 6ecrets." " Secrets?" she whispered and a tragic light Hashed in her eyes as she stepped aside. Charlton entered the room and the girl closed the door and stood for a second quivering still, and plainly in very deep trouble. Then she spoke. " You—went back?" " Yes," he answered, quietly. " And y—you saw him?" He shook his head and as he did so became aware of a haif-packed suitcase on a settee, with some articles of feminine attire lying near. Was she going away he asked himself, and, as he thought she was, he did not need to ask why. Then he 6poke. " No. But 1 know that Pludliolme is dead, stabbed —" "Ob!" sho broke in quiveringly. "It was horrible. I saw him " I suggest as much," ho said, " and 1 have come to warn you." ' " To—to warn me ? " Bobbie Rowthorno shivered and looked at him with such horrified anticipation in her eyes that, whilst ho wondered, ho hastened to

explain. " Well, you know you drove there in a taxi-cab, and you left in another, in—er—circumstances that would rivet the fact upon the mind of the driver. One or other of those two men, or possibly both may go to Scotland Yard, and you may be visited by some inspector in search of information." "Dear God!" sho whispered. "1 was afraid of—of—that. And that was why j—i—changed the taxi " " Yes. I guessed that much. That was why I came along to tell you to bo quite frank with tho police." " Oh! " she cried desperately. " But—how—how can I? You do not understand If you knew what I was afraid* of—l—l cannot tell you. It—it is all so very terrible." Sho broke off and a light o) utter despair gleamed in the blue eyes Then a thought 6truck her, and she inquired suddenly: "How did you find me ? " " Oh," he answered lightly, " I had luck there. Hadleigh, the man I was with at the Medici, recognised you, and hp has some acquaintance with your brother—"

He stopped sharply at the expression which came on the beautiful face. There* was doubt, fear and anguish all mingled, and she whispered brokenly: " My—brother' " The words broke on Charlton's ear 3 with the thunder of revelation. Hadleigh's description of tho man leaped in his mind —" rather a wild bird "—and in a flash he understood the reason for the girl's

extreme apprehension. She was afraid, not, for herself, but for her brother. His comprehension of the truth must have been clear to her, for she cried in suddeu anguish: " Y—you see! God pity 1110! What can 1 do? " He did not know. With: her conviction momentarily swamping his power to think and with no knowledge of the ground on which it was based, he remained dumb, uliable to help her. So for perhaps ten seconds they stood, the girl's eyes full of despa : ring appeal, Charlton's aghast a* he considered the tragic possibilities; and then, through the intense silence, thero came the sound of footsteps on the landing. " Oh! " cried the girl in a tragic whisper. " Someone conies —at this hour? Who ? " CHAPTER Y «' Who ? " Charlton himself echoed the question as he saw the girl turn and stare at the

closed door, her blue eyes shining with fear, and as he half-whispered the word, he himself stared at the decorated panels as if he would pierce them and discover the man on the further side. In his mind there was but one thought—that already Scotland Yard was at work and thus early on the track of Miss Rowthorne. The possibility appalled him a little, and the fact that if the police learned of his own visits to Ponaichcrry Lodge his association with the girl would involve her more deeply troubled him greatly. But he could do nothing. To leave without dis-

covery was now impossible; to hide, with tho certainty of being found in the event of a search would only make matters worse; and there was nothing for it but abide the issue. The footsteps came nearer, a hand fumbled at the knob, and there followed a clumsy rap upon the door. The girl made no attempt to answer the summons, but stayed at the door as if hypnotised, until the unknown knocked a second time; then Charlton whispered: " Better answer. Miss Bobbie." At that she moved to tho door, lifted a shaking hand to the catch, slipped it back, and opened tho door. A man lurched into the room, and a cry of heartfelt relief broko from tho girl. " Adrian !—you ! "

The first glimpse of the new-comer told Charlton the truth. Here was the girl's brother—a dissipated-looking young man but with a strong likeness to his sister, and at tho moment clearly under the inflnenco of drink or of drugs. That much he marked, when tho girl's relief ebbed as swiftly as it had surged and in a voice that was tense with consternation, she cried: " Oh, why have you come here ? " The new-comer pulled himself up a little, and stared at her in a bemused kind of way. Then ho laughed oddly: "Say, Bobbie, what ?" At that moment he caught sight of Charlton, and broke off, then added: " Oh, I see—company. Introduce me, Bobbie." The girl did not make the introduction. Instead sho looked at' her dissipated brother with eyes that missed no detail, and a little cry broke from her. " You must go, Adrian! You must go at once—before the police come for you." (To bo continued dnily)