MR. CORONER PRESIDES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21319, 21 October 1932, Page 19

MR. CORONER PRESIDES

A Novel by SELDON TRUSS

CHAPTER X.—(Continued) For another five minutes Tony waited, his eais straining. The silence persisted encouragingly and very carefully he raised the dickey, it was pitch dark and the place smelt heavy with exhaust fames. Aching in every limb Tony clambered down from the dickey, moved lound to the dashboard and switched oil tMe sidelamps. He'found himsulf in a roomy, whitewashed building that had manifestly once been stables. A small door leading to some rear premises was securely locked. The windows were narrow and barred. Having concluded this rapid survey Tony turned his attention to the car, with the object of discovering the identity of its !' owner, but apparently that gentleman was • not in the habit of providing free informsk tion for the curious. A search of the locker arid cubby hole even failed to reveal the customary certificate of insurance. Tony-,examined his watch and realised with a shook that in another half hour tie dawn''would break. It was certainly essential to, quit this place before then. Very gently he slid back the bolts of the big doors and pushed them outwards, only to make the unpleasing discovery of a bar and piidlock on the outside. He stared at those imprisoning doors, blankly aware of the potential awkwardness of 'his plight. Locked doors and barred windows! Dash it all, lie must get out! He looked up; there- was the usual txap-door reached by vertical steps leading to the hay-loft. Not a promising solution but he might hide up there until the car was again in use and perhaps slip away than, unobserved. Heaven knew how long'he might have to wait for that, and he was beginning to feel the physical effects of these adventures. In a while lie would be absolutely bone weary. Still — He took the precaution of replacing the bolts and switching off the lamps before he groped his way up the loft steps. The trap lifted easily, and ho found himself in a musty atmosphere of lumber and rotten apples. He struck a match and observed, with, a flickering of hope that another trap led to the roof. To descend from tho roof might be, and probably would be, an impossibility, but it offered one more hope, however slight. With the aid of an ancient tin trunk balanced on a packing case, he climbed up and in another m6ment eat uneasily on the damp elates outside. /It was a precarious business scrambling up the steeply-sloping gable, and he breathed with relief as lie surmounted and sat astride the ridge. From between two tall larch trees the rising sun sent its first yellow brilliance into his tired eyes and Tony had to shade thein to scan his surroundings. He saw a gravel drive tha.t wound away to a small lodge at its gates. He saw' a well-kept rose pergola and smooth lawns. He saw no way down from his awkward perch other than the way he had just come. Edging himself to the extremity of the gable, and leaning out, he could overlook the porch of the front door. And then he uttered a gasp of recognition. * He wW sitting on the roof of Evan Bentlev's garage! CHAPTER XI SUNRISE Tony' 6 gasp of dismay was succeeded an irresistible chuckle, as the humour of the situation struck him. To discover oneself a prisoner upon the roof of one's host of yesternight must surely be reckoned . an unparalleled experience in polite (society. Unfortunately, however, the comedy aspect of this matter was overshadowed with awkward potentialities, unless he could get down from his inconvenient perch, c, He scrambled along the ridge and edged precariously round a chimney stack to explore for the existence of a fire escape, or, failing that, a fairly substantial species of creeper. But lie covered the entire roof and arrived back at his starting-point without any such convenience disclosing itself. He, felt righteously indignant that people should be permitted to live in houses without fire escapes. As for the creeper—miserable Virginia tendrils—it would not have supported a sparrow. Instinctively, as was his wont when faced by a- problem, he filled his pipe. He had just thrown the match overboard when life was startled by the hail of a muted voice. " Hi!" said the voice, softly, and then: t' Hullo!" Tony swung round, peering down first one side of the ridge and then the other. It was only a quick movement of something bright, blue in the verdant interior of a larch tree that enabled him to locate that voice. On a level with his own eyes, at startlingly close quarters, he encountered a gaze that met his own with an expression of absorbed wonder. It was a girl, a slim long-legged child of twelve or fourteen years of age, who sat there, perched high on a spreading branch of the tree. She had the fair skin that goes with a mop of corn-coloured hair and her eyes were a wonderful gentian. It was her sky-blue jumper that had first arrested Tony's glance. Recovering his equanimity, Tony leturned the greeting of this apparition. The child continued her unblinking stare. "Are you a burglar?" she asked presently, in an eager voice. Tony shook his head. " No, I'm not a burglar," he answered calmly. " I'm a doctor." " You don't look much like a doctor. Is anyone ill up there ?" m " Nobody's ill up here —except me. " What's the matter w:th you ? " I'd take too long to tell you. Suppose you help me to get down. The child gazed reflectively. " I'nfl sorry you're not a crook, sho eaid presently. *' I've always wanted to meet one." .. ' " You let me get down, and 1 tell you a lot about crooks," suggested J 01 '}' persuasively. "What's your name? " Mavis —but everybody calls Unix. I say, how did you get there? Tony explained his route via tile jo'L " But the garage door's locked," she objected. " And I don't know where to find the key. Perhaps I'd better wake Mr. Bentley." She wrinkled her forehead. '' Why ever d'd you get locked in the garage? " " That's another story, and you necdn t ■Wake Mr. Bentley. In fact, if you breathe a word .to Mr, Bentley, I shan't you anything about the crooks I've met." " Perhaps I could find a ladder," the child reflected doubtfully. " You couldn't get it up if you did. No, the' kev is the only way. It must be some- , Where about." • She nodded and started to scramble down the tree. Half way down she . " 1 might ask Celia. P'raps she'd know." "Celia!'' Tony's heart leapt. " Celia's my sister. It's early to Wake iter. It's only half-past five." Don't wake her, for p.ty s sake, Tony gasped, appalled by the difficulty that explanations would involve, lie felt a sudden consternation at this news of Celia s s presence in Evan Bent ley's house. " 1 say. Mavis—" he called down anxiously, "mum's the word you know. Promise that. It's a conspiracy between Us two. When I get out of th:s, I II tell you a secret that'll thrill you to the marrow." The child's eyes brightened in anticipation. , " All right, I won't tell. Though I d rathe!' tell Celia. Do you know Celia?" We've certainly met," sa:d Lohy, a dittle grimly. " Don't 'you like her? Almost everybody docs." . " Yes, of course." , " He seems to like her, doesn t he. the Minx pursued inexorably.

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"Who?" inquired Tony coldly. " Mr. Bontley, of course." " 01), Mr. Bent ley. Does he really! " The Minx gazed search ingly. " I can't stand him either," she declared. Tony grew restive under this oblique cross-examination. " Suppose you have a squint for that key," he suggested. The Minx descended the rest of the tree at a pace that brought Tony's heart into his mouth. For twenty long minutes he writhed with impatience, and awaited her return. At length she came. " It's no go. Can't find it anywhere. I've asked the housemaid—she's just down —and she says theunastor always keeps it in his pocket. I pretended I wanted to explore. I say, do let me tell Celia." " On no account," Tony replied firmly. '• Not if I have to stay here a week." " Then what are you going to do? " There's one other chance. First of all, what time do they start breakfast? Nine o'clock ? That gives me three hours safe, ami I'm going to make myself comfortable in (he car. This is a jolly tiring business, though you mightn't Jhink it." "Then what did you do it for?" the Minx inquired, not unnaturally. " I have my reasons, believe me. 1 might ask what you are doing climbing trees at five-thirty in the morning." " Oh, that's easy. I always get up early in the country. I was looking for baby birds in the nests." " Instead of which you find a full grown man on the l'oof. Anil that's less unlikely than baby birds in August. Now, Mavis, are you paying attention? Very well, when Mr. Bentlcv comes for his car, whenever that may be, I shall shin up into the loft. Then you will give me a low whistle while he is turning tho car round in the drive. That's my chance to dodge out. you understand ? " The child nodded doubtfully. " S'pose he does see you ? " " I'll take my chance of that. And when lie's gone, I'll take you with me and introduce you to a reai live detective." " Ooh! Then he's a crook —Mr. Bentlev ! " Tony placed a finger on his lips, and gave a portentous wink. He knew that nothing would induce tho Minx to give him away now. At twenty minutes past ten o'clock, tho telephone in the library of Chantrey Lodge trilled its bell and was promptly answered by the parlourmaid. A voice that sounded r'stless and flat, requested that Miss Celia Forrest would be good enough to come to the instrument. Celia received the summons with a frown of wonder. " But nobody knows yet that I am here," she said. " Except the people at the Eight Bells." ( " You asked who was speaking ? " demanded Evan Benlley sharply. " Yes. sir. The gentleman said the name d'dn't matter. He just wanted a word with Miss Forrest, he said. It's a call from London, sir." Celia rose and went to the library. The voice that greeted her was the voice of an utter stranger. " You are Miss Celia Forrest? " "Yes." " This morning, in your capacity as | reporter for the Morning Mail, you are attending the inquest upon the body of Sir Charles Hartmore." " Yes." A curious uneasiness overcame the girl. " One who wishes you well, Miss Forrest, counsels you to volunteer to the court a full and frank statement of your knowledge of certain events prior to the murder—" Celia uttered an exclamation, and the receiver almost slipped from her grasp. Then she saw that Evan Bentley stood at her elbow. At the sight of her white face he snatched up the instrument. "Hullo! Hullo!" Silence answered him, broken by a faint click. He laid down the telephone with a bang. " Who was that!" he snapped. " I—l don't know —" 'j "What was the message! Quick, girl!" Then seeing the distress in her face he softened his voice. " My dear child he took both her hands. " Tell me what is the matter." In an undertone Celia repeated the words of the unknown speaker. She saw Bentley's brows contract with strangeanger. " You have no idea who this fellow is?" Colia shook her head. " I cannot euess," she said. But 1 almost think "that if so many people know of my—my history, it is useless to keep up this secretiveness any longer. Perhaps this one was a friend and perhaps his advice is best." Bentley threw back his head with a scornful laugh. "Little simpleton! It is lucky for you that you have a better friend than that! One who can toll you what blackmail is!" " Blackmail?" Celia stared wonderingly. " Of course it is plain blackmail. The speaker of this precious message knows very well that you are not in a position to make any disclosures at the inquest. This is merely a gentle preliminary. After the inquest no doubt you will receive another call or perhaps a letter referring to your silence on that occasion and hinting that since you are apparently anxious to avoid publicity, a friend will be pleased to assist you to that end —for a consideration/An old and well-worn device, hut very effective." The girl nodded unhappily. " I expect you are right. It means that lam powerless unless—" she hesitated. " Unless you can help me." Evan Bentley came forward and put his hands on her shoulders. " I can help you, Celia. You know how!" Celia looked away, crimsoning. "Not—not that way—please!" His grasp tightened gently. " My dear. Can you not care for me a little—in that way?" "It is not fair to you—or myself." " I lov© you, Celia." The girl's eves filled. " You are so good to me—and I cannot give you what you want." " You can give me everything simply by being my wife. I can give you a home and comfort and security. Isn't that better than tho exposure you dread and the certainty of being arraigned—" he dropped his voice, " as a murde^pss!" A shiver ran through her frame. As if divining the depths of her distress he remained silent. " Givo me a little while," she whispered presently. " A little while, yes. But you must not delay too long. Delay is dangerous." " How can you be sure that—that if I marry you this persecution will not continue and drag you down with me?' she asked, meeting his eyes honestly. Bentley gave a short laugh, " You forget that I am a lawyer with a criminal practice. No blackmailer is going to try conclusions with the wife of Evan Bentley! That's the difference. As Celia Forrest, alone and unprotected you are fair game." "But I have so little money! Why should I be worth exploiting ?" Ilentley's mouth set grimly. " Child, you will learn, unless you are wise, that every blackmailer regards his victim as a source of wealth until that victim has realised every asset, yielded every cent, borrowed to the uttermost limit and is drained dry ! My dear, you cannot afford the risk. Give me your answer soon—to-morrow if possible. You promise ?" She nodded in silence. " Very well. This morning I have Ihe inquest (o conduct and will take you there in my car. Remember that you must keep your mouth closed. I am your friend, Ce l ia> " • _ J* 1 V (To ba continued daily)