MR. CORONER PRESIDES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21328, 1 November 1932, Page 17

MR. CORONER PRESIDES

A Novel by SELDON TRUSS

CHAPTER XX—(Continued)

Dawn had nearly broken, and evil had almost run its course for that night. But in one corner at least, there lingered some that would not disperse until the broad light of day. It had been a busy period for Julian Swabe—and others. Now, behind tlie curtained windows of Bentley's flat, they had met and the seal of Bentley's approval was to be placed upon their activities. Swabe, with that covert smilo i>f his, had just laid down the telephone receiver, and was rubbing his hands together contentedly. Reclining on the couch, beneath Mortimer Archdale's black and yellow snake, with a cigarette between her overreddened lips, Marcia Vasanyi stared at him, barely troubling to conceal her scorn and dislike. Evan Bentley tapped the ash from his cigar and faced his lieutenant. " Well ?" " All in order, sir. Everything in order. The young doctor has now followed Number 108. Ho will not trouble us again." Bentley frowned thoughtfully. " That message was a long time coming," he said. Julian Swabe nodded. " Apparently it took a long lime to re-capture the doctor, NTr. Bentley. He led our fellows quite a dance, it seems, after killing Jabez Ripley. But tliry got liiin, sir. They got him. Trust them for that!" Swabe broko into one of his silent chuckles. " And wo have plenty of substitutes for tho excellent Ripley!" " Stop that infernal graining!" Bentley scowled irritably. "Who was that speaking ?" " Why, the Cross Keys, sir. Who else? But they are very discreet, Mr. Bentley. They never trust tho telephone. ' l'lease tell Mr. Bentley that the sacks of cement are now in position!' That was tho message, sir. Ho! Ho! Very cryptic indeed! Quite a sense of humour in tho Tail, sir." Bentley scowled again, as though he found his subordinate's levity unpalatable. Turning to the table he picked up one of the two little wash-leather bags that lay alongside a bundle of documents. Untying the bag, he poured its contents —five small, but perfectly-matched cut diamonds —on to the tablo. Tho stones winked and glittered under tho strong electric light and some of tho sparkle seemed to be reflected in Julian Swabo's deep-sunk eyes. Marica Vasanyi half raised herself from her couch, her gaze fastened avidly upon Bentley's hands. In silenco he poured tho stones back into the bag and held it out to Swabe. " You will deal with those. Make the necessary payments to tho members, and account to me for the balance." Swabe's grasp closed eagerly on the bag. " I understand, sir. Perfectly. It is very gratifying, Mr. Bentley, that everything has gono according to plan." Swabe made a little bow in Marcia's direction. " Allow me to congratulate you, Miss Vasanyi, on your admirable work." Marcia checked the contemptuous retort that roso to her lips, and lay back on the couch. With tho diamonds out of sight she appeared to lose further interest in these proceedings. " Miss Vasanyi does not require your compliments, Swabe," Bentley interposed curtly. " You will oblige me by confining yourself to your own department." " Certainly, Mr. Bentley. Certainly, sir. I trust I have given satisfaction," Swabe mumbled, backing toward the door. " With your permission, sir 1 will leave you." Bentley stood still until the door closed. Then he picked up the second washleather bag, and locked it in a drawer of his desk. Returning to tho table, ho began to examino the bundle of documents, narrowly scrutinising each in turn, Finally, with a smile of grim satisfaction, he gathered up tho whole bundle and carried it to the fire. Marcia stared at the consuming flames with knit brows. " One wrould imagine that you are better pleased to see the last of those, than to get the diamonds, Evan," she snid slowly. Bentley straightened his back; he was still smiling. " Possibly you are right." " Then, perhaps, it was for the—papers that you sent me, and not tho diamonds ?" " Perhaps it was," he answered calmly. Marcia shrugged her bare white shoulders. It was never any use trying to extract information from Evan Bentley. " Personally, I should prefer the diamonds," she said. "The Tan get their share; you get yours. But I—wlo obtain these tilings for you—what do I get? Nothing, not even thanks!"' Ho came forward and slood by the couch looking down at her. " Bo patient, my dear, for a very little longer. And be reasonable. To give you those diamonds would bo to hand you straight over to tho police. Swabe knows better how to deal with them. Presently you will have more than mero diamonds, Marcia." The woman closed her eyes wearily. " Promises!" she said. "Always promises! " " At least I shall keep my promises," Bentley retorted coldly. " Ah—" the 'woman'.* eyes opened suddenly, to fasten themselves on his. " I wonder —if I could only be. sure of that! You are going to marry that fool of a girl, Evan. Will you be loyal to-me then ? " Bentley moved away with an angry shrug. "Good Cod! How you harp on that subject! llow many times havo I told you it is essential to our schemes." " And is it essential that you—go away with her? " she asked softly. " Yes, of course ! " " It is a risk, Evan. A big risk. There is an ugly word for this—lliey call it—bigamy." With a furious oath tho man swung round on her. " Hold your tongue—" Marcia slipped off the couch and stood facing him, her black eyes dangerous and challenging. " Tho risk is bigger than you know. For I tell you, Evan, if that girl is going to mean too much to you—l will wreck everything! "

CHAPTER XXI SINGULAR ABSORPTIONS OF MR. APCHDALE In the early hours of that morning an opulent-looking car threaded its way into the dingy by-lanes- of east London and then, turning south, presently drew up at the police station near Wapping Stairs. The station sergeant was considerably surprised to receive a visit from a dis-tinguished-looking old gentleman wearing a silk hat and other habiliments not commonly observed in Wapping. r iho old gentleman introduced himself without the waste of a moment on preliminaries. " My name is Mortimer Archdale," lie said, speaking quickly and urgently. " 1 have heard that last night the River Police discovered a—the body of a man. Ho was found drowned. With your permission I should like to see the body." The sergeant nodded, and picked up a pen. Requests of this kind were not uncommon. "Your address sir, please? Thank you—" ho wrote it down carefully in the book on the desk. " I take it you wish to indentify this body ? " " It is possible that I may be able to," Archdalo answered deliberately, and (hen paused. " I shall be glad, meanwhile, if you will say, whether in your opinion there was—foul play in this case ? " The sergeant stared with new interest. "Foul play, sir? There are several cases cf death by drowning in the mortuary— the River Police are finding 'cm

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every day, but so far as I know no suspicion of murder attaches to any present case. One moment, sir—" lie pulled down a file on a shelf and opened it. " I see that one corpse is badly contused above the head, that often happens, though. It's caused by striking against one of the piers of a bridge in falling. Now let's see —Age about fifty, height sft. IJjin. Hair dark, turning grey. Iso name or laundry marks on clothing, 01 other clue to indentity, but right upper arm is branded with a queer mark like a capital T with an 0 on the top of it. Urn! This must be the case Scotland Yard have been phoning us about. I ve only just come on duty myself, but I bear tho Yard was very busy last night looking for this particular party. It will be interesting if you can indentify him, sir." The sergeant turned to stare keenly at the visitor, who answered the stare without a flicker in his steel-blue eyes. " It will be, as you say, interesting," Mortimer Archdale agreed. "The description you give is, however, vague. It would apply to very many cases." " Quito so, sir," tho sergeant nodded and beckoned a subordinate. 'Hie sgbordinate was ordered to conduct Mr. Archdale to tho mortuary and to report back at the conclusion of that duty. In a few moments Mortimer Archdale and liis escort had traversed the short distance from police station to mortuary, ajid, had the constable been an individual of acuter perceptions, he would have obsorved a change in tho demeanour of this elderly gentleman as they entered the grim little building, for Mortimer Archdale was trembling with suppressed eagerness —or perhaps it was fear, and the lin<33 of bis face had deepened until he looked ten years older. He gave one glance at. the dead white countenance, stained with river slime, a. dreadful open gash across the scalp, the eyelids half parted, and turned like a man in a dream. The constable hurried after him but he spoke no word until he reached the car that stood outside the police station, its chauffeur patiently waiting. Mr. Archdale entered the car, slamming the door sharply after him. " Beg pardon, sir." The constable's upraised hand checked the. driver from 'engaging his clutch. " The sergeant will want to know whether you are prepared to identify-—-" Mortimer Archdale shook his head. " Please toll your sergeant that I am not prepared to identify tho body in this case. I am obliged to you for your trouble, constable." A gloved hand passed through the window and a rustle of crisp paper sounded in its grasp. The constable saluted and stood back as tho car started. 11l an instant it had swung round tho corner out of the constable's sight. The streets were crowded now, with tho daily influx of city workers, and the big car had perforce to curb its strength and speed. But the solitary passenger, sunk iu his luxurious cushions, appeared oblivions of all save his own innermost thoughts, and reclined, head lowered, eyes closed, until they had reached tho freer thoroughfare of the West End. Then he awoke from his lethargy and gave an order through the tube. Promptly tho driver changed direction and entered a by-street that presently brought them before the elegant entrance way to tho offices of tho Oriental Diamond Syndicate. Mortimer Archdale alighted and then stood still, frowning. Within tho vestibule was a little group of people, whom he recognised, as employees of tho syndicate. Among them were two police constables and an energetic youth rapidly scribbling in a notebook. Tho youth had " news reporter " written all Over him. Archdale strodo forward, thrusting his way through the excitedly jabbering men anil women in tho open lift, when ono of tho constables barred his way. " Sorry, sir, you can't go up. Inspector's orders." The visitor's grey eyebrows rose in bewilderment and indignation. "What is the meaning of this? I wish to see Mr. Murdoch at once." " Impossible, sir, I'm afraid. Mr. Murdoch has just been taken t9 hospital." " Good God! What has happened ? " " Robbery, sir, with violence. The manager has been badly gassed —not expected to recover. Safe's been emptied, we don't know tho extent yet, but the inspector's been on the job for an hour," tho constable informed him. Mortimer Archdale drew a breath, then his jaw snapped grimly. " Who is in charge of this case? " he demanded. " Detective-Inspector Shane, sir, of the C.1.D." " I am acquainted with Inspector Shane. Please inform him that I am here and would like a word with him." The constable hesitated. " The inspector gave orders that he was not to be disturbed, sir." " IJo will see me," Mortimer Archdale declared positively. " Very good, sir. If you will wait here I'll enquire." In a few moments the constable returned and requested Mr. Archdale to follow him. Shane received the visitor with a thoughtful grunt. " Funny how you always seem to ba on the spot whenever anything happens," he commented. " This is pure chance, inspector. Mr. Murdoch happens to be an acquaintance of mine." The detective grunted again. His demeanour exhibited notably less cordiality and his rather blank gaze followed Mr. Archdale with curious emphasis as that gentleman moved across the room to the open safe. "Shouldn't get too close, sir. There's still a trace of tho gas in there." " Gas. llow was it done ? " " That's what we'd like to know. Somehow or other there was a gas container placed inside that safe, timed to release itself before the safe was due to be opened. And it was placed there by someone who knew just when it was duo to bo opened.". Shane paused. "If you're a friend of Mr. Murdoch's perhaps you can help us." _ The visitor turned, met the detective's stare with surprise. "How can I help you, inspector? I know nothing of Mr. Murdoch's business arrangements." " No, sir? That's a pity. His staff don't seem to know much about them either. All we can get clear is that a certain party was expected last night with some cut stones from tho Continent. There's a telegram, signed Iloltzapfel—presumably the party in question—delaying the appointment until after office hours. That ensures that only one member of the staff will ho ielt in the office. As it happened, unfortunately for himself, the manager decides to stay. The act of opening the safe in order to put away theso newly-arrived stones releases the pent-up gases, the manager gets his knockout and the party who brought the stones not only gets those stones back but collars everything else in tho safe ? All that's simple enough. What wc want to know is, who contrived to introduce tho gas container into the safe ? And you say you can't help us there. That's very unfortunate, because apparently nobody else can either." Mortimer Archdale broke into an irritable laugh and moved towards the safe again. He saw that every shelf was bare. The detective stood at his elbow and followed his gaze. " Everything gone you see, sir. Every mortal thing. According" to the chief clerk there were some documents in there as well. What those documents were nobody knows, but they've gono all right. Now what was the use of those private documents to the Tail!" Mortimer Archdale started, ever so slightly. " The Tan! So you imagine they are involved ?" " They stuck their trade-mark on the manager, sir, and the doorkeeper too, so it, seems pretty obvious," said the detcctivo drily. (To bo continued diiiiy)