THREE STRANGE MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23170, 17 October 1938, Page 5

THREE STRANGE MEN

CHAPTER XXII. CLOSING IN Detectivo-Inspcctor Hardy's inquiries fct the Tooting station elicited that the police superintendent there had accepted notice from Mr. Torkney, who Jjld paid a personal visit the day before, that the lawyers had arranged to iave a caretaker at the Parmitter cottage in v ' ow the need of someone to bo in constant charge of the premises. This had not interfered with tho police joutino. It simply accounted for anything that might have been taking place, in a normal way, when tho constable's call occurred. As tho digging up of a garden, which presumably was to undergo a change, had not been reported as abnormal, the inference was that tho job, though it may have been carried through in the night, had not been started surreptitiously* The information and the upheaval gave Hardy his cue to see Torkney on this question. There were no signs at the house that a caretaker had been in.

"It's really nothing against Torkpey," he said to George, as they wont back to tho city, "if his caretaker didn't turn up. But I should like to know who tho intended caretaker was, god why he failed to come." "And whether," Parmitter suggested, >'he intends to come." "Exactly," Hardy agreed. "Too late," George added significantly. "No," protested the detective, "you can't establish complicity like that. It jron't wash." * "Torkncy's too clever, you mean? "Do you see a loopholo against him? I don't—yet. "Wait till tfe have seer him. Wo are goiug there now." "Are we?" "I'm taking you. I want you to give your consent to their answering one or two questions while you arc thore. 1 want you to say that you have no objection to- any \jriting from ltumely—a letter, or anything —being handed orer to me for examination. It is tho iimplcst way through at tho moment. .Will you do it?" "Of course I will do it," Parmittet Mid very promptly. "I can ask Tork ney, too, why he should be making this fans al»ont my importance all at once." "You can, if you like. But Torkney has a lawyer's answer to that, at least until you agree to your affairs being taken over by Thorgood's in Long Acre. There'll be fuss enough without that. or I'm mistaken." It happened that Hardy was mistaken. For there was no fuss at all. Tho typist at Cursitor Street informed them that"Messrs. Heed, Prico and Torkney were not in. "Sorry," said Hardy. "How soon will they be back?" *"I couldn't say," was tho answer. "Are they coming back?" "I'm not certain." "Mr. Shrey fn?" "No." - . "Can you toll me where I might find any of them?" "I cannot." Hardy looked at the girl with a jocose admiration. "Good for you, miss! ho eaid, "I'm in the Jaw, too. If you aro likely to be losing your job, I'm pretty euro I could find you one.", "But I'm not." "Then you're not dissolving? Mr. Parmitter'had an idea that you were, judging by a letter he has received./ "I don't know my employers' business," the young lady rejoined, with a half-smile of recognition at George; "but I'm sure that Mr. Torkney and Mr. Shrey would want mo to remain here. I'm awfully sorry they are not in "

in. "So am I, miss. Good-day." When ttioy got outside, Hardy remarked, "I won't detain you, Mr. Parmitter—l must get along further. Say where 1 may find you pretty quickly if I want you." . . ~ George told/him that this time would be 'divided between Brixton and Tottenham Court Road, until he went home to his rooms, which would probably be at a late hour. He would be at his office a good deal on the morrow, and at Hardy's service. With that they parted. It occurred to George Parmitter, then* that he might have had something to say to Hardy about Hcadley Barling. Barling was missing, it seemed, and might be a casualty. But Hardy would not take the same line of interest, and was busy enough in his own way. George had an uneasy feeling that Barling was in some trouble. While the feeling wap, strong in him, he did th* Only thing possible. He made inquiry about him at Abinger's Hotel. He was told there that >lr. Barling had been called away suddenly for a day or two, and had given up his room for the time. Ho was expected back. Just business—nothing unusual. This relieved George of his misgiving. It was in a far from cheerful mood that he returned to Brixton with the news. Notwithstanding that he hod been prepared for the enemy's success, the issue filled him witji a. terrible disappointment. Though no absolute proof of success was visible, the circumstances carried such conviction to his mind that ho could not harbour a doubt. The chance of recovery was remote, if the treasure had gone. The channels by which tlj# spoils might he disposed of were those of the criminal underworld, pbscure, intricate and difficult to explore, At Brixton the news was received: with similar dismay, It was after nine o'clock when, putting away many papers over which he had been working and brooding on his desk at Tottenham Court Road, a tap on his door preceded the appearance of Hardy, looking in with a grun smile. "I'm saving myself the trouble of looking you up in the morning," ho said. Going homo? You look about all fa." "Short of sleep," said George. "H'm. You'll be sleeping better soon, I daresay. I'm going toward Euston Bond. ComingP" George, assenting with a tired sigh, looked up, and joined his unexpected Visitor. They wont out together. "It is quite astonishing," observed Hardy, "how one small ray may illumine quite ;i large area of darkness. I want to arrange with you to meet me to-morrow noon —not later than one o'clock—somewhere about Dodworth in Long Acre, for a purpose of identification. If you're not too tired, "would ymi be interested in coming with Hie to find a person who, I think, is going to throw some more light in tho darknes.sy.lt might wake you up a bit, too. You may come if you like —of bourse, on your absolute discretion."

J'Euston Road, did you say?" "Near by. A club, llathor a shady y place, hut generally straight enough n»; 1 U come. 1 ; ■ "I'm : not expecting you to identify .•Byone now, But there just might bo •ornoono you may have occasion to roil £tll at somo time or other. One never jbjows. m Tottenham Court Road they their destination through a Mtnber of aide streets, and Hardy,

Bj C. T. PODMORE Author of *' Tha Fault," etc. A thrilling atory of a mysterioua inheritance »n£ a queer tangle of human amotion*.

(CQPTRIGBT)

without a pause, led the way up to the entrance of a house on the window of which was inscribed the name "Martin's," showing conspicuously against a light within. A man immediately challenged thetm, but fell back on a word from Haixly, who, followed by George with an air as if he shared the investigation professionally, stepped boldly into the first room he came to, and looked round. A number of men were playing cards and drinking. They paused at the interruption. But none of them interested Hardy, nnd he stepped out again. In the passage they were met now by Martin himself, a pale, elderly person, who had probably been summoned by the pressure of a bell. Acknowledging acquaintance with a nod, ho asked the visitor whom ho might bo looking for —if anyone? "I want a word with Freyne," Hardy replied.

"Not here," responded Martin, decisively shaking his head. "I'll have a look round, anyway," rejoined the detective; and the proprietor, with a shrug, immediately walked in front along tho passage. Further on, two rooms had been made into one. and hero the principal business of tlie club appeared to be centred. Several young aud sociable girls wero in attendance, and George noted several very well-dressed young mou among tho rather flashy crowdT Here again activities underwent a kind of suspension, and again Hardy was dasappointed in his survoy. "We'll go upstairs," be said. "You won't find Freyne," repeated Martin. "Ho hasn't been here for days." "We'll just glanco round, nevertheless," the detective insisted; and once inoro tho proprietor took the lead. Upstairs was a larger room still, with a polished floor and containing a piano, which stood on a little platform. Hero also a fow men were congregated convivially, though now they fell into an observant silence. "Ah," said Hardy, as ho crossed the threshold, "there's my man." Martin, observing the direction of Hardy's gaze, said: "That's not Freyne over there." "1 know," Hardy drily responded, and he crossed tho floor, Parmitter at his heels, to whore a man sat alone by one of the windows overlooking tho street. Tho proprietor followed a little way, hesitated, and drew back. Hardy's quarry watched his approach with narrow, steady eyes. He did not move. "Good evening, Markham! Don't be alarmed —I'm not wanting you, only for a fow words. A question or two, that's all. But understand, your answers must be straight." , "Well?" said *the man, only doubtfully relic ve<l. George followed Hardy's example and sat down, so that Markham was penned in his placo and obscured from others' observation. He was a man oi heavy features, bitten deeply by smallpox, and verging on middle age. A tough customer if ever ho got in a tight corner, George thought. i "I'll mako it short. You • wont to Abinger's Hotel a little time ago to see a Mr. Diggs. Don't evade that —we know it. The point is, did you got the stuff?" . "Honestly I didn't. I know nothing more about it." "How was that? Only the truth ia good for you." "He sent mo word it was going abroad."

"He -wrote you, did he?" "1 can prove it, if I have to." Markham, without more ado, produced a' typweritten note from among his papers, and handed it to Hardy, who murmured > it out conversationally: " 'The deal, I find, is inadvisable. As I am going abroad very soon I shall be obliged to do the business myself. E. J}.'—You do keep bits of documentary evidence sometimes, Markham? It's as well, for this great occasion.' (To be continued daily.)