THREE BLIND MEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 73

THREE BLIND MEN.

By

SHIRLEY TRENT,

Author of “A Test of Friendship,” “A Matter of Business,” "Love or Hate,” &c., &c. (Copyright.—For the Witness.) The inhabitants of Camberwcod were aroused to a fever heat of excitement. Groups of villagers stood at street corners, errand boys shouted loudly to one another as they scurried by on bicycles, shopkeepers and customers held lengthy conversations oyer the counter, publicans and drinkers waxed noisy over their glasses, and even old ladies- over their tea-cups had a great deal to say about the matter. And the matter was—a series of the most daring burglaries in seme half-dozen houses round about the Ullage—all of which had taken place in the last throe weeks. The two local policemen had been ran off their legs and were at their wits’ end. Matters had been reported to headquarters, and it was rumoured that special detectives were being sent from London. “What’s tlie good o’ tecs in a place like this?” the one and only postman, Simmons, asked of his wife one evening, as she placed his hot tea-supper on the table before him. “Everybody knows everybody else, and a new-comer would to spoiled at once for what lie was.” “Humph!” grunted Mrs Simmons, deftly whisking two sizzling sausages on to her husband’s plate. “I don’t know, I’m sure. But I’m fair sick of the whole subject, I am ! No-one can talk about anythin a* else, it seems to me.” “Yen’ll be a bit more sick when thev come and take your best- Sunday brooch and the chiny tea-pot your grandmother left you !” returned her husband, with his mouth full. Mrs Simmons said “Humph!” again, but nothing more. She seemed to be cogitating. Perhaps it would be as well to hide her best Sunday brooch and her old chiny tea-pot. “Got another sausage, lass?” asked George, pushing his plate forward. “Them thieves don’t bother about little houses like cmrn,” she said at length, as she helped him to more food. “It’s the big places they <ro for, where they’re sure of a- good haul.” “P’raps you’re right,’ George assented, and went on eating. “I’ll just step up the High and see what’s what.” he said, having finished his supper and lit a pipe. “All right. I shan’t wait up for *ee.” He nodded and nassed out of the front door, which led straight from the room into a little patch of garden and so into the roadway. Mrs Simmons, from the window, watched him walk away, and as soon as he had. disappeared round the bend of the road slie locked the front door. Then she hastily cleared the dirty plates from the table. replacing them with clean ones. The kettle was already boiling, and as slie opened the little oven door there issued the aroma of baking meat. She took a hasty glance round the little room, drew the curtains closelv. although it was far from dark, lit an oil lamp, and then gave a low whistle. In half a minute the door leading from the narrow stairway opened and a- voting man appeared on the threshold. He. too, looked all round the room carefully and smiled as he took the seat she had placed for him. “41) clear, Mothe-’?” be sskeci genially. “He’s gone up street. Won’t he hack for a couple of hours I reckon. You’d better make yourself comfortable whilst you have the chance.” The young man laughed cheerily.

“Why Mother, haven’t you made me as snug as a bug in a rug in that little lumber room of yours upstairs? But I’ll have to be out as soon at it’s dark you know. Must earn a wife.” The young man laughed again and rubbed his hands together greefully. “Humph. You’ll be murdered afore you’re done I’m thinking.” “Ah, well, there’s nothing like adventure even if it means a short life,” he returned., nothing daunted. “Jolly good chop this, mother. You’re a champion cook. George Simmons knew what he was about when he asked you to marry him.” Meanwhile, George Simmons was walking up the High sucking contentedly at his pipe, and on the look-out for any chance of news or gossip. But it was evidently still teatime for the streets were more or less empty as they frequently are in a small town at that hour. Presently he espied an old crony coming out of a tobacco shop at the far end of the High, where it began to straggle. In the distance was a vista of country road with the tall gates of the Blind Asylum on one side. “Hello, Bert!” he shouted, hurrying up alongside. '“Any news?” Bert stopped and greeted his pal. “Have you seen the new tecs?’’ he asked. “No,” implied George, “have you?” “Nor I neither!” Bert spat on the ground and lowered his voice, although there was no one in sight. “’Twixt you and me and the gate post I don’t believe there are any. Nobody has seen them.” “Then how do you know there are tecs? Who started that yarn?” “Don’t ask me, old man. Everybody’s saying it. But not a soul as I knows of has seen ere a blooming one.” They were starting to cross the road together when the sharp toot of a motor horn made them withdraw hastily to the kerb. “There goes Colonel Heathcott,” said Bert. “The only man with a big house, who hasn’t been robbed yet. It’ 11 be his turn next I’ll be bound.” They watched the car glide up the road and saw it suddenly swerve Three men were walking arm in arm out of the Blind Asylum gates as the car was about to turn in, and it looked like an immediate collision between the pedestrians and the car “Narrow shave that!” said George. “What’s that Heathcott chap going in there for ?’’ “He’s one of the directors,” answered Bert. The three blind men pursued their course arm in arm down the road, keeping well to the left and in the direction of the village. The blind men from the asylum in twos and threes were a familiar eight in the neighbourhood of Camberwood. They went thus, with linked arms, for long walks all over the countryside. “Funny thing,” said George, as they followed the road and gradually approached the three sightless men, “how those chaps can get about like that. I s’pose it don’t matter to them Whether ’tis day or night.” “They can hear jolly well if they can’t see,” remarked BertGeorge and Bert were silent as the three men passed them. One man wore dark spectacles, one had empty sockets, and the third man’s eyes were wide open. He appeared to be looking above everybody and everything. Instinctively, George and Bert turned to look at them, and without a word, as » if by common consent, they followed them into the High street. Presently they saw the three blind men disappear into the doorway of the “Goat and Compasses.” Bert nudged George. “What d’ye think of that?” “Out of bounds,” returned George, grinning. "I’ll not split on ’em.” “Nor I neither. Well, good-night, mate}'. The missus ’ll be expecting me.” “Same here,” replied George. “So long.” But, left alone, George did not go home. Instead, curiosity led him into the “Goat- and Compasses.” He wanted to see what the blind men were doing in there. He entered the bar, where several men were drinking. He tossed a coin on to the counter, and demanded a pint of halfand half. Whilst the barmaid drew the frothy mixture, he took a good look round, but could see no sign of the persons he sought. “That’s a rum go,” he said to himself. “Somethin’s up, I’ll bet my hat. I’ll wait and see what happens.” He took a long time over his drink, and entered into the general conversation. Of course, the topic was the local burglaries, and tihe chances of Colonel Heathcott’s house being burgled. George stayed, and talked for the best part of an hour, and aired his opinions over and over again, but still there was no sign of the three men. Curiosity at length got the better of him. He turned to the barmaid. “ Three of those blind chaps were nearly run over by a motor just afore I came in. I thought I saw them come in here.” The barmaid tossed her head. “Well, "you thought wrong. Everyone knows public-houses are out of hounds. Poor innocents! ” She spoke with a sneer. “ Anyway I saw them come in,” insisted George. “ You can ask Bert Bolder. He was with me and saw them too.” “ Well, they aren’t here, are they? ” snapped the barmaid, annoyed at his insistence. “ Strikes me some folks are blind that have eyes in their heads.” She turned away to attend to another customer, and George, sorely puzzled, shortly after took his leave. It was quite dark by that time, and he did not see a stranger who was approaching the “ Goat and Compasses ” as he left it. * » * W » Next morning Camberwood waa more excitedly astir than ever. Heatly Grange, the house of Colonel Heathcott, had been

broken into during the night. George Simmons, the postman, brought the news to the village after his morning round. Mrs Heathcott’s jewels, valued at £2OOO, had completely disappeared. Nothing else had been touched, though the thief, or thieves, seemed to have gained entrance through the butler’s pantry, where all the table silver was kept. The window of the butler’s pantry had been left open, and there were footmarks on the flower bed outside. Jenkins, the butler, who slept in a little room next to his pantry, had not heard a sound—indeed, it was long since he had slept so soundly and had had so good ai night, he told Cook. The jewels had been put only a lew days before in a cardboard box in an old oak chest in the hall which had purposely been left unlocked. Colonel Heathcott had a theory that the best precaution against thieves was to lock nothing up. If cupboards and bureaus and doors were locked, he asserted, it was immediately assumed that there must tie something valuable inside. Unlocked no thief would trouble to search them. Perhaps he had boasted too loudly about his theory. Certainly it was common knowledge among his neighbours and acquaintances. Anyway . there it was, the jewels had gone. His wife had begged him to send them to the bank when the first burglaries in the neighbourhood had taken place, but the old soldier had stubbornly refused, and placed them in the most open place he could think of. Now he was ready to tear his hair with rage and remorse. What was to be done? Of course the police were notified, but what was the use of that? he asked his wife. They had been notified of six ‘burglaries already and not a blessed thing had they found out. Colonel Heathcott, a tall, spare man with handsome, hawk-like face, paced his library floor with his hands clenched behind his hack, giving vent to military expressions of rage and anger, while his gentle little wife sat in a huge armchair by the open grate. She was evidently in distress, not so much because of the loss of the jewels as because her spouse was in such a towering rage. It was bad for him. The doctor had warned him that he woilld not be responsible for the consequences if the Colonel allowed himself to get into such violent furies. It led inevitably to a heart attack. “Never mind, dear,” she urged ;n soothing tones. “ Yon’ll make yourself ill if you go on in that way. Remember what Dr Horton said.” The Colonel fumed and spluttered some incoherent reply. Mrs Heathcott. then resorted to the usual tactics. She tried to turn his attention to another subject. “What about the party for the blind men this afternoon?” she asked. “ Shall we put it off, do you think? ' “ Confound the party, confound the blind men, counfound ’’ “ Hush, dear, hush,” said Mrs Heathcott soothingly. She had really no intention whatever of postponing the party. “ I wonder where Patty is. The servants will need her help to get everything ready in time for this afternoon. ' She rose from her chair, dry-eyed and serene. “ I fancy I saw her cross the lawn some time ago,” she continued. “ She is probably picking flowers for the tables. Shall we go and look for her? ” Meanwhile Patty, the daughter of the house, was at the thickest and furthest end of the shrubbery, talking in low and earnest tones to a young gentleman who, in spite of the warm summer’s day, was completely muffled up by his v-oat collar and a cap drawn over his eyes. “I think it is a perfectly ripping scheme, Charles,” Patty was saying. “Do you really think you will be able to pull it off? ” Charles Connor drew something out of his pocket and held it to his upper lip. It was a false moustache. Patty gave a tiny scream. “ Charles,” she said solemnly, “ don’t you ever dare grow a moustache or I’ll not ” “ Yes, you will,” he replied quickly, catching her in his arms. “ You’ll have to love, honour, and obey—obey, do you hear that? ” “ Let me go, Charles; it is your torn to obey now. I must not stop another minute or I shall be missed. He released her at once. “That’s true, dear heart. Now before you go let me see if you understand perfectly all that we have arranged. I shall arrive at four o’clock precisely, and you will introduce me as Mr Tagg, a friend whom, you met in France during the war. Leave the rest to me. I have been watching for days and my plans are all laid. This party is a perfect godsend. It is the sauce piquante for the egg that I have been hatching. Well, darling, au revoir. Before the day is over the countryside will be restored to peace and happiness, and you and I will find favour in the eyes of your parents. You’ll see.” Patty laughed happily, but she dared not linger. At that moment her mother’s voice could be heard calling through the garden. “Patty, Patty, where are you, dear?” “Fly/ Charles, fly for your life,” she whispered hurriedly, and without another word she left him to run swiftly up the shrubbery path. Half an hour later Patty and her mother with the entire staff of servants, including the gardeners and Mrs Simmons, who had come up to help for the day, were deep in the preparations for the” afternoon’s festivities. About eighty inmates of the Blind Asylum were to come and spend the afternoon in the garden. There were to be games and a hand. Tea was laid on long trestle tables in the open under the shade of two magnificent Scotch firs. Patty busied herself with the floral decorations, although, as she remarked to her mother, it was rather a waste of time, for none of the guests could see the flowers that she waa arranging with such care.

“Never mind, dear,” replied her mother. “Put all the strong scented ones you can find. At any rate they can smell them.” “Patty made a wry face, but did as her mother suggested. As she was working Mrs Simmons approached her with a pile of heaped-up saucers on her arm, which she was placing at regular intervals along the tables. She paused for a moment and looked at the girl with a sly glance. Patty smiled and put her finger to her lips. Mrs Simmons nodded and passed on. The day was perfect. A cloudless blue sky, gorgeous sunshine, with hardly a breath of wind. The guests were expected at three o’clock. The older ones were to be driven in cars lent by friends, and many would walk. Colonel Heathcott spent most of the morning interviewing the police. He relieved his feelings by calling them fools and knaves, after which outburst he apologised handsomely and offered them wine and cakes. The police visited every nook and corner in the house and garden, and took measurements, which were duly noted in little black pocket books. They interviewed every servant on the premises, whereat Mrs Heathcott was much aggrieved. There was too much to be done, she said, but her remonstrances were in ‘vain. Patty chuckled to herself. Charles would show them how things should be done. Let them go on with their fussing and measuring. Much good that would do. At three o’clock the hand began to play and the blind men began to -arrive. The ladies and gentlemen of the neighbourhood also came to help entertain the sightless visitors. Very soon the lawn was thronged with guests and the fun began. Tea was to be at four. Exactly at the hour a little two-seater car drove up with two gentlemen inside. “Whover can that be?” Mrs Heatheote to the Rev. Mr Fontenoy, the head of the Blind Aslyum, who was just preparing to say grace. Patty, who had been on the qui vive for the last ten minutes, ran forward quickly. “Oh, Mother, here is Mr Tagg. What a surprise!” Her heart beat wildly as she spoke, but she showed no sign of it. “Mr Tagg, my dear, and who is Mr Tagg?” “Surely you remember him mother, I met him when I was doing V-A.D. work.” Mrs Heatheote remembered nothing. She was confused by the chatter of voices and the hubbub around her. Patty had made so many friends durnig the war. Whoever it was must be made welcome for tier sake. Anyone but that Mr Connor, whom she and the Colonel both looked upon with disfavour as not sufficiently endowed with this world’s goods for their daughter’s husband. Patty, hastening forward, greeted Mr Tagg as a long-lost friend. Her heart beat violently, and her voice shook slightly as she held out her hand and said: "“Why, you are quite a stranger, Mr Tagg. How good of you to come.” Mr Tagg took her hand and bowed politely. “I hope I don’t come at an inopportune time,” he said. “May I introduce my friend, Mr Sparkes? We were motoring down this way on a little matter of business, and could not resist the temptation to call and see you.” There was just the suspicion of a twinkle in Mr Sparkes’s eyes as he greeted Miss Heathcott. “The moment is more than opportune,” said the girl. “As you see we have a party of blind men and are just sitting down to tea. Come and be introduced to my father and mother.” She had completely regained her composure by now, as she led them to her parents. “Mr Tagg is a great hand at entertaining, mother. You must make him help us.” She could not help glancing mischievously at Charles as she spoke. Both the young men were made warmly welcome. They entered with zest into the spirit of the party, and Mr Tagg soon had the blind men in fits of laughter over his jokes and funny stories. “A very charming young man,” said the Rev. Mr Fontenoy, to his host. “Who is h© ?* J “Can’t quite fix him,” said the Colonel, whose good humour had been completely restored since the morning’s outburst. “Some fellow my girl met during the war, I gather. She went to France, you know, and made crowds of friends. ’ . Just at that moment Mr Tagg came up to the two gentlemen who were standing talking, slightly apart from the rest of the crowd. “I am sorry to interrupt,” he said, with a slight bow, “but I have really come to see you, Colonel, on a matter of some importance.” “Indeed, sir ! M replied the Colonel, m a voice of modified surprise. . “Yes,” said Mr Tagg. “And I think Mr Fontenov will also be interested. Do you mind if I call up my friend Sparkes. ' He turned and beckoned to that gentleman, who was at a little distance, evidently waiting for his signal. “But,” asked the- Colonel. “What is it all about?” Mi- Tagg smiled. “I am sorrv to be so mysterious.” he replied. “But if both you gentlemen would kindlv accompany me to a rather less public place T will explain everything. Do you mind if I smoke?” He pulled a cigarette case and handed it round. “Would you mind all smoking and would you just saunter across the lawn with me quite casually, chatting as if we had no particular object in hand? As soon as we are out of sight of the people, follow me very quietly without saying a word.” Colonel Heathcott and Mr Fontenoy exchanged glances _ of astonishment, but Mr Tagg was so quiet and matter of fact in his assumption that they would do as he told them, that they were completely dumb-founded. They all lighted their cigarettes and strolled across the lawn as Mr Tagg had suggested. Mr Sparkes commented on the blueness of the sky and the

redness of the roses with enthusiasm, and Mr Tagg assented effusively, but the two elder gentlemen remained speechless. They gained the shrubbery at one comer of the lawn, and well out of view Mr Tagg enjoined silence by placing his forefinger over his beautiful moustache. He took tire lead and all three followed in single file, Mr Sparkes bringing up the rear. The shrubbery was long and winding at the end was a small paddock, beyond which was a copse with thick under-growth. To reach the copse it was necessary either to cross the paddock or to skirt alongside a hedge and ditch. Mr Tagg took the latter course. As they reached the edge of the copse Colonel Heathcott, whose alaam had been gradually increasing, nearly jumped out of nis skin. Two men with revolvers were crouching in the ditch at his very feet. He was about to give a shout, but Sparkes was watching him ready for the emergency and neatly clapped a hand over his mouth. “You are quite safe,” he whispered. “Only keep quiet.” The veins stood out on the Colonel’s forehead, and he wanted to ask what all this tomfoolery was about, but he obeyed in a dazed kind of way. Mr Fontenoy, mean-while, had become very white, but he kept perfectly silent. Mr Tagg stopped and said something in a whisper to the two armed men. They nodded and ci’ept out of the ditch. Ail six now proceeded cautiously and slowly for some distance through the copse, carefully holding branches and brambles aside for one another as they went. Tagg still took the lead. Presently he stopped. “Now watch,” he said. They had come to a clearing which had a floor thickly studded with pine needles. This clearing was in the dead centre of the copse. Tree 3 and undergrowth grew thickly all around, and one always came upon it quite suddenly. Colonel Heathcott knew it well. It had been planted by his grandfather. It was quite light here, and at one point a ray of sunlight had filtered through the tree tops and shone in a long narrow slant across one side of the clearing so brightly that it almost dazzled the eyes after the darkness of the wood. The Colonel was not prepared for the sight which met his eyes as soon as he had grown accustomed to the light. On the shaded side of the clearing three men were kneeling by the side of a recently-dug trench, out of which they were taking packets and parcels, both small and large, wrapped up in newspaper. These they were stuffing hastily into three large suitcases on the ground. So engrossed were they in their task that they did not hear the muttered exclamation made by the Colonel as soon as he had grasped the situation. As for Mr Fontenoy, he looked horror-struck. For in the three men before him he seemed to recognise three blind men from his own asylum. But these men were not blind, as was evident from the deft movements with which they sorted and packed the parcels. Moreover, Mr Fontenoy was perfectly certain that he had passed those three particular blind men on the lawn only a few minutes ago. He had no time to unravel the mystery in his own mind, for what followed happened so quickly that he had no time to think. Mr Tagg gave a shrill whistle. The three men, caught red-handed, jumped up, and immediately made as if to holt. Six men appeared suddenly from the undergrowth round the clearing, seized them, ana handcuffed thenl in a trice. Then Mr Fontenoy’s disturbed mind was relieved by the discovery that the thieves were not inmates of his asylum, but merely countefeits. They had disguised themselves very cleverly, and gone about in broad daylight as blind men. When the suitcases were unpacked all the stolen plunder from the neighbourhood was discovered. Most of the victims of the recent burglaries were at the party, and there was much joy and excitement at the recovery of then' property and the capture of the thieves. Colonel Heathcott was to receive yet another shock that day. Dinner was late that evening. At Patty’s instigation both Mr Tagg and Mr Sparkes had been invited to remain, and it was arranged that they should motor home late at night. Everybody was tired and exhausted after the labours and excitements of the day, and by unanimous consent it was decided to dispense with evening clothes. Colonel Heathcott himself conducted his guests to his dressing room and then went to await them in the library downstairs. Patty was there already, moving restlessly up and down the room glancing at a magazine and then putting it down, rearranging a flower here and moving an ornament there and generally fidgetting. She eyed her father apprehensively as he entered the room, but he offered no remark, and subsided heavily into an armchair, shutting his eyes as if very tired. Patty sat down and tried to keep quiet. She wanted to jump, or shout, or run. A queer sort of nervousness possessed her. Would Charles never come down ? The minutes dragged like hours. Suddenly the door opened. Patty jumped up with a start. But it was only Mrs Heathcott. The Colonel opened nis eves and smiled. “Well, mother, come and sit down; you must be tired,” he said affectionately. Before Mrs Heathcott could answer the door opened again, and this time Charles Connor, smooth-faced, clean-shaven, made his appearance. He stood there smiling, looking from one to the other. “ ’Pon my Sam! ” exclaimed the Colonel in astonished tones,_ struggling up from the depths of his chair. “ Mr Connor? ” said Mrs Heathcott, wonderingly. “Yes!” said Patty, moving across the room towards her fiance and placing her arm in his. “ Mother, dear, father,

Charles and Mr Tagg are one and the same person. It is owing to his efforts that the discovery of the jewels was made to-day.” She faltered and was silent. “We hope,” said Charles Connor, giving the little hand that lay on his arm a gentle pressure, “we hope that you will no longer withhold your consent to our engagement.” Both Colonel and Mrs Heathcott were too astonished to speak. “Patty and I love one another,” continued Charles in a low, clear voice. “Yes,” broke in Patty, “and ” The Colonel burst into a hearty laugh that reverberated through the room and resounded into the hall. “ ’Pon my Sam! ” he exclaimed again, and laughed boisterously. Ha, ha, ha! Do you hear that, mother? Well, so it’s to end with wedding bells and red carpet, is it? ” Just then the gong sounded for dinner in precisely the same note as the Colonel’s laugh, and Mr Sparkes appeared at the door at precisely the same moment, having thoughtfully absented himself till then. He found Patty with her arms round her father’s neck, and Mrs Heathcott patting Charles’s hand in a motherly way.