THE NOVELIST

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 70

THE NOVELIST

ilie Mystery of Ryeburn,Manor.

By

JOHN LAURENCE,

Author of *’ The Sign of the Double Cross Inn," etc.

(Special for the Otago Witness.)

.iKS LEE INTERESTS VIDLER. “ We’ve traced that car,” announced Markham cheerily on the telephone. “ We work quick at. this end.” “ I only give you simple routine jobs,” retorted Vidler.

“ It was parked in Studland garage, Studland road, a-quarter of a mile from Ditchling road, from 9.15 to 11.15,” continued the superintendent, ignoring his subordinate’s gibe. “We’ve got the entry book. The name given was Robinson.” “ That tells me a fat lot,” grumbled the inspector. “ What was he like ? I suppose it was a man ? ”

“ Oh, yes, it was a man all right. Did you think it was a woman ? ”

“ I had an idea this morning it might be,” confessed Vidler. “ A very strong idea, in fact. You’ve knocked another theory of mine on the head, John. What was he like?”

“ Not the vaguest information,” replied Markham. “ They had about a hundred cars in that night, and the man in charge hasn’t the .faintest notion.” “In fact he wouldn’t even be prepared to swear it was a man? ” asked Vidler liiil >rlv.

■ “ 1 don’t think he’d be prepared to do th?*. The names are not put down as Al.-, Mis, or Miss, as the case may be,” ritorted Markham. “They might be aii men for all the book tells you. I’ll mak > inquiries if he remembers any women garaging their cars that night.” “ I wish you would,” replied Vidler. “Things are getting lively down here.” He repeated the conversation he had had with Sheila, and the effect of his announcement on her.

“ The claim is obviously bogus, and she knows it is,” announced the superintendent. “ You’re sure she’s not bluffing you?” . ...

“ I haven’t been bluffed by a woman yet, and got children growing up and eating my hard-earned salary,” replied Vidler.

Markham chuckled. He was proud of his three children, and the fact that the inspector was still a batchelor was always a source of joking between them. “ Good-bye,” said Vidler, replacing the further encomiums of the wife of the superintendent. He had heard them all before.

Just before dinner a telephone message came from Lee, at Hastings, telling them not to wait, as one of the leaf springs of the car had broken, and he and Thornton were dining in Hastings while a fresh spring’was being fitted. Vidler took the opportunity to turn the conversation to motoring. To his secret gratification, Mrs Lee, for once, did not discuss a new method of fortunetelling. Motoring, evidently, was one of her favourite subjects. “ I prefer driving at night,” she said in her high-pitched voice. “ With decent lamps you can see the road well ahead, and go faster round corners than during the day.” “ I’m inclined to agree with you,” said, Vidler. “You can see the other fellow’s lights. And the roads are clearer at night.” “ I’ve proved it often. In the day, it takes me two hours and a-quarter to drive to London. At night I’ve done it in an hour and three-quarters.” “ Excellent.” commented Vidler, ab-sent-mindedly. He was thinking of the time the car was garaged in Studland garage from 9.15 to 11.15. That would mean it had left Winchelsea at half-past seven, and arrived back at about one o’clock, if it had taken an hour and threequarfors each way. It was worth inquiring of the servants if they had heard any car that night round about those times. And if Mrs Lee had been seen between the hours of seven-thirty and one. For it was Mrs Lee who had engaged Simmonds —Mrs Lee who would get the money if her pearls were lost or stolen. ANOTHER TELEPHONE CALL. Airs Lee glanced at the clock. " I think it is time James and Air Thornton ■were back,” she said querulously. “ Halfpast ten, and he ’phoned at seven o’clock?’ “We don’t know exactly where they were,” said Vidler soothingly. “If they ■were a couple" of miles out of Hastings, and had to wait for a breakdown car, it might easily take them three or four hours to get repairs done. It may be that the garage hadn’t got the right kind of spring, and had to put in a temporary job. I know these things, Mrs Lee. They’re going to take half an hour, according to the garage’ people,- and they often take five times as long. Garages are always optimistic.” - “ I suppose so,” squeaked Airs Lee, doubtingly. “ All the same, James knows we will be uneasy and he could have telephoned again.”

Harding was the only one of the four who did not appear concerned about the lateness of Lee and Thornton.. The longer- they were away the more he could enjoy Sheila’s company, and the two took the opportunity to talk in low tones, while Vidler valiantly, kept his end up with Airs Lee.

“ Air Lee prefers the two-seater, I suppose? he asked casually. “ Yes. He doesn’t like the saloon very much. I’m not surprised the springs have gone. James drives it much faster than a light car is intended to go,” asserted Airs Lee. “ But he’s not as fast as the saloon ? ”

“ I can givq it ten miles an hour,” replied Airs Lee complacently. “ And that without being bumped out of my seat. If he doesn’t come shortly or telephone, I shall get really worried.” “ VV ould you like me to drive along the road to Hastings? ” asked Harding. “ They might have broken down again, and ”

A servant entered the room. “ Air Vidler is wanted on the telephone, madam,” he announced. THE FATE OF THORNTON. The inspector hastily arose, wondering what Markham was telephoning from London at that time of the night for. It never occurred to him, until he heard a strange voice over the wire, that it could be anyone else but the superintendent. “That inspector Vidler?” asked the unknown. “ Speaking.” “This is segeant Rett, of the Sussex County Constabulary, speaking, sir. I’m speaking from Guestling Thorn.” “And where’s Guestling Thorn?” “ On the Hastings-Winchelsea road, sir, between Hastings and Icklesham. There’s been a nasty accident, .sir.” Vidler was instantly on the alert. “ What’s happened ? ” lie asked. “Be brief. I’ll come along.” “ Car coming from Hastings seemed to have lost control, and swerved in to the bank. One man has been killed, and the driver severely cut by flying glass. He is Air Lee and told me to telephone and ask if you would come out personally.”

“ I’ll be there just as quick as I can,” replied Vidler, briskly. “Where shall I pick you up?” “If you come from Icklesham you’ll pass a wood on each side of the road, just before you reach Guestling Thorn. I’ll be waiting there, sir. I’ve sent to Hastings for a doctor and an ambulance.” “ Good,” said Vidler, ringing off. “ They were ringing up from Guestling Thorn,” he answered on his return to the drawing room. “ Air Lee asked if one of us would go out in the saloon and fetch him.”

He saw no possible reason for giving details of the disaster yet. It was bad enough to know that Thornton was killed. “ I’ll come along with you, if you want me, D.V.,” suggested Harding, though a little reluctantly, as he glanced at Sheila.

“ I wish you would go,” she said in a low voice.

“ Right, come along,” said Vidler. “ I shouldn’t sit up, Airs Lee. We may try to tow the car to the nearest garage, if it’s towable. It can’t be left on the road all night.” It was not until they were out on the Hastings road that he told Harding what had occured. “ Thornton killed! ” cried the latter in shocked tones. “ Poor devil.”

He was stunned by the news. He had really disliked Lee’s secretary, but he could not help being thoroughly upset by the news of his death. It had come as a profound shock by its very unexpectedness. “ Yes it’s pretty awful,” agreed Vidler, solemnly. “It makes me feel sick when I think I was collecting evidence against him.”

“ I know the feeling you must have. I suppose now we shall never know who killed Simmonds? ”

Vidler did not reply, and Harding made no further comment. Neither of them knew the road very well, and both peered ahead silently watchful until they saw a light moving slowly from side to side in the road. Vidler slipped out the clutch, and gently applied the hand brake, and the car .came to a standstill by the side of a sergeant of police.

“ Sergeant Pett? ” I’m Inspector Vidler. This is Mr Harding.” Vidler climbed out as he spoke. “The ambulance has been, and Air Thornton’s body has been removed to Hastings, sir,’’/announced the sergeant in matter-of-fact tones; which made; Harding shudder. “Air Lee’s at my place in the village. He didn’t want to

go, but his face was streaming with blood from cuts, as well as his hands. He’s very anxious to see you, sir. He’s got some idea it wasn’t an accident, though he wouldn’t tell me why.” Vidler nodded, and Harding in the light of the head lamps, saw there was a queer little smile on his face. “ I thought, perhaps, sir, you’d like to have a look at the car before you saw Air Lee. It’s in the ditch just a few yards up the road.” x “ I should very much,” agreed the inspector. The road at this point was bordered on each side by wood. The wrecked car was lying on its side, the front wheels bent and twisted by the force of the impact against the bank. “ She seemed to have skidded somewhere about here,” said the sergeant pointing a few yards up the road. “ And then to have turned and made straight for the bank.” x,

“ Lend me your lantern, sergeant.” Vidler, bent over and looked at the wrecked two-seater, while the other two watched him.

VIDLER’S SUSPICIONS. The inspector’s fame had reached the cars of the ambitious Sergeant Pett, and he watched with eager, attentive eyes as the detective turned the light slowly along the wrecked interior. The steering column had been bent, and bits of glass were scattered on the floor.

At last the inspecter withdrew, as though satisfied.

“ There’s certainly a bit of a mess,” he said, thoughtfully. “ Know anything about cars, sergeant? ”

“ Yes, sir.” “ Then you noticed something queer about this one, I dare say ? ” Sergeant Pett looked uncomfortable, and flashed his lamp round. He had thought he had made a thorough inspection before the inpector had arrived, but the tones of the latter warned him that he had missed something which Vidler had seen. It was some minutes before his head reappeared. “ The only thing is she’s in ’ bottom gear and I would rather have expected to find her in top,” he commented. “Is that what you mean, sir ? ” “ That and one other thing,” replied Vidler, with a smile.

“ It’s noted in my book she was in first, and the control has been set for fast running,” added the sergeant. “ You are observant, and that’s what most men are not,” praised Vidler. The sergeant beamed at the words of commendation.

“ You’ve drawn some conclusions, sir? ” he asked, respectfully. Vidler pointed along the road towards Hastings.

“There’s no bad hill a little way back ? ” he queried. “ No, sir.”

“ If_this place was just over the rise it would be conceivable they would have had to drop into first. But as there isn’t a hill, why should they be in first? ” “Perhaps they stopped and started again,” suggested the sergeant. . “ Why’s the control set for fast running, very fast running in fact? It’s got half a dozen turns forward. It’s set so fast that there would be no need to use the accelerator.”

“ That’s dangerous, sir,” said the sergeant. “If they’d stopped and he’d put in the clutch the car would have leapt forward. I wonder if that is what happened? I shouldn’t be surprised.” “ Air Lee said nothing about having stopped?” “ No, sir.”

“ But he did suggest to you that it was not an accident. I wonder what he meant by that? Have you got a man who can keep an eye here? I don’t want the car touched by anyone at present.” “ I’ll send a man along as soon as we get back,” agreed the sergeant. “ And don’t mention to anyone what we’ve discovered,” warned Vidler. “ Cut on ahead and we’ll overtake you.” He watched the rear light of the other’s bicycle disappear round the corner before he climbed into the saloon and started the engine. “ What do you think happened, D.V. ? ” asked Harding. “ I don’t know,” replied the inspector frankly. “ But it’s a queer accident, if it is an accident. And Lee evidently think it wasn’t.”

They found the export merchant sitting in an armchair by the sergeant’s fire. Strips of plaster covered wounds on his face and hands. Harding noticed a great gash in his sleeve where it had apparently been torn by the broken glass. A man sitting beside Lee looked up quickly as the detective and Harding entered.

“ Glad you’ve come, Vidler. Hope you didn’t say anything at home ? ” “ Nothing. Told them to go to bed as we might have to tow the car. Didn’t know how badly you’ve been hurt.” “ All superficial cuts,” said Lee’s companion. “ I’m Dr Luding. Air Lee’s had a remarkable escape. His friend was badly smashed up.” “ Dead when you arrived ? ” asked Vidler. “ Alust have been killed instantly. His neck was broken and his chest crushed in.” “You’ll have a post-mortem to-mor-row ? ” - “ Of course,” said the doctor, rising. “ I’ll be getting along now. I think Air Lee will be all right.” “ Don’t-go yet, doctor,” said Lee. “ I’d like you to hear what I’ve got to tell Inspector Vidler. If my idea is right you’ll have a bit of a shock when you

make that post-mortem. I don’t think Thornton was killed by the smash-un at all.” . 1

Dr Luding looked astonished, while Vidler rubbed his eyes with his handkerchief, as Lee leant forward and began to tell his story. THE SHOTS IN THE WOOD. “I expect you’ll think I’m a fool,” began Lee. “ But I’m going to tell you what I think. We broke a spring. The fools at the garage said they’d put a new one in in half an hour, so I decided we’d have some dinner while we were waiting. We weren’t in any hurry and it was actually a quarter to nine when we went along to pick up the car. Of course they were still fooling about. They hadn’t got the right spring in stock and had been, searching Hastings to get it.” “ It hadn’t arrived then ? ” asked Vidler, as Lee paused. “No. They’d sent someone to fetch it, so we went and had a game of billiards to pass the time and left about ten o’clock.” “ Who was driving ? ” “ I was. We’d just passed through Guestling Thorn, on that stretch of road where those woods are, when I heard a report like a tyre going off. The windscreen splintered and Thornton lurched suddenly against me, wrenching the wheel out of my hand. We’cl shot across the road and were into the bank before I knew what had happened.” “ You were going pretty fast, I suppose ? ” asked the inspector. “ About thirty to thirty-five,” replied Lee. “ There wasn’t a chance to straighten out before we’d gone over. I suppose I’ve got as good a nerve as most people, but I crawled out feeling pretty rocky. The lights had gone and I didn’t know what had happened for a minute.”

He paused and sipped a little brandy from the glass by his iside. “Take your time,” said Vidler. You’ve had a nasty shock.” Lee nodded. His face looked white and drawn, and it was not enhanced by the patches which had been put over his cuts. His eyes roved restlessly backwards and forwards from one to another of his listeners.

“ Luckily no bones were broken, though I was cut about by the windscreen,” continued Lee. I managed to get at Thornton.” He swallowed the remainder of the brandy at a gulp. “He’d gone, poor devil! I couldn’t do anything for him. Looked to me he must have been killed at once. I suppose I must have stood there some minutes. I don’t remember what I did until there came back to me that report and I had a look at the tyres. I thought one must have burst. And then a gun went off in the wood. “ WE’LL GET HIM! ” “ A gun ? ” echoed Vidier. The police sergeant looked across at the inspector. “ We’ve been worried by poachers the last few weeks,” he said. “As a matter of fact, I heard two or three shots. I was making my way along to the wood when I found Mr Lee staggering in the djyection of Guestling Thorn.”

“ You think the dead man was killed by a stray shot?” asked Dr Luding quickly, turning to Lee. “ Yes. I remember the windscreen splintering. It didn’t occur to men until I heard that second shot. And then I had another look at Thornton. He’d got a pretty nasty hole in the side of his head. That’s what I wanted you to look for. I reckon somebody ought to be had up for manslaughter.” “ We’ll get him all right,” said the sergeant confidentially. I shouldn’t be surprised if they hadn’t laid hands on him. There were three of us working the woods, but, of course, I was called off.”

“ Get him, sergeant; get him good and strong,” said Lee sharply. “If a £ICO reward will do the trick I’ll put up the money. Nothing will give me greater pleasure than to pay it out.” He shook his fist savagely, and the doctor laid a hand on his arm.

“ It’s upsetting, Air Lee, but the police will find him,” he said soothingly. “ I think, perhaps, it would be best if you got to bed. Who’s your doctor in Rye ? ” “Rawlinson,” replied Lee. “An excellent fellow. I’ll give him a call and tell him what’s happened.” “Do you mind driving back? ” asked Vidler, turning to Harding. “ I’ll go along to Hastings.” “ Going to be up all night ? ” asked Harding. “Shouldn’t wonder. Expect me when you see me. Say nothing about that gear,” he added in a low voice as Lee went out, accompanied by Dr Luding. JIM PERRINGS—POACHER. “Are his injuries dangerous, doctor? ” he asked when the latter returned from seeing Lee off. “ Hardly more than scratches,” replied the other. “ He’s had a most marvellous escape. It’s extraordinary how some people in a car smash come off lightly while others are killed instantly.” “Thornton was badly hurt?” “ One arm was broken and half a dozen ribs smashed, as well as a nasty cut across the forehead. I never noticed that shot wound, but then I wasn’t look ing for it. Queer kind of accident. The chances of it happening must only be one in millions.”

( “ They’re pretty small,” agreed Vidler. “ Have you a telephone, sergeant ? ” “Yes, sir.” The inspector turned to the doctor. '‘Perhaps you’d make a superficial ex-, amination of the wound and let me know if it was a bullet killed Thornton. I’ll wait here with the sergeant on the off chance they get that poacher.” “ All right, I will,” agreed the doctor. _ ,“I suppose you’ve a pretty shrewd idea who the poacher is? ” asked Vidler, when Luding had gone. “No doubt about it, sir. It’s Jimmy Perrings. He’s not a bad sort, really, but he can’t resist a bit of poaching nowand then. We want to catch him in the act.” “ Sounds as though they’ve got him,’* said Vidler drily, as there came the sound of a man’s voice raised outside. The sergeant sprang up. “ That’s him, sir. Will you see hirq in the office? I’ll put on a lamp.” The prisoner proved to be a redbearded, truculent-looking man, with a. scar across his face. He glared at the inspector defiantly and then turned and grinned at Sergeant Pett. “Give ’em a run for their money, eh? Dang ’em, they thought I’d shoot ’em. I weren’t alter bluebottles. They don’t make good eatun.” He roared at his own joke, and the two constables grinned sheepishly. “That your gun?” asked Vidler. “ Ay, and a dang nice gun she be.” Vidler picked it up and examined it. “You might pepper a man close to yoq with it, but you wouldn’t kill him at 2Q yards with it,” he remarked. “It ain’t likely. I uses it to kill wermin, though I don’t say ain’t wermin,” said the poacher grinning cheerfully. “ Now, then, sergeant, what about a bit of evidence ? ” He put his hand in an inside pocket and pulled out a rabbit. (To be continued.)