THE MAN WITH THE DALMATIAN

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1930, Page 21

THE MAN WITH THE DALMATIAN

By

FRANCIS FURNESS

CHAPTER IX. (continued.)

"Well, that is difficult to say, But having regard to the fact that no weapon was found near the body, I am strongly of opinion that it was not eelf-inilicted, but that Mr. Markham was shot by someone standing facing him and close to him. The murderer may have taken him unawares and whipped out the gun from a pocket and fired the shot in a second before the man could have a chance to defend himself.” The doctor then described how he found tiie bullet in the body and extracted it. “Is it a bullet similar to the ones that were in this gun?” eaid the Coroner, handing the doctor Vallance’g pistol and some cartridges. The doctor examined them carefully and then said:—•

"I think that any expert would tell you at once that this bullet could not have been fired from this gun.”

KYRLE IS SURE.

The doctor’s unemotional statement with its striking revelation amazed Vallance and the Court. The gun, the cartridges, and the bullet found in the dead man were passed round for the members of the jury to examine, while Vallance tried to draw deductions from this extraordinary development. Tho Coroner announced that he had decided to call an additional witness in the person of Markham’s clerk. This man stated that so far as’he was aware his employer had not got a revolver. Then came the last witness, Kyrle Merrison, last because she had been excused for a few hours in order that she could get back to town and see her mother, who was reported to be seriously ill. The illness turned out merely an hysterical fit, and Kyrle was able to return well in time before the proceedings ended for that day. Her appearance in the witness box was a thrll for the women spectators, but after the doctor’s evidence there were no more sensations, and the inquest was adjourned for a fortnight, the Coroner expressing the hope that before they met again the police > would have been able to find a solution to the mystery. As a matter of fact they were now in the possession of three clues —the piece of rubber heel, the gold sleeve link.

and the bullet. There was a fourth clue which was not mentioned publicly at the inquiry, but which waa communicated privately to the Coroner, the fact that finger prints -had been found on one of the dead man’s hand : a a clue which was destined to be of the most tantalising character. x At the “close of the inquiry a joyful Kyrle greeted Vallance, for on her return from her mother she had been told of the discovery of the bullet that could not have been fired from his pistol. To her mind this was a complete vindication, and after that she never wavered in her conviction that he was entirely innocent of any complicity in Markham’s death.

’’’hey left the Court together, .and the first to greet them outside was Thor. The Dalmatian, who had previously allowed himself to be stroked when Kyrle arrived at the Court, now licked her hand with the greatest approval, and when she invited him to occupy the dickey of her car his joyous demonstration drew the attention of the crowd, who were watching the exit of the ■witnesses and court officials. Vallance had to go to town that day, and Kyrle invited him to return with her.

“I am glad to get away from the place for a bit,” he said as they drove away, “the police will be busy there for days, and as they seem satisfied that I did not kill poor Markham they have allowed me to go to London. Evidently they do not think I am likely to fly the country.”

He snoke with a grim smile on his face as he drove her car through the Sussex landscape. It was like coming out of a land of shadows into the sunlight. and the rush of fresh air brought colour to their cheeks, and intensified the feeling of relief that the worst was over.

Kyrle wag very quiet, unusually quiet, and he looked at her wondering why she did not speak. “I ain afraid,” he said, “that you are troubled; it has been such an ordeal for you and your people and all of it my fault for having you down there. lam desperately sorry.” He was surprised to hear a little

laugh. “Troubled! Troubled!” she repeated. “Why, I don’t think that I have ever been so happy in my life.” He looked at her and her face was radiant. He was steering with his right hand only, and the other hung close to his side.

“1 am so happy that you are now able to breathe again,” she said and clutched his arm for a moment. The action was quite involuntary, and she laughed when she noticed what she had done.

His lips compressed oddly and she thought she detected a slight flush in his cheeks.

“I hope T did not hurt you,” she said just a little bit piqued at his manner. What a strange man he was at odd moments.

His foot had pressed hard on the accelerator; she had never known her car to go so fast at it did under his expert guidance. “You are a speed maniac,” she said. “Are you in a very great hurry to get back to town?”

He laughed and the needle of the speedometer dropped back to forty. “So sorry.”

He seemed suddenly to have become preoccupied with his own thoughts. There was a shadow on his face; some thought had come to him laden with anxiety.

CIIAPTER X.

THE BROTHERS FACE TO FACE.

They drove on in silence.

Kyrle turned in her seat to fondle the Dalmatian. The dog put one paw in her hand and she held it while they slowed down through Esher. “Who was talking about being troubled?” she said at last, “you look as if your troubles were only just beginning.” “Maybe that is true,” be answered-

"It’s about the murder, of course.” Vallance nodded. "Have you thought of something new ?” “An idea him occurred io me,” ho replied, “but it’s hardly one I can discuss just yet.” “I wish I could help you. Are you sure vou could not tell me in confidence ?”

“I know I could tell you anything in confidence,” he said earnestly. “Perhaps you will be able to heip me soon, but not just yet.” . On the Kingston By-Pass again his face brightened and they talked about other things, about his racing at Brooklands. He had entered recently for a race that was to be held the coming .Saturday, but in view of the tragedy he had decided io withdraw. There was another contest in a fortnight’s time, an international one, and if the inquest had finished by then he hoped to compete. “I should love to see you,” she said. “You must come,” he answered.

“I should like to have a run in your car round the track when you have a practice run,” she said. He was silent.

“Perhaps you don’t allow anyone in your car. I suppose it would be a bit of an anxiety.”

“It is not that,” he answered, “I was thinking that you have suffered quite enough notoriety through your association with me. lam astonished that you should be seen with me to-day like this. Your father and mother—”

“0, please do not talk like that. My father and mother have been ceaselessly planning my life, jny future, as if my own wishes, tastes, ideas, never mattered.”

Kyrle spoke vehemently, “I have asserted my independence, and I intend to go on asserting it. My parents seem to think it is impossible to be broadminded and respectable at the same time.” :

The car -was already within sight of her home as she spoke, and Vallance gave no more heed to what.she was saying, for at the door of the Merrisons’ house he saw the figure of a man, and li > caught his breath. It was his brother, and the door opened and admitted' him, and shut again, just as they drove up. “Sir Ralph Chester, what a nuisance,’.’ said Kyrle. Vallance was pale. “Won’t you come in?” “Please excuse me,” he said. “You will ’phone me to-morrow and let me know all the news,” she said, as she gave her hand. They said good-bye, and Vallance, walking away, was about to hail a taxi, when he changed his mind, and turning a corner, paced slowly up and down the street.

He remained there for twenty minutes, and then Ralph came round the corner, and the brothers were face to face. Thor, at Vallance’s heel, growled. Ralph gasped with amazement. He was utterly taken aback by this unexpected meeting, and could only stammer an incoherent, “You—about here?” “There is much to be discussed—where shall we go,” said Vallance, abruptly. “I don’t want any discussion about anything!” The tone was angry. “Markham told me that you had been blackmailing him.” Vallance said the words quietly, tryin? to meet hie brother’s eyes, but Ralph avoided looking at him. His lips quivered at the reference to Markham. “That’s a lie!”

"Look here, I don’t want to discuss this on the pavement.” -

“And I don’t want to discuss anything.” “You are going to talk this over with me; don’t forget that I might have told the police Markham’s story. It would have been very awkward.”

Ralph looked nervously up and down the street, just as Vallance signalled to a passing taxi driver. “You had better get in,” he said to his brother, as the taxi pulled up, “You and I can say all we want to cay inside this cab, and there will be no danger of your being seen with me, if that is what you are scared about.” Ralph resisted for a moment as Vallance opened the door of the taxi, and then got in. Thor followed Vallance. “Drive round the Park and the West End till I tell you to stop,” said Vallance to the driver.

“Why this dog?” asked Ralph. “He goes with’me everywhere. We understand each other perfectly.” Ralph leaned back in one corner of the? cab, and his brother sat facing him. “I have got to say something .first-of all,” said Ralph, “it’s something very brief and to the point—would you kindly refrain from pestering Miss Merrison. Your attentions are causing considerable embarrassment to her and hers family, and this beastly case has made things intensely unpleasant.”

A fierce retort came to Vallance’s lips. but he suppressed it. Instead he said;

“I have done all I possibly could to avoid inconveniencing her and her father and mother.”

“Then why the devil were you driving her back to town to-day from this confounded inquest.” “Who told you about that?” “She told me herself.” “I could not refuse her when she asked me to drive her.”

Vallance was putting a tremendous grip on himself. “Can’t you see that you are dragging her name in the dirt.” “Be careful what you ’say. If all the truth about you were known to the Morrisons, you would be shown the door without any delay.” 'The answer to this warning from Vallance was a jeering laugh. “My dear brother,” said Ralph, leaning forward and puffing clouds of smoke from a newly lit cigar. “You seem to have forgotten that when you parted with your birthright to me we became different persons. You became me, and I became you. I don’t want to flatter you unduly, but, on the whole I am inclined to think that I got the better of that deal, for your record though somewhat spotted, is not so spotted as mine.” Vallance treated this impudent declaration with contempt. “It would not be so very difficult to prove my real identity if things got really desperate.” Ralph flicked the ash nervously from his cigar. “You would never dare.”

/Ta he continued.)