A Coil of Rope

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1931, Page 14

A Coil of Rope

(Bp

Frank Gilbert)

CHAPTER VlL—Continued. “Yes, I am ready," eald the girl, Sn. lifeless tones. It was a sad journey' to the mortuary, and, unfortunately, she had no hesitation in recognising the body of her father. She came back into Webb’s car, with Erie by her side, and the Police Inspector following. "I warn you to excuse me, Miss,” tie eaid, in kindly tones, “but I am very busy, as you can imagine. I will send word to you about the Inquest.” “Of course 1" she said, "but I want you to make me a promise before you go.” “Yes, Miss?" he queried. "That you will spare no effort to find and punish the man who murdered my father.” "Certainly, Miss,” he answered firmly. “You can co.unt on me for that.”

He saluted as the car slipped away. "'Where Ho?” enquired Webb. "Come round to my place for a cup of tea, Pauline," urged Eric. "You will not care to go to a teashop or hotel just now, I know." ■She assented, and they arrived ■presently at Eric’s flat, where Webb asked to be excused on the ground that lie wanted to make further investigations at 'Gradcross Street. Eric busied himself in preparations for tea, and when, at length, he set the teapot before the girl, he tried to lead her thoughts away from the tragedy which had just encompassed her.

"Cheer up, little girlie,”, he said, tenderly. "Count on me for anything I can do. I have been your friend a long time now, while the skies have been fair, in your sorrow, dear, let me comfort you.” Her eyes brimmed with tears, as she put her hand In his. “I know that, Eric, and I am afraid that I shall want to- lean on you a good deal. It’s all too sudden and terrifying to be left alone like this. Daddy and I have been just everything to each other since Mummy died, and although Daddy lived in the quiet of the country, and I loved London so much, we wrote to each other every day.” “Did he ever say anything of any danger which threatened him?”

“ No,” she answered readily. “He always was so bright and cheerful, except just lately, when I know he has been very worried ever business matters. But you know more of that than I do, don’t you?” “I know a little, of course, dear,” he said, his love for her suddenly emerging, and shyly finding expression, “but what I meant was—has he ever spoken .of any threats made to him?’.’

“Oh, no,” she replied. "’But who should want to harm Daddy? He aever had any enemies. Why, everybody loved him.” "That’s true, so far as our little company is concerned,” he answered, "but we must not overlook the possibility of him having made business enemies In the past.” "But Daddy was always so straight and honourable in his dealings," protested the girl. “True,” agreed Erie, and a silence fell. • Pauline poured out the tea and handed Eric a cup, which he regarded thoughtfully. “What 1 1 cannot understand,” she said presently, “is why Daddy should have gone to Gradcross Street. It’s such a horrid street.”

“When he left us in the office at Cannon Street—and, of course, you know it was a farewell meeting of the company, which has now been absorbed by some greater power than! we were—it was to catch the four-thirty from Waterloo. At least, that is what I believed. As a matter of fact, I wanted a private conversation with him after the meeting, but he excused himself on ths grounds that he particularly wanted to catch that train.”

“Evidently he didn't, though," said Pauline. ’ “No,” agreed Eric. “And it seems to me that what we want to find out is exactly where he did go, and how he spent the subsequent hours. Harker has told us they had a telephone message informing them of the murder shortly after nine o’clock. Now, what did he do till then?”

“Eric," she said, and held his hand imploringly. “Make me the same promise as the Inspector made—that you will spare no effort to get to the bottom of the mystery. For me, the light of life seems to have gone suddenly out, and I am left in the darkness, groping and wondering why all this should have happened. I cannot understand, and I want your help to see through it all.” “Pauline, my dear,” he said in tones, the earnestness of which thrilled her in spite of her sorrow. “I have been wondering what my next job was to be, now that Novel Enterprises, Ltd., has crumbled, and I have no longer any definite daily work —but now I can see that the task which is to hand is to avenge your father. It is a task which I will enter upon at once, and I will devote all my means and time to its successful accomplishment. “I have never told you so before, my dear, and perhaps it is an odd time to tell you now; but I feel impelled to, and I can’t help it. You will forgive me if it seems out of place, but, Pauline, my dear, I love you. I intended telling you before, but this great sorrow has loosed the gates which held me up. I love you, my dear, and will spend myself in avenging your father. When I succeed—> and not before—l am going to ask you to marry me. Until then, I want you to 'know you can depend on me for everything you need, for your support through, these trying days.” Pauline was silent. The importance of his words touched her keenly, especially in this hour of bereavement. But there could be no doubting Brio’s sincerity. In her heart she was sure that he did love, end it was so comforting to find his love warm, pure and strong. She stole a glance at his face, and saw there that he too was deeply moved. He was offering her himself and that was no mean gift. It was his all, and, feeling suddenly very lonely, it was good to be able to know that this man, whom she had known so many years as a friend, was now wanting to be her lover. That the time of his proposal should be inopportune did not occur to her. Sufficient it was that he had avowed his love for her and said he did not Intend to claim her until his quest was ended. She felt that some answer from her was due, and so very softly she saidi

“ Eric dear—it is sweet of you, and when the right time comes I do not doubt what my answer will be." She lifted her lips and he bent down and kissed her long and tenderly. It was their first kiss, and somehow it seemed to inspire him more than ever with a desire to win her as quickly as possible. But that could not be until John Hampden’s murderer was found and justice meted out to him. And thaj task awaited him,

Suddenly there came a knock at the door—loud and peremtory. Both Paulina and Erie started, for they did not expect visitors. “Who Is that?” she asked In frightened tones, suddenly conscious of her position. “I don’t know," replied Eric, recovering his poise and ca]m. “ Sit still, d&ar, and I’ll go and see.” He strode across the fla.t and reached the door. But before he had done so there was another loud knock. Somewhat angrily Erie opened tha door, prepared to demand what was the hurry, but to his great surprise he was confronted with Inspector Harker, and two uniformed constables. Harker’s face was set stern and hard, and he nodded curtly to Eric’s unspoken enquiry. “Can we come in, Mr Crofts?" he spoke, rather than asked. “ Yes, I suppose so,” reported Eric, “ but may I ask with whom you desire to have conversation, and why the double knock?” “My business Is with you; Mr Crofts,” said Inspector, stepping inside the doorway. Then he turned to his two men, and ordered them to wait outside for further orders. Eric closed the door, and facing the Inspecto l ', asked firmly. “ Well, what means this visit, Mr Harker?" • "It means this, Mr Crofts,” replied the Inspector, taking a paper from his pocket. “ This is a warrant enabling me to effect a search of your flat.” “Search my flat?” repeated Eric, surprised. " What is the meaning of this outrage? Let me see your authority!” The Inspector handed Eric ths warrant, and he could see that Harker had, undoubtedly, official authority to do as he claimed. “ But what prompts this?” questioned Eric, still puzzled. “ Certain information reached us, and it is my duty, whilst I am in charge of these investigations to neglect no possible clue. Hence lam here to see if there is any justification for it." " I will ask one more question, Inspector.” said Eric. “Did your informant telephone, and if so, do you think it was the same person who first gave information of the Gradcross Street murder?" Harker nodded. “ I take it then,” ho asked, “that you raise no further objection.”

“I suppose 1 cannot, in face of the warrant you hold," replied Eric. " But, at least, I would like you to wait, as Miss Hampden is with me, and it will give her a bad shock to see you here.”

“Why should it?” asked Harker. Eric did not reply, so Harker opened the front door and’beckoned his two men to enter.

“ Make- a complete search,” he ordered, “ and report everything to me that you consider necessary, as you have been instructed.” Eric shrugged his shoulders. He could see that it was a waste of time to protest further, so he passed Into his sitting-room and explained the position to Pauline.

She was full of indignation and surprise, and when a moment later, Harker followed Eric, she poured forth her him. “ But Miss Hampden—■” said Harker, quitely. “ You, yourself, asked me to spare no effort in my quest for your father’s murderer, and it is my duty to follow up any clue which may help. However, the search will not take long, and should cause you no inconvenience whatever.”

He bowed slightly, and joined his men who were making a swift, but skilful search of Eric’s bedroom. Suddenly one of the men gave a loud cry. “Look here, Sir!” he said, bending low over a drawer in the handsome wardrobe in which Eric kept his clothes. There was a note of excitement in the policeman’s voice, and Harker hastened to the spot, eagerly Intent on the possibility of a clue. So far, his investigations had not been very interesting, or fruitful, but here, now, was a discovery likely to be of the greatest importance.

Harker was a man who had made quick decisions in his life, and his rise in the Force had' been largely due to his good luck in making a right decision berore it could be anticipated. He had, long ago, learned the value of the old proverb “ Thrice blest is he who gets his blow In first.” What he saw now he calculated, would fully justify him in taking extreme—even drastic —measures.

As in a flash, he could see himself being thanked personally by the Commissioner. To a o man of Harker’s temperment, praise was meat, drink and almost life itself. The psychological moment had come, and he must act at once. Drawing himself up to his full height, he beckoned one of the constables to follow him, and he came again into the sitting-room where Eri: sat chatting to Pauline, trying to appear as unconcerned as possible. “Mr Crofts,” said Harker sternly. “ I am going to take you into custody, on a charge of being concerned with the death of John Hampden at Gradcross Street on Friday or Saturday last. You may make any statement you may desire to, but it is my duty to Inform you that anything you say may be used against you." Harker invested this familiar formula with a specially sinister significance, so that Pauline, growing eurdenly pale, Involuntarily gave a little scream. Eric, for his part, flushed angrily. (To be continued.)