“The Phantom Killer”

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

“The Phantom Killer”

or “Ahn’s Adventure In Crime”

By

COLIN HOPE.

CHAPTER 3 (Continued). Frame was not usually garrulous, especially where his work was concerned, but he had no fear that his friend — who had been of real help to him on many occasions—would betray a confidence, so he plunged into his story. He finished abruptly, and sat staring straight in front of him. “The girl,” he muttered. “What a fool I am. She works for Sept.” Martin Paul was intrigued. It was customary for tho two men—both bachelors—to twit each other about real or imaginary affairs of the heart, and he thought he saw the chance for a little fun and revenge. He started to banter, but Frame stopped him. “No, Martin, this isn’t going to be a joke. If Sept is a crook —and I am beginning to think that he is—that girl, is in very undesirable company, perhaps in danger, and I am going to do something about it.” Martin could not resist the opportunity for one shaft: “Policemen, I understand,” he said maliciously, “always advise that people do not allow themselves to be led astray by pretty or innocent faces.” The detective acknowledged the hit. In fact, he almost blushed. “If you are not good,” he threatened, “you are going to be left out of all the fun, assuming that there is to be any. Anyway, I want to use your telephone; there are a couple of inquiries very much overdue.” IDENTIFIED. His first call was to the hospital where the injured girl was detained. In reply to his inquiry he was told that . the girl had regained consciousness and was not considered to be in any danger. He then asked for the police matron to be brought to the telephone to give him a careful description of the girl. “Is that necessary, sir?” asked the policeman at the other end. “she has been identified you know.” Frame insisted on the description. He had a growing fear that it might prove to be Ann, and he could not wait to ring up the Yard for news of the identification. His worst fears seemed to be confirmed, every item of the description fitted Ann, and although he tried to tell himself that the cold _ recital of height, build, complexion, hair and eyes might just as easily be attached, to thousands of other women, his anxiety was not lessened. He rang off and immediately got through to Scotland Yard and to Assistant Commissioner Geoffrey. „ “I’ve got something for you, Frame, _ Geoffrey said as soon as he recognised the voice of the superintendent. “We’ve given Sept a once-over, and two men are still on that end of the case. „ Here s all we know about him so far—” He then told Frame practically the same as Martin Paul had done, although Paul had managed to convey the man’s "atmosphere” a little better than did the policeman. “We’ve identified the girl for you, too. A neighbour of yours. She lives in Leighton-gardens, number 27. Ann Wingrave is the name. Do you know her?” ' “But it can’t be—she couldn t—it s impossible—she must have been tricked into it.” Frame was incoherent. Geoffrey might have smiled, but he gave no sign that he had noticed the protest, instead he went on very dej i (?ly *. “We identified her by her fingerprints. She finished six months for shop-lifting about fifteen months ago.”- ■ CHAPTER 4. THE SEARCH FOR OCTAVIUS SEPT. Martin Paul sensed immediately that Frame had' received a severe shock. The detective put down the receiver, and slumped heavily in a chair. “It’s all wrong, Martin,” he muttered, “all wrong. Somebody’s monkeying' with me—and they are getting away with it. They’ve dragged her in somehow, and I know she is as innocent as I am.” He was silent for a while and Martin did not interrupt his thoughts. He might have made some pungent remarks upon policemen who allowed themselves to be dazzled by pretty faces, but in his heart of hearts he knew that Frame seldom erred in his judgment of character.

“Well, what is it all about?” Paul asked at last.

Frame told him what he had learned over the telephone and Martin expressed his sympathy at tactfully as he could. “The best of us err at times,” he began, “Perhaps Ann—” The detective waved his explanation aside. “Man, you don’t know her. Yow haven’t seen her,” he cried. “She never did it. She couldn’t have done it. Oh, it’s no good my trying to explain. Wait, and you shall see for yourself.” “What are you going to do about it?” Frame thought for a while., “There are two ends at present; the girl Ann, and Sept. If she is conscious I will see her to-morrow, but I think I will see the gentleman first. You had better come along. Sometimes you notice things, and I can do with all the help I can get on this job!” “What about the bank robbery?” his friend asked, “are you going down to Tutfield?” Frame shook his head.

“There is nothing for me down there. I have a couple of first class men there,

and they will find anything there is to find, and that is precious little. • Nobody can describe the raiders. They drove away in a car that we have found was stolen, and that is all. “Of course, somebody had been In Tutfield planning the raid.. They don’t do things like that on the spur of the moment. Evidently they knew that a large amount of currency would be held by the branch at the time of. the raid. The raid and getaway were probably, completely planned a week beforehand. “There is a lot of spade work to. be done at Tutfield, and it is in good hands. I shall have, all the information that is of any value as soon as it comes to light. “At present I am forced to do the. job that is nearest, and to try to make some definite use of the various scraps of information the others ferret out. . . “How do you think the girls car came into, the scheme?” Paul asked. “It seems to me that they had a series of relays. They might have taken the stuff two hundred miles or more, before Larry Broquil and Ann picked it up. Probably three or four cars were mixed up in it. Quite an original idea really. It makes the raiders more dif-! ficult to trace and there is the added advantage that the gtmg itself is just as; much in the dark. ... . A WELL-PLANNED COUP. “Yes," Martin Paul agreed. “I think I can imagine how it is worked. The raid is arranged and relays of cars are prepared in the same manner as the one Larry drove. The raiders do thfelr job, and hand over the spoils, which are passed from hand to hand, until they reach the man who arranged the whole thing—the chief, I suppose we must call him, although I hate being melodramatic. Each man gets his pay or reward for his particular job, and there is very little risk for the man at the top. In fact, unless caught, in the act,. there is very little risk for anybody. “I must confess I should, like to be in on this, Frame,” he concluded. “I think it is the biggest thing you have been up against so far. If Larry hadnt been a fool you wouldn t have been so far forward as you. are. That smash was the biggest piece of luck you have had so far-” , • . ■ The two friends sat a long time discussing the case from every conceivable angle, and when the detective crawled into bed that night, he felt that although he was nd nearer finding the chief of the gang, he had at least some idea how the coups. were planned and carried out. It looked as if, after all, there was no regular gang. Instead, criminals of various kinds were, employed for their particular jobs. Probably these individuals were all experts in their own lines, and were well, paid for their services. The selection of Larry Broquil revealed care, for there were few cleverer car drivers than Larry. From the point of view of the individual criminal,- .the arrangement was quite satisfactory also. He was well paid for the risks he took, and he was-relieved of all the respon-. sibility of. disposing .of his ill-gotten spoils. Frame knew—as did eyery other pollceman—that the • thief never benefits by more than one-eighth-of the value of the goods he steals. Receivers take heavy toll for the services they render for their clients—and these • clients • are -.helpless in their hands. ■ f / After a short conference with his superior next morning, Superintendent Frame called and picked up Martin Paul, and the. two went to the Sept building. . The. detective had learned that although ■the . whole of the building bore the financier’s name, his business occupied only a portion thereof. In the entrance hall there was a long list of names, together with indications of the portions of the building occupied by the Various coneernos.

’ Frame started immediately towards the lift, but Martin Paul detained him with h light touch on the arm, while ■ he studied the' list of names. He seemed to find much fbod for thought in the list. When he finally joined Frame in the lift he was preoccupied. The old lift attendant looked at them inquiringly, and ■ when Frame told him to take them to Sept’s suite, he shook his head slowly.

“’Taint no use,” he muttered. “’Taint no use. ’E aint there. ’E’s sloped, if you ask me.” “What do you mean?" Frame asked sharply. “Don’t mean anything. ’E aint there. That’s all.”

“Take us up. We’ll see for ourselves,” Frame went on, and Martin Paul, who ’knew the detective very well indeed, noticed that he was whistling softly and very much out of tune through tightly closed lips. ' This was a sign he knew of old—a sign that Frame was excited; that he had made a discovery.

They learned very little from their' tour of Sept’s suite of offices. A vfery courteous head clerk showed them roffnd. and explained the business of the firm. Frame had no desire 'to take any really decisive action ho had not the requisite authority for a search of thb premises, and he saw no justification -for such a measure. The clerk, however, treated their diplomatic inquiries very seriously, and was at great pains to explain to them precisely what 'business the .firm transacted, and to back his Statements with proofs. (To be continued).