CHAPTER XXX.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13174, 26 May 1906, Page 6

CHAPTER XXX.

A SOLEMN WARNING.

The Liverpool inspector was. showing hinjsett in a new light, even to a gentleman who knew him well, as the major did. He had always looiked upon Darlington as a man of superior intelligence, though he was aware that a nigh order of intelligence among police inspectors is &y no means tare ; but he had not been prepared lor the instinctive insight and constructive ability his stalwart visitor had brought to bear upon the case so far.

"1 was sure of it because it was ju§t what he would do when it became necessary tor ham to efface

Himself,'.' Mr Darlington went on. "He knew that there were some relentless enemies who would not be satisfied with his extravagant and spurious philanthropy, or the tardy restitution nuftle, when he had obtained money by some Iresh swindle. He knew tnat he need expect no mercy frorr« Col. St. -Hilary for one, and as there may have been others liae the colonel, he had a report of his death carefully spread abroad." /'But there can be no doubt," the major said, "that a man, identified as Crombie, did die, an<l was buried at Buenos Ayres." "Not the slightest doubt," said the inspector, dryly. "Mr "Metcher went to the spot and saw the certificate of his death. He died oi lever, and was buried, as the custom is in South America, within twenty-four hours ; but had Mr Fletcher carried his investigations a little further, he would have discovered that Dallas Crombie was ;not the only man of „- that name who had found that free and easy part of the world a convenient place of residence. The man who died was Crombie' s brother, who went out some .years before. He resigned a position of trust c in .Glasgow, and went out for the sake of his health. That is one version of it." ""There is another version, then ?" said De Vigne. "Yes, sir. The .other, is that he, would have been prosecuted foi? fraud had he been on British ground another day; but the matter was hushed up by Dallas Crombie's influence and money." , "This man, then," said Lugar&, "the brother, had been living iii South, Anferica under an-other.-name ?" . . "Under < half-a-dozen.' But they were easily traced, though some confusion did occur in consequence of a .precaution Dallas took. He and his brother used each other's aliases in different towns, and the strong resemblance between them enabled them to baffle inquiry. The identity of one at Santiago became the identity of the other at Panama, Bnenos Ayres, or any of the large towns on the Plata where they tarried on their trans

actions."

"They purposely, in fact," said De Vigne, "created a confusion of identity." "Just so, sir, and succeeded wonderfully well. The brother, who hie: • ■ hi;s r h reputation as a wealthy and respected citizen was buried as Dallas — under th alias, that is to say, by which Dallas had' been known— and Dallas, realizing his property, it was something like a million in English sterling, disappeared, it was supposed for the United States ; but I say for England." "Why should you say for England ?"

"Because he is an Englishman, or a Scotchman, which makes him more English still. Scotchmen are very much the same as they were in I>r. Johnson's ( time, and the most pleasant road in their native land is the one that leads to England. Then again he is a rich man, and England is the rich man's country, just as America is the poor man's. Then we must take into consideration the power of old associations, and if you- had been in the police force as long as I have, you would know what extraordinary power they have."

"But had he any strong associations ?" asked "i)e Vigne. "For such a man would rise above their power unless they were very strong indeed." "He had a wife, a beautiful, high-minded woman, of whom he was passionately fond, a pretty little boy, and a rather eccentric sister. I an now on the lookout for them, and when I find, them, Dallas Crdmbie will not be far away." The major caught himself repeating the words involuntarily— the wife, a beautiful, high-minded woman, a pretty little boy and a rather eccentric sister. He was about to speak when a question asked by De Vigne stopped him. "How" old would that boy have been when Crombie left the country ?"

"That was nearly twenty years ago, when the boy was six or seven." "And was the brother, the one who died in Bttenos Ayres, married ?" "Yes. But his wife was quite a different kind of woman. He married early in < life, before he had made a position, and as most

vtry young men do, he made the mistake oi pleasing his e_ye instead ul his mind. {She was pretty enough, but illiterate ; and what became of her Ido not know. I was not interested in her welfare. He had not lived with her ior years, but he allowed her plenty of money." "And you think that if you find Mrs Crombie and her son, Dailas Crombie would not be far away?"

"I have no doubt about it, sir. She was one of those ladies whose sense of duty would keep her loyal to her" husband, whatever he might do short oi" murder ; and his cant on the subject of restitution would impose upon her." "Then you think she would be living with him ?" ,

"I do."

"And I think it would be her duty," said the doctor gravely. "You have been rather hard upon this Grombie, Mr Darlington. You have spoken of his spurious philanthropy, his cant and his tardy restitution ; hnt I do not see that j you* have any right t° condemn, him as an utterly bad man. His philanthropy may have been real; he was notoriously kind and charitable in the days of his honorable prosperity, and he may have taken the earliest opportunity of making restitution to those he had wronged. Let every man have his due, and do not say that there was a bad motive at the back of his good actions." "He was not compelled to be charitable, sir. I am willing to go with you as far as that, and he was not obliged to m&ke any restitution at all ; but pbrbaps he was looking well ahead and having a longing for the ranks of respectability, he bought his way back as it were, since everyone who accepted his restitution was one the less to prosecute him j but a man is no better at heart for having a sort of spendthrift generosity. I have known -those who would"' pass an old friend in the street if his coat was shabby, but they would take the lead in some local charity, or. send .five hundred .pounds to a fund to promote the growth of tender thistles for infantile donkeys or something about as useful ; not that I am sorry to hear you say a 'good word for a bad man ; but my experience does not leave me much ,room for belief in Mr Crombie."

(To be continued.)