THE WHITE GLOVE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144708, 17 June 1915, Page 8

THE WHITE GLOVE

(By William Lo Queitx,

Author of “The Room of Secrete/ “Tho Myßtery of X-/ etc., etc.

chapter: vii 6HAXBY IS DISAPPOINTED. Faithful to her promise, Doris had written to her brother's executors, tolling them of Shaxby’s visit, and explaining what he wanted. and their answers had now just reached her hv the same post. They explained that they had conferred, and had gone so far . as lo make inquiries about the stranger.' Little seemed lo he known about him, however, and they said that niter deliberate consideration they adv Led her to refuse to accede to his request, “There is no reason whatever,” one of them added, “why yon should get rid of any of your brother’s electrical and sdentiiic apparatus. Though no doubt ho paid a good deal for it. from fiiv.t to last, it is of small intrinsic value, and would sell for a mere song. You are not in need of money, so why dispose of these possessions of your brother’s, which you now probably look upon in the light of mementoes? My Further advice to you. if Mr. Shaxby calls again, is net lo treat him too cordially. We have ascertained that ho is a crank, and to some extent lie would appear to he almost an adventurer, for though apparently he has no means, ho always lives what is called ‘in style.’ We are informed that he is a friend of Sir Somers Gel hen, whom, of course, yon know.*’ An hour or so after Doris had read the two letters a servant came up to say that Mr. Shaxby had called to see her and had been shown into the library. Doris littered an exclamation of impatience. What business had he to call again! - ' And in the middle of the morning, too! She had not asked him to; she had told him that she would communicate as soon as she heard from her brother’s executors. Now she would ho forced to confront him and perform the unpleasant task of telling him that her brother’s executors re-* fused to let him even inspect the apparatus. How would he lake it? IVobably lie would he greatly annoyed, and lie might vent his annoyance on her. She glanced at her‘reflection in the mirror, touched her hair, then went downstairs. With more difficulty than oft tho occasion of his last visit the old mnn j'oso ;us she entered.“Von will pardon mo—l have a touch of rheumatism. *’ lie said, as she approached, ‘A have called to break some news to you that 1 fear may give you rather a shock. Miss Courtney, but as yon were so kind to mo some days-ago, it occurred to mo that perhaps tho shock would he lessoned if I were to tell you before you road of it in tho papers. Sir Somers Octhon was one of my host friends. I have known him for many years. And I know Hint he was a friend of your brother’s and of yourself.” “Why. what hag happened to him?” Dorrs exclaimed, startled at old tShaxhy’s lone. “I saw him only Yesterday.” “Quite so. But this morning, on returning from his ride in tho Row. he had a seizure. At this moment ho is lying at his house in Dark Lane in, they say. a critb'al condition.” “Good heavens, how dreadful! Where did it happen? What brought it on?” “I was on my way to his house to see him by appointment, when I met one of tin* footmen rushing out with a bicycle. Do called out to me that Sir Somers had had a stroke, that tiro telephone had gone out of order, and that he was going for the doctor. Then lie jumped on to his bicycle and tore away towards Grosvenor Square.” “Ob, I am sorry! I must send at once to inquire. How kind of you to think of coining to U*7! mo. Mr.* Shaxby,” Dons said, her conscience pricking her as she realised how she had misjudged his reason for calling. Then, when she had asked for full particulars! and been given them so far as possible, she exclaimed suddenly, “By tho way, Mr. Shaxby, X heard this morning from those executors, and do you know —oh, I am so sorry—they arc strongly opposed to any idea of my selling the apparatus and instruments you spoke about, or any of them.” “But they won’t object to my inspecting them, I am sure,” Shaxby said, quickly. "‘lndeed they do. X am so dreadfully sorry, but really I am powerless to inter!ere. It would take too long to explain why I am. but it is so.” Shaxby'* expression changed, and Ins mouth twisted oddly. Then he bit his lip as though to hold himself in check. “Med, 1 suppose it can’t he helped,” he remarked, at last, with a shrug, “though it docs seem unreasonable—almost like the dog in the majiger. 1 take it that these executors you speak of know nothing whatever about science, that they take no interest in it, and vet they won’t allow a man of science like myself to inspect tho plant in the interest of study and research. 1 hat is so English, so essentially conservative ami British. However, I must accept tho inevitable, and I can only thank you again, Miss Courtney, for the trouble you have put yourself to on my account. With regard to Sir Somers. I forgot lo tell you that just before his seizure lie received two telegrams. One was of no interest; it concerned certain investments, and was to say that a favourable report upon them had just been issued. Tho other was in cipher.” “In cipher!” “Yes. I was shown both telegrams by the butler. There were a number of words in the cipher message, eight or ten, in no way connected, but, of course, each meaning something. Tho butler could not make head or tail of it, naturally, hut perhaps Sir Somers’s secretary may be able to unravel tho moaning. Commercial communications of a private nature are often sent in that way, you know. Oh, Miss Courtney, while I think of it—did you find out whom it was I saw when I called at your house in Cromwell Road? You may remember you wore rather puzzled as to whom tho woman could have boon.” “Indeed I have not. T wish I could find out. Tho whole thing is most niystcrious. I told my lawyers about it at once, and one of tho partners himself called at the house next morning and rang tho bell, just as von did, but nobody answered. Then" lie unlocked tho front door and went in, and searched the whole house thoroughly, but there was no sign of anybody, or of anyone having been there,* except ” es?” “Oh, nothing of importance.” Doris answered, quickly. “I wonder you didn’t go over the

house, if you will allow mo to say so. instead of instructing your solicitors,” Doris paused bolero replying. Then she said, rather shamefacedly: “To tell you tho truth, Mr. Shaxby, after what you told mo I felt too nervous to. A strange woman in that house—l might have come suddenly face, to face with her in one of those long, empty passages.” She gave a little shudder. “Yon could have taken a friend, or a dog would- have warms! you of the presence of a stranger. That irritating little animal—you will pardon my calling it so—‘Tweedles,’ wasn’t it called? —that interrupted onr conversation the last time I was hero, would no doubt have done. For the matter of that, Miss Courtney. X would myself have escorted you with pleasure. Well, I must go.” he added, rising. “Tho news of Sir Somers's stroke wij probably’ havo got into tho papers by this time, also the news of Mr. Cecil Mylne’s arrest on suspicion of his having been in some way* responsible for your brother’s death. Ho was to ho arrested this morning, as you no doubt heard.” Doris turned rather white, hut said nothing. She hado her visitor good morning in the hall, and a minute later she was alone.

(To bo continued.)