The Law of The Land.

Thames Star, Volume LXI, Issue 16277, 22 January 1927, Page 3

The Law of The Land.

CHAPTER XQVI

CATCHING THE TROUT

| “1 do not pretend to recollect every- ! tiling,” he said. “You see it is impossible for even a dreamer to be in two places at once. What became of t the body is a mystery. But I dare say if 1 placed my occult knowledge into the hands of the police it is just I possible they might be able to follow ; up the clue and ” ' Dick paused discreetly, for Ford stood in the doorway. He had his official manner on now. and apologised for his entry like this. “We found the door open,” he said. “I am very sorry 'to truble you, Mr. Ivingsmill. but I have a warrant with me for the arrest of ” “The climax to the story,” Charteris cried. “A fitting end to the drama. Now, Barca, where are we going to look for the body?” Barca rose to his feet and walked the door. His face was very white now; his easy manner had en tireiy vanished. “I am quite unable to say,” lie muttered. “It seems to me that 1 am de trop here; this seems to be a private matter between Captain Ford and Kingsmill. If you will allow me, 1 will go to my room at once.” “You will pardon me,” Ford said, “but this is a matter in which we are all interested. I-may have a question ] or two to put to you, Dr. Barca. 1 , hold a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Stephen Holt, on a charge of robbery from the house of a gentleman called , Vandernort, the warrant came into my ' hands a few hours ago. And lam told j that Mr. Holt is to be found somewhere near here; in fact, in this house.” “That is impossible,” Ralph cried. “Stephen Holt is not in a position to ” ® j

“You are interrupting Captain Ford,” Dick said curtly. “Let him finish.”

“In this house,” Ford proceeded. “I have rea on to believe that my information is absolutely correct. I shall be glad if you will all stay here whilst 1 make a thorough search of the premises. It may take some time to find the particular room where Mr. Holt is hiding, but in case I do not ” “It will take no time at all,” said Dick, as he rose to his feet.. “As a matter of fact, 1 can save you a great deal of trouble. I have already had the pleasure of a glance at the form of Mr. Stephen Holt this evening. You will find him at the present moment comfortably ensconced in Dr. Barca’s bedroom!”

CHAPTER XXVIT

BARCA CLIMBS DOWN

Ralph stood listening, but utterly unable to speak, and, indeed, hardly comprehending what was going on. During the past few hours he had vaguely expected something to turn up in his favour, but had not anticipated anything so startling and dramatic as this. He glanced hesitatingly at Charteris, who. undoubtedly, was master of the situation A sudden change had come over Dick He had lost all his list-

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By FRED M. WHITE. (Author of “The Crimson Blind,” “Craven Fortune,” eto.)

less manner; the affectation of simplicity had departed. His face was hard and set, his eyes alert and gleaming.

Barca was the first to remember himself. He moved in the direction of the door, and asked to be allowed to pass The matter had nothing to do with him, he said.

“I beg your pardon.” Ford exclaimed. “It seems to me that it has a great deal to do with you. I have a warrant for the arrest of Stephen Holt on a charge of robbery from the house of Mr. Vandernort, and it is my duty to execute that warrant. Before I came here I had information that Holt was hiding in this house; indeed, Mr. Chaj’teris says so.” “The whole thing is a conspiracy,” Barca cried. “Stephen Holt is no thief. He never took anything from the American’s house. Let me pass.”

“No,” Ford said firmly. “I have my duty to do. I am going to search worn* bedroom to see if Mr. Charteris is correct. You will be so good as not to interfere. You had better stay here till I come back.” Dick smiled to himself, as he could well afford to do, seeing how, step by step, the various pieces of his plan were dove-tailing together. As yet he had said nothing about the way in which lie was going to work out his stratagem. To a certain extent Fate had played into his hands, and lie was not slow to make use of such weapons as his own good fortune had brought him. Clarkson had been used' as a pawn in the game, though Dick, with characteristicg ood-nature, had taken steps to save him from the result of liis folly. And though Clarkson was saved, this had not prevented Dick from persuading Vandernort that Stephen Holt was the thief of the jewels, and thus had caused the American to apply for his arrest. The thing would have to be explained later, but up to the present it was one of the strongest cards Dick had in his hand. He looked at Barca and smiled. The latter for once in liis life failed to grasp what was going on, though -liis fine intstinet for danger told him that there was some hidden peril here. He could afford to meet the trouble in the open, but as it was, he felt hopelessly incompetent. There was only one thing for him to do, and that was to fall back on bluster. “What on earth do you mean?” he cried. “Why should you treat me in this way? Do you suppose that I have anything to do with Stephen Holt? He is no friend of mine.” “Nevertheless you will do exactly as you are told,” Ford said grimly. “If you are the innocent man you so indignantly protest yourself to be, your indignation is out of place.” “That is all very well,” Barca sneered. “But police or no police, l am not going to be treated in this fashion. You’ll be telling me next tlia-t you Lave a warrant for my arrest also. Things have come to a pretty pass when a guest in a private house is ordered about by a stranger as if lie were a dog. Now, I’ll tell you wliat it is, my friend, and I ask you to pay careful attention to what I am saying. A vain man dressed in brief authority, such as you appear to be, is not capable ’’

Barca stopped and coughed as if

something had stuck in his throat. Dick regarded him with a quick suspicion which had flashed into his mind. Usually Barca was taciturn enough; probably no man of his acquaintance had heard him say so much in so short a space of time. Obviously the man was talking with a view to causing a delay. What delay it was, and for what purpose, Dick neither knew nor cared, for he -was going to stop it. and stepped forward with this intention. Barca began to speak again, but Dick cut him short without ceremony.

“T had no idea you were an orator,” he .said. “My dear Ford. J am quite sure there is something behind this. Instead of frittering away the precious minutes in this fashion, I would suggest that we went immediately to work. J. dare say if you wish Dr. Barca to remain here you will find some means of persuading him. It will be to his best interests to raise no objection.”

To Ralph’sjsurprise, Barca burst into a loud fit of laughter as soon as Ford opened the door. It was so unlike Barca, to behave in this fashion. Now his voice rang through the hall in scornful gibes. He seexnd to be very sure of his ground. “This is a. farce.’’ he yelled. “A pretty thing foi the police to invade the house of a gentleman at this time of the morning. Surely, you could have waited till daylight. The police have come for a person who is hiding In my bedroom, eh ? My friend Stephen Holt is to be arrested for robberv. Did anvbodv ever hear the like?”

At a signal from Charteris, Ford darted up the stairs. He called over the banisters' to know what room it was, Barca saved Ralph the trouble of replying, “Why ask?” he eaid. “You will see a light a little way day the corridor. That is my room, and so are the bedroom and bathroom beyond. Help yourself to what you like; do not go out of your way to consider me. Bring down the prisoner.” Ralph turned to Charteris for an explanation. But the latter had vanished. He had disappeared from the hall at the very instant that Barca had raised his voice. Ralph wondered why he had gone into the garden. He was to learn a little later. Meanwhile, Barca had ceased to scoff and sneer; he was listening intently to what was taking place overhead. Ralph could see from the flicking of his nostrils that he was painfully moved. Ford appeared to be a long time upstairs. Surely it need not take all this time to arrest a prisoner, Ralph thought. Charteris. who did not make mistakes as a- rtile, had plainly stated where Holt was. That being the case, what was Ford bungling about? What if there had been some strange mistake? Indeed, the more Ralph reflected the more certain lie was that he had killed Holt; lie could pee the body lying .at his feet now. Wby had he allowed himself to be buoyed up with false hones ?

Of course they were false; the whole picture was false. Ralph had only to glance at the face of Ford as he emerged from the bedroom. He looked foolish and confused. “There has been an error somewhere.” he said, trying to speak lightly. “I appear to owe an apology to Dr. Barca, which I offer in all sincerity. Wherever Holt may be lie is not in Dr. Barca’s rooms.” “] could have told you that from the first,” BaTca. muttered. Ralph could see that his face had grown steady again. “The mistake belongs

to Charteris. Don’t you think that you had better continue your search, Captain Ford.” ! ‘‘No, 1 don’t,” Ford said curtly. I “And 1 have ray own idea as to what ’ has happened. I should like to nave a word or two with Charteris. ’ i But Charteris had vanished, llq had bolted through the front door and out into the night, a very foolish thing to do. considering his recent accident. Barca’s voice sounded uneasy as lie referred to this. “Well, T am only wasting your time and. mine,” Ford saidl. “I shall take the liberty of borrowing Charteris’s j motor car. Tell him 1 will send it- to 1 the Park in the morning.” 1 “The motor car is damaged,” Barca put in quickly. “it was in the accij dent to the motor that Charteris was i hurt.” j Ford muttered something in reply, j He had come very near to committing ! a grave indiscretion, nothing less than I the betrayal of the fact that he was | more or less acting .as an accomplice of Charteris in the matter. And evidently something had gone wrong, the amateur detective’s plan had miscarried. Ford hastened to get away before Barca could ask more compromising questions. The representative of the law disappeared, and Ralph and Barca were alone. There was an awkward pause. / (To be Continued.)

At a meeting of the - Wellington Manufacturers’ Association an Wellington a firm from the North wrote that there were plenty of braces made in New Zealand, and those made by this particular firm were “fit for a King, so should be good enough for the Duke. It will not be satisfactory to rely on the weather for the Duke to be ‘braced up,’ for that is risky, and is liable to ‘let him down,’ which would lie serious, but—braces as made in New Zealand will not only keep his trousers tip, but will prevent them coming down as well, so they make it doubly secure.”