THE CARETAKER.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17409, 21 July 1928, Page 3

THE CARETAKER.

By FERGUS HUME. (Author of “The Mystery of a Hansom Cab,” “The Thirteenth Guest,” “The Lost Parchment,” etc., etc.)

CHAPTER XVI

anything was wrong. “But I think that Mrs Purden saw on occasions you were not yourself. Father, you must give up this habit; it wifi kill you.” “And what have I to live for?” Maur inquired grimly. “I am' quite alone in* the world, as you give me very little of your company. Indeed, it was this feeling of solitude that first drove me to the black smoke. However,” he waved his hand, as Lance was about to remonstrate, “that is not the question at present. I have asked Mr 8100-m to state in your presence and if needs be in the presence of Jazaid, where I was on the night of the murder.”

MALE'S DEFENCE. “A hat. dues aji this mean, father.’’ asked Lame, a uxiously; “and what has a Chinaman to do with you, or with tiie (tee ?” “In a word/ 5 said Alaur abruptly, “the Chinaman ] reler to, keep.-? an opium den.” . “Father!” Lame started from his chair. “I know you are horrified,” said Maur. wincing again, hut steeling himself to make a clean breast of his secret; ‘“hut as 1 told you before I have my faults like other men. Yes. Lance, lor years i have been an opium smoker and Mr Bloom here is one also. \Ve became acquainted at the den of Lo Keong. who has his establishment at the docks.”

"On that night," said Bloom. promptly, "you were with me in Lo Keong's den at the docks, I can fix tho tints plainly, because' on that day I went down with my wife to see The Firs, and went that evening to the opiuip shop. 1 can swear that you were there all night as I was." "So ' you see. Lance," said Maur, turning'to his son. "that if Jazard dares to carry his malice so far as to tell Inspector Offin and accuse me. I shall lie able to prove an alibi. How my paper-knife came to bo in the garden of The Firs you already know. Thank you, Mr Bloom," M aur stood up to dismiss his'visitor. "1 shall not trouble von anv further."

"Father!" Lance sat down again and stared at his parent. Jn his wildest dreams he had never guessed that such a confession would be made. Maur was to ail outward appearances the last man in the world to yield to such, an insidious vice. ""J don't know what to say," he murmured helplessly. "Say nothing, my boy, and you will make things easier for me. Mr Bloom "

"If you could only keep my doings from Maria- "

"Oh! don't speak to me.'-' wailed tho visiter drearily. "I took to the black smoke, through a cousin of Maria's who was a sailor, and came from. China. He laughed me into it, and tt'lun I tried a pipe or two and got over the sickness I found that I couTdu't do without it. The times I dodged Marin you would never believe, sir." he added, addressing himself to Lance. "Sometimes I would go down to Lo Keong'.s for the afternoon, and then again i would pietend I was staying for the night/with a friend of mine at Putney. Maria wondered why I came home with red eyes and a worried look, and a general dislike attend to the shop, but she never dreamed what T was doing." "You should up smoking opium. Mr Bloom.'-' said Lance, firmly. "That's easier said than done!" cried the man. shivering. "You don't know what a bold of you the black smoke 2ets. Tt's worse than drinking oi- profligacy, or eating too much. I'm sure." said poor Mr Bloom. "T'm a •rood man as men go if it wasn't for this opium drug."

F shad endeavour to do so. I don't wish my fault to be known any more than 1 wish yours to be. If I can prove an alibi, which I can with your assistance, there will.be no chance of anything of this appearing in the papers." "ft would ruin me if it did," groaned the little man.

''Belie :e me, neither you nor 1 will be ruined.'' said Maur in bis stately way, and conducting his visitor to the door he shook hands and bade him good-bye. When this leave-taking was ended he returned to his son. "Well. Lance?"

"I am startled," said the young man, "but at least your fault has resulted in your name being cleared." Alter which speech be became silent.

CHAPTER XVII

JAZARD'S STORY

Zaijam and the surrounding country were in the grip of frost. Far and wide the shallow waters of the flooded marshes were frozen, and vast spaces of darkly-gi-een ice glittered in the pale rays of the winter sun. The weather was extraordinarily fine, as there were no clouds in the hard blue sky. and from dawn to eve sunshine prevailed, illuminating rather than warming. The spick-and-span town reaped quite a harvest during the cold snap, as many people came from London and the adjacent towns to Indulge in skating.

"We all have our faults. Bloom." said Maur. now unite calm and cold after making bis humiliating confession tr\ bis son. ""and ooimu smokimj; is •yours and mine. T wonder you did notl notice, Lance, how dull mv eves were a.t times, arid bow disinclined T.wns on occasions to the Kisr exertion."

L"uce reminded him that be bad not lived at home for a long time, and consequently had never noticed that

For miles and miles men, women and children could lie seen everywhere skimming like birds to the far horizon, and loud was tlie laughter of the merry-makers. Amongst them were Lance and Lena, skating hand in hand with great enjoyment, and giving themselves up wholly to the delights or rapid flights through the keen frosty air. For the time being they forgot their troubles and the questI'pui which the young man was engaged. But Mrs Purden did not forget. She was glad when Lance informed her how his father could prove an alibi, although she was grieved to hear of the way in which that same alibi could be proved. Maur had given permission to his son to tell everything to Mrs Purden. since she was so intimately connected with the affair of the murder. It was impossible to hold back that which the old man would rather have kept secret, as the strength of his defence la-y in complete revelation. Mrs Purden respected Maur, although she did no* like him overmuch, therefore she was greatly relieved when she learned that he was quite innocent of the crime attributed to him by Jazard. All the .same, Maur's whitewashing of his character deepened the mystery. If he was guiltless and she was guiltless, who was the criminal? Mrs Purden'asked herself this question over and over again, hut could find no answer. By this time Watson's past life was thoroughly known, yet nothing could be found in it likely to indicate any person as his assassin. What could be done now towards elucidating tbo mvsterv it was impossible to say. Mrs Purden was desperately anxious to clear her character and to claim the legacy; but for the life of her she could' not see what was to be done towards achieving this desirable end. Consequently, she felt rather hopeless and melancholy when Jazard unexpectedly arrived in- answer to her request foe an interview. Mrs Purden was alone in the house, as her daughter and Lance were amusing themselves on the ice; so she expressed herself as glad to ' have the companv of her old friend. Jazard followed her into the warm sittmgr.com. looking brisk and bright and vounger than his years. The caretaker noticed this and commented on the fact of his perennial youth. "Yen wear well. Cuthbert," she remarked, when her friend was warming himself. (To be continued.)

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