THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17764, 11 December 1929, Page 3

THE HOUSE OF THE WICKED.

By WILLIAM le queux, (Author of “The Man from Downing Street,” “The 'Under Secretary,” etc, etc.

OUB SERIAL -

CHAPTER XVII,

DONE IN THE DARK

' In the stillness of . the night he could distinctly hear the voices of men on the other side of the house. He could even distinguish the instructions they gave each other, and the very unoompliment) ay remarks they passed upon lumseiit. Delaying no longer, lie set off across country,' avoiding the lanes and paths, until after walking for half an hour ha retch-1 ed a small wood at one corner of vvh ch was a low stile; there he stepped and whistled softly, and waited. In ,a few seconds two figures appeared from the gloom, and he went up to. them. , “It s all right, Mrs. Bingham, but while I still think of it, it will he as well for you to resume, the name you selected fox yourself when you cime to stay with us, and be ‘Miss Hunter’ once more. We cannot he too careful at nresent.”

“Certainly, if you think test. But did the detectives get in?” asked Linda anxiously.

“Oh, no. They 4 ' seemed to think better of it, and went away. But for all tIC-t I feel it would he the safer plan not to return home for a few days, and as we have made a start I dm not see why we should not go on «iind endeavour to arrange for you to see your husband. That is what you would wish, is it not?’’ “Oh. ves, yes. Let us go on. I will do anything, suff r anything, if I can only see Guy once more.”

“Very well, then, tint is ' what we will do. But, Miss Hrenter, there is a long walk before you. Do you think you nth manage it?” “I’ll walk till I drop, and you shall not hear a word of comprint, since every step will carry me nearer my Iruslund.” And the litt’e p‘'rty of three trudged on through the darkness.

CHAPTER XVIII: THE SIGN OF THE CIRCLE. It was late in the afternoon. Morton Soarfe sat in his private offi e with a copy of one of the evening papers before him. His brows were knit, and there was a look of terrible anger in his eyes as he perused the contents of the first column on the right inside sheot, which was printed in heavy, large type. He stretched out his hand and pressed tl:e button of an electric bell. ' , “Send round to Mr. Bray and ask him to give me a look-in at once, if convenient,” he said to the clerk who answered the summons. His face was bright 'and showed no traces of oare and annoy a me, yet the moment he was alone again the frown and lock of anger returned, and he seemed a different man. In less than five minutes Bray entered the room. .“Well what is it?” he asked. “Shut the door and sit down.” The man obeyed, saying: “What’s amiss ?” “Seen the evening paper?” “No.” “Read that, then you’ll know without asking idiotic questions.” This man’s also faltered very per-

ceptibly as his eves fell on the heavilyleaded headlines:

“MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR IN SUF- , FOLK. SEQUEL TO THE CITY ROMANCE.' ’ “The extraordinary disappearance of Mrs. Guy Bingham, the bride of the senior partner in Marshall, Denton and Bingham, the well-known firm of paper-makers of Upper Thames Street, within a few' moments of the conclusion of the marriage ceremony in St. Paul’s Cathedral last . month, must be still fresh in the, minds of o.ir readers. And it is now our painful duty to have to record whn-fc has every (appearance of turning out a terrible tragedy closely connected with that event.

“At present the details to hand are not complete, and any moment may furnish further particulars, but such as they are we lav them before our readers.

“Since the mysterious disappearance of the lady, the po ice have been indefatigable in their efforts to discover her whereabouts, but in spite of their most strenuous exertiors they have met with noi success, and until the other day the whereabouts of the lady was unknown.

“From what our representative has been able to learn, and it must be stated that the police are very rev ticent, Mr. Bingham received from a private ‘gentleman residing in Suffolk a setup of paper width lie found while out shooting, containing a message from the unfortunate lady, imploring her friends to come to her assistance, but giving no clue to where she was in cart ©rated beyond describing the outside .appearance of the premises. .: p “Armed with this scanty piece ot information, we understand Mr. Bingham went down to Suffolk to institute a seprch for his wife. Aided by a London newsbov, known to his comvanions. as Bob Tripp, who is a native of those parts, Mrs. Bingham discovered in the parish of Denham ca lonely house known as Scorley Farm, tenanted by a Mr Harris and his sister, which answered the description given by the unfortunate lady. ’ ;. . “The Harrises were a very retiring couple, keeping no servant, and not mixing with their neighbours, nene ot whom, it would appear, have ever been inside the premises during their tenancy. , “Accompanied by the tad Tripp, and carrying a length of rope, Mr. Bingham set out with the intention of ascertaining whether Scorley Farm was the prison-house of his wife. In orc.er not to nut' the Harrises on their guard, Mr. Bingham approached the premises from the front by night, and bv means of a rope; since the garden door was locked, mounted the wall

which, surrounds the premises, lowing the boy outside. From the top he descended into the garden, and has never been seen since

“Shortly after he disappeared he shouted to his companion to go and fetch aid, and the boy l says he then spoke in liis natural voice. Tripp ran off, and having obtained the assistant© of three men returned and shouted to Mr. Bingham, but receiving no answer, Tripp and one man scaled the wall, while the other /two went round to the back door.

j “Tripp and/his companion disoover[ed the bars in front of one of the | lower windows wrenched outwards, ' and were thus enabled to gain admittance to the premises, but though they searched them thoroughly frpm roof to basement, no trace cf Mr. Binsham, or indeed of the Harrises, could be discovered. The premises were completely empty, though the remains of fires were smouldering in the grates of two rooms. Both the front and back doors were securely locked, and the two men who. had been watching ait the back had seen no one leaving the premises. The police were communicated with, and the following morning r. strict search of the surrounding districts was undertaken, but up to time going to press without result.” Bray flung down the paper, and looked across at Soarfe.

(To be Continued.)

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