THE LITTLE BLUE GODDESS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12084, 13 August 1917, Page 8

THE LITTLE BLUE GODDESS

OUR SERIAL

By WILLIAM LE QUEUX Author of: "Sins of the City," "The Great White Queen" "The Bond of Black" "The Man about Town," etc. etc.

CHAPTER IX. T was still pondering over the letter when I heard a key turned .softly in the door. I recognised the step of my servant and called him in a tone which was none too good-tempered. "Cooper,'' I said ang.-ily as lie entered the room, " where tl.o deuce havo you been?" "I've just heen across the road, sir," ho replied, "having a little—hie—chat with some friends, sir, thush all." "You've heen drinking, Cooper," I said severely.

" Noshir," he answered, solemnly wagging his, head. "Nothing to shpeak of, sir, just heen {'hatting with some friends, sir, thash all." "Did this letter como while you were out?" I asked.

" Noshir," ho replied unsteadily. "Nothing came while I was out." , "You don't know what you're talking about," I said. "How the dickens do you know what happended while you were out? There U a-most important letter hero. I found it on tho mat. It was delivered by hand and I want to know who brought it." "Don't knowshir," he answered. " Nothing came while T was out. Just having small bottle beer across road with friends, sir, nothing came."

1 jumped from my chair and taking him by the shoulders, shook the man vigorously. " Look hero. Cooper," I exclaimed as I released him. "You have been a good servant, to me. Excepting the few occasions when you're had <i. little. more to drink than is good for you, 1 havo had nothing to complain about. 1 am not going to bully you, so you needn't look so scared. It is most important that I should find out who sent this letter, and I want you to try and tell rue. I know you sneak out, and go across the road as you call it, Avhen I am out, but you know your job and I fancy you try to keep your eye open. Now did you sen onvono coming towards the house while you were m the bar there?"

" Telegraph boy, sir," he said, a little sobered by tho shaking I had given him. "I came across and asked if it was for you, sir, but it was for Mr Evans on the top floor, sir."

"And that was all?" I asked. "You saw no ono else?"

"No, sir." ho replied after a moment's thought, " nolxidy at all, sir." "I shall jiot get. angry with you for not coming over and attending to your business, Cooper. 1 quite, understand what has kept you over the way. You have been reading the papers, and all the beer-sodden louts in the bar opposite havo boon anxious to make you talk, or you have born bursting to tell them who employs you. Now then, out with it!"

'The man looked scared for a moment. J fancy he felt that his job was in the balance, and hardly knew whether to tell the truth or lie' to rne.

" Look here," I snid. " I'll help you as much as T can. "When you go across the road you try to keen }(l i eye on the house, through tho window. I've teen you at it, so it's no use denying it. Now, did j-ou see anything else?" "Well, sir, yes, "sir," bo "There was a lady, sir. Mr "Walters from the dairy at" the corner, he says, to me, 'Mr Coonor,' ho .says-,' ' that's a pretty gal for you if you like' Mr Cooper. Blest if she ;iin't. goin' in to yours.' I turns and looks out, but there was no one to be seen, sir; eo I says to him: 'You're dioamin\ Mr "Walters,' and he says again that ho don't know when bo seen .such a. handsome young lady. I says: 'AH gals is handsome to'Mr Walters,' aim we started an argyment, sir. Then Mr Walters, he says: ' Well, she was the prettiest thing I soon for a long time and she gone into yours moreover.' With that I nips out and runs upstairs, but there was nobody hero."

" You didn't open the door, 1 suppose? " "No, sir, I didn't think of that," he replied. "Then she might have left the note and you bo none tho wiser. Thank you, Cooper, that will do." " Shall you be requiring anything, sir?" ho asked, with an anxious look.

" No," I replied. " You can go. Stop a minute," 1 added, as ho was about to close tho door behind him. " Where do you say this Mr Walters comes from?"

"Tho dairy at the corner, sir." ho replied. " But I give you my word, sir, that everything I have said is true, sir." "I don't doubt you, Cooper," I replied. '" Don't stand there like a frightened rabbit. You can go." I rang up Kelman, my solicitor, and asked him if ho had read tho account of Ruth Retford's death. Needless to say, ho had, and ho was anxious to know whether I was tho Hugh TYafl'c who was motioned so prominently in the nowspaper reports. .1 told him that, unfortunately, I was, and asked him to bo present at the inquest. This he promised to do and I arranged to meet liiin at tho coroner's court tho following morning. I took an envelope from my desk and enclosing Dilys Maturin's letter I carefully sealed it up and put it safely away in my pocket-book. Then 1 went in search of the dairyman.

1 Walters was an obsequious but inoffensivejtradesman, and not at all .unready to talk.

"You saw this lady distinctly, Mr WaltersP" I asked.

" As alearly as I kco you now, sfa," he roplied. "I can describe her dress to you if you like."

"Yes, do," I said. "And her features too, it" you can."

" Well, sir, I first noticed her coming slowly down tho road. She was wearing a brown costume that looked like tweed. It waa more of a country dress than a London outfit, ijjthoujgh there "was nothing very striking or at all out of place about it. She had on a brown hat to match, with a small clump of feathers at tho side. sir. Sho walked with a swing. It wasn't that blio took a very long stride, but it was of one of those supplo .sort of walks, liko an athletic boy's. She seemed to liavo a lot of brown hair, sir, and I expect silo had brown eyes, though I couldn't see tho colour I'rom tho window."

"Could you see her features?'" I asked. "I suppose you must have done or you wouldn't have said she was so pretty."

"I had plenty opportunity for that, air," ho replied. " She stopped outside your house; sort of hesitating. Then 6he looked at the names on the side of the door, and then she walked away a fow paces "with her head bent as if thinking something over." ■-■"■■ Well, what-was sho liko?" I said, Beginning to get impatient with tho Did fellow. Miss Maturin could change her dress, but sho would not change her featuros, and ,it was by them nlono that I might hope to recognise her in the future, if it was indeed she who had hesitated outside my rooms. '■ '.' Sho had. * W, aS bs&vux jtuic, sir,"

ho replied, " b\vt I couldn't exactly say what her features were* like. Sho was that pretty that you couldn't pick ono thing out from another. Sho hadn't got a hip; month or a. big nose, or anything prominent, but she was amazing good looking, she was indeod." "I. see," I replied. " That is all you can toll me?" "It is, sir, and I'm afraid it isn't much. If I'd known it was so important I'd have taken more particular notice, &ir." ""Well, I don't know whether it really is important" or not," I .replied. "It sounds as if it might be. To toll you the truth, someone put a letter in tlu> letterbox tin's afternoon while Cooper was out. T am very anxious indeed to find out, if I can, who brought it."

"It was the young lady, sir, I'm sure," ho replied excitedly. "Of course, it mast have heen. 1 should have mentioned that before. She was carrying a letter in hand when sho arrived. Unfortunately, I didn't Bee her como out, but when she was standing outside the main door alio was tapping the letter on her fingers as if sho was thinking something over, sir." "I am very much obliged to you, Mr Walters. I expect it was she who delivered the letter. I, am very glad you happened to notice her. Good afternoon. I'm'sorrv to havo taken up so much of your time." Before the old fellow could beguilo me into any further conversation I slipped out of the shop. Tt seemed hardly likely that Dilys Matnrin, considering what she said in her letter, could have delivered it herself, and yet J felt that she had actually done so. If she had sent some friend with it, why should that friend hesitate outside the door? "Surely she would havo "delivered the noto without any hesitation at all. Inwardly I cursed my luck. If only T had boon'at home! If only I could have met Miss Maturiu on the doorstep, surely 1 could havo persuaded her to give me at least a partial explanation of her extraordinary letter.

I returned to Kensington in n curious frame ; >f mind. Hero was 1 with a mysterious note in my pocket, anxious to fathom its meaning with the least possible delay, and yet. my lips woils sealed, i could not even mention tlvJ tact that I had received it. If only someone bad boon with mo at the time, I need not have opened it myself, but that. 1 reflected, would have been a shabby abuse of Jhe girl's confidence, and, having accepted her conditions. I decuk'd, very regretfully, that the only thing to do was to abde b v them. "Well, old fellow," said Littlodale, as be greeted me in 'the ball of bis cosy little house, "what sort nf a day havo you had ?"

•' Pretty god on tmo whole," I answered as cheerily as [ could. "Tho best news is that Ellenuit has wired the police from Rotterdam, and is on lib way home.'' " Ob ! excellent," the doctor exclaimed. " Will he be here in time for th-< inquest (u-morrow?" "1 hope so," I replied, " otherwise! the police will have to ask for an adjournment, and tho sooner we get. tlu\ whole wretched business over, tho hotter it will be lor everybody." "Yes. indeed," Philip agreed fervently, " The sooner you can forget it, old fellow, the better it will be for you, anyway. You look five, years older abroad v."

" j feel it," I replied. " T havo lived longer in tho last twenty-four hours than in the other twenty-fcAtr years of my life."

" Well, vou musn't worry about it. Hugh. Take tilings easy ami lot tho matter run its course. Honestly, I don't Ibink there is much to clear up now. If EUerant gives any of value it won't matter much if tlio girl, Uilys, turns up or not." ''l found out her other name to-day, down at Oakacre," I said. "It is Maturin."

" Well, don't tell rno about it now, old fellow. You rest till dinner time and tell me all the news after that."

During dinner that evening the telephone bell rang in the other room. Littledale, excusing himself hurriedly, went to attend to. tho call.

"Wanted on the 'phone, Hugh," he said as he came back. I went into the study and picked up the receiver, expecting to lind that Kirby had somo news for me. It was Cooper. "What is it?" I asked. " Mr Walters, sir. he'd like to speak with you for a minute." A moment later I heard the dairyman's voice.

"Sorry to trouble you, Mr Trafford, .sir," he said, " but. I thought you would like to know that I've just seen an evening paper, .sir, with a photograph of the young lady I mentioned this afternoon in it, sir." "Yes," I replied. "Docs it say who she is?"

" It's a Miss Dilys Maturin, sir," ho replied, evidently reading it out slowly from the paper. "Thank you very much," I answered. "Is that all? Weil, I'm very much obliged to you, Mr Walters, your information will be of great assistance to me. Good-bye." I hung up the receiver in pensive mood. "Of great assistance" to me, perhaps, but I could not even mention tho fact to Philip. Well, I had made my choice and tho only thing to do was to stick to my word like a man.

."Any news?" asked my friend, as I took my seat at the table witli a word of apology to his wife for my absence. ...

"No," I replied, "only Cooper with a lot of unnecessary questions." Tho following morning Kirby arrived, punctually at a quarter to ton. H'o was quite cheery and bright, and I realised that his attendance at the iu-. quest was simply a matter of routine, and I envied.him, his calm.

"You .are looking a bit cheap, Mr Trafford," h 0 said. "You mustn't let this business get hold of you like this. Everything is quite in order. It is not; such a very Unpleasant affair, you know; merely a matter of law that has to bo atetnded to, and as we shall have none of tho poor girl's relatives in court wo need expect no trying scenes." " Has. Ellerariti arrived?" I asked, pulling myself together with a deep breath, for I confess I was nervous of tho idea of having to explain my Connection with the affair i u a crowded coroner's court. He's on his way and will arrive about eleven, T "am glad to say," tho detective replied. " Everything is working out. beautifully. It doesn't matter if the woman Maturin turns up or not. I can't see_that lmr ovjdenco can bo of any special value. We, know exactly what happened, and we have only got to tell the jury all about) it. Your evidence will bo all plain sailing. I shall tell tho Court tho circumstances and explain the theory of her* motive so that -when you come to giva evidence you need not expect a,ny unpleasant examination on tho subject of her summons to you." " Have you found Achmcd " I ask-

Ed, as we sat in Philip's motor-car on) the way-to the Court. " Unfortunately wo have not," Kirby replied. "I shall bo sorry to have ip admit that, and the coroner willl naturally ask. If we don't find the old scoundrel very soon I shall have the river dragged or something, lou remember ho said lie was going t,r> servo Nephthya faithfully or something, in may be the doctor waß right when ha said Achmed meant ik> follow Ids mistress to vne grave." " Who else will give evidence besides myself?" I asked. 'The inspector drew out a list Irom his pocket-book and looked through it hurriodlv. I could not help feeling that it seemed a callous thing to do, to map out a careful programme ot the proci*uings, but I supposo it was necessary. ~ " Lot me see," ho said. I shall explain the circumstances of the case, lno doctor, here, will certify that life was extinct on his arrival. My assistants will corroborate the finding of the body. EUerwit will give, evidence of idemaiication and then vou will bo called, lucre is ajso Miss Milling. She will have to bo present, though wo may not require her evidence." " 1 hope wo shall not have the case adjourned," I said. ; "Wo may as well get it over at once." ''lt nearly always depends on tho police as to whether 'there is an adjournment of an inquest or not, and u tho witnesses I have mentioned aro all present we shall not as-k for it." It was a tedious, trying, depressing affair irom the sltart. I have no wish to dwell on tho details of tho scene. Tf the reader has been sufficiently fortunate to avoid contact with a coroner's court I shall be glad enough to leave him alone in his immunity. Ye'u there was something interesting in the atmosphere. Of course, the case was an exceptionally "popular" one. and the dreary little court was crowded. There were fashionably-dressed women, untidily dressed young men, who were probably budding authors and a few idlers whoso curiosity always takes ■them to gruesome fascination of such places. What struck me more than anything olso was tho recurring wave of suppressed conversation which ebbed and llowed across the court previous no tho arirval of the coroner. Then it seemed that every ono was waiting for somebody else to speak. It appeared to bo ages before anything was said, and 1 began to wonder if we wore ever to not on with tho business of the day. Ail last the coroner began to speak m a dull, low monotone, and then the jury filed out to view the body. Again tho idle chatter broke across the court.

"This man is slow, but ho is thorough," said Kirhy in my car. ".Ho is certainly slow," J replied, for T was already weary of the whole wretched business. LittWlak and I turned in our scats, and gazed idly round the court.

" I wish JOllerant would <'omo," he said. " 1 am beginning to fear ho may not turn up after all." "Oh! he'll turn up," said the inspector confidently. "It is only a question of which boat be caught."

Suddenly T started, my eyes arrested in their careless wandering by tho sight of a man sitting at the hack of the court. Ho had a note-pad in front of him and was writing hurriedly. I looked at tho sandy-grey head and long, straight host, and held my breath. I caught Philip's arm, and pointed silently.

"What is it?'' ho asked. "That man," I said, "there, in tho corner at the back," "Who is he? ]>o you know him? "What's his name?"

" Andrew Arrow," I replied, quietly (Continued on Thursday.)