“THE GOFF-PATH MYSTERY."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16845, 22 September 1922, Page 11

“THE GOFF-PATH MYSTERY."

NEW SERIAL,

By EEADON HILL. CHAPTER 11, Continued. They we re discussing Mr Lucius Sev«rin, though they were not looking at him. They were far too clever for that. The stout person with “ muttonchops” Teas Mr Hezekiah Hoop, formerly a sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Depaitment at Scotland Yard, now retired and married to one of Bictoii’s prominent lodginghonse keepers, His companion was Inspector .Repton, liis friond and former colleague, spending a well earned holiday under the hospitable roof of the Hoops. Not as a paying guest, he it tinderstood. These twain were linked tight in the bonds of old-time comradeship, and it was a source of delight to the old detective to entertain the junior who had been his pupil in former days. “Yes,” the eldor was saying, ‘'it’s him right enough. Put on a bit of flesh, bnt there’s no mistaking that profile. How does he stand with you hoys at the Yard now, Dick? Been giving you any trouble since he sold us a pup over that bullion affair ?” Inspector Repton’s eyes grew dreamily retrospective. “ Lucius certainly beat us to it then,’* he said, “ No, we have nothing against liim, and I reckon he lias long ago risen above tho need to play tho crook. He is a topnotcher in the city nowadays, with a house in Berkley Square and a hankering after a seat in Parliament.” “ When, the wicked roan turneth away from his wickedness,” quoted the retired C.I.D. officer.. ‘‘That’s libellous.” smiled the still active member of the Force. ”We failed to prove that he was a wicked man, remember.” At this point the circle of spectators broke at an authoritative voice from within and disclosed the local sergeant of police directing some fishermen who were carrying a stretcher, with the doctor following behind. Way having been made for it, the little procession moved off towards the mortuary, built by the kindly forethought of the Urban Council in close proximity to the bath-ing-place. u lie’s been dead about twelve hours,” the doctor replied to numerous inquiries. “ No. he doesn’t belong to Bicton. A vagrant. I should imagine from the clothing. The cause ©f death ? Well, his neck is broken, likewise his back, and T dare say we shall find a lot of little other things when we go over him at leisure.” Mr Lucius Severin showed no desire for company as he trudged back along the shingle to the hotel, but John Thorpe and Claude Raven fell into step together, so far as the rough going whuld allow’. The Indian poLice-officer amd the fiction-writer seemed to have found an affinity, possibly dne on the part of the former to liis dawning interest in Miss Ed id Raven. Case of accident, isn’t it?” hazarded the novelist. “Nothing more exciting than the stumble of a poor devil who didn’t*know the ground?” Thorpe’s reply dodged the issue. “ T want to go up and have a look at the cliff path,” was all he said. When they reached the spot where the cliff had sloped to vanishing point, bringing the path down to sea level.' Enid was waiting for them at the gar den gate of tho hotel. “ Any luck in the way of copy, Dad?” she caked as they came up. The girl was a. candid critic ot her father’s work and methods, usually appreciative. hut no afraid to tell him so if he Ft,rayed from tire beaten track which had brought him fame and fortune. Incidentally, she had herself a keen nose for mystery plots and dramatic situations. “There’s nothing in it on the surface,” Mr Raven smiled at her. “It is probable an accident., though ft is too food to form a definite conclusion. Thorpe and I are going up to examine the place lie fell from.” “ And I am coming with you.” was the prompt rejoinder. The three struck upwards along the cliff path, whirl) on its landward side was. flanked by the low stone walls dividing it from the gardens of villas fronting the sea. Each house had its private gate on tn tlio cliff, at first at frequent intervals. but higher up. where the houses and gardens were more pretentious, at greater distances from each othpr. They climbed steadily till they oath* the section of path bordeving these. InTger premises, and at the junction of a. narrow’ alley running at right nnglep down into the main street Thorpe suddenly halted. *• There is the place.” he said, point ing to a, gap whence at least- a ton of weather-loosened soil had slipped on to the beach, carrying with it some twenty feet, of wooden railing wiQi which the brink had been protected and narrowing the path by more than a. half. In daylight it was possible to pass the. flaw in comparative safety by creeping close to the wall on the landward side of the path, but at night nobody who valued his life would have attempted the feat. With the usual humour of such bodies the Urban Council had stuck up a warning notice which was useless at the only time when it was needed—after dark. Enid and her father stood back against the wall while John Thorpe went inch by inch over the ground at the edge of th*» cliff. The novelist and his daughter were aware of their limitations to one who was an expert in them. It would be time enough for them to get busy when, if ever, a human interest emerged from Thorpe's examination, calling their own special gift of psychology into play. At the moment when Thorpe stood erect and Raven was about to ask for results Enid created a diversion. “ Here comes. Colonel Nasmyth.” she exclaimed. “We ain’t trespassing, arc we? He looks as black as thunder.” The tall, soldierly man advancing towards them had come out of his. own postern gate a little higher up the cliff, and his expression, though hardly meriting Enid’s sinilc. certruily denoted mental disturbance. The Ravens and Thorpe knew the Colonel very well, having met him on the links and play ed with him. Enid, for a wonder, stood rather in awe of the owner of “ The i Peak.” Tf there was one thing she . resented it was being treated as a flapper, and she had come to the er- \ roneous conclusion that the Colonel’s I old-fashioned courtesy towards her was r species of what she called leg-pulling “ Good morning Miss Raven.” said 1 Nasmyth. “ Good morning, all. What’; up? Dropped something over the cliff?” Thorpe appointed himself spokesman. “No, Colonel,” he replied. “We haven’t dropped anything Haven’ you heard? A disreputable-looking fellow has dropped, or been dropped, on to the beach and got his neck broken. We came up to have a look at the place he must have fallen from.” ? X