The Tenant of Cromlech Cottage

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18340, 17 December 1927, Page 27 (Supplement)

The Tenant of Cromlech Cottage

“ STAR’S ” NEW SERIAL

By

JOSEPH HOCKING

CHAPTER XXl.—(Continued). “Of course, I knew we were playing a risky game. I had given the original will to that woman, and I had put the draft where T knew Trefry couldn’t get hold of it. But I was in a fever all the same. What if there should be any hitch anywhere? What if Trefry should openly deny the will which, under that woman's supervision, I had drawn up? Of course, I knew that the original will was safe—we had seen to that —people don’t open coffins after a funeral in order to find the will.” “Whose-idea was that?” asked Gwithiah. "It was hers. 1 urged her to burn it—l wish she had now—but she was as obstinate as a mule. Some women are built that way. She had a kind of suspicion that everything would go wrong if we destroyed it, so she determined to bury it with her husband.” “And she put it in the coffin?” “We did it together,” he whispered, “She hid it under the shroud, hid it under, the left arm. Oh! she is a woman, I tell you: she even watched while the undertakers screwed on the cover. When that was done she felt safe.” of the two men could help shuddering; to them there was something pdsitively revolting in the act, and they mu c t have shown it in the looks they gave, for Adam went on quickly: “Oh yes, T see you are shocked; but she was playing for big stakes, and while she couldn’t bring herself to burning it as l wanted her to. the thought that the thing was buried with him kind of soothed her conscience- and at the same time fulfilled her purpose. But, as I told you, I had a terrible time. What if suspicion shcyld be aroused: what if truthshould come to light? That was why l watched like a cat watches a mouse for old'Trefrv’s return after the funeral.” “Well, ivhat happened then?” “I could see he was terribly upset. There was a look of terror in. his eyes, and he could hardly speak. I saw him go into his own office, while I waited in my room outride. I heard him unlock the safe and presently I knew that he realised the truth. He He tried to find the draft of the will in order to confirm his own memory, and on being unable to find it he was in a-state of terror. lie came out to me arid asked me if I knew where it was. Of course, I pretended to know nothing, and hinted to him that his memory had been failing for a long time. “ ‘But it isn’t failing,’ he gasped. ‘I know the compartment in the safe where I put it, and no one ever goes to that *iafe but me.’ “Of course, I pretended to comfort him and to offer all sorts of explanations. My God! it was terrible.” Adam lapsed into silence again for a few seconds, then he went on in fearstricken tones. “That night he had another stroke,” he said, “and he never spoke again. Oh! if he'd only known—onlyknown ! ” “Known what?” - “That the draft was in his office the whole time! ” “In his office the whole time?” repeated Gwithian. “Where?”

“In his owff writing-desk, the at. which he had Sat for years, the desk at which his successor has been sitting to-day.” "Then why hasn’t his successor found it?” "You may well ask that,” replied Adam. "I told you. didn’t I, that I knew more about Trefry’s business than he knew himself? Yes. and I knew more about his office furniture than he knew himself. I had found out that there was a false bottom in the bottom drawer' of his desk, c anrl, knowing that he was ignorant of its existence. 1 put it there. Yes. and I’ll warrant that his eldest son, who has sat at his desk for the last ten y’ears, has no suspicions of that false bottom. But it’s there, and underneath it is the draft of the thing you’ve just, been reading.” Again Adam laughed at his own cleverness. “And y’ou told Mrs Pendragon of this?” “T told her nothing about the draft,” replied Adam cunningly'. “If she didn’t keep her promise I meant to threaten her with it* but I must say she acted straight. She paid me the sum of money down that she' had promised me, and every quarter I have had my allowance. Directly’ I knew what had happened to Trefry I went to the Hall and told her. and I tell you it was a relief to her. As you know”—and he turned to the doctor—"the reading of the will went off well and no questions were asked. All the same, that woman has lived in hell ever since. For that matter, so have I. Many a night 1 have woke up in a cold sweat and fancied that the truth had come to light.” “You didn’t seem ill at ease when I saw s’ou in y'our garden at Fowey a few davs ago.” “Didn’t I? Well, in a way that’s true. During the last five years I have felt better, but the first twelve months me? I have told you everything now.” “Not quite,” replied Gwithian. “All that's worth knowing. Oh! if I'd only had my own way the will would have been burnt! Nothing would have become known then. It was y'ou who aroused everything to life. I had my' suspicions about you directly' you began to speak, and when you mentioned y'oung Mr Tom, those suspicions strengthened. . . . Then when you began to talk about young Roger Pendragon, I knew you had some purpose in coming. • I came down here right away and learnt all about you. I discovered that you were friendly with the doctor, too, and I tolrl Mrs Pendragon that I should never feel-safe, and that she would never be safe, until we’d got the will and destroyed it. Presently she got frightened and agreed to what I’d said.” “Was that why you tried to murder me this morning?” asked Gwithian. “I wish I had murdered you! ” snarled Adam. “Oh! I’ve watched you! I knew you had something in your mind; I knew you had been prowling round the church, and I meant to do for you. T thought I had. But even if I had done for you, the doctor was still alivw. so I determined to be first. I got hold of Franky Flew and made him as drunk as a lord, and then as soon as it was dark I got. to work. It was a ghastly business, how I did it I don’t

know. I was mad half the time—-but I went through with it. Good Lord! wasn’t I overjoyed when I saw the metal case! . . . But just then I heard a noise, and I thought Roger Pendragon had come to life again. I got out of the vault—how I don’t know—it all seems like a hideous nightmare. Then when I got to the top, before I had time to realise where I was, I felt the case snatched out of my hand. I fell all in a heap. But I saw her flying across the church.” and he nodded to Karenza. “For a minute or more I must have been out of my senses, I didn’t know what to do—which way to move. But I was desperate! Whether it was man, woman, or devil I must get hold of that case. And thenwhat a night it was—thundering and lightning as though hell were let loose. Then I heard her cry. but 1 didn’t know what to do, J was frightened, and 1 thought I was going mad. I felt like running away—l should have run away, but there was another flash of lightning and I saw her; she was only a few yards from me. I got to her and I tell you I was relieved when I found I had only to deal with flesh and blood ; it was only a woman after all, and —and I could quickly master her. . . . But I couldn’t. She fought like a wild cat, she wriggled like an cel. More than once I got hold of it. but only' to lose it again—and thenthen—you came! Oh! I have been through hell, I tell you. . . . What are you going to do with me?” _ Adam had changed his mood by this time. From cunning he had passed to boastfulness, from boastfulness to a kind of horror, and from horror to a truculent defiance. Again he scrutinised each face closely, especially’ that of Karenza. lie seemed to be wondering what was his best Course tb adopt. From Gwithian and the doctor he got no comfort, no hope; but as he looked at Karenza’s face the look of cunning in his eyes grew. “I have told y’ou everything now,” he said. “I know I have done wrong, but I was in the power of that woman. You will not be hard on me. ■will y'ou? I am an old man and in the course of nature I have only a few more years to live. And you are young. Miss Pendragon, young and beautiful. You will have pity upon an old man, won’t you? . . . Sav you’ll have, pity.” The doctor looked at Gwithian questioningly. Adam’s confession had made everything plain, and to all appear ance they had obtained all that they’ desired: but tremendous difficulties faced them. Their position was without

precedent, and they still had Mrs Pendragon to deal with. . . . A few minutes later, Seccombe, the doctor’s man-o£-all-work, was Summoned into the room. lie was a big. burly fellow who had served the doctor for many years, and was as faithful as a dog. “You see that man, Seccombe?” said the doctor, nodding to Adam. “Do you know him?” “Aas, I’d knaw ’in. E used to be clerk to old Mr Trefry.” “I want you to look after him. I want you to take him to your bedroom and to keep him there till 1 come to you. Do you understand?” “Aas. sir." replied Seccombe, stolidly. “I wouldn’t for him to get away for a thousand pounds,” said the doctor. “You understand that? It’ll only be for a few hours, but during that time I leave him in your charge. Your room over the stable has a good lock to it, and he can’t get away without your knowledge. T am trusting you, Seccombe, mind that.” “ Aas, doctor.” “Then take him away.” j "Come on. you”; and going to Adam, [ Seccombe laid his great hand on the old man’s coat. Gwithian and the doctor followed them to the room over the stable, .which adjoined the house, and after seeing them safely inside, returned to the surgery again. (To be Continued).