"THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1941, Page 10

"THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

(Author of "Behind the Curtains,” etc.)

CHAPTER XXI. (Continued). -My honourable friend must give notice of that question. Couldn't say offhand. I should think it will depend on how the order was worded—and the heirs may have something to say about it." "No heirs have appears yet." "They will! It's astonishing how the scent of unattached money brings claimants flocking round!" Rathbone looked sharply at Kenway. "What's the idea? Are you thinking somebody may have bumped Borden off to prevent his cancelling this order?" "It’s possible.” "Oh. Lord, yes! Anything is possible where money is concerned! And this is just the sort of clever-silly notion that would appeal to the criminal mind. Crooks never see farther than the end of their own noses. The difficulty of getting round the bank and possible heirs would never suggest themselves." "I suppose the bank won't object to telling me who this money was paid to?” "Ah. that would be asking them to ‘disclose.' and the mention of the word is enough to make a bank official shy a hundred yards. Of course, you can persuade them—look hero; I know the manager of this branch and how to deal with him. I shall be round that way tomorrow morning and. if you like I'll look in and see if I can gel the information you want, in a friendly way. That’s always better than putting on the screw.” "Thai's jolly decent of you, Rathbone." "Not a bit. You’ll do as much for me some day—and Quirk —that's the manager—keeps a box of my favourite brand of cigars on tap. That's a consideration in these days when hardly anybody runs to anything better than a gasper.” "Thon I'll leave it. to you. old man.” "Right. I’ll report as soon as I've seen Quirk.” Rathbone withdrew and Kenway sat for a long time thinking over their talk. The suggestion that the form of the entries indicated that Borden was making regular payments to someone whose name ho did'not wish to be coupled with his own was what interested him. There might be various ways of accounting for that; but what struck him as the most probable one was that the payments were an allowance made to a woman. With the hints thrown out by Green with reference to Avice Carlake it did not require much ingenuity to connect her with the transactions. It was only a surmise at present of course, but it was exactly the sort of clue he was looking for in her case. He had been unable to fit her with a motive for wishing Borden dead; if those entries did turn out to chronical payments to her. that gap was closed.

He put his papers away and was preparing to leave when his telephone bell rang. “Hell.” he said. "Inspector Kenway speaking.” •Roy licmersley here." came the answer. "I’m speaking for Miss Barbara Calendar. Could you make an appointment to see her tomorrow morning? It's urgent.” "Has she remembered something she thought she had forgotten this afternoon?" "She'll tell you what it is when she sees you.” "If she is really going to tell me something I shall be delighted to see her! What time will suit her? Ten — half-past?” "She’ll be at Scotland Yard at halfpast 10 prompt and so will I.” "Oh, will you" Have you something to tell me. too?"

"That depends on how you treat her. I may have quite a 10l to tell you!” There was a distinctly aggressive note in the statement. Ker.way smiled to himself. "I know you can talk when once you get started," he said. "Ail right. Miss Calendar is entitled to have a friend present when she makes a communicalien to the police, and if she chooses you as an escort that’s her look out. I shall expect you both at 10.30 tomorrow.” He hung up and stood thinking. "Now. where is this going to lead us’.’" he asked himself. CHAPTER XXII Finding himself with an hour <>r more free before his appointment with Roy and Barbara on the following morning. Inspector Kvnway decided to pay the visit he had proposed to the estate agent who managed Darnley Mansions. He had no difficulty in per::uadmg this gentleman to talk —what would an estate agent be worth if he were not a free ami fluent talker’.'- but it did not seem that there was much of any signilicance to be told. Mr. Garvin, of Garvin. Garvin ami Fowncs, described the personal appearance of the vanished tenant and related all he knew about him; but it amounted io very little. The missing man had given the name u( James Matthews; a branch of the Corporate Bank had written m reply to a query made mi Mr. Matthew’s authority that he had an accmmt with them and. so far as: they knew, was fimmcinll.v safe; the addre . Matthew: b.ad mven was. the M.-rvm II..•«■!. a small but highly rm pcc’.ablv establishment m the West End to which letters hud be,.-:> sent and from which r<:-plie., (rme Mr. ?.latlh<‘W - had come There had b<-<-n m> reason for <i abting the man ■ b>-m> !;do . m i the fm-t that !.,■ hud ;m:d thr< o m ■ th--’ rent ■: had made granting < f t, r y a Ml Garvin r!< -<•: ;i‘ Mattin.-w , a a man w«-41 ,> ■ t 1 . t >, p! ■ ba:>ly ■... what <■ ■■■■ m f< ‘ <>•’ ■ /!’• ti f.< , the!.' .... a gtt.vral ..o '

and prosperity about him. "I don't think I can tell you any more than that." said Mr. Garvin. "Everything about him seemed perfectly straightforward—that goes without saying.. I shouldn't have entertained him as a tenant if it had been otherwise. He even insisted on a trifling alteration in the terms of our usual agreement, which looked as if lie was genuinely intending to occupy the flat. I can show you that. The office copy of the agreement, with his signature, is here.” He produced a foolscap sheet and handed it to the inspector. Kenway , glanced over it casually. Suddenly his attention became concentrated and he i sat for a long time staring at the signai lure at the bottom of the page. "Nothing wrong with it, is there,” I inquired Mr. Garvin with a shade of : anxiety. "No. no. Nothing wrong at all. but —I was wondering if I haven’t seen ; this writing before and trying to remember where and when it could be." "There’s nothing very distinctive about it, is there?” said the estate agent, leaning over to examine the: ( signature. “Come to think, it's more i shaky than I should have expected from a man who looked so hale and I had such a decided manner. But it's his signature, all right. I saw him/ write it himself in this office." "I’m not doubting that, I’m just trying to remember . . can't get it. though Would you mind letting me have this for a day or two?” “Woll. I'd rather not part with that particular document, unless it is absolutely necessary. You see, the position is rather unusual. The agreement is still active; the notice stipulated for terminating it hasn't been given: Mr. Matthews is legally the tenant of the flat and we don’t know what steps wo may have to take about it. But, if it's only his signature you want, I can let you have that on a letter —” "That will do quite as well.” "Then here you are—let's see: ah! a note arranging to bo here for the final settlement of the agreement. That's better for your purpose than the document, as it's all in his writing." “Thank you.” Kenway took the note which was on the sheet of paper with the heading of the Mervin Hotel. Ho examined it closely; but. beyond the dim feeling that he had seen the writing before, ho gained nothing fresh from it. He folded the sheet and put it in his pocket case; then, with thanks for the information he had received, he left the office and went to interview the manager of the bank, which had guaranteed the solvency of James Matthews.

There, after using his official position to surmount the usual, and quite proper, difficulties with regard to "disclosure,” he got interesting information. Mr. James Matthews had opened an account at this branch some eight months ago. It was never really large, but was always satisfactory and was replenished from lime to time, principally by dividends from Government Stock, held in the form of bearer bonds, Mr. Matthews had placed a locked despatch case, contents unknown. in care of the bank's strong room. But, on the morning after Roger Borden’s death, he had cashed a cheque which reduced his balance to three pounds, fourteen shillings, and seven pence, and removed his despatch box from the custody of the bank. Nothing mure had been heard of him. All this was perfectly in order from the point of view of the bank, but it was very suggestive to Inspector Kenway. The amount withdrawn was £560, of which £2OO were in one pound and ten shilling notes and untracenble; the numbers of the others were known, and Kenway got copies of them; but Mr. James Matthews would not need to change those until the £2OO were gone, and by that time he might very well have received further supplies from dividends on his untraceable bearer bonds, Oh. yes. What he had learned from the bank was interesting all right, but it was not very helpful. He went on to the Mervin Hotel with a strong foreboding as to what he would be told there, and with the fugitive memories half-awakened by the signature on the agreement nagging at him like a severe attack of mental neuritis. His anticipations were realised to the letter Mr. Matthews, after a stay of nearly nine months, during which his conduct had been nil that could be demec: by a respectable hotel, had de- 1 parted with all his belongings on the morning of 'Tuesday. He had left noj address for letters to be forwarded, and j .had told no one where he was going j One other significant item was reveal- ' A chambermaid had seen on Mr.; Matthews’s drying-table a small box' contammg gelatine capsules, and he’ had once mentioned to the manageress! that he had occasional trouble with his; heart. ! It was nm<- for Kenway m get back I for his appointment, and he hurried j away. Ihv taxi in which Mr M'lt’-I h-w.. h-ft th- Merv.n with ln-, luggage' must b e traced. That could be done in j ome. m. <i> übl. and might lead tn j s but where the blazes had ne ..e vl . that handwriting before tudav ‘ han only tune t<> set 'lie machinery for finding the taxi m me’mn be-' f*>ic li.-: v; ; were announced m>v He, holding Barbara's arm ' " i' r '• ■■ via p. and h : ..w ' * !!! 1 ■: pt < • of grim "‘ 1 c 1 ’. .■' • ■ ~ a h, ■ J... ~a*(! at 'he ill - ■' I ' K < •;: i ( ...r. m ’• l ‘' '• H’■ <ma:mer a' she came mt ‘ ■ U;e, lifter ;! rp, ■ '_- t 1 .. • j-, ~,. . 1,. v, had nearly sapped her vitality. make’ •e.m.e d.-ch .tire from which her whole nature shnwk. u*: 'To be c ..•■.tinned ‘