“The Marten Mystery.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 14

“The Marten Mystery.”

A Thrilling Serial Story

By

JOHN IRONSIDE.

(Chapter XI Continued.) The city .staff, and even the solicitor seemed to look Io him, all inexperienced though he was, for advice and decision. He soon discoverer! one reason for this attitude. His remaining brother, Marlendale, V. ; ?e-ChairTnan of the Company, and therefore at present Acting Chairman, was evidently exceedingly unpopular with his subordinates. Rut there xvas something more. At, atmosphere of greater mystery and measiness than even the appalling tragedy of Sir Joseph s death warranted. He could not define it. hut soon became aware of it. an instinctive feeling that there was something behind, known or suspected by some at least of those he met, Io which they would not, or dare not, openly allude. Yet. in his honest, straight forward mind he wondered if the impression was mere imagination, fostered by his own dark and vague suspicions, that he could not fully discuss al present even with Freeman. If only Cyril had been older and less impulsive he might have taken counsel with h' n. Rut that was nut of the question. The hoy was still 100 overwrought, too unbalanced. He realised that when Cyril greeted him. almost hysterically, on his ret’Jrn. about eight o’clock. “At last! T thought you were never coming hack. Where on earth have you been, John?” “Twining’s. And the City. Sorry, old man, but it. couldn't he helped. There were no end of things to see to. Did Nancy and Miss Cave got off all right?’’ John nodded. The house, indeed, seemed more forlorn than ever, lacking Miriam's presence, and the heavy funereal scent of the flowers that were now massed in the hall was almost overpowering. “I've been out. mooning abo'iit by myself for hours.” Cyril continued, “.lust to get away from the smell of those wreaths. It makes me sick.” "It was kind of people to send them." John suggested. Yes. I know llrat but I’d rather have had some living Foul to speak Io.” said the boy vehemently. "John, l.as it ever struck you how awfully alone we arc? Here, in London anyhow. Mother knew swarms of people, and I suppose they’ve done the decent thing in sending ail those flowers. But they’ve all kept aloof. Not one has come as a friend. I don't believe we have any real friends'." The same thought had occurred to Jr.hn. He supposed that was nnc of the penalties of riches and of living in a social whirl. Crowds of acquaintances and not nne real friend. Il’s own were few but fit. men with whom he had literally “gone throT-gh fire and waler.,” and Jolly glad he would have been to have one of them al. hand now ! "One lady was here when 1 came in this morning." he remarked. Miss Rodin was it?'’ Yes. It, was awfully kind of her. Rut. the queer thing is that she’s an utter stranger. She’d never even met mother or dad. and only knows Uncle ■tames. It was her brother came here with him thal night. From what. Miriam said—she. liked her awfully— I should think she was about the last person in the world Io be one of Marlendale's friends!” "I‘idn’l she know Miss Cave before?” John asked. “Ao. but said she'd heard of her, and asked Io see her.” John was conscious of an Immense sense of relief. How utterly absurd of him lo suspect that Miriam might know more of the Rodins than she had acknowledged! The mystery in which ' he was groping, like a man caught in a dense fog on strange ground, made him ready lo suspect everyone. He had had no time during the day to think much of the incident, hut It had rankled in the back of his mind. He was glad when at last he was able to belako, himseU alone to the library, leaving Cyril asleep on a sofa. The hoy flatly refused lo go lo bed ill after the, funeral cortege had left, and now liiere were sleallhy sounds in Hie house as the undertaker’s men set about their preparations. Punctually al half-past ten Freeman arrived, and was -admitted by Taltani. "Not m'uch to report so far. Luckily, perhaps. X’ou look as if you’d had about enough for one day, Mr Marten," he began, with a keen glance at John's worn fa cp. “That registered letter was handed in at Bristol Central early on Wednesday morning. Well, have you got it?” ’ Not at present.” “You haven't? How's thal?” "It seems lo have disappeared.” ■ Really!'’ remarked Freeman dryly, without manifesting any surprise. "What's Hie explanation? Full particulars. please.” "When 1 asked for it—there were 1 several mailers we had to discuss first! —Lord Marlendalp at once agreed | that I ought lo have it, and called in' his secretary ” “Terry?” A ps. Told him In bring all the | things in. Terry said they weren’t] there, and reminded Marlendale thati he himself had rung him up about six! o'clock, and told him lo take them’ along lo the Knightsbridge, flat. Which! he did. and left them there, in that.”! He indicated a big leather dispatch case that lay on the table beside him, the key in the lock. "Half a minute. Did fl’erry say, what he did with them when Lord i Marlendale passed them lo him here?” “Yes. 'He checked and signed the list for Inspector Snell there and then, p;;l ail the things into this case, and took them to Pall Mall, where he put them in the safe at once. He is positive the envelope and its contents were' there all right, and never looked at! them or even opened the case again. He took it in a taxi lo the flat, and as Martend-ale wasn’t there—he was here with me till after seven—he left the case with the valet, and the key in an envelope which he sealed up there.” “Very proper precaution, if he was speaking the truth. ‘‘He was, I'm certain of thal, though all this only came out later, when they were wrangling about it. Martendale remembered ’phoning to Terry

; from here, but swears he never set | eyes on the case, and that -his man mist have forgotten to give it him. I Anyhow, he fold Terry to go and fetch ■ it at once in his car, that was waiting I outside. He got back in a few minI utes with it, and the key in the enve* I lope.” [ “Still sealed?” "No. The seal was broken amj the, flap just doubled over. -Marten' dale himself opened the case, and w< found everything Mere but Ihe. registered letter. That was gone.” “Ah. Did Terry say where h<4 found the case?” “He didn't have to find il. Thai valet, fetched il at once.” "Well, go on. What did Lord Marlendale say when the letter wa* missing?” ‘Treated it lightly at first. Said: ‘Hullo, the thing’s not here. Where the devil has it got to? Though it’s not of any real consequence, of course, except as a relic o- poor Joe,’ or something In that effect. Then, wl’en I said it was important and must be found, he turned shirty, and asked what I was driving a(?” Did you tell him—about the pens and blotting-paper, and our doubt as to whether Sir Joseph re-addressed ‘Ot course ] didn't. I might have done jf ynu hadn’t warned me.” “Good !Go nn. Didn't he give any explanation ?” ‘Nothing definite. Said he supposed ho must have opened the case himself, but couldn't remember a thing about il. and anyhow if the envelope didn't turn up if couldn’t possibly mailer. If the fellow who sent the testimonials wanted 'em back he could jolly well wail for them. And so on and so forth, fill he took himself off in a huff, saying he would be late for -some appoinlmenl. Then Terry offered tn go back to the flat and try to find it, so T went with him.” “Yo’u- did? Good!” “1 didn't want lo lose any time. Rut we found no trace of it. I questioned the man. who declared there was nothing in the waste-paper basket, and that his lord ship dined alone last night, hut whether he had any visitors later he, couldn’t, say. as he went off duty -soon after dinner. Il's what they call a service flat. “Did you ask life lift man—about visitors?” "No. I never thought of tha'. I was due to meet Mr Twining, and had to get on.” “Mr Twining? He’s Sir Joseph's sidicilor, isn't he? Did yo'u felt him anything of all this?” “No, liiere was so much olhe r business to go into. Besides, I shouldn't, in any case till I'd seen you I haven't mentioned it to another sou! Terry was quite helpful—he seems decent sort -but I could see that, h - like my brolher. thought I was rnakin ' a fess about nothing. I almost hegar lo think the same myself. Does that letter mean anything. Freeman?” He did noJ answer immediately. Iml sat drumming his fingers softly on *the table, then, slowly and emphatically: “Unless I’m very much -mistaken - and I don’t think I am, the. fact of its disappearance goes lo prove that! the envelope itself is of llm utmost importance. But I can't tell yor. why. al present. As for its contents, j as produced at the inquest, well, il’ | impossible to say if they are impoiTin! • or not Itll we've traced the writer D;d you think of asking Mr Terry if ! he noled. or could recall, Hie name and address?” "Yes. He said the name was Johnson or Johnston, b’ct he can't remember the address except that il was Manchester.” “Manchester, eh ? II was registered and posted in Bristol!” “So you -said just now. Rut Terr) said it was Manchester, he was sunof -that, though he scarcely looked al it. for the moment he saw Sir Joseph's note ” “The note purporting to be from Sir Joseph.” “Yes. He just rang up and brought, il. along hero at once. He never had it. in his hands again except to pul it in the case.” “J'ust -so.” said Freeman abstractedly, staring al the things in the open case, the pistol, poor Lady Marten's charred and battered hat, and oilier gruesome relics. John rose and paced the room restlessly, his hands in his pockets, then, as Freeman remained silent, paused beside him. “What next? Do you want m» to go through these with you?” He loathed the thought of touching the. fatal things, and was relieved when Freeman came out of his reverie, shut and locked the case, and said: “Not to-night. I’ll take them with me, and go through them al leisure. Did you meet. Mr Dodin today, as you expected?” “No. lie's ill. That'-s why he didn't dine with Marlcndale last ■ night.” H'm. When do you return from Gloucestershire ?" “Sunday night, I expect.” “Right. J shall be out of town for a few days, or longer, perhaps. I'll ring you up or come, round when I get back. Safer than writing. And meanwhfle ’’ "Yes?” John prompted, as the little man paused. “Yo’u haven't forgotten my warning, not. to drop so much as a hint to anyone—except your good Tattam—even that you doubt the verdict?” “Of course I haven't. But for that I should have raised Gain a lot more to-day about that envelope.” “Well, don't forget it. As for the vanished packet, try to dismiss it from your mind, for a bit, with everything else. You’ll have plenty to do and think of without bothering yourself about my job. Don’t mention it even to Lord Atartendale, unless he does •so first, and in that case get what you can out of him. and say as little as you can yourself. See? And if you don't see or hear anything of me, don’t worry. You’ve given me a free hand, and I’m yoing lo play it my own way.” He rose, and looked up at John. “Where you shadowed again today?”

(To be continued).