“Scandal at Baron’s Court."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 5

“Scandal at Baron’s Court."

NEW SERIAL STORY

By

ALLAN GREY.

Tier eyes rlos*d for a moment, *nd when she opened them again her face was as while as the pillows behind her, but. her voice was steady. ’’Well?” she asked. Whaley swallowed hard, and he managed to look normal almost before she had realised the effect of her statement. On lhe other hand, he told himself, she was obviously prepared for him Io suspect the worst. She had brains, and she must realise that her Identification had done two things lhat Whaley wanted more than anything else in the world that evening. She had lold him Hie Identity of the murdered man, but what was even more important, she had given him a cast-iron motive. Jenny Lea and Conway Sewell could not marry because of Brice. What stronger molive for murder would a man like Sewell want? Whaley seemed to see the American's ejes, narrow and wary. Gad! It was as plain as a pikestaff. All these things flashed through Whaley’« mind. “I see." he said in an even voice “That's very useiul, Miss Lea." Jenny Lea langhcd, a high-pitched, hysterical laugh. 1 "Useful - by heaven I it’s just what you wanted." Whaley said nolhing. 'lhe woman was beside herself, now, and very nearly hysterical. She might say something that would damn Conway Sewell .... She seemed Io read the detective's thoughts. Her eyes narrowed, until I hey were just, slits of blue. She stretched her right hand out and clutched his forearm. ‘He didn't!" she said in a high, lense \oice. “1 swear he didn't! He promised me ’’ She slopped abruptly, as lhe door opened. Whaley swung round angrily, to see lhe tall figure of Conway Sewell. Sewell s eyes were blazing as he strode Io the Inspector. “What the blazes is this?" he demanded. “There's no need to frighten Miss Lea. policeman or no policeman." Chief Inspector Martin John Whaley came Io as near Io hitting a. man just then, as he had ever been i.i his life without doing so. He "knew lhat Sewell had been nearby, and at those : high-pitched words he had rushed into lhe room, not. as he pretended, because he thought Jenny Lea was being | frightened but because he wanted | to stop her from talking. Sewell . would know that in her hysteria the • women might say anything. * ! The two men eyed each other, for what seemed an age. Then Whaley spoke. “ Sewell,” he said. " if you don't get outside, and go downstairs until I tell you you can come again. I'll ar- ( rest you right away. You’re damning yourself.” (ionway Sewell s eyes blazed—and then his expression changed to one of sardonic humour. Just for a moment I he looked at Jenny, and then he turned < on his heel and went. out. Whaley turned Io Jenny Lea. | “ if you're holding back anything you know," he said, “ you're asking for trouble. Miss Lea. 1 can strongly advise you to talk now, before you are | implicated yourself.” But Jenny Lea stared at him. blankly. , He guessed sue was acting. He | guessed she had been acting most of ' the day, but her blankness was some- | thing he could not get past. Sewell's blustering interference had slopped all chance of getting more information from Jenny Lea that night. Whaley gave it up, summoned a maid, and left lhe room. As he pnlered lhe lounge, next Io the library, he saw Sir Bertram standing by lhe fireplace, with Conway Sewell opposite him and Howard Lane, sitting very stiff and upright, in a corner. Whaley looked grim. " I’d like a word with Mr Lane,” he said. Howard Lane looked al him unseeingly for a moment, and then stood up. with a shrug of helplessness. The door dosed behind him and lhe Chief Inspector. •• Will you waif, upstairs in your room for me?” asked W'haley, although it was more of an order than a request. Howard looked uncertain and puzzled, but he nodded, and turned > towards the great staircase. WTialey I watched him until he had disappeared round a bend in the landing, then beckoned to a plain-clolhes man who was slanding in the hall. ■■ Watch Howard Lane until 1 send for him," he said. The man saluted, and went upstairs. Whaley went into the library, where he found Sergeant Bilson lounging by the window. The Chief Inspeclor was glad. He worked well with Bilson, who was a good listener, and who never went beyond himself. “ Any luck?” asked Bilson. Whaley nodded, and said grimly: “ The dead man is Lester Brice— Jenny Lea's husband." "Gad!” exclaimed hilson. “That just about finishes the American, doesn't it?” Whaley nodded, but he was not as certain as he would have liked. It seemed almost too good to be true that he had solved this grim mystery within a. few hours of its perpetration. “ Jenny Lea didn’t make any bones about admitting it,” he said, “ and she added something useful—” “ Yes? ” asked Bilson. “ She told me Sewell had ‘ promised her ’ not Io kill Brice. That means it's been in Sewell's mind." Bilson whistled. “ If we can get evidence to lhat,” he said, “ you’ve very nearly got a case.” ” Unless Sewell can find an alibi,” said Whaley. “Not much chance of that,” said Bilson. with a grin. “ Everyone's 100 busy taking care of themselves to worry about anyone else. I’ll tell you what, Chief. I’ve been looking round lhe summerhouse again and I found—• that.” As he spoke, he handed a plain envelope to his Chief, who opened it and rolled a small-headed, decorative pin on to his palm. The top of it was •oafed with a brownish slain, and the pin itself had been bent. ' “ Looks as if it happened in a I struggle,” said BiKon,- .“ and it sug- !

gesls a woman was in it. somewhere.’* Whaley nodded. This was better than an occasional word, a forced admission. It was tangible evidence. ; Actually it. was a woman’s hat-pin, and the brown stain on it was blood. i “Il was trampled in the dirt of lhe I summerhouse.” said Rilson. ” There’s no concrete there, you know—it's all soil." ; Whaley nodded, his eyes glittering. i “ Find who that belongs to.” he ! muttered, “ and we find something . very useful indeed. It shouldn't be 1 hard. One nf the three women.” ■ ” Four, - ’ said Rilsnn. | Whaley cocked an eye. i “ Don’t forget Agatha Foulkes." said ; Bilson. “We haven't heard anything ; against her yet, but she might be in i it, somewhere.” “ For lhe love of Mike.” exclaimed Whaley, “ don't go and make more cornplica lions, darn you. All the same.” he added, more reasonably, “ we'll have to keep her in mind, although I don't think lhere's much Io worry about with hpp. Reiter make a round of the servants, Billon, and see if anyone recognises lhe pin. We'd belter not show it to the principals, or we ll get another cock-and-bull story.” I’ll gel Io il.” said Bilson. He went In the door, but hurried back info the room a few moments later, wide-eyed. I met Sewell on the stairs," he lold Whaley. " You pul, a man Io watch Howard Lane, and be tells me Sewell tried Io gel in |o see Lane.” Whaley rubbed his massive chin. “If we get much more Irouble from Sewell.” he said, “ I'll charge him and get him away from here. We ; have, nearly enough Io go on. But I wonder why he wanted to see Lane so urgently." “ He broke in on lour talk with Jenny Lea In slop her giving something away.” said Rilson, shrewdly. “ Maybe he wanls to do the same with Lane." Whaley nodded. '■ I’ll go up and see him." he said. As he went upstairs, he. looked al, his watch, and noticed il, was half past seven. Only three hours had passed since he had arrived here! Things had certainly moved swiftly. He, found Howard Lane staring out of his window'. He had intentionally I sent lhe younger man Io his room, alone, in order Io try and make him nervous, before lhe interrogation. It I was a trick that often worked. I Howard faced him squarely enough. At least there was none of lhe insoi lence and offensiveness of -Conwax | Sewell in lhe Englishman's manner. " Listen,” said Whaley, quietly. I " I believe you can tell me something l about Sewell, Lane, lhat will clear everyone else of blame. I'm taking you into my confidence, and relying on soil not Io breathe a word to anyone.’ ' Howard nodded, and gave no impression that he suspected lie was being tricked. Actually. Whaley was nol tricking him, al lhat moment. i "The dead man is Jenqy Lea's husband." said Whaley, and he, saw Iht 1 astonishment show itself immedialch lin Lane’s eyes. “Now—Sewell's been threatening Io kill Brice. Du you know anything about it?" I Howard Lane's eyes gleamed. ” Yes." he said. " I heard " Then he slopped. CHAPTER VIII. I Whalpy knew lhe younger man hac suddenly realised lhat by speaking lu would place Hie halier round Sewell')neck, and lhat English sense of giving lhe other man a sporting chance—llx biggest trial of Whaley's life—stoppe.' him. But that “ Yes, I heard," enough for Whaley. “ Don't forget," lie snapped, “ if joi keep any malerial evidence back. }ou'i making yourself guilty of complicit;Don't hide behind some fool notion <• playing the game." Howard Lane, taking a Cigarette ou of his pocket, told his story in shod jerky sentences. Whaley without interruption, and let th< younger man light his cigarette before he said: “Did Sewell mention he knew Brice was coming here to-day? - ’ “ No,” said Howard. He went o quickly, " | rather thought he wa talking in lhe air. I don't think he ha. any idea what Brice was like to loo' at.” Whaley said nolhing. but he admit ted that Howard Lane's evidence, aftm all, did not throw the noose nearer b the American. True, Sewell ha«' threatened murder. It was possibh he had discovered Brice's arrival a: Baron s Court, and killed Brice in th summerhouse. Whaley etched his theory in. Supposing Jenny Lea had known lu .- husband was going Io be in lhe grounds, and supposing she had up him, after dodging Conway Sewei; Then, il was possible, Sewell had dis covered them and. in the heat of th | moment, had murdered Brice. The molive was certainly slron enough. There was no proof Sewei had been on the river bank all Hu time. On the other hand, what ha Sewell been doing with a revolver m lhe old army pattern—for, it was as sured, the bullet that had killed Briehad come from a revolver of a similar make to that produced by Sir Bertram Foulkes. Sewell had only been al Barons* Court for two days. Whaley knew, i was possible, of course, he" had takes, the gun from the armoury. Ther* wah quite a varied selection of wea pons in a small room next to the drawing room, which, at the moment was being guarded by the police Whaley was going to search that roon thoroughly, before lhe night was out He wished he could prove Seweihad used one of the Army during the two days of his Slav a' Barons Court Possibly Sir Bertram could help him there. Whaley nodded to Howard Lane “All right, Mr Lane, thanks" ’ He paused. "Do you know Gonway Sewell very well?" J " No — onl J’ by reputation." ini" Have you seen anyone go da s? t,he ’ armoury durin S the past f’s “ Sir Bertram." said Howard “Anyone else?”

(To b* confined.)