“Scandal at Baron’s Court.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 5

“Scandal at Baron’s Court.”

NEW SERIAL STORY

By

ALLAN GREY

Howard Ijpsiialpil. W e]| —the servants there quite j a lot. And my father is interested in | shooting ” " Your father?” Whaley snapped the words. " Where is he?” Howard Lane could not repress Hie grin that came Io his lips at Whaley’s eagerness. He’s been up Io town all day.” he said. •• London. I think he'll be along any minute now." ” Hmm.” said Whaley. It. was interesting, but nothing more, allhough he would have, Io check Colonel Everard Lane's movements carefully. “So your father and Sir Bertram visit, the armoury a great deal?” ” 1 suppose you could say that,” said Howard. W hen did you see them go In with Conway Sewell?” I didn't.” said Howard promptly. Hmm.” said Whaley. “ 1 shall probably want another talk with you before you gn to bpd. Mr Lane ” “ That's all right.’’ said Howard. When Whaley left the room. Howard Lane's face was suddenly haggard and drawn. He. had suffered more deeply than fap had revealed after his talk with Evelyn. 11, was terrible. For some reason. Evelyn refused Io talk with him. She looked like a ghost. II was almost as if— As if she suspected he had killed Brice. Howard looked white and strained. 1! was a mad thing In think, but there was no other possible explanation of Evelyn's behaviour. 1* she was worried because she. suspected her uncle, she would have, relied on How-j ard for help and encouragement. She suspected him. Why? What conceivable, reason could she have for lhe suspicion? Howard didn't know. He went. Io lhe window' and stared out across the darkness. There were no lights visible, but suddenly a distant, ghostly while glow' lit up lhe countryside. It came nearer Barons Court, and soon Howard could see lhe round orbs of two powerful headlights. His father— He knew' his father had driven as far as Barrington Junction, the nearest railway station, that morning, and that be would be, coming back by car. j Howard had never realised how much he had depended on lhe for ! support, lie fell that once he could • see and talk to his father, lhe awful ( si rain of lhe past, few' hours would be eased. Even Evelyn might be per- j suaded Io talk. 'l’he car drew' up outside lhe front ; entrance. Howard could just see lhe j vague figure of his father, and lhe , ponderous figure of Cleeves as the l butler opened the door and went on ’ to lhe steps. i Howard left his room and hurried j ; j downstairs. He. puiied up short as he saw I ‘ Whaley wailing by lhe door. Whaley smiled at him, cheerfully. | In his heart of hearts Howard Lane could not help liking lhe rather grim • policeman. After all, Whaley was only L doing his job, anil a sticky one it was,] - this lime. Colonel Everard Lane looked in' J some surprise, at ihc detective. > Howard stepped forward. ’’ This is Chief inspector Whaley, i bad. There’s been a—” l f "Murder.'' said Whaley, watching’ 1 the Colonel's face as he spoke the i ugly word. But beyond a twisted ext pression of surprise Colonel Lane re- . vcaled nothing. ; ” Murder!" he whistled. 1 You're sure of that ?” > "Dead sure.” said Whaley. “I . don t like worrfing you straight, from . your journey, Colonel Lane, but you're the only one of the party I haven't ’ seen. So— ’’ . ” Let's get into lhe library,” said ’ -olonel Lane, with a quick smile. ’Cleeves —’ the. butler was standing ‘ nearby--” you ran bring me a few sandwiches, and a whiskey-and- ' -cd.i.” " That's a good idea." said Whaley, suddenly realising he was hungry. ' le took to Everard Lane Immediately, . md il was a relief Io feel that he ■ould talk Io one of the occupants of ■ >arons Court without feeling he might ■ c talking Io lhe murderer. The Colonel Hashed a glance al his ■on. seeing lhe drawn lines al. Hie ..linger man's mouth and eyes. His] mile was encouraging. ’ Howard' arced a smile. " I'll see you soon," said his father, nd disappeared inlo Hie library. I suppose Voil'll want my inove- : mnts checked," he said with a sudten smile. 1 Whaley smiled in return. Pure formality of course. Colonel.’ “ Well,” said Lane. “ I left here > usl, after eight o'clock tin's morning ■cached London at eleven, saw mj . doctor, had lunch, and then went tc , lie Explorers’ Club for an hour. After ■ hat. I saw one of rr»y colleagues in a . coming expedition, arid left him, I sup-, pose about three o'clock. There wasn't a train back Io Barrington Junction until live-thirty, so I went into] Hie Regal Cinema. Caught my trail:l more by luck than judgment—it’s a ’ good film. Inspector—the best I've -een for months—and drove from Barrington Junction here.” Whaley made notes as Lane spoke, slowly enough for lhe deteclive tc make his limes accurate. Whalcj thanked him and then tapped his teeth .villi the top of Ills pencil. He spoke casually. ” Do you know a man named Lester Brice, Colonel?” Colonel Lane's blank expression was nswer enough. ” Brice —Brice—” Then his eyes narrowed, and he whistled. "Gad! Of course—Jenny Lea's ■ lUsband.” ’ ’’Thai s right.’ said Whaley, more ■ certain than ever llial lie bad some- I me to talk tn who wouldn't try tc • liter facts. ” He's the dead man, , iolonel.” i| Colonel Lane slared al him, and his yes revealed lhe thought passing hrough his mind. j Whaley gave a grim little laugh. , ” Of course.” lie said, •• we've all s he motive in the world, and Mr Sewell isn't behaving himself properly. Bui still, we have to be sure of these t things. You haven't seen Sewell tn

• the armoury, Colonel, have you? I Lane shook his head. j ” No. But then, I’ve only been here j n couple of days, and Sewell’s been here besl pari of a week, 1 think. • Hmm.” said Whaley. ” Well, it's a blessing you were in London. Colonel. or I’d have had you as a suspect, ton” • i i He laughed, easily, and Lane joined him. The next five minutes passed while Whaley made a short recital of the murder and lhe circumstances. He respected Lane's shrewdness, and believed lhe u.olonel would be as helpful possible. Finally: Jenny l.ra Identinps the body of th? murdered man as that of I.ester Brice, her husband. The warders who were mil. afler th? escaped maniac tell Whaley they saw " a little fellow with a beak of a nose" walking near lhe river about the time nf tne mu rder. ” There’s just onp. thing.” said Hie policeman, and Lane knew immediately ILat Whaley was more serious than b p hail been before. I've an idea your son knows —or thinks he. knows —someHfing fhal, would help me. He Is keeping il. hack—and lhal s not going Io be very good for him. ’ Colonel Everard Lane looked grim. ” He's a. chivalrous him Io talk,” he said. ”It would 'be. just, like him. Inspcclor.” If you ran persufbde him In talk, said Whaley, " I'|| be very grateful. Colonel.” ” I'll spp. vvhal I can do.” said Lane. The Colonel left, the library, ami was replaced almost immediately by Bilson. "■ The Ihrrp warders arp wailing.” hp told his Chief. I Whaley nodded, and motioned ,r the pile of sandwiches Cleeves had lirougt in for the Colonel, more than half of which remained. ” Help yourself. Bilson. and have a drink. Where are I lip. men ? ‘Wailing in lhe servants’ parlour, said Bilson. The servanls parlour. Whaley knew was a large room al lhe. back of Hu house, nevi Io lhe kitchen. He lefl Bilson Io look afler himself, and wen! along Io see lhe warders. II was nol necessary, he thought, 1° interview them individually. “Sorry I had In drag you mil.” hr said as Ire entered the room and lh( I lliree men, in uniform, jumped Iron their chairs. ! Whaley always believed in pullint • independent witnesses in a gond humj our. II paid much belter than Iryin.■to be officious. The three moi j grinned. i ” Gives us a bil of a change,” sai< ; one of them. ; “J daresay il ppi'’ monotonous. u| lal Greymoor,” said lhe deicclive 1 " Well— you know pretty well wha • happened, don't you ? W hat lime du i you gel, Bandy Towers?” I “ Three - fifteen, near as I can say.' Jsald one man. He was a thick-set fellow with a heavy moustache, a senior warder al lhe asylum. ■ Did you notice anyone in 'lhc woods, or near Ihp river?” asked l' ”Wo saw Ihp woman who flopped loiil,’’ said Hip senior warder. ’’ Bui | that's about all. Chief.” | One of Hip. others scratched his chi' lithoughlfulH.IithoughlfulH. ! ” Now we comp Io think of il." h< said. “ I reckon I did see a man walk j ing prelly quickly Io the river. Awa; ’from ihp. little hut —summerhouse. ’don't you call il ?” - Yes.” Whaley's inleresl tight enQd. These men had all been neat lhe scene of the crime at lhe Him if had b<*en committed. He waited tensely. ” Maybe 1 was dreaming.” said Hu 'warder, ‘ and majbe I wasn't. A lillle feller. I think il. was, wilh a hooked nose.” Whaley did his besl nol lo seem im patienl. ‘ Can'l ,'ou be sure?” he demanded quietly. "Well—” Ihc man hesitated, bu' the senior warder broke in quickly. “By cripes!” he. muttered, "your' right. Tom. We saw him as we wort going hark remember? A little fellow with a great, beak of a nose, scuttling along as fast as his leg.could carry him. A little fellow, wilh a beak of a nose I CHAPTER LX. The Ihree warders gave Whaley no more information, and he hardly knew whether to be pleased or sorry about what they had reported. If their story was true—and he had no reason to doubt, il—they had added yel another complication. The lillle man with the beaked nose certainly wasn't, one of lhe servants or occupants of Barons Cour I. Whaley rasped al. his chin. In a country place, like this, it was possible for men or women to slip in and out of Lhe grounds, without beI ing noticed. The warders had hardly noticed the man, and it was quite possible others at the house had actually I seen him. but he had nol. registered on I their minds. If il. had been one of Hie suspects who had made the statement, Whaley would have thought it possible they were trying to pull the wsol over his eyes, but the warders could have no ulterior motive. He left the parlour, while the three warders were having a little spirit refreshment, and found Bilson chewing sandwiches in lhe library. ’ ” A little man, wilh a beak,” muttered Bilson. " Well, we'd better ask everyone if they've seen him, hadn't we ?” Whaley shook his head. "No. We’ll keep that, up our . sleeves, for a lillie while. By the wav " he slipped Lhe statement ne had taken from Colonel Everard Lane towards his subordinate. The names of lhe doctor and Hie friend Lane had visited were marked there, wilh their addresses. “ Get the London people to check that up. will you ’” Bilson nodded. He opened lhe library door, and as he did so both men went absolutely rigid. For the third lime that day a woman’s scream broke lhe near silence! •Unce, twice, thrice! it-came. i (To be con Lu tied.)