“The Double Problem.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 237, 7 October 1936, Page 10

“The Double Problem.”

SERIAL STORY

(By

FRANCIS BROWN)

(Chapter XX Continued? H was the man's voice requesting a porter who stood near the kerb to whistle up a taxi, that first attracted him. He would have recognised that voice anywhere. There was no mistaking it . . . Just for a few seconds the whole world seemed lo stand still. . • • CHAPTER XXI. Night of the Storm. " You wanted lo see me, Professor?’’ Il was Keith Darrell who spoke, having just arrived at The Grange in response to a cordial note of invitation from Professor Green. The two , men were sitting in the oak parlour , that had previously been the scene of , Stephen Maine's mysterious heart al- • tack two nights previously. 'Tiie Professor pushed a box of ‘ cigars towards his visitor. “ Light up," he said hospitably, " and help yourself to a drink," nodding towards a cellarettc and siphon placed in hcadincss near some lemons and a spirit kettle invitingly near Hie boil. “ Hot or cold, whichever you prefer." I toll, inclined for someone else’s companionship besides my own." he ! went on when Darell, having mixed a hot whisky, as comfortably seated on the opposite side of the hearth. " But . I’m afraid it’s going to be a -bad night. It was starlight and promised to be !’ tine when I sent my message, but now the wind seems to be getting up." j As he spoke a violent gust, rose ; which seemed lo shake the very foun- •• dations of the house; a shower of j hailstones rattled like castanets on the i window-pane. ‘‘Phew! What a change." said lhe Professor. " You’ll have to Slav the I night, Darrell." ‘ I Keith Darrell laughingly poohpoohed tiie suggestion. " I’ll have to wait till it’s over, that’s dll." he rejoined. " I daresay it sounds worse than it is. I’ll have a look," and rising he left the room and making for the hall door, opened it and peered I out. 'lhe night stretching in weird I loneliness over the desolate Heath was > inky black. Stars that had spangled j Hie sky earlier in the evening were all 1 -hut, out. Nothing but darkness and I a sheet, of swirling hailstones made visible from the lighted window of the. room lie had just quitted, met his gaze. Professor Green had reached his side when lhe wind suddenly veered round and sent a. shower of hailstones pinging in their faces. Jose! laughed Keith, shutting Hie door with a bang, ‘‘it looks as though I shall have to accept your invitation after all." 'lhe professor laid a band on his i rm " Of course you will," he said cordially. " I couldn’t dream of turning you out, in Ibis. There may be a cesat.on, but the sNum is .•■urc to recur These sudden ones generally ilo ” A blinding Hash of lightning illuminated the hall, followed almost immediately by a, deafening crash of . liundcr. "Jove!" said Keith again, "I think! mi re right, and. if it. won’t be piling you to any inconvenience ” 1 Inconvenience?" laughed the ‘ .■t.hcr softly. " < ’.erlninly not. I could muse half a dozen if necessary at horl notice, for I have a most e.xcel- • ■nl, housekeeper." Tljpx relumed to Hip oak parlour .nd Professor Green pressed an elecnc tuition. Ask Mr Barton to see that, the blmmorn is prepared for this gentleman,’’ ?r said lo lhe maid who answered the mmmons. " \n«] see that, a fire is ..ghied. He is going to stay the night." With Hie shutting of the door, Keith m I,he act of lighting a cigar, looked enquiringly at. his host. The latter smiled and nodded. " You are wondering why I sent] for you," he said in his high-pitched! tones. "Well, really, it sounds’ rather selfish, I know, but as Enderby ] is spending the night with Stephen; Maine—'lie does occasionally you know ,! in order to get him to talk about the , past lhe poor fellow can t remember" —here a curious smile touched the lliin-lippcd moulh— ’’ well, as Enderby is out 1 bad a sudden desire for com- 1 pany, and. lor yuurs in particular. At lhe moment uf sending the note I had no other llim:g|il. than passing a com-i . forlable even,ng in agreeable company,' but now Hint \uu are spending lhe I night here— He pau-ed .md looked at Keith Dar- ! 7 rsi|u< ried Hie latter with a lazy smile. He was feeling pleasantly .it home with his host, and was now in no mood to change 'his quarters for a walk in the blinding storm. The cheerful warmth of the room, the hut toddy and a most excellent cigar, to say nothing of a companion who invariably interested him, and stirred his professional instincts, seemed all that! could bo desired. i •• Yes?" lie said again, “ now that ’ I’m spending tiie night here—what?" ■■ Well, an idea Hashed lo rny mind just now," smiled the professor, " with as much suddenness as that streak of lightning tlaslicd into the hall just now, and in following it up I don’t think," speaking with quiet emphasis, " tliat when you leave to-morrow you will look upon lhe time spent here as wasted." There was an undercurrent of meaning in the quietly uttered words that made Keith Darrell sit up. His was the attitude of a cat suddenly scenting a mouse, and the professor smiled again. " I happen lo be interested in you and your future career, Darrell," he went on with seeming irrelevance, • but you must forgive me if I appear a. little mysterious. Look upon it as a peculiarity of mine which I daresay it is.” He paused to light a pipe, then: •• I have aroused your curiosity, I see," he continued, taking a few quick ; short puffs and then blowing out a long stream of smoke across Which he looked into the other’s eyes, “ but I’ve nothing more to say with reference to my remark just now except this:

When you go up to your room to- | light," he said, leaning slightly for- 1 vvard on lhe arm of his chair, " you I nay probably notice a peculiarly shaped old oak chest at lhe fool of lhe bed. 1 don’t know if you’re interested in antiques, Darrell?" 'Keith laughed apologetically. “ Not particularly," he said, " but “ Ah! I imagined that perhaps you were not; but this particular piece of furniture is quite unique, and, 1 have an idea that it may prove lull of interest to you, so don’t forget to examine Hie inside as well as the outside whilst you are about it. ’ Here is Hie key," detaching a small peculiarly shaped key from his watch chain and handing it over. “ To-morrow you shall tell me what you think of it; but not before to-morrow, for 1 shall be retiring at ten-thirty—my invariable custom—and 1 do not like to be disturbed when I’ve once reached mv room." And so, strangely enough, it came about a storm breaking in sudden fury over Hampstead Heath added to a sudden impulse on the part of Professor Green, was instrumental in furthering the ambition of Mr Keith Darrell, Detective and Private Enquiry Agent. And the results brought about were also instrumental in lengthening the shadow of fear that stalked Stephen Maine so relentlessly. t For an hour after Professor G ’ccn had retired for the night, Keith Darrell sal in the Gak parlour making notes of a case he was al work on, of which he had tu make a report the ■ following day. He was naturally curi- | ous as to what he was to find in Lie I bedroom allotted to him, and a little I excited when lhe thought occurred I» | him that possibly it had something to do with Michael Enderby; but even when ills notes were in ship-dupe or j der he did not immcdia'cly riake i I move, but taking an old briar pipe • from his pocket, sluffed it with io- i Ibacco. He had been smoking the i “ pipe ’’ of luxury in the form uf cigars ' all lhe evening. He would finish up ! with the only one that gave him real enjoyment. With a prolonged sigh of contentment he stretched lazily back and gazing musingly into the heart of Hie tire, inhaled with a keen sense of pleasure lhe scent of his own particular brand. To his mind there was nothing like it And then his thoughts travelled lo Geoffrey Stanton and his partiality for a strungish brand and a worn bria • pipe. Would the mystery of that young man’s remarkable disappearance never be solved? The thought of failure was already troubling him. Almost lie was beginning to lose faith in his own powers, for he had promised himself that thousand pounds i. it were within Hie scope of hum; •! agency to discover lhe whereabout of Lord Llaver's son, alive or dead. But lately he had been reluctant!' acknowledging to himself Hie possibility of defeat. What (Scotland Yard •baid failed to do, he also, so it seemed, was to fail in accomplishing. Well it served him jolly well right for bcim so cocksure. Smiling whimsically he Knocked Hu ash out of his pipe and re-lllled il: and then his thoughts wandered off lu Stephen Maine and the. night that wa> , to have been spent al bridge. Step by step he recalled every iP'-idcnl, that had taken place, every word that had been spoken, and tric-l !■> fit them into the puzzle he had set himself to solve. If he could secure Hm re v. rd offered 'by Garter and Furnival f> ( r mfii-.ui tion as to the. perpetrator perpetra j tors of Hie dastardly attack on their client, 'he was going tj do so. In the | recesses of his own mind lu was I practically ceriain that 'i° hid almost fitted the pieces in the puzzle, but [ there were one or two points tliat I eluded him. and he was going to be ! finite sure before bringing off lhe grand coup that was lo cause the I downfall of Stephen Maine and his I accomplice. I As far as William Bradley was con- I i eerned, he had long since given up I j his prc-occupied plan of shadowing I i him in preference to the bolder vil- 1 ■ lain. The bolder villain was now the j i one to engage his attention and in i carrying out his espionage ne had been | I greatly aided by the professor making ; him so welcome at The Grange, thus i giving him every opportunity of meet- | ing Stephen Maine. Fate had played , into his hands, and, after ail, he ar- ; gued, it was much more satisfactory ; ! than paying visits lo 27 Golding Street, | I especially now that Hie suspicions of Nada Bradley had been so actively 1 aroused. Midnight chimed. The cathedral I note of an old clock that had been Stephen's Aunt’s lloated in from the I wide shadowy hall and reminded Keith Darrell that it was about limo to retire. The storm was at its height as lie walked slowly up the wide oaken staircase, and entering the blue room shut and locked the door and switched !on the lights. Here the vivid Hashes | of lightning that had illuminated the i hall and staircase were minimised by the brilliancy of the lights and the heavy blue brocaded curtains that were drawn closely round the windows. It was a ’beautiful apartment in which Keith Darrel found himself, large and spacious with furniture by Chippendale, and rare pieces of tapestry hanging on the walls. The colour scheme and toilet ware were in shades of blue harmonising pleasantly with the rest of the surroudings. With one exception. And that was the old oak chest mentioned by Professor Green. As Keith Darrel walked towards it fingering lhe key the professor had given him, it looked oddly contrasting and in his opinion struck a wrong note, appearing grotesquely heavy and cumbersome amongst lhe more delicate pieces of furniture. The shape, too, repelled him. It looked so remarkably like a coffin. Certainly not an article of furniture such as he would have cared to possess himself. He supposed it must be another relic of Stephen . Maine’s late aunt. (To be continued