“Mystery of Grey house”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 88, 15 April 1937, Page 10

“Mystery of Grey house”

Mystery Serial Story

By

M. E. COOKE

I’unran felt worried and uncertain. H was no use making a sin lenient like that, even Io himself. Either Schilling was playing a clever pari, or else there was someone, within the regions nf the Grey House who resembled Im closely enough to have carried out that deception. It was Impossible Io say whether the one thing or the other was the right one—yel. Duncan’s lips tightened. Before this business was over he would know just what had happened, just who Schilling was. Mellish was al his questions again. “What do you know of Steyn’s servant, Jaggers?” Schilling wenl red in the face. “Another dog! Sleyn told me he had been faithful Io him for years, and all he wanted was a place Io sleep and food to eat. I let him slay al the lodge cottage—” “ With Dowson,” said Mellish, quietly. Schilling’s eyes narrowed. "Dowson?” he said. “ Dowson? I don’t recognise the name. Never had a man Dowson he»’e, to my knowledge.” Duncan whistled. Uere was a fresh complication. Dowson, the ferrety gunman win, h&.J tried to attack that, morning was •erleinl 1 . Steyn’s; yet Schilling claimed he knew nothing about him. " How many men were r.t ihe bulge cottage, with Sleyn?” asked Meellish. “ One. Jaggers. Who else should there be?” “ Have you never seen anyone else?” Mellish ignored the doctor’s question. "Good heavens, man! Are you out. of your senses—” i.Xfellish’s lips lightened. Duncan, who had learned a great deal about the policeman, judged that he was suspicious of Schilling, more so during this cross-examination than al any time before. Duncan, too. was almost certain Schilling was acting. It was superb, but acting all Hie. same. “It isn’t any use adopting that tone, Dr. Schilling.” Mellish was coldly informal. " 1 am a police officer investigating murder, and I have been informed that this house is sheltering armed criminals, i look Io you lo render me all the assistance in your power.” “ Armed—criminals.” The gasped words gave an impression of over-acting. Schilling's eyes, behind thick-lensed glasses, glittered as though he realised he was lighting Mellish with words. “ Yes,” said Mellish, dryly. “ Have you any servants here, Dr. Schilling?’’ Schilling drew a deep breath. "Are you suggesting, sir, that my servants are nothing but a pack of desperadoes ?” “ I’m not suggesting anything," snapped Mellish. “ How many servants do you employ, Dr. Schilling?” Schilling’s lips tightened. "Eight,” he said, stiffly. "A cook, three maids, three gardeners, it.um..men, and Jevrons, my butler.” “Where are they?” asked Mellish. "Where—” this time Duncan could understand Schilling’s amazement. "Listen, officer, is this a nightmare? My servants are in their quarters, at the back of the house.” “ Hmm.” Mellish rubbed his chin. His tone, next moment, surprised Duncan, for it seemed as if he was ’apologising to the doctor for his earlier abruptness. " I'm afraid there is something happening here, Dr. Schilling, that might be called a nightmare.-The past few hours have been worrying. Er—would you mind if I talked with—your secretary—alone?” At the word ■'secretary” lie motioned towards Eileen. His guess was the right one, for Schilling said coldly: ” If you think it necessary, officer.” Mellish flashed a sudden brilliant smile*, and for the first time Duncan realised the other had not given Schilling his name, nor his credentials. “ My name.” he said, ” is Mellish. inspector Mellish. And I think it advisable.” “In here?” asked Schilling. Now. cold and aloof, he looked more than ever like the man whom Standing and Duncan had seen earlier in the’ morning. " Please,” said 'Mellish. with his brilliant smile. Schilling stood up and walked stiffly out of the room. Standing followed him but Dunc.Hii, as ho moved, caught a glance, from Mellish. He turned back, reliexed that the Interview between Eileen Bridges and the detective was net to be hidden from him. Mellish smiled pleasantly at the girl, who was si ill sitting by the wsndow. He said:

“ Gan you substantiate all that. Dr. Schilling has said. Miss Bridges?” The cool eyes of the girt regards-I film. Duncan would have given a great deal to know what she was thinking. “ Part of it.” she said. “What part?" “ About the servants, the fact that Steyn and Jaggers live alone’ at, the collage, and there's no employee, here named Dowson.” Mellish rubbed his chin. He was obviously trying to get the measure of Eileen Bridges., ‘‘l see. You saw nothing nf the I attack on the doctor, by the man! Steyn?” | “No.” “When were you attacked?” ‘ “Shortly after I saw—” the girl I looked towards Duncan —“ Mr Dun- i can, in the library.” [ What happened?” Eileen shrugged her slim shoulders. I “ I went out of the room, and be- [ fere I knew what was the matter a ; cloth was thrown over my head and shoulders, and I was carried up to the room where you found me. “ So you saw no one?” “ Not even when you wore in Hie room, and being tied to the chair.” Eileen Bridges e’yed her interrogator calmly. “ No,” she said. “ I fainted, as I was carried into Hie room, and 1 knew nothing about being tied up—until I came to.” “ Ami then you started fapping?” “ 1 did, when no one came in.” “Who did you expect io answer your tapping?” “ I didn't, export ni>\. ■ • lar. I just couldn’t understand what had happened”

1 “ Hmm,” said Mellish. lie smil--' ; brilliantly and Duncan, who liar- ; learned to expect a thrust nine pointed than usual when that snub came, felt alarmed, for the girl. “Yoh aren't Hie. type. Miss Bridges, Io fam! I like that, arc you?” “ 1 don't remember minting bc- , fore.” Eileen said canflidiy. ' “ No,” said Mellish, “ I can well be I lieve it. Toll inc, Miss Bi-idges—-what made you warn Mr Duncan here to get away from Hie. Grey House?" There was a moment’s silence. Duncan cursed himself. Why, ch wh> had lie given the girl away? He was willing to trust her with Ids life. S!i". had some good reason for Hie secrecy she was maintaining and lie, blundering, had betrayed her | 0 Mellish. He admitted, afterwards, Ilia!, In. could have done nolliing else. 11, v.as bis duly Io tell Mellish every!hing. But al lhal momriii he felt that I;.. girl had relied on him lo keep sileib, and he had failed her. 11. was all he could do lu meet her eyes. The expression of bewilderment puzzled him. “1—! don't understand,” said Eileen Bridges. Duncan s mind seemed lo go blank. Surely she wasn’t going to deny lhal she had whispered that warning, while he' had been wailing in the hail of the Grey House. “Air Duncan told me,” said MrL lish, with his brilliant smile, “ Ilia! you whispered to him, just afler he had entered the house, Miss Bridges. Didn't you?” Ihe girl's eye’s and voice were steady. ” No," she said. Mellish turned to Duncan, and the latter wished he could judge the detecjive’s thoughts. But he couldn't. " Did you actually see Miss Bridges, when she spoke to you?" Duncan coloured in spite of himself. "No,” he admitted. “I—l didn’t see anyone, but 1 could have sworn it was her voire. It—it didn't occur to me lo doubt it.” Mellish smiled, but said nolhinv. Duncan could only look at the girl, tijing lo trace some, signal in her eyes, but failing. He knew it had been her voice; he knew, too, that if she insisted on her denial, he could not. prove it. why did she deny it? CHAPTER XII. The Woman Valda. The silence that followed Dun- ; can s words was maintained for several minutes, that seemed hours to Duncan. Mellish eventually broke it with a little grimace, and: “Well—it would seem that you were mistaken, Duncan. Now Miss Bridges —how long have you been working for Dr. Schilling?” Eileen’s voice was still composed. “About three months.” ■’About as long as Sleyn has been here,” murmured Mellish. The girl laughed, a light, pleasant sound. “ Thai, sounds as if you are trying to implicate me, Inspector. v 1 came before Mr Sleyn—and 1 had been in communication with Dr. Schilling for sonic time, before I came here.” ” Why?” “ Because I wanted the job as his secretary,” said Eileen. For Hie first time during that interview, Duncan felt like laughing. Mellish was clever, and his questions were at limes rapier-sharp, al other:apparently soft and meaningless. But the girl parried everything easily. It was the innocence of her last answei that gave it such subtlety?. Mellish realised he was not having it all his own way, but there was no inclination of his thoughts as he said: “How did you know he wanted a secretary, Miss Bridges?” “He advertised for one.” “When?" "In January.” There was not a shadow of hesitation. “Hmm!” Mellish grimaced “That's over six months ago, and you took the job three months later?” “Yes.” A smile quivered on the girl’s lips. "He tried one or twe others,” he said demurely, “but he wasn't satisfied.”

“And you have given him every satisfaction ?” "He hasn't complained,” said Miss ! Eileen Bridges. Mellish smiled, as if lo acknow- ’ ehtge her astuteness. He 111 a cigar-j elie and was looking at Duncan as he | ’ How long have you known Steyn.' 'Miss Bridges?” ( Duncan gasped. The question wa< a snap one, intended to try and caicii; the girl. Would she fall for the; trick ? i "Since be came here.” said Eileen. prom ptl.-’. “About two men ths ago.' inspector.” This time Mellish really gave up. trying to trip her up. His untie was' brilliant, however. Duncan needed nci idling that Mellish wasn’t satisfied! that ho had been told all the truth.' But there was nothing more he could; du for the time being. He did ask one more question, Imi it was mere I.Gobtain confirmation of Schilling's • story than anything else. "You can swear, Miss Bridges, that you haven't seen any vf the aimed, men who v.e know were here, less than an hour ago?” “I ran swear it,” said Eiisen evenly. Mellish turned away. There was silence in the- library for a few minutes. Then the Sound of hurrying footsteps came to their ears. Mellish opened the doer lo admit an . excited sergeant in uniform. The man ■ saluted and gasped out—- “ The servants, sir; we’ve found the; servants!” “The deuce you have!” said Meiksh. "Where?” ; "All locked in one of the other cottages on the far side of the estate, ; sir." “Near the lodge collage?” snapped ! Mellish. i “No, sir. Right the opposite direc- ' lion.” 1 “I’ll come,” said Mellish. (To be continued) !