The Double Problem

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19946, 24 July 1936, Page 4

The Double Problem

By FRANCES BROWN

IVNOPOIL The wedding of Natalie Page to the Hon. oeoflrey Stanton is due to take place on the 17th October. On the night of the 15th two men sat in a lonely derelict house on Hampstead Heath; one Stephen Maine. the other \Vil-i liam Bradley. "if you'll only pull your-i seli’ together." admonished Maine, “thei next forty<eight hours will see us rich men. Michael Enderby will be home from out West tomorrow night. with a bag- of nullets in his possession which I mean to have. He’s a millionaire twice over without those." on the night of the 16th Geoffrey Stanton. taking a brisk walk. loses his bearings in a dense fog. Seeing a light coming from a window with a drawn blind. he 'makes for this. but haif‘way up the drive comes to an abrupt standstill, staring with horror-stricken eyes at the shadows of three men on the blind. A moment later, without pausing to consider the possible consequences to himself, he boldly enters the house. Natalie Page's wedding day dawns, but no ceremony tnkes place. for the bride‘ groom has disappeared. Three days later, Keith Darrell. private detective. reads of this mysterious disappearance. in another paper he reads of a man being found on Hampstead Heath. Ippuehtly the victim or a brutal attack. This man has recovered consciousness in the Empire Cottage Hospital, but has ehtirely! lost his memory. “i ysterious disappearance; materious discovery.” murmured the young detective. " [‘ll have a shot at solving both." Darrell is present when Stephen Maine urives to identify the patient as his onetime partner Michael Enderby. Darrells professional instincts are aroused. and he shadows Maine in a house in Goldlns’ Street, at which Darrell cells next morn int on the pretext or enquiring if there are rooms to let. From Nada Darrell learns of Maine's house on Hampstead math. and also of his rich friend stirnael Ehderby. Sada is secretly distressed when Darrell tells her of what has be—fallen Enderby. She has never trusted Maine and. is always fearful of the influence he may have on her easilyded husband. Darrel goes to view the house on the Heath. and there sees Maine and Bradley busily nlling in a well. Bradley brings Maine home to lunch. Unknown to the two men, Nada overnears I?! of their CODVCFSIHOI‘I. and What she Yelrns fills her with such unspeakable horror and dread, that she collapses on the door in a dead faint. __.—__— ‘ CHAPTER XVII (continued). 1 “I believe that Bradley has made 8i full confession to you." he said. and for the first time there was a sussos-i lion ot’ nervousness in his manner, ‘I am referring, of course " he went on hurriedly. " to the events or October 16th. of last year—" Nada‘s cheeks blanched—a look of slow horror dawned in her eyes. “Don‘t talk at it.“lshe cried hoerseiy. “I'm not going to talk about. it." came the quick reply. “I'm suitor—lns the very torments of hell myself. only—l‘ve been wondering—“ “Yes—wondering what?“ with sharp impatience. “Well." slowly. " there's a reward or a thousand pounds. you know; and knowing your extravagant tastes and your supposed love for Miss Natalie Page. not to mention your aversion for myself and your undisguised contempt for poor Bradley—well, l‘m rather surprised you don‘t give information and claim the reward." Nada regarded hm tor a moment under half closed lids. All passion‘ had died away. She was surprised that she could so suddenly i’eel quiet and unmoved under his callous satire. “ If you alone were concerned," she said deliberately. “I should never have hesitated—l would have seen that you got your deserts. but—you may he as surprised as ever you like——my reason for keeping silence is that I can't betray my husband." Amn- the departure of Stephen Maine, Nada found the atmosphere at the house unbearable. She was tilled with a longing for fresh pure air, for some vast expanse where, away from the region or chimney-pots and smoke, she could walk. and walk, and walk herself tired. Then perhaps she might be able to sleep when the night she dreaded came once more. She was certain she hadn’t slept for weeks. The horror that was shadowing her life had been -so terrible. the knowledge of it so fraught with dread. its vision so haunting. ’l‘ho spectre of it stalked by her side day and night. Just as relentlessly as it had pursued Stephen Maine on the previous night ncruss the Ileath. . And was it Fate or what that led her to choose llanipsiead llealli of all places for her rambling walk this morning? - Something stronger than herselt was luring her in that direction. something indeilnahio was whispering to her to go and have another look at ihe old house where she had once longed to live. But not for untold sold would she live there nowi it was twelve o‘clock when. after taking a motor omnibus and the tube, she reached the Heath. At precisely half past she was standing outside the Grange peering through the little lron sate inset on the high stone walls that stretched on either side. The last limo she had seen the old house she had cone through it with her husband and Stephen Maine. and in spite of its ruinous condition she had envied it and the wonderful old garden with all her woman‘s. heart. Now, viewing the exterior in all the splendour of a renovation she herself hurl once dreamed oi’. she sliuddercd. Ami yet. the windows were cur—i ininud and adorned in much the Snnlc nay she would have chosen llf‘i‘st‘lfr— I'Vl'cpt a small one on iiw ground illunl‘ which shout-Ll ~grim mni i‘nrliiililiim amongst llii‘ rest. The trrnvo‘ilrd mrcop of rlrhr in ilm l1:ill door was nl! iiixit it should lvo—ihr grass burri» i-i‘s worr- cart-fully inim'n :ind irlnuumi‘. >im caught it glimpse mi :| runwrmini')’ ”it'll with hilly coluiu‘ml ilrmi-r». liuw oiir-n in lirr lil't'illlls of “11‘ im—possliili' silo ll.ul M-i-n Nuiln lirinlii-y nlv lending to iillll \\:iii‘l‘illi{ iiiv ilimrrs in just sun-h .i prrrn liniim»! .\s slir- piwrwi llirouull ilm uric slur i'uilini i|i~i'>vli’ \\i-1.-i- i'iii." vili‘iuihl) .iimui [lie «mun-r ni‘ {ho liniisi- Shi‘ nu lullgi-r I‘|l\l':i‘ll. 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(Author of “Anne Blnolalr's Lovo Story," eto., etc.)

a pace as though to ward off some‘ ‘comlng disaster. “ What are you do— , lug hare?" i __.— i ‘ CHAPTER xvtn. ‘ 1 An Unexpected Meeting. ‘ After those startled words had fallen from Nada Bradley‘s lips a dead silence reigned—a silence that to the lgirl seemed like an eternity. Never ‘once did her eyes stray to Professor iGreen. Her curiosity concerning him ‘ instantly evaporated. It was swallow- ‘ ed up in consternation at this unexpected meeting with the very nice, alert-loking young man who had come to Golding Street in quest for rooms and never appeared again. Her eyes were focussed on him and him alone, in a wide, startled stare as all her former suspicions came crowding hack in a rush. \Vhat was he doing here? Why was he in the house that had once heinngewiu Stephen Maine? The house “here Michael Endcrby—within the space of a few seconds‘ silence a dozen fears haunted her, and at the hack of them all was a fierce desire to shield the husband she despised from something intangible that threatened. She knew—and Stephen Maine and \Vililam knew—in all its entirety the ghastly secret connected with The Grange, but she had never dreamed except on one occasion that others might also suspect. She had long ago dismissed from her mind all remem—brance and fears of the young man who had visited 27, Golding Street. But now—in meeting his cool, enquir—ing gaze she felt as though a hundred eyes were on her, as though her very soul were laid bare for his inspection —as though he, too, knew of the secret that was wearing her very life away. . The owner of The Grange came: politely forward. l “ Did you wish to see me, Madam‘fl I am Professor Green, the owner ofi this house." } Nada gasped and turned to the speaker. “No—l—l only came out of curiosity," she stammered. “I—l heard the house had been purchased and I ‘wanted to see—" ‘ She broke oif suddenly. and Keith, Darrell. moved to pity, came to the rescue. “This is Mrs William Bradley, Professor." he said, as though her' sudden appearance were the most. natural thing in the world. “ and I rather think she came to see how The Grange looks under more flourishing lcongltions. Isn’t that so, Mrs Bradey n She nodded dumbly, and he went on: “ You see, Professor, Mrs Bradley has always envied this particular spot. She thinks, or used to think. that it would be an ideal place to live in." In speaking he watched her intently, and saw a look of slow horror dawn iin the flank velvety eyes. “ She knows!" was the conviction ‘that came to him. and his pity for her ‘ increased. “1 shall be extremely happy to show Mrs Bradley round the house and grounds.“ asid the professor politely. “Won‘t you some in and rest first?" But Nada. shrank back. “ No, oh, noi" she cried. “I could not possiblyl" Then suddenly recollectlng herself. “It's very kind of you." she added hurriedly. “ but I must be getting home. I did not even leave word that I was coming out and my—my husband may be anxious." The professor bowed. l “ Then will you kindly escort Mrs Bradley to the gate, Darrell,“ he said] Darrell! Nada glanced swiftly at the detective and her fears revived. So this was the Mr Keith Darrell that Stephen Maine had so often mentioned—the young surgeon whom he professed to iiltc‘2—She remembered when he camel to Golding Street that ho had given no name. so that she had never had. any reason to connect the two. She {Oll into step by his side and sent him another swii’t glance full 01' susplriou this time. What doctor would come hunting for rooms in Golding Street? She didn't Ibelicve he was a doctor at aill By the time she reached the gate her heart was beating tumultuously; the colour had returned to her face, making a vivid patch of colour on either check; her dark eyes were glowing with emotion rigidly held in check. Keith Darrell held out a friendly hand, but she ignored it. “I don‘t believe you're a doctor," she burst out in low passionate tones“l believe you are a detective!“ Keith smiled. How handsome she looked when she was roused! The thought came to him irresistibly. but a second later the smile had faded from his lips and he was again moved to pity as he leant towards her gravely. “ Mrs Bradley," he'said, “let me give you a word of advice. Then: is a saying that doubtless you know: ‘Speech is silver, silence is golden'; my ad\ice to you is—cultlvale the latter." Then before she could sufllciently command herself to reply: ‘ “Even supposing l were a detective—in what particular way would that ull'rt‘t you?“ ll(' added, "In no way whatever.“ came the doilant reply, “inn, 1 don't trust you —l didn‘t that day you mine to Goldin Sirrrl pretending: you wanted mums, _mu didn't want thrm at all~ ynll—“ I lv'oilh Darrell held up a. warning hand. ‘ "Remember my advice, Mrs Brad—ley. and do art on it. You lull; lnu lilllli‘ll’A‘Htll roaliy do." 1 (Tu; be continued). __—