“TWO TRAMPS DROP IN”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20145, 17 March 1937, Page 4

“TWO TRAMPS DROP IN”

By COLIN HOPE Author of “The Phantom Killer” and “The House in the Way.”

All rights reserved. All characters in this story are purely fictitious.

CHAPTER XV.—Continued. “The strangers on Crowstone estate are not. living on air. Either they are buying food in the neighbourhood, or else somebody is feeding them. Further, unless the somebody is stealing food from the Castle—which I doubt ——they must be buying it in the village. or somewhere in the district. “Find out if there is a stranger buying food in the district, and failing that, iind out. who is buying more than usual. Watch that chauffeur especially. Somehow he seems to me to fit. in nicely." CHA-P‘TER XVI. 811 l Asks Questions. Early on the following day the telephone at Crowstone Castle began to ring. The butler happened to be near the instrument, and answered the call only to the greeted with “ Number, please.“ rl‘he man assured the operator that he had not railed and replaced ‘the receiver-to the sound of the girl's apologies. Immediately there was an—other ring, and the same thing occurred. After the performance had been repeated six times, the butler began to tire, and operator announced the line was apparently out. of order and that she would “ r-r—report it to the supervisor at once." It was not long before a mechanic arrived and dismembered the switchboard. Cornwall had begun to carry out Bill's instructions. At about the same time a police sergeant started making discreet inquiries in the village of Crowstone. There were only three shops supplying food stuffs, but at none of these could Sergeant Denington trace any unusual sales. lie went further afield and at last, at erckham, a village almost four miles distant, his persistence was rewarded. 'He did not think that anybody trying to conceal purchases would be ‘liicely to patronise a small shop where he was sure to be noticed, but in this the policeman was mistaken. lie had tried the only two reasonably large establishments without success and was about to give up the search when he espied one of those quaint little‘ village shops where one can purchase, anything from a tin of lbloater paste to a suit of clothes. ‘ ’l‘he sergeant introduced himself to the old lady who presided over the} amazing assortment of goods in the ‘tiny low-pitched shop, and stated his business. ” Good gracious alive,“ the old lady exclaimed. "The police, are you? Well, I neveri Now what was it you wanted? Surely nothing terrible has‘ happened in Wrickham.“ Denington repeated his question. Had there been any stranger buying food from the shop recently? The old lady thought there had been. She was very guarded, although it was clear that she was anxious to help the police. She was naturally cautious and had no wish to give a false impression. The stranger had bought tea and sugar, condensed milk. bread, butter and cheese, and such staple necessi—ties of life. She was equally cautious in describing the stranger, but Denington knew that her description was far more reliable than those glibly furnished by witnesses more eager to ‘gain some limelight. Every fact, had‘ to be slowly dragged from her, ibut once she had made a statement, no amount of further questioning could shake her. J The man, she said, was tail. Quite smart looking. Almost like a soldier,, in ordinary clothes. He was dark skinned and had a small moustache. 'l‘he seargeant was already sure that he was listening to a description of Paul Collins‘ chauffeur. Mrs Went‘s next words confirmed that conclusion. “ He was a particularly soft—spoken young man, sir," she went on. “ Quite a gentleman I should say. I hope he hasn‘t done anything wrong. I should :be surprised." “-No, I don‘t think he has done anything wrong at all." Denington answered. I am merely making routine enquirles, and 1 hope you will treat them as confidential. "By the way. Was he in the habit of coming on any particular day for supplies?“ He knew that the chaufi’eur‘s work would make it difficult for him to visit the village except on his off-duty days. “ Yes. he has been here four times altogether“ Strangers are so rare in erckham and I noticed him at once. 'He came first on a Tuesday afternoon, then again on Friday. Last week, too. he came on Tuesday and Friday. To—morrow is Tuesday, perhaps he will come again. Will it be all right for me to serve him, or . . . '1 “Serve him by all means, Mrs \Vent. There is no harm in that. You carry on Just as if I had not been to see you. There is nothing to worry about." Danin‘gton reported to 'his superior, who in turn telephoned to Bill King—ston. “Good." rßiii said. “At last we more. You must watch our friend Jackson to—nmrrow. 1 will iind out from Miss Ailisione if he is 011‘ duly on Tuesdays and Fridays." “There is no need for you to do that," Unrnwnii nnswt‘roni. “I have already rileckcd that. up. You touched me. on the raw :L liiiio ycsiordny when you poinivd out that i was nugioriing routine work. I amy trying to make up ior lost time now. “than: arranged lo have (inning and ilyku out of your way at halfnilsi si‘yeu this evening. 1 should nd“'so ”lab you .'—‘ot Miss .-\ilisiouc m moot you at your quarters. Slum: ol' the sorvnnis may ln- lumping their (‘D'OS open on iioiiins’ imiudi', and it you make an appointment In moot in ”ll‘ll‘Hl‘lt, one of our roiuning' friends may sue you." Fortune i'nmurcd ihr rnnspii'nl-v, forlniihnugh i’uui again iiifii'l)iilptlilii:ii “.0115 in the sinhics, iiiii uuuutgeii in gn'ndu‘r (l un‘ssnr‘u (li'l'iiiijA'ing [1“. meeting. and iiidi owning .us soon as iii‘l‘ guardian iuui ici't i2|'Li\\'sinu.. )th‘ilgz‘i‘l'ljjw iilli'l'lt‘ii along in llu: sinirlc '“li'i'i' “as much that Bill wished 1" Loll iu-r. and im itnvw Illnt time “as nrm'mus. an lu‘ m . .n ,e.‘ , _ mmh‘h‘l) I“. .H'l‘jt‘u‘L I I it“. uh .. llu .- \\ii.ii i .un coin: in my \\i|l ppmi NIH) starin- jun," 11., Imm”. .., m” coin: in illiiiyi" sun.“ i'Allllpf ”Mum“ at» JCE¢L|ULIa against you guardian, and

‘I hope with your permission to ask some rather pertinent questions." “ Our first meeting was unfortunate." Doris iblushed at the memory. but Bill appeared not to notice her ,oonfusion and went on. “ But since then you have taken "my friend and me more or less on trust. and have given us a certain amount of responsibility in connection with your horses. “I am. fortunately perhaps. one of those individuals who are unable to resist the lure of anything approaching a mystery and from the first there seemed to me to be a mystery about Crowstone Castle." “ There is a mystery,“ Doris ex—claimed. “I have never liked or trusted my guardian, and 'his companions have not been of the type to inspire confidence, but it is only recently that i have realised that there is sornethim;~ that i cannot understand at all. Can you tell me what it all means?" “I am afraid Ivcannot explain it all. I certainly have formed some theories. Theories that. seem to {it t'he facts. but which, nevertheless, are without any proof whatever, and it would not be fair to you or to your guardian if I told you what those theories are. “‘I am certain of one thing, how—ever, and that is that Collins is not a tit man to be your guardian. i knew him islig‘htly when his name was not Collins and when no decent man ‘would have anything to do with him. I am very much doubt it he will be able to give a very good account of his stewardship. I take it that the time when you take control of your own ,lortune is not far away. Is that so?" “Yes. In less than six months now I shall be of age according to my father‘s will. But how could Gollins interfere with my fortune? He could not realise on my securities without somebody-’3 suspicions Ibeing aroused." “ These things are quite easy for, a man of resource and few scruples.‘ He could, for instance. withdraw money from one investment, and buy. other securities that are worthless; probably having previously bought‘ them himself for a mere trifle. " However, I have no definite evidence that he has done anything like that. What I lam .prinlcipall'y concerned with is how he managed to persuade your father to leave him in sole charge of you, and what 'he intends to do now the reckoning is at hand. “You know, of course, that yourl father was lost or killed in Borneo. Do you know, too. that Brunei is in Borneo?" “ Brunei! You mean the place mentioned in the note?" “ Yes. The stranger who is rooming this estate evidently knows something that he believes Collins will pay to keep hidden. It is connected with Borneo—and your father died in Borneo. Do you wonder I am suspicione?” Doris was thoughtful for some time. Then she said: “Blackmail often goes with murder. Dou you think Jerry Ailman was connected with this at all?“ Bill assured Doris that he did not think Allman was connected with the mysterious stranger, and told her what he knew of Jerry's death. “\Vhat I particularly wanted to see you about." Bill went on, “ was Young Glory’s Jockey—and the man whom you caught gazing through your window. “I told you that Chick Russell was the finest Jockey in England. He is. but he is also one of the biggest rogues who has ever managed to keep his license. I don‘t know who ad—vised you to engage him, and I don‘t know it there is anything behind it at all, but i do know that if Collins has‘ any scheme on, Russell is the right man to help him." “ What do you mean? ‘How would it Ibeneflt my uncle if anything went ‘wrong with Young Glory? Are you. sure you are not letting your imagina— ‘ ltion run away with you a little?" i (To be continued.) .