“The Proverbial Murder Case”

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20409, 28 January 1938, Page 3

“The Proverbial Murder Case”

By WILLIAM SUTHERLAND

A Thrilling Mystery Story

CHAPTER X — (Continued . “One has to take the good with the mad, miss." *‘l think you must be frightfully clever to be able to follow a person , through a city as big as this, espe- j cially if the person doesn't want to | be followed. Did anyone ever get away from you?'’ “Once,” said Detective Watts heavily. “Won't you have some Bass?” said Eleanor. ‘Thank you, miss." They ate for some time in a silence , broken only by the satisfied champ-; mg of the detective's sturdy Jaws. i “How did he escape?" she said, finally. "Who?" said Detective Watts, halt-| ing his fork in mid-air. j “The man you were following." “Oh, him I WeU, miss, it was this; way. I'd been close on his heels for i an hour. He knew 1 was there, for { he was doing his best to lose me. He ■ changed taxis two or three times, and t once I almost lost him when he j jumped on a bus. Finally he went, into a shop. It was a hat shop, I remember, for I looked at the hats in the window for two hours." “And didn't he come out again?" “Yes," said Detective Watts, gloomily regarding his empty plate, ■ but not through the dobr that 1 was watching. It seems that these shops have back entrances.” “Oh," said Eleanor sympathetically. She beckoned to a waiter. “Do have some cheese." “Thank you, miss, I don't mind if I do. But, begging your pardon, miss, the ladies is the worst," he continued. "Really! How?" “They have a trick, you see, that the men can't use. They'll stop suddenly on a street, turn and point at J you, and scream that you're annoying them. Half a dozen people will j come to their assistance, with maybe a constable if there's one about, and by the time you've made yourself known the lady has disappeared into the crowd. That's an old trick, miss, but it usually works." “That's terribly interesting. Your life really isn't dull, is it?" “Oh. no, Miss. But you have to be wide awake to succeed in this Job." They finished their meal and came out into the Strand. Eleanor turned and held out her hand. “It was awfully nice of you to have, lunch with me. I've enjoyed it ever • so much." Detective Watts grasped it firmly. • “It’s me that should thank you,; miss.” “Not at all. I'm going on now to I do some shopping. I suppose you'll have to follow me.". “I expect so, until my relief comes! along." They parted on the best of terms, j and if Eleanor felt a twinge of con- i science as she signalled a taxi, it was not apparent to the smiling detective. It was not until the latter had waited for an hour outside the third shop which she entered that the sight of the hats in the window* produced a \ague uneasiness. Upon entering lie found his way blocked by a stout woman with a hard glint in her eye and a determined expression on her face. “The lady who came in here? I. saw her out of the rear entrance my- ' self an hour ago, and as for you, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for annoying a young lady like that, and her in mourning too. Go on about our business, now, or I’ll call the police!” The outskirts of London slipped quickly behind, and Eleanor, in Janet’s ear. saw the Great West Road stretch- ’ ing ahead of her. To-morrow* the pleasant country-side would give way to the frowning, rock-crowned hills * of Dartmoor. She felt very much alone, and a little frightened. Then * she thought of the three men she loved best in the world. Two were * past all danger. But Monte Blayre, was not, and the speed of the car in- . creased mile by mile. i CHAPTER XI. •hlistone—Boveral Days Later Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me thy grey mare, ! All along, down along, out along, ! lee. For I want for to go to Widdecombe Fair, Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry; Hawk, Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. j And when shall I see again my j grey mare ? All along, down along, out along,! lee. By Friday soon, or Saturday noon, \ Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan stewer, Peter j Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry . Hawk, Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. j Then Friday came and Saturday noon. All along, down along, out along, | lee. But Tom Pearce’s old mare hath not trotted home, Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney, Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry HawL, Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. When the wind whistles cold on the moor of a night. All along, down along, out along, lee. Tom Pearce s old mare doth appear ghastly white, Wi’ Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurne., Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawk, Old Uncle Tom Cobleigh and all. Old Uncle Torn Cobleigh and all. And all the long night be heard skirling and groans. All along, down along, out along, lee. From Tom Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones, Wi’ Bill Brewer The pen scratched and spattered Ink. The song stopped. “Damn the thing!’ said Sergeant l Bender. He squinted narrowly at the i nib, wiped it on his trousers and attempted an adjustment with his ♦eeth. “Now, then." It worked. **.... stated, upon questioning, that he had seen & motor-car pass

him answering tlie description. He estimated the time. . . ." Sergeant Bender pursed his lips,! whistled a liar experimentally, and; J then cleared his throat with the in- • I tention of renewing the song. But i instead he almost choked. He spun i ' I around in his chair. 1 “Don't he alarmed, Sergeant," said the quiet voice of Inspector Haskell, j “Perhaps I should have knocked.” ! The sergeant gulped. "Beg your pardon, sir, iAit \ou gave me a proper fright. We’ve been that Jumpy the last few days while you were away j that you'd take us for schoolgirls." ; Haskell smiled, slid into a chair and j lit a cigarette. I “There was no danger,” he remarked, or I shouldn't have left Shilstone." I “A dozen alarms a day,” continued | the Sergeant doggedly, “and every one . to be investigated, ihough we knew*. ! of course"—he nodded sagely—“that i they’d be false." I Haskeil said, “I’ve seen the girl.” ; He tapped with his fingers on the J table. "Will she come back?" *T told her not to." ‘All!" said the Sergeant wisely. “I trust she will be watched, then." "Yes. 1 told her that also." “Do I understand you to mean, sir, that you don’t consider Miss Crosiey under suspicion?" “Don't generalise, Sergeant. I have never considered anyone above suspicion. Human nature is too intricate a thing to allow it. But —for the present, 1 think Miss Crosiey is better off where she is. She will be protected, not only from what others might du but also from what she herself might do. You may interpret that in any way you wish." “Thank you, sir," said Sergeant Bender. He nodded pontiflcaily and ; cleared his throat. “The two men, as you probably know, sir, have re- , turned to the inn.” "Garnett and Blayre? Y'es. Bailey told me that they were here." The tapping continued for a moment. Then Haskell raised his glance. “We still make progress," he remarked, "even if only a little. You may be interested in something I discovered in London." “indeed, sir?" “1 improved my leisure moments bv going through the papers of both the Vicar and Dr. Crosiey. They ; were ’very dull, for the most part— ■ ! those of the latter consisted mostly ol J • unpaid bills —but the Vicar's diary i j proved fruitful. The clergy, you! i know, are pleasingly methodical J ! about diaries. Nothing escapes them, j The cook's amours are as faithfully I recorded as the death of the sexton, j ' and with as much attention to detail. The entry which Interested me, howj ever, concerned something of which .we have already heard. I copied it off." S Haskell fumbled in his pocket and ! withdrew a sheet of paper, j '"Tuesday, October 19th.—Julius is, becoming increasingly adamant over I ,X. We hud a most painful scene j this morning, in which he quite lost i his temper and accused ine of dis- j honourable motives. I wish I knew j what will be the end of this. it is a difficult course to follow, but 1 shall stand by my decision. It is , not easy to be one's brother's keeper.* ” i The Sergeant wriggled upright in his chair and waved an excited hand. “October 19th," he exclaimed. "That’s the day the Vicar was killed! ’; “Exactly. This was written just j before he left for Hie farm-house, on the moor. There is more space here, and he apparently intended to add an- ! other note in the evening, covering the . rest of the clay. But what do you , think of it. Sergeant?" “Important, sir. Very important. Extremely important!" "And what do you understand this X' to mean?" Sergeant Bender frowned. . “Now . sir, ttiat is the important part of it. 1 shouldn't rightly want to say, un- ’ less"—his face brightened—“it might ; be the map! X marks the spot,’ you I know?” ! “Right. ‘X’ is beyond doubt the j map. And where do we find ‘X’ ?In j the Vicar's possession—or at least, ! we should. But we have not. Neither ' have we found it in his brother's possession." : “Why not search the rooms ot Blayre and Garnett?” inquired Bender : with sudden inspiration. , “Entirely illegal. In a friendly, unofficial way, however, I have already ; visited them when 1 was sure that j they were ont, and found no map. 1 j really didn't expect to.” “Ah,” said the Sergeant heavily, j “It might possibly be Mr Richey who ! has it.” • Yes. It might, Very possibly { !be Mr Richey. There is a way, attei • all, of finding out. But 1 think we | >hall be better off by not using it at present. The plan 1 have in mind is ' a little deeper one." | Bender presented his undivided at- ' tention. His ears figuratively quiverI ed. I “We have reached a point," conI tinued the Inspector, "where we must | ask ourselves this: Will there or will there not he another murder? If the answer is yes, then we must be prej pared to forestall the attempt and, if i possible, catch the murderer in the act. If not, we may rest a little more i easily, but our troubles, if anything, J are worse. Assuming that this very j elusive map is the cause of the whole J affair, we must decide whether or noli the murderer has already obtained it. j If he has, we may expect no more bloodshed. Jf he has not, then the present possessor is next in line.” j But why should all this trouble' over the map start here in ahilstoue j sir? There has been plenty of times; since the expedition returned from Mexico." "There is one obvious answer to i that. But l'in afraid it's a kittle too j obvious. The answer, of course, is Richey.” “Everything points to him, sir. In' my opinion he's the man. Just you give the word, sir, and I'll have the . him before you know t it." | Haskell smiled grimly. “And he J would be acquitted before you knew ( it. Steady on. Sergeant. W e must ■ • have evidence, remember that. And' exactly what evidence could you pro,l duce against Richey ?" 1 j “Well, now," said Sergeant Ben j der, “couldn't we get the evidence! ; alter he was arrested? He might con- ' ; rcss." he a,ldea hopefully. , might (ianiett or Blayre, for! ilt< r. Don't be absurd, Ser- j geant.” "Thank you sir." He sank into a' gloomy silence, broken after a moment 1 by Haskell. I vTo be continued}.