The Mystery of Ryehurn Manor

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 921, 14 March 1930, Page 5

The Mystery of Ryehurn Manor

By JOHN LAURENCE j Author of “The Sign of the Double Cross Inn,” etc. 1

1 CHAPTER XLIV. MRS. LEE INTERESTS VIDLER. “We’ve traced that car,” announced Markham cheerily on the telephone. We work quick at this end.” “I only give you simple routine jobs,” retorted Vidler. “It was parked in Studland Garage, Studland Road, a-quarter of a mile from Ditchling Road, from 9.15 to 11.15,” continued the superintendent, ignoring his subordinate’s gibe. “We’ve got the entry book. The name given was Robinson.” | “That tells me a fat lot,” grumbled the inspector. “What was he like? I suppose it was a man?” j “Oh, yes, it was a man all right. Did you think it was a woman?” j “I had an idea this morning it might 1 be,” confessed Vidler. “A very strong idea in fact. You’ve, knocked another theory of mine on the head, John. What was he like?” “Not the vaguest information,” replied- Markham. “They had about a hundred cars in that night, and the man in charge hasn’t the faintest, notion.” | “In fact he wouldn't even be pre- ; pared to swear it was a man?” asked j Vidler bitterly. ] "I don’t think he'd be prepared to do that. The names are not put down as Mr.. Mrs., or. Miss, as the case may be,” retorted Markham. “They might be all men.for all the book tells you. I’ll make inquiries of he remembers auy women garaging their cars that night.” “t wish you would,” replied Vidler. “Things are getting lively down here.” He i-epeated the conversation he had had with Sheila, and the effect of his announcement on her. “The claim's obviously bogus, and she knows it is,” announced the superintendent. “You’re sure she s not bluffing you?”

“I haven’t been bluffed by a woman yet. and got children growing up and eating my hard-earned salary,” replied Vidler. Markham chuckled. He was proud of his three children, and the fact that the inspector was still a bachelor was always a source of joking between them.

“Good-bye,” said Vidler. replacing the receiver and cutting off further encomiums on the wife of the superintendent. He had heard them all before.

Just before dinner a telephone message came from Lee, at Hustings, telling them not to wait, as one of the leaf springs of the car had broken, and lie and Thornton were dining in Hastings while a fresh spring was being fitted. Vidler took the opportunity to turn the conversation to motoring. To his secret gratification, Mrs. Lee, for once, did not discuss a new method of for-tune-telling. Motoring, evidently, was one of her favourite subjects.

“I prefer driving at night,” she said in her high-pitched voice. “With decent lamps you can see the road well ahead, and go faster round corners than during the day.” “I’m inclined -to agree with you, ’ said Vidler. "You can see the other fellow’s lights And the roads are clearer at night.”

“I’ve proved it often. In the day, it takes me two hours and a-quarter to drive to London. At night I’ve done it in an hour and three-quarters.” “Excellent,’ commented Vidler, abseutmindedly. He was thinking of the time the car was garaged in Studland garage from nine-fifteen to eleven-fifteen. That would mean it had left Win< helsea at half-past seven, and arrived back at about one o'clock, if it had taken an hour and threequarters each way.

It was worth inquiring of the servants if they had heard any car that night round about those times. And if Mrs. Lee had been seen between the hours of seven-thirty and one. For it was Mrs. Lee who had engaged Simmonds—Mrs. Lee who would get the money if her pearls were lost or stolen. ANOTHER TELEPHONE CALL Mrs. Lee glanced at the clock. “I think it is time James and Mr. Thornton were back,” she said, querulously. “Half-past ten, and he phoned at seven o’clock. “We don’t know exactly where they were,” said Vidler soothingly. “If they were a couple of miles out of Hastings, and had to wait for a breakdown car, it might easily take them three or four hours to get repairs done. It may be that the garage hadn't got the right kind of spring, and had to put in a temporary job. I know these things, Mrs. Lee. They’re going to take half an hour, according to the garage people, and they often take five times as long. Garages are always optimistic.” “I suppose so,” squeaked Mrs. Lee doubtingly. “All the same, James knows we will be uneasy, and he could have telephoned again.” Harding was the only one of the four who did not appear concerned about the lateness of Lee and Thornton. The longer they were away the more he could enjoy Sheila’s company, and the two took the opportunity to talk in low tones, while Vidler valiantly kept his end up with Mrs. Lee. “Mr. Lee prefers the two-seater, I suppose?” he asked casually. “Yes. He doesn’t like the saloon very much. I’m not surprised the springs are gone. James drives it much faster than a light car is intended to go, asserted Mrs. Lee. “But it’s not as fast as the saloon?”

“I can give it ten miles an hour,” replied Mrs. Lee, complacently. “And that is without being bumped out of my seat. If he doesn't come shortly or telephone, I shall get really worried.” “Would you like me to drive along the road to Hastings?” asked Harding. “They might have broken down again, and——" A servant entered the room. “Mr. Vidler is wanted on the telephone, madam,” he announced. THE FATE OF THORNTON The inspector hastily arose, wondering what Markham was telephoning from London at that time of night for. It never occurred to him, until 1 he heard a strange voice over the wire. | that it could be anyone else but the ; superintendent. | “That Inspector Vidler?” asked the j unknown. I “Speaking.” j “This is Sergeant Pett, of the SusJ sex County Constabulary, speaking, | sir. I'm speaking from Guestling | Thorn.” ! “And where’s Guestling Thorn?” “On the Hastings-Winchelsea Road, j sir. between Hastings and Icklesham. There's been a nasty accident, sir.” Vidler was instantly on the alert.

Now, Johnny, dear: Run off at top To the nearest A.M.C. Shop, Say mother wants a very nice roast, ! She’s anxious to try this service they boast. ! That they give little kiddies as good attention 'As they would give any lord in | creation —6.

“What’s happened?” he asked. “Be brief. I’ll come along.” “Car coming from Hastings seemed to have lost control, and swerved in to the bank. One man has been killed, and the driver severely cut by flying glass. He is Mr. Lee, and told me to telephone and ask you if you would come out personally.” “I’ll be there just as quick as 1 can,” replied Vidler, briskly. “Where shall I pick you up?” “If you come from Icklesham you’ll pass a wood on each side of the road, just before you reach Guestling Thorn. I’ll be waiting there, sir. I’ve sent to Hastings for a doctor and an ambulance.” “Good,” said Vidler, ringing off. “They were ringing up from Guestling Thorn,” he answered on his return to the drawing-room. “Mr. Lee asked if one of us would go out in the saloon and fetch him.” He’saw no possible reason for giving details of the disaster yet. It was bad enough to know that Thornton was killed. “I’ll come along with you, if you want me, D.V.,” suggested Harding, though a little reluctantly, as he glanced at Sheila. “I wish you would go,” she said in a low voice. “Right, come along,” said Vidler. “I shouldn’t sit up, Mrs. Lee. We may try to tow the car to the nearest garage, if it’s towable. It can’t be,.left on the road all night.” It was not until they were out on the Hastings road that he told Harding what liqd occurred. “Thornton killed!” cried the latter in shocked tones. “Poor devil.” He was stunned by the news. He had really disliked Lee’s secretary, but he could not help being thoroughly upset by the news of his death. It had come as a profound shock by its very unexpectedness. “Yes, it’s pretty awful,” agreed Vidler, solemnly. “It makes me feel sick when I think I was collecting evidence against him.” “I know the feeling you must have, i I suppose now we shall never know j who killed Simmonds?” 1 Vidler did not reply, and Harding I made no further comment. Neither j of them knew the road very well, and | both peered ahead silenly watchful ! until they saw a light moving slowly ; from side to side in the road. Vidler | slipped out the clutch, and gently j applied the hand brake, and the car came to a standstill by the side of a sergeant of police. “Sergeant Pett? I’m Inspector Vidler. This is Mr. Harding.” “The ambulance has been, and Mr. Thornton’s body has been removed to Hastings, sir.” announced the serj geant in matter-of-fact tones, which made Harding shudder. “Mr. Lee’s at my place in the village. He didn’t want to go, but his face was streaming with blood from cuts, as well as his hands. He’s very anxious to see ; you. sir. He’s got some idea it wasn’t an accident. though he wouldn’t -tell me why.” Vidler nodded, and Harding in the light of the head lamps, saw there was a queer Tittle smile on his face. “I thought, perhaps, sir, you’d like to have a look at the car before you saw 'Mr. Lee. It’s in the ditch just a few yards up the road.” “I should very much.” agreed the inspector. The road at this point was bordered on each side by a wood. The wrecked car was lying on its side, the front wheels bent and twisted by the force of the impact against the bank. “She seemed to have skidded somewhere about here.” said the sergeant, pointing a few yards up the road. “And then to have turned and made ' straight for the bank.” “Lend me your lantern, sergeant.” Vidler bent over and looked at the wrecked two-seater, while the other two watched him. CHAPTER XLV. VIDLER’S SUSPICIONS The inspector’s fame had reached the ears of the ambitious Sergeant Pett. and he watched with eager, at--1 tentive eyes as the detective turned

the light slowly along the wrecked j interior. The steering column had been bent, and bits of glass were scat- j tered on the floor. At last the inspector withdrew, as j though satisfied. _____ “There’s certainly a bit of a mess." lie said, thoughtfully. “Know anything about cars, sergeant?” “Yes, sir.” “Then you noticed something queer | about this one, I dare say?” Sergeant Pett looked uncomfortable, j and flashed his lamp round. He had thought he had made a thorough inspection before the inspector had ar- j rived, but the tones of the latter warned him that he had missed something which Vitller had seen. It was some minutes before his head reappeared. “The only thing is she’s in bottom gear and I would rather have expected to find her in top,” he commented. “Is that what you mean, sir?” “That and one other thing,” replied Vidler, with a smile. “It’s noted in my book she was in first, and the control has been set for fast running,” added the sergeant. “You are observant, and that’s what most men are not,” praised Vidler. The sergeant beamed at the words of commendation. “You’ve drawn some conclusions, sir?” he asked, respectively. Vidler pointed along the road toward Hastings. “There’s no bad hill a little wav back?” he queried. “No, sir.” “If this place was just over the rise it. would be conceivable they would have had to drop into first. But as there isn’t a hill, why should they be in first?” “Perhaps they stopped and started again,” suggested the sergeant. “Why’s the control set for fast running. very fast running in fact? It’s got half a dozen turns forward. It’s set so fast that there would be no need to use the accelerator.” “That’s dangerous, sir,” said the sergeant. “If they’d stopped and he’d put in the clutch the car would have leapt forward. I wonder if that is what happened? I shouldn’t be surprised.” “Mr. Lee said nothing about having stopped?” “No, sir.” “But he did suggest to you that it was not an accident. 1 wonder what he meant by that? Have you got a man who can keep an eye here? J don’t want the car touched by anyone at present.” “I’ll send a man along as soon as we get back,” agreed the sergeant. “And don’t mention to anyone what we’ve discovered,” warned Vidler. “Cut on ahead and we’ll overtake you.” He watched the rear light of the other’s bicycle disappear round the corner before he climbed into the saloon and started the engine. ; “What do you think happened. D.V. ?” asked Harding. “1 don’t know,” replied the inspector frankly. “But it’s a queer accident, ; if it is an accident. And Lee evi- ! dently thinks it wasn’t.” i They found the export merchant | sitting in an armchair by the ser j geant’s fire. Strips of plaster covered i wounds on his face and hands. Hard- ! ing noticed a great gash in his sleeve where it had apparently been torn by | the broken glass. A man sitting bej side Lee looked up quickly as the de- ! tective and Harding entered. “Glad you’ve come, Vidler. Hope | you didn’t say anything at home?” “Nothing. Told them to go to bed i as we might have to tow the car. Didn’t know how badly you’d been S hurt.” • “All superficial cuts,” said Lee’s i companion. “I’m Dr. Luding. Air. Lee’s had a remarkable escape. His ' friend was badly smashed up.” “Dead when you arrived ?” asked Vidler. “Alust have been killed instantly. His neck was broken and his chest crushed in.” “You’ll have a post-mortem tomorrow ?” (To be continued tomorrow).