The Mystery of Myetburn Manor

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 925, 19 March 1930, Page 5

The Mystery of Myetburn Manor

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

CHAPTER XLIX. CONCLUSION •This is Inspector Lester, oii the Sussex County Constabulary, Lee. I bold a warrant tor your arrest for the murder of Charles Thornton, and I warn you that anything you may say—” Lee rose heavily to his feet as Yidler repeated the well-worn formula. Underneath the natural red of his comr le!tiott a greyish tinge was showing. His eyes half-closed us he looked at the detective, and he gripped the back of the chair to steady himself. Even at the last, however, his iron self-control did not break. Lee had been a gambler all his life and though now he had gambled with his own life he was ready to pay the penalty of losing- Vidler had been prepared for an outburst and he could not help feeling a little sorry at Lee’s misplaced courage. '.‘you’re half an hour earlier than I thought you’d be. Vidler.” he said with a wry smile. "I was just clearing up That fool mistake between shots and bullets did me. I knew it would only be a matter of time. Thornton was blackmailing me.” He spoke without heat, almost coldly. “I think I know why,” said Vidler, keeping a wary eye on the other. “For killing Simmonds” continued Lee readily. “One of my friends rang up this morning and told me you'd been making inquiries about my movements in Hastings that night. 1 lost my wool. I had no intention of killing him, but the fool stood there grinning at me, the same fool grin his father gave me when he found I’d got control. You'll find the evidence there. If he hadn't looked like his father then he might have been alive now, Thornton was behind the curtains.” “1 know.” “You’re clever. Yidler. I ought to have known you'd never he bluffed, and cleared out. I thought I'd got you and Harding in his airplane. I'm ready. Get It over. I'm tired.” He held out his wrists. With his last words his attitude changed. His mouth dropped, his shoulders hunched, his whole frame sagged. Nor did

he speak again, save when he entered the saloon. “Poetic justice, using this.” Vidler was thankful that they had missed everyone at Ryeburn Manor. -K ' voulcl he easier to explain " hen they had got their prisoner away than while he was still there. lie returned to the Manor in the afternoon, after seeing Lee formally charged at Rye. The news had already spread to the Manor, Lee's sole request being that a telephone message should be sent to his wife to come and see him, so that the inspector was spared the task of telling her of the arrest of her husband. He found Sheila and Harding waiting for him in the morning-room. There were traces of tears on her face and a haggard look in her blue eye. She clung to Harding's arm as ' the detective entered. “I’m glad you’ve come back, D.V,” said the latter. “If you hadn't telephoned to say you were arriving we should have cleared out. I’m taking -Miss Sunderland back to town with me. “The best place for you both,” agreed Vidler. “I shall be here some tiitio going through Lee’s papers.” ‘‘ oh * its ghastly!” cried Sheila. Mr. Lee of all people. And poor Mrs. Lee!” “How did she take it?” asked Vidler. -Better than 1 thought,” answered Haraing, who had actually broken the news to her. “She doesn’t believe it, of course, at present.” “He’s confessed.” . ,‘‘ r f ® el 1 ought to stop,” said Sheila. Mrs. Lee ” The inspector looked at her drawn face and shook his head. Her underI' p was trembling, and she was clutchfug Harding’s arm convulsively. She was very near a breakdown, and he shook his head decidedly. “No, you must get right away quickly, Miss Sunderland,” he said firmly, “Mrs. Lee has a sister in Hastings, and I have telephoned for her to come along. She will be here before Mrs. Lee returns. 1 think the sooner you both leave the better.” It was a week before he saw them together again, and he marvelled at the change in her appearance. Though

there was a sad look in her blue eyes ■ on occasion, she had recaptured much : of the youth that was hers, and she : greeted the detective with a happy! smile on her face. Harding had re- j served a table for three in the Picca- j dilly restaurant, and as they sat down ] he, too, had a look of contentment on j his face which had been missing since lu- had first become involved in the I Ditchling Road mystery. “I shall never be afraid of Scotland Yard again.” declared Sheila, smiling. “If everybody thought the same as you, Miss Sunderland,” replied the inspector, “we should solve most of our mysteries. I had a chat with the | Commissioner this morning. He does 1 not think it will be necessary for you 'to be called at all. The pearls may , not even be mentioned.” j “I am glad,” said Sheila, seriously. “I dreaded —oh, I can't tell you how | much—the thought of—of seeing Mr. j Lee again in those circumstances.” j “Nor will you be wanted, Harding,” i continued Vidler. “When’s the trial coming off, D.V.?” I asked Harding. “It won’t be for six weeks at least,” j replied Vidler. Harding filled liis glass before he spoke again. “I bought a new airplane this morning. As I shan’t be wanted to give evidence I propose making a leisurely tour of the Continent till it's all over.” “The best thing you can do,” agreed Vidler. He looked across at Sheila, who was gazing at her lover In astonishment. “You never told me, Robert.” “I’ve only just thought about it since D.V. said we'd not be wanted, my darling. The airplane’s a twoj seater, side by side, and I’ve called it | the Honeymoon Bird.” Sheila blushed furiously and Vidler chuckled. “So that’s the way the wind blows, is it? Fixed up the best man yet?” “Yes,” replied Harding. “D.V. and all that, I propose to invite you to act.” “I hoped you would,” replied the inspector, looking at the flushed cheeks of Sheila. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. “I had a very special reason for wanting to be.” “Oh, what is it?” asked Harding. “It's the best man’s privilege to kiss the bride,” answered Vidler. “I’m a believer in keeping up the old customs.” “I don’t seem to be consulted,” cried Sheila happily. “We’re in the majority, and you are outvoted, darling heart,” answered the lover. “I know what I shall not give the bride,” said Vidler, as he raised his glass and silently toasted her. “And that is a rope of pearls.” THE END.