THE SOLUTIONS OF RADFORD SHONE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9018, 3 January 1908, Page 2

THE SOLUTIONS OF RADFORD SHONE.

CoMMUXICATUD TO AND EDITED BY [Published By Special Arrangement.] [All Rights Reserved.]

CHAPTER Xll.—Continued. And if the same idea had occurred to Mr Myland Shone he could not have put reproach in plainer terms than in the question, "You took upon yourself, then, to report to Scotland Yard that the poor fellow was missing?" "Mr Martin very sensibly came to us this morning, and I learned at Somerset House of the telegram that had brought you to these paits," I chimed in. "Were you aware that, as Mr Martin informs me, your brother went in fear of his life?" The little man struck an attitude of terrified astonishment. "Certainly not!" he exclaimed. "If that was so I suppose we must fear the worst. I have been hoping that all this was only one of Radford's little tricks in the way of business—to get himself believed to be dead for a while. He was so infernally clever, you know." Mr Myland Shone pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed it at his eyes; then, appearing to master his emotion with an effort, he turned on Martin. "Why did you not inform me that my brother was in danger?" he thundered in that incongruous voice. "Why did you not let mo protect him against foul play if- you were unable to do so yourself? You ought to be charged ss an accessory before the fact!" The worm turned at this unmerited taunt. "I had a good deal more reason than you to protect him, and should have done so if he hadn't been too masterful," Martin retorted hotly. "Considering that his death will entitle you to all the money he has lett and a few thousands of it are mine." Mr Myland Shone's manner changed as by magic. In place of the half-distraught bereaved brother he became the courteous gentleman, brimming over with conscientiousness, and honestly anxious to yield, without a moment's delay, any advantage which the strict letter of the law might have given him. • "My dear sir, you need be under no misapprehension of that kind," he replied. "You have only to furnish me w'th a statement of any moneys which you may have advanced to my poor brother and I, as his heir and executor, shall pay you the amount out of his estate without demur or cavil. Enough of this soidid higgling! I hope, sir," the little man added, turning briskly to me, ''that Mr Martin's insight into my brother's schemes, so strangely withheld from me, will enable you to punish this atrocious crime." "I have a most promising cue, thanks to Mr Martin," I made noncommittal answer. "Which doubtless will detain you in Freshwater for a day or two," was the prompt comment. "I also shall make this place my headquarters till they have exhausted every means for recovering the body. And that reminds me: I have only two days' leave of absence from my official* duties. I will just walk up to the post-office and wire my chief for an extension." And favouring us with a mournful smile he passed out of the hall door into the gathering dusk of the early spring evening. "Couldn't have behaved better, could he —about my coin, I mean?" said Martin cheerfully. "Run after him," said I, disregarding the silly remark, "and offer to go with him to the post-office, so as to tell him about Professor Mallandine and ail that. But if he objects don't press yourself upon him. Coma back straight to me." Martin looked puzzled, but, compelled by something in my manner, did as ha was bid. He was back again in less than three minutes, shaking his foolish head. "Won't have me at any price; wants to be .alone with his grief," he explained. "Then we will shadow him and his . grief," was my triumphant comment. And enjoining silence on my astounded companion, I preceded him down the carriage drive of the hotel to the village street. Myland Shone had disappeared in the twilight, but afar off came the sound of running footsteps. "Keep on the grass at the side of the road and sprint for all you're worth," I Whispered. So it was that after a quarter of a mile at top speed we were near enough to sew the flying figure ahead of us turn aside into the garden-gate of an old thatched cottage at the roadside. It was certainly not the post-office. I had noticed that on our way to tho hotel, and it was considerably farther along the road. Still commanding silence by pressing Martin's arm, I crept up to the gate and found that Myland Shone had disappeared into the cottage. There was a light in the lattice window to the right of the door, and to this I trod softly. The blind was drawn, but the window was open, and from within came the sound of voices—not the subdued murmur of an o itablished conversation, but the open .•:•; sentences of one recently and excitedly commenced. "The i.iiot! he was always a crass idiot!" the piping treble of an unfamiliar voice complained. "But I thought ha was too much afraid of me to go to the police till the five days were up. This means that 1 ' must get across to Southampton toUiight, Myland, so as to be safe from recognition by my late financial backer.''' ''When does the Royal Mail steamer for Rio sail?" came the sonorous question in the full tones so lately heartl in the hall of the hotel. "Three o'clock to-morrow afternoon, \ind glad I shall be to be on board Jier with what is left of Sammy'i) little pile'. After you have had youi[' hundred for helping me I shall thousand to go away with, so I Shan't have done so badly." \

BEING NARRATIVES BY OFFICERS OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, AND OF THE PROVINCIAL POLICE, IN RESPECT OF DEALINGS WITH THE EMINENT EXPERT, MR RADFORD SHONE.

At this point I felt a hot breath on my neck, and saw that Mr Samuel Martin had stolen up close behind me. His broad, stupid face was working with a piteous mixture of rage and shame. "That man in there —the one who has just spoken i —it is Radford Shone!" he murmured hoarsely in my ear. "The thief is going to bolt with my money." "Oh, no, he isn't!" I replied grimly. "I have suspected this all along—ever since you reported fool-talk about Professor Mallandine, who is a most respectable analyst employed by the Home Office, and in constant touch with Scotland Yard. We will go in and adjust your partnership account, Mr Martin." Without more ado I entered the cottage, and in the room on the right surmised the little family party. Our chubby little friend of the hotel raised his hands in mute appeal; a tall man of sallow features and unpleasant, protuberant eyes took a menacing step forward, but at sight of Martin at my elbow broke into ( a harsh laugh. "So you couldn't wait, Sam?" he said, striving for composure. "Well, your premature alarm has prevented me from running the gang to earth." "It has prevented you from running off to South America with Mr Martin's money," said I. "There is no reason that I know of why you shouldn't sail for Rio if you like, provided you pay your partner out first—with the notes of securties which you doubtless have on your person." ****** That was the end of Mr Radford Shone's meteoric career as an "expert in crime," and it was, perhaps, a fitting end that he was narrowly saved from putting a coping-stone to that career by being arrested by one of the regular police when it was one of his trade secrets to denounce as incompetent. But when he had paid Martin four thousand pounds on the cottage table I had no right to detain him, and we left him a free and penniless man. | His final error of remaining too ! long at the lodging which he had taken for the purpose of enacting his own "murder" proved his undoing, and his sly idea of, through his brother, furnishing the local constable with a description of the missing man as exactly the stubby little Myland came to naught. The last I heard of this egregious charlatan was from a professional colleague in the New York police, who wrote me that a cadaverous man with "popp-ing-out eyfcs" was distributing handbills outside a dime museum. THE END.