Was He the Man?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10205, 5 April 1911, Page 2

Was He the Man?

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L. DACRE, „ -oAuthor of "A Phantom of the Past," "Tronholme's Trust," "The Doctor's Secret," "A Loveless Marriage," "Sir John's Heiress," etc.

CHA PTER IX.—Continued. Five minutes later I was roiling towards Charing Cross, and found that in a (|iiarter of an hour a train would leave for Gravesend. Of all the routes from London, I always thought that this was tho most miserably tedious, and to-day T found it even more so than ever, but the journey at last camo to an end.

ft irritated mo to note the bland complacency of Mr Morton's greeting, and i fear that there was some asperity in my tone when after a curt acknowledgment, I asked: "Well, what about this startling communication, Mr Morton? Your letter certainly might have been a bit more explicit." He saw that I was a bit nettled, and fussily invited me to be seated. Then ho said:

"It might, I readily admit, but I thought it better to postpone my news until T could impart tho whole of it to you in person. That being so, why disturb you with incomplete particulars?. 'Sufficient for the day,' etc.'' "You've disturbed me pretty considerably as it is," I rejoined irritably. "Ever sinco I got your letter I've Ijeen worrying myself to guess wlrat has happened, so you may as well tell mo at once, if you please." I can excuse my want of courtesy only on the plea of my impatience and suspense, which were well-nigh unen--1 durable.

"Well," said Mr Morton, "yesterday I received a visit from a man named Smith—William Smith. Ho explained that he had recently landed from South Africa, and a few days ago came across the- announcement of Mr Denver's death. Knowing that the major had lived at Gravesend, Smith came here, and as the result of a few inquiries, ascertained that I had been his lawyer, and had prepared his will. Hence he had come to tell me—you will never guess what—that Major Denver was still living. At any rate Major Denver Mas alive and well five weeks ago when be. Smith, saw him at the Cape, and also talked to him. I am accustomed to listen to strange disclosures, but I must confess that this fairly took me aback; the very audacity of the fellow but yon don't seem so surprised a O . I expected." "I am not," I said. "I had a fancy that this would happen, and that you were leading up to it. If there's anything whatever in tlie man's story, he must have been talking of Denver's double, the very man I want to find. Well, what do you say to this astounding piece of news?"

"I told him that-'I had seen Maior Denver, whom I knew very well, a few hours before his death, and subsequently in his coffin, and, further, had asisted at 'the funeral —it was impossible that his storv could he true." "What did he say to that?" "He said that I could believe him oi- not, as I thought fit: but that what ho had stated was absolutely true. He added that he had not the slightest personal interest in the matter, but that, having known Major Denver for m my-years, he thought it only right in mention what he knew, lest Major Denver should suffer wrong." "Do vbu think he was an impostor, or was he deceived ?"

"It is hard to say. IXc »ooke calmly and dispassionately, without the.slightest fervour; certainty as a man that helieved ho was stating facts. On tho other hand he may have been an impostor, or the accomolice of one." "What sort or a man was he?"

"He was a cripple; dark, broad-set, about forty years of age. His clothes were in good condition, but, it was nlnin to see, had not been made by a fashionable tailor." • "H'm!" I muttered. "I'm afraid he's not the man I hoped he was." I had James Robson, the accomplice of Fitzgerald, in my mind. "Well, did any thing further pass?"

"Yes. Knowing your strong desire to find Fitzgerald, and on the chance that this man might be his agent in advance. I told him that, while I was absolutely certain of Major Denver's death, if he still doubted it, the only person interested in the matter was yourself, as Major Denver's sole executor, and I gave him your address. He said he would communicate with you, and took his leave."

"I'm very glad you did," I said, "for whether he is genuine in his belief, or acting in collusion with Denver's murderer, I hope through him to run the real criminal to earth." After a few more words I took leave of Morton, on my way home calling at my banker's for my pass book, and reaching my chambers soon after four o'clock.

The more I thought over the matter the more I became convinced that this visit of the man giving the name of William Smith was the opening of an attack on the part of Fitzgerald to oust me from my position by posing as Major Denver. Considering that he was wanted for at least two murders, to say nothing of minor crimes, I marvelled at tho man's audacity. He was evidently an opponent not to be underrated. 'But 1 could do nothing until I saw how his / plans were to unroll themselves. At present I oould only await his next step, and no doubt it would come in the form of a visit from Mr William I Smith.

It did, and that speedily. I was engaged in ticking off my stubs with my pass book, when my man came in to an-

nounce him. I heard bump, bump, bump along the pasage, and then the man appeared, and the cause of the noise became apparent. One knee was stiffened in a bent position, the effect being to shorten his leg. The deficiency in the length was supplied by an iron support attached to his boot, and terminating at the lower end in an oval ring. He was of middle height, and I was struck with the breadth and squareness of his shoulders, one of which was slightly higher than the other, doubtless owing to the defect in his leg. He had a short neck, but lacked that stoutness of build that one, usually associates with short-necked persons. His complexion was of a dusky sallowness, and his hair was black, his upper lip being fringed with a huge moustache which curled down at least two inches, so as to completely conceal the mouth. He also wore a black goatee, which met his moustache and covered a protruding chin. After returning my formal salutation, he began: "Mr Morton, of Gravcscnd, whom I saw yesterday, Mr Grey, gave me your address " "Pray be seated," I interrupted, and pointed to a chair. When he had taken it, T went on * "To save time 1 may inform you that I saw Mr Morton this morning, when he told me of your visit and its object. Naturally I was surprised at your communication, but I have the best reason for knowing there is no truth in it, seeing that Major Denver was an intimate friend of twenty or more years' standing, and that T was with him when he died." "You have been deceived, sir," he replied. "The major is not dead. Five weeks ago I met him at Cape Town, and talked with him. If you don't believe me there is an end of the matter, and I will not detain you." The man spoke with an air of truth, and I began to think that he must at some time/have met Denver, and bad been caioled by Fitzgerald into believing tha he was the major. "If anvone has been deceived, it is J yourself," I said. "You have met I some one who bears a certain likeness J to Major Denver." J He smiled contemptuously. I "Impossible!" he exclaimed with fervor. "Haven't I known him all the time T was in the army, taken orders from him. fought with him. helped ,him when he was wounded? When he was shot in the thigh, didn't T help to carry him to the rear? If you have any doubt as to his identity, that scar of the wound will set matters at rest. Not know him? You wait until he returns, sir, and then you'll see whether he doesn't recognise Sergeant Smith." "So you've been in the army," I replied. "What was your regiment?" "Now, f you're an old friend of the major," he returned, "you must know i his regiment well enough—the Twenty Third Rifles, of course." This certainly was Denver's regiment. "And was that injury to your leg received iu action?" I inquired. "Yes; shot in the knee, soon after the major was shot down.: Sinews contracted, and.l was invalided out, that was the ond of my soldiering." "I liave.no means here of testing the {truth of your statement," I resumed. "But nothing will make me disbelieve the evidence of my own eyes. Why. my good fellow, I saw my friend die." "Eyesight is not always to be trusted, sir, and it strikes me some one must have personated the major." "Or some one is personating him in South Africa or elsewhere," I rejoined sharply, and T fixed my eyes keenly upon my visitor, but he bora my scrutiny without flinching. "It is possible," he replied calmly, "but Ido not for a moment believe it. v An impostor could not have recognised me as the major did." "And what was he doing at the Cape —did he tell you?" "He said he had come there to recruit his health; he had lately landed from Madeira. This satisfied me that the man we were discussing was Fitzgerald, who plainly had acquainted himself with Denver's movements, but whether MiWilliam Smith was an accomplice or a dupe I could not determine. Then a sudden thought occurred to me. "Excue me for a moment, Mr Smith, while I give an order to my servant," I said, I left the room to give Johnson in- * structions to follow my visitor when ho left, and run him to earth. In two minutes I was back in the room. "And what took you to Africa, Mr Smith," I asked, "if you do not think my question out of order." He was quick to note my ircjVod suspicion, and resent it. (To "Be Continued.^