NO WOMAN'S LAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 July 1938, Page 10

NO WOMAN'S LAND

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT COPYRIGHT

BY

JANE ENGLAND

(Author of “Sjambok,” “Trader’s License,” &c.)

CHAPTER XXVI. (Continued.)

“Well, I’ll go over,” said Drew, who knew perfectly well from the gesture that the native had made that it was Fellowes who was the Baas over there. “And you had better go for the Police.”

The Nyassa boy nodded gravely. “Take the cart,” added Drew. “I’ll ride over to the Baas.”

“Ja, Inkoos,” said the Nyassa boy with an expressionless face, and he went back to the cart and drove away. Drew called to a tall native who wore khaki trousers and a torn blue shirt that gaped over an enormous chest, flung the ox whip to him and told him to plough. Then he went off to the stables behind the homestead, saddled the black, and rode over to the Fellowes ranch. His face was unamiable, but in the curl of his lips there was a curious satisfaction.. # • ■ ♦ * Nella sat back on her heels, and brushed the hair out of her eyes. She had thought for the last few days that she must see and talk to Archie. She must see him, somehow, and get things straight. She gave a few instructions to the two boys who were sorting out rubbish and went over to the homestead. It was late in the afternoon. David Hastings had gone over to Klinter’s Dofp on business. Dolly was slacking on the stoep. She lay in a long chair, smoking languidly, and thinking. Life at Bloots had become singularly peaceful. Already the wilderness was blossoming, and tfie solitary place was glad for them . . glad for David and herself. Bloots looked like something. It was a farm, a homestead, and something of which to be proud. Nella came out on to the stoep. “I’m riding over to see Archie,” she said abruptly. Dolly looked at her and raised her eyebrows. Nella looked tall and slender. And under the pale tan of her skin, she flushed. > “It’s your own affair,” said Dolly, “and no one’s stopping you.” “I’ve got to tell him,” said Nella flatly, “that he needn’t mind my feelings any longer. In fact, he needn’t stay away from here. I; don’t want to marry him.” I ' “Bless you, my child,” said Dolly. “Well, don’t be late. We don’t like you to be out much after sundown.” “It won’t take very long,” said Nella. And her wide mouth twitched into a newly acquired humour. CHAPTER XXVII. Wentworth left the kraal and jogged along towards Klinter’s Dorp. Brown rode by hit side, and they were both silent. I He glanced over his shoulder to where the headman of the kraal walked between two Black Watch boys, and behind them a sombre procession. There were four natives carrying litter with a small form wrapped up in a blanket. “Are you going to walk into Klinter’s Dorp like this?” asked Brown. “And why not?” asked Wentworth. Brown shrugged. “And are you going to arrest Hudson?” “Why not?” said Wentworth again. “Well,” said Brown. “It’s only native evidence.” “I think,” said Wentworth, “that I can produce white evidence —at a pinch.” “But what the devil did' he come back here for?” asked Brown. Wentworth pulled his long nose, and his heavy, dark face became sombre. “Why do murderers do this or that?” he asked. “I should thjnk, for one thing, 'that he had an idea that he was far cleverer than he really is. I should think that he was rather frightened because-he was sent back .to Salisbury. He argued this way. ‘Why have they taken me off the job? Do they suspect anything? Why should they? They have no evidence of any sort. But why have they taken me off the job? He hadn’t got the intelligence to see that he was going the wrong way about things down here, that he had even alienated Carfrae. And further, Hudson hadn’t the nous to realize that he was deservedly unpopular among the farmers. He had his conceit, had Hudson.”

“Yes. But granting all that,” said Brown, “why didn’t he sell and clear out?”

“Because he was just too smart. Not clever,- mind you, but smart. He argued in this way: ‘lf I clear out, they might suspect, but if I go down there I’ll disarm them. I’ll be able to see what’s going on.’ Besides Brown, I rather think that he has a mania about the Howard girl. He’s slightly limited in his outlook on sex. But above all, I think he thought it was a brilliant coup to remain on the scene. And I imagine that he had some idea that if he bought Smith’s store, and some of the people round here in this district owed him money, that he’d have a bit of a pull. For one thing, the Hastings had a big store bill, and even Nella Howard owed a certain amount. But taking it by and large, Hudson saw the store as a golden opportunity for levying a little blackmail. And at the same time he had an itching desire to bb on the spot.”

“Well, he’s undoubtedly got something on his mind,” said Brown, “and he’s drinking like a fish. But I don’t see what sort of a case you’re got. No more than you’d got against Fellowes.” “I’ve got the bullet that killed Old Jack,” said Wentworth, “and that came from a Service revolver, and a revolver that I am dead sure belonged to Hudson. I’ve got the headman’s evidence, backed up by the other that Hudson put the fear of death into them, that he made them swear to him that they’d never say he’d been near the place, and that'they never saw him bury Old Jack. I’ve even got the native that Drew spoke about, and he is ready to swear that she saw Old Jack on the Howard farm. What I really want is some true and unassailable evidence from Drew.”

“Hope you get it,” said Brown. “So do I,” said Wentworth. '“You sound doubtful, but I think I may.” “It’s a rotten case,” said Brown, “it’s plain that Hudson did it; but why did he row with Howard?” “Probably for precisely the same reasons he attributed to Fellowes. In other words, Howard objected to Hudson’s behaviour.” “It might have been anything,” said Brown discouragingly. “If that blighter Drew knows anything, why hasn’t he come forward?” “Well, my dear Brown, Drew has his own peculiar way of looking at things.” They came into Klinter’s Dorp, and the procession went slowly down the street. “Have the body put in the mortuary hut,” said Wentworth wearily, “I’ll get down to Carfrae.” It was while he was soothing that ruffled man that the Nyassa boy came into Klinter’s Dorp, and was sent down to the magistrate’s office by Brown. Wentworth listened to his story, which was very much more intelligible than the one he had told Drew, groaned, and stood up heavily. “I’d better go out there, sir,” he said to Carfrae. Major Carfrae leaned his head on his hand, and drew a small ship on his blotting paper. He began to put in the wavy lines for the sea. “Are you going to arrest Hudson?” he asked. “I’d like a warrant,” said Wentworth. “But I’d like to see Drew before I use it. Hudson can’t get away, sir.” “Very well, very well,” said Carfrae in a troubled voice. Wentworth went slowly out of the office, and mounted. “Go back to the camp,” he said to the Nyassa boy, “and tell the Inkoos there all that you have found.” “I’ll ride home,” said Hanslow irritably. He looked at Wentworth from bloodshot eyes. His head and eyes ached abominably, but he wanted to get home. He wanted to get home and tell his wife just what sort of a maniac Fellowes was, and how with a temper like that he was quite capable of murder. “I’d as soon you' didn’t talk about this,” said Wentworth, as if he’d read his thoughts. “Oh, all right, then,” said Hanslow. “Where’s that horse of mine?” “Here,” said Drew obligingly. The light was gone, and the sky was a dull blue and powdered with stars. “Sure you can see your way?” asked Wentworth. 'Hanslow gave an abrupt laugh. “This light suits me better than daylight at the moment,” he said, and swung himself into the saddle. '“Want us to do anything about it? Want to make an official complaint?” said Wentworth. “No!” said Hanslow, “why should I? Leave things as they are.” “So long,” said Drew, in that maddening voice of his, that always seemed informed with a hidden amusement. Hanslow responded ungraciously, and rode away. Wentworth and Drew looked at each other as the sound of the hoofbeats diminished in the soft, cool air. “And now,” said Wentworth, “I suppose we must get that young woman back to the Hastings.” “I’ll see her home,” said Drew. Wentworth frowned. “I’m not so sure that I’m keen on that . . '. Engleburg.” Drew laughed. “Your name is, of course, Engleburg?” “And what about it?” “It really and truly is,” said Drew. “The boy who made various threats about the Howards a long time ago, and who turned up here at a most . . . well, shall we say, inopportune time?” “The very same. And the time was inopportune, wasn’t it?” “We’d better have it out, don’t you think?” “By all means . . . after Nella Howard is safely home.” “I’ll see here home,” said Wentworth firmly. “You might be good enough to stay here and look after Fellowes.” In the pale light of the stars he saw Engleburg’s mouth curl into a derisive smile.

“Yes, I’ll stay here,” said Engleburg. “Because,” said Wentworth amiably, “you wouldn’t get far if you felt impelled by a desire not to see me again.” “Dear Policeman,” said Engleburg, politely, “that is obvious, even to me.” They went on to the stoep and into the living room, where Nella waited. Archie was conscious now, shamefaced and monosyllabic. Nella was quite silent, her young face set into grave lines. She had, with that curious and sombre determination of hers, seized the opportunity while Drew and Wentworth were out of the room, to tell Archie she was sure that they didn’t really love each other. He had been taken aback, ill though he felt, and the instant that she had said it he had forgotten that this was exactly what he had wanted, and felt an irrational sense of loss. But before her unblinking earnestness, his impulse to argue had faded. > “You’re really right, Nella,” he said. “And I am sorry.” “Oh, you don’t need to be sorry,” she assured him, "because luckily for both of us, I don’t mind. But, of course, I knew for the last week that you didn’t want to marry me.” He didri’t want to talk, so he closed his eyes, and the other two men came in. “Sergeant Wentworth is going to take you home,” said Drew to Nella. “He seems to think it best.” (To be Continued).