EBONY TORSO

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1939, Page 10

EBONY TORSO

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

(By

JOHN C. WOODIWISS.)

CHAPTER I. (Continued). “One moment, sir," interrupted Hopton. "You say you had to break open the door. Was that a difficult thing to do?” “Yes, inspector, I tore away the socket from the lintel in doing it.” “I see. And, the bedroom window — was that closed?” “Closed, and properly fastened with the catch.” “Can you remember if it was closed •while you were talking to the sick man earlier the same morning?” “Yes, Inspector, it had been snowing, and I particularly noticed the catch as we were talking; in fact, 1 suggested that the room was very stuffy and wanted some fresh air letting in, but Scutt wouldn’t hear of it.” “Quite so. And how was the room heated?” “A gas fire was burning,” replied the parson decidedly. “I see. Now, having examined the poor fellow, you at once sent for the police?” ’ “I realised he was dead and that nothing could be done for him, and it seemed the best thing to do. I sent a boy called Lewis on his bicycle to get a policeman.” “And how did Mrs Scutt react to this tragedy? I suppose she was very broken-hearted?”

“Well, quite frankly, Inspector, I think she rather expected there might be a tragic ending to her husband’s intemperate habits . . she took it very bravely, poor soul; but of course, it came as a great shock.” “And can you tell me if she was alone in the house with the deceased man during your absence, or was there anyone else on the premises?” “I really couldn't say, Inspector. I’ve no idea.”

“She kept no servant?” “No. they were too poor to afford one, I think.” “Thank you. And what happened next?”

“Ini nay anxiety to see if I could do anything for the unhappy man, I had no chance to examine the room until the constable arrived,” went on Father Galesbourne.

“But, pardon the interruption, 1 thought you realised at once that he was dead, sir?” objected Hopton. “One always hopes against one’s better judgment in such cases, Inspector,” replied the parson. “But. as 1 was saying, I had no time to look about the room until the policeman pul in an appearance and began to search the place, when he drew my attention to a remarkable thing. In a pile ol snow that that had collected on the window-sill outside, was the footprint of some creature, an animal or bird, with five long, pointed talons." The padre’s voice had sunk almost to a whisper as he made Ute dramatic announcement, and there was a pause before Hopton broke the silence: “A footprint, you say. sir? Only one or more?" he asked sharply. “One only, Inspector. One footmark of remarkable size.”

“We had photographs of it rushed through at once and ser/t copies along to the Zoo, and Professor StapletonSmythe, the expert on biology at London University, for identification,” amplified Carlingford. “Well?” questioned Hopton eagerly: “what was the result?” “The answer we've received in both cases was that the imprint couldn't be identified as being that of any animal or living creature known to science," replied the Divisional Inspector, impressively. There was another dramatic break in the conversation before the detective spoke again. “The supposition being, I suppose, that it was the footprint of this spook thing?—this Incubus?" he inquired bitterly. I

"I’m forced to that opinion against my better judgment. Inspector," replied the Vicar in a tone of apologetic certainty. “You must admit the whole thing's extremely suggestive ” “I’m afraid I can’t admit anything until I've examined all the facts at first hand,” broke in the detective sharply. “I've had a good many years in the police force, but I’ve still to meet the supernatural element in a murder case. This Ebony Torso may have killed our friend Scutt; but it’ll take some time to convince me that the murderer wasn't a human being. If you can bring me into genuine contact with the supernatural. I shall be under an obligation to you. sir; but until that happens. I’m afraid we’ve got to keep our investigation strictly to this world. And now, I must have a look at the scene of the crime. Inspector. Thank you for coming along. Mr Galesbourne." -CHAPTER 11. The body was that of a man past middle age. and of sallow eomploxiijn. The hair was white, and so was tne stubble round the chin. The murdered man lay high up in the bed. his ruffled hair actually touching the iron rails and his head thrown back at an unnatural angle displaying the deep lacerations on the throat in all their grinmess. The glazed eyes were open and the whole face was contorted into an expression that made it appear like some macabre mask of horror. It was the expression of a damned soul, in which panic and fury were shockingly blended.

Hopton bent over and examined the wounds in the throat. They were unquestionably scratches ending in definite punctures where the sharp talons had sunk into the flesh. The top button of the man’s pyjama coat had ocen torn away, and the blood had run down on to the front of the collar and stained the material and the sheets. The 'detective next reverently turned down the bedding and examined the body, but could see no further

injuries and. replacing the covering, focussed his attention on the room again.

He next inspected the window catch with his magnifying glass and also took a careful look at tne sill, from whose surface the pile of snow had now practically disappeared, and noted that its height from the ground was about twelve feet.

"There .were no other footmarks in the yard below?" he asked Carlingford, who had been watching his investigation in silence. “No more of these animal footmarks, 1 mean?” "No, that’s just the thing we can’t understand,” replied the other. “The yard was carefully looked over, and we also made a search of the roof with the idea the thing which left that print might have climbed down from above. But there was nothing .. no sign of any other marks, or anything suspicious.” “Um,” nodded the detective abstractedly, going over and taking another look at the broken lock. “I see the screw's missing that held the bottom of the socket in place. Did your men find it?”

“Yes, it was picked up on the floor,” answered Carlingford. “One of the officers has it here.” “It fell out into the room. I suppose?” Hopton suggested. "I didn't find .it personally; but I understand it did,” replied Carlingford, as if he was slightly annoyed at having to worry about such unimportant details.

“Ask the constable to let me have a look at it, will you?” “Certainly,” replied the Divisional Inspector, going out on to the landing and calling up the man. Hopton continued his investigations until his brother officer returned, followed by the policeman, who held the missing screw in his hand. The Defective took it from his subordinate and examined it with his glass. “Where did you find this, Officer?" he asked at last.

“Here, sir,” replied the man, indicating a point opposite the door. “Right over here, close to the skirting.” “I see,” nodded Hopton, comparing the head of the screw with the one still in the door. “It must have shot out with some force to get over there,” commented Carlingford, showing a little more interest as he realised the point might have an important bearing on the case. “Quite,” agreed Hopton, with a smile. “The only difficulty being that, in my opinion, it was never in the door at all!”

“What!” Inspector Carlingford’s eyebrows shot up in'astonishment. “This screw never held the socket in place," repeated the .Scotland Yard man, decidedly. "But, it's exactly like this one still in the door, sir,” commented the policeman. who had been silently looking on.

“Exactly alike in every respect except one,” corrected Hopton. This screw you picked up has never been driven in with a screw-driver. Just look at it in the light a moment.” Carlingford and the officer followed him to the window where he held it between his finger and thumb and handed his glass to the constable. “Take a good look at the head, officer,” he suggested. "You’ll notice that it’s rounded and covered with black lacquer. Now my contention is, that if a screwdriver had even been used on it some of that protecting lacquer must have been chipped off. exposing the steel beneath. You’ll notice, however, that not a particle of metal is visible.” “Yes, sir, you’re right there!" agreed the constable eagerly. "But isn't this rather pointless?" sneered Carlingford in a sarcastic tone. “What does it prove in any case’.”’ j (To be Continued.) Mill MfIIIBTHIHI II