"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1939, Page 10

"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

BY

LESLIE CARGILL

(Author of “The Yellow Phantom,” “The Arrow by Night,” etc.)

CHAPTER V. Considering the delay and inconvenience to which they were subjected, the passengers had behaved very reasonably. It was hardly to be wondered at, however, that they should begin to grumble at being forced to wait while the unconventional investigation proceeded. “Can’t something be done to expedite our release from this intolerable condition?” asked the commercial traveller. “Sorry, Mr Young. I'm doing my

best. “This will cost me money as well as time, you know. Hang it all, we must have been delayed the best part of an hour.” “Not so long when life is at stake,” remarked Matthews. “Perhaps I'd better warn you that it is quite likely you'll be wanted most of the day and you might as well spend it here as at the station.”

“We could get refreshments in the town.” “All right, all right, we'll move on.” Reluctantly he gave instruction to driver Carter, after telling Constable Higgings to follow behind in the poice car, and the little procession moved Nethertonwards. Sergeant Matthews and Morrison Sharpe sat together, talking over the case, both having acquired a liking and respect for each other. “Crack!” throbbed from the exhaust. “Crack! Crack! Crack!” “Heavens above,” Matthews said, with a start, “is that the banging you

spoke about? No wonder a solitary pistol shot was almost unnoticed.” “I think it is rather worse than before, although it was bad enough.” Evidently the trouble was cumulative, for after proceeding for about half-a-mile they came to a stop and Carter clambered down and opened the bonnet. A moment later he had got out a bag of tools and was busily tinkering about the interior. John Smith started to fume, in fact, there was a general tendency to be irritated by this new mishap. Matthews went to investigate and once more the squad car stood by, like, a little tug keeping guard over a giant liner.

“Mag seems all out of order,” Carter reported. “Much of a job to put right?” “More’n I can manage, though I can fix it up good enough to take us along slowly." “Shall I send for assistance?” “Not necessary, though now you mentions it, sergeant, it would do us a bit of good if it was known that we’re coming in crippled. With the bus so late there's likely to be a great deal of anxiety, especially if anybody is waiting to meet people coming off at

Netherton." Several vehicles had passed from time to time. The next that came along was halted and the driver promised to deliver a message. “What’s the trouble?” asked the man. “Magneto,” retorted the officer. “We've helped a bit.” “Sure I can’t do anything?” “Only set the minds of the old folks at home at rest.” The motorist smiled and went off. Reflectively Matthews watched the car until it was out of sight. Shortly afterwards Carter announced that he was ready to proceed. “Then reverse into that field and turn back to where we started from,” Matthews said surprisingly. “B —but Sergeant, the delay has been serious enough al .” “Don't argue. Get a move on!”

The engine was ticking over erratically. but it appeared to be capable of doing its .work reasonably well. Consternation reigned when the decision was revealed. As usual Smith was the loudest grouser, but Morrison Sharpe was smiling almost with satisfaction. “That,” he told his new friend, “is exactly what I should do if I were in your shoes.” Second thoughts may not always be the best, but they undoubtedly grow into effective extensions. The police officer had been able to collate several facts, with useful results. Also he had remembered things that had escaped particular notice previously. Not having concentrated on purely detection work his methods had naturally lacked the finesse of the expert. Some of)

the omissions he at once proceeded to rectify. “I suppose” lie confided to Sharpe, “that the proper thing to have done would have been a close search of the immediate locality.” “You needn’t reproach yourself. Sergeant. With the force at your command an intensive investigation was out of the question." “Then it can be held a neglect of duty that 1 refused to summon immediate assistance. Suppose the guilty

party has been given an opportunity to get clear away who do you think will get the blame? Me! How have I handled this case? Like a motoring offence —all names and addresses and tape-measure business, more or less.”

“Pity the poor motorist!" murmured Morrison Sharpe. “Do they usually get put through the third degree?" "You've ebeen taking lessons from that gaol-bird." “Oh no, I go to the'cinema fairly often. Some of the mystery films are very good indeed.” “Afraid I haven’t time to waste on light entertainment.” “You astonish me, Sergeant, really you do,” said Mr Sharpe mildly. “Allow me to recommend the crime films as an extra-mural detective course.

Come out a quarter of an hour before the conclusion and work out the finish for yourself.”

"I've already said you should be in the force, sir.” "You flatter me." "Not at ah! But I am going to do now.” “In what way?” "By suggesting you talk over the incident and point out any conclusion you arrive at.” Nothing loth, the little man began. Already he had peculiar advantages, having heard the evidence of the other passengers, which he could add to his personal experience. Warming to nis subject he mentioned several theories smashed them to nothingness, weighed facts and introduced interesting possibilities. Matthews listened intently, oblivious of the angry crowd which no longer tried to conceal its communal annoyance at the enforced detention. “The case of the missing passenger, whom I do not regard as imaginary, is singularly intriguing,” the speaker went on. “Consider him again as the possible culprit. Notice the ease with which he could have slipped out of the emergency exit —or even walked out with the rest. That little corpse beside the roads offers a first chance of cover.” “I’d noticed it,” agreed the Sergeant bitterly. “But I should have thought of that in the first place. Now it is too late. While we went on he could have got miles away.” “Still it might be desirable to search among the trees.. Who knows what we may find.” Before the plan could be put into operation Constable Riggings called out from the doorway to announce that a car coming from Netherton looked like that of Di’ Saunders. “The police surgeon,” Matthews explained hurriedly. Dashing outside he'stood in the middle of the road waving his arms until a small two-seater pulled up. From it emerged a cheerful-looking young man who greeted the officer with a smile of recognition. “What is it?” he asked briskly. "Drunk in charge? Do you want me to mark a chalk line on the road?’ “More serious than that, doctor. A dead man.” “M’m, accident? Sure he is dead?" “Come and see for yourself.’” Silence again fell as the newcomer pushed his way between the seats to the smoking compartment. Deftly ne made a preliminary examination, then opened the waistcoat of the unfortunate Caleb Wainwright. “How did this happen?” “That needs to be found out. What about your report?” “This requires a post-mortem. But without being too certain, I can give you something to go on.” “Non-technical, if you don't mind.” Dr Saunders nodded. “Death appears to be due to a bullet wound fired at fairly close quarters. Suicide unlikely. There is no burning of the clothing or skin. Point of entry between the third and four ribs, sloping right and upward... I should say the heart was pierced. H’m, he’d died instantaneously—or almost so.” “Could you say from what direction the bullet came?” “Certainly not. It depends on the position of the victim at the time.” “He was in that seat, sir,” Matthews said, pointing. “No doubt. But he may have been facing directly to his front, half-turned or stooping.” “Might it have come from outside?" Saunders looked at the windows. “Possible, but improbable. If it did, I should hazard a guess that it was from there, although tne man would have had to have been standing, otherwise the directional effect could not have been rising.” He was pointing to the window that | John Smith had opened during the I journey. I

“Could the weapon have been fired from a passing car?” interposed Mr Sharpe, who had been lounging unobserved at the partition. “Eh? Who’s this?” snapped the doctor. “It's all right, sir," the Sergeant explained. “The gentleman has been very helpful to me in my investigations.” “Doesn't look like a police officer to me!” The little man gestured deprecatingly. “I am afraid I have no official standing at all, doctor.” “Then what the deuce do you mean by butting in.’ “Please excuse me. Puzzles of all kinds interest me. I —er —solve them as a hobby.” Saunders shut up like an oyster. The cheery expression had entirely vanished. “My statement wilt be given in the proper quarters," he excaimed tartly. Without another word he marched stiffly back to his car “That." said the sorely-tried Sergeant Matthews softly, “has most certainly torn it." CHAPTER VI. J Mr Morrison Sharpe was hurt. Running up against the niceties of professional etiquette was outside the scope of his experience. “Such an apparently pleasant man." he remarked. “Why did he fly off at a tangent like that?" “Because you're not entitled to wear a,uniform, sir," exclaimed the Sergeant. "Neither is he. unless I am mis-

taken." "It is a matter of locus standi." I “I see. Then an outsider has no right to interfere, even though his | advice may be of the utmost value." “Something like that. Mr Sharpe. There are regulations which are supposed to be strictly adhered to . . and I’ve driven a norse and cart through

the whole lot of them already.” “What a pity that I am the cause o£ getting you into trouble.” “Not your fault, sir. I'll stand the blame. Dr Saunders is only acting as he thinks best. Laymen are unwelcome as a rule because they are inclined to be nuisances. You haven’t been one, though I'll admit that if I had carried out my duty you would have been severely squashed in the first place. Another black mark won’t count.” “Dear me, perhaps I’d better retire.” “Leave that to me, sir,” retorted Matthews grimly. “If I’m not ordered to turn in my uniform it'll be a miracle.” But the doctor thought better of his hasty action. Before getting as far as his car. he decided to find out more about what had transpired. Bustling back he favoured Mr Sharpe with a critical look. Dont want to be unpleasant,” he said, his habitual sense of good humour partially restored. “Evidently I got hold of the wrong end of the stick.” “Not at all, doctor. Sergeant Matthews has just been explaining a few things I did not quite appreciate. Amateurs. perhaps, are out of place in these affairs." “More often than not. However, as I understand you've been of great ■ help . ." "Invaluable!" hastily interjected Matthews. "I'll take you on trust then. There was a question about the possibility of the bullet having been fired from a a passing ear. My answer must be non-committal. It could happen, though not as a matter of deliberate intent.” "So I had concluded. Deliberate aim would have been quite out of the question. Not much object in following up that line of inquiry, eh?” "Hardly, v'nless. you're keen on the accident theory. Seems too far fetched to my way of thinking. Motorists don't go firing guns like cowboys making whoopee. Save that idea until I last. Have you frisked this crowd."' "Good lord no! That would put the tin lid on it." "Ask permission. Tell 'em they'll get away quicker. Appeal Io their sense of justice." (.To be Continued) .