"DEATH GOES BY 'BUS"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 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 VI. Continued. Unexpectedly the passengers were more amenable than might be supposed. Pockets were turned out, and what little baggage they carried was laid out for inspection. Riggings came to run rather inexperienced hands over the men, but Mrs Wylie scowled at him so fiercely that he passed her hurriedly and carefully averted his eyes from Miss Hanson. “I’ve nothing beyond this handbag,” she announced loudly. “No hidden weapons or loot.” “Sorry,” Matthews hastened to reassure her. “It isn’t nice to have to do this sort of thing. Duty must be done.” She tossed her head. “You’ll find nothing incriminating on me.” This was generally applicable. Even John Smith passed the test with conspicuous honour—and he received the closest attention of them all. “Whose is this case?” asked the sergeant, pointing to a leather bag such as business men use for carrying important documents. Nobody answered. The passengers shook their heads one by one and then turned to stare suspiciously at their neighbours. All at once the whole atmosphere had changed. Innocent though the article appeared it began to take on some sinister significance. “The dead man's.” somebody suggested half-heartedly. Morrison Sharpe immediately disagreed. "Too far from where he was sitting,” he pointed out. Riggings made a stooping move as if to pick it up. “Wait a moment,” warned his colleague. “First we'll take a mental photograph of the situation of the object. That might come in useful. What do you thing of it, doctor?” “Not my place to make suggestions.” "Nor mine,” Mr Sharpe exclaimed. “But I might, say that it is put down very much as might be done by a careful person who had no wish to nurse it. or tuck it under his arm as is usually done in carrying." “It is reminiscent of an oversized lady's handbag,” Saunders observed.

“And intended to be handled in much the same way. Civil servants often have them. So do insurance agents and bank officials. Occasionally there is a strap to go round the arm as an additional precaution.” Matthews bent down, peering curiously. “This seems to have one. I can see the buckle,” he reported. Morrison Sharpe followed his example, not without some physical discomfort occasioned by the awkward posture. Rising slowly he slithered into the vacant seat and let his arm hang downwards. "Look at that.” he demonstrated. "The owner could sit in reasonable comfort with the bag out of sight and still keep a grasp on it. Now what about a glimpse of the contents?" | “Hand it over. We know exactly how it was placed.” The little man obeyed the instructions of the sergeant. To do so he had to tug fairly hard, for it had been wedged securely in the cleft. Matthews fumbled with the catch, but the stout lock baffled him. Finally he gave it up with an expression of disgust and disappointment. “This will have to go to headquarters as it is,” he stated. “I haven’t the authority to force the fastening. Not that it would be a simple matter if I had. This was an evident truth, for the tough hide was intended to afford protection. Stamped on the side were the initials “B. T. E.” in gilt—faded gilt, because indubitably it had been well used. Shaking the bag did not help much, except to show that there was a substantial packing. "Papers,” Matthews thought. “Like treasury notes, bonds and securities,” Morrison Sharpe suggested. "A fabulous fortune l ." “More likely a packet of lunch sandwiches,” growled the doctor. Regretfully handing the case to Constable Higgins, the sergeant ordered that it should be guarded with great care. “That satisfies me about one thing,” he mentioned. "There was another passenger, and this is what he left behind.” Huntley Young, as if anxious to make amends for unwittingly laying a false trail with his overcoat, had something to impart. As Mr Sharpe had argued, memory had been playing strange tricks with him.- In the locked recesses of his mind was the dim notion of another presence. The case provided the necessary stimulation. "I think I recollect now." he observed. "Mind you I didn't look behind, but I'm positive there was a man came aboard when the rush occured back in Colborough. He had a carrier tucked under his arm. While 1 was making myself comfortable he must have chosen a seat at the back and I'm positive he didn’t alight en route." "Can you swear to that?" demanded Matthews excitedly. "No-No, not exactly." Again they were up against that snag of failure to observe the obvious. "May I question this gentleman?’’ Morrison Sharpe asked. "So far as I’m concerned." The sergeant turned towards Dr Saunders as if seeking confirmation. "But, of course, he need not answer you unless he wishes." "Thank you. I want io take you back to the beginning. Do you mind describing your actions since breakfast, without hesitating over details. Take it easy and naturally. The brain works more efficiently like (hat. Please don’t interrupt, any of you. while he is speaking." i Beginning with a show of hesitation| Mr Young settled into his stride andl it was astonishing to find with what I detail he could recount his adventures. •* "First of all," he began, "1 folded up t

my table napkin. No. that isn’t correct. I just flung it in a heap on the table. The waiter came to ask my • room number so that the meal could be booked against my name. Telling him I should be leaving, 1 went upstairs to the bedroom to finish packing. "After strapping down the bags I called a boy and instructed him to have them fetched for dispatch by train, as I dislike being cumbered with heavy luggage. Some immediate necessities I placed in the small grip I have with me here. "A man came and fetched the big stuff and I tipped him. Then I went downstairs, paid my bill, and strolled into the town, having previously decided to proceed to Netherton by bus as of more interest than going by rail. "On the way to the Market Place I bought tobacco and a newspaper. The bus was already in its place, although according to my watch there were twelve minutes to wait. Just as I was getting on a number of people followed behind . . .” At this point the listeners betrayed so unmistakable an interest that the speaker was temporarily thrown off his theme. He had to concentrate. “Y--yes—l picked a suitable seat —and that is about, all.” "Except that you idly took account of the other people who were taking their places," prompted Mr Sharpe. “Quite so! Not very intently, I’m afraid." “Would you care to recall what you observed?" Mr Sharpe said gently. "No forcing, please.” “Well, there was the market couple having a bit of a struggle as they tried to squeeze down the gangway side oy side. It was mildly comic. Close behind them was a tallish man wearing a soft felt hat ... By jove, of course, that was the stranger who never got off.”

“Go on! How was he dressed?” , “Neatly and in good taste. Dark ' grey suit, perhaps, or it might have been brown. Let me see—a wing colI lar. There was a parcel under his arm. Passing me he . . .” ( “Sure of that last point?” , “Positive! That was the last I saw , of him, consciously at any rate.” , Beyond that remembrance would not , function. But by thus neatly probing they had the nearest approach to corroboration they were likely to get. “Good work!" grunted the doctor. "Sergeant Matthews was right. How do you do it? “Chess mostly.” explained the little man, almost apologetically. “It teach- , es you to think ahead, not only of ■ yourself, but also your opposition.” “Then perhaps you can work out the next, move." retorted Saunders, with gentle irony. “Personally I should search that little copse." "Very well, if you say so. I’m not going to neglect any of your ideas. What do you expect to find?” “Blessed is he that expects little,” came the quotation. "One could indulge in a little guesswork, however.” “Such as?” “It’s a handy place to hide the weapon although that is a matter criminals often neglect to do. Usually they carry it about until caught, when it is produced as damning evidence against them. So my reading of famous cases “Naturally! Any kind of puzzle appeals to me.” Matthews pulled down nis tunic impatiently. "Come along,” he said, “let’s get on.” iozirggfiEcduw ,eNuailheot/ina-d HH CHAPTER VII. By contrast with the bright sunshine outside, it was darkly gloomy beneath the trees. Underfoot was a tangle of briars interspersed with straggling bracken. Beech, elm and a sprinkling of firs comprised the bulk of the major growth. It was one of those haphazard coppices that are to be seen dotted about England, apparently relics of once larger woods. In extent this one might have taken up about an acre—not more. As cover for a fugitive from justice it could serve only for a brief period of time. Matthews knew at once that an early search must have brought quick results, for there was little hiding space. Resting against, the bole of a huge elm. who branches spread a thick pall of green above, they found the man.’ At first glance he might have been asleep, but there was no motion as the cautious trio approached. “Another stiff," pronounced Matthews callously. “So he didn’t get far after all. Taken the easiest way out. 1 suppose. Well, it simplifies matters for the police.” His disappointed expression belied the words. "Murder and suicide" reduced the case to a mere sordid matter of a coroner's inquest. For the second time that morning Dr Saunders pronounced a monosyllabic "Dead." “Clear case of suicide, presumably?” “On the face of it, yes!" "Then all that remains is for me to report to the coroner's officer. Higgins had better remain on guard while the ambulance is sent for. Same weapon. 1 suppose?" "No!" "What”" The Sergeant shouted with i surprise. . "Poison! Cyanide of potassium. I gather. Symptoms are typical. Observe the characteristic blue tinge of): the lips. Must have taken place while ; you were attending to the first victim. “I wasn't there," snapped Matthews, i "When the passengers were." correc- ■ ted the doctor. "Why in the name of all that's sen- ■ sible did he take poison?" said Ser- ) geant Matthews, surveying the secon .1

dead body he had encountered that morning. "What's happened to the gun?" "Maybe he didn't have one." suggested Mr Sharpe. “Now don't start making things worse. By all the rules of logic this person shot Wainwright, made his way in here, and cheated the hangman." "Well, perhaps. But there are other reasons which could scare a man into taking his life." “Who'd want to take a ride out into the country for the fun of swallowing cyanide?" "That wasn't my suggestion. Stretch your imagination until it. considers the case of a person who suddenly finds himself up against the limelight of publicity when dark obscurity is looked for." “Which loaves me in the darkness. Switch on the light." "It's on already, picking out this second unfortunate. Can't you understand his predicament?" "Not me. sir. Perhaps I don't want to. Think what trouble will be saved if we find out he killed Wainwright' and then himself!" | "Too easy. Reminds me of the hidden names competition where the obvious is invariably wrong. ’’ •There you go again." said the aggrieved Sergeant. “Riding the old! hobby horse.” (Ta be Continued) .