“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1941, Page 10

“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY” SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

(Author of “Africa Flight," “Outpost in China," etc.)

CHAPTER HI. (Continued). “What?" The woman's voice rose •i thinly. “Who says he followed me? "I do. Where else would he have : gone? Ho said he was going to the ! cloak room, but when he didn t come ; back and I didn't find him there. I I guessed he’d sloped with you.” : "I never saw him! I never saw him! ; the woman sounded almost hysterical. "Do you mean he isn't inside?" "I don't know where he is —and I I don't care. If he did follow me —" She i broke off and there was a silence. I broken only by the shuffling of feet as 1 if the man were feeling uncomfortable. , Presently he said: ‘•Well, anyhow, it's burst the evening ! up. what with everybody hopping off ! like that. First Kruger, then you and ! last Sammy. I call it dirty, backing : down on me like that! Why shouldn't .we go across to Kruger's joint and I make him put out drinks and hit things j up a bit'.’ Perhaps that's where Sammy ■ went." I “Leave Kruger alone!" The woman s , voice was suddenly lowered. “He doesn't want you or me —nor Sammy for that matter. He showed that clearly enough by the way he went off. That girl he spoke to meant something. 1 could see " “What, jealous, are you? Why. A vice—" “Jealous nothing!" Barbara listening would have sworn that the woman speaking was furious both with the accusation and the passion it imputed to her. "She was no beauty to give me a heartache." “She sure wasn't a patch on you, but you never know how these things get a man!" There was a scornful exclamation from the woman and a coarse chuckle from her companion. “What's the odds on her being in there with him now? I've half a mind to go’over and see. There'd be a drink in it anyway." "Leave him alone. I tell you! If you go there when he doesn't want you you'll come out on your ear. Take that from me! But if a drink is all you want you can come in and I’ll scare one up for you." “That's the talk! You don't seem io be making me very welcome, but a drink's a drink, however it comes. Lead me to it!" Barbara heard him moving and the sound of the door being shut. Very slowly she increased the aperture through which she had been listening until she could see out on the landing. It was empty. There was a light behind the door to her right but it went out as she looked, probably switched off as the woman and her unwelcome visitors turned into a silting-room. Barbara slipped out, drew the door behind her and left it as it had been while she was in the flat. She had been too preoccupied with those people who delayed her to release the latch before and would not wait to do it now. Running lightly across the landing, she steppe/’ on to the stairs. Again she was brought to a stop by a sound. There was a rumbling hum quite close to her but she recognised it at once. The lift was being worked. She caught a glimpse of a corner of it as it passed the landing below her. going upward, but could see if it was occupied or not. As soon as it disappeared she ran on. Before she reached the entrance door she heard the lift stop and the clash of the door as it opened and shut. Suppose it were a visitor for Roger Borden! She must gel away! On the slops leading from the entrance to the street she paused to glance hurriedly to right and left. Some distance to the right a policeman | was stolidly tramping along with his I back to her. To the left, the direction! she must take, the street was empty.! She ran down me steps and towards the bright lights which shone in the] thoroughfare m which the Boldovina ! Restaurant was situated. The night was dark but clear. For-, tunately the pavement was dry, .so there would be no tell-tale marks on her satm shoes. She would soon be! Lack now after-—how many hours was it .since she had slipped out of the rest- I aurant'.' There was a big clock pro- j jecting over me corner she was mak- I mi; for and now she could see its face ! The hand pointed io five minutes j.a-.-. ' 11—but that couldn't be right! She! glanced at her wrist watch. It said the same. But it had been a quarter to ’! ! when she passed that clock on her way ' to Borden's flat. Impossible that all!' .-he had been through since had hap- 1 pencil m ’..ii minute.-,! If it b.ad perhaps R..% H<-m<-rsley had not t v.-n|' missed her! Anyway, she would be.' back m one more minute and safe safe! Her hristcmng s:<-ps weir sudd.enly j ! checked and -tie felt again that impulse j to turn and l-.uk back which she had Roger Berden Tins tun<- she -ub- . ' There v.a- a man folk v. 1 hi ‘ seen;,: her pause and bark he i) checked his pace and : cem<-d 1.. trv to ’ Cl ne.-al himself m the '!iad.,w. ~f the ’ v.all beside him. forward round th*- c<»riir*' n*.. • •.< • B«dd<'V.’.a nit-- !.»(!;»• IV I'hric win- < 1-n on 'da- \ cluait-rcmur :dl :<• i... y .l. •?.. . ’ biAVdvi lid!.- -t\‘‘ Wh •. 11'.'.w.l .; lamentation-, was having a b-ng rent in ; Barb.H'U < t<’B : * ■: .. . « : .u . * ■ r.- Uzth : the advisability of i.vha-..:-g lea d outward calm.

| She was surprised to feel herself i trembling in every limb. A moment ! ago she had been running as she had i never run before in her life: now she ! was limp and powerless and feeling ! that if she did not immediately get i support she would faint. There was a ■ cushioned seat along one wall of the : room. Swaying and stumbling, she ’ managed to roach it and sank down into a corner where, for a couple of minutes ■ she lay back with closed eyes, fighting desperately to master her weakness. It passed off presently, and she began j to be more aware of her surroundings. ; There was a babel of chatter which came to her in fragments: “He’s a pel. darling. .No brains, of course, but dances like an angel and so good at loving. . "I gave seven-eleven-three a pair because they were guaranteed hole proof. ! and the first time I put them on one went into a ladder right from my in- : step to the suspender clip!" 1 “It all depends what you mean by i love. Of course, if it's marriage and a ; home, and stuffy things like that you're . thinking of. ..."

"... walked straight into his sit-ting-room. my dear, took an automatic pistol from her hand-bag and shot him through the heart!" "Oh! But, of course, that was in Paris. It couldn't happen here!" Barbara had half risen with a great start. She sank back at the last words, telling herself that she must be careful. An awful fear that those two were .speaking of her had nearly driven her flying from the room. They were not: they could not be! No one but herself knew what had happened in that room where she had left Roger Borden. No one knew—yet! But it would be known sometime—in a few hours at most; and in the meantime she must do nothing that could draw the faintest suspicion on her of having done anything she would not wish to be known.

Collecting all her energies she made a supreme effort to behave with ordinary composure. She surveyed the backs, mostly bare, of the chattering women before her. To her overwrought mind they suggested a convocation of magpies, gabbling emptily of nothings Her glance, wandering round, came to rest on a small, square tabic at her elbow beside the end of the seat. A glass, half full of liquor, stood on it and she recognised it as that in which the attendant had brought the brandy ordered for Nancy. She was sitting where she and her friend had sat not more than half an hour ago—and what worlds of time that was away from her now! She had seen death, sudden and awful—had unwittingly caused it. for all she could say! And what had been happening to Nancy? How were things between her and her husband?

Abruptly she thought of the letters. It was to get them she had gone to Borden's flat. Not only had she failed in that but he had told her that they were already on their way to Martin Winterten. She believed she had seen them go—the packet the manservant slipped into his overcoat pocket as he came to the flat door. If they were to be posted they would arrive with the morning’s mail, but she had the impression that Borden intended them to be delivered by hand. If that were the case, the man would still be on his way. Something must be done to prevent those letters from reaching Martin. She made an effort to rise but sank back again. Her limbs still trembled ; so that she could not trust them. The! attendant, having finished her darning, was coming towards her with something to say: "That brandy I brought for your friend wasn't paid for, miss."

“Oh. I'm sorry' 111 do it now.' Barbara opened her bag and searche, for a suitable coin. “She didn’t take much. Seems a pity to waste good stuff,” said the woman eying the glass. “You're right. 1 won't waste it.' Barbara replied. She took the gla? ; and drank the contents with a defiant toss of here head, It was the first turn in her life she had taken such n drink and it nearly choked her, but almost at once she began to tee! the better for it. “There was a gentleman asking foi you.” the woman said. "A gentleman asking for me’’" Barbara stared at her in alarm. ' Yes Tall, fair, good-looking young gentleman—wavy hair —natural waveabout live minutes after you went «>u' the second time. .Asked me i! ym were .-till here." “Why did he ask that? What did you say”’” Barbara demanded quickly Why should Roy Hcmerslcy suspect that she was not there,' “Told him you were, of course I could see he wouldn't like it if 1 said anything else and I was never one to make trouble," There was a knowing, leery smile on the woman's face which revolted Barbara though, she could not help being thankful that her a'u-enc-hail not been betrayed “Thunk you she aid “i ll sec if 1 can find 'mm mw." She handed tile woman half a crown and went wit <>( the room There were steps on her left I adhsg down to tl.e counter «>f the gentlemen' cloak-room and the first thing site -aw wa-. Roy Hemer-dey ascending three steps at a time v. .th ever-, apy< ai anc--of haste lie checked lie h<-: ' I'm ••«>rry u> have (><•<■;. - ,i h-e-i " she -aid defile he <:■ iild qn-alt, i -■ feed ng queer ami i wa it cd. ' • liiir.il ward '!;<• tad., ■■ j,. ,< ;i and -iodeted if he “■ -n- r m ‘im.k he i'”b '■■ • area m m ■. ■ . Havi 1 m b< tier bu 1 in-: a, ; - • ’ ' 'Y. ' - • •■' •■ , ■ Va s !dh f ■■• sad and p hie fd