“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 February 1941, Page 10

“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

(Author of "Behind the Curtains." etc.)

CHAPTER VIII (Continued'/.

That was all the police had considered it advisable to release for publication at first, but it gave Barbara ample food for unpleasant thought. Ihe police are in possession of clues. What did that mean? She had an idea that it was a stereotyped phrase whkh was always used to allay public impatience. Was it only that in this case? There must have been something or they would not have decided so promptly that Borden had not died by h:s own hand. Had she left some trace of her presence? She thought she had been so careful! But wasn't it said that every criminal makes one mistake was she a criminal? Had she made that fatal error?

And what was this about the servant? How did he come to be in the flat, injured and unconscious? He could not have returned until a couple of hours after Borden's death—Martin would arrive before him if. indeed, he went there? What were those clues the police claimed to have? Her speculations were interrupted by Roy who had finished his consultation with the waiter:

"What arc you doing with the sporting edition? Looking for a winner or trying to find if I offered you fair odds about Mr. Winterton’s hat?" He leaned over to look at the paper and suddenly snatched it from her with an exclamation. She watched him reading the paragraph, her thoughts still running on. but now with a twist given them by his words. "Clues. Martin's hat. Roy is sure ho was wearing one when the taxi nearly ran him down; I know he was bareheaded when he got home. What became of his hat? What ?”

Roy finished reading. He lowered the paper and looked at her. Returning his gaze she saw that he had gone very pale; she almost thought there was a frightened look in his eyes. She had no idea how pitifully white and drawn her own face was. Suddenly he leaned across the table, laying his hands on hers. “Don't look like that?" he begged her. Then, as if trying to reassure her: “All this stuff about clues probably doesn't mean a thing, and I can toll the police that whoever bumped off Kruger Borden did the world a service. And I love you. Barbara: I love you!" His fingers closed tightly on hers. She looked at him helplessly, wanting to ask what he was trying to convey to her. but could not utter a word. CHAPTER LX. The silence seemed to lengthen interminably as Roy Hemcrslcy waited for Barbara to speak. At last, as she made no effort to respond to his advance, he drew back the hand he had laid on hers and said, in a disappointed tone:

“I'm sorry if you think I am butting in where 1 have no right—" "It isn't that!" she interrupted eagerly. "1 know you want to be kind and 1 am grateful. If i thought there was anything you could do for me 1 would ask you—but there isn't!" ".Arc you sure of that?" "Quite sure that there is nothing 1 can ask you to do —for me." "Do you mean without involving others?” he asked.

She was spared the necessity of answering by the arrival of the waiter with the first course. When they were alone again she anticipated further questions from Roy by asking: "Why did you call Roger Borden 'Kruger'?

"Il s a name by which I know him best—a nickname that got stuck to him years ago in South Africa."

"The paper calls him a South African merchant.”

"Merchant!" Roy gave a short, contemptuous laugh. "There are plenty of much less complimentary things they cmild have called him that would have been nearer the truth. "But didn't you know that is what ho was supposed to bo?" "1 know hardly anything about him. I don't suppose I have met him half a dozen times tn my life." "Then why—" The impulsive question tingling on the tip of Roy's tongue was suppressed as he saw a defensive expression leap into her eyes. He regarded her with a puzzled frown for a moment and then asked quietly; "Hasn't Mr. Winter,.m told yc.n anything about him?" "Marlin has m-ver mentioned his name to me!" she assured him with emphasis. "I didn’t even know they were acquainted until that scene occurred in th,- Boldovina last night." "Didn t he explain that afterwards?" "I haven’t seen him to speak to since." Barbara was weighing every win'd. She fell tha'. she wa- tieadmgi on dangerous mid and wmihi be: wiser to change the ■ übjcci agmn Bir the desire to learn what !!■■;.’ )::•>•. ’ or; guessed impelled ! lt -r t • g,. . ;i. ; .'•on know tlier,- anvthiie.- L-.-tv.-e, n i them"" ' " j Bather' I stipn re I wa the rau-a-i "f that row w<- aw going op A’-.ii"" She ,;ar< d at him m amaze-j m< nt. ■'rhere'- m-: a doubt of V/u. bTton ax r.<>‘ <'■ as told me so when I joined him m the lobby where he wa* ; waiting fm van and hi' v. 3- h- come i mt of the ci<>ak-!< om ' ' ihi: what did know ah-.a' Barbara rhi-ckui ti,-! elf abi ;i |I y on' he ■. i :ge of menooi.mg Nam-v letteiAirrnt Kruger B ..'’den ' he : her j ie ugh: .. itiumi u .e.-.-mu; fm .t ed hm> fr= m ho A great d, a! i <■ iian enough, n,- killed nq. father’" ' Killed hmi’"' She k> >kej p..y ' It th;oi *’ ~t T’-, :

fell id —overwork, nervous breakdown

■ that sort of thing, and everything was i left in Borden's hands. Dad was out I of the business for nearly three months ; on his doctors orders—l was a kid at I school at the time, and there was noI body else to keep an eye on Borden. I He disappeared just when the doctor had pronounced Dad fit to return to i harness. He had turned everything he : could lay hands on into money—he had ■ a power of attorney while dad was helpless—and he went off with the lot. ,My father was ruined—he couldn’t ; even pay his private debts—and when he consulted his lawyers he was told that the power of attorney he had signed was so loosely drawn that it was doubtiul if it didn't cover everything Borden had done."

"But hadn't his lawyer seen it before?" Barbara asked.

"No. That was all wrong, of course, but my father was all in when the thing was done —couldn't think, his brain wouldn't work. It seemed that's one of the effects of bad nervous breakdown. Besides, he trusted Bor-

den. Anyhow, he signed what was put before him. and there it was. All the lawyer would says was that, if Dad found Borden and brought him back, there would be a case for the courts which might be decided in his favour or might not."

"Didn't he go to the police?” "He did and they turned-him down! Said there was nothing much on which they could act. What they didn't say outright, but let my father see plainly enough, was that they didn't believe ho really wanted Borden caught. Kruger had been clever—damnably clever! He had managed to leave the impression tha the whole thing was a put up job between him and my father, arranged for reasons of their own. It wasn’t a limited liability company—there were only the two partners, and each was individually responsible for the liabilities of the firm. If my father had declared himself bankrupt with no assets, which was the actual position, it would have been up to the creditors to try to find Borden, bring him back and make him pay up. I think now that is what he ought to have done: but he was a man who had always prided himself on his honesty and declared that bankruptcy was often only a legal form of swindling. He put the case before me —I was 12 at the time. My dead mother had left me some money of which he was the only trustee. It'was enough to pay the debts of 'the firm and leave something over—and it was safely invested. He asked me if I would let him use it and I said ‘yes'— couldn't say anything else."

"Of course, you couldn't!" from Barbara.

"He was going to make a fresh start and pay me back, but first he meant to find Borden and have a settlement with him. I was frightened by his appeal ance and manner—he had come to the school where I was a border, and n was the first time I had seen him since, he became ill; but there wasn't anything a kid of 12 could do. He cleared off the debts and disappeared." "Disappeared?"

"Looking for Borden. He had told many people he was going to find him. a*sd said he knew where to look. The next I heard of him was when I was fetched to Cape Town some months later. His body had been found in the sea near the breakwater," “Murdered?"

"I say so—murdered by Kruger Borden! But the verdict was accidental death. There were no signs of violence. I was told. He had been in. the waer a long time, and was only identified by his clothes and the contents of his pockets—such as those wore. There was no money. He had taken £5O from my trust fund w hen he went off —-I have particulars in his writing of all the money he used and how it was applied—but 1 suppose that had gone in tin- expenses of his search. Actually, I have always believed that he went into the water of his own aceord, but it was none the less murder by Roger Borden. Do you wonder if 1 say that whoever Shot that villain did the’ State a service?" "That—that might be a consulatem to whoever did it!" said Barbara, almost under her breath. "if he knew it' Perhaps he doe* though the odds are that he w.c. bump ed ell by one of Ins own kidney who wont be looking f..r sentimental consolations. -Die only thing h,.'H i)( . rymg about .... how { ., escaping capture and a six-foot drop at) eight o clock some Tuesday morning'' Barbara's fork rattled against her plate -is a sickening shudder ran through; her R.p had leaned forward with hA elbow on the table and h.- chm m his hand. And there, but for the grace *‘ f G “ i! ,!I Mht b<‘ g-mg Rov Hamer-' •by"' he said <'<»ft|v. IVhat do you mean?" .she demanded! sharply. 1 have often th<»tn>ht ,t mi’dn <•, he replied. ’That's v. hy I );.-pt awav f r ,, n; h--> -.fi, • found he wa Ui !., ; pd<-n I c.uildn • : ; US! ep’-’lt Do y,. u then; ... ;i . Id it was natural, comudei wicid he to y„ ur 'mh,.)., and , u j, ' "'' ” < I y • >1; ’ll Keep awa >. f. . him.' •’ ‘ ’JI I ; I Wt'sC* jl I'j., » ,5 « ' ! •' ■ ■ b. • . "D; i I ' I don's J,..,- | ’’’l’L - • -■ • i,}<‘’4JlJ l | i . • ' * , ' - | f/•;1 ! . . , i,u ’ ’ .’ s ; g> s t ~f him ■ ■ ■.■ itu.'iEn ' have u. m- ;f r d ~,-e -’'jm,