“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 February 1941, Page 10

“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

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

[ CHAPTER XII. (Continufcu'z. ••Thanks." Kenway took the cards and laid them on the table. "Oh, by the way." as Roy turned towards the door. -I don’t know how you feel now about answering any more questions—not about yourself, this time?" -If f could tell you anything likely is to help in finding who really killed i- Borden I would." replied Roy. i- "Is that a hint that you think we are . in danger of suspecting someone who 1- is innocent?” Kenway asked, in a tone lof polite interest. Roy took a step '•' towards him. His eyes shone and he seemed on the point of bursting into I passionate speech: but he checxed him- , self abruptly and only said: "Well, you suspect me, don’t you?" I. "I haven't said so." Kenway took up the unfinished letter. "All I wanted to - ask was if you could suggest who this letter was intended for. It addressed E to ‘Snarly’—not much to go on!" ‘■l'm afraid I can’t help there. It r sounds ulike a nickname, the sort of »' thing that's common enough in South ’ Africa—Borden was generally called ‘ Kruger. Judging from the letter this J Snorty knew my father. The police over there might be able to trace him, h if it's worth while. Why not ask them ■ ; at Durban?" >. "Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll i, think it over." t Kenway reached for the telephone and Roy went out of the room. No--11 body stopped him nor seemed to notice c him as he traversed passages and cross- ; ed the yard into the busy street. He r| paused there, collecting himself. He . had been a long time in the inspector's - room and the strain of the interview - had tired and shaken him. He was on the point of calling a taxi to take him 1 to his boarding-house when the sign n "Public Telephone" outside the neighbouring post office caught his eye. He went in. found a box disengaged and ’’ got through to Martin Winterton's house. The maid answered. Mr. Winterton i was in. she told him. but he and Mrs. Winterton were upstairs. It was just on their dinner time. Could she take a message? "No. I want to speak to Mr. Winteri ten —or. is Miss Calendar in?" ! "She is just coming downstairs.’’ "Thon ask her to come —tell her my name, Mr. Hemersley." A moment later Barbara's voice came through: "Oh. Im so glad you rang up! Did : you see that in the paper—about you?" "Yes. I've just been to Scotland Yard talking to the man in charge of * the case." "Oh! What did he want you for?" 1 "To sec if I could tell him anything that would help in finding who killed 1 Borden." "Does he suspect anybody?" i "Al the present moment he's rather , inclined to think I did it." t 'You? But that’s impossible! How coudl he? You were not there . . Are ' you joking?" "I wish I were —but look here," as the sound of agonized exclamation came over the wire, "don't worry about that. They haven't a bit of real evidence against me.” "Then why do you say he——" "That was entirely my own fault. ; He asked me about Borden and I told i him just what I though of the scouni drel and why—you know; what I told l you this afternoon.- I expect I sound;ed pretty blood thirsty. But this is I what I wanted you and Mr. Winterton Ito know: The police know about that I row at the Boldovina. They have been ; questioning waiters ami—people. They i knew I was there--Borden mentioned j it in that letter the paper spoke of— I I let out that the trouble was with Mr. ‘ and Mrs. Winterton. I don't really see ; how 1 could have kept it back. Anyi how. I didn't Then 1 had to tell I what the row was about" I “About? Do you mean-What did | you say?” : "Why. told him all about the adj vance Borden wanted, and how he I I found it was prevented by Mr. Winteri ton." “1 see. Was that the only reason ■ i you gave for the quarrel?" ■ "Of course. There wasn't any other I f to give, was there'.'" J "No, none. Of course not. Did- -did ! • I you mention me?" | - Not a word! Roy was emphaticl and listening, thought he heard a sigh I 1 ' of relief, then, anxiously: i • "But does he really suspect you? I ■ ’ How can he?" | j "Don t worry about that, darling. I : They have t<> suspect everybody who I I could pw-sibly i.e supposed to have al I motive, and if anybody had o ilt . for | |Io I)mg Boi den, I had' But I didn't, j ' ■ ami they can't frame it on to me. What ■ 1 1 rung up for was to tell Mr Winter-I j ton ! mentum d him so that he won't ; | be taken by surprise if the police go I ■ making inqu i t ies ------" m ; "Here. " The Voice com.ng ..v.-r jhe i 1 , Wire quivered "YeS.” ’But wh> ’ What can they wan! j 1 "Confirmation of my story. 1 expect I ' they will Check Iv< ry word I -am ' ' That's al) tin y can want " "Ob' I see Ye,, of c.,ur c that' al! ' ; they can want, isn't itThere follow-! ' rd and nidisbnc’ n-.urnniring which ’ lbw c.nld mak<- n ,h ;n g ; th.-n Marin: ■ W.l<>!i bjzolie. h.s v.-ic- sotindljn/ 1 hurried and a; ;tut< <i * i ’ Arc ymi: tra rc heinrr.-lev ’ Ar<- ‘ Barbara has •Minn; me whal d

“About the business with the bank, you mean?" "Yes.” "You didn't tell them anything else?" "Not with reference to you. There wasn't anything esle to tell." "No. No. of course not. 1 appreciate your position and I'm obliged for your warning that I may be questioned." "Only for confirmation of my story, you know." "Yes, yes. Only that. Were you serious about their suspecting you? Barbara seems quite alarmed.” "Tell her not to be. 1 shall be all right. But the detective chap certainly put me through it —sort of third degree on a small scale. Why he even got hold of my hat and started examining it." "Your what'.’" "Hat—H-A-T. I quite expected him to get a microscope to it.”

There came a queer sort of choking sound and then silence. Roy spoke again, then he joggled the receiver arm but there was no response. The line was dead. He hesitated a moment before hanging up and leaving the box. He was too tired to wait any longer. As he stepped out of the post office he bumped against a man in a brown suit, who was reading a letter beside beside the door, but was too weary to utter even the, conventional. "Sorry!” A taxi with its flag up was coming along the street, and ho signalled. It drew in to the kerb, the driver honking luriously at a bedraggled figure in the gutter with a tray slung on it. Roy called his address: 17G Whittington Street. West Kensington; got in and was driven off.

A moment later the man in brown was following him in a second taxi. The match seller looked after both for a while, thou he. too, followed, shuffling along, offering his wares as he went and seeming, perhaps on account of his forlorn appearance, to be gathering in quite a good harvest of coppers. CHAPTER XIII When, left alone. Inspector Kenway had telephoned the message which was responsible for the action of the man in brown in following Roy Hemersley, he sat for some minutes, turning over in his mind the new information acquired during the recent interview. He had learned several things some of which had surprised him, though he had given no indication of the fact while Roy was with him. He would have liked to give them immediate and'eareful consideration, but the announcement that the man referred to in Borden’s interrupted letter was asking for him had come at the moment when he was due to report to his superior officer. He got that meeting postponed, but it was growing late and he must not keep Superintendent, Moran waiting any longer. He gathered up such papers as he needed and■ went out of the room. "You've been a long time with your I visitor." was the superintendent’s! greeting. I "Yes. He had a good deal to say.” ! "Talkative was he?” "Very. Doesn't seem to have learned the wisdom of keeping a still tongue in his head and only giving the information he's asked for." "A useful sort of witness at Inis stage. Did you get anything fresh from ! him?" "Quite a lot. We knew already from the letter Borden had begun that this Hemersley was at the Boldovina last! night and from the waiters and manager that a young man followed Borden into the lobby when he broke off his row and rushed out. The commissionaire saw him too and reported that, not finding Borden there, he wen! ! back. Twenty minutes or half an hour! later the same man left the restaurant, 1 wearing an overcoat and hat, to comei in again in another 20 minutes or half! an hour." "Was that Hemerslev?” "Yes” ’ j "Did he tell you so?” "He admitted it when he knew (heman at the door had seen him." "Where did he go”" "To Darnley Mansions." "Did lie admit that?" "Yes.” The .superintendent's eye-|' brows went up in surprise, "You’ll re-1 member P.O Andrews reported seeing a young man in evening dress come out! of the fiats as he went along there; ■ when a motor cycle was making a ’ noise. Hemersley saw the constable! and guessed ho had boon spotted. Hoi seemed to think it wiser :<> i;wii up ai once than to lie." ' What’s his explanation”" ' He refused to give otic " Refused '" j j "Definitely. Told nie to ;ur<-:t liiml] and be damned. . r word , to ih;it <-f-1 feet " ■ Sem him with a trim; <i; ii>- i leg I want m kimw wha: he an * 1 wh.an he emmnumcates with- e - 1 erially h u happen . to be a man You don't think he killed Burdtn' "No" Kenway spoke sh.wly Hci I.ad pleii! -. <.f motive 15. a den •mied I Ins father mid. Henwisl-y miders.il that - .■.-m- te have accidental He ! ! : he ami B ,rden had actually met but! >;.<■ ■ • '.r.m ! )