“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1941, Page 10

“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

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

CHAPTER XV. As Inspector Kenway turned from 1 Avice Carlake’s flat he saw that the door of Number 12 was open and a man was stooping down just inslide feeling about with his hands on the , hall floor. He straightened up and j stood looking at something he had j found, and Kenway saw that lie was, Green, the porter of the Mansions. ■•Treasure hunting?" said the inspector as the man came out and shut the; door. : "Not much treasure trove about ; that:’’ said Green holding out his hand with a small object on the palm. Kenway took it in his fingers and examined it--A gelatine capsule." he said. "Somebody has been losing his medicine." He handed it back. -It looks like it.” Green replied. "Dropped two of them in there. 1 trod on one or wouldn t have noticed them., I was just wondering who it could ■ have been." "Why not the new tenant who was' to move in today? "Because he hasn't moved in—isn't going to. seemingly. Pity some people ■ don't know their own minds and others ! don’t attend to their business. I’ve I been kept hanging about all day waiting for the furniture to come just be- j cause the clerk at the agent's office was j too lazy to ring me up as soon as he 1 knew the let was off." They were going down the stairs together. "What's happened?" Kenway inquired. "Has the tenant been frightened off by reading about the death of Mr., Borden? Some people are like that." "Shouldn’t wonder; but he didn t give any reason as far as I knew. All that blinking clerk said was that he found the keys of Number 12 in the letter-box when he got to the office this morning without any letter or message to say why. He'd rung up the hotel where Mr. Matthews was staying, but the people there said he'd paid his bill and left early this morning.” "Mr. Matthew’s the tenant that was to be?” "Tenant that is. if you come down to facts. He's paid a quarter's rent from today: that's 50 quid. He must have money to burn if he can chuck that away just because he doesn’t like something that's happened here!" "He may move in yet. "He may, but what would he return the keys for if he was going to want them? I wish people would know their own minds! I put in a good day's work cleaning the Hat ready for him and now it looks as if Id get nothing for it. I've just been up to make sure that the gas and current are turned off." "When did you clean the flat?" “Yesterday." "1 suppose you didn't touch the hall as it would get well tramped over ii the furniture had come in today?” "1 didn't scrub it. if that’s what you mean; but 1 gave it a thorough sweeping."

"You must have swept over those capsules, then."

-That’s funny!" Green came io a stop at the bottom of the stairs. "1 did the whole hall. They ought to have been swept up with the other rubbish." “If they were there," said Kenway, and. as Green stared at him he went on: "Do you mind letting me have the one you found?" The porter handed it over with a puzzled look "Did you notice any other signs just now. of anybody having been in Number 12 since you left it yesterday?" ■'Not a thing!" “But of course, you weren't looking for them. I'll have a look myself but not now. Keep it locked and don’t go in yourself, nor let anyone else in. until I've been over it tomorrow. You've a phone, haven't you’’ May I use it.’” “Down here." Green led the inspector to his quarters in the basement saying on the way: “Y<>ii don't think them capsules had anything to do with Mr. Borden's death, do you"' He certainly wasn't poisoned with one of them,” replied Kenway: “but this business of the tenant who had the keys and didn't turn up sounds peculiar. I’d like to know more about it. That the instrument" Now. will you oblige me by keeping an eye on the entrance and letting me know if any of the tenants go cut while I'm 'phoning"” Green, still looking puzzled, but with a feeling that he was taking part in important event-, which he did not understand left him. am! the inspector got through to headquarters. A few minutes later he relieved the porter's guard, ant! going cut. crossed the crossed the street and took up a position in a doorway from which he had a clear vit-w of Darnley Mansions Several people entered and left, but they did not see.m to mter.-.-t him Pre. sently a covered ear came r-.imd the corner undvr the big clod: running quickly toward-- him He ■ pod from hr: cover ami signalled It tupped beside him. ami Kenwav pit :n .a' the bar!:. Two men in plain clothes were on the front -rat Kenway leaned forward and spoke to them 1 Watch the entrance to Darnley Mansions I’ll tip you o!T if the woman I want followed come-: Stic!: to her, see whom *.hc meets. and get as much as y-- a can about what happen between If she goes to a private m us<- mte the addre ■ wait '-!! he leaves, and folh.w apa.r: whether ‘ InO r n ,,< If >,he g t<< any i.ubi.'c place you'll km w what t. <!•■ Sa-.i!.-■O K sr'" stud the mat be ide the G-' rrvth: ■ a ran I mu I don't wan' her '■ gm- -he I ■ .itched There ' he bh •

ders. I expected her to turn in the other direction and find a taxi. You'd better follow on foot with the car close enough behind to be there if you want

He leaned back in the shadows of the hood as Avice passed on the other side of the street. She was not in evening dress, as Kenway had half-expected, but wore a neat blue walking suit with a smart hat. "Got her?" said the inspector. "0.K.. sir?” said Saunders, who was a man of few words. "Then go to it:” Kenway got out. and Saunders did the same-. They stood in the shadow of the car while the inspector gave some final instructions: then they parted. Kenway walking briskly towards the lights, Saunders moving slowly in the wake of the girl. Presently the car followed. Avice went on at a good pace without looking back. She turned to the right, then to the left, and was in a busier and more brightly-illuminated street. Saunders shortened the distance between them and saw her enter one of the drab little foreign restaurants of which so many are to be found in Soho, He walked past and was able to see her being greeted by a man who had apparently been expecting her. The detective wailed for the car to come up with him. so that he could explain the situation m the drvier; then he, too.entered the restaurant. The girl and her companion had a table for two near the door. Passing them without a glance. Saunders found a seat from which he could keep them in view and apparently became immersed in a study of the menu. The man Avice had met was small and dark. He might have ranked as good looking if it were not for the straight, thin lines of a cruel mouth which showed beneath his liny black black moustache. He had soft, care-fully-tended little hands with pointed fingers on two of which flashed diamond rings and, with his elaboratelywaisted and pressed grey suit, his wide bow tie and his marcelled hair brushed back from a curiously low forehead, the general effect he gave to a casual observer was one of almost effeminate neatness. This was marred at the moment by a large star of sticking plaster which decorated his left cheekbone.

"You are late—again!" were the words with which he greeted Avice. His voice was soft, with only a faint trace of accent and what he said seemed innocent enough, but some undertone in it set Avice to excusing herself eagerly: "1 couldn't help it this time. Luigi—really I couldn’t! A detective camo just when I was getting ready to come out!” "Why did he come to you?" "To—-to ask me about something I—we told him last night." "We? Who are we'? And how came you were tolling a detective things last night? Were they things about him—the pig. Borden? One of the plump, soft hands went up to caress the cheek where the plaster was. "Yes. There were three of us—Tony Revelstone. Sammy Lander and me. The boys had been in my place having a drink ”

"Pah!" He almost spat her. "Why have them in your flat drinking your drinks. What good are they to you—to mo? They have no money—no value at all! And you tell me they are in your flat, drinking your drinks! 1 do not like that, Avice!” "I couldn't help it, Luigi ” "Again! There is so much you cannot help! You make me annoyed. You are a fool and always will be. I have ■ told you that before, yes? And I supI pose you had drinks with them. Revelstone and that idiot Sammy! And then detectives come to question you about Pig Borden! How was that' " "It was just bad luck. 1 had been trying to get rid of them for a lung lime but they didn't want to go. When they did start we got out on the landing at the very time when a man ami i his wife from Number 9 had foumi; | what had ha|’pem-d.’' ’ Wvll "” "He kept us talking while his wife I was gone for a policeman lie found! : tliat we knew Roger "Who told him?" I "1 don’t know. I think Tonv said something ami Sammy was babbling I police came this man frmn No. !> told ' them we were friends of Roger's. But (they would have found that out. any-' : how- abmt me ami h.m, 1 mean." i "They would have found the truth ■ or a- much of .• as it would bo well f,.. ': {have told th.-m ' She did ma nmw.-r lat i-ncf somethin;; m her face ’ with a h<7?:>ess that obvjou’-Jy UTrifjed K |||V, ftHih II U‘ r’r: h<Veil 'cH What wax it?” ■ His eye held her a Ihotigh -b.e' p.’.'rle fj.-.C Jiated. ar.d he sethled h, i have ;;<> choice bul ’ • ai» We: ; I F..)t there f- • * - : ’ Whe?l ’’ BohbA’iv.a w:’.h 1‘ ?'er, L>.;', »;»• h.-id j < i'e be c< )