“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1941, Page 10

“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

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

-[ CHAPTER XIX. (Continued/. j ‘'Well, isn’t that the same as saying the man who asserts he delivered it . here is a liar?” looking from husband , to wife with an exasperated expres--1 sion. , "I can’t help that! Il isn’t my fault.” ■ said Martin. "If this man says what ! isn’t true that's his look out. I'm not ’ going to perjure myself to get him out “ of difficulties he has made for himself, , and you have no right to try and make me feel I am being unfair in not lying . to help him." •'I assure you I had no intention of doing that, Mr. Winterton.'' Kenway protested. “All I want is to get at the truth.'’ “Well, you have had the truth from me!” Martin told him. “And from me. Inspector." said Nancy. “Who is this man? Why is this story of the packet so important for him? Mayn't we know?” “There's no reason why you should- , n't." Kenway replied. 'He is a man; named Milvers. He was Borden's ser-' vant at the flat.” “The man who was found unconscious?” Martin was leaning forward and his voice shook. “Yes." “I—l saw in the papers that he had not been able to tell hiw he came by | his injuries. Has he done so now?" i “I saw him this afternoon —in fact I ' came straight here from the hospital ' where 1 got his story.” “About the packet?” said Nancy. ] “But why is that so important, inspector?” “Because, Mrs. Winterton. if it is true! it accounts for his movement during, the time when we have reason to be- [ licve Borden was killed. It also goes: to confirm his statement that he didn't' know Borden was dead until I told him today. He says Borden rang for him about 20 minutes to 11 on Monday night. Milvers went in and saw his master putting a number of letters into a large envelope which he fastened and addressed to Mr. Winterton. He gave it to Milvers, telling him to bring it here, put in the letterbox and return to the flat. Milvers says he obeyed that order." Kenway paused, watching the play of emotion on the two faces before him. The}’ had turned to each other while he spoke and in both, doubt, inj credulity, and suspicion seemed to be j fighting for the mastery. As the detective’s voice eeased to sound Martin seemed on the point of speaking, but Nancy anticipated him with a rush of protest: "It isn’t true, Martin! It never came! I wouldn't have kept it from yon if I 1 had seen it. and I know you would have told me!" For several seconds they sat looking at each other apparently unconscious of the fact that they were not alone in the room. There was agonised appeal in Nancy's eyes, answered at first by angry distrust in Martin's. Presently ] however, his expression changed. His ! face softened and. leaning towards her. ] he put a hand gently over both hers. ' “That's all right, kiddie.” he said. ; “I’ve taken your word about all that." A little gasp of relief came from Nan- ' cy. but there was still trouble in Mari tin’s eyes as ho turned to the detective j again. "Did this man tell you anything! .else. Inspector? Did he —did he ex-1 ! plain how he got hurt?” “Be says that happened when he re- i 1 turned to the Hat after being here. He I found the door off the latch and just as ‘ he went in a man rushed out of Bor- 1 : den's room and cannoned into him. ■ knocking him down with his head' I against a corner of the hat-stand. He! swears that the next thing he knew i was when he came to and found him- ' self in hospital.” | “Did he recognise the man?" "No. His tale is that whoever it was] switched off the room light as he came; out and there was none in the hall Besides, it was all s<> quick that he was 1 ' down and out before he i.new what I had hit him." ' Did you behove this—tale?" I ! Inspector Kenway gave vent to an j 1 exasperated grunt He sat for a mo-j: ment frowning at Martin while the]' lingers of one hand beat an irritable< tattoo on his knee. ; ! "I was inclined to when I came ' i here," he said finally. "It all seemed j > to hand together then but. since voti * deny having received that packet " I He paused with an expectant look as if 1 hoping that Martin might even now re- * tract his demal, but Martin shook nc * 1 head. ' Lm sorry. Inspector." he said, "but' 1 my wife and I know absolutely no’him-i of it.” "Then things look pretty rotten L>r' ! Mr Milvers.” said K.-nway grirnlv. He i got to his- feet ' I must »,- <>n mv wav ' Thank you f,,r the Mrs. Winter! :i ' and f<r the help- vou'-.-e .d! 1 f His glance Went s|,,wlv ove>- the c faces Of hu-band and w.'fe. •• them had f... f „ m,. ; !, 'i ■1 an ho.n Barbara w.c b l-.mg : '.•‘Hing herself that it would co'mc n..w; !i ■the quo tion he had been dreading'i ” He would a-l; if .In- h ; <d -,-en U).- j ;,< L- ' h IctUts and -in- would have ; afo'i-n. ~n. Mis " ('Ml'.'r.ir,: ' .

I yellow Milver's story. Inspector —tha about being knocked down by a man r j ho can't identify'.' Have you any cont ; Urination of that?" 1 | “I don't know about confirmation," i said the inspector thoughtfully. Bar- . bara, watching him with her sense of ] observation abnormally acute, wonderL i ed why he was looking at Martin in so i peculiar a way. He wasn’t meeting \ the glance of his questioner’s eyes, his ’! gaze seemed to be directed above them ’ j as though he were studying the shape ' and size of Martin's head. “What you . have told me has made me doubtful 1 whether he exists anywhere outside Milver’s imagination. But if he exists, and if he was there that night, I'm certain of one thing. He left his hat be- ; hind him—and I've got it!" Martin turned quickly and led the way into the hall. Barbara thought she saw him stagger slightly but her ati tention was distracted by a low moan j from Nancy. She was standing staring ; through the open door; her face was deathly white and she was making queer little shaking motions with her hands —the thought came into Barbara's mind that this must be what , people call wringing one’s hands. She I started to her feet, eager to offer sym- ; pathy and affection: but just then there I came the sound of the front door being ] shut and Nancy went quickly into the j hall without so much as a glance at her ; friend. Barbara got a fleeting glimpse j of Martin as he crossed the oblong of j the door; saw Nancy's shaking hands 1 go but to him and the tense, protecting j gesture with which he put an arm ; round her. Then they passed out of | sight. She hoard them go into the don. j The door shut and the key turned j harshlv in the lock. Thev didn’t want 1 her! 1 Utter loneliness descended on her. She felt that she must speak to someone; must pour out her troubles and fears, find sympathy and help or go mad! All at once her longing took shape. She wanted Roy as she had never wanted anything in her life before! She ran to the telephone and dialled the number of his boarding house. Somebody answered —she never knew who it was: but Roy was in and | in a few seconds he was speaking toi her. He gave a joyous greeting as he recognised her voice, but in a moment I her tone had sobered him. "Listen. Roy!” she said. “I want you." “You’ve got mo!” ho answered. “Got 1 me for keeps!” “Oh. don’t say that! You don’t know! Everything is ghastly —horrible! I I don’t know what is going to happen—l don’t know what to do and there is nobody 1 can confide in but you!” “Darling!" His voice from the receiver came to her ear with a caressing softness in which there was an under-1 tone of exultation. “That is how I ; want yon to feel. What can I do'.’ Yon have only to say. I belong to you!" “I want to see you, to tall: to you. to —to —’’ She knew then what she want-] ed. It was to feel his arms about her,| to lay her head on his breast and draw , strength and courage and consolation 1 from the certainty of his love. But shei could not say that —not like this, at any | ■ rate, over miles of wire! I want ad- i 1 vice." she finished. | "You shall have the best I can give.”,’ j he answered. "How. when and where? j i Shall 1 come to you?" “Not here!" “Well, what about meeting in Town . I and having dinner somewhere?” "No, that won't do. 1 couldn’t eat,! [and it would bo impossible to say what! J have to say with people all round us.] I —l don’t know what I may do! I feel as if at any minute I might put up my I nose and howl like a dog baying the] moon!” She gave an hysterical laugh. < ' Lm giving you warning of what you j may be lotting yourself in for!” “I ll risk it!” he said. “Whatev r you do. it’ll be you and that’s all that mat-, tors to me. But if you are really feel-■ ( ing like that 1 know the very place Cor] \eu. There’s a room here m which!* Mrs. Bonnett- that’s the landlady,, and < •she’s a bit of a dear- lets borders inter- i view callers they don’t want to bring into the general rooms. I’ll ask her to ' let me have it for the evening. It's a! grim little hole reminds me of an ante room to a torture chamber but it’s away by itself ( -n ;he first floor and I once you’re in it you can scream your head off if you want to without anybody but me knowing a thing about it. Will that suit you"' li sounds as if it had been built fo> me!" “Then, you'll come?” 1 <_ X ex. at ..ne< •’ !'!I run for n coat an• I hat ami lake a tax. And R y” X < *\ ’ ’ ■ X’oU are take like '»■<..! don't ihmk I ::i hem;.' a >il|-. lit:!e fool about nothing, do you' "Get that Coat, hat and taxi and , I ‘ee Vol; 1'.o * I’

! «(•<•! V«J L> I’.’ L ail ! H’L'kll T jicrvaduiii h< r happened JU.*, :»*.<• h.-r, in- :u •