“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 10

“THE UNLATCHED DOOR”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

FRANK PRICE.

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

CHAPTER XXV. (Continued). ••Dad!" It was an agonised cry from Roy this time. “What are you and Barbara talking about?” ••Don’t you remember, Roy?” said Barbara in a hushed whisper. "The old match-seller who frightened me that day?” "You said he was a detective shadowing you!” Matthew Hemersley laughed and the two young people stared in horror at his levity. “I scarcely saw you, my dear,” he ■ said. “1 had recognised my boy!" "Then it was because of him you followed us to the bus stop?” “I wanted to learn his address if I could. I didn’t know what might happen ... I saw him buy a newspaper, read something in it, hesitate about taking a cab and then walk on. I; followed again and saw him go into! New Scotland Yard. I waited, offering i my matches for sale, and persuaded a 1 newsboy to let me look at one of his ' papers. I saw what had brought Roy there and was alarmed for his sake. I was supposed to be dead, but the mo- . lives which had made me an enemy of j Borden would bo equally strong with ; him. Then, after a long interval, ne I came out, looking terribly agitated, lie • went into the post office to telephone j —I could see the box he entered—and ■ a moment later a man in plain clothes j came from the Yard, saw where he j was and waited. You may remember; bumping against him as you came out j of the office." "I don’t. I wasn’t thinking."

“You got a taxi, called this address to the driver loud enough for the detective and myself to hear, and drove off. He followed in another cab and I on foot, keeping up my pose as a gutter merchant. When I got outside this house the detective was in the street, watching it.”

“I suppose there has been one on that job ever since," said Roy. "One is outside now.” “You know?" There was alarm in his father's voice now. "Does that mean you are suspected of Borden's murder?” “In a way it does, but " “That decides me!” exclaimed Matthew. “I must speak and clear you!” Matthew Hemersley walked out of the room and Roy and Barbara could do nothing but follow him. He led them to the street and called a taxi from a neighbouring rank. Quelling all attempts at protestation from either he bundled them in. gave a low order to the driver and followed them. The moment they were whirling back towards London. CHAPTER XXVI.

Neither Roy nor Barbara spoke as the taxi moved off but their faces betrayed the apprehension with which they found themselves, in company with Matthew Hemersley. being carried back over the road they had so recently traversed. Matthew, on the contrary, was outwardly serene and unpertorbed. He settled himself on the seat and said, as if resuming an ordinary conversation which had been interrupted for a moment: "I had better carry my story as much further as our run will allow. You ought to know that, having studied i Borden's habits, I concluded that it ! would be necessary for me to be near him in order to take advantage of one of the very infrequent occasions when he was alone. What with ) his manservant and his friends, this ) seldom happened. A little over a ) fortnight ago 1 found that a fiat ! on the same landing as his was to fall ) vacant. I saw the agent and rented it. i The keys were handed to me and I was i to move in last Tuesday." ) "But he was killed on Monday!" said Roy. "Yes. For that reason I never moved ; : in—officially. On the contrary, I re- ' I turned the keys to the agent unseen.! ' removed my cash and securities from I the bank where they were deposited, and left the hotel in which 1 had been living, with every precaution to pre-[ vent my being traced. It was easy I d disappear because I already rented an ) awful room in a horrible Westminster] slum, from which I used to emerge in ! the disguise of the match-seller." "But why did you want to hide'.’” ■ Barbara seemed compelled to ask the; question, though a sinking feeling in! her breast came from the. conviction ) that she already knew the answer. ( “Principally to safeguard my free- . (tom of action. 1 wanted to avoid the ) smallest risk of being involved with! the police until I'had quite made upj my mind on certain points. You see. 1 ] was in the iiat 1 had rented between ! the hours of 10.30 and 11.4.5 on Monday: night." "Dad!" from Roy "The fact that there was. no furniture did not affect the purpose for! which I had taken it. and I never knew when the opportunity for which. I was waiting might occur 1 had not- : iced, when looking over the fiat that, by stooping behind its front dom and lifting the llap of the letter-box. 1 j could command a clear view of mm t id’j the lauding and, particularly, of Bor- ) ilen's door. I heard ami saw him go in 1 soon after 10.30. but lie had rung ami been admitted by his man, ,-.o 1 knew he was not alone. 1 waited and. some i time later, heard his door open again : Sloojmig to the h'tter-b' 1 :av. the] servant coming out He paused and turned back what', the matter il;-' ’ Nothing. 1 )ad' Nothing" Dm- b>v had uttered an involuntary ga: p a . the ; taxi, whirling round a corner, sped up Whitehall leaving New S<- -Jam! Yard behind He had b*‘<-n fully <-xj-vet it to turn m there The n-rv.ar.t wt-nt right d n the! hail am! in' mmm;, at '!;>• i iid And then ’ A m. ..tlm p--r f-. hi Bari ar.. "What then?’ Matthew 10-.iied ~t !■. r In surprise. i -♦VL ■< . ,i . { . - , « !-r V ■

young as I was, my dear, and stooping j does not agree with my back. I was : sure the man was going out and that 1 my opportunity had come, so I left the ' spyhole and straightened myself for a | rest. I heard though; heard the man i returning. Borden call something to him which he answered, though I could not tell what he said." "He said he had gone back for matches,” said Barbara. ' "How do you know that?" "I was hiding in Borden's flat by i ; then!" "Hiding? You! Were you there j when ” ! "I saw him killed! I was with him. And the police know. I told"lnspector Kenway today!” "Did you tell who killed him?” “1 couldn’t. I couldn’t see. My back was turned. I—l fought I had done it and went to tell the police because they were suspecting Roy; but they know it wasn’t me!” "Great heaven! You poor child. You | must have suffered. And I could have I prevented it from the first!" I Impulsively she laid her hand on his. "Wo don’t want you to suffer for our t sakes!” she said. "Do we Roy?" I "No!” he answered. “You must not. Dad!” “I shall not suffer,” replied his father. The cab had stopped. “Here we J are! Pay the man, Roy-," He got out and crossed the footpath.! They followed and stared round them | in amazement. “Darnley Mansions!" exclaimed Roy. "Why has he brought us here?” He handed the driver some uncounted coins and hurried into the entrance with Barbara. Matthew had paused to glance at the name board and was already in the lift. They joined him and shot up ward to stop and alight at the second floor. Matthew went straight to the door numbered 10 and rang a long peal on the bell. A moment later the door opened. “Miss Avice Carlake?” said Matthew, removing his hat. “Yes." She looked blankly at him; then her glance passed over Roy to rest on Barbara and a hard, suspicious look came into her eyes. "I must speak with you." said Matthew and. as he saw refusal coming, ho j added quickly: “What I have to say concerns the death of Roger Borden. It will be to your advantage to hear me before I tell it to the police.” She drew a quick, gasping breath. There was an instant of obviously panic-stricken indecision; then the hard, calculating look was back and she drew aside.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you can want with me." she said, "but you can come in and say it.” She led them into the room in which she had seen Inspector Kenway. It had another occupant now; a sallow, thin-lipped young man with a waxed black moustache and delicate, much manicured hands. Matthew paused at sight of him. "What I have to say' is for your ears alone. Miss Carlake,” he said. "This is Luigi Banca,” said Avice. "We have no secrets from each other. That’s right isn’t it, Luigi?” “I certainly hope you have no secrets from me. lovely one!" said Luigi, settling himself more comfortably on the settee where he was lounging. “Let the venerable gentleman speak without reserve." He waved a languid hand. "Perhaps you had better sit down." said Avice. indicating chairs. None of | the three visitors availed themselves of l the invitation. Shrugging her shouldi ers. she went to a desk in a corner of] the room and sitting behind it. opened! a drawer in which she fumbled for a moment. She brought out a gold tip-! ped cigarette which she put between her lips. "Don't forget mo. beautiful!" said' Luigi softly. She took another cigarette from the: still open drawer and threw it to him.! He made a deft catch and lit up. "Now. what have you to .say that is f so important?" Avice asked of Mat-! lhew. "No doubt you are aware that flat * Number 12 on this landing is empty." j said Matthew. A'es. It was let, and the tenant was i to have moved in on Tuesday, but Lnsome reason he didn't. Whin about! "I am the tenant," replied Matthew.’ "and my reason for not moving in on) Tuesday is that 1 was in the fiat on Monday night between 10.30 and 11.45,) and did not wish to be questioned as j to what I had seen." Avice had started convulsively. Her left hand, holding the cigarette, was! trembling so that she laid it .>» the) de.s)- lor support; 'die right had fallen! oil! uf sight below the desk "What did you .>ei'"” she asked. "Let me tell you first why I was i there. I was watching Borden. He' was my enemy. He once did me a] great wrong and I meant to make him! sutler f>r it. I have no reason furl wishing to see his death avenged by the hangman' : rope, That is v. h y D am ■ Leaking hi \. u msU-ad of to tinponce." | ! Avice dr.-w a l., t} g breath am! her b'..iutif,i! eye.-; wandered suspscn'iislv ; over the three before her "What did y >u , r , 1 a whisper. 1 aw Rm-den'- ■ r „ ~u l 5 ’ was on the pmn: of eomg m Borden myself when ttie , f pi, g.,, ] ed ami y u e.m < . V .; . , ;iJ ■ ] Burden's fiat and ent.-red I suppose: Vol. !:a<! a key--" "She didn't i;< cd ■ bui' t fr. m Barbara i ha,| left tm. p,., . 1; ..n ( . (To b<- continued f