CHAPTER XXI. MR STURTON IS CONSCIENCE STRICKEN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2233, 30 October 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXI. MR STURTON IS CONSCIENCE STRICKEN.

Wb have already seen that Mr Sturfcon was entagled in the mysterious fascination that is apt to surround a great crime. It had taken him down to Bunbury so that he might be present at the inquest, and from that time he had experienced a feverish anxiety to hear of James Foxborough's arrest, not that he had any violent animosity to the criminal, but that he was morbidly desirous of seeing the riddle of thia murder unravelled. Although he had through Cudomote lent money to Foxborough, he had never seen him, and Mr .Sturton wa3 at present much disturbed in his mind about this very loan. It was not that he was anxious about his money ; he had very fair security for that, but he debated very much with himself whether it was not his duty to acquaint the police with the fact of Foxborou«h beiDg in possession of so large a sum of money. The days slipped by, and still the papers contained no clue to what they had tacitly agreed to call the Bunbury mystery. The public had certainly got no further intelligence since the inquest, and the general belief was that Foxborough had effected his escape from the country, and fled either to America or Spain. The whole affair seemed at a deadlock, and with the exception, perhaps, of Sergeant Usher nobody had much idea that the culprit would ever be brought to justice. The sergeant was, as we know, in possession of a little bit of evidence about which the world knew nothing, and pondering over that note in his lodgings in Spring Gardens Mr Usher muttered more than once, ' Whenever I can read this aright I shall know all about the Bunlmry murder. It might be Arabic or Chinebe for all I can make of it at present, but just as one learns foreign languages after a bit, so I shall understand this note. One thing is clear already, if Foxborough was the murderer he had a confederate.' Mr Sturton at last made up his mind to communicate with the police, but previous to doing so thungnl it might be as well to talk the thing over with Mr Cudentore. He had ,\ auspicioti that gentlemen would be very much opposed to either the police or anyone else being acquainted with his money. lpuding transactions ; still Mr Sturton, for all his languid and somewhat affected manner, was nuite capable of taking his own line, and was little likely to be overruled by Cudemore, who he always tr~)ted as a subordinate ; finding him onital at times, throwing bu-iness in*r> hh wav no doubt, but always assuming the position

of the big capitalist. Cudemore, indeed, like many ostensible money- lenders, was dependent in considerable m?asure upon bigger men than himself, and Mr Sturton was his great patron. Very handy, indeed, also to Scotland Yard for the reporting of his little bit of intelligence was Mr Cudemore's residence, reflected Mr Stm ton. The thing had to be discussed with that, gentleman as a matter of detail, but that he would communicate with the police Mr Sturton had quite made up his mind. That the famous Sergeant Usher was living within a few doors of Mr Cudemore, and habitually had his meals at the Wellington Restaurant, would have startled Mr Sturtou not a little. Still more would it have surprised Mr Cudemore that his junior clerk was aware of this fact, that he habitually lunched at the same restaurant, and spent his whole time glowering at the eminent detective. Of course, Sergeant Usher knew all about him, the clerk ; he did that from sheer habit. To what he called 'reckon up' all those with whom he came in contract had become second nature with him, and therefore with no parthly motive he had learnt all about Mr Cudeinore's clerk. In simihr fashion he, with no particular reason, had acquired a general knowledge of Mr Cudemore and his pursuits. Qaite promiscuously, be it und'i stood. It was information pi ked up in the way that a man trained to take note of everything that takes place aiound him would almost imperceptibly acquire of anyone living in his vicinity. Ot course he had put a question here and there. Men like Sergeant Usher cannot for the life of them resist doing that. Theylme, and they're very little account in their profession unless they do have, an insatiable thirst for information about every one. They should always regard it as possible they may want to know all about a man, and Sergeant Usher pursued an enquiry of this description mechanically, and without any definite aim. Still it would have astonished Mr Cudemore not a little to know that one of the crack detectives of " The Yard " was living within a few doors of him, and had more than a general idea of his (Cudemore's) business. There was nothing about Mr Cudemore's business that might cause him to fear the interposition of the police, and yet at the same time they were just the sort of transactions that men desired secrecy about. Men driven to borrow money don't, as a rule, wish the fact advertised ; there is a touch of the Spartan boy with the fox beneath his cloak about the process, they prefer to bleed inwardly, and that the hemorrhage is severe" and exhausting", let those who have painfully gone through the ordeal testify. Mr Sturton upon presenting himself in Spring-gardens is speedily ushered upstairs. The clerks know hhn, and are quite aware that he is a victor by no means to be kept waiting. They have, peihap*, a rather huzy idea of what his actual relations with their master may be, but they know Mr Cudemore is always at home to Mr Sturt in. 1 Dolighted to see you,' exclaimed Mr Cudemore, as he shook hands, and then proceeded to roll an ea^y chair to the fire for the accommodation of his guest. ' I Hnpposn it is business of some sort to which I am indebted for the pleasure of •-^ping you,' •W* 11, yes it i«. I want to have a talk with you about that move) we advanced to James Foxborough. You see, we're so to speik mixed up in the Bunbury murder.' • fJood heavens! Don't t ilk in that way,' rejoined Oudemore. 'We can't be held responsible for the future career of every man we lend money to. Besides, as I always told you, the security is good enough, and if you don't like il I can raaungo to take up your share of the lorn.» 'Not at all, that's not it,' interposed Mr Sturton. { I know tho Sri in go, Music Hall is to bo found, although Foxborough in'st ; and what is more. I don't tl:ink ho ever will be now. I take it he's got clean out of tho country. But I think we ouszht to let the police know that he is in possession of that big sum of money.' ' I object to that altogether," exclaimed Cu'leruore, vehemently. 'No moneylender mikes a confidant of the pchce ; besides* what i« the u&e of it ? According to your own views the mun has fled the country. It won't further tho ends of justice or in the least contribute to his apprehension to publish the fact that his pockets are full of money. Besides ours is a profes.-ion,' he continued with a sneer, " th;it does good by stealth. The advance we make at heavy percentage we don't pnbli-.li on the house-tops ; in fact it is calling we don't, usually talk about. Aa fur you, I should have imagined that you had every reason for not letting the world know that you traded on its necessities.' ' You are right Cudemore,' rejoined the other. 'I don't particularly want the public to know that I do a quiet and tolerably lucrative business here with you. Sending a man the money to pay yourself don't sound a profitable transaction to the uninitiated, but let him ouly have tolerable prospects and it's a very tidy game. But, remember this, it dosen't at all follow my name is to appear. The informition may be of use to the police or it miy not ; at all events, there is no reason for making the thinur public' ' And don't you think the police will want to known why you didn't como forward with your information before ?' retorted Cudemore, spitefully. "They well may, aaifc is past my comprehension. If you are bont upon advertising yourself as a money-lender and in connection with the Bunbury murder, it seems singular that you t-honld have put it off for as long.' 4 1 tell you there's no necessity whatever for tho appearance of our name I , replied Mr Sturton quietly. ' Any way, I have made up my mind to give that much information to the police, and it is for them to make use of it if they can.' ' I tell you, again, that I stronirly object to your doing to.' exclaimed Cude more, vehemently. ' Look here, if this a matter of money, I'll, as I said before, find your share in the loan in a few day. It. will be then altogether my affair, and you will be absolved from all conscientious Hcruple.*. ' 'I tell you that it is nothing of that sort, once more lam not in the leabt uneasy about my money, but I consider the police ought to be iuformed of Foxborough havini* this sum in this posse^ion.' k And once more I protest against your doing anything of the sort. You've no risrht to compromise me," said Mr Cudemore irritably. ' All right, I won't : I'll make it appear that I found the money in conjunction with others, and who the others are need not transpire. I cau'fc for the life of me nee what you are raiding such a bother about.' • I tell you I don't want the policeinterferinie with my private affair*,' n joined Mr Cudpmore, doggedly ' I'll arrrue the thing no longer, but remember I shall do what I have made up tnv mind to do as t-oo'i as I leave these room / Mr Cudemore shot a most mtl-'gnaut srlau' e at hi-i companion, a «lm«c that annied ill fur Mr Sfurton's well- being -hould it ever depeid on f ho m< neylender's good wushe-s bu h) made 10 further renly. He k.iew from oxjn en, c thit Sturton was p acidly itnmovab'e wlipn hk h id otic determined o ■ unvf 1 ins*. He would disuuta it ia his usidl latguid

fashion as long as you liked, but invariably ie<njtinpd of precisely tho same op niou. He was a man of micli quiet tenacity of purpose and, which Cudemoru had yet to learn, opposition ouly strengthened him in hi.s determination, whatever it might be. 4So yonnar Mo rant psid up ! I never expected that of him. I thought he was certain to renew.' 'No tho young 1 gentleman has fallen in love and turned over a fresh leaf ; he's paid off his tradesmen and done with all transactions involving stamped paper The fool thinks that having spent the beat part of what money he had, tho remainder will go further if there are two people to keep instead of one.' 'Why, who dgea ho want toraarry?' asked Stui-t m. 1 Miss Foxborough.' 1 But that is a marriage I think will probably not come off, as I understand,' said Mr Sturton, carelessly. 'Yon are interested in preventing it. "Well,' he continued rising 1 , ' I wish you every success, and, in tho meintime, good-bye.' 1 And aro you going across to Scotland Yard ?' ' Undoubtelly, but don't disturb yourself, your name will not appear,' and so saying Mr Stiirton took his departure. Tiue to his word, the Bond-street mr-e tro made his wiy across to the police head-quarters, and briefly explained his ernnd. He was requested to sic down finl wait a few minutes while they sent t > the officer in charge of th" case. Sergeant Usher was speedily on the spot, and no little please .l at the idea of receiving any fresh information bearing upon the Bunbury mystery. He was perhaps the one offioer who w.is still confident of unravelling the tangle. Utterly nonplussed ju«.t at \>ivB3nt ho would admit, but he stuck to it he had a clue whenever He learnt how to u^e it He felt ho had got the signal book, but had yet to learn how to re.id tho flags. He listened attentively to Mr Sturton's statement, merely remarking that it was singular that Mr Foxborough should borrow so large a sum without having some definite object in view. Did Mr Sturton know at all for what purpose it was required ? No. Curious, six thousand pounds is a good deal of money to raise to (wrry abnn 1 " a<* pocket money. He was very union obliged to Mr Sturton for the information, vhich might very possibly turn out of j/reat value, Mr Sturton's name in the papers ? Certainly not. This fact would rest between them ; indeed*, f,ir from wishing to publish it, he, Sergeant U«her, would have asked Mr Stu't)'i as a particular favour not to mention it to anyone, and so the sergeant politely bowed his visitor out, and went home to ruminate on this la«t bit of information.