CHAPTER XXX. THE RIDDLE ABOUT SOLVED.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2245, 27 November 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XXX. THE RIDDLE ABOUT SOLVED.

Sergeant Usher was getting quite augry with himself on account of his inability to put his puzzle together. He had so great an insight into the great Bunbury mystery that it made him quite irritable he could nut quite explain it. A good deal that the public could not comprehend was quite plain to him, but who was the confederate? where was the writer of that note? It was not Foxborough's writing, nor was it even au attempt to simulate his hand ; he had ascertained that from people whose testimony on the point was thoroughly reliable, yet it must be in handwriting perfectly familiar to the dead man or he would never have so promptly attended to its behests. It had become quite clear to Mr Usher that, much as he desired to keep that note in the background, it was no longer possible, as long as that note reposed in the security of Mr Usher's pocket-book it was quite evident there could be no opportunity for anyone to recognise the writer. The sergeant was an enthusiast in his profession, and had a whimsical fancy for producing an important bit of testimony at the last moment, hence his desire to keep his treasure trove of the Hopbine a lecret. But it was clear to him now the enigma could not be solved otherwisp than by the recognition of that handwriting. Nowhere, he thought, was that more likely to be achieved than by some of John Fossdyke's old friends at Baumborough, notably by Dr. Ingleby, and hither Mr Usher determined to betake himself without loss of time ; quite posBible even Mr Totterdell might be the man he wanted. 'And though mused the sergeant, * he's a blethering old creature to get information out of, still I mustn't throw away a chance simply because a witness is a weariful, wandering old nuisance.' As he whirled down by the afternoon train Mr Usher pondered a good deal upon where he should commence this fre-h inquisition. He knew the Baumborough world by heart by this time. The local gossip had revealed to him a good deal of the ins and outs, the like* and dislikes of social life at Baumborough. and he finally thought that perhaps lie had better begin with Mr Totterdell. ' Mrs FoBsd>ke would be likely to tell her garrulous godfather as much as sh* knew of her husband's affairs before thtquarrel, 1 mused Mr Usher, " and hang it a woman always knows a deal more than her husband gives her credit for. It's quite likely he might tumble to thihandwriting at once. I'll begin with him, and try Dr. Ingleby afterwards if it don't come off.' That Mr Totterdell would be at horn* to Ssrgeant Usher where there was ver> lif-tle doubt. The old gentleman wa« filgetty, and fuming over the non elucidation of the great Bunbury mystery not a little. What were the police about, he wanted to know ? Whun was he tn have an opportunity of coming forward ? For he still laboured under the delusion that as soon as his evidence had been taken properly, and at length, ther< would be no difficulty whatever about the apprehension of the murder. 4 Well, sergeant,' he exclaimed testily, as that officer entered the room, ' what is it now ?It 18 singular you don't seem to be able to move a step in this matter without my assistance, and yet I can't get you to listen to what 1 have to say.' 1 That's just it Mr Totterdell ; that's exactly what I keep telling 'em in the Yard,' replied Mr Usher. 'IcaD't make head or tale of it myself, says I ; there's none of you here can do any better. If there's one man in England who can throw a light upon the truth it's Mr lotterdell. Just you let mp go and have another palaver with him. If this thing's to be worked out, it's he and I have got to do it. Do as you please, says they, and here I am. With your permission, sir, I'll take a chair to begin with. Nobody knows better than you do that one can't exchange viewa upon a matter of such paramount importance in a hurry.' * Certainly not, Mr Usher; certainly not,' replied the old gentleman, with the utmost complacency, " Sit down, by all means ; and now what have ypu got to tell me ?' ( Well, sir,' replied the sergeant, smoothing his hat with his handkerchief, ' the boot happens to be on the other leg. I was rather in hopes you had something to tell me. A gentleman like you on the spot, and gifted with your keen perception in these matters, I thought might have picked up something.' 1 Aad so I have,' chuckled Mr Tott'erdell, "It's a queer thing — a very queer thing ; and I got at it by accident. It don't seem to bear much on the case, so we'll talk over what you've been doing first.' Now what on earth, thought Mr Usher, has this blessed old image discovered ? {Vhether it's any use or not, he of course knows no more than the mau in the moon, aad the attempt to get it

out of him directly I know will be a tedious, if not hopeless, business. I had better come the confidential dodge and give him a g)imp3e of this letter at once, and then, likely enough, he'll boil over. 4Mr Totterdell, I depend on you not to disclose to a soul what I'm going to confide to you,' replied Mr Usher, in a mysterious whisper ; • but the fact is I've got hold of a scrap of writing of this James Foxborough, the man you saw at the theatre, and I want to know if you can recognise it as the writing of one of the late Mr Fossdyke's habitual correspondents. You doubtless knew most of their handwriting by sight — so intimate as you naturally were with the family V 'Of course,' replied Mr Tottevdell mendaciously, for he had no knowledge whatever of Fossdyke'a business relations ; but he would have committed himself to a very much bigger lie at any time sooner than miss an opportunity of gratifying his insatiable thirst for gossip. 'Well,' said the sergeant, producing the note still so carefully folded that there was little more than the signature to be seen, "do you know that handwriting of the man who took John Fossdyke's life.' ' God bless me !' exclaimed Mr Totterdell, as he put on his spectacle. ' You're sure of this, Mr Usher ?' 'As sure as if I had seen nim commit the murder. Do you know the hand ?' • Mr Totterdell started at it for some minutes, and then said: "No, I never saw it before.' ' Ah, well, whenever I can catch hold of anyone who can recognise that writing I'll clear up the Bunbury murder in less than no time ; and now, Mr Totterdell, what have you to tell me?' 1 Well, it mayn't be much,' said the old gentleman, ' but it's odd, odd, you see, seigeant— dueed odd. I'm sure you'll igree with me when you hear it, eh ?' 4 I've got to hear it first,' retorted Mr Usher shortly. 'Of course, quite so, and I'm telling you as fast as I cau. You're like that old fool on the inquest who was always interrupting my evidence,' said Mr t otterdell, angrily. Mr Usher, exercising wi*e discretion, made no reply. • Well, I have made a curious discovery, You must know that when the Baumborougrh Theatre was fhv. mooted there was, of course, a great question how the six thou-and or so estimated for its erection were to be raided. Poor Fossdyke proposed, au extra rate, and to get at the money gradu illy in that wise ; but I who had just come on the Municipal Council, having- ascertained that we had something like that sum out at mortgage, suggested its being: called in and used for that purpose instead of levying a fresh rate.' 'Ah!' exclaimed Mr Usher, involuntarily. 'Eh ! what ; something* strikes you ?' sad Mr Totterdell, peering 1 over his spectrtcle-* into the detective's face. 'Quite right,' responded Mr Usher. ' You always are, sir, I was thinking wliat a thing it was for Baumborough when they got you on the Town Council.' 'They might have done worse, Uaher,' replied Mr Totterdell blandly, and utterly blind to the sergeant's flagrant adulation. ' Well, it's a rum thing, but though the money was all right enough, though John Fossdyke accounted for it all to a copper, yot there never -was such a mortgage effected.' lAh !' once more exclaimed Mr Usher softly, 'and what interpretation Mr Totterdell do you put upon that ?' 4 None, Mr Usher, none ; that is a thing for a judge and jury to determine, like many other facts I can testify to when I get an opportuuity.' ' Well, Mr Totterdell, I'll not take up your valuable time any more. You've the keystone of the case whether we can really get it complete ; but it's growing up, sir, it's growing up. I see my way a Httle bit further every day.' ' Capital, ' responded the old gentleman ; ' and just between ourselves— quite between ourselves, you know — where do you suppose the scoundrel Foxborough is ? Have you any clue ?' 'Well, yes I have,' said Mr Usher, rising; 'but to a gentleman of your astuteness and experience I needn't say mum's the word. You understand, mum's the word, 'and sosnying, the sergeant bade Mr Totterdell good night. ' Quite right, Mr Usher, you can trust me to keep things quiet. There's nobody knows how to keep a quiet tongue hotter than me. Mum's the word ; ha, ha ! Good night !' ' Yes, you are right for once, it is,' quoth the sergeant. ' You'll tell nobody his time, because yon've got nothing to ell ; but the puzzle's piecing out beautifully. If anybody can identify this handwiiting I'll tell them the whole atory nletry near of the Bunbury mystery. Half-past ninp. Yes, not a bit too late to call upon Dr Ingleby. I don't suppose he will know this handwriting, but it's worth trying. This run to Baumi'oroutrh has been a good business. I've M»t an important piece of evidence out of •he Totterdell creature that just clinches the thin&r.' Thus ruminating Mr Usher arrived at the doctor's door, and, after his wont, f -llowed very close on the heels of the strvant wlio announced him. He found the doctor tranquilly enjoying a cisrar, and lietenins* to the gay <:i>tle-biul(lin^r of Herbert Morant and Phil Soames. The former especially had one of thuse constitutionally eanguine tpmperampnts th-tt run up palaces on the slighted possible foundation?. Their palace*, lfc i s true, coin** down about their ei'slike the card houses of childhood, but, no whit dismayed, they re-erect them with exactly the same happy carelessness that characterised their nursery dnys. Dr Ingleby enjoyed all this immensely ; to the quiet, sobpr matrimonial dreams of Phil Soames or the resplendent visious of Herbert Morant, he listened with the keenest interest. He liked both the young men, and it was good to listen to their healthy love stone*. To contrast cool steady Phil's strong, steadfast devotion with excitable Herbert's passionate ido ration. They loved, these two, quite as earne3tly as they were capable of, but neither men nor women experience the passion in quite the same fashion. ' Well sergeant,' said Dr Ingleby, 4 sit down first. Say what is to be next. Wine or alcohol, and then tell mo what you want ? You I know are much too busy a man to pay calls of ceremony. It's not your health, is it ?' *No, doctor,' rejoined the sergeant, laughingly. • It's not my health, and I'll call it port if yoo'll allow me. It's just a little matter of business, IVe got this Bunbury busiaees mapped out to a T but for one trifling bit of evidence, and I thought I'd jusfc consult you and Mr Soames ahout that. Here's my respeots,' said the sergeant, as he tossed off the bumper of port the doctor hed poured out for him, ' and very good tipple it is." 4 Well, I'm very glad you are getting at the bottom of the mystery,' rejoined Dr Ingleby, • hut it's a question whether these two gentlemen or Mrs Fossdyke will appreciate it. I fancy they would all rather it died out and was forgotten.' 'Now, listen to me, gentlemen. It oan't be allowed to die out and be forgotten, it would be an everlasting reproach to ' the Yard 'if it was. I don't quite know that you'll any of you like the story when we come to it, and oome to it we shall, but if it's relief to your minds fn k;i'»w James Ft»xi>oiough d du't kill Mr Fossdyke, either by acoideut or

design, you may take ray word he had nothing to. say to it. ' The trio stared at the speaker in blank amazement, 'No, jrentleraen,' continued the Sergeant, ' I don't turn my cat out of the bag until I'm quite certain I can catch her agaiu. What have I come here for? As the doctor says, if it ain't my constitution gone wrong, what is it ? Well, it is this, both you and Mr Soame.«, doctor, must have known something- about Mr Foshdyke's friends and conespondents.' • His friend, yes,' rejoined the doctor, ' his correspondents, no. He was an extremely reticent man about bis business transactions, and intimate as I was with him I knew nothing of them.' • And you, Mr Soames ?' asked the detective. 1 Stil! less, if that be possible. He was scarce likely to confide in a young man like me what he concealed from an old frieud like Dr. Ingleby.' 1 Uolucky, but I'm afraid then, gentlemen, you can't help me ; howeverj a.s I have come to see Dr. Ingleby for a specifio purpose, I'm going to play the cards out' ; Mr Usher dived into his breast-"pocket for a moment, and then from the depths of a formidable pocket-book produced the famous letter, folded f-till so that little but the signature was decipherable. •Do you know that handwriting, sir ?' he asked, and he jhanded it to Dr. Ingleby. • Not in the* least, replied the doctor, after a cool and steady investigation. ' And you, Mr Soames ?' the sergeant as he pushed the piece of paper across, Phil stared at it for some and then replied as he returned it, 'No ; to the best of my belief I never saw that handwriting before.' ' It's hard, very hard,' replied the ser. geant; 'to know who wrote the^e few lines is to put the prettiest and most interesting case complete before the public I ever took charge of ; and yet, dash me, I'm beat on that point, though there must be hundreds of people who could testify to it. D dif I don't have it photographed and inserted as an advertisement in all the dailies. ' 'May I look at it, Mr Uaher?' inquired Morant. 'Oh, Lord, yes. I meant to keep it dark, but anybody's welcome to see it now.' Herbert scanned as much as he was allowed to see of the note for a few minutes, and then as he threw it baok across the table to the detective said quietly, ' I am pretty certain I know who wrote that. It was ' ' Hush, sir, for God's sake, hush,' cried Sergeant U\her, springing to his feet. 'I'm going to ask you for forty-eight hours to let nobody but myself know the name. If he's in England I shall be able to lay my hand upon him by that, but leakage, gentlemen, is fatal in these inquiries. If you don't know you can't let anything out. Isn't it so? You'll forgive me, Dr. Ingloby, and you, too, Mr Soames, when I once more say — See me to the door, please, Mr Morant ; tell me the name, and tell nobody else for two days." ' I think you may do what the sergeant asks yau,' said Dr. Ingleby ; ' Phil's curiosity and mine can last out forty-eight hours. Good night, Mr Usher ; I know you want to be off now. See him to the door, Moranr, and breathe your secret on the threshold.' ' ] 1 That's it, sir— that's it ; good night, gentlemen. Come, Mr Morant.' With which words, Herbert and the detective disappeared.