Scandal at Rams Comm

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19904, 5 June 1936, Page 4

Scandal at Rams Comm

; I.:ll.\PTF.l't lii—(Continued) ! “ 'i‘lir-ro \\'uu‘t he anything to worry izilmut down here, now.“ said one of lllt.‘ \\;it'll+-:'s. “i#" '.‘ I lip stopped. suddenl), and the others went right. listening for a repetition ut‘ the sound that had pierced the Siiem'c of the riverside. It came again, but less di'stinctly now" A woman's scream! “Better see what it is, Tom," said the leader. " Maybe the woman who saw liim's woke up." The man named Tom hurried ot‘f obediently, but he soon saw his leader's hazard had been wrong Pauline Vines was still lying int 1 huddled heap on the ground, unconscious. The warder scratched his head, and looked round. Then he saw several people, more than n hundred ards away. One man he recognised as Sir Bertram Foulkea‘ The other has a very big man, while the third figure in the group was a small woman who was lying back in l the iii}: inun's arms. i ” Better have a look at ’em," muttered the warrior. ‘ Suiting the action to the word, he hurried up, dotting his hat. respectfully when he saw Sir Bertram. “Anything I can do to help, sir?” . he asked. Sir Bertram Foulkes was obviously agitated, but he had a iirm control of himself. lie nodded. “Yes, wurder. \\‘ill you hurry to the Court, and ask my butler, Cleeves. to telephone to Gloucester for the Ipolice. Tell him to ask for Chief 111spector \Vhaiey." "The police," the warder gasped , the words. ‘ And then, staring past Sir Bertram and the others, he saw into the sum—- : merhouse. He could just see the body l of a man, and a pair of staring. glassy ‘ eyes. “ Yes." snapped Sir Bertram, “ he‘s dead. Hurry, please." The warder knew better than to hesitate when Sir Bertram used that tune. lie saluted, and hurried off, wondering who the dead man was. and why the woman had screamed. Maybe she'd seen the stiff flrst. Funny how some women couldn't bare the sight ut‘ it dead man. but could make such a l'uss of a funeral. Hmphi The police, eh? That meant it looked nasty. Murder— The \varder licked his lips. ‘ It was not that he was callous; it was Just. that. he could imagine the fuss and bother there would be it there was a murder investigation at Barons Court. the most exclusive country house in the county. “I'm mad. I suppose. But I‘m so terribly in love with you, Jenny It‘s like living in helli He's a thorough rogue, and he does nothing but worry you—_n “He doesn't!" protested Jenny. “I never hear from him. Oh, if only I could divorce him." ‘

“It's either that." muttered Sewell, ”or .. He stopped, suddenly. Howard. grim-ilpped, wondered why, until he saw a. gardener walking towards the river. Obviously the American had heard his approach. Howard wished he had not over—heard that conversation. Conway Sewell was capable of killing Brice, and Howard was willing to admit that the man deserved death. Brice was an unsavoul‘y character in many ways. But murder, and talk of murder. was senseless. Ir Sewell was talking like that to Jenny, no wonder she was worried out or her life. At lunch-time, however, Jenny was as say as ever. and Conway Sewell was more talkative than usual. His passion seemed to have died down. Possibly, iloward thought, Sewell had been talking for the sake of talking. It was often best to let otl‘ steam. Yet, slowly, the shadow of tragedy was closing on them. it. was nearly three o'clock when ‘iloward walked towards the river. He was thoughtful, and he felt the happiness of the past few weeks was spoiled. through no fault. of his, or of Evelyn's. Evelyn was helping Agatha Fauikos with same charity work. and Pauline Vines was in the house with them. Conway Snwoil and Jenny had left the house just after two o'clock, and llnward guessed they were taking their favourite walk. along tho rtvm‘ bank. “is futlll‘r limi loft, in the nmrning‘ for London. intending- to settle one or two points- ol‘ iiusinoss. sm‘ his doctor. and get hark I'D Barons, Court by tho m‘vuinx train. Sir Bartram l’onlkos, iinward lull-\\'. was nmliiut a \‘isit to a tr‘nant on one of the oslalv coltagns. and for an hour or more Howard was loft. to amuse himself.

llc lit. a t-igm‘etle, and dropped to the ground. out of tempor- \\'ltll thing‘s in general. He heard footsteps nearby, but took no notice of them, until he saw something that glintod grey in the sun. drop to the grass some thirty yards away. He heard a muttered purse, and saw a hand pick the thing up. quickly. He could only see the other man from the knee downwards, for thick loaves hid the man‘s body from View, But he knew it was Sir Bertram Foulkes. And he know. too. that the thing that hml glintcd grey was an army revulvei'! ‘llowni‘tl Lane felt his 'hlnnd racing. \\'hat was Sir Bet‘il‘nin doing thm‘o. with at gun. \\'lu‘n ln- hnd nnnnnncmi his intl‘niiuu ul‘ \‘iSiiing n ivnant \\'hu linnl m'vl' .’l Illili‘ in the nmn-siin' nlirw-tiun‘.’ ’l'ha‘t'o was snmclhinfi sinisim' nlmnt lln- uhlvi- lnnn‘s pinSi‘llt'i‘ ihvrv—-'l‘|n-n ho lnuzhml tn himsolf, Sir llr‘l'li‘nin “us his own Innstnr :nnl wnlhl. ii' hv‘ lii\"ll. i'hungu his niiml. He might iw ln'nx'tising \\iih thr‘ :znnrr-r—----in! “as, )ht\\ill'll knr‘w~ :In vxrwri inni'ksrnnn. and proud that hr i-nnhl >lnmi, us. :li't'lll'illol}' us many :1 man hnlt' his nmn Fivo ll|illllio< pnssml. llmuil‘il I'vii lil‘tl\\>)'. tun luzy to draw all his «law will". it“ might, hnvv duzml ut‘i‘ for n i‘t‘\\ lninuiw‘: in- was il:li'l|[)' Slll't‘: hut in- jnnnwl up unidn-nl)‘. nlnt'm \\'i'itimi nn his films, I‘\L‘l‘)’ l|lll.<\‘it‘ in hi» hmi)‘ tvnsm Fill‘. \"i‘l‘y loudly nmi disliilt'ii}'. tho snulni ut‘ :I i‘vvnh'oi‘ .\hut. hnd «n'hmni iln'nnuh thv wands! t2lL\l”l‘l-‘.ll l-11. Pnniinn Vince smilwl with l'i‘iil‘f \\hrn \unllln ninl tin-bu l-thtlkvs tin—i'irlml nlmnt ii.|ll‘—pn~t l\\u that nl'ir‘l‘-ni-nn‘ thv} \\i‘l'v‘ til-mi ut' the \\lll‘li, :ilhl \\«Illlll profi-i' In \\nlk ihi'nuxh tho \\mmisl Nihx \‘inl's hvt'm‘li' \\ns :inxium in cut .l\\.l_\. l)n‘.\[lii" hvr il‘llll .mme lllt'l‘, hm- [liilillilt'ah 11111 l ihu‘ t'm‘l iiinl ~I:-‘ \\,i~ umn'uwlnn: lllillII|(‘-1IK|‘. m:- innit “u heating inst IIS Sill) Eurl‘iwl thxnz'glx the snnimerhousr; in the grounds. The summerhouse was

by ALAN GREY. An Unusual and Powerful Mystery Story.

half—way httwoen the house Itself and Hip l'ivm'. Not for the first, tlmr, she \\'n< meeting :1 strangm‘ to Barons

Court. near tim wooden building. 9110 was i'i'in‘htenmt lest Agatha l-‘ouiken discovered those sorrel, meetings. Agatha had often said that she was [find her secretary was not the marry‘ing kind. It was possible that she would look round for somoene to re—place Pauline Vines if she thought there. was any possibility of Pauline leaving her. There was no likelihood of that, for some time to come. It was unlikely in fact, that Pauline Vines would ever marry. But she was certainly in love—She heard the shot that had startled Howard Lane, but, being more used to orrasionnl shooting in the grounds of the Court than Howard, she took little or no notice of it. She reached the summerhouse hut. hurried past. looking neither right nor left. A few‘ moments later she saw Sir Bertram hurrying from the river towards her. Pauline Vines was not used to deceit. She dreaded the possibility of dis—covery, for if she had been questioned shn knew 'sho would have to tell the truth. The, only nearby cover was the summerhouse. She entered it. quirkly. perhaps ten minutes after the shot Howard had heard. For a momnnt she was concerned only with Sir Bertram'a progress. with a real sigh of relief, she saw him hurrying past the Summerhouse towards Barons Court. Then some—thing moved. in the shadowed rear of the little building. He reached the Court, and found Gleeves, who knew him slightly. The butler's pale face grew even more pale as tho warder gave him his message. “Chief Inspector \Nhaley, he said," amrmed the man. - “ Yes—Sir Bertram knows Mr ‘Whnley. That‘ll be why he wants me ‘to call Gloucester, and not Leachester. .You didn’t recognise the dead man, did I i you?" 1 ”Never set eyes on him in me life before," said the other. “\Vell, I‘ve not to get back, Cleeres. We found Bandy all right, poor devil. Surprised him in the woods. He won‘t. do anyone any more harm.“ But the warder was talking to thin air. Cleeves was hurrying to the tele—phone. Shrugging his shoulders, the messenger hurried back to his colleagues. He had a good story to tell, and one that he would be able to relate to plenty of others, before the week was out. It wasn't everyone who was in on the start of a murder. . Meanwhile Cleaves had found Chief Inspector \\’haley in, and the detective had promised to hurry to Barons Court. He also telephoned Leachester, a few minutes "afterwards, and told them to send one or two plainclothes men to look after things until he ar—rlivetd, but Cleaves knew nothing of t 1a .

The butler replaced the receiver, and then turned towards the front door. His face was twisted ,in a puzzled fl'o‘wn‘ Sir Bertram would not have telephoned the police unless he had been really worried. \Vhat It be?

l A moment later. Cleeves' expression froze to its habitual one of respectful attention. Agatha Foulkes, very prim and tidy although. thought Cleaves, a little out of breath, hurried from the grounds and walked past the butler without appearing to notice him. As soon as she was out of sight, Cleaves scratched his ear. “Pretty kettle of fish this seems to be." he thought. “I‘d better get i clown to the kitehen—there‘ll be some orders coming through pretty soon." Unwittingly. he made himself one of the chief witnesses so far as Chief inspector thle)’ was concerned, As‘ the went towards the servants‘ quarters. i he saw a side door opening from the ~grounds ot’ the house. lnstinctively “he drew hack, to allow \\'horer was } coming to pass him. I Then he had a shock. ! Evelyn Foulkes, deathly pale. en—itered the passage. Her eyes were twtde—set, with anxiety or fear, or {hell}. She saw Cleaves suddenly—- } Cleeves felt. as if the ground 'had ‘ horn torn from beneath his feet. For ‘ Evelyn l’nulkes‘ eyes were filled, now, :with rear and alarm. ‘She stopped. >staring at him aghast She looked ‘like a figure turned to stone. . ! “Cleaves!" she murmured. after a gpnuse that seemed to have lasted for 'tmurs. “tllcevns!” .\nd then, in a rush of words: “You haven‘t seen me! You didn't see me come in! \\‘hntm‘er‘ ,lmppens, you'll say that? Promise ; me i" i There was something in her worrls‘ that made the butler feel that he knew, immediately, what had happened. He felt sick, but he managed to maintain: his composure. t “Of course, .\liss Evelyn. Can Y get you something—" i “No, no 1" Evelyn Foulkes seemedl [beside herself. Cleeves, who was 1 absurdly fond of his employer‘s niece, felt choky. He watched her \\'hite,‘ strained fare as she hurried past him. land then went into the serumts kit—.‘rht‘u. rlut‘kinx’ his tongue against the truni' of his mouth. ‘ i ".\ pretty kettle. or fish," he mutter—'(‘d. “If .\liss Evelyn‘s mixed up in I it. there'll he the devil in pa)". I hope ‘lu mmduoss nnihing‘s happened to . yum-x .\tr ”tl\\‘tll'll—" 1 Ills \\ish “as granted. .\t that r“hum-iii. litmard Lane was hurryin: t'l‘nlu the river inwards “lt‘ summew .lmuse and the litilu‘ group of people |outside il. ”l' was pale and \\orried—-tut-Ling. hut the ulher men \\t‘l't‘ in!) .nmm'rned about the s\\mmhl;_r .Ivnuy :lu Ilnlil‘i‘ it. * 'l'hru [inward turned timards the .\ummrrhnum- dour, llt‘ saw that Imm, “in: its hul'l'ihh‘. Marius" MW. laud iillltlt‘t‘t‘tl an ('xlih‘tiw‘. ‘ “tlruai .\‘vnll! Ho‘s nulritit‘ad‘.’H ‘ "lie is!" muttered Sir Bertram i-‘uullw‘, "Shut, through Ihl' heart.‘ ”tin-r a sirtlu'ulv, luy the Inuit hi it.‘ .\lurderrrdalun it—mtu'det‘ at liarults Itinnirt 1" I (To be rontinued). ‘ l __ t t 7 _.4.___.