MYSTERY AT MANBY HOUSE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21362, 5 March 1941, Page 8

MYSTERY AT MANBY HOUSE

BY PETER MANTON

CHAPTER IX.-—(Continued) “She’d more likely want to come | with us,” smiled Horn. “You don’t know Mary as well as I do. Well, ; 1 won’t pretend that I’m aching to meet this man Balluzzi if anyone does.” Arden began to take notice. "Who’s this paragon?” “Paragon’s about the right word,” smiled Horn. “He’s a freelance newspaper man. Named Pike, Jonathan Pike.” “There’s a familiar ring about that,” said Bill. “He figured a lot in the Noiseless Swallow affair, a year or so ago,” said Horn, quite seriously now. "You remember, a man named Preston invented the aeroplane, and there was a lot of fuss and bother. Pike iicld most of tlie cards, 1 think. He's an arrogant devil in his way, but if you can forget his manner you'll like him.” “Tell me more,” invite*! Bill. Horn obliged. JonLuian Pike, it seemed, was an American who had lecently become a naturalised British citizen. He worked on several papers, signing on the pay-roll of he felt were the best markets. Horn, none, but giving out stories where apparently, had met him several times, and an acquaintance of the explorer’s had good cause to bless the efforts of Mr Pike. "He’s not too popular with the police.” Horn went on. “In fact, I wouldn't call him popular at all, I excepting with a few who know him well. Hoxv do you like the sound of him?” "A lot,” said Bill Arden. “I thought you would. As a matter of fact, if the snow hadn’t come, he would probably have found his way down here by now. The —the murder of your uncle is the kind of thing that would attract him.” “Hmm! Well, things may be brighter in the morning, particularly if we get some rain, but otherwise—we might be here for days.” “There is the route across the fields,” objected Horn. “There’s been another three hours of snow since we crossed it,” said Bill. He yawned suddenly, and then looked surprised. “By jove, I’m tired!” “Not really? It’s past mid-night, and you’ve had a busy evening,” said Horn. “I wonder if the Inspector proposes to let us go to sleep, or ” “Talk of the Dev’il,” said Bill, sotto voce. Court came in, pushing the door open xvith a swing, and then walking 1 slowly. His right hand was rubbing along the seam of his trousers, ' a gesture that Bill was beginning to expect in the burly and bovine Chief Inspector. “Hallo!” Pie looked half surprised to see them sitting there and smoking. “Well, xve’ve got as far as we can go.” “Any more news from the trio?” asked Bill. “No, nothing. Only Brandt could talk, but I’m afraid he’s too close mouthed.” Court yawned in turn, and patted his lips lightly with his left hand. “I wonde* why they wanted to kill Mann?” “You Never Can Tell” “Looks obxfious,” said Bill. “He knew something.” “Or they thought he did. I suppose he didn’t say anything to you, by any chance?” Court looked at though the last thing he expected was an affirmative, and his eyes widened when Arden nodded. But behind his poise there was that same shrewd and penetrating intelligence. He had expected the nod: Arden was sure of that. “He did, eh?” “Whether it’s useful or not, I don't know,” said Bill. “It didn't seem important enough to tell you before, Inspector.” “You can nev’er tell,” said Court, creating that impression of faint reproof. “Well, he had our hands full one way and the other,” Bill wished he did not get so quickly annoyed by Court’s manner, but there it was. He wondered fleetingly whether Jonathan Pike would affect him the same way, and hoped not. He could hardly see himself working smoothly with anyone who roused his ire with an apparently innocent sentence. “I quite appreciate what you’ve done,” Court said quickly. “Well?” Bill leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and gave the gist of Mann’s story. Court showed no expression as he listened to the news of Sir Nicholas ! Manby’s intention of re-entering the j financial and industrial arena, the | particulars—as far as Bill knew them —of the syndicate known as the j Greater Electrical, and Mann s bc- , lief that the Mid-England Corporation would get a nasty pain in the neck if the new company was successful. There was silence for a few seconds, and then: “Mann mentioned no names?” “Only by uncle’s fellow-directors, i Matthew Bolder and Lord Rilling.”

(To be continued daily)