MYSTERY AT MANBY HOUSE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 5

MYSTERY AT MANBY HOUSE

By PETER MANTON

J CHAPTER IX.—(Continued) ] Court kept rubbing his trousers. | Rilling and Bolder were well known i men, just as the directors of the Mid-England Electrical Corporation were public figures. On the surface, it was absurd to consider the possibility that any of the men connected —or opposed to —Sir Nicholas Manby would have played any part in his murder. Court had a habit of lowering his voice until iT was little more than a | whisper, as though he was talking | more to himself than any of the 1 others in the room, i “Well, well. Most interesting, Mr Arden. Now someone is paying Baliuzzi ” “Couldn't it be Baliuzzi himself behind it?” asked Jim Horn, and Court looked at him as though he was dealing with an inquisitive child. “Hardly, sir, hardly. Baliuzzi is simply a gang-operator. His seri vices are available to any high bidj der. He has specialised, as a matter of fact, in international work, more in France and Germany than I over here. Happily we don’t know ! him very well over here, and in fact I didn’t think he was in the country.” A Tough Proposition Bill refrained with an effort from saying that the Inspector had declared his ignorance on that point before. "A tough proposition,” said Horn. “Very tough indeed,” said Inspector Court, and then proceeded to give a gigantic yawn, making no effort to hide it this time. “Well, gentlemen, I suggest that you retire.” “Brandt and his friends safe enough?” asked Bill, and again Court looked as though his patience was being sorely tried. He was the most infuriating man Bill Arden had met. I “Naturally. I have sent them to ■, the bigger box-room, a place without windows as you doubtless know, and j arranged for a guard outside the ! door all night. You can rest in l peace, I assure you.” | “ Meaning,” said Bill savagely, I when Court had gone, “that he took I it we were worried about being ati tacked when we inquired after the gentlemen. I half hope they escape. It would take Court down the several pegs necessary.” “And give, you a lot of trouble when you start working against Baliuzzi,” said Hern, who seemed to view the latter prospect as a most reasonable thing. “We didn’t bring any pyjamas.” “I always keep several pairs here,” 1 said Bill. “They’ll fit you, and repay you for the trousers borrowed earlier. I haven’t really started to thank you yet ” “Forget it,” smiled Horn. Twenty minutes later, Bill Arden slid between the sheets of a newlyaired bed. The four women servants at Manby House had shown a tendency to j become hysterical after Keller’s at- | tack on the maid, but Horn and Clark —who was taking it very well —had managed to quieten them. The house was running as well as could be expected, all things considered, and Arden felt too tired to think a great deal. He still experienced that unpleasant sensation of loss when he thought cf his uncle. But greater than that was a determination to get busy. This man Pike might be useful—and Horn would always be ready to weigh in. Things weren’t, perhaps, so bad. But he'd catch the swine who had committed two murders, and attacked Anne Wilson, if he had half a chance. Odd, that. Why worry about the girl? Bill fell asleep wondering how she was getting on, and his last conscious thought was a wish that he could have telephoned Mary Horn. He awakened some eight hours later, with a rustling movement going on in the bedroom, and a sudden ; hiss in his ears. His eyes opened a fraction of an inch, and then he grinned. It was Clark, pulling back the curtains. “’Morning, Clark!” “Good morning, sir!” The butler finished his job, and stepped to the dressing table, where the tray of morning tea was waiting. “I trust you slept well, sir.” Bill scratched his head, yawned, and nodded. “Better than I expected. What’s the weather like?” “Still overcast, sir, but no longer snowing. We—we appear to be j completely cut off, sir. The drifts are dreadful. The last time we had < snow like this, sir. it was a week | before we were able to renew coni tact with the outside world, sir. And I —and with Sir Nicholas lying there, it’s dreadful!” Bill drank his tea slowly, and mentally agreed with Clark. It was a beastly position, and they had to find a way of getting to the village inside a week. Damn it, . m a week anything might happen j outside, and apart from information ' that came from Brandt, Keller and 1 Race, every clue to the murders 1 would be cold. I Because Brandt and this two assistants had not killed Manby. (To be continued daily)