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"The Advocate" Daily Serial-:-.
Gallows Grange
By Henry Holt
1- COPYRIGHT-'-1
#-*
THE STORY SO FAR.
? Nigel Stewart arrives at
Marley Junction on his way to
meet his uncle at "Gallows
Grange." Joe, a Cockney
sailor who "has done a
stretch," offers to carry his
luggage.
As there is no sign of Co
lonel Stewart at the Grange,
and he has not been heard
of since he left a London
hotel the previous night, Ni
gel asks Andy Collinson, a
crime journalist, to make in
quiries. Collinson calls in
the assistance of Detective
Silver, of Scotland Yard.
The next night Nigel is
awakened at The Grange by
the sound of a shot, and, on
rushing downstairs, finds a
man lying dead in the hall.
Kong, the Colonel's Chinese
servant, is already on the
scene. The police arrive and
identify thc dead man as
Richard Allerton, a stock
broker.
Eli Flagg, an American,
visits Mr. Kccble Cresswell,
Colonel Stewart's solicitor,
and questions him about the
possibility of buying. "Thc
Grange." Flagg then sccs
Nigel.
Silver, who is in London,
receives an urgent call from
Nigel, arid he learns that
Paula Trent has been mur
derously attacked at "The
Grange."
Events hasten to a climax,
and hidden hands of' thc
underworld clash in mortal
combat.
*
A Telegram to Silver.
rjMlBOÜGHOUT dinner at tho Grange
Andy Collinson .had been unusually
quiet. Ho drank his coffee in contem
plative mood, and each time Nigel
Stewart spoke answered only in mono
syllables.
"Far bc it from mc to interrupt thc
workings of a massive brain. Andy,"
cunio at length from the depths of a
chair, "but may I ask if you aro about
to give birth to a shattering idea?"
"Sorry, old lad," replied tho Budget
man. "Afraid I was miles away. Shat
tering idea? No, that's tho trouble.
All my theories arc running round and
round in circles and there isn't a
bright ono amongst 'cm. To bc quite
honest, I don't see a singlo spot of real
daylight concerning tho case, though I
believe thc old blighter Silver has
something up his sleeve. I've noticed
a foul look of triumph in his eye."
"Is ho likely to take you into his
confidence?"
"Not until he's fairly sure that ho's
on a good scent. Ami I suspect he
is. "
Andy continued to puff at his pipe
for a while, eyes following the wreaths
of smoke, but little veins were begin
ning to stand out on his temples ns a
result of tenso thought. The problem
of Marley had loft him utterly per
plexed. A fierce light of publicity had
now begun to beat upon tho place. Flar
ing headlines in every newspaper stir
red tho interest of tho public afresh
with every edition. Gallows Grange
had become tho big outstanding nows
story in England, and that bitter com
ment by Anna Beinhart to tho effect
that Scotland Yard had fallen down
on tho job contained a germ of truth.
The police had made, and wero still
making, exhaustivo inquiries, but the
results up to date were woefully in
tangible. Tho most ingenious theories
in tho world were of not tho slightest
uso unless they led to an arrest.
Of a sudden Andy got up and knock
ed thc ashes out of his pipe.
"I'm going to town, Nigel," he an
nounced.
"Any special reason?"
"Just a chat with an old friend
who has spent 15 years in prison. A
most intriguing person. Wo get on
very well together. He's not such v
bad old scoundrel in a way. "
"So it sounds," observed Nigel.
"Coming back to-night, if you don't
get your throat cutí"
"Hope to be hero by 12 or soon
after. Keep thc old pop-gun handy in
case anything exhilarating happens
while I'm away. Au'voir. "
On reaching London, however, An
dy's first call was at Scotland Yard,
where* ho found Silver pacing-to and
fro in his room with his hair crum
pled and his manner by no means so
impassive as usual.
"What's on, Jim?"
"I'm not sure," replied Silvoi,
pointing to a telegram that lay open
on the desk. "Just cock your eye
over that. If it means anything at
all it may mean a whole lot."
Andy read thc telegram.
"No" signature," he commcntcit.
"Who d'you suppose sent it?"
"Haven't tho least idea."
Andy thoughtfully tapped thc buff
colored paper with his finger-nails.
"You're really taking it seriously?"
ho asked at length.
"Unless it's a silly joke or thc work
of some half-wit, there may be some
thing in it."
"But haven't you made any inquir
ies as to who-"
"A special squad has been on thc
job for sonic time," replied Silver, ''and
as a result I'm just expecting visitors.
As you know so much about tho caso
I'm glad you've rolled up in time. Hero
they come," ho added, thc door open
ing. ' _
Two men were ushered in. One
looked round suspiciously; tho other was
sightless. With a brief explanation
tho officer in charge of tho squad hand
ed tho visitors over to Silver.
"Your ñamo ia Bert Hunter?" the
Inspector begun, addressing tho blind
man.
"Yes, sir, but it ain't no use, I
don't know-"
"All right," said Silver, soothing
ly. "Don't worry. Nobody is going
to blame you. All wo want is to learn
ns much as possible about thc person
who handed you that telegram. This
man with you is your brother, I under
stand? Well, I'll talk to him after
wards. Now toll me exactly what hap
pened. ' '
Twisting his hat round and round,
thc blind match-seller related tho inci
dent in a few simplo words.
"Although you couldn't sec this
man," said Silver, "you probably ga
thered somo impression of him."
" How d'y ou moan?"
"Blind people do get impressions of
people, don't they? l'or instance, you
would recognise his voice again."
"Oh, I sec. Yes, I'd know that
anywhere."
"Anything elset"
"Well, 'o was a tall bloke. Nearly
six foot high, I reckon."
"What makes you say so?"
"Judging by where his voice came
from. Besides, my brother-"
"Never mind your brother for the
moment. 1 want your opinions. You
uro' thc only person who nctually heard
him speak. Did ho talk liku a well
educated man?"
"Oh, yes, 'o was a gent all rigln.
You couldn't mnko any mistake about
that. 'E gave mc three and a tanner
for doing nothin', as you might say."
"I suppose you didn't form any
opinion from his voice as to how old
ho might bo?"
"I. should think 'o wasn't what
you'd cnll old."
"Anything else, however trivial?"
"No, I can't say as I remember any
thing else".
Silver back in his chair.
"Anyway, what you've told us may
bc very useful," he said.
"Do you mind if I ask him a ques
tion now?" Andy Collinson put in.
"Go ahead." 1
Andy's eyes had been resting on a
ribbon sewn to thc blind man's waist
coat.
"You're an old soldier, Hunter?"
. "That's right, sir.'?
"Then you know how aa officer
gives orders."
"I ought to. I've served fourteen
years."
"Would you say that thu man who
handed you thc telegram hud been un
<Vriny officer?" ,
"Why, yes, sir, now you mention it.
Ile spoke ¿lear and sharp, iiko ho knew
just what 'o wanted."
Tho Inspector turned to tho other
visitor, under whose arm a number
of evening newspapers wero still
tucked.
"Your name is Bob Hunter?"
" Yessir. "
"Will you plcaso tell mo exactly
what you know about this business?"
Bob wiped his brow with tho back of
his hand. None of tho flatties who had
questioned him would give him any no
tion of what they were really after. All
this was very mystifying. Though ho
had had thc honor of being a minor
client once or twice iir ordinary police
courts, he had never before como in
contact with Scotland -Yard, and felt
uonc too easy about it now.
k'I was selling papers at my usual
pitch not fur from where Bert was
standing-," he began.
"How far away?"
" 'Bout ten yards, sir. I'd just serv
ed ono o' my reg'lars when I saw a toff
with Bert. If I'd known about this
I'd have took moro notico of tho
feller."
"Can you describo him?"
Again Bob Hunter wiped his brow.
These flatties- were trying him a bit too
high., Ho glanced round.
"Dunno, sir. '13 was a tidy bit
older than any of us an' 'c 'ad a board,
Tallish, too. 1 b'licvo 'c 'ad spectacles,
but 1 ain't sure."
"Well, go on."
"After that I served another cus
tomer. Then I seed Bert walkin' away,
and the toft' was watchin' 'im. Sort
of followin', if you understand me."
"Did you notice anything peculiar
about this man's walk?"
"Can't say I did, sir. I thought Bert
was goin' into thc Golden Lion us it
was about his time for a half-pint, but
'o turned in at tho post office to send
thc telegram, an' I didn't «ce no
more, though I seed Bert on his pitch
again a bit Inter. Never thought no
moro about it till ono of your blokes
started askin' mo quostions."
"And that is all you can tell us?"
"I s'pose so, guv'nor, 'copt that 1
know Bert hasn't done nothin' you eau
pinch him for. First-class discharge
from the Army, that's what 'c's got."
"Excellent!" observed Silver.
"Would you know tho niau who spoke
to your brother if :you saw him
again?"
"I don't, know as I'd bo able t"
lake my bible oath on it, sir. Y'sec
t hadn't any special reason to pay at
tention to 'im."
A phiin-cothes oflicial entered thc
room and handed an envelope to
Silver.
" Very well," said the Inspector.
"Much obliged to .you both. If I
want you airain I'll let you know."
As the blind man was lcd away Sil
ver slit open tho envelope and drew
from it an interesting shoot of paper.
"This," ho said to Andy, "is tho
original message"
Tho Budget man stared at tho rows
of block letters:
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR SILVER,
SCOTLAND YARD, THE MURDERER
OF RICHARD ALLERTON WILL BE
IN YOUR HANDS WITHIN FORTY
EIGHT HOURS.
"Why," Andy said thoughtfully,
"did anyone take tho trouble to con
vey this information? Don t tell me ho
.just .had a kind heart or 1 shall
burst into tears. Yrou see what I
mean? "
"Tho telegram was sent by some ono
who was gloating over tho prospect re
ferred to, but dared not como hero to
explain."
"Yes," said Andy. "Yes, 1 agree
with you up to a point, but if it gives
tho gentleman such happiness to gloat,
why didn't ho go a step further and
mention Hie annie of the murderer?"
"Ifs a pity he didn't odd that scran
of information, and yet when you weigh
the thing up, what would: have been
tho usc of it, unless ho also gave us
proof of tho man's guilt? If sonic idiot
chose to waste his money in making th.?
bald statement that you, for example,
had murdered Richard Allerton, ¡t
wouldn't help Ibo slightest."
(To be continued on Monday.)
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