HECHNA MAILIFRIÐ
had asked for a squad to sear
neighbourhood
IPPLEMENT NOVEMBER 12, 1937
blood on the road near the car and leading to the woody
to the left of the road,
purred as Denis tackled its neck.
"Heigh
car, you sai atlantic varce
the
sergeant, and com
and continued, "I am
take charge of the routine search, but you are to snoop about on your lonesome being a regular detective while we are only poor uniformed blokes tem- porarily disguised in plain clothes "
Denis smiled, "Don't get tha way, sergeant. I am only a new hand. Not a bit wise. He knew that there was a certain amount of jealousy between the uniform- ed and detective branches of the Constabulary and did not wish to appear swollen-headed.
"You'll do, kid," said the ser geant, an old Army man. "We all wish you luck. You've done pretty well as it is. They're tell ing me that you'll get the King's medal for tackling those motor burglars at Haddon Castle. If you were to collar the gent who bumped off poor old Rossi, you'd be setting up a record.”
The sergeant then told Denis several instances of the murder-
the lad that
He had
that
Mirans--
leasant
had been safely prior to their police
towed
s
ship
in the
tones of the Southland or the cultured note of Boston, but the really tough kind. Denis turned to see a hard-faced woman who might once have been good-looking advancing towards him.
"No harm intended, I was just talking to the cat, he explained. smiling.
you're
"Talking to a cat! nuts."
"Possibly," replied the young detective, taking an in- mediate dislike to the woman... Then something clicked in his brain. By jove, he had seen this women's face in the "Warming list of possible suspects from abroad. Then, the manageress of the inn
came hurrying out and spoke to the American WOIGAKE, "Oh Miss. Travers, we're just help ing your patient down" This sounded interesting to Denis, who determined to stay and watch points. He slipped away to the garage and ascertained that a rich American învalid had been stay- ing at the inn for the past three days, accompanied by his nurse,
ed man's kindliness, especially to who was a holy terror" She
the down-and-out. "I wonder if this Dartry fellow has gone and got himself chivvied? It looks like it," he said finally, answer- ing his own question.
By this time the car had reach- ed the spot on the north-west high road where Dartry's car had been found deserted. Close to it was a petrol can, while the trail of blood that led to the woody country on the left of the road- had been roped off.
Two detective-sergeants were already at work on the suspect spots, while the newly-arrived police spread out like a line of the skirmishers to examine woods. Denis, trying to look wise, went to Alton, a little village a few hundred yards up the road, and asked a few questions, but the motor-patrol men had been here before him, so he returned to the search party, joining them - in the woods just in time to hear one of the constables shout: “Tve- found him. Come here, ser geant!" At the foot of a tree was spread the body of a man face downwards: like Rossi, thought Denis. The sergeant and the young detective turned the body over. "It's Dartry all right,” said the sergeant, "He used to make a book down our way.” “And he's been stabbed in the back like Rossi." added Denis very sober- ly. He was not case-hardened. and two murders within twenty, four hours made him feel ill He jumped into the waiting patrol car and sped back to the village. to telephone headquarters.
But there was no telephone to be found, so he drove a little further on to a wayside inn which was once famous, and there got on the wire to Market-street. He had given in his message and was returning to the car when he thought he would ask a few rou- tine questions. He went to the old coaching yard at the back of the inn that nowadays harboured for-cars and coaches and char- a-banca
werful-looking
He noticed
chine parked near the entrance a young black cat lying under one of the back wheels Came out of that," he said, ad- vancing and making noises. Pollaca dieative" friendship, The animal rose up, arched its back
and emerged from under the to jump on the dash-board and
did everything for him, even drove his car. This sounded even. more interesting. Possibly if Denis had not taken offence at the American woman's manner, his suspicions would not have been. aroused to the pitch they were. He returned to the yard to see the patient, a neutral-faced man of indeterminate age, being support-- ed out of the inn.
He walked rapidly through the courtyard to the motor exit, on to the high road and warned the motor-patrol, “I want you to fol- low a car that's just coming out. There's something skewy about.” He had already taken the number of the American's car and tele- phoned to headquarters, wonder- ing what sort of a reply he would receive The Chief himself even-
tually answered him. "Good work, we want that woman for ques- tioning, anyway, and the man sounds phoney. Right. Fll send out a wireless. You were right in doing nothing on your own
The powerful car, driven by the American alleged nurse, debouch- ed on to the highway and turned south, followed at a discreet dis- tance by the patrol-car.
It was five miles on the road to- wards Sparrbrook, just before you reach the cross-roads, that two police cars stopped the Americans.
Out stepped the Chief himself. "No rough stuff. Aggie My men are armed. Come out of that car like a perfect lady. Last time I saw you was when I was con- stable in the Royal Canadian Mounties. You were running a crook honk-a-tank which I closed down Gosh, Aggie, you are a wander for your age. And now your interesting invalid. Ah, I thought as much. Mr. Anthony Angon, or Antonio Angoni, just as you like. Now drop that knife, Tony. I want you for Listen carefully," and the read the formal charge on the warrant and gave the usual warn- ing. Two detectives dragged him out of his car and into their own. Your make-up is good, com mented the Chief, "but I remem ber Aggie used to be a chorine,” then a theatrical dresser, and was quite good with grease paint *
"Clever work by young local de tective, commented the Chief as he told Dents to take a chair and a cigar.
Demis
and the Chief The Old Man, I beg pardon, the Major, our boss, in other words, the Chief Constable of this county, is very pleased with you. So am I. But you had Inspector Luck on your side.” Denis agreed. The Chief smiled. "Glad you haven't got swollen head, especially as we've going to make you acting detective-ser- geant now that Willis is retiring, and we are increasing the strength of the constabulary.
"It seems that Angon arrived here three or four days ago, made his way to the outskirts where Aggie, who had been prowling the neighbourhood for weeks, picked him up in their car, made him up and took him to the inn, where you first saw them. They registered there, then she drove him back late at night and he would return in Dartry's car next day as his normal self, slip up to his rooms from the bar and be once camouflaged
again. The night garage man at the inn has
given us some useful information,
and we found quite a lot of loot in their baggage. Angon had no reason except impure greed bump o off poor old Rossi The confounded gangster has plenty of money which he salted away when he was Chief of Staff of that mob in Toledo, Ohio. Aggie Tooked over the ground for him, and he played the down-and-out, arousing the old man's pity. The rest was easy for the cowardly Killer. Dartry probably wanted a share in the spoils which Angon thought he did not de serve, so he was bumped off as
passp
marry some halt
ON
tor who died of alcoh ing shortly afterwa Rossi kept a young fortune on those premises of his not money alone, but jewellery and old books and things.
Angon was sentenced to death and Aggie drew down a very sentence, narrowly missing the gallows.
"Evidently Scotland Yard has not a monopoly of clever and courageous police detective of- ficers, commented his Lordship.
Shortly after this, Denis went on his first leave, back to his parents house at Midvale, and wasn't the girl next door glad to see him.
"Tve landed a job as black-and- white artist on the "Sparrbrook Evening Globe," she told him.
"So I've heard. I've seen quite a lot of your stuff in the weeklies, too, and sort of basked in your reflected glory.
She laughed, "Do you know father approves of you.
He was somewhat astonished, for her father was a famous scholar with many ultra-trained books to his credit
Just then a black cat came out of the dark-eyed girl's house and circled round Denis purring and- generally trying to make friends.
"And Peturabo approves of you, too! That is rare. He's an awful snob," said the girl.
"That settles it, then," said Denis, and he kissed her, which was exactly what she wanted him to do.
Who said that black cats are not lucky?
fine liqueur"
"I can tell
White Horse
blindfold! And to think that at one
time I used simply to ask for whisky and soda! White Horse is just like a fine liqueur!?!
Bole Agents for 8. China: JARDINE MATHESON & Co., I'm.