The Middle of ThingsFletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
General
The Middle of Things
Fletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
Detective and mystery stories
"Couldn't tell you that, guv'nor, d'yer see," said the lad, "'cause he's
one o' them gents what allus wears a white silk handkercher abaht his
face--up to his eyes. But he's a big man--wears black clothes."
Viner gave the boy his promised reward, and was passing on when Miss
Wickham touched his arm.
"Ask if he's seen a lady go out this way," she said. "That's equally
important."
The boy, duly questioned nodded his head.
"I see Mrs. Killerby go out not so long since," he answered. "Her what
used to live here one time. Know her well enough."
"Come along!" muttered Viner. "We've hit it! Mrs. Killerby--who is Mrs.
Killenhall--used to live here at one time! Good--which means very bad,
considering that without doubt the doctor who wears a white silk
handkerchief about his face is the muffled man of Lonsdale Passage. Miss
Wickham, something has alarmed these birds and they've flown."
"But why were we brought here?" asked Miss Wickham.
"I've an idea as to why you were," said Viner, "and I propose to find out
at once if I'm right. Let's get away, find a taxicab, and go to
your--but, good heavens!" he went on, breaking off as two men came into
the yard. "Here's one of Carless' clerks, and Perkwite the
barrister.--What are you doing here?" he demanded, as Millwaters and
Perkwite hurried up. "Are you after anybody along there--in that
house--the one at the end?"
"We're after a good many things and people in Dr. Martincole's place, Mr.
Viner," answered Millwaters. "Mr. Perkwite and I traced Mr. Cave here
early in the afternoon; he went in, but he's never come out; we saw you
enter--here you are. We saw Miss Wickham and Mrs. Killenhall--there's
Miss Wickham, but where's the other lady? And where--"
Viner stopped the clerk's questions with a glance, and he laughed a
little as he gave him his answer.
"My dear fellow," he said, "you should have posted somebody at the back
here. Why, we don't quite know yet, but Miss Wickham and myself were
trapped in there. As for Cave, he must be the man who went away with
Martincole. As for Mrs. Killenhall, she too has gone. That boy down there
saw all three go, some time ago, while we were locked up. But--what made
you watch these people?"
"We followed Cave," said Perkwite, "because Millwaters had been ordered
to do so, and because I considered his conduct mysterious. Then, when
we saw what was going on here,--your arrival following on that of Miss
Wickham and Mrs. Killenhall,--we telephoned for Mr. Carless and more
help. Carless and Lord Ellingham, and a couple of detectives, are at
the front now. Millwaters and I heard from a denizen of these unlovely
parts that there was a back entrance. We'd tried in vain for admittance
at the front--"
"But they've got in now, Mr. Perkwite!" exclaimed Millwaters suddenly.
"See, there's Mr. Carless at a back window, waving to us to come in. I
suppose we can get in by the back, Mr. Viner?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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