Detective and mystery stories; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
"I'm all right!" Dan, with an Englishman's dislike for an emotional
scene, kissed the girl again and slipped out of the door. They saw him
drive away in the gloom of the evening, and then settled to make
themselves comfortable. Neither Lillian nor Mrs. Bolstreath would
admit as much, but both felt rather downcast at Dan's sudden
departure. Luckily, as he had been so cool and composed, they did not
connect it with any fresh development likely to give trouble. In some
vague way Mrs. Bolstreath guessed that Dan had spiked the guns of the
enemy under which they were encamped, and, her certainty of safety,
being infectious, Lillian also felt quite at her ease. Meanwhile, Dan
reached the Beswick station in the ramshackle trap and was lucky
enough to catch the in-going train to Thawley, just as it started to
glide past the platform. The fortunate connection enabled him to board
the seven-twenty express to London, where he hoped to arrive shortly
before eleven that same evening. Knowing that Laurance's work kept him
up late at night, he wired from Thawley, asking him to come to St.
Pancras Station. Important as was Freddy's time, Dan knew that he
would respond to the call at once, knowing that large issues would be
the outcome of the present situation. Therefore, as the train dropped
south, Halliday felt quite comfortable, as he had done all he could to
arrange matters for the moment. Indeed, so assured did he feel that he
had taken all possible precautions, that he did not even trouble to
think over the matter, but fell asleep and refreshed his weary brain
and body. Only when the train arrived at St. Pancras did he tumble
out, sleepy still, to catch a sight of his faithful friend on the
platform.
"Nothing wrong?" asked Laurance, hurrying up.
"Nothing wrong," responded Dan, with a yawn, "but I have much to talk
to you about. Get a four-wheeler."
"A taxi you mean."
"I don't mean. I wish to travel as slowly as possible, so as to
explain matters. Tell the man to drive to _The Moment_ office. There I
can drop you and go on to my rooms."
Thus understanding the situation, Freddy selected a shaky old cab,
drawn by a shaky old horse, and the rate at which it progressed
through the brilliantly lighted streets was so slow that they were a
very long time arriving at _The Moment_ office in Fleet Street. In the
damp-smelling interior of this antique conveyance, Halliday, now quite
alert and clearheaded, gave his friend a full account of all that had
happened, particularly emphasizing the interview with Mrs. Jarsell.
"H'm," commenced Freddy, when he ended, "so she didn't give herself
away?"
"No; and very wisely, too, I think. She didn't know how much I knew,
and wasn't keen on giving me rope to hang her."
"But she knows you have read Penn's confession--what there is of it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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