The Riddle of the Mysterious LightHanshew, Thomas W.
General
The Riddle of the Mysterious Light
Hanshew, Thomas W.
Cleek, Hamilton (Fictitious character) -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories
"No, no, the cure for my wrist," said Mr. Headland, fumbling in his
pocket for his note-book, while Mr. Belthouse snorted indignantly.
"Fancy my forgetting that incomparable liniment. Mr. Narkom, go and get
me a bottle, there's a good chap; here's the name. Shan't need your
precious doctor now, Mr. Belthouse. You can call in as you pass,
Narkom, and tell him so. What's his address, Mr. Belthouse?"
"Oh, it doesn't matter. I'll ring him up," said that gentleman. "But
it's 716 Cromwell Road, I believe, if you want it."
"Mustn't waste a doctor's valuable time," said Mr. Headland, and Mr.
Narkom darted off with a detached leaf from the note-book, as if the
very life of his companion hung upon the desired compound. Left to
himself, Cleek turned to the secretary.
"I'll have another look at that gallery of yours, Mr. Belthouse, and
then I think my part of the job is at an end."
"And a good job, too," was the irritable response. "I tell you, I can't
afford to waste more time this morning, and if that's all you can
do----"
"One can't do more than one's best," was Mr. Headland's meek response,
as with a queer little smile running up one side of his face he followed
the secretary out of the room, up the passages, and into the fateful
gallery.
"Now, what's the next thing?" asked Mr. Belthouse.
"I think," said Mr. Headland, scratching his head again, "I think it's a
case of 'wait and see'."
Without apparently noticing the word which slipped out from the chaste
lips of Mr. Belthouse, Cleek cocked his head on one side as if waiting
for some expected sound.
He had not long to wait, for there came the distant sound of screaming
and fighting. It came nearer and nearer, till at last, with a resounding
crash, the picture over the panelled door came down with shattered glass
and broken frame, the door swung open noiselessly and easily, and in the
aperture stood the flushed and triumphant figure of Mr. Narkom.
"Right was I, old chap?" said Cleek in sharp, concise tones, at the
sound of which Mr. Belthouse started violently.
"Right as a trivet. Just moving it into the cart. Petrie and Hammond
have got her----"
This fact was now a self-evident one, as the stalwart officers just
named appeared in the doorway, between them a struggling woman, in whose
oaths in English and fluent French, disarranged hair and torn dress, Mr.
Belthouse could hardly recognize the competent, "estimable" caretaker.
But before he could speak a word there came a fresh interruption.
"Hallo! What is this? They tell me you want me, Mr. Belthouse," said a
voice from the main doorway of the gallery.
"Doctor Montret!" said the secretary. "Come in, by all means. I cannot
explain what this means, but----"
"Save yourself, Jules," shrieked the woman. "Quick, fly! I was not in
time. It is Cleek, see, he is here! Fly, fly----"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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