The Stowmarket Mystery; Or, A Legacy of HateTracy, Louis
General
The Stowmarket Mystery; Or, A Legacy of Hate
Tracy, Louis
Detective and mystery stories
"Yes; I can tell you that. It was a Monster, Pimlico. The conductor is a
friend of mine, named Tomkins. That is the only time I have seen him
to-day."
At the Monster, Pimlico, after another delay, Tomkins was produced. Again
Brett described David Hume, adorned now with "black, snaky eyes and high
cheek-bones."
"Of course," said Tomkins. "I've spotted 'im. 'E came aboard wiv a run
just arter a hoss fell in front of the statoo. Gimme a penny, 'e did, an'
jumped orf at the 'Orse Guards without a ticket afore we 'ad gone a
'undred yards. I thort 'e was frightened or dotty, I did. Know 'im agin?
Ra--ther. Eyes like gimlets, 'e 'ad."
The barrister regained the seclusion of the hansom.
"St John's Mansions, Kensington," he said to the driver, and then he
curled up on the seat in the most uncomfortable attitude permitted by the
construction of the vehicle.
On nearing his destination he stopped the cab at a convenient corner.
"I want you to wait here for my return," he told the driver.
"How long will you be, sir?"
"Not more than fifteen minutes."
"I only asked, sir, because I wanted to know if I had time to give the
horse a feed."
Cabby was evidently quite convinced that his eccentric fare was not a
bilker.
Brett glanced around. In the neighbouring street was a public-house, which
possessed what the agents call "a good pull-up trade." He pointed to it.
"I think," he said, "if you wait there it will be more comfortable for you
and equally good for the horse."
The cabby pocketed an interim tip with a grin.
"I've struck it rich to-day," he murmured, as he disappeared through a
swing door bearing the legend, "Tap," in huge letters.
Meanwhile, Brett sauntered past St. John's Mansions. Across the road a man
was leaning against the railings of a large garden, being deeply immersed
in the columns of a sporting paper.
The barrister caught his eye and walked on. A minute later Mr. Winter
overtook him.
"Not a move here all day," he said in disgust, "except Mrs. Jiro's
appearance with the perambulator. She led me all round Kensington Gardens,
and her only business was to air the baby and cram it with sponge-cakes."
"Where is her husband?"
"In the house. He hasn't stirred out since yesterday's visit to the
Museum."
"Who is looking after the place in your absence?"
"One of my men has taken a room over the paper shop opposite. He has
special charge of the Jap. My second assistant is scraping and varnishing
the door of No. 16 flat. He sees every one who enters and leaves the place
during the day. If Mrs. Jiro comes out he has to follow her until he sees
that I am on the job."
"Good! I want to talk matters over with you. I have a cab waiting in a
side street."
"Why, sir, has anything special happened?"
A newsboy came running along shouting the late edition of the _Evening
News_. The barrister bought a paper and rapidly glanced through its
contents.
"Here you are," he said. "Someone in that office has a good memory."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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