Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

Every Tuesday "And might I be allowed to 'phone?'*' hopefully hinted the motorist. "My name's Hawkins, and Fm working for a garage in Canterbury, and they might think I've pinched the bus." " Sparrow shall take you to the 'phone." Brian turned as the butler appeared. " Take this gentleman to the 'phone in the study and get him a tin of petrol up from the garage." " Very good, sir." "Thanks, mister," Mr. Hawkins beamed affably. "Do the same for you one of these days. Lead on, Macduff." "What a queer motor man," cric<I Lady Paget, when the door had shut. "1 think he's been drinking, Brian." Brian brightened visibly when three hoots from a motor horn sounded. "That's old Disher," he exclaimed. "I'll go and let him in." "A most disturbing evening." Sir Edwin sipped his whisky. "I hope we shan't have any more bother. Ah, now we shall see a real sleuth!" Maurice Disher was a tall, quiet- spoken, refined type of man. Ho wore very plain, good clothes, and seemed like any ordinary individual; he was clean-shaven, dark-haired, lean and alx)ut forty years of age. Sir Edwin and Lady Paget liked him at once. The crime in- vestigator showed no sign of any undue interest when he shook hands with Peter Hoyt and bowed to Olga Hoyt. "Glad you're here." Sir Edwin cot- toned on to Disher. "This house is haunted. I reckon you're in for a bus- man's holiday." Whereupon Disher insisted upon Brian telling him all that had happened. He showed marked interest in the Rem- brandt, and when Sparrow and Mr. Hawkins appeared he almost registered surprise. Even Brian noted the way Sparrow sud- denly drew back at sight of the detective. "The telephone is out of order, sir," Sparrow quickly regained his poise. "We can get no reply, and I legret to say that all the pcti-ol cans have been emptied." " What's that?" pirgled Brian. "Someone poured away my petrol?" " Yep, and ] reckon someone's cut your telephone wire," chuckled Mr. Hawkins. "I wonder if there are any bur- glars around ?" Lady Paget nearly went into hysterics at the idea, and would have done so if tliere had not come a thun- dering on the front door. " Go and see who it is." Brian almost snarled the words at Sparrow. "Tell who- ever it is to go and boil themselves!" What a surprise ■when Sparrow, very frightenefl, rifnrned with a police-inspector. "My name is Potter —Inspector Potter." The man of the Foire fixed them with steely glnnfcs. " I want to ask a few questions, please." He moistened ^is lips and BOY'S CINEMA produced a notebook. "Down in the cojjse near Copp's Corner a man has been shot in the back—murdered!" Lady Paget went off in a dead faint. The Dummy Bookcase. PAUL DISHER ha<l at once set to ■work to unravel the tangled skein. He took charge of the pi-oceedings, explained to In.^pector Potter who ho was, and asked everybotly to remain in the lounge till he came back. One action of his completely surprised the company. "Mr. Hawkins," said the investigator, "can I rely upon you to see that no one leaves the house?" "You may." Hawkins spoke in changed, crisp accents. "I might have known you would have seen through thi.s get-up." " Why have Scotland Yard sent you down here?" asked Disher. "Just to watch the inovements of a certain man," was the answer. "Spar- row, you'd better stay right where you are." When Disher had gone off with the inspector, everybody wanted to know tlie mystery about Sparrow, but the Scotland Yard man would not say much. " My name's Cable, and Sparrow here knows me." he said grimly. "His refer- eticcs must have been faked. Maybe 1 can tell you more when Disher gets back. I don't quite get the angle on this shooting." "I'm not a killer." Sparrow quite lost his suave manner. "I know nothing about this muixler at Copp's Corner I" Di.~lier was not gone more than lialf an hour, during which time everybody sat and looked at each other. Every- 19 body watched Sparrow to see if he v.ere going to make a break for liberty, but the late butler seemed cowed and sullen. The two detectives had a consultation, and the I'esult was a curt order to Spar- row to stand up. "Cable is taking Sparrow into Can- terbury presently," explahied Disher. "I think we've cleared up one small mjstery." "His references seemed all right to me, ' grumbled Brian. "What was his great idea?" " That picture "—Disher pointed to the Rembrandt. "Cable rather thinks he was in league with someone else." For a moment his amused gaze rested oir the Hoyts. "But that remains to be proved. We shall know more in the morning." His smile was reassuring. "I'm not the host, Brian, but I would like to suggest that the ladies retire. It must have been a tiring evening." "Yes, and I'm locking my door," Lady Paget shuddered. "Come to bed, Edwin." "In a few minutes, my dear." Sir Edwin eyed the decanter. "I must help lock up, now that Sparrow fellow has gone. I knew that chap was a crook —I always can tell 'em." A white streak of forked lightning and a heavy clap of thunder did nothing to make Tinker's Revel more peaceful. Disher and Sir Edwin went to look roiuid the drawing-room anti kitchens, whilst Brian tackled the study and lounge. Peter Hoyt and Paul Tegle acted as escort to the ladies, who were scared to go upstairs alone. Brian was in his study. He was very angry that all these i-truiige happenings should have upset his house-party. He had tried to pump his friend about the man murdertKl at Copp's ' Corner, but Disher was very reticent. All the crime investigator would say was that the mur- dered man was an American and looked like a gunman. Deep in his own thoughts, Brian did not h:;ar a. faint click or see the book- case near tbo fireplace swing open and reveai a black hollow in the wall. A bowed figure crept out and \;ith crooked fingers moved silently towiirds Brian. But the most amazing thing of all was that the mysterious newcomer was the living imago of Brian. A sudden spring forward and stccl- like fingers wore round Brian's throat. He tried to cry out, but tho throttling pressure stifled all noise. The assailant forced Brian backwards and, with a tremendous effort, lugged his victim through tho opening. Slowly the dummy bookcase swung I was lying helpless when a light was flashed in my face." September 19th, 1931.