CHAPTER X

A MYSTERIOUS CASE

The murder of Miss Sophia Wharf at the Bristol Hotel ball made a great

sensation. She had been well-known in Marport, and her many friends were

enormously excited that each and everyone of them had been acquainted

with a person who had been--as one of them put it--done to death. Also

the circumstances of the murder were most extraordinary. It seemed

almost incredible that a popular lady should be murdered in so public a

place; though many said, that the safety of the assassin lay in the very

fact that he had chosen to commit his crime a few yards away from a spot

where many people were congregated. But who had killed Miss Wharf and

why she was killed in so brutal a manner, no one could understand.

When the local police heard of the assassination, an Inspector with two

subordinates took possession of the hotel, and obtained from the manager

a list of the guests present at the ball. As these amounted to something

like two hundred, it seemed like looking for a needle in a haystack to

search for the criminal amongst them. And many of them did not know Miss

Wharf even by sight, so it was certain that the task of identifying the

assassin would be one of enormous difficulty. And the question was asked

on all hands. "What had taken the deceased lady down the

little-frequented steps?" The fan was missing--Miss Pewsey noticed that,

when she bent over the dead, but the story of the fan was not yet public

property.

According to custom the local police communicated with the Treasury, who

placed the case in the hands of the Criminal Investigation Department,

and thus it came about, that a plain clothes officer--in other words a

detective--was sent down to Marport. This individual was called Rogers,

and after paying a visit to the Superintendent of the Marport Police

Office, he went to Ivy Lodge. Here, everything was gloomy and silent.

The body of the unfortunate woman had been brought home, and was laid

out for burial. Dr. Forge, who with others had been on the spot at the

time of the discovery, examined the corpse, and asserted that the

miserable woman must have been murdered just an hour, or half an hour

previous. As midnight was chiming shortly before the discovery of the

crime, it can be safely declared--and Dr. Forge did declare this--that

Miss Wharf was strangled between eleven and twelve. When the corpse was

found it was yet warm. Clarence haunted the Lodge and talked with his

aunt, but Olivia kept to her own room.

"Tung-yu did it of course," said Mr. Burgh decisively. "I reckon he came

down to get that fan, and grudged giving so much cash for it. I surmise

that he lured the old girl to those steps, and then slipped the silk

string round her neck."

"The silk tie," said Miss Pewsey whose eyes were very black and

glittering, though red round the rims, from weeping.

"How do you know it's a tie?" asked Clarence with a start.

"I know," replied his aunt tightening her thin lips, "and I know to whom

the tie belongs. But you say that Tung-yu?--"

"Who else could have scragged the old girl aunt Lavinia. The fan's

gone--leastways I didn't see it when we spotted the deader."

Miss Pewsey nodded. "Yes, the fan is gone," she assented, "but if

Tung-yu murdered dearest Sophia, he can easily be arrested."

"Oh, I guess not," replied Mr. Burgh easily. "Tung-yu's no slouch, you

bet, and didn't intend to lose his prize--"

"The fan?" inquired Miss Pewsey.

"Just so, the fan," replied Clarence imperturbably, "and he's on his way

to China by this time."

"Clarence?" Miss Pewsey rose, much excited; then calmed down. "I do not

agree with you," said she firmly. "Tung-yu is innocent."

"I'll lay a couple of dollars he isn't, Aunt Lavinia. Do you remember

that yacht I pointed out to you last night. Well, t'was a steam deep-sea

barky, two hundred tons, Lloyd's measurement I reckon--quite heavy

enough to cut round the Cape into Chinese waters. Well, she arrived in

the afternoon yesterday and after midnight she lighted out."

"But how do you know Tung-yu was on board?"

"Well, I only size that up," said Clarence musingly, "but it looks to me

as though he'd engineered the job. 'Twould be easy I guess for him to

have had a boat waiting for him. After he'd killed the old girl and

annexed the fan, he could dance down those steps like a two year old and

pick up the boat on the beach. Course it's all my fancy," added Burgh

modestly, "but I guess I'm right."

"I guess you're not," snapped Miss Pewsey in rather an unlady-like

manner, and she rose to shake out her skirts. "I know who killed dearest

Sophia," she added, wagging a lean finger at her nephew. "I know who

possessed the tie, and I shall hand that man--"

"Who the dickens is he anyhow?"

"Rupert Ainsleigh," replied Miss Pewsey with a grim smile, and left the

room, while the buccaneer stared, and then smiled. It was pleasant to

think that his rival--as he considered Rupert,--should be in such

straits and should be pursued by the vindictive hatred of Miss Pewsey,

who would leave no stone unturned to bring about the conviction of young

Ainsleigh.

"Well," said the buccaneer with his hands in his pockets. "I guess I'm

not taking a hand in this biznai, and it ain't lively round these

quarters. I'll git."

And this Mr. Burgh did. When he passed out of the front door, he brushed

against a plainly dressed rubicund man with sharp grey eyes who glanced

at him inquisitively. However, the stranger said nothing but proceeded

to ring the bell. The maid-servant who appeared took him into the

drawing-room and carried a card to Miss Pewsey. The name thereon was,

Orlando Rodgers, C.I.D.

With this in her hand Miss Pewsey sailed into the drawing-room and

looked at the comfortable creature who rose to greet her. "Mr. Orlando

Rodgers, C.I.D.?" queried the little old lady.

"Criminal Investigation Department," said the man in a cool voice, and

with a sharp glance at the dry drab woman, "I'm in charge of the Wharf

Murder Case, and have been sent down by the Treasury. As I have seen the

Superintendent and can learn nothing likely to throw light on the

subject, I have come to you--a relative?"

"No," answered Miss Pewsey sitting down, in a rigid way. "I am the

companion of the late Miss Wharf. Her only relative, down here at all

events, is Miss Olivia Rayner."

"Can I see her?"

"I think not--at present. She is in her room weeping. Though why she

should display such grief I can't understand," added Miss Pewsey

spitefully.

"It's natural in a relative, miss," said the detective looking hard at

the withered little face.

Miss Pewsey laughed in a shrill manner, and spoke between her teeth more

than ever, emphasising every word as usual. "Oh, dear me, no," said she.

"Miss Wharf and Olivia never got on well. The girl hated her aunt,

though dearest Sophia--Miss Wharf, you know, sir--brought her up, when

she hadn't a shilling or a friend in the world."

"To whom have I the honour of speaking?" asked Rodgers wondering how

much of this spiteful speech was true, and seeing plainly enough that

the speaker was no friend to the niece.

"I am Lavinia Pewsey," said that lady, "and for years I have been the

cherished friend and dearest companion of Sophia. We were at school

together, and were--as I may say--like two cherries on one stalk.

Anything I can do to avenge her death will be done."

"Punishment by the law, doesn't come under the head of vengeance!"

"It comes under the head of hanging, and I'll be glad to see the rope

round his neck."

"Of whom are you talking?" asked Rodgers phlegmatically.

"Of the man who killed my dearest friend."

"Oh. I understood from the Superintendent that the affair was quite a

mystery."

"Not to me," snapped Miss Pewsey, "Rupert Ainsleigh strangled her to get

the fan."

"What fan?" asked the detective taking out his note-book, "and who is

Rupert Ainsleigh?"

Miss Pewsey spread her skirts and folded her hands together in a prim

way. "I shall tell you all," she cried, "and please take down all I say.

I am prepared to make this statement in a law court."

"Well," said Rodgers moistening his pencil, "you may have to. Now this

Mr. Ainsleigh?----"

"Of Royabay, a few miles from Marport," said Miss Pewsey, "quite one of

the old families. A nice come down for the Ainsleighs, for the last of

them to die on the gallows."

"He is not there yet," said Rodgers dryly, "and may I ask you to speak

in a more reasonable way. I see you don't like the man."

"I hate him," Miss Pewsey drew a long breath, "and I hated his father

before him, to say nothing of his mother, who was a cat."

"Then your evidence is prejudiced, I fancy."

"Never you mind, Mr. Orlando Rodgers," she replied sharply, "take down

what I say, and then you can sift the matter out for yourself. My Sophia

was murdered to obtain possession of a fan----"

"What fan?" asked Rodgers again.

Miss Pewsey smiled, and calmly detailed all she had learned from Dr.

Forge concerning the fan. "You can ask my nephew, Clarence Burgh, about

these things also," she ended, "and Dr. Forge, and Mr. Christopher

Walker, who brought the Chinaman Tung-yu to the ball, and----"

"Wait a bit," interrupted the detective, "it appears to me from what you

say," he ran a quick eye over his notes, "that the suspicion points to

these Chinamen you mention. They advertised, and they wanted the fan.

Now Hwei--as I hear from you--was not at the ball, but Tung-yu was.

Therefore Tung-yu----"

"Didn't do it," said the little woman. "I don't pretend to understand

why Hwei offered death and Tung-yu money for the possession of the fan;

nor do I know why this Mandarin, whatever his name may be, is so anxious

to get possession of the article. But I know that the fan is gone and

that Tung-yu, who did not intend murder, hasn't got it."

"Then who has?"

"Rupert Ainsleigh. He went up about the advertisement and knew all about

the fan. I believe he killed my Sophia, and got the fan, so as to sell

it for five thousand to Tung-yu--"

"But a gentleman of property wouldn't--"

"A gentleman of property," snorted the old maid smoothing her dress,

"why he's head over ears in debt and will lose Royabay before the end of

the year on account of the foreclosure of a mortgage. He'd have done

anything to get money, and five thousand pounds is not a small amount."

"This is all very well: but I don't see how you connected Mr. Ainsleigh

with the crime."

"By means of the silk necktie," said Miss Pewsey with a triumphant

smile, and related how Rupert had received the scarf from Olivia, "if he

is guiltless how came his silk tie round the throat of Sophia?"

Rodgers was shaken by this piece of evidence. "It looks queer I admit,"

he said: then added, "I understand that Mr. Ainsleigh is an admirer of

Miss Rayner."

"He wants to marry her, and she is in love with him," said Miss Pewsey,

"which is an additional reason for the crime."

"I don't understand."

"You're not a sharp man," said the old woman tranquilly, "don't you see

that as Miss Rayner inherits dearest Sophia's money, she will get the

mortgage also. Then with that, and the five thousand pounds Mr.

Ainsleigh would be free from his money-troubles. Well," she added

sharply, as the detective rose, "what do you say?"

"Nothing at present. Give me the address of Dr. Forge who, I believe,

examined the body, and of your nephew and Mr. Ainsleigh."

Miss Pewsey did this with alacrity and accompanied Rodgers to the door.

"Don't spare him," she said venomously, "he's guilty and he shall hang,"

and she shut the door herself.

"What a spiteful woman," mused Rodgers, leaving Ivy Lodge, "her story is

so very explicit that I am inclined to doubt it. She wants this young

man scragged. Why?"

He could find no answer to this question, but went on his way to see

Clarence Burgh. His interview with the buccaneer was brief. Clarence

related the story of the yacht, and set forth his theory of Tung-yu.

"Mind," said he, "I don't like Ainsleigh, as he's trying to run the girl

I want to hitch long-side of. But I guess he didn't scragg the old

girl."

"You speak fairer than your aunt," said Rodgers dryly.

Clarence heaved up his right shoulder. "Huh," said he, "if you go by

woman's jaw, you'll get on the shoals. Tung-yu scragged the old girl,

you bet, and he's on his way to China in that yacht."

"Well, we'll see if we can't stop the yacht. She must coal somewhere.

What is her name?"

"The Stormy Petrel," said Clarence, "I got that out of a boatman, who

was rowing about her yesterday."

"Did he see any Chinaman on board?"

"No. He didn't see anyone. There didn't appear to be anyone about, or

else they were at tea," concluded Clarence ungrammatically.

"Humph," said the detective, noting the name of the yacht, "do you know

anything of the silk tie?"

"No. Aunt Lavinia says it belongs to Ainsleigh, but I never saw it till

it was round the throat of the old girl. I should like to think he put

it there," said Clarence pleasantly, "for I want that chap out of the

way; but I believe Tung-yu's the man."

"Perhaps he is. Have you a copy of that advertisement?"

"No. But I reckon Ainsleigh has. Ain't you going to see him?"

Rogers nodded. "Straight away. And I thank you for what you have told

me. You want him hanged I presume."

"Well no I reckon not. He's in my way, but I can lay him out on my own,

without the lynching biznai."

"You are fairer than your aunt," said the detective once more.

"Go slow. She's only an acid-drop, and you can't size her up, just as an

ordinary girl. She was crazy on Markham, the father of this young

Ainsleigh, and----"

"And proposes to hang the son to avenge herself on his father. A nice

woman, truly. But it seems to me Mr. Burgh that if anyone killed Miss

Wharf, Hwei is the man."

"Might be. He wasn't at the ball anyhow. Tung-yu was."

"But Tung-yu--as I understand from Miss Pewsey--intended to call the

next day--to-day that is--and buy the fan for five thousand."

"Huh," Clarence heaved up his shoulder again, "perhaps he thought he'd

settle in another way. 'Day. I'll be along here whenever you like to

call. I wish to see this biznai through, you bet."

Rodgers departed, and sought out Rupert at Royabay. The young man was

walking up and down the terrace smoking furiously. At the sight of the

stranger he frowned and Rodgers noted that he looked worn and ill.

"Might be money worries," thought the detective, "and it might be the

other thing."

However, he kept these thoughts to himself and merely detailed what he

had learned from Miss Pewsey and set forth the accusation she brought

against him. Ainsleigh heard the detective quietly enough, and smiled

wearily when the explanation was concluded. "Miss Pewsey doesn't love

me," he said quietly, "and would like to see me out of the way, so that

Miss Rayner could marry her nephew."

"I see," nodded Rodgers, "Miss Rayner will have the dead lady's money,

and the nephew is poor."

"I really don't know," replied Rupert coldly, "Mr. Burgh is a mystery to

me. He comes from nowhere, though I believe he has been in China."

"And knows what about the fan?"

"I think so. At all events, young Walker declares that Burgh was talking

to a Chinaman near the Mansion House. Burgh admits this, and also admits

that the Chinaman was Hwei, who put in that advertisement.

"I'm inclined to suspect Hwei himself," said Rodgers looking keenly at

the worn face of the young man, "but this silk tie----"

"It is mine, Mr. Rodgers. Miss Rayner gave it to me last night."

"So Miss Pewsey says--on the balcony."

"Quite so. Miss Pewsey was spying and saw the tie given. As the colours

are rather pronounced, she could easily identify it. I took it to the

cloak-room and placed it in the pocket of my overcoat."

"And took it out again?"

"No." Rupert rose and grew crimson, "surely you are not so unjust as to

believe Miss Pewsey's malignant tale."

"You may be sure, Mr. Ainsleigh, that I'll act fairly towards you," said

the detective dryly, "but the tie having been used to strangle--"

"I don't know how it came round her throat," interrupted Ainsleigh

imperiously, "I placed the tie in my overcoat pocket--that was the last

I saw of it, until I noticed it on Miss Wharf's dead body."

"Did anyone else see the tie?"

"Yes, Major Tidman."

"Who is he?"

"A retired Army man--South American Army--who stops at Bristol Hotel. He

is much respected here. I went to the cloak-room, and found him talking

to Tung-yu. Both saw me place the tie in my coat."

Rodgers sat up. "Oh," said he opening his eyes widely, "then Tung-yu saw

you place the tie in the coat."

"He did, but if you suspect he took it out again, I think you are wrong.

He left the room and I exchanged a few words with Major Tidman."

"What about?"

"About this fan. Major Tidman told me to leave it alone. But of course I

never intended to meddle with it. Miss Wharf had it, and she hated me

too much to let me handle it, though she did give me the chance of

making the money," said Rupert, with an after thought.

"Eh, how was that?"

"She offered to let me have the fan if I gave up my claim to Miss

Rayner, whom she desired should marry Mr. Burgh, I refused."

"Humph," said Rodgers again, "and how does Major Tidman come to know

about the fan?"

"I refer you to him for an answer."

"And how did he come to know Tung-yu?"

"I believe he met him in Canton," replied Rupert restlessly, "he had

some adventure there--?"

"Connected with this ubiquitous fan?" asked Rodgers sharply.

"Yes. He promised to tell me the adventure to-day, but I had not seen

him yet."

"Humph. He may come after all. I'll call on this gentleman. At the

Bristol you say. Quite so," Rodgers took a note. "Now then Mr.

Ainsleigh, tell me how you came to go up about the advertisement?"

Rupert related his father's dealings with Lo-Keong, and referred to the

secret said to be connected with the fan. The detective heard him in

silence, and appeared to be struck by his frankness. "I think it's one

of the most complicated cases I ever had to do with, Mr. Ainsleigh, and

will take a lot of searching into."

"I hope you don't suspect me?"

"Humph, the tie is, strangely enough, the rope used to strangle this

woman, and you admit that it is yours. But Tung-yu saw you put it in

your overcoat pocket, and he wanted the fan--"

"For five thousand pounds remember. Hwei was the one who threatened to

gain the fan, by killing."

"Don't defend Tung-yu too much," said the detective dryly, "your

position is not a pleasant one and--"

"Do you mean to arrest me?" asked Rupert rising angrily.

"Not at present. But no doubt at the inquest you can prove an alibi."

Rupert turned away, "I can't," he said in a low voice, "I was walking

outside smoking between eleven and twelve--on the beach."

"That's a pity, Mr. Ainsleigh, I may have to arrest you after all. But

who is this gentleman. Major Tidman!--quite so. Good-day Major."