Freeman Wills Crofts

“ We know how you brought out the cask to Mr. Felix’s about eight o’clock last night, and how, when you had left it there, you thought you’d go back and see what chances there were of getting hold of it again. We know how you hid the dray in a field close by, and then went back down the lane and waited to see if anything would turn up. We know how you learnt the house was empty and that after Mr. Felix left you brought the dray back. We know all about your getting over the wall with the barrel loader, and forcing the coach-house door with the wheel-cap wrench. ”

“ But it was on the face and neck the gaze of the men was riveted. Once she had clearly been beautiful, but now the face was terribly black and swollen. The dark eyes were open and protruding, and held an expression of deadly horror and fear. ”

“ I never let my vehicles out without a man in charge.”
“You’re right in that, of course, but I don’t want the man. I’ll tell you. If you let me have it I’ll make you a deposit of its full value. That will guarantee its safe return.”
The stout man rubbed his cheek.
“I might do that,” he said. “I’ve never done anything like it before, but I don’t see why I shouldn’t.”
“Let’s have a look at it, anyway,” said Burnley.
They went into the yard and approached the dray, Burnley going through the form of examining it thoroughly. ”

“ Burnley looked up sharply when he heard this.
“Did your French friend know that?” he asked.
“Le Gautier? No, I’m sure he did not.”
“If you take my advice, Mr. Felix, you won’t count too much on the cask. Indeed, you should prepare yourself for something unpleasant.”
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Felix. “You hinted that you thought the cask contained something besides the money. ”

“ Burnley saw he had produced his impression and leant forward and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Look here, Palmer,” he said. “If you go into court nothing on earth can save you. It’ll be penal servitude for at least five, and probably seven, years. But I’m going to offer you a sporting chance if you like to take it.” The man’s eyes fixed themselves with painful intentness on the speaker’s face. “The police can only act if Mr. Felix prosecutes. But what Mr. Felix wants is the cask. If you return the cask at once, unopened, Mr. ”

“ You see, we know the whole thing, so there’s not the slightest use in your pretending ignorance.”
During this recital the prisoner’s face had grown paler and paler until it was now ghastly. His jaw had dropped and great drops of sweat rolled down his forehead. Still he said nothing. ”

“ The Paris men are bound to know if there are any recent disappearances, and if not you have the cask and the clothing to fall back on.”
“Yes, sir, they should be a help.”
Footsteps in the corridor announced the arrival of the doctor. With a hasty greeting to the Chief, he turned to the unconscious man. ”

“ Am waiting on road south of carrier’s yard.”
Burnley walked to where he had left the motor and getting in, was driven to the place mentioned. At a sign from him the driver drew the car to the side of the road, stopping his engine at the same time. Jumping down, he opened the bonnet and bent over the engine. Any one looking on would have seen that a small breakdown had taken place.
A tall, untidy looking man, in threadbare clothes and smoking a short clay, lounged up to the car with his hands in his pockets. ”

“ Now this was a puzzler, for I hadn’t expected there’d be any one there to ask questions and I had no answer ready. So I made up an address. I chose a big street of shops and warehouses about four miles away—too far for the boss to know much about it, and I tacked on an imaginary number. ”

“ Handful after handful of dust was taken out and, after being sifted, was placed in a heap beside the sovereigns. As they got deeper the operation became slower, the spaces from which the tightly packed dust was removed growing narrower and harder to get at. ”