Victor Bridges

“ At the sight of that hideous injury, all Colin's professional training instinctively asserted itself. Letting go the switch, he sprang forward, and, heedless of the blood and broken glass, dropped down on one knee beside the prostrate body.
It needed no medical knowledge to see that the case was hopeless. A terrific blow from some blunt instrument had smashed the whole front of the skull, and portions of the crushed and bleeding brain were even now protruding from the wound. Death must have come with merciful abruptness—a sudden and utter annihilation of every sense and feeling. ”

“ Mary glanced at Colin. "It sounds a good idea," she agreed. "I suppose I can get home by train?"
"You won't have to worry about that," said Colin. "I'll take the car up to the garage and do my repairs, and then come down again and join you here."
In a half-humorous, half-wistful fashion Nancy looked round at all three of them.
"I am not used to people being so kind," she said. "Unless somebody's disagreeable soon I am afraid I shall begin to cry."
Mary came up to her and again squeezed her hands affectionately. "You must never cry in this house, my dear," she said. ”

“ They're the sort of people you don't meet twice in a lifetime. Mark's a brick, and Mary's just the sweetest and most unselfish woman that ever trod this earth."
"They sound perfect dears," said Nancy. "I should love to know them whether I get the job or not."
"Get the job!" repeated Colin. "Why, good Lord, they'll simply be all over you as soon as you show yourself."
Nancy's blue eyes gleamed merrily. "You seem to forget, Doctor Gray," she said, "everybody isn't quite so rapid and trustful as you are. ”

“ Accepting both these invitations, Colin lighted a cigarette and took up a restful position on the couch. He felt curiously at home, considering the novelty of his surroundings, but the whole affair had been so unusual that somehow or other this impromptu tea party seemed to constitute a natural and appropriate climax.
That it would also turn out to be an extremely entertaining one he had no manner of doubt. Whoever Miss Nancy Seymour might be, she was certainly the most attractive girl he had ever met in his life. Her looks alone were sufficient to arouse anybody's enthusiasm. ”

“ I know I'm pretty—even other women have told me so—but I assure you my looks have got nothing to do with the matter. Do you suppose that a girl doesn't know when a man is really in love with her? Major Fenton doesn't care that for me." She snapped her fingers.
"I shouldn't wonder if you're right," agreed Colin. "A chap with a face like that could hardly have much capacity for romance. I should say that champagne was more in his line."
"All the same," said Nancy, "he's quite serious about wanting to marry me, and, what's more, he's made up his mind that he's going to do it." ”

“ She seems to regard me as a highly successful understudy of Providence."
"And, by Gad, it's true!" broke in Mark with enthusiasm. "I should have been absolutely in the soup without Miss Seymour. She's simply splendid, Colin. Down here at nine o'clock every morning, and working away like a galley slave until seven or eight in the evening."
"Well, that's what I'm paid for," objected Nancy. "And, besides, I don't look on it as work. I so enjoy the feeling that I'm doing something useful, instead of sitting all day typing out a lot of stories that nobody wants to read." ”

“ A big, burly man, clutching another by the collar, had staggered back against the wall of the pub, where, with his disengaged arm, he was endeavouring to defend himself as best he could against a rain of blows and kicks.
Striking out mercilessly right and left, Colin forced his way through the gang. He was only just in time, for exactly as he arrived a vicious kick in the ribs sent the big stranger sprawling to the pavement, his fingers still gripping the collar of his half-throttled prisoner. ”

“ This is the first holiday I've had since I went to the Professor's."
"How are you getting on?" asked Nancy.
"Up to the present," replied Colin modestly, "I think I have given what they call complete satisfaction."
"What's the old man like?" demanded Mark. "Easy to live with?"
Colin hesitated. "It all depends," he answered. "We've managed to hit it off well enough, but then I've rather gone out of my way to humour his little weaknesses. He's one of the sort that you've just got to take or leave. As long as you do exactly what he wants he's kindness itself. ”

“ Colin sank into the vacant chair and stretched out his hand toward the whisky.
"I'm still alive," he said, "but that's about all. Every day, in every respect, my admiration for Mark grows deeper and deeper."
Nancy pushed across the soda. "I often wonder he hasn't broken down," she said. "It's only sheer good nature and kindness that keep him going. He comes in to lunch every day and says the most blood-curdling things about the patients, but in his heart he just loves them all." ”

“ Colin searched in his pocket and pulled out the report which Marsden had given him.
"That makes my job a bit easier," he remarked.
She gazed curiously at the slip of paper.
"What's that?" she demanded.
Colin sat back, still holding it in his hand.
"I've been doing a quite unpardonable sort of thing, Nancy," he said. "Before I tell you, will you promise to forgive me?"
"Certainly," she said, smiling. "I can always forgive anything that's really unpardonable. It makes one feel so nice and generous." ”

“ He led the way out on the landing, followed by the detective, and for the first time since their return to the house Colin and Nancy found themselves alone.
He put his arm round her, and, bending down, kissed her hair.
"You mustn't let all this distress you too much, darling," he said gently. "It's been a horrible and ghastly business, but I do believe it's ended in the best way possible. If these men hadn't been killed——"
"I know, Colin," she said. "I think it's only a sort of selfish feeling I've got. I am so happy myself I want everyone else to be happy too." ”

“ Before either of them could speak again there was a tap outside, and an apologetic constable presented himself in the doorway.
"Beg pardon, sir," he said, "but the Commissioner is ready to see you."
With an abrupt change of manner Marsden rose to his feet.
"Thank you, Jackson," he said. "I will be down immediately."
Then, as the door closed, he took a step forward, and with another hearty chuckle gripped hold of Colin's hand.
"I congratulate you with all my heart, doctor," he said. "Unless I'm a damned fool, you're the luckiest man in England." ”

“ The Red Lodge, the home of Professor Carter, dated back to the leisured days of George the Third. It was a square, creeper-clad house, surrounded by a high wall, with a covered passageway leading up from the street to the front door. Through the outside gate, the upper half of which consisted of an iron grille, the curiously minded passer-by could, by straining his neck, just obtain a glimpse into the neglected garden. ”

“ Nancy must have seen him, too, from the study window, for as the front door opened Colin heard her voice in the hall, and the next moment the pair of them entered the surgery.
Mark thrust out his hand and wrung Colin's heartily.
"I needn't ask how everything is," remarked the latter. "You look too damn cheerful for anything but good news."
"That's right," returned Mark, tossing his hat on to a chair. "The operation went off like clockwork, and I left the old lady sitting up in bed having a cup of tea with Mary. She'll be as fit as a fiddle in another fortnight." ”

“ There's you and I and Mark and Mary and Joe——" He paused. "By the way, I wonder what's happened to Joe."
"I know what's going to happen to him," said Nancy. "Directly I get my money I'm going to buy him the biggest and most beautiful public house in Shadwell. If it wasn't for Joe——" Her voice faltered, and with a sudden impulsive movement she caught hold of Colin's hand and pressed it to her cheek.
For a moment he stood looking down at her, his gray eyes alight with love and tenderness.
"There's only one thing that isn't quite perfect," he said slowly. ”

“ Christopher's Hospital? That it was an invention of his own Colin felt certain, and no man would take the responsibility of fathering such a lie unless he had some particularly strong object in view.
Could he have fallen in love with Nancy himself? If that were the case it would certainly supply a possible motive. Passion has a queer effect upon some characters, and the mere thought of her making friends with any one else might have filled him with such furious resentment that he had clutched at the first conceivable chance of breaking off their acquaintance. ”

“ Colin saw that they were in a large cellar, the walls of which were dripping with wet slime. Except for the trapdoor there appeared to be only one other opening—a heavily barred grating some eight feet from the floor.
Bending down over his prisoner, "Spike" Cooper flashed the light full in his face.
"That was a dandy fight of yours, mister," he drawled slowly, "and I'm real sorry we got to put you through it."
Colin looked up at him unflinchingly. "You seem to take a long time about committing a murder," he said. "Why don't you finish the job and clear out?" ”

“ Penwarren had invested for me, and that gave me the chance of coming to London and setting up as a typist." She stopped short, and glanced at Colin with a sudden trace of embarrassment. "I don't know why I am telling you all this," she added. "I'm afraid I must be boring you horribly."
Colin shook his head. "I never felt more interested in my life. I thought that things like that only happened in books and plays."
"I wish they did," said Nancy. "I simply hate not knowing who I am. It makes one feel like a lost dog."
"But how about our genial friend in the car?" inquired Colin. ”

“ For the first three miles Colin needed all his skill and luck to avoid disaster; then, as they drew farther out into the lonely marshland which borders the north bank of the Thames, the conditions gradually improved. The east wind, which blows perpetually over that desolate region, had already begun to dry up the surface of the road, while with nothing but an occasional cowshed or a few leafless trees to obstruct the view, the chances of running headlong into some unforeseen death trap were reduced to much more comforting proportions. ”

“ He took the trouble to go over to Helston and see the lawyer, Mr. Penwarren, who gave him my address. I can't imagine why he should have bothered about me at all, but for some extraordinary reason he seems to have thought it was his duty. Anyhow, he has certainly gone out of his way to try and be kind to me, and although I don't like him I naturally feel a certain amount of gratitude. He must be rather a nice man really or he wouldn't have behaved as he has."
"I daresay you're right," said Colin doubtfully. "I have been told that the most objectionable people often have hearts of gold." ”

“ Marsden's answer came with startling bluntness, and there could be no question as to the effect that it produced. An expression of incredulous amazement flashed across the big man's face, and for a moment he stood gripping his hat and staring blankly at the speaker.
"Murdered?" he exclaimed at last. "Impossible! There must be some mistake."
"It's not the sort of thing that lends itself to mistakes," returned the detective.
Mr. Medwin drew in a long breath, and Colin, who was watching intently, saw that he was making a tremendous effort to recover his self-control. ”

“ Colin read through this remarkable communication in silence, and, having come to the end, handed it to Nancy.
"It's just the sort of letter I should have expected him to write," he observed. "The only thing I'm surprised at is that he didn't send us a wedding present."
"Well, it's queer your putting it like that," replied the detective. "As a matter of fact, it's the very same remark which I made to the Commissioner. There's a certain type of criminal who doesn't care what happens to him as long as he can die showing off and codding himself that he's a sportsman and a gentleman." ”

“ Without entering upon any superfluous explanations, Colin paid over the desired sum, and, after neatly forging Mark's signature, made his way back to the car. He was leaning over the side door, storing away his trophy, when a gruff voice suddenly addressed him from the pavement behind.
"Doctor Gray, unless I'm much mistaken!"
Turning round promptly, he found himself face to face with the burly, shrewd-eyed figure of Inspector Marsden.
"I thought I was right," continued the detective. "It's part of my business to recognize people by their back view." ”

“ The surgeon shook his head. "No," he replied. "Like everyone else, I was a great admirer of his work, but I never had the honour of being introduced to him. The police tell me that you were acting as his resident assistant."
"I came here straight from the hospital," said Colin. "I had been with him for nearly a month."
"It seems such a particularly brutal and senseless crime," continued the other, after a short pause. "One would think that even the most callous ruffian would hesitate about striking down an old man of over eighty." He glanced at Colin's dressing gown. ”

“ You are so young and so pretty that it seems a shame you should bury yourself in Shadwell. We do our best to be cheerful, but, you know, a doctor's practice in the East End of London is nearly all hard work and no play. You will probably find it horribly depressing."
Nancy shook her head. "I am not afraid of that," she said. "I rather like hard work as long as it's useful. What I'm doubtful about is whether I can do what you want."
"Good Lord, yes," exclaimed Mark hastily. "It's only just a matter of common sense. Mary would put you up to the ropes in half an hour." ”

“ Followed by the others, he started cautiously forward up the drive, and, skirting the edge of the shrubbery, came out on to a neglected strip of grass, which at some remote period had evidently been a tennis lawn.
Facing them was the house, an old-fashioned two-storey residence, with a tumble-down verandah half covered in ivy. From the French windows in the centre a broad patch of light streamed out hospitably through the drawn blinds.
Marsden's gaze travelled thoughtfully from one end of the building to the other.
"There's only one way to do it," he said, in a low voice. ”