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While it was doubtful whether Barling would hear the noise or, if he heard it, connect it with Desmond, it was certain that Strangwise and Bellward would do both and be upon Desmond without a moment's delay. Then Desmond's eye fell upon the electric candle which had slid to the very edge of the table.
But I asked thee how thou got on with thy Missis, and thou tells me o' th' lasses. Never did know a woman answer straight off. Ask most on 'em how far it is to Newark, and they'll answer you that t' wind was west as they come fro' Barling." "Thou hast not a good opinion of women, my son," said Father Thomas, who looked much amused. "I've seen too much on 'em!" responded Dan, conclusively.
"It's not a nice thing to have to say about an orficer," the gunner presently continued, "and so help me God, gentlemen, I kep' my mouth shut about it until... until..." He broke off and looked quickly at Desmond. "Keep that until the end, Barling," said Desmond, "finish about the raid now!"
One was wearin' one o' them coal-scuttle helmets, t'other a little flat cap with a shiny peak. And the Captain here was a-pointin' at our lines and a-wavin' his hand about like he was a-tellin' the two Fritzes all about it, and the chap in the coal-scuttle hat was a-writin' it all down in a book." Barling paused. He was rather flushed and his eyes burned brightly in his weather-beaten face.
It was a fragment torn from a newspaper. He had hardly set eyes on the cutting than he stretched out his hand to the vagrant. "Why, Gunner Barling," he cried, "I didn't know you! How on earth do you come to be in this state?" The man looked shamefacedly down on the ground. "I'm a deserter, sir!" he said in a low voice.
"She's all right!" replied his brother, "we found her on the bed in a room on the floor below sleeping the sleep of the just. The woman's vanished, though. I'm afraid she got away! But who's this?" He pointed to "Buzzer" Barling who stood stiffly at attention beside Desmond's chair. "Ay, who are you, young fellow" repeated Mr. Marigold coming up close to the soldier.
At last, Darlington was ten dollars in debt to Barling, who, on being asked for another loan, declined any further advances. Stung by the refusal, Henry said to him, rising as he spoke "Do you mean by this that you are afraid I will never return the money?" "Oh, no," replied Barling. "But I don't want to play against you any longer. Your luck is bad." "I can beat you," said Darlington.
"We made inquiries through you," the detective resumed, "and when I found that this Gunner Barling, the owner of the pass, was missing, well, you will admit, it looked a bit suspicious." "Still, you know," the A.P.M. objected, "this man appears to have the most excellent character. He's got a clean sheet; he's never gone absent before.
"If you remember, sir," he said, "I found this man's leave paper in the front garden of the Mackwayte's house at Laleham Villas, Seven Kings, the day after the murder. There are one or two questions I should like to put..." "No need to arsk any questions," said Barling. "I'll tell you the whole story meself, mister. I was on leave at the time, due to go back to France the next afternoon.
And I says to myself, 'Tom Barling, you're no better than a pig you're not. But I was proud, and I needed to be brought low. I went again and again and talked with old John about the Mission ship, but, bless you, I couldn't see nothing.
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