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Updated: May 31, 2025
Before he had time to collect his thoughts he had rapped out the reply: "Needn't jump down a man's throat like that." His effort to recover and mask this piece of startled irritability with a vague platitude did not deceive his audience in the smallest degree. Doubt became conviction in Mrs. Barraclough's mind.
"I'm tenacious," said the man. "That's what I am tenacious." "A fine quality." "And pretty useful in my trade." "Must be." Barraclough's mind was concentrated on finding a weak spot at which to attack and already a delicate idea was maturing. In the rack above his companion's head was his suitcase, the handle projecting outward.
"All right," he said. "It's only this. You were an old flame of Barraclough's?" "Well?" "How long is it since last you met?" "Until last night four years, I suppose." "Hm! Had he changed at all?" "Changed?" "In appearance er manner." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Bit more amusing perhaps less of a prig." "Ah!" said Smith. "Go on anything else?" "He seemed to have learnt how to smile."
"Oh, very well," said Flora. "It seems he was all over some great big, get rich quick scheme and there was a chance anyone connected with him might be got at." "Got at!" Mrs. Barraclough's dark eyes opened a little wider. "Um! A tough crowd was up against him you see." "I see." The old lady nodded gravely but there was a sparkle of excitement in her expression.
It was the word marry that switched his thoughts up another channel and in imagination found him once again standing beside the girl with the splendid eyes who called at Barraclough's flat two hours before. "Wish she wasn't mixed up in this outfit," he said to himself. "A girl like that! Perfectly ripping creature.
Torrington's crowd must have been aware of the intention to kidnap Barraclough and for a reason known only to themselves had deliberately allowed it to take place. Why? Had another man been sent in Barraclough's place? He dismissed that theory without dissection. The shape of Barraclough's jaw and the line of his mouth belonged to the type that does not unduly trust his fellow men. Why?
Whether or no these recorded circumstances have any bearing on the mystery of Anthony Barraclough's disappearance it would be impossible to say but the Harbour Authorities who were questioned as to whether they had knowledge of the movements of this particular waterplane replied with a regretful negative.
It's a queer household lot of smart girls looking after an old woman Barraclough's mother." "What's she like?" "Never got near enough to find out. Decent enough old thing. Goes to church a lot." "Shrewd?" "Never struck me so at a distance. Might be anything bit of a fool mostly are that old country sort." Mr. Bolt mused. "Goes to church, does she."
He concluded from her attitude and expression that she must have heard of Barraclough's capture but later on another impression superseded the first, for every now and then a light of excitement and enthusiasm would leap into her eyes as though in imagination she were following her lover along the ways of desperate adventure. Harrison Smith shook his head.
Surely they must be aware that his intended flight had been frustrated. Why Barraclough's servant Doran would surely have rung up and informed them. He was confident that somewhere a breakdown had occurred. As he passed by Nugent Cassis said "good morning" to the ticket collector a thing he had never done before. Harrison Smith got into a taxi and drove to Shepherd Street, Mayfair.
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