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Siddle should choose to-day, of all days, for a visit," she admitted. Winter relapsed into silence for a while. The car was running through a charming countryside, and a glimpse of the sea was obtainable from the crest of each hill. Mr. Fowler was too circumspect to break in on the thread of his coadjutor's thoughts. The inquiry had taken a curious turn, and was momentarily beyond his grasp.
"It isn't that," sobbed Doris. "I hate to put my thoughts into words. That's all. There is a man whom I'm afraid of." "Siddle?" She turned on Winter a face of sudden awe. "How can you possibly guess?" she said wonderingly, and sheer bewilderment dried her tears. "My business is nine-tenths guesswork. At any rate, we are on firm ground now. If you could please yourself, I suppose, Mr.
"It's singular, but it's true," said the detective musingly when next he spoke, "that I am now going to ask you to act differently than was in my mind when I sought this interview. I should vastly like to be present when Siddle bares his heart to you this afternoon. "I can invite you to tea." Alas! that won't serve our ends. But, if you feel you have a purpose, you will be nerved to deal with him.
Now, Peters had marked the gathering as one that suited his purpose exactly, so he gave the conversation the right twist. "I suppose you local gentlemen have been greatly disturbed by this sensational murder?" he said. Hobbs took refuge in a glass of beer. Siddle gazed contemplatively at his neat boots.
"I don't think you need worry about Ingerman," he went on, "though it's well to be prepared. A smart solicitor can stop irrelevant statements, especially if ready for them. But there must be no more of this heart-opening to all and sundry, Mr. Grant. Siddle is your rival. He, too, wants to marry Miss Martin, and regards you now as the only stumbling-block." "Siddle! That stick!" gasped Grant.
In his right hand he carried an automatic pistol. The street was wide. Furneaux, absolutely fearless in the performance of his duty, ran in a curve so as to bar the chemist's path, and it was then that Siddle saw him. The man's face was terrible to behold.
But Winter was well aware of, and kept to himself one phase of the art deal, at any rate. Furneaux had persuaded Siddle to fasten two bulky packages with string! He was shaving next morning when his colleague entered, spruce as ever in attire, but looking rather weary. The little man flung himself at full length on Winter's bed. "Been up all night," he explained.
Your Ingermans and your Elkins, and the rest of the busybodies gathered at the inn, may defame him as they choose, or as they dare. As for me, I am his loyal comrade, and shall remain so after next Wednesday, or a score of Wednesdays. I am going in now, Mr. Siddle, and shall be engaged during the remainder of the evening.
"I don't say he has lost his character in that respect," said Winter. "Still, he puzzles me. Elkin is a loud-mouthed fool. The verbal bricks he hurls at Grant are generally half baked, and crumble into dust. Hitherto, Siddle has tried to repress him, with a transparent honesty that rather worried me. On Friday night, however, Siddle attacked Grant with poisoned arrows.
The chance turn taken by the conversation with Doris, with the result that I was able to occupy a strategic position on the cliff, and hear every word Siddle uttered, was really fortunate. But, isn't that just what men mean when they prate of success? Opportunity knocks once at every man's door, says the old saw. The clever man grabs hold instantly.
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