THE MYSTERY OF THE CLOCKWORK MAN
I
An hour and a later Doctor Allingham and Gregg had their tea together in the room of the former's residence. Bay looked out upon the High Street, already with Saturday excursionists. An large was around the entrance to the "Blue Lion," just over the way, for the news had soon spread about the town. Wild passed from ear to ear as to the identity of the had resulted in so a of the match. Those among the who had actually not only this event but also the of the Clockwork man, related their of the affair, adding a little each time and their theories, so that in the end those who were more and than those who had seen.
Allingham sat in silence, tea at and pieces of cake into41] little squares, which he into his mouth spasmodically. Now and again he passed a hand across his big and it savagely. His of was to the that he had been to wait so long for his tea; but he had also with Gregg in their about the Clockwork man. At the present moment the student by the window, the the inn. He had his tea, and he had no wish to push his own about the to the of with his friend.
After the there had been much to do. Four times had Allingham's car the ground and the local hospital, and it was past six the eleven players and the two had been thither, for their and discharged. No one was injured, but in each case the on the of the had been to treatment. One or two had been a long while full consciousness, and all were in a condition of and gave reports of the incident.
There had been times, those journeys42] to and fro, when Gregg it difficult to save himself from of laughter. He had to bite his lip hard in the to in check an that was to to extremes. From one point of view it had been that this being, with his limited range of movement, should have managed in a to out so many healthy, active men. By comparison, his performance, as it had seemed, into insignificance. The of the action, the aim, the each blow, the of the act, almost Gregg that the thing was too to be true. But when he himself to look at the seriously, he that there were little for the that the Clockwork man was a lunatic. The at a speed, the over the hurdle, the of his to a possibility, the undergraduate, who was level-headed enough, although impressionable, that some other would have to be for the occurrence.
Besides, there was Arthur Wither's about the ears and the of the Clockwork man, his peculiar43] movements, his of with lapses. Once you had the idea of his origin, it was difficult to the Clockwork man out of your head. He something and suggestive. If Gregg's of had not been so by the of the affair, he would have already that some great was about to be to the modern world. It had to him that might be presented to beings in the of a of practical joke. Somehow, one this of thing to in and in the of night. But the event had taken place in daylight, and already there was mixed up with its the most of purely circumstance.
Allingham had an for everything. He said that the loud noise was to some of machine that this in his pocket. He that the was to be for by a of electric shoe. Nothing was so long as you some that was just credible. And the of the Clockwork man, his and beginnings, his44] "Anglo-Saxon" and his gait, all came under the of in an form.
As the doctor upon a tea, his mind into its condition of scepticism. Gregg's idea that the Clockwork man a mystery, if not a miracle, him. At a man not welcome that may his own world of facts, and Allingham had long since up the of the latest results of scientific investigation. Years ago he had his own small researches, only to that others were making them at the same time. He had had his in common with all the other students of his year. Everybody was having then of possibilities in medical science, in the direction of pathology and the study of resulting from methods of living. There had been much work, a good of mud-raking, and, in Allingham's case, a that the was not very well the upon it by modern civilisation. He had then if some would not be some day in45] the of as to progress—but that had been the most of all his gleams.
He had been to the in of a and the life of a country town. Great Wymering had offered him of that the to his by the that he had over-estimated his originality. In a years much had that helped to his new view of himself as a social with a taste for the of existence. And then he had been able to keep up his cricket. In the winter there were parties, theatricals, dinner parties with ordinary but people, local into which a man health was under and were just narrowing, without too much being in order to to such occasions. And he had the temperament. Quite easily, he a for out a bon-mot on the of the moment, something with a of paradox. He would say such as, "Only those succeed in life who have and can the fact," or "To be is the of all men, but only the it." When by46] a lady who him of talents, genius, he that "Genius is only an of neglected diseases."
Latterly he had from not easily to be to liver, misgivings, a of having definitely a secondary of himself. An old would have at once the in his character, the marked in politics and a in his ideas. He was in his views, and in a universe. His opinions, in fact, were as as his Swedish in the and his apple breakfast. There was a in his of humour, and there was his marriage to Lilian Payne, the of a town councillor.
That last a place in his mind just at present, but it was also another of irritation. Lilian was as well as fascinating, and the more marked as they more intimate. Instead of little notes him to tea he now long, and, he was to admit, excellent upon the true place of woman in modern life. He was to applaud, but such activity of mind was by no means to his taste. He liked47] a woman to have thoughts; but a woman was a nuisance.
All these to him a to about the necessary of life, an of evils, a to accept life as a of learning by trial and error. Besides, if got of the idea of there would be an end to all things. They would make a of the "mad dream" than the men. Women mistakes and they were the pushing of that they to the point of and success.
Efficiency! How he the word! It him of his own heart-breaking struggles, not only with the of an science, but with the of the time in which his had been spent, a time when all the men had been trying to some way out of the social that then existed—and still existed, as an to their efforts. In those days one to move in circles without having one's personal of the social problem, an that a great of hard reading, at Fabian meetings, and a amount of thinking.
If necessary, one all that up again. How different life was, when it came to be lived; how the of youth! There was a all that of and inquisitiveness, all that worry and distress; and that was life itself, and valued, something that one to with strength. The mind out of its stage and settled to a of existence.
And then, with a jar, his to the of another circumstance, this Clockwork man, in Gregg to the of it while the case for the a man years his senior in and thought.
II
Allingham got up and Gregg at the window. The his a little as though to catch any that might across from the of voices opposite. But there was nothing distinguishable.
"You see," said Allingham, his and his with a handkerchief, "let the thing work on your49] mind and you with these town gossips. They'll talk this into a nine days wonder."
Gregg his in silence. Presently he looked at his watch. "I wonder if Grey will be soon." Grey was the local of police, in hands they had the of up the Clockwork man. Allingham had out his car for the purpose.
"I if we shall see him midnight," said the latter. "Even he his man dusk, which is unlikely, it will take him another hour or so to drive to the Asylum."
Gregg failed to an snigger. He a cigarette to his confusion. Once more he that on the horizon. "At the he was going," he remarked, steadily, "and accidents, I should say he's London by now."
"There will be an accident," Allingham. "Mark my words, he won't very far."
At that moment Mrs. Masters, the doctor's housekeeper, entered the room in order to clear away the tea things. She was a country woman, to talking without reserve, when the doctor's upon her, as it did upon this occasion. But for once she50] this check to her natural proclivities; she was not going to be out of her in the local gossip. She the on the table and the visitor an for her loquacity.
"Oh, Mr. Gregg, they say the Devil's come to Great Wymering at last. I'm not to 'ear it, for the on in this town 'ave been something terrible since the war. What with the and the people doing just as they like.
"Have you anything fresh?" Gregg, pleasantly.
"Only about old Mr. Winchape," said Mrs. Masters, as she packed the tea things. "He's the man that the with the bat. That is, if he is a man, but they do say—"
"Where did Mr. Winchape see him?" in Allingham, abruptly.
"Along the path from Bapchurch, sir." Mrs. Masters her manner the doctor's eye. "Poor old Mr. Winchape, he's not so as he was, and it did give him a turn. He says he was 'urrying along so as to 'ome in time for tea, and all of a something by 'im, so quick that he 'ardly it. He looked round, but it was gone in no time. He it was the Old Man 'imself. There was fire51] out of his mouth and 'is was like two red 'ot coals—"
Allingham his on the carpet. "I will not to such talk, Mrs. Masters! A woman of your age and to ear to such nonsense. I'm of you."
Mrs. Masters a little under the rebuke, but she no of repentance. "I'm only what's said," she remarked. "An' for all I know it might have been the Devil. It says in the Bible that he's to be for a thousand years, and I'm sure he might just as well come here as for a start. The place is enough."
"Superstitious nonsense," Allingham. And he to at while Mrs. Masters cups and plates, and with to the kitchen.
"Perhaps you agree with Mrs. Masters?" said Allingham, as soon as the door was closed.
Gregg laughed and himself into an easy chair. "Superstition, after all, is a perfectly although of enquiry. These good people want to in the Devil. At the least opportunity they his majesty. They52] are right. They are using the only material in their minds in order to a mystery."
"A of glamour," Allingham, trying to look bored.
"If you like," Gregg, "only it help them to understand, just as all our scientific knowledge helps us to understand, the future."
"Why in the future," said the other, opening his quickly.
"Because," said Gregg, a as though to his eagerness, "if my is correct, then I assume that the Clockwork man comes from the future."
"It's a assumption," laughed Allingham.
Gregg rested his upon the of the chair and out. "We will pass over the of his at the top of the hill, for it is that he might have come from one of the villages, although I don't think he did. You admit that his manner of approach was startling, and that it almost as though he had come from nowhere. But let that be. There are, I admit, as yet in support of my theory, but it is at least that one of the questions he53] asked should have been, not where he was but when he was."
"I don't you," Allingham.
"He asked Arthur Withers what year it was. Naturally, if he did come from the future, his would be to know into what period of man's history he had, possibly by some accident, wandered."
"But how he have come from the future?"
"Time," said Gregg, quickly, "is a relative thing. The has just as much as the past. It is at this moment."
"Oh, well, you may be right there," Allingham, "I don't know. I admit I'm not up to date in these speculations."
"I that of his as significant," Gregg, after a pause. "For, of course, if the Clockwork man is, as suggested, a semi-mechanical being, then he only have come from the future. So as I am aware, the present has not yet to the possibility of into the body, although there has been on the subject. We are thousands of years away from such a proposition; on the other54] hand, there is no why it should not have already of our limited knowledge of futurity. It has often to me that the of scientific progress is slowly but surely leading us in the direction of some such of difficulties. The of under the of an civilisation. There may be a limit to our power of adaptability, and in that case will have to decide it will its present mode of or some means of the normal functions of the body. Perhaps that has, as I suggest, already happened; it upon which road has taken. If the of has at its present rate, I see no why the man of the should not have means to his by means to his natural functions."
Gregg sat up in his chair and more serious. Allingham without actually interrupting.
"Imagine an of mechanism," Gregg resumed, "an of the many of modern in use to-day. It would have to be something of a very description, and yet at in its effect. One thinks of55] something that would work if in a limited of way. You see, they would have to success in some at at the of a awkwardness. It would be a question of taking one thing at a time. Thus, when the Clockwork man came to play cricket, all he do was to the ball. We have to admit that he did that enough, were the of his actions."
"Hot air," Allingham, for his tobacco pouch, "that's all this is."
"Oh, I won't admit that," Gregg, cheerfully, "we must that what we saw this was abnormal. Even when we were talking to him I had a come over me that our was not a normal being. I don't his behaviour. His were an odd of colour and shape. And did you notice his boots? Curious, dull-looking things. As though they were out of some of metal. And then, the and wig?"
"You're all these things," said Allingham, hotly, as he tobacco into his pipe.
"I'm not. I noticed them. Of course, I didn't much to them at the time, but afterwards, when Arthur56] Withers was telling his story, all that about the came to me. It took of me. After all, he is a man?"
"But what is a man?" Allingham.
"Well, of I can't that exactly, but the term so itself. Damn it, he is a man. He walks, talks, and like one would imagine—"
"Imagine!" out Allingham. "Yes, you can such a thing. But you are trying to prove to me that this is something that doesn't and can't your imagination. It won't wash."
"But you agree," said Gregg, unperturbed, "that it might be possible in the future?"
"Oh, well, is possible, if you look at it in that light," the other.
"Then all we have to do is to prove that the is involved. Our must us that he is not of our age, that he has, in fact, and by means, his way to an age of and blood. So far, we are agreed, for I with you in your opinion that the Clockwork man not in the present; while I am open to be convinced57] that he is a of the future."
He off, for at that moment a car up in of the window, and the of Inspector Grey in company with two and a of about fifteen, Gregg and the doctor as an of the village of Bapchurch.
III
"Well?" said Allingham, as the party into the room, after a upon the mat. "What luck?"
"Not much, doctor," the inspector, his and a of hair. "We 'aint your man, and so as I can judge we 'aint likely to. But we've these."
He the Clockwork man's and on the table. Gregg them up and them with great curiosity.
"And Tom Driver here, he's the man himself," the inspector. "That's 'ow we come by the 'at and wig. Tell the what you saw, Tom."
Tom Driver was a at the best of times, but he overcome58] by the amount of now upon him. He forward, pressing his together and a cap his very dirty fingers. A great of yellow almost over his large eyes, and his was long and pinched.
"I see the man," he began, timidly, "I see 'im as I was going along the path to Bapchurch."
"Was he going very fast?" said Gregg.
"No, sir, he weren't walking at all. He'd into the just by Rock's Bottom."
Allingham out into a great of laughter; but Gregg and listened.
"That's 'ow I come to see 'im," said Tom, shifting his cap about uneasily. "I was in a of a 'urry 'cos mother said I wasn't to be late for tea, and I'd been into the town to as we was a short. As I come by Rock's Bottom—and you know 'ow the path a to the left where the lies—it's a for anyone 'as don't know the path—"
"Yes, go on," said Gregg, impatiently.
"Well, as I was along I see something moving about just at the top of the pit. At I it was a dog, but when I come nearer I see it was a pair of legs, kicking. Only they was going so fast you couldn't tell one from t'other. Well, I59] ran up, 'as very likely someone 'ad in, and sure it was someone. I 'old of the legs, and just as I was about to 'im out—"
"Did the go on kicking?" said Gregg, quickly.
"Yes, sir, I 'ad a job to 'old them. And then, just as I was going to 'im out, I noticed something—"
Tom paused for a moment and to tremble. His teeth violently, and he looked at his as though to continue.
"Go on, Tom," Inspector Grey. "Spit it out, lad. It's got to be said."
"He—He—hadn't got no to his head," out Tom at last.
"What!" out Allingham.
"There you are," said Tom, and at the inspector, "I told you as 'ow t'gentlemen wouldn't me. T'aint likely as would it as 'adn't it for themselves."
"But what did you see?" Gregg, kindly. "What was there to be seen?"
Tom's the room as though looking for something. Gregg was with his to the fire-place, but noticing that Tom to be trying to look him, he moved away. Tom immediately60] pointed to the clock that on the mantelpiece.
"It was a clock," he said, slowly, "just like that one, only more so, in a manner of speaking. I it 'ad more 'ands and figures, and they was going very fast. But it 'ad a just like that one, and it was on 'is 'ead just where the ought to be. The sun was on it at first. That's why I couldn't be sure what it was for a long time. But when I looked closer, I see plain enough, and it me all wobbly, sir."
"Was there a loud noise?" asked Gregg.
"No, sir, not then. But the 'ands was moving very fast, and there was a of 'umming going on like a of all going on at once, only like. I was so taken I didn't know what to do, but presently I 'old of 'is and to 'im out. It weren't a easy job, 'cos 'is was kicking all the time, and although I 'ollered out to 'im 'e took no notice. At last I 'im out, and 'e on the grass, still kicking. 'E to up, and at last I took 'old of his and 'im up. And then, as soon as I got 'im up and 'im on his feet, and I 'ad time to 'ave a good look at 'im, off he goes, like lightning. An noise started, like61] machinery, and I 'ad time to turn 'e was the path Bapchurch and out of sight. I tell you, sir, it gave me a proper turn."
"But how did you come by these?" questioned Gregg, who was still the and wig.
"I see them in the pit," Tom, "they must 'ave off 'is 'ead as he there. Of course, 'e 'adn't very far, otherwise 'is wouldn't been up. It 'aint very just there, and 'is 'ead must 'ave in a of furze. But the 'at and 'ad rolled to the bottom. After 'e'd gone I and them up."
Gregg passed the and to Allingham, and something. The other looked at the of the hat. There was a small label in the centre, with the printed upon it:—
DUNN BROTHERS.
UNIVERSAL HAT PROVIDERS.
ESTABLISHED OVER 2,000 YEARS.
For a moment Allingham's was a study in bewilderment. He to speak, but only succeeded in producing an snigger. Then he to laugh outright, and was into speech. "Well, what did I say?62] The whole thing is preposterous. I'm afraid, inspector, we've you for nothing. The is, somebody has been of a hoax."
"Look at the wig, look at the wig," Gregg, feverishly.
Allingham did so. Just on the of the there was an oblong-shaped tab, with small gold lettering:—
W. CLARKSON. Wig-maker to the Seventh International.
"Well, well, it's what I said," the doctor on, quickly, "someone has—someone has—"
He off abruptly. Gregg was with his hands him. He his gravely.
"It's no use, doc," he observed, quietly, "we've got to it."
