THE FINAL TELEGRAM
Myerst paused, to take a at his glass, and to look at the two with a of triumph.
"In the hands of Cardlestone," he repeated. "Now, what did I argue from that? Why, of course, that Maitland had been to Cardlestone's rooms that night. Wasn't he at the of Cardlestone's stairs? Aye—but who him? Not the porter—not the police—not you, Master Spargo, with all your cleverness. The man who Maitland there that night was—I!"
In the that followed, Spargo, who had been making notes of what Myerst said, his pencil and his hands in his pockets sat with a look which Breton, who was him seriously, not make out. It was the look of a man ideas and are being upset. And Myerst, too, saw it and he laughed, more than ever.
"That's one for you, Spargo!" he said. "That you—that makes you think. Now what do you think?—if one may ask."
"I think," said Spargo, "that you are either a liar, or that this is than before."
"I can when it's necessary," Myerst. "Just now it isn't necessary. I'm telling you the plain truth: there's no why I shouldn't. As I've said before, although you two have me up in this fashion, you can't do anything against me. I've a power of attorney from those two old men in there, and that's to satisfy as to my of their and securities. I've the hand of you, my sons, in all ways. And that's why I'm telling you the truth—to myself this period of waiting. The plain truth, my sons!"
"In of which," Breton, drily, "I think you mentioned that you were the person to my father dead?"
"I was. That is—as as I can gather. I'll tell you all about it. As I said, I live over Cardlestone. That night I came home very late—it was well past one o'clock. There was nobody about—as a of fact, no one has in that but Cardlestone and myself. I the of a man in the entry. I a match and my visitor of the afternoon—John Marbury. Now, although I was so late in going home, I was as as a man can be, and I think at all times. I at speed just then. And the thing I did was to the of every article it had on it—money, papers, everything. All these are safely locked up—they've been tracked. Next day, using my as to the Safe Deposit Company, I the in that box. Then I out who the man was. And then I set to work to in the of the police and of the newspapers, and particularly in the of Master Spargo there. I had an object."
"What?" asked Breton.
"What! Knowing all I did, I that Marbury, or, rather, Maitland, had been by either Cardlestone or Elphick. I put it to myself in this way, and my opinion was as you, Spargo, news in your paper—Maitland, himself in the of Cardlestone after Aylmore's rooms that night, into our building, just to see where Cardlestone lived. He met Cardlestone accidentally, or he met Cardlestone and Elphick together—they each other. Maitland to Cardlestone, or, rather, Chamberlayne—nobody, of course, know what happened, but my was that Chamberlayne killed him. There, at any rate, was the that Maitland was at Chamberlayne's very threshold. And, in the of a days, I proved, to my own positive satisfaction, by to Chamberlayne's rooms in his that Maitland had been there, had been in those rooms. For I there, in Chamberlayne's desk, the Australian of which Criedir told at the inquest. That was proof positive."
Spargo looked at Breton. They what Myerst did not know—that the of which he spoke were in Spargo's pocket, where they had since he had them up from the and of Chamberlayne's floor.
"Why," asked Breton, after a pause, "why did you accuse
Cardlestone, or Chamberlayne, of the murder?"
"I did! I have him a score of times—and Elphick, too," Myerst with emphasis. "Not at first, mind you—I let Chamberlayne know that I him for some time. I had my own game to play. But at last—not so many days ago—I did. I them both. That's how I got the hand of them. They to be afraid—by that time Elphick had got to know all about Cardlestone's past as Chamberlayne. And as I tell you, Elphick's of Cardlestone. It's queer, but he is. He—wants to him."
"What did they say when you them?" asked Breton. "Let's keep to that point—never mind their for one another."
"Just so, but that feeling's a more to do with this than you think, my friend," said Myerst. "What did they say, you ask? Why, they it, Cardlestone to me that he had no part or in the of Maitland. So did Elphick. But—they know something about the murder. If those two old men can't tell you definitely who actually John Maitland down, I'm that they have a very clear idea in their minds as to who did! They—"
A from the room Myerst. Breton and Spargo started to their and for the door. But they it Elphick came out, white and shaking.
"He's gone!" he in accents. "My old friend's gone—he's dead! I was—asleep. I and looked at him. He——"
Spargo the old man into a chair and gave him some whisky; Breton passed into the room; only to come his head.
"He's dead," he said. "He died in his sleep."
"Then his secret's gone with him," Myerst, calmly. "And now we shall know if he did kill John Maitland or if he didn't. So that's done with!"
Old Elphick sat up in his chair, pushing Spargo away from his side.
"He didn't kill John Maitland!" he angrily, attempting to shake his at Myerst. "Whoever says he killed Maitland lies. He was as as I am. You've and him to his death with that charge, as you're me—among you. I tell you he'd nothing to do with John Maitland's death—nothing!"
Myerst laughed.
"Who had, then?" he said.
"Hold your tongue!" Breton, on him. He sat by Elphick's and his hand on the old man's arm.
"Guardian," he said, "why don't you tell what you know? Don't be of that there—he's safe enough. Tell Spargo and me what you know of the matter. Remember, nothing can Cardlestone, or Chamberlayne, or he is or was, now."
Elphick sat for a moment his head. He allowed Spargo to give him another drink; he his and looked at the two men with something of an appeal.
"I'm shaken," he said. "I've much lately—I've learnt that I didn't know. Perhaps I ought to have spoken before, but I was for—for him. He was a good friend, Cardlestone, else he may have been—a good friend. And—I don't know any more than what that night."
"Tell us what that night," said Breton.
"Well, that night I round, as I often did, to play with Cardlestone. That was about ten o'clock. About eleven Jane Baylis came to Cardlestone's—she'd been to my rooms to me—wanted to see me particularly—and she'd come on there, where I should be. Cardlestone would make her have a of and a biscuit; she sat and we all talked. Then, about, I should think, a to twelve, a came at Cardlestone's door—his door was open, and of see lights within. Cardlestone to the door: we a man's voice for him by name; then the voice added that Criedir, the dealer, had him to call on Mr. Cardlestone to him some Australian stamps, and that a light under his door he had knocked. Cardlestone asked him in—he came in. That was the man we saw next day at the mortuary. Upon my honour, we didn't know him, either that night or next day!"
"What when he came in?" asked Breton.
"Cardlestone asked him to down: he offered and gave him a drink. The man said Criedir had him Cardlestone's address, and that he'd been with a friend at some rooms in Fountain Court, and as he was our he'd just looked to make sure where Cardlestone lived, and as he'd noticed a light he'd to knock. He and Cardlestone to the stamps. Jane Baylis said good-night, and she and I left Cardlestone and the man together."
"No one had him?" said Breton.
"No one! Remember, I only once or twice saw Maitland in all my life. The others did not him. At least, I that they did—if they did."
"Tell us," said Spargo, joining in for the time, "tell us what you and Miss Baylis did?"
"At the of the stairs Jane Baylis said she'd something in Cardlestone's lobby. As she was going out in to Fleet Street, and I was going Middle Temple Lane to turn off to my own rooms we said good-night. She upstairs. And I home. And upon my and that's all I know!"
Spargo to his feet. He at his cap—a and which he had when they entered the cottage.
"That's enough!" he almost shouted. "I've got it—at last! Breton—where's the nearest office? Hawes? Straight this valley? Then, here's for it! Look after till I'm back, or, when the police come, join me there. I shall catch the train to town, anyhow, after wiring."
"But—what are you after, Spargo?" Breton. "Stop! What on earth——"
But Spargo had closed the door and was for all he was the valley. Three of an hour later he a and peaceful by darting, and dirty, into a country post office, a and a message in handwriting:—
Rathbury, New Scotland Yard, London. Arrest Jane Baylis at once for of John Maitland. Coming to town with full evidence.
Frank Spargo.
Then Spargo on the office bench, and while the set the ticking, to his breath, in his across the heather. And when it was got he set out again—to the station.
Some days later, Spargo, having Stephen Aylmore walk out of the Bow Street dock, of the against him, and in a way of being of the of twenty years before, himself in a very of the Court the hand of Jessie Aylmore, who, he discovered, was saying to him which he comprehended. There was nobody near them and the girl spoke and warmly.
"But you will come—you will come today—and be properly thanked," she said. "You will—won't you?"
Spargo allowed himself to of the hand. Also he took a look into Jessie Aylmore's eyes.
"I don't want thanks," he said. "It was all a of luck. And if I come—today—it will be to see—just you!"
Jessie Aylmore looked at the two hands.
"I think," she whispered, "I think that is what I meant!"
