Part 38 (2/2)

Oh yes. I was going to tell you. Just before you came I went to the drawer. I don't know what made me. But anyway I did, and the bundle was gone. I don't know what to make of it, though I daresay you do. Perhaps someone's stolen them and he's gone after him. Perhaps . . . perhaps it's something to do with Alan. Anyway, they've gone.

All 1 notes you say? asked Beef.

Yes.

New ones?

No. Not extra. Just ordinary, as though they'd been put there from time to time.

Well now, Mrs. Rogers, don't you worry your 'ead off, said Beef. I daresay every-think'll turn out for the best. Wot's the time? Quarter to six? We shall 'ave to 'urry. I wonder if you'd do me a favour now?

Certainly I will. What is it?

You 'op round to my 'ouse and tell my missus I more than likely shan't be back to-night. And if you don't like staying on your own, you get 'er to make you up a bed there, see? Now then, Mr. Townsend, we must go.

CHAPTER XXIX.

AT THIS POINT I began to be infected with some of Beef's excitement. It did seem so very odd that little Mr. Rogers should have suddenly deserted his wife and his business just when the Sergeant wanted to question him again. It would have been odd at any time, but just this evening, with Beef making straight for his shop, it was uncanny.

And the Sergeant's own movements now became eccentric, to say the least of it. He almost ran down the few yards of the High Street that separated us from the chief garage of the town, and dived into its office. In a few moments the proprietor's son had driven out the old Morris Oxford that he used for taxi work, and we climbed into it.

Drive down to the station, said Beef, and right up close to the goods entrance. Quick as you can.

The old car moved off, and Beef sat puffing impatiently and staring out of the window, till we approached the station yard.

Now then, Mr. Townsend, he said, duck down. Right out of sight, please.

I obeyed, not without feeling somewhat ridiculous to find myself crouching down in the taxi with Beef on all fours beside me.

'Arry! he called to our driver, when the car was at a standstill. Anyone about?

Not at the minute, said Harry.

No one looking out of the waiting-room?

No. And they couldn't see here if they was.

All right. We'll make a dash for it. And suddenly, with quite unbelievable agility, old Beef had leapt from the taxi, and into the luggage office. As swiftly as possible I followed him.

Once inside he turned to the clerk there. Sorry, he said, only it's important, see.

The clerk grinned. Whatever are you up to, Sarge? he asked, jumping in 'ere like that?

No larfing matter, said Beef, and seeing Charlie Meadows, the porter who had already given evidence, he called across to him. Meadows approached.

'Ere, Charlie, Beef said, in an exaggerated undertone, I'm on to somethink.

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