Part 40 (2/2)

Yes.

Have you got proof?

Certainly I 'ave.

And you say old Rogers has known all along?

That's right.

And there is no chance whatever of my getting into trouble for doing what you ask?

No there isn't.

Well, I suppose I shall have to do it.

Thank you, Mr. Townsend. That'll be a real 'elp.

I didn't like the implication of his emphasis, 'but I let that pa.s.s. There was now little doubt that we were making for Croydon. The traffic was not so thick here, and Beef had leaned forward to tell our taxi-driver to keep some distance between ourselves and the big blue car in front, lest we should be observed. However the blind had been pulled down at the back of the saloon car so that there was little chance of this.

There is always something stirring about pursuiteven when it is no more than the pursuit of so meagre a quarry as our little bootmaker. It may be, as Stute had indicated when he arranged for the formation of a search party, some primitive hunter's instinct which takes hold of us. But I am sure that old Beef and I sitting side by side in our taxi, felt the thrill of it when at last we reached the air-port and saw the big car turn in to it.

Now then, said Beef, you 'ad that 'undred quid in your room at the 'otel to-day. You saw old Rogers coming out with some excuse about looking for you. When you got in you found 'em gone. You went after 'im but 'is wife said 'e'd left for Croydon. See?

I see, I replied dubiously. But it sounds pretty weak.

It'll do for the minute, said Beef, 'specially when they find the notes on 'im.

The little man was paying the smart and gentlemanly driver of his large car.

'Old on a minute, said Beef to our taxi-man, We'll wait till 'e goes inside. There's police standing there.

We did. As soon as old Rogers had entered our taxi drew up, and we followed him.

The next few minutes are very vivid to me. I may have over-acted a trifle. I think perhaps now that in my excitement I did so. But I was anxious to be convincing. It is not altogether easy to make an accusation sound credible when you are charging an elderly and well-established bootmaker with having stolen 100 from you, when you know perfectly well that you had never carried this sum in notes. I dashed across the station, and, as I afterwards realized, forgot even my grammar in the urgency of the moment.

That's him! I shouted.

Several pa.s.sengers turned towards me, and I was thankful to see that two policemen who had been chatting in the discreet manner of the police, with their eyes on the people about them had turned to watch me.

Stop him! I went on, at the top of my voice.

One of the policemen now slowly came across.

What's the matter? he asked.

I pointed at the narrow back of old Rogers, who had remained apparently oblivious of the shouts behind him.

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