Part 17 (1/2)
As soon as he had heard Harding's account of what had happened, he produced the handkerchief bearing Eustace's name.
”Can you identify that?” he asked. ”It is marked, but I want to know if you can recognise it apart from the name it bears?”
”It is like the handkerchiefs I use,” Harding answered, as he pulled one out of his pocket. ”Eustace and I ordered some to be sent up, and we divided them, taking half each.”
”Did you mark them?”
”Mrs. Eustace did that for us. Is the name on this?”
He turned it round until he saw the name.
”Yes, that is one of Eustace's,” he said.
”What time do you think it was when you saw that man's face at the window?” Durham inquired.
”Between half-past nine and ten--nearer ten probably.”
”Was the face familiar?”
”It was, but I cannot recall where I have seen it before. It struck me as being a familiar face disguised. It was not Eustace's.”
”You feel sure of that?”
”I'm quite sure. I wish you had been here to have seen it.”
”I did see it.”
”But you were at Waroona Downs.”
”So I was. It was there I saw it. That man and his companion stuck the house up. I was asleep on the verandah and they must have crept on me, for when I awakened I was bound hand and foot. The man you describe was standing in front of me. When I attempted to shout to warn Mrs. Burke, a handkerchief was pressed over my mouth and tied by someone who kept behind me. That is the handkerchief which was used. Who would you say tied it?”
”I should suspect Eustace, of course; or do you think the man with the beard was Eustace?”
Durham shook his head.
”No,” he said. ”The description I have of Eustace does not agree at all with the build and general appearance of that man. If Eustace were there at the time he must have kept behind me. Is Mrs. Burke a woman who talks much?”
”Talks? She does nothing else. She tells everyone everything.”
”Then it is no use my trying to keep this episode of the handkerchief quiet?”
”Not if she knows anything about it. She will tell everyone about it directly she comes to the towns.h.i.+p.”
”Oh, she knows about it. She is a plucky woman. She drove them off, firing at them; then she discovered me on the verandah and nearly shot me into the bargain. When I was set free this handkerchief was on the verandah and she saw it as soon as I picked it up.”
”Then everyone in the towns.h.i.+p will hear about it,” Harding said. ”She is to come in this afternoon to meet Mr. Wallace.”
”When is he due?”
”About noon he ought to be here.”