Part 36 (1/2)
Carl got out of bed grumbling. Jane thought he was a long time unlocking the door. She moved restlessly but still pretended to be asleep.
”What is it? Why the deuce do you rouse me at this hour of the night?”
asked Carl angrily.
”Mr. Hurd, the manager, said he thought he saw you come into the house a few minutes ago; I said you had not, that you were in your room; I did not see you and I was in the hall.”
”Confound him! I shan't stay here if I'm roused up at this unearthly hour. It's abominable! You are disturbing my wife's rest. What are the people tearing about the place for?” asked Carl as he heard footsteps.
”Didn't you hear the explosion? They are at it again.”
”Hus.h.!.+” said Carl. ”You'll wake my wife; it will frighten her. You've all gone mad. I heard nothing.”
”I'm sorry, sir, but Mr. Hurd was so certain he saw you come in I thought I'd see for myself.”
”And what the devil does it matter to him whether I was out or in?”
asked Carl sharply.
”That's not my business, sir. Please excuse me. I'll tell him you are in your room,” said the man, shuffling away. ”Queer smell of burning,”
he muttered as he went along the landing; ”seemed to be in his room.”
The manager was in the hall. With him were an inspector of police and a detective.
”Well?” asked Hurd.
”He's in his room, undressed and in bed. I knew he didn't come in.”
”You're mistaken,” said the Inspector. ”He did. I saw him.”
”He gave me an accurate description of Mr. Meason,” said Hurd, ”and I am certain I saw him come in.”
The hall porter shook his head.
”I was here when you came downstairs and I didn't see him.”
”It's very strange,” said the Inspector, looking at the detective.
”Are you sure he's the man you followed, that he came in here?”
”We both saw him,” said the detective dryly.
”If it is the man, he's been precious quick undressing and getting into bed,” said the Inspector doubtfully.
Several people were in the hall. The explosion roused them. They made anxious inquiries; the manager a.s.sured them.
Carl Meason listening upstairs little knew what a narrow escape he had.
He was not aware he was followed as he hurried back to the hotel nor was he aware that an accurate description of him was in the hands of the police.
It was Valentine Braund, the American millionaire, who had given information to the authorities. He had been to Little Trent the day after Meason left the Sherwood Inn, and a piece of paper found in Carl's room by Abel Head confirmed his suspicions that the man was Karl Shultz who he was convinced was the organizer of the explosion at the Valentine Steel Works. He had asked Head to give him the paper. It did not appear to be of much importance but the name Mannie Kerrnon was written on it. Braund knew this was the woman who worked with Shultz, and his interest became active. He was a determined man and had made up his mind never to forget Shultz. He had already spent money freely trying to find him. He left Head very much mystified and proceeded to interview Tom Thrush.