|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 101
"I never said it, at any rate," answered Bryce.
"Once more, I say, I'm not a fool!" exclaimed Mary. "I saw
through you all along. And you've failed! I'm not in the
least frightened by what you've said. If the police arrest
Dr. Ransford, Dr. Ransford knows how to defend himself. And
you're not afraid for him! You know you aren't. It wouldn't
matter twopence to you if he were hanged tomorrow, for you
hate him. But look to yourself! Men who cheat, and scheme,
and plot, and plan as you do come to bad ends. Mind yours!
Mind the wheel doesn't come full circle. And now, if you
please, go away and don't dare to come near me again!"
Bryce made no answer. He had listened, with an attempt at a
smile, to all this fiery indignation, but as Mary spoke the
last words he was suddenly aware of something that drew his
attention from her and them. Through an opening in Ransford's
garden hedge he could see the garden door of the Folliots'
house across the Close. And at that moment out of it emerge
Folliot himself in conversation with Glassdale!
Without a word, Bryce snatched up his hat from the table of
the summer-house, and went swiftly away--a new scheme, a new
idea in his mind.
CHAPTER XXIV
FINESSE
Glassdale, journeying into Wrychester half an hour after
Bryce had left him at the Saxonsteade Arms, occupied himself
during his ride across country in considering the merits of
the two handbills which Bryce had given him. One announced an
offer of five hundred pounds reward for information in the
Braden-Collishaw matter; the other, of a thousand pounds. It
struck him as a curious thing that two offers should be made
--it suggested, at once, that more than one person was deeply
interested in this affair. But who were they?--no answer to
that question appeared on the handbills, which were, in each
case, signed by Wrychester solicitors. To one of these
Glassdale, on arriving in the old city, promptly proceeded
--selecting the offerer of the larger reward. He presently
found himself in the presence of an astute-looking man who,
having had his visitor's name sent in to him, regarded
Glassdale with very obvious curiosity.
"Mr. Glassdale?" he said inquiringly, as the caller took an
offered chair. "Are you, by any chance, the Mr. Glassdale
whose name is mentioned in connection with last night's
remarkable affair?"
He pointed to a copy of the weekly newspaper, lying on his
desk, and to a formal account of the discovery of the
Saxonsteade jewels which had been furnished to the press, at
the Duke's request, by Mitchington. Glassdale glanced at it
--unconcernedly.
"The same," he answered. "But I didn't call here on that
matter--though what I did call about is certainly relative to
it. You've offered a reward for any information that would
lead to the solution of that mystery about Braden--and the
other man, Collishaw."
"Of a thousand pounds--yes!" replied the solicitor, looking at
his visitor with still more curiosity, mingled with
expectancy. "Can you give any?"
Glassdale pulled out the two handbills which he had obtained
from Bryce.
"There are two rewards offered," he remarked. "Are they
entirely independent of each other?"
"We know nothing of the other," answered the solicitor.
"Except, of course, that it exists. They're quite
independent."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|