|
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 59
"Because I know that he had such a paper in his purse the
night he came to the Mitre," answered Harker, "and was certain
to have it there next morning, and because I also know that
you were left alone with the body for some minutes after
Varner fetched you to it, and that when Braden's clothing and
effects were searched by Mitchington, the paper wasn't there.
So, of course, you took it! Doesn't matter to me that ye did
--except that I know, from knowing that, that you're on a
similar game to my own--which is why you went down to
Leicestershire."
"You knew Braden?" asked Bryce.
"I knew him!" answered Harker.
"You saw him--spoke with him--here in Wrychester?" suggested
Bryce.
"He was here--in this room--in that chair--from five minutes
past nine to close on ten o'clock the night before his death,"
replied Harker.
Bryce, who was quietly appreciating the Havana cigar which the
old man had given him, picked up his glass, took a drink, and
settled himself in his easy chair as if he meant to stay there
awhile.
"I think we'd better talk confidentially, Mr. Harker," he
said.
"Precisely what we are doing, Dr. Bryce," replied Harker.
"All right, my friend," said Bryce, laconically. "Now we
understand each other. So--do you know who John Braden really
was?"
"Yes!" replied Harker, promptly. "He was in reality John
Brake, ex-bank manager, ex-convict."
"Do you know if he's any relatives here in Wrychester?"
inquired Bryce.
"Yes," said Harker. "The boy and girl who live with Ransford
--they're Brake's son and daughter."
"Did Brake know that--when he came here?" continued Bryce.
"No, he didn't--he hadn't the least idea of it," responded
Harker.
"Had you--then?" asked Bryce.
"No--not until later--a little later," replied Harker.
"You found it out at Barthorpe?" suggested Bryce.
"Not a bit of it; I worked it out here--after Brake was dead,"
said Harker. "I went to Barthorpe on quite different
business--Brake's business."
"Ah!" said Bryce. He looked the old detective quietly in the
eyes. "You'd better tell me all about it," he added.
"If we're both going to tell each other--all about it,"
stipulated Harker.
"That's settled," assented Bryce.
Harker smoked thoughtfully for a moment and seemed to be
thinking.
"I'd better go back to the beginning," he said. "But, first
--what do you know about Brake? I know you went down to
Barthorpe to find out what you could--how far did your
searches take you?"
"I know that Brake married a girl from Braden Medworth, that
he took her to London, where he was manager of a branch bank,
that he got into trouble, and was sentenced to ten years'
penal servitude," answered Bryce, "together with some small
details into which we needn't go at present."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|