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Page 64
Eldrick and Byner looked at each other for a moment. Then the solicitor
spoke--quietly and with a significance which the agent understood.
"Do you want to ask Mr. Pickard any questions?" he said.
Byner nodded and turned to the landlord.
"Did Parrawhite tell you where he was going to meet Pratt?" he asked.
"He did," replied Pickard. "Near Pratt's lodgin' place."
"Did--or does--Pratt live near you, then?"
"Closish by--happen ten minutes' walk. There's few o' houses--a sort o'
terrace, like, on t' edge o' what they call Whitcliffe Moor. Pratt
lodged--lodges now for all I know to t' contrary--i' one o' them."
"Did Parrawhite give you any idea that he was going to the house in
which Pratt lodged?"
"No! He were not goin' to t' house. I know he worn't. He tell'd me 'at
he'd a good idea what time Pratt 'ud be home, 'cause he knew where he
was that evening and he were goin' to meet him just afore Pratt got to
his place. I know where he'd meet him."
"Where?" asked Byner. "Tell me exactly. It's important."
"Pratt 'ud come up fro' t' town i' t' tram," answered Pickard. "He'd
approach this here terrace I tell'd you about by a narrow lane that runs
off t' high road. He'd meet him there, would Parrawhite."
"Did you ever ask any question of Pratt about Parrawhite?"
"No--never! I'd no wish that Pratt should know owt about my dealin's
with Parrawhite. When Parrawhite never come back--why, I kep' it all to
myself, till now."
"What do you think happened to Parrawhite, Mr. Pickard?" asked Byner.
"Gow, I know what I think!" replied Pickard disgustedly. "I think 'at if
he did get any brass out o' Pratt--which is what I know nowt about, and
hewn't much belief in--he went straight away fro' t' town--vanished! I
do know this--he nivver went back to his lodgin's that neet, 'cause I
went theer mysen next day to inquire."
Eldrick pricked up his ears at that. He remembered that he had sent
Pratt to make inquiry at Parrawhite's lodgings on the morning whereon
the money was missing.
"What time of the day--on the twenty-fourth--was that, Mr. Pickard?" he
asked.
"Evenin', sir," replied the landlord. "They'd nivver seen naught of him
since he went out the day before. Oh, he did me, did Parrawhite! Of
course, I lost mi brass--fifty odd pounds!"
Byner gave Eldrick a glance.
"I think Mr. Pickard has earned the ten pounds you offered," he said.
Eldrick took the hint and pulled out his cheque-book.
"Of course, you're to keep all this private--strictly private, Mr.
Pickard," he said as he wrote. "Not a word to a soul!"
"Just as you order, sir," agreed Pickard. "I'll say nowt--to nobody."
"And--perhaps tomorrow--perhaps this afternoon--you'll see me at the
_Green Man_," remarked Byner. "I shall just drop in, you know. You
needn't know me--if there's anybody about."
"All right, sir--I understand," said Pickard.
"Quiet's the word--what? Very good--much obliged to you, gentlemen."
When the landlord had gone Eldrick motioned Byner to pick up his hat.
"Come across the street with me," he said. "I want us to have a
consultation with a friend of mine, a barrister, Mr. Collingwood. For
this matter is assuming a very queer aspect, and we can't move too
warily, nor consider all the features too thoroughly."
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