And Roderick Homfray also knows something about wireless, my dear old thing, laughed the handsome woman, lazily taking a cigarette from her gold case, tapping it and lighting it.
Thats just it! Youre a priceless fool to have taken such a risk as to speak broadcast as you did. What did you say?
I only asked how 3.X.Q. Roddy Homfray of Little Farncombe was getting on, and gave my name as Freda!
Fool! yelled Gordon Gray in fury. It may be reported to the old sky-pilot! Young Homfray is in oblivion. We know that hes been picked up off the Thames towing-path, damp and unconscious, but in all probability hell never recover from the dope we gave him. We sincerely hope not, eh? I expected hed die in the night. The handsome woman hesitated.
No, Gordon, we hope he will recover. If he doesnt, then its murder once again; and, after all, thats an infernally ugly word. It would mean more than jug!
The short, rather stout, beady-eyed man, the huge cigar still in his mouth, made a gesture of impatience, and crossing to the big roll-top writing-table, upon which was a high-power transmission set of wireless telephone capable of projecting the human voice clearly to any point in the British Isles, he turned over another switch and placed the telephones over his ears.
As he did so he turned an ebonite knob with a brass pointer upon a semicircular scale of ivory one of many before him just a sixteenth of an inch. He touched it with infinite care.
Just listen, Freda, he said, in a hard voice. Now just listen here, how by your accursed foolishness youve brought danger upon us. Listen, you madwoman?
The woman took up the second pair of head-phones, twisted the steel band and, instead of placing the phones over her head, put the ear pieces to her ears with the arched band towards her face a favourite attitude with women who listen to wireless telephony.
As the delicate receivers came to her ears she drew a long breath, the colour dying from her face.
The little room wherein the fine expensive experimental set was installed was on the ground floor of a good-sized, old-fashioned house called Willowden, which stood behind a broad lawn just off the Great North Road between Hatfield and Welwyn, twenty-five miles from London, a distance which was as nothing to Gordon Gray with his up-to-date Rolls.
From the Automobile Club in Pall Mall he could easily reach home in half an hour, even though the traffic through North London was usually bad. That night he had taken Freda to the theatre, and they had had supper at Ciros afterwards, and it was now only one oclock in the morning.
Listen, old thing? she urged, as she again adjusted the telephones on her ears. Whats that?
Gordon Gray listened attentively.
A deep harsh voice was heard a Voice from Nowhere which asked slowly and very distinctly:
Who was that who is interested in 3.X.Q.? This is 3.A.X. at Carlisle calling. Who are you, Freda? Please tell me who you are! Roddy Homfray, 3.X.Q., is well, but I fear he may not be listening. Can I relay any message, Freda? asked the voice.
Curse you! cried the man. Youve actually given your name broadcast over the whole country! What the devil do you mean? he cried, glaring at her. All wireless amateurs know 3.X.Q. as old Homfrays son. They will inquire after Freda, and then old Homfray will know! Gad! Youve made an unholy mess of things now! Put those phones down and be quiet! he added.
Then, as she disentangled the head-phones from her hair, he pulled over the transmitting switch, and as the generator began to gather speed until it hummed pleasantly and the two big globular valves being aglow, he said, in a forced, unnatural voice:
Hulloa, 3.A.X.? Hulloa, Carlisle. Hulloa, 3.A.X. 3.A.X.? This is 3.B.T. at Birmingham calling. I heard your message about 3.X.Q. at Little Farncombe and about Freda. It wasnt Freda a woman but Freeman Freeman. Do you hear? I heard it as Freeman. I heard 3.X.Q. speaking an hour ago. He said he could not transmit to-night, but will do so to-morrow night at 20:00 oclock G.M.T. Have you got that, 3.A.X.? 3.B.T. changing over!
And he flung back the switch so that in a few seconds the generator was silent, and all became quiet save for the ticking of the round-faced yachts clock which bore in large capitals G.M.T. meaning Greenwich Mean Time.
Both took up the receiving phones and listened. A few moments later there sounded the peculiar whistle of a wireless carrier wave, and next second the same deep voice called in the jargon of wireless:
Hulloa, 3.B.T.? Hulloa, Birmingham? Hulloa, 3.B.T. This is 3.A.X. at Carlisle calling. I heard your message O.K. I understand that it was Freeman not Freda. I thought it was a lady inquiring after our friend 3.X.Q. Many thanks. I will listen for 3.X.Q.s transmission to-morrow night. Sorry I worried you about Freda. Thanks, 3.B.T. Thanks, O.M. 3.A.X. switching off!
The O.M. stood for old man, a familiar greeting between wireless experimenters unknown to each other, and who only meet through the ether.
I hope nobody has put a direction-finder upon me! said Gray a moment later.
Really you are very slick, Gordon, laughed the handsome woman. That change-over to Freeman is excellent! But as you said you were an amateur in Birmingham, and here we are at Crane Hill, you are quite right in fearing that somebody might spot us.
Ah! I replied quickly, and gave them no time, you see, laughed the elusive crook, for such he was.
His accomplice laughed merrily. They were a refined, good-looking pair. Freda passed herself off to most people as Grays sister. The good people of Hatfield knew the tenants of the old-fashioned house as Mr Gray and his widowed sister, Mrs Crisp. The latter a smart, go-ahead woman often drove her own little aluminium-bodied A.C. car up to London and back. Indeed, brother and sister lived mostly in London where they had a flat in Kensington, but the week-ends they usually spent at Willowden, where Grays old servant, Claribut, and his wife ran the house together.
Indeed Gray, a moment later, touched the bell, and old Claribut a very respectable-looking, white-haired man appeared. Surely none who called there would suspect such an outwardly perfect servant to be a crook like his master.
Jim, were going back to town to-night, Gray said. If anybody calls Im in Paris. But I dont expect that anyone will. Tell that to your wife, and to-morrow go over to Pangbourne, stay at the Elephant Hotel there, and find out what is doing concerning young Homfray. Hes at the Cottage Hospital there. You know all the facts.
All right! replied the clean-shaven old butler, whose aristocratic appearance always bore him in such good stead. He often posed as a benevolent philanthropist, and could impose upon most people. His was a long criminal record at Parkhurst and Sing-Sing, and he was a man who, having spent nearly half his life in jail, had brought crookdom to a fine art, truly a worthy associate of Gordon Gray, alias Gordon Tresham, Ralph Fane, Major Hawes Jackson, Commander Tothill, R.N., and a dozen other names which had risen and faded upon the phosphorescence of his elusive life.
Gordon Gray lived and he lived well at other peoples expense. He had caught the habit of hanging on to the edge of the wealthy mans garment, and wealthy war-profiteers were, he found, so very easily gulled when they wanted to get on, and by political manoeuvring to make their wives titled ladies.
The fact was that Gordon Gray was a dealer in big things. Trumpery theft, burglary or suchlike offences, were beneath him. He could manipulate big deals in the City, could arrange a knighthood at a price, and sometimes, when he and Freda had suddenly arrived in London from New York, he would actually entertain English politicians with names of world-wide repute at elaborate dinners at the Ritz.
All right! replied the clean-shaven old butler, whose aristocratic appearance always bore him in such good stead. He often posed as a benevolent philanthropist, and could impose upon most people. His was a long criminal record at Parkhurst and Sing-Sing, and he was a man who, having spent nearly half his life in jail, had brought crookdom to a fine art, truly a worthy associate of Gordon Gray, alias Gordon Tresham, Ralph Fane, Major Hawes Jackson, Commander Tothill, R.N., and a dozen other names which had risen and faded upon the phosphorescence of his elusive life.
Gordon Gray lived and he lived well at other peoples expense. He had caught the habit of hanging on to the edge of the wealthy mans garment, and wealthy war-profiteers were, he found, so very easily gulled when they wanted to get on, and by political manoeuvring to make their wives titled ladies.
The fact was that Gordon Gray was a dealer in big things. Trumpery theft, burglary or suchlike offences, were beneath him. He could manipulate big deals in the City, could arrange a knighthood at a price, and sometimes, when he and Freda had suddenly arrived in London from New York, he would actually entertain English politicians with names of world-wide repute at elaborate dinners at the Ritz.
Though a crook he was a philosopher, and his favourite remark when things went badly was: Bah! it is no use blowing against the wind!
That night he felt himself blowing against the wind. Though he said nothing to the handsome woman at his side, he regretted that Roddy Homfray had not been placed in the river Thames as he had first suggested, instead of upon the bank opposite that beautiful riverside house with its glorious lawns and gardens at the other side of Whitchurch Bridge. If Roddys unconscious form had been pitched over the bank it would have been found down at Mapledurham, and believed to be a case of suicide. He had been a fool, he declared within himself. He had hoped that the young man would be found dead in the morning. But he had not!
Ill go over to Pangbourne, said the elderly man he had addressed so familiarly as Jim. And Ill report all I can gather. Anything else? he asked, crossing to a box of cigars and helping himself without being invited.
No. Get back here. And tell your wife to keep the wireless securely locked up. Theres a Yale lock on this door. Nobody comes in. You hear!
Of course. It wouldnt do, Gordon, would it? That wireless is going to be a big use to us in the near future, eh? laughed the white-haired old man.
It will be, if were cute. But we shall have to have our eyes skinned. Have you paid all the tradesmens books?
Yes.
Then send to the chemist in Hatfield for a big bottle of eau-de-cologne the biggest hes got. Pay a pound for it, or more, and say that I want it to put into my bath. It gives the guys here a shock and impresses them.
Good idea! laughed Jim. Youre always brimming over with them. But look here, Gordon, he said, as he bit off the end of the cigar and started to light it. First, I dont like this furnished house of ours, with the inquisitive landlady; and I dont like the wireless.
Why?
Well, what Im afraid of is, that though weve got the aerial wires well concealed from the roadway, some boy scout of an errand boy may come in and twig it, and tell some other boy scout that weve got an aerial up. See?
Yes, I see, replied Gordon. But the risk is small. If a boy discovers it, let the boy listen in, and tell him to keep dark about it. Were inventors, and we have discovered something regarding wireless telephony which will soon startle the whole world. The boy, whoever he is, will be startled and hold his tongue till we decide how to deal with him. Oh! how simple you are, Jim! Youre getting chicken-hearted in your old age!
And Freda, who was standing by, laughed outright.
Chapter Six
Mists of Memory
Three days after Roddy Homfray had regained consciousness Doctor Maynard, on visiting him, declared that though his mental condition was not yet quite satisfactory, he was well enough to travel home. Therefore he took him in his own two-seater car from the Cottage Hospital at Pangbourne, by way of Wokingham and Godalming to Little Farncombe, where the old rector welcomed back his son and secretly returned thanks to his Maker for his safety.
The quiet old doctor only remained long enough to have a drink unprofessional, perhaps, but refreshing for he had to get back to his patients.
After he had gone, Roddy sat before the fire in the little study, his left hand upon his brow, for his head ached badly. It seemed that around his skull was a band of iron. Never for an instant since he had become conscious of things about him had that excruciating pain ceased. It was only when worn out by it that he slept, and thus became free.
Well, now, my boy, tell me exactly what occurred on that Sunday night, urged the old clergyman, standing before him and looking down at the crouched figure with eager curiosity.
I well, I really dont know, was the young mans reply. As I told you, in the darkness I found a girl just off the path in Welling Wood. She appealed to me to save her, and a few moments later she died in my arms. Then I rushed across here to raise the alarm, when, all of a sudden, I saw a bright red flash, and I knew no more till I awoke in the little hospital at Pangbourne.
But, my dear Roddy, the police searched the wood to find you searched every inch of it but there was no girl there. If she were dead she would surely have been found.
I was taken away unconscious. If so, what could have prevented the assassin and his friends for there must have been more than one person removing the evidence of their crime?
Assassin! gasped the old man, drawing a deep breath. Thoughts of Gordon Gray and the handsome Freda crossed his mind. But what hand could they have had in the death of an unknown girl in the woods at the rear of the Rectory?
No. He decided that Roddy, in his unbalanced state of mind, was filled with wild imaginings. The description of the red ball of fire was sufficient in itself to show how disordered was his brain. The poor boy was suffering from hallucinations, he decided, so he humoured him and listened as he repeated his incredible story.
You would recognise the girl again, Roddy? asked his father, puffing at his pipe.
Recognise her! Of course I should. Id know her anywhere! And once again he went into a long and detailed description of her face, her eyes, her hair, and her dress.
The short December afternoon was drawing in and the light was fading.
I think, Roddy, that if I were you Id go and lie down, said his father softly. Your poor head worries you I know, my dear boy.
It does. But I can think now think quite clearly, was the young mans reply. At the hospital the matron regarded me as a half-dazed idiot, I believe, and the nurse listened to me as she might listen to a babys babbling. But I tell you, father, Im now perfectly in my right mind. You may believe, or you may disbelieve my story, but Roddy, your son, has told you the truth, and he repeats every word he has said.
For a few moments the rector was silent, his pipe still in his mouth and his hands in the pockets of the easy old black jacket he wore in the house. He was not a man who made any outward show, and, like most scholars, cared little for dress now that, alas! his wife, who had looked after him so tenderly, was dead. Old Norton Homfray was of simple tastes and few wants. His whole soul was in the welfare of his parish, and in consequence the parish held him up as a real fine old fellow.