Helen Passes By: A Bobby Owen Mystery

by E. R. Punshon

  “Miss Helen didn’t wait. She went on alone to the spinney?”

  “Oh, yes. The kingfisher might have flown off any moment. I only waited to make sure the ration books were all right. It’s so awful if they get lost or anything.”

  “As soon as you had done that, you followed into the spinney?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you or did Miss Helen see Itter Bain’s body?”

  “Oh, no,” Jane cried. “Oh, what a horrible idea. We had no idea, not any, not till next evening. We were both out all next day, visiting Great Aunt, and we only got back late. That was the first we heard of it. The next day Commander Seers came to see us and we told him everything, and he said it was only what he knew before.”

  “Yes, but,” Bobby explained again, “we know a great deal more than we did when Commander Seers said that. Quite true at the time,” Bobby said and added to himself: “Or so the fat headed old blunderer believed.” Aloud he said: “Things that seemed unimportant then mean a good deal now—or may. When you followed Miss Helen, had you any difficulty in finding her?”

  “Oh, no. It was only a minute or two. I ran along the path and she heard me coming and called out from where she was.”

  “She wasn’t actually on the path, then? She had left it? Why? What was she doing?”

  “Well,” Jane answered uncomfortably, “she was looking for the kingfisher where Uncle said, and she saw Uncle’s gun, and she picked it up, because she couldn’t think why he had left it there like that. I told her to put it down. I thought it might go off.”

  “Did she?”

  “Well,” Jane answered still more uncomfortably, “Helen said it had been let off already, and she showed me where it was when she saw it, underneath a bush, as if it had been pushed there out of the way, and what had Uncle done that for? I said again to put it down in case it went off, and she said it couldn’t, and she made it open to show there wasn’t anything in it, but you never know, do you?”

  “Had neither of you heard any report?” Bobby asked.

  “If we had, we hadn’t taken any notice,” Jane explained. “There’s always shooting going on—rabbits or scaring birds or something, the soldiers, perhaps, and then it wasn’t for two days that we were asked. We couldn’t be sure, either of us. Or about the time exactly. Commander Seers said it only showed again what he knew already—that someone had found Uncle’s gun and killed Mr. Bain with it.”

  Bobby listened silently. No doubt all this had seemed of no great importance to Commander Seers with his preconceived certainty of conviction that people of the social standing and position of the family of Lord Adour and Avon could not possibly be mixed up in violent crime. Bobby had no such certainty. There was a clear picture in his mind of the two girls talking together, the murder weapon in the hands of one of them, close by the still warm and bloody body of the murdered man. What other picture might not presently become equally clear? he asked himself fearfully. He did not like the thought of the one, which, just possibly might begin presently to take shape and form. Then with immense relief he remembered one detail that seemed to suggest this picture would never formulate itself into any semblance of reality. Even Jane noticed, and was puzzled, that his voice was a good deal more cheerful as he turned to her uncle and said:

  “Did Commander Seers ask you where you left your gun when you put it down?”

  “Oh yes,” Lord Adour answered. “He said the murderer must have pushed it there under the bush where Helen saw it. He must have been somewhere quite near. Seers said it was the mercy of God Helen didn’t see him, or find the body, or she might have been murdered, too. After the two girls went away, the murderer must have thought he had better find a more secure hiding place for the gun.”

  “I told Helen to leave it there,” Jane interposed. “She isn’t a bit frightened of guns and things, but I made her. Helen says it’s silly and she doesn’t mind a bit, but then she is used to them. She used to go out with the men sometimes before the war, when there were shooting parties.”

  This was said quite simply. Evidently Jane herself saw no special significance in her remark. Lord Adour looked glum and muttered something inaudible. Bobby told himself that he was certain Jane spoke the truth as far as she knew it. But then the question remained: How far did she know it? Had there been other happenings, of which she knew nothing, happenings before her arrival on the spot where Helen stood with a recently discharged gun in her hands? He did not know. Impossible to say. One thing alone seemed clear. He must give all he had just learned the most careful consideration before taking any action. Obviously all this should have been known long ago. The questions asked by Commander Seers would assuredly have been of a very different and far more searching character had they been addressed to cottagers. Not that Seers had been in the least conscious of any partiality. The conviction was simply ingrained in him that certain things were “not done” in the best circles, and as they weren’t “done,” they couldn’t happen.

  “A respecter of persons without knowing it,” Bobby reflected, “and that’s the worst kind of all.”

  Then he said aloud, speaking directly to Lord Adour:

  “Commander Seers is an extremely capable officer, but he hasn’t any very great experience in detective work. Neither he nor the young ladies may have realized the importance of their stories. I am wondering, Lord Adour, whether you did. I think you must have done. I think the truth is you went to the spinney to meet Itter Bain. Most unfortunately, as things turned out, you took your gun with you as a kind of excuse, camouflage, to suggest you were only going to see if you could get a shot at a rabbit, though I don’t think the middle of the afternoon is the best time for rabbit-shooting. It was because you were afraid that if you admitted you knew Itter was waiting for you, you might have to go on to admit that you had been in touch with him and had encouraged his hopes about a possible marriage with Miss Adour—”

  “Oh,” Jane cried out, interrupting, “oh, he didn’t—oh, Uncle never did; did you, Uncle?”

  Bobby saved Lord Adour the need for replying by the gesture with which he imposed silence upon Jane.

  “Never mind that,” he said. He continued, still speaking directly to Lord Adour: “I expect it was because the gun was only a kind of camouflage that you forgot it so entirely. You are quite clear in your mind where it was you left it?”

  “I’ve shown you exactly where,” Lord Adour answered at once, though sulkily enough. “What does it matter? It’s clear it was taken by the murderer. I didn’t go to look for it till much later on. It was getting dark. The gun was gone. I made sure someone had seen it and gone off with it. I told the police at once. I rang up. Sergeant Gregson answered. He said they would attend to it. I didn’t suppose there was much chance of getting it back.”

  “Did you see Itter Bain’s dead body?”

  “No. I didn’t.” Lord Adour answered violently. “I’ve told you. It was getting dark. What did bother me was that Helen said nothing about him. I thought he must have gone away without having spoken to her.”

  “Although,” Bobby said, “although he was there for that very reason, waiting for the opportunity you had promised him of seeing her alone? Did that seem likely?”

  “It was possible, anyhow,” Lord Adour answered, ignoring a fresh exclamation of surprise and disbelief from Jane. “Helen— sometimes I think she frightens people. You never know what anyone will do when she’s been there. I’m her father, but I know it has the oddest effect, watching her. Of course, we’re used to her. I thought most likely Itter hadn’t dared to speak; I thought he must just have slipped away. How was I to guess he was lying dead close by?”

  Bobby got up to go.

  “Thank you,” he said. He added: “I hope I’ve made it quite clear it will be necessary to ask Miss Helen for a statement. On that, I must insist. I think Commander Seers is out of hospital. I will ask him to come with me. It would be wise, perhaps, if you asked your solicitor to be present. I shall also want
you both to put in writing what you have just told me. You will tell Miss Adour to expect us to-morrow?”

  “I will tell her,” Jane said; and a faint smile touched her lips as though she thought that it was all very well to talk in this easy way of interviewing Helen, but that perhaps the proposed interview might take a course very different from that Bobby expected. “I’m sure it’s very much better to bring Commander Seers with you,” she remarked.

  Bobby felt very annoyed. It almost seemed as if she thought he was bringing the Commander with him as a kind of safeguard, a sort of chaperon.

  “Hang it all,” he reflected indignantly, “she might be thinking that if I’m not careful I shall be going down on my knees begging the girl to elope with me,” and in point of fact it was something like that, less crude but in essence much the same, that Jane was thinking.

  CHAPTER XXX

  LAUNCH FOUND

  The first thing Bobby did on leaving Kindles was to try to get in touch with Commander Seers. Yet another drifting mine had been reported, however, and then lost sight of, so Seers was out in a motor launch looking for it, as in the prevalent conditions of wind and tide there was considerable risk of its coming ashore.

  Bobby had to content himself with writing a note explaining that in the light of recent developments he felt it had become necessary to insist on securing a statement from Helen Adour. It also, he wrote, seemed to him desirable, indeed essential, that when this was done Commander Seers should be present. He added that he was making a report to that effect to the Home Office. He wrote also another letter, this time to Lord Adour, in which, in stiff, official terms, he asked permission to place men on guard on the Kindles property “as a matter of extreme urgency.” To this he managed to get added, in addition to his own signature, that of the senior officer under Seers. Then he sent it to Kindles by Sergeant Gregson, hoping that possibly delivery by hand by a sergeant might impress.

  It failed to do so. Gregson returned with a curt refusal. Lord Adour preferred to take for himself such precautions as might seem desirable, the brief message ran, and indeed Bobby had not expected any more favourable reply. He wondered a little what precautions had been taken, if any. Lord Adour had never been willing to explain their nature, and Bobby was inclined to doubt if they existed and was sure that even if they did they were not likely to be very effective. He decided that all he could do in the circumstances was to have the road near Kindles patrolled all night.

  “His lordship won’t like that either,” Bobby remarked. “He has got it firmly into his thick head that if any of us are seen anywhere near his place, then everyone will take it for granted he is on the point of being arrested.”

  “Yes, sir,” agreed Gregson. “He said something about not wanting police hanging round as if he were being watched for fear he decamped.” Not without some understanding of this point of view, Gregson added: “Worst place ever for gossip, this is.”

  “Did you ever know,” Bobby asked, “any place anywhere that wasn’t the worst ever for gossip?”

  Leaving Gregson to muse upon this, Bobby went off to bed. He felt very tired, for the emotional strain of his long talks at Kindles had been considerable, nor was he as yet quite clear in his mind as to the conclusions that should be drawn therefrom. But he was not destined to enjoy much rest, for he had scarcely closed his eyes, and that happened as soon as his head touched the pillow, when the sergeant came knocking on the door.

  “There’s Billy Soper here,” Gregson called as soon as he heard Bobby answer. “He says they’ve spotted her and will you come at once?”

  “I’ll be down in a jiffy,” Bobby called; instantly alert, for this might mean that at long last he would be able to test, and perhaps to prove, the theory which he had been steadily pursuing, in spite of all cross-currents and alluring and divergent sidepaths.

  He dressed hurriedly. Below the young harbour man was waiting.

  “She’s there all right, sir,” he said. “We’re getting on with the job.”

  “Good,” said Bobby. “You’re sure?”

  “Oh, yes,” Soper answered. “It’s her all right. I don’t know how you knew, but that’s where she was.”

  “I’ll get the car,” Bobby said.

  “I’ve my motor-bike,” Soper said. “It would be quicker. She can go along the bank where a car couldn’t. That is, if you don’t mind getting up behind.”

  Bobby didn’t, even though it was not easy for him to tuck his long legs out of harm’s way. In a few minutes they were off, speeding through the heavy darkness, for the moon was not yet up and the night was cloudy. Before them the beam of the cycle’s head lamp threw a lane of light. Behind followed Gregson on a pedal cycle, annoyed that the car hadn’t been used, since then he could have ridden in comfort instead of having to push along in the dark.

  Soon the last houses of the little harbour town were left behind. From the smooth highway they turned to the rough path that ran by the river-side, bumping and jolting their way along. On one side flowed the river, dark and silent in the night. On the other hand brooded the quiet fields, still and solitary. Alone the chug-chug of their busy engine disturbed the silence and the dark. Presently there grew into visibility before them a strong, clear light and as they drew nearer there came to them the sound of men working and talking.

  “They’ll soon have her up,” Soper said over his shoulder. “The crane’s there and it’ll do the job in quick time.”

  They arrived. Bobby jumped down. The Harbour-master’s assistant greeted him. The Harbour-master himself was out with Commander Seers, trying to find the mine reported floating inshore. It might be necessary to warn people to leave their houses near the beach if the thing did drift in with the tide.

  “Lucky the wind’s dropped,” observed the Harbour-master’s assistant, “but there’s a swell on and she keeps popping up and down, so it’s hard to see where she is.”

  Natural enough that the mine, with its latent threat of destruction to the town and to their homes, should seem of more pressing interest to them than did the work on hand, especially as they had little idea of its purpose or significance. But they got on steadily with the job. Soper, who had gone to speak to them, came back to Bobby. He said:

  “There’s a bloke on the other bank.”

  “What’s he doing?” Bobby asked.

  Soper did not answer. He seemed uneasy. Bobby went to the bank to look. Soper threw the beam from his head lamp across the broadly flowing river. But all they could see was what appeared to be a shadow that moved and vanished as the beam from the lamp approached. The Harbour-master’s assistant said: “There isn’t anyone.”

  Soper said:

  “I saw him clear. He was watching like.”

  “Wondering what we’re up to?” suggested one of the other men who had heard what they were saying.

  “Who is there?” Bobby called across.

  “He won’t answer,” Soper said. “He just watches.”

  “Well, never mind,” Bobby said. “It’s too dark to do anything. If we tried to get over there he would be off at once.” After a moment’s pause, he added, a little uneasily: “Whoever it is.”

  He turned away to see how the work was progressing. A barge carrying a small crane was moored in the stream. A strong searchlight was in operation. A diver’s head appeared from the water. He announced that he had the chains fixed.

  “She’s about ten foot under,” Soper said. “I reckon it’s the deepest pool there is. Took some finding I reckon.”

  “I expect so,” Bobby agreed.

  “Someone else coming,” the Harbour-master’s assistant remarked. “We shall have ’em all here soon,” he grumbled.

  The sound of an approaching motor cycle was now quite plain. They went on working. From the dark water they saw slowly lifting the bow of a small boat. Bobby could read the name Seagull. The motor cycle, coming at speed, bumping over the rough towing path, was close now. It stopped. The rider jumped off. He called out loudly
: “What’s going on here?”

  Nobody answered. They were all intent on watching the crane as it pushed and lifted and guided the rescued Seagull towards the bank its bows were already touching. The newcomer said:

  “That’s the Seagull.”

  Bobby turned.

  “Oh, it’s Mr. Prescott Bain,” he said. “Yes, it’s the Seagull. We’ve found her at last. Is Mr. Mauley Bain with you?”

  Prescott did not answer. He came nearer and seemed to wish to make sure that it really was the Seagull. The water was pouring from her stern now that she was lying higher up the bank. Prescott said:

  “How did you know where she was?”

  “She had to be somewhere, hadn’t she?” Bobby remarked. “At the harbour they seemed pretty certain she hadn’t been taken out to sea. She might just possibly have been loaded on a lorry and carted away somewhere inland, but it didn’t seem likely. Somebody, somewhere, would be sure to have noticed a launch on a lorry. We made inquiries and heard nothing. So with sea and land ruled out, there was only the river left, and as she wasn’t on the river, it struck me she might be in it. Obvious idea. Simple job. Nothing like being simple and obvious when you’ve something to hide. So I got help to have the river searched wherever the water seemed deep. Surprising what a number of deep pools there are.”

  “More than you would think till you came to try,” Soper put in. “I reckon whoever sank her there meant to leave her for a time and then get her up again on the quiet. Tough job though, without—” and he nodded towards barge and crane.

  Bobby had been watching the water flow away from the interior of the launch. He said to Prescott:

  “What was it brought you along?”

  “Those lights show,” Prescott said. “I wondered what was going on.”

  “Does that mean you knew where the Seagull lay?”

  “Certainly not. How could I?”

  “She’s nearly free from water now,” Bobby said.

  “Well, it’s a relief to know she’s been found,” Prescott said, but he spoke nervously. “She’s worth money. In my idea, she belongs to the firm. Bought with the firm’s money. Mauley wants to make out she is part of Itter’s private estate.”