The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-01-24
than he had walked down it earlier

SSSSSSSS'SeSsSSeSeS sS>SSeseSesoSSe10AI09
than he had walked down it earlier in
the afternoon.
Directly he had gone the superin-
tendent' sent for the officer, Inspector
Millett, who had been in charge of the
search in London for the escaped con-
vict. He told him of the interview and
gave him Harold Brettingham's card.
What does it mean?" asked the
superintendent.
Something replied the inspector,
because on the face of it the inquiry
isn't genuine. We had the wife of
John Wilson under observation until
we were quite sure she had no COM
munication with her husband. She's
not in distress. and If she were, from
what we've ascertained of her, she's
not likely to go to any one for charity
or to tell them that her husband was
convict. Where she's employed she
passes as Miss, Wilson. She has a
good salary and she lives quietly
alone"
Then Mr.. Harold rockingham,
calling on behalf of Lady Bretting-
ham, has pitched us tale?" said the
superintendent
mo doubt of it."
! you know the case. What do you
think of doing?"
| Il shall have observation kept on
Mr.. Harold Buckingham for day or
two. can't see what possible con-
necticn he can have with the matter.
He came here on fishing expedition
about Wilson's wife, and this may
mean" The inspector hesitated.
May mean what?"
THAT he knows her, and was sent
by her to see if we know her present
address. It's just possible she may
be going to join her husband, and
this is preliminary precaution."
When Inspector Millett presented
his report to his chief it contained no
solution of the mystery. Harold Bret
tingham had not attempted to hold the
slightest communication with Mrs.
Wilson, who went to her place of
business as usual, and was in the
evenings occasionally joined by
young man who had been ascertained
to be novelist named Allister. That
was all the detectives had ascertained,
however, except that Harold Bretting-
ham was the brother of Sir Mark
Buckingham, a gentleman now much
talked of in connection with Miss
Claire Barton, the young actress at the
Pandora.
But later report threw a little
more light on the matter. Miss Claire
Barton was patronizing the millinery
establishment in which Miss Wilson
was forewoman. The detectives had
ascertained that Miss Claire Barton
had formerly been an assistant in the
shop in Regent street at which "Miss"
Wilson was engaged, and had been on
friendly terms with her.
The facts established were these.
Claire Barton, an actress of means,
was engaged to a wealthy baronet
The actress was a friend of "Miss"
Wilson, the escaped convict's wife.
The brother of Sir Mark rockingham
had been to Scotland Yard to inquire
if the police knew "Miss" Wilson's
present address.
To the heads of the Criminal In
vestigation department the visit ap-
peared capable of this construction.
Claire Barton had, on her friends
behalf, supplied the convict with the
funds which had enabled him to re-
main perdu.
The inquiry at the Yard had been
made by Mr.. Harold Buckingham,
who had acted for his brother, on be.
half of Claire Barton.
The assumption was that the wife
was contemplating joining her hus.
band, and that the Brettinghams had
approached the Yard in order to as.
certain If Miss" Wilson was still un.
der police observation.
Inspector Millett at once decided on
his plan. The closest observation
must be kept upon the convict's wife,
If she was going to find John Wilson,
she would take member of the Grim.
inal Investigation department with
her.