The Ely miner., 1930-10-10
The Mazaroff Mystery

upOut LihC-tNChly -NC UC ot
Waterloo in plenty of time. Cad! IL
shouldn't wonder if Cott'ngley's struck
the trail at last II told you what a
sharp chap he is."
We ran down to the entrance hall !;
outside there were two or three taxi
cabs standing about: Maythorne made
for the first.
"We'd better pull up a little short
of Waterloo" he remarked as we got
in. stop in York road-by the hotel
there" he added TO the driver. you
see, Holt" hesswent on as we moved
off southwark, IF this woman is Muir
doch, she'll know you, from having
seen you at the WoOdcock: she may
know me, though | don't remember
her. SO we must move warily: if
she's attempting a total clear-out, the
least thing will put her off. But-she
booked two passages, this woman of
whom Cottingley's heard; Now, for
whom can the other be?"
"Can she have had an accomplice?
if this woman really is Murdoch?'
suggested.
shes had accomplices here in. Lon
don, in that Harrow road affair, with
out doubt" he answered. MAY be
the brother she spoke of to Mrs. FL
phinstone and Miss Merchison. But
as to an accomplice in the Mazaroff
business-now If she had"
He paused there and remained silent
so long that at last | asked him what
he was thinking about.
az was thinking this" he answered
slowly. "This that if this woman
Murdoch really murdered MazarOff and
had an accomplice, and if Murdoch is
the woman who booked two passages
for New Zealand this afternoon, and
fits all if, you see Elf the second
passage is for the accomplice, why,
then, we're probably going to have a
very astounding surprise and revela-
ton! But as / say, it's all ifs"
We got out of the cab at the corner
of York road and walked quickly
toward the big station. Before we
were half way up the incline we met
with his hands in his trousers pockets
and cigarette hanging loosely from
the corner of his queer mouth, and he
looked as phlegmatic and unconcerned
as ever.
Thought you'd come this way" he
said as we passed. you're in good
time-twenty-five minutes yet. l
should say she-they, l mean-'ll not
turn up till the last thing. And all's
ready. The only thing is, if this
woman is the woman we think-Mur-
doch-who can recognize her, posi-
tively?"
"NIr. Holt can," answered May
thorne.
Cottingley regarded me with specu-
lative eyes-I fear | v as not of any
great account in his opinion.
knows herr" he asked.
81 know her!" | answered.
"Whatll be done is this he said,
walking between us. "The Southamp-
ton train leaves Number Four plat
form ten o'clock precisely. I've got
two thoroughly dependable men from
the Yard-had to go there and tell em
everything, of course, if l meant to
do any gOod-and they and I'll be on
the platform. She'll not know u.s.
Now then, is there any feaI of her
knowing .ither of you?"
"The strong presumption" replied
Maythorne, lis that she'll know us
BOTH"
"Very WE'LL" said Cottingley. "Then,
this is what we do. I've already, with
the detectives, given the tip to the
railway authOritieS-that there may
be an important arrest, dye see?
Now, I'm going to post you two just
within the barrier, where you can't be
seen. You'll keep there till the pas
sengers begin coming through for the
train. | shall be close 5y-the detec-
tives'll be yard of two further on,
in touch with me; there'll also be two
or three railway police about, in case
there's any bother. Now if Mr.. Holt
there recognizes this Murdoch woman,
he'll signal to me by lifting his hat
the instant she passes him-and you
can leave the rest. The only other
thing is that if we make the arrest,
I've arranged with the station people
that the detectives are to hurry her
off to a little office on the PLATFORM
you follow"
"All clear!' said Maythorne. We've
got you, Cottingley."
We passed into the big brilliantly
lighted station. Even at that late
hour of the evening il was crowded
Cottingley moved swiftly ahead of us
through the groups, passed us through
barrier with whispered word to
the man in charge, and, suddenly
twisting to his left, ushered us behind
a high wooden partition, few yards
away from the gate whereat tickets
were punched. There was a dark
cavernous recess there; he signed to
us to step in.
Remember" he said. "If it's the
woman we want-up with your hat
But-be Surei -
He swung on his heel, moved off
into the light of the big lamps above
the platform, and, pulling out his ciga-
rette case, began to smoke. lOafing
idly about. few yards away two
solidly built men, who, from their out
ward appearance might have been
highly respectable citizens going home
late to their suburban residences after
days business in the city, stood;
loafing, too. But as they chatted to-
gether, saw that their eyes were
not long away from Cottingley, nor
from the barrier, nor from the gloomy
recess in which Maythorne and
waited.
Thai waiting was about as big
trial of my nerves as had gone
through-since | heard the last shots
fired in Flanders. Folk came stream
|