The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-09-12
CHAPTER TX
Missing!

TO dark SUBJECT. COrkerQale looked at
Manners; Manners stared at Corker-
dale; then both turned on the solicitor.
Mrs. Elphinstone exclaimed Man.
ners. ''In possession of the missing
will?"
But Corkerdale's first remark was
in quieter tone.
"That'l need some explanation" he
said, with a significant look. "As
understand matters, the will was in
Mazaroff's pocket when he was MUIR
dered."
LAS far as is known, 1t was" re-
piled Croe. He carried it away from
| PoStlethwaite's office at York, in his
| pocket, anyway, and it certainly wasn't
amongst his effects at the WOodcock,
which we examined after his death.
Explanation. yes! But I'll tell you
how we came TO find out that Mrs.
Elphinstone got it," He went on to
narrate the happenings of the previ-
Gus night but one, on which Sheila
came to me with the missing will.
Now" he contn, d, "the thing of
course, is-how, where, under what cir
| substances did Mrs. ElphinstOne get
hold of that will? Last night, after
| Mrs. Elphinstone arrived in London,
MaythOrne saw her and tried to get an
explanation out of her. He got moth
ing!"
Not word !" said Maythorne.
She showed nothing but defiance. |
| hn i'm q 10Th
be drawn the suspicion that might be
thrown upon her-all no good! She
refused 10 say or tell anything"
And that makes me think" re-
marked Crole. little eagerly, that
| Mrs. ElphinstOne, after all, may have
proper and reasonable explanation
to give. can't think that a woman of
any common sense-and she's a
shrewd, clever, hard woman would
be so foolish as to behave in this
fashion unless she knew she was safe.
You limited that you'd have to give in
formation to the police, didn't you,
Maythorne?"
81 did"
And it produced no effect on herr"
Not the slightest! Her whole atti-
tude was that Of-mind your own
business"
Crole began to drum the table with
his fingers, looking round at the rest
of us as if he wondered whether any
body had got any suggestion to make.
AS nobody spoke, he made one him.
self.
Il wonder of Mazaroff, or Mercfrison,
! as he really was. met Mrs. Elphin-
| stone, or Mrs. Merchison, as she really
is, at any time while he was at the
WoOdcOck before his death?" he said.
Possible!
81 don't think he did," replied May
thorne, at whom Croe was looking
| particularly. There's nothing what
ever to suggest it. OF course, If Mrs.
EIphinstone could be got to speak it
would clear up tremendous lot"
From what little | saw of Mrs.
ElphinstOne at Marrasdale." observed
CroIe. she's the sort of woman who
will not speak-until it pleases her to
do sol hard woman-d-d hard !"
"Where is Mrs. Elphinstone to be
found?" asked Corkerdale.
Shorts hotel" replied Maythorne.
"Then | think Manners and l had
COrkerdale. He turned to Eccleshare.
you spoke of leaving England, doc
tor? When?"
"rve not quite settled the exact
date" replied Eccleshare. Il thought
about the end of next week."
Better put it off a bit. DOCTOR"
suggested Corkerdale, quietly. LAS far
as | can see. your evidence will be
wanted-and so will your mans.
Now" he continued, Il suppose Par
slave there is native of this place,
Marrasdale? Just sO-then he's very
well acquainted with the personal ap-
pearance of Mrs. Elphinstone"
"Known her a many years, sir
ever since she came to live at Marras-
dale tower" replied Parslave.
you'd be in the habit of seeing her
regularly, Parslave?" suggested the
detective.
Most every day, sir-here and
there"
"And you've no doubt that it was
Mrs Elphinstone you saw that night,
coming away from the place where
you heard the shot fred, and where
Mazaroff's dead body was afterwards
discovered?"
mot a doubt about that, sir! Take
my solemn 'davy twas Mrs. Elphin-
stone"
And you've no doubt either, doctor?
though you, of course, being, l
wouldn't know Mrs. Elphinstone so
well?"
"Pve no doubt" replied Eccleshare
Although was only visitor, |
know Mrs. Elphinstone well enough.
My host, Mr.. Courthope, is her
nephew. He, Mr.. Armintrade, and
myself dined at Marrasdale tower two
of three times during my stay. often
met Mrs. ElphinstOne out on the
moors. or in the village. I'm positive
she was the woman Parsave and
saw coming away that night from
Reivers den."
| COrkerdale turned to Manners.
81 think we'd better go round to
Shorts hotel" he remarked
That's what think" agreed Man.
ners. Cant be left where it u.s."
We all got up. There was a brief
silence. Crole was just going to say
something when knock came at the
door. Eccleshare's housekeeper put
her head inside.
There's a young man outside, sir,
wants to know If Mr.. Maythorne is
here?" she said. "Come in a taxi, sir,
with an old gentleman. The young