The Childerbridge Mystery

s he stood holding the telegram in his h

's forgiving spirit in her, and she was aware that he would h

mean to do?

says 'Come at once.' That is sufficient evidence that there is no time to be lost. Perhaps he has

ied forward, his bag to be packed, and the carriage to b

cally. "Terence will be in the house and will keep a careful eye upon you. If you think you will be lonely I

rrangement. She declared that she would

Helen, I should be here to receive it. It would not

d sent word to Terence to

said, "and I am going to leave Miss Alice in yo

eplied; "I wouldn't stand by and see anything

then went on to explain the reason for

hought, James Standerton that evening was that one. There was his errand to London in the first place to be considered, the singular behaviour of the Black Dwarf a few nights before for another, and the dec

house? If the latter were to come to pass, however, he felt certain that the place she would fly to would be the Ma

treet, but later confessed his entire ignorance of its locality. Jim set him right, and then, taking his place in the cab, bade him drive him thither with all speed. Once more they set off, down Piccadilly, through Leicester Square, and so by way of Long Acre into Holborn. Then the route became somewhat more c

however they entered a street which appeared to have no ending. It was illumined by flaring lamps from coster barrows, drawn up besi

," said the cabman, through the shutt

be able to find it in this crowd. Put me down

ch of the number in question. It was as miserable an evening as ever he could remember. A thin drizzle was falling; the sights and sounds around him were sordid and depressi

lusion that Thirteen must be situated at the further end of the street. This proved to be the case. When

name?" asked

ived a telegram from Detective-sergeant

answered. "Come in; we have been

soner is here, and not

," returned the officer. "He's just about done for. In

he matter

ctor says. He says he c

d of the dirty stairs that descended to the hall,

te. We discovered him at midday, and he was then at the point of death. He was too ill to be moved, and as

le for me to see h

ever since we found him, so I took the l

Jim. "There are some que

nd I'll speak to the doctor. You shall not

w, while the cries of the hawkers in the street came faintly in and added to the general squalor. Then as he stood there he recalled that first meeting with Murbridge beside the Darling River. In his mind's eye he saw the evening sun illumining the gums on the opposite bank, the soft breeze ruffling the surface of the river, an old

r. Standerton, the son of the man the poor wretch inside is suspe

at he will not live?" sa

ch surprised," said the doctor; "in point of fact h

mystery connected with him that I

in that case I presume that y

permit it,"

ed the other. "But if you will stay h

e. It was uncarpeted, and its furniture consisted of a broken chair, a box on which stood an enamelled basin, and a bed which was covered with frowsy blankets. On this bed lay a

ive and the nurse to leave the room with him. They did so, and the door closed behind them. Then Jim went forwa

aid in a voice that was little above a

t before dinner, and came a

self-denying of you! Good Lord, to think that it should be my luck

y is unlikely," Jim replied. "That fact

e, during which Murbrid

he murder, I supp

ngeful at such a moment, but you took from me and my

it was I who committ

d against my father; you vowed that you would be even with him, happen what might, and you ran away

her replied. "But, as a matter of fact, I did not commit the murder.

at him in

re have not been many villainies I haven't committed, and still fewer that I wouldn't have committed if they tended to my advantage. The record I shall carry aloft with me will not bear much looking

im looked i

or lose by saying such a thing? I shall be gone hence in a few hours, perhaps minutes. Even if I were

run away if you

elf with human beings just then. Good heavens, man! You don't know how desperate I was. I had followed your father to England, and the voyage had taken nearly all my money. What little was left I spent in liquor, and then went down to Childerbridge to screw more from your father. He refused point blank to help me except on certain conditions, which I would not comply with. Knowing his stubbornness of old, I cleared out of Childerbridge by the

were true, and it bore the impression of truth, t

e it all," said Murbridge, after a pause. "Good Lord, to think that

lieving that he had heard arig

urned Murbridge. "Do you mean to say tha

possible?" Jim contin

d of forgery at the age of twenty-one"-(the man spoke as if he were proud of it)-"and did my three years. For a while after that I went straight, but at twenty-six there was another little mistake, with the details of which I will not trouble you, but which was sufficient, nevertheless, to again cause me to spend so

r?" said Jim slowly, as if he w

, and that you and Alice were growing up. It was my desire to play the part of the kindly uncle. But your father made himself objectionable, and vowed that if ever I dared to betray my relationship to you he would cut off supplies. As there was never a time in my life in which

Jim, he was thinking of the mental agony his father must have suffered, year after year, with this despicable

hy didn't my poor father tell me this before? He might have

little while it will matter still less. The police and I have been on the most friendly terms all our lives, and

own hideous joke, but t

hing I can do for you?" Jim enquired

he had made to talk had proved too much fo

te, Jim rose and went in search of the doctor

fast," said Jim. "I think

urned to the sick-room, le

ed the latter, "

"The man is as innocent of the crim

onished detective, and asked the same questions Jim had put

Murbridge had wanted to place a halter round his neck he could not have gone to work in

m. "The case is now shrouded in e

r, and still they waited. At two

" he said solemn