CHAPTER IX
THE HOUSE WITH THE SHUTTERED WINDOWS
Cleek, accompanied by the faithful Dollops, did go down to Hampton thatvery day, and put up as arranged at the Hampton Arms. He travelled asMr. George Headland, a commercial traveller for beer, from London, withan inveterate taste for gossip. He speedily learned that since thereturn of Lady Margaret to Cheyne Court the house had been shut up"worse than ever," for hardly anybody had seen Miss Cheyne, and no onewould go near the estate because of the noise.
"What noise?" Cleek's ears pricked up.
"A queer moaning noise, sir. It fair beats me to describe it, but itjust lifts the 'air off yer 'ead. You go down the lane past the gates,one dark night, and 'ear that sound. I'll wager yer'd make for therailway station as fast as yer legs could carry yer."
"Hum! now what can that noise be?" Cleek mused. "An old trick tofrighten away the superstitious peasants? Old as the hills, that is.I'll hear that noise for myself before I'm many hours older, or I'velost my sense since the Vanishing Cracksman days."
But it was not until the next day that his desire was granted, forDollops, having been left to himself for a few hours, contrived to get a"scratch meal." This had apparently consisted of pickled walnuts,sheep's feet, steak-and-kidney pudding, and some jam puffs, with anadditional helping of nuts as dessert. The effect of this startlingcombination may be imagined. The result was a fit of indigestion whichsent Cleek pounding down the lane at ten o'clock that night to find thenearest doctor. It was not until he was well within sight of CheyneCourt, standing shuttered and dark, that he remembered the innkeeper'swords of the morning before. He slackened speed a moment in the dark andall at once, as if from the ground beneath his feet, there issued one ofthe most horrible and inexplicable sounds that could be imagined. It wasneither human nor animal though it contained something of both. Noinstrument or mechanical thing could possibly have emitted it, and Cleekstood stock still, the very hairs on his head quivering at the suddenunearthly wail. It ceased as quickly as it had begun, and brought backto the immediate needs of his protege, he went on his way, the memory ofthat horror-haunting sound still ringing in his ears.
Half an hour later he was back with Dr. Verrall, a stiff and unyieldingyoung man, who evidently held the House of Cheyne and all its ways inthe greatest reverence. He refused to discuss the subject of the queersounds, and as he very soon concocted a nauseous dose that had thedesired effect on Dollops, there was nothing else to do but to allow himto proceed on his way home.
On the following day Mr. Narkom arrived at the Hampton Arms. Thepresence of the great inspector brought Mr. Roberts, bursting with prideto be allowed to speak on any terms with the great official. He clearlyhad no recollection of ever having seen Mr. George Headland before, andhad any one told him that he was in the presence of the very man who hadfetched him on a wild-goose chase that night nearly a month before, hewould absolutely have refused to believe the evidence of his own senses.
Mr. Narkom, however, listened to all he had to say on the subject ofthat escapade and commended him for his promptness in obeying thesummons.
Another visitor came also to the little inn, and that was Sir EdgarBrenton.
"I am thankful you've come," he said, addressing Mr. Narkom, though hehad greeted Mr. Headland civilly beforehand.
"I cannot fathom the mystery at all. I returned to Cheyne Court to makeanother attempt on the place, but found that the broken window is nowbarred and shuttered, so there is evidently still someone in the place.Don't you think you could take the law into your own hands and force anentry? Mr. Narkom, when I think that my dear girl may be kept there aprisoner, I go nearly mad with terror of what they may do to her--thedevils!"
Mr. Narkom nodded sympathetically, and stole a side glance at Cleek'simpassive face.
"I don't doubt it, Sir Edgar," he replied, "but it's a dangerous thingto break into a house, you know. Still, there is the excuse of aforcible abduction of the young lady perhaps, and if it is Miss Cheynewho is at the bottom of it, I don't mind trying to bluff her aboutburglars being in the neighbourhood, etc. We could say how unsafe it waswith those jewels about."
He looked across at his ally for approval and Cleek, with a little smilehovering round his lips, nodded.
"Yes, why not?" he said. "I'd like to have another look at Cheyne Courtby daylight and locate that abominable row----"
"Have you heard it, then?" broke in Sir Edgar hastily. "I was beginningto think my brain was giving way, and that the old superstition wasright, after all."
"What superstition is that?" asked Cleek.
"Why, Cheyne Court has always been supposed to be haunted by a wailinglady who presages death to the owner, and for the past week nearlyeveryone seems to have heard her. I refused to believe it till lastnight, when I couldn't keep away from the place. 'Pon my word, the soundfairly made my blood run cold. What do you think about it, Mr.Headland?"
"A good deal, sir, and that's the truth," responded Cleek. "There's somevillainy on foot and I don't take heed of any wailing ladies till I seehow it's done. Now if you're ready, sir."
Sir Edgar _was_ ready and the three, with Dollops hovering in thebackground, made their way to the ill-fated abode. Silent andgrim-looking, with its lower windows shuttered, an oppressive silenceseemed to overhang it. This was speedily broken by their sending pealafter peal from the door-bell ringing through the building.
But no answer came. There was no sound of approaching footsteps and SirEdgar, pale and despairing, stepped back into the gravelled path andgazed up into the windows. As he did so, he gave a cry and pointedupward. Cleek and Narkom sprang to his side just in time to see thewrinkled and malevolent face of Miss Cheyne looking down on them. Thatshe was bitterly angry they could see, for though they could only guessat the stream of invective pouring from her shaking lips, a frenziedfist shaken in their direction warned them that any liberties taken withher abode would be bitterly resented. She disappeared suddenly from viewand Sir Edgar turned upon his companions.
"Help me break the door down," he cried, forgetting all caution. "Mydear girl is in there with that harridan, who has perhaps killed her forthe sake of those accursed jewels! Some women would sell their very soulfor diamonds, and she is one of them."
Cleek pursed up his lips and gave forth a low whistle.
"That's a fact," he assented. "Let's try the back." Recognizing that atleast one emissary of the law was on his side, Sir Edgar darted alongthe terrace and on his way to the rear of the house. All the windowswere shuttered and barred but a handy brick smashed the glass of one andtheir combined assaults on the time-worn shutters behind soon gave theman entry.
Cleek left Dollops on guard outside.
"Don't let a single person escape, Dollops," he said. "Whistle ifanybody attempts to come out, but don't let them go."
"Righto, guv'nor," was the cheerful answer. "Don't you worrit; I'll putsome of my 'tickle tootsies' along here as I follows yer, an' it'll be adowny old bird wot escapes me and _them_ as well; wot?"
Cleek smiled approvingly and followed his two companions into the house,perfectly content to leave the care of the outside to Dollops. Alreadyhe could hear Sir Edgar impetuously racing from floor to floor, makingthe oak rafters ring with Lady Margaret's name. But no sight or sound ofher rewarded his efforts.
Mr. Narkom, pulling down shutter after shutter, let in the gorgeouslight of day, but it was soon evident that the house was empty. Neitherservants nor mistress rewarded their search. Neither did subsequenttapping and close scrutiny reveal a panel or trap-door. No corneredcriminal was to be found; no gagged and bound figure of the girl theysought. There was nothing but the scamper of frightened mice behind thewainscoting. Miss Cheyne had disappeared before their very eyes,mysteriously, inexplicably, but disappeared nevertheless!
As they stood in the empty ballroom, its walls lined with age-oldportraits, the furniture dusty and moth-eaten, there came a sound thatmade even Cleek, to whom it was no stranger, shudder. It was a low,ho
rrible moaning which seemed to permeate the whole house.
For a moment they stood rooted to the spot in horrified silence, thenSir Edgar spoke in a quaking whisper:
"Heavens above! what is it?"
Nobody answered him, for it was a question impossible to answer. Allthey could do was to search the house again from garret to basement, butMiss Cheyne had apparently disappeared as mysteriously as her niece.Whether by her own will or not, it was impossible to say.
Back once more on the terrace they were compelled to own themselvesbeaten, and Cleek and Mr. Narkom looked at one another in sympatheticdismay at this set-back to their plans. They both had counted on comingface to face with the eccentric guardian of the girl whose life was insuch evident danger. Suddenly Sir Edgar gave a little startledexclamation and turning in the direction of his gaze they saw the figureof a fair and slender woman running toward them.
As she drew near, Cleek's heart gave a little leap of delight, for itwas the woman who meant more to him than all the world. A second laterhe quickened his steps to meet her.
"Oh, I am so worried!" Ailsa said swiftly. "I am thankful I have foundyou at last. It is that poor girl you drove home that night, LadyMargaret Cheyne, you know. I have tried so many times to see her. I havecalled and called, but have always been refused admittance. Now thismorning I was in the lane when I saw Lady Margaret at a window and shedropped this scrap of paper. See!" She handed Cleek a little screwed-uppiece of paper on which was scrawled "Miss Lorne, save me! Margaret.""She was snatched away before I could call to her. What does it mean?"asked Ailsa, wistfully looking from one face to the other.
"I should not be surprised if that dangerous stone, the Purple Emperor,is at the bottom of it all," said Cleek.
Sir Edgar took the scrap of paper from Ailsa's fingers, and read itslowly through. Then he cried vehemently:
"I'll save her, if I commit murder fifty times over."
As he spoke, he plunged along the lane, the ill-fated words lingering intheir minds long after he had disappeared.
"It's an absolute mystery at present," said Cleek softly, his chinpinched up in his hand. "There must be some way of getting in and out ofthat house which we haven't yet fathomed, and I'd like to have a shot atfinding it. I think, too, we shall have to keep an eye on our youngfriend, Sir Edgar, or he will be getting into trouble. Never fear,Ailsa," he added, gently, "I will save the little girl somehow, but Imean to give myself the pleasure of walking back with you first."
The walk was but a brief one, and Cleek on his return to the inn sent anurgent message to the Towers asking Sir Edgar to come down to him. Hemeant to keep a watchful eye on his movements and prevent furthertrouble if possible.
Dollops returned half an hour later with the disconcerting news that themaster had gone up to town.
Cleek switched on his heel, alert and surprised.
"Gone!" he said excitedly "What does that mean? Does he think he isgoing to find Lady Margaret wandering about Piccadilly Circus? Well,anyhow, he is safe up there out of reach of doing any mad tricks. Ah, ifI could only find the secret of that house I'd go a long way towardrestoring that child."
"Well, if _you_ don't find it I'll bet a tanner to a fresh herrin' noone will, guv'nor," exclaimed Dollops indignantly. "There ain't no onein the world wot's got your kind o' brains, and that's a fact. You'llfind the secret out all right, sir, if yer only has patience. And in themeantime, if yer don't want me any more, I'll just pop along to therestaurant and have a sandwich, for I'm that empty you can hear me ribsrattle!"
He left the room, and Cleek sat alone, trying to puzzle out the wholeawful affair. But it was like some jig-saw puzzle in which all thepieces were odd, and he did not hold the key to the solution.