The Coward Behind the Curtain
Copyright© 2024 by Richard Marsh
Chapter 12: Headlines
They were entering the outskirts of a country town. The easy-going vehicles which characterise country towns occasionally took up more than their fair share of the road. The chauffeur reduced speed.
“This is Timberham; slow as you can’s the best game here--never know when you may run up against a peeler; seems to me they’ve nothing else to do except pounce on you if you’re moving above a crawl; some of them would like to make out that you’re doing twenty miles when you’re hardly doing two.” Suddenly the chauffeur spoke in a half whisper. “What did I tell you?” They had come along a narrow, winding street, where discreet driving was certainly a matter of necessity; it had suddenly widened out into a broad, open space, from which streets branched off in all directions. In the centre a constable was standing with a superior officer. At sight of the car the latter raised an authorative hand. “Now, what’s he want?” growled the mechanic, under his breath. “Drat them fellers!”
The officer approached.
“You leave him to me,” said Mr Frazer. “I’ll talk to him. What is it, officer?”
“Sorry to stop you, sir, but have you passed a caravan on the road?--a primrose-coloured van, with black stripes, and red wheels--something rather unusual in the way of vans; you could hardly help noticing it.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t been paying much attention. Whereabouts would it be?”
“Somewhere between here and Newcaster Heath. Which way did you come?”
“We’ve come from the Heath. Why do you ask?”
“Well--we’re rather anxious to get news of that caravan.”
“Why?--been stolen?--or anything of that sort?”
“No, it’s not been stolen--no, nothing of that sort; only--there’s someone with it with whom we should very much like to have a little conversation.”
There was a significant twinkle in the speaker’s eyes. Mr Frazer smiled, as if with perfect comprehension.
“In that case I hope it won’t be long before your wish is gratified. There’ll be plenty of people on that road to-day--I don’t suppose I need tell you that it’s race day--if it’s anywhere about you ought to have news of it soon.”
“As I said, if anyone does see that caravan they can hardly help noticing it. Thank you, sir; sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Stepping on one side the officer saluted; the car went on.
Until the town was left behind the chauffeur said nothing; but when they began to bowl along the open road beyond he smiled, with much meaning.
“I saw that van he was asking about in the field which you came out of.”
“Did you? That shows that you’ve the faculty of observation--odd how many people are without it.”
“And as it was in the same field in which you were you must have seen it too; in fact, you couldn’t help it.”
“I never said I hadn’t.”
The chauffeur considered this statement.
“No, I suppose you didn’t, if it comes to that--very artful the way you put him off. He thought you said you hadn’t seen it.”
“Some of those policemen do think at times.”
When he had duly pondered this cryptic saying the chauffeur chuckled.
“I can see that you’re a deep one.”
“I am not sure that I quite deserve that compliment. What are we doing now? Thirty? At this rate we ought to be in Ashington in under half-an-hour.”
“We’re doing all of thirty--we ought to be in Ashington in less than twenty minutes. That peeler was looking for you.”
“Short-sighted mortal--surely I was near enough for him to see me.”
“What have you been doing? I hope it’s nothing--you know; I don’t want to be mixed up with anything fishy.”
“I assure you there’s nothing fishy about me. It is not only you gentlemen who drive motor cars who have differences with the police; lesser folk have them also--especially when there’s a lady in the case, and a stony-hearted guardian.”
“A lady is it? Ah!--I might have thought of that--now I see what the caravan was for--and she sitting behind there all the time saying nothing. Well, you’re a couple of cool ones. But when there’s a lady about you never know what’s about. Not long ago one of my governor’s daughters ran off with a young chap what was a riding master. Wasn’t there a rumpus! Every policeman in the county was looking out for them--but they were married before they got them--and she only turned seventeen; sandy hair she had.”
“It’s a dangerous age, seventeen.”
“Where a woman’s concerned all ages are dangerous.”
“That’s true. I perceive that you also are a deep one.”
“When you’ve got to drive a motor car, and keep her properly tuned up, you’ve got to be about all there. By the way, would you mind giving me ten sovereigns instead of those two fivers?”
The change of subject was rather sudden; Mr Frazer glanced round, as if a trifle startled.
“With pleasure--if I have them. But what’s wrong with the notes?”
“There’s nothing wrong with them--as notes; I know that well enough, only--their numbers might be known, and, if they’re traced, it wouldn’t suit me to be asked how they came to be in my possession--not by a long chalk.”
“I catch your meaning--you’re a far-sighted man. However, I give you my word that the numbers of those notes are not known, in the sense you mean--thanking you very much for the insinuation.”
“I daresay; still--I’d rather have the sovereigns. I sha’n’t forget how artful you were in putting that peeler off the scent. Whereabouts in Ashington do you want me to put you down?”
“I don’t care, so long as it is in Ashington. Aren’t we nearly there?”
“That’s Ashington, round the bend--that square tower’s the town hall. It’s new, the town hall is; they think more of it than I do--I call it a common-looking building.”
“If you’ll slow down I’ll see if I can find the ten sovereigns you would rather have.” He took several gold coins from a pocket in his trousers. “I’ve got them--here they are. If you’ll give me those two notes, I sha’n’t mind their being found in my possession. Now if you’ll take us, say, a quarter of a mile farther, and then set us down, I’ll be obliged.”
“I’ll set you down by the town hall--I know the chap who built it--he’s a sort of cousin of my old mother’s. It’s the biggest job he’s ever had, and he thinks no end of it. I tell him opinions differ--it does make him so wild.”
When they had alighted in front of the edifice in question, and had divested themselves of their wraps, the car drove off--possibly to fetch the “governor” from the races. The girl turned on her companion with flashing eyes.
“Why did you tell that policeman such a lie?” Nothing could have been better done than Mr Frazer’s air of deprecation.
“Did I tell him a lie? I was not aware of it.”
“You as good as told him a lie; you prevaricated--you meant to deceive him, and you did. If I hadn’t been such a contemptible coward I should have jumped up and told him the truth--that it was me he was looking for. I believe that every policeman is looking for me everywhere--I feel sure they are. Every fresh lie you tell to screen me makes me feel more ashamed--especially as I know they’re certain to find me in the end. There’s a policeman over there; I’ll go and tell him who I am--now!--and then at least you need tell no more falsehoods for me.”
Fortunately, Mr Frazer seemed to think, as he looked about him, there was no one within earshot to notice her wild words and manner, and the constable to whom she referred was some little distance off, on the other side of the way, with his back towards them. He laid his hand upon her arm, speaking with that matter-of-fact coolness which the girl seemed to find herself powerless to resist.
“I shouldn’t do that, just now, especially as a train will soon be starting which I am rather anxious to catch. Let’s get into this cab, and see if we can’t catch it.”
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