The Haunting Hand by W. Adolphe Roberts

Author:W. Adolphe Roberts [Roberts, W. Adolphe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Autoset from 'hauntinghand.indd' by 'Madeline' on 26/01/2024 at 22:48 Content may have been edited since
Published: 2024-02-06T15:43:00+00:00

CHAPTER IX

HIDDEN MOTIVES

Frederick Stoner stood on the doorsill, holding hat and stick, and striving to smile as if his presence on the threshold of Margot’s room was the most natural of all natural happenings.

In Margot’s gray eyes, surprise changed swiftly to a cold dismissal. Her aloofness and her obvious disinclination to make the most perfunctory gesture of welcome, brought the landlady forward from where she stood in the shadows of the hall. She put a nervous, apologetic hand on Margot’s arm.

“The gentleman said that he was a friend of yours, and your boss, out where you do your play acting. And he said he must see you most particular to-night. And I saw him when he come to your party, so I thought it was all right and I brought him up stairs, my dear.”

“It’s all right, Mrs. Bellew. Wait a minute, please,” she added hastily seeing the landlady’s gentle movement toward the head of the stairs. Margot turned steely eyes on Stoner. “What is it you wish to see me about, Mr. Stoner?”

He fumbled his hat and he fumbled his reply.

“Why—er—it’s about—in relation to—this matter of the—the mystery you’re trying to solve, Margot.”

“What do you mean? Another warning such as you gave me this morning?” Her gaze did not waver nor grow less coldly repellent. It was one thing to use diplomacy with Stoner on his own ground, the studio, but when he had the impudence to force himself upon her privacy, without permission or even warning, no diplomacy was required.

“Not that at all,” he said hastily. “Nothing of that sort, Miss Anstruther. I’ve taken the liberty of calling on you to tell you of something that’s occurred to me that may be helpful to you.”

She frowned, a little puzzled by his manner and his remark. Odd of Stoner, the aggressive, self-sufficient Stoner, to conduct himself in so Uriah Heepish a manner. No unbending came to her reception of him. She stood guard over her threshold with senses alert and watchful.

“I don’t think I quite understand. Helpful in what way? Just what do you mean, may I ask?”

He drew himself up and took a firmer grip of his position. Margot read in the pursing of his thick lips, his realization that his deference to her wasn’t getting him anywhere.

“After seeing you to-day, Margot, I had a brainstorm, I guess you’d call it. Or call it a hunch, or anything you like. Anyway, something came into my head, and I couldn’t wait to tell you all about it. I’ve got an idea it may go far to clear up your mystery.”

Mrs. Bellew’s shuddering gasp and quick approach to Margot made her smile. She decided to ask Stoner to come into the room, but the landlady must come also.

“Very well, if you’ve something interesting to tell me, Mr. Stoner, I’m willing to listen to it. Won’t you come in? You also Mrs. Bellew.” She stood aside to let them enter, but Stoner drew back.

“Sorry,” he said quickly, “but what I have to say is strictly confidential.

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