Free Crossword Mystery by E.R. Punshon Page A

for a reply, Mr. Winterton began to walk back towards the house, and when they had gone a yard or two they heard someone calling. Mr. Winterton paused.
    That’s Cooper,” he said; “he’s calling the dog.”
    â€œTowser?” Bobby asked.
    â€œYes; he can’t have got back. Funny; he never goes far from the house alone.”
    They both stood still and listened. Again they heard the call, and this time the name “Towser” was quite clear. It was a woman’s voice, and it sounded very clear and a little strange, a long-drawn, wailing cry.
    â€œThat’s Mrs. Cooper now,” Winterton said. “I wonder what can have happened to the dog?” He shivered slightly. “Come on,” he said; “it’s growing cold.” 

CHAPTER SEVEN
The Shorton Scheme
    There was one other point on which Bobby wished enlightenment, but he had been careful to leave it till the last, for he was not quite sure how any mention of it would be received.
    They were hurrying a little now, for Mr. Winterton had increased his pace as they returned along the rough path that ran by the shore of the Cove, and Bobby was indeed inclined seriously to believe that his host was being subconsciously affected by his housekeeper’s expressed disapproval of late hours and late rambles. A born ruler, organiser, director of men and things, Mrs. Cooper seemed, he told himself, and then he said aloud:
    â€œMr. Winterton, there’s one thing I would like to mention, if I may. Very likely it’s of no importance, but when I reached your house to-day I couldn’t very well help hearing...it was a Mr. Shorton, I think, and he seemed very upset about something.”
    â€œLittle bounder,” Winterton answered. “He thinks he’s badly used; got a grievance and all that. Not my fault; it was all his own doing; and, as Archy’s executor and trustee till the kids come of age, I wouldn’t think of going against his wishes, even if I wanted to, which I don’t.”
    â€œIt was something your brother was concerned in – something that happened before his death? Have you any objection to telling me the details ? Anything that can throw light on any detail connected with him might be useful.”
    â€œThere’s no reason why you shouldn’t know all about it, I suppose,” Winterton answered, though with some slight apparent reluctance. “Anyhow, it’s no secret; you could easily find out all about it if you wanted to. Sometimes old business friends used to come down here to stay with one or other of us. Archy and I both liked to keep in touch with the City, and a week-end by the sea sounds all right to most City men, so most of them were willing enough to run down here now and again. Shorton, the man you saw, came once or twice. He took a fancy to the place, and got out a scheme for developing it into an up-to-date resort. The idea was to build a big seaside golfing hotel, rather on the lines of Gleneagles in Scotland, only not quite so swell; rather more for the fairly well-to-do business man, the class that’s prepared to spend fifty pounds on a holiday or a fiver on a week-end now and again. Shorton said there was a big market there. On the Point itself there is what is very nearly a natural golf-course. A little expenditure would make it one of the best in the world. Suffby Cove itself would make a splendid swimming-pool. Shooting rights were to be bought over the land near, and there would be lots of fishing and boating, and, of course, a first-class jazz band and a good dance-floor; even an ice-rink was thought of. Shorton was quite enthusiastic; swore it would be a gold-mine. Archy didn’t see it that way. No more did I. It was a promising enough scheme on paper, but you can never tell if that sort of thing will catch on, and we didn’t feel sure we could compete with the big seaside places. And we didn’t much want crowds of