Free Red Aces by Edgar Wallace Page A

drop that was left at the house before he drank it – he practically lived on milk. It wasn’t so bad when I first went to him – I was sixteen then – but it got worse and worse as the years went on.”
    “He had two telephones in the house,” said Mr Reeder. “That was rather extravagant.”
    “He was afraid of being cut off. The second one was connected by underground wires – it cost him an awful lot of money.” She heaved a deep, relieved sigh. “Now I’ve told everything, and my conscience is clear. Shall I get the keys?”
    “They are for Mr Gaylor,” said Mr Reeder hastily. “I think you had better keep them and give them to nobody else. Not even to the person who calls tonight.”
    “Who is calling tonight?” she asked.
    Mr Reeder avoided the question. He looked at Mrs Grible, grim and silent.
    “Would you mind – er – waiting outside?”
    The obedient woman melted from the room.
    “There is one point we ought to clear up, my dear young friend,” said Mr Reeder in a hushed voice. “How long had you been in your uncle’s house when Mr Kenneth McKay appeared?”
    If he had struck her she could not have wilted as she did. Her face went the colour of chalk, and she dropped into a chair.
    “He came through the window into the little lobby – I know all about that – but how long after you arrived?”
    She tried to speak twice before she succeeded.
    “A few minutes,” she said, not raising her eyes.
    Then suddenly she sprang up.
    “He knew nothing about the murder – he was stupidly jealous and followed me…and then I explained to him, and he believed me…I looked through the window and saw you and told him to go…that is the truth, I swear it is!”
    He patted her gently on the shoulder.
    “I know it is the truth, my dear – be calm, I beg of you. That is all I wanted to know.”
    He called Mrs Grible by name. As she came in, they heard the bell of the front door ring. It was followed by a gentle rat-tat.
    “Who would that be?” asked Margot. She was still trembling.
    “It may be a reporter – it may not be.” Mr Reeder rose. “If it is some stranger to see you on urgent business, perhaps you would be kind enough to mention the fact that you are quite alone.”
    He looked helplessly round.
    “That – ” He pointed to a door.
    “Is the drawing-room,” she said, hardly noticing his em-barrassment.
    “Very excellent.” He was relieved. Opening the door, he waved Mrs Grible to precede him. “If it should be reporters we will deal with them,” he said, and closed the door behind him.
    There was a second ring of the bell as Margot hurried to the door. Standing outside was a girl. She was elegantly dressed, was a little older than Margot, and unusually pretty.
    “Can I see you, Miss Lynn? It is rather important.”
    Margot hesitated.
    “Come in, please,” she said at last.
    The girl followed her into the sitting-room.
    “All alone?” she said lightly.
    Margot nodded.
    “You’re a great pal of Kenneth’s, aren’t you?”
    She saw the colour come into Margot’s face, and laughed.
    “Of course you are – and you’ve had an awful row?”
    “I have had no awful row,” said Margot quietly.
    “He’s a jealous boy – they all are, my dear. I always say there is no better proof that a man is gone on you. He’s a darling boy, and he’s in terrible trouble.”
    “Trouble – what kind of trouble?” asked Margot quickly.
    “Police trouble–”
    The girl swayed and caught at the back of a chair.
    “Don’t get upset.” Ena was enjoying her part. “He’ll be able to explain everything–”
    “But he said he believed me…” She was on the point of betraying the presence of the hidden Mr Reeder, but checked herself in time.
    “Who said so?” asked Ena curiously. “A copper – policeman, I mean? Don’t take any notice of that kind of trash. They’d lie to save a car fare! We know that Kenneth didn’t forge the cheque–”
    Margot’s eyes opened wide in