Arthur Upfield - The Devil_s Steps

“Like old times, eh?”

“Tooblinkin ’ right!” agreed Bisker, and began to sip noisily at the scalding liquid.

“By the way, did you happen to notice the number of the car which took Mr. Downes away and brought him back?”

“Yes. NX052 B.”

“Smart work, Bisker. Thank you. Now tell me, between mouthfuls, were you ever in the room next toGeorge’s where the lumber is?”

“Yes.”

“When were you in it last?”

Bisker pondered. Then he said:

“Two months back. The oldcat give me the job of going over all the furniture and stuff with the vacuum cleaner. A girl named Joan did it the time before that. She was a maid ’ere. She left soon after, I remember.”

“Do you know when that furniture was first put in there?”

“No. Before my time. It’s always been gone over about every three months since I’ve been ’ere, though.”

They continued to eat for some time in silence, and then Bony asked: “Do you happen to remember near the door-side of the pile a heavy mahogany chest?”

Bisker grinned.

“I do that an’ all,” he replied. “I’ve had me eye on that chest ever since I seed ’er. I asked Miss Jade if she would sell it, and the old cat shut me up with a ‘no’! She’s a great chest, that. I’d like it ’ere to keep me clothes in-and a bottle or two when I should get me ’ands on a win.”

“When you were dusting it, I suppose you raised the lid and looked inside?”

“I did so.”

“Was there anything in it when you looked?”

“Nothing.”

“No old boots?”

Bisker shook his head and stared long at Bony. Bony was cutting another sandwich for each of them.

“It would seem that Miss Jade values all that furniture,” Bony remarked, noting Bisker’s stare.

“Musta. Has the stuff dusted and polished every so often. Wonder why!”

“So doI.”

After another period of silent eating, Bony asked:

“Have you ever been into George’s room whilst he’s been working here?”

“Oh, yes, often. Me and George ’as a game of poker now and then. George is a good player and Iain’t so badmeself. We play for matches, as I never seem to ’aveany money.”

“Hum! Well, tell me this.” Bony regarded Bisker calmly but steadily. “When you were in George’s room, did you notice if he was an untidy man?”

“Untidy!” repeated Bisker, a snort in his voice, “Why, George is the most particular bloke with ’is things I ever come across. Everythink’as to be just so. We used to sit playing cards on the chest of drawers, and after we finished, ’e’dcollect the brushes and things wot ’e’dtook off before we startedplayin ’ and ’e’dmess about with ’em, arranging ’emjust so. Same with ’is bed. I sat on it once, and ’e went crook and made it all over again.”

“He has been here a little over three months. How many times has he gone to the city?”

“Yesterday was the first time. ’E told me ’e wassavin ’ up ’is money.”

“You don’t know if he had any friends, then?”

“Oh, yes! ’E’s got one pal wot ’e called Mick,” answered Bisker. “Mick’s been out to see ’ima coupler times. Irish bloke, about George’s age. Lemme think! Yes, Mick came to see ’imabout three weeks ago. Came in the afternoon, ’e did. Came out in a car wot stopped down in the road. The driver ’ootedseveral times and George went down to meet ’is pal, who was coming up the drive. They ’ad a chin-wag formore’n ’alfan hour, and the old cat got rampant ’cosit was time to serve the afternoon tea.”

“If George arrives back by the first bus this morning, what train will he leave by from Melbourne?” continued Bony.

“ ’Arf-past eight she leaves the city.”

“Well, thank you, Bisker,” Bony said, contentedly, whilst rolling a cigarette. “I’ve enjoyed that snack very much. By your clock it’s twenty minutes to five, and I havework still to do. If you go along keeping one eye open you will oblige me greatly. Take particular notice of Mr. Sleeman’s shoes when you clean them, and if anyone calls to see Mr. Downes or Mr. Lee, just make a mental note of them and the car numbers. You know how to do that without making yourself too prominent.”

Bisker gave assurance that he would be as close as an oyster and as wide awake as a Derwent Jackass, and at half-past five, in the bleak air of the hour before dawn, Bony pressed the button of the night bell at the Police Station. Mason appeared in pyjamas and dressing gown to let him in and conduct him to the office.

There was no evidence about Mason’s visitor that he had been moving furniture and dusting it, or even that he had been up all night. After leaving Bisker, Bony had returned to his room through the window, where he had changed into a good suit and a smart pair of shoes, after having washed and shaved. The hat laid down on the desk was spotless-the raincoat bore not one crease.

“Sorry to call you up so early, Mason,”came the quiet and suave voice.“Needs must when criminals drive. Who is on night duty at the local telephone exchange?”

“One of our men,” replied Mason, and Bony picked up the instrument and proffered it to the Sub-Inspector.

“Ask him who was on duty there yesterday afternoon.”

When Mason replaced the instrument, he said:

“The postmaster.”

“All right! Now I am going over your head, Mason, because I have reason to. Can you contact Superintendent Bolt?”

Mason said that he could and was requested to do so. Whilst waiting for the connection, Bony said to him:

“Please contact the Motor Registration Branch and ascertain who owns the Studebaker car bearing the numberNX 052 B. And then, as soon as you think it convenient, interview theBagshotts about the alleged collector of old boots and clothes. I’ll be back here again later in the day. There is- Thank you.”

Bony accepted the receiver from Mason and leaned back in his chair. Mason heard him say:

“Ah-top of the morning, Super. Bonaparte here…Er -with reference to the man, George Banks… You will recall the name… Oh, yes. That’s right!… You know, I’ve been thinking that because he forged those references he ought to be taken into custody… Not serious enough!… Well, perhaps not, but still I think it might be as well. Somehow or other I’ve gained the impression that he removed certain travelling equipment and personal effects from the room occupied by the late Mr. Grumman.”

Bony ceased speaking and the watching Mason saw the slow smile spread over his dark face. After a little while, Bony spoke again:

“Mason is not in the position ofeffecting an early arrest. Banks went down to the city yesterday afternoon, and he promised his employer to be back on the first bus this morning. To do that he must catch the eight-thirty train from the city. I think it most probable that Banks will be in possession of concealed firearms; I stress the plural because I have reason to think he will be in possession of my own pistol. I like that pistol and I want it back, you understand? It fits so perfectly into the palm of my hand.

“What do I know? Very little when totalled… No. I cannot agree to that. If Banks should slip by your men, or return by car, then I want no arrest made here at the Chalet. He’ll be all right for a few days. You see, Miss Jade has had quite enough upsets in her house… Oh, I know, but then policemen, real policemen, of whom I am not considered to be one by my Chief Commissioner, are quite in keeping with the background of a Police Station, a detective office, and even a court of law. The same cannot be said of them against the background of a mountain guest house of the quality of Wideview Chalet. Their proximity affects the cook, for one thing, and for another I don’t want my friend, Miss Jade, disturbed more than is absolutely essential. Therefore, if you can lay George by the heels without any fuss, I would be obliged. But no arresting here, please. My nerves wouldn’t stand it.”