A. Merritt's Fantasy Magazine, April 1950 — page 88: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

damage either of us,” 88 A. MERRITT’S FANTASY “Then I think a cup of tea wouldn’t Tott suggested. “You order it, and tell ’°em to put it on my bill, while I go for that telephone call before I forget it.” Tott found the apparatus, and called his number. Minutes of waiting, and then he asked to be put through to Inspector Crampton, only to be informed that he was not in. “Well, who is in, then ?” Tott demanded. “Who wants Inspector Crampton?” “Inspector Tott.” “Oh, that’s different, of course. Carroll speaking, Mr. Tott—Detective-sergeant Carroll.” “Where is Crampton?” Tott rasped out. “Well, sir, I understood him to say he was going to a place called Gees Con- fidential Agency, to get some particular information he wanted.” “What particular information—can you tell me that ?”’ “No, Mr. Tott; ’m afraid I can’t. But you might get him there.” “Can you give me the number ?” “Just a moment, sir.’ Tott penciled the number on the pad be- fore him, depressed the receiver hook, and dialed again. “Miss Brandon?” “Who is speaking, please?” “Inspector Tott. Miss Brandon. I won- der if you could tell me—”’ “Just one moment, Inspector, and per- haps you could help me first,’ she in- terrupted him. “T have somebody here asking for Mr. Green—can you tell me where to find him? I was away yester- day, and came back this morning to find him gone, leaving no address.”’ “T rather think vour caller’s name is Crampton. If so. Mr. Green is here, tell him. It’s Hedlington-cum-Carnworth, - Gloucestershire, but Mr. Green’s starting back to London almost at once, | under- stand. Now can you let me speak to In- spector Crampton, please, Miss Brandon?” “Just a moment.” A few seconds of silence, end then Crampton’s voice. “Hullo, Mr. Tott. They told me you were on leave, and couldn't say ‘where, so I came along here on the =. ~ chance of getting what I wanted. But now I’ve found you, I wonder if you can tell me. Have you any idea what’s become of that Miss Kefra and her man Saleh? I don’t know where you're speaking from, but if you can’t tell me I’ve got to make it a routine inquiry about that place of hers in Gloucestershire.” | “That’s exactly where they are. At least—”’ he remembered what Gees had told him—‘“Saleh was here up to three or four hours ago, and probably still is. About Miss Kefra, I’m not so sure, but probably she’s at Barnby Grange.” “The man is our bird, I think—all right, Miss Brandon, you need not go, I want both of them held for questioning. The man in charge of the case down there —Perry, I think his name is—could you get a message through to him for me? It’s important.” “Easily,” Tott answered. “What have you got, Crampton—not some concrete evidence ?”’ “A rug I took out of her flat—a stained rug. I’ve had it tested, with the idea that blood might have caused the stains— somebody had tried to wash ’em out. But there was enough left to declare that they are bloodstains, and enough, too, to prove them the same group classification as the slides stained from the body of the child Ernest Parkoot. Which body Saleh jammed into a suitcase and threw out of Miss Kefra’s car on Wimbledon Common, the same night the child was killed. It’s enough to justify holding both Miss Kefra and the man, and I'll get a car turned out and come right down.” “You have no more than the evidence of the rug, I take it?” “T only got that half an hour ago—the report of the analysis,” Crampton an- swered. “Now, I’ve got a squad of search- ers going over that flat with fine-tooth combs and microscopes.”’ “What you have is enough to justify questioning,’ Tott said. “I‘ll tell Perry at once—I’m not on the case, as you know, but there’s nothing to prevent my giving you and him a hand. You can leave that- part of it to me, and probably I'll see you when you arrive here. You don’t want to speak to Mr. Green now, q take it, In- spector Crampton?” “No—Oh, no! I know I can leave it _to you—see you soon, probably.” Tott replaced his receiver and hurried (E(0) down the stairs. “omicbooks.co ee