The Rider of Waroona Part 7

"But if he had done such a thing, why did he remain here? Why not get away at the same time as he got the gold away? Surely----"

"Would you mind looking through the remainder of the drawers?" Durham interrupted.

Harding opened them one after the other, examined the papers they contained, and replaced them without making any further remark. The search was unavailing so far as private papers were concerned--all were connected with the bank. As Harding examined them, Durham stood beside the table without a word or a glance at the papers. When the last drawer had been opened, gone through, and closed, Harding turned to him.

"There is nothing here except what concerns the bank," he said.

"You are sure he kept all his own papers here?"

"Quite sure. The first drawer I opened was full of them yesterday. He had it out after the bank closed last night when I came in to give him the cash balance."

"I will see Mrs. Eustace," Durham said shortly. "In the interests of the bank I should like you to be present. Will you ask her to come in here?"

"Perhaps she would rather see you in the house."

"As she pleases--if you will ask her."

Harding found her sitting disconsolately in the dining-room and gave her Durham's message.

"Very well, I'll see him--here--if you stay."

She spoke without moving her eyes.

"I will be here," he said as he left the room to call Durham.

In the office he found a telegram had just arrived. It was an answer to his wire to the head office.

"Close office. Do all to a.s.sist the police. Wallace should arrive noon to-morrow."

He handed the message to Durham, who just glanced at it.

"Is she coming in here or not?" Durham asked.

"She is in the dining-room, and will see you there," Harding answered.

Mrs. Eustace was standing staring out of the window when they entered the room.

"I can tell you nothing. I know nothing more than I have already said,"

she exclaimed as she turned to meet them.

"If you will kindly answer my questions I will be obliged," Durham replied. "Can you tell me where your husband kept his private papers?"

"Yes, in his office--that is, as a rule."

"And when he did not keep them there, where were they?"

"Oh, he always kept them there, but sometimes he had some in his pocket.

Last night----"

"Yes? Last night----?" Durham said as she stopped.

"Oh, it's nothing. Merely that he had some papers in his pocket and discovered they were there when he was upstairs."

"Do you know what he did with them?"

"Of course I do. He left them on the dressing-table. They are there now."

"Will you show them to me?"

"Mr. Harding, will you take him upstairs? The papers are by the looking-gla.s.s."

Durham followed Harding upstairs without a word. On the dressing-table a small packet of folded doc.u.ments was pushed half under the mirror.

Durham picked them up and glanced at them.

"Thank you," he said. "Now we will go down again."

"These are the papers you referred to?" he asked, as soon as they were in the dining-room.

"Yes," Mrs. Eustace answered.

Durham laid them on the table in front of him.

"Can you tell me anything about your husband's private affairs?" he asked, looking steadily at her.

"I don't quite understand what you mean," she replied slowly.

"In regard to his mining speculations."

Harding saw the momentary start, quickly recovered, that she gave at the question.

"Do you know he speculated?"

She sat silent with averted face.

"Do you know he speculated both in shares and horse-racing?"

Still there was no reply, and Durham added, "Speculated and lost--heavily?"

"Not heavily," she exclaimed, flashing round upon him. "He did not lose heavily. He may have----"

She checked her words suddenly, closing her lips and turning her face away.

"Will you please finish your sentence, Mrs. Eustace?"

"He may have lost--sometimes; but he won as well. He had those shares--they may yet bring him in a fortune," she said, pointing to the papers on the table.

"Do you know if there was ever any official reference to his speculations?"

Harding could barely hear the words as, with bowed head, Mrs. Eustace replied.