The Seven Dials Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

myself. I’ll go and get the old bus cranked up.”
    He was glad to have something to do. Ronny’s manner puzzled him. What did he know or suspect? And why had he not voiced his suspicions, if he had them, to the doctor.
    Presently the two friends were skimming along in Jimmy’s car with a cheerful disregard for such things as speed limits.
    â€œJimmy,” said Ronny at last, “I suppose you’re about the best pal I have—now.”
    â€œWell” said Jimmy, “what about it?”
    He spoke gruffly.
    â€œThere’s something I’d like to tell you. Something you ought to know.”
    â€œAbout Gerry Wade?”
    â€œYes, about Gerry Wade.”
    Jimmy waited.
    â€œWell?” he inquired at last.
    â€œI don’t know that I ought to,” said Ronny.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI’m bound by a kind of promise.”
    â€œOh! Well then, perhaps you’d better not.”
    There was a silence.
    â€œAnd yet, I’d like—You see, Jimmy, your brains are better than mine.”
    â€œThey could easily be that,” said Jimmy unkindly.
    â€œNo, I can’t,” said Ronny suddenly.
    â€œAll right,” said Jimmy. “Just as you like.”
    After a long silence, Ronny said:
    â€œWhat’s she like?”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThis girl. Gerry’s sister.”
    Jimmy was silent for some minutes, then he said in a voice that had somehow or other altered:
    â€œShe’s all right. In fact—well, she’s a corker.”
    â€œGerry was very devoted to her, I knew. He often spoke of her.”
    â€œShe was very devoted to Gerry. It—it’s going to hit her hard.”
    â€œYes, a nasty job.”
    They were silent till they reached Deane Priory.
    Miss Loraine, the maid told them, was in the garden. Unless they wanted to see Mrs. Coker.
    Jimmy was eloquent that they did not want to see Mrs. Coker.
    â€œWho’s Mrs. Coker?” asked Ronny as they went round into the somewhat neglected garden.
    â€œThe old trout who lives with Loraine.”
    They had stepped out into a paved walk. At the end of it was a girl with two black spaniels. A small girl, very fair, dressed in shabby old tweeds. Not at all the girl that Ronny had expected to see. Not, in fact, Jimmy’s usual type.
    Holding one dog by the collar, she came down the pathway to meet them.
    â€œHow do you do,” she said. “You mustn’t mind Elizabeth. She’s just had some puppies and she’s very suspicious.”
    She had a supremely natural manner and, as she looked up smiling, the faint wild-rose flush deepened in her cheeks. Her eyes were a very dark blue—like cornflowers.
    Suddenly they widened—was it with alarm? As though, already, she guessed.
    Jimmy hastened to speak.
    â€œThis is Ronny Devereux, Miss Wade. You must often have heard Gerry speak of him.”
    â€œOh, yes.” She turned a lovely, warm, welcoming smile on him. “You’ve both been staying at Chimneys, haven’t you? Why didn’t you bring Gerry over with you?”
    â€œWe-er-couldn’t,” said Ronny, and then stopped.
    Again Jimmy saw the look of fear flash into her eyes.
    â€œMiss Wade,” he said, “I’m afraid—I mean, we’ve got bad news for you.”
    She was on the alert in a moment.
    â€œGerry?”
    â€œYes—Gerry. He’s—”
    She stamped her foot with sudden passion.
    â€œOh! tell me—tell me—” She turned suddenly on Ronny. “ You’ll tell me.”
    Jimmy felt a pang of jealousy, and in that moment he knew what up to now he had hesitated to admit to himself. He knew why Helen and Nancy and Socks were just “girls” to him and nothing more.
    He only half -heard Ronny’s voice saying bravely:
    â€œYes, Miss Wade, I’ll tell you. Gerry is dead.”
    She had plenty of pluck. She gasped and drew back, but in a minute or two she was