Mystery Mile Read Free Page A

we’ll discuss it here.’
    He glanced round as he spoke, and the chief, following the direction of his eyes, suddenly caught sight of the pale young man with the horn-rimmed spectacles who was still standing foolishly by the dismantled cabinet. The officer frowned.
    â€˜I thought I gave orders for the lounge to be cleared,’ he said. ‘May I ask, sir, what you’ve got to do with this affair?’
    The young man started and coloured uncomfortably.
    â€˜Well, it was my mouse,’ he said.
    It was some time before the chief could be made to understand what he was saying, but when at last he did he was hardly sympathetic.
    â€˜All the same, I think we can manage without you,’ he said bluntly.
    The dismissal was unmistakable, and the pale young man smiled nervously and apologized with a certain amount of confusion. Then he crept off the platform like his own mouse,and had almost reached the door before young Marlowe Lobbett overtook him.
    The young American had left his father and sister on the platform and came up eagerly. His dark-skinned face and piercing eyes gave him almost a fierce expression, and the pale young man in the spectacles had an impression of someone abounding in energy that was not solely physical.
    â€˜I’d like to thank you,’ he said, holding out his hand. ‘And,’ he added bluntly, ‘I’d like to talk to you. I’m greatly indebted to you, but I don’t see quite where you come in on this. What’s your game? Who are you?’
    The pale young man looked, if possible, even more foolish than before.
    â€˜My game?’ he said. ‘I don’t quite know what you mean. I toss a few cabers, and tiddle a wink occasionally, and I’m a very fair hand at shove-halfpenny.’
    He paused.
    Marlowe Lobbett was looking at him steadily.
    â€˜This is more serious for me than it is for you,’ he said slowly.
    The pale young man grew suddenly very red and uncomfortable.
    â€˜I’ve got a card here somewhere.’ He took a handful of miscellaneous odds and ends out of his coat pocket, and selecting a visiting card handed it gravely to Marlowe.
    â€˜My trade card,’ he said, ‘if there’s anything I can do for you, ring me up. I don’t suppose we shall meet again on board. We bus conductors feel dreadfully out of place here.’
    Then, grinning fatuously, he bowed and disappeared through the doorway out of sight, leaving the other staring after him.
    The whole conversation had taken less than ten seconds.
    Undecided whether the stranger was genuine or not, young Lobbett glanced at the card in his hand. It was immaculate and beautifully engraved:
----
    MR ALBERT CAMPION
    Coups neatly executed
    Nothing sordid, vulgar or plebeian
    Deserving cases preferred
    Police no object
    PUFFINS CLUB
    THE JUNIOR GREYS
----
    On the back a phone number had been scribbled:
    Regent 01300

2 The Simister Legend
    AFTER HALF AN hour’s experience of the vagaries of the London telephone service Marlow Lobbett could hear the telephone bell ringing in some far-off room in the great city which seemed to be huddling round his hotel as if it were trying to squeeze the life out of it.
    At last he heard the welcome click at the far end of the wire and a thick and totally unexpected voice said huskily, ‘Aphrodite Glue Works speaking.’
    Marlowe Lobbett sighed. ‘I want Regent 01300,’ he said.
    â€˜That’s right,’ said the voice. ‘’Oo do you want?’
    The young man glanced at the card in front of him, and a wave of disappointment overwhelmed him. He had cherished the idea that he could rely upon the man who had come to his father’s rescue so successfully on board the
Elephantine
.
    â€˜No, it’s all right,’ he said. ‘I only wanted to speak to a Mr Albert Campion.’
    â€˜Oh?’ The voice became confidential immediately. ‘Could I have yer name, please, sir?’
    Very