THE CRASH.
One morning, earlier than his earliest hour of demanding his
shaving-water, Tom rang the bell violently and asked the alarmed Polly
what had become of Mr. Roxdal.
"How should I know, sir?" she gasped. "Ain't he been in, sir?"
"Apparently not," Tom answered anxiously. "He never remains out. We
have been here three weeks now, and I can't recall a single night he
hasn't been home before twelve. I can't make it out." All enquiries
proved futile. Mrs. Seacon reminded him of the thick fog that had come
on suddenly the night before.
"What fog?" asked Tom.
"Lord! didn't you notice it, sir?"
"No, I came in early, smoked, read, and went to bed about eleven. I
never thought of looking out of the window."
"It began about ten," said Mrs. Seacon, "and got thicker and thicker.
I couldn't see the lights of the river from my bedroom. The poor
gentleman has been and gone and walked into the water." She began to
whimper.
"Nonsense, nonsense," said Tom, though his expression belied his
words. "At the worst I should think he couldn't find his way home, and
couldn't get a cab, so put up for the night at some hotel. I daresay
it will be all right." He began to whistle as if in restored
cheerfulness. At eight o'clock there came a letter for Roxdal, marked
"immediate," but as he did not turn up for breakfast, Tom went round
personally to the City and Suburban Bank. He waited half-an-hour
there, but the manager did not make his appearance. Then he left the
letter with the cashier and went away with anxious countenance.
That afternoon it was all over London that the manager of the City and
Suburban had disappeared, and that many thousand pounds of gold and
notes had disappeared with him.
Scotland Yard opened the letter marked "immediate," and noted that
there had been a delay in its delivery, for the address had been
obscure, and an official alteration had been made. It was written in a
feminine hand and said: "On second thoughts I cannot accompany you. Do
not try to see me again. Forget me. I shall never forget you."
[Illustration: "SCOTLAND YARD OPENED THE LETTER."]
There was no signature.
Clara Newell, distracted, disclaimed all knowledge of this letter.
Polly deposed that the fugitive had proposed flight to her, and the
routes to Africa and South America were especially watched. Some
months passed without result. Tom Peters went about overwhelmed with
grief and astonishment. The police took possession of all the missing
man's effects. Gradually the hue and cry dwindled, died.