Mr. J. G. Reeder Returns by Edgar Wallace Read Free Book Online Page A

entirely new strongroom to be built at a very considerable cost.”
    He paused.
    “And Buckingham?” asked Mr Reeder gently. “I will come to Buckingham,” said the major with great dignity. “He was one of the guards employed. There are in all seven. Each lives in his own quarters, and it is against the rules I have instituted that these men should meet except when they relieve one another of their post. The practice is for the guard on duty to ring a bell communicating with the quarters of his relief, who immediately comes to the treasure house and, after being identified, is admitted. Buckingham should have come on duty at six o’clock on Saturday night. His predecessor at the post rang the bell as usual, but Buckingham did not appear. After an hour the man communicated with me, by telephone – there is a telephone connection between my study and the dome – I call it the dome because of its shape – and I set immediately to find the missing man. His room was empty, there was no sign of him, and I ordered the emergency man to take his place.”
    “Since then you have not seen him?”
    The major shook his head.
    “No, sir. Nor have I heard from him.”
    “What salary did you pay this man?”
    “Ten pounds a week, quarters, lighting and food. All the guards were supplied from the kitchen of the castle.”
    “Had he any private means?”
    “None,” said the other emphatically.
    “Would you be surprised to know that he has been speculating heavily in land?” asked Mr Reeder.
    The major rose to his feet, not quickly, but with a certain stately deliberation.
    “I should be both surprised and horrified,” he said. “Is there any way by which he could have had access to the – um – treasure house?”
    “No, sir,” said Olbude, “no method whatever, except through the door, of which I hold the key. The wall is made of concrete twelve inches thick and lined with half-inch steel. The locks are unpickable.”
    “And the foundations?” suggested Mr Reeder.
    “Eight feet of solid concrete. It is absolutely impossible.”
    Mr Reeder rubbed his chin, looking down at the desk, his lips drooping dismally.
    “Do you often go into the – um – treasure house?”
    “Yes, sir, I go in every month, on the first day of every month. In other words, I was there last Friday.”
    “And nothing had been disturbed?”
    “Nothing,” said the other emphatically.
    “I presume the bullion is in steel boxes–”
    “In large glass containers. That was another of Mr Lane Leonard’s eccentricities. There are about six hundred of these, each containing two thousand five hundred pounds’ worth of gold. It is possible to see at a glance whether the money has been disturbed. The containers are hermetically closed and sealed. They stand on reinforced concrete shelves, in eight tiers, on three sides of the treasure house, each tier holding seventy-five containers. The treasure house, I may explain, consists of two buildings; the inner shell, which is the treasure house proper, and another separate building, as it were a box placed over this to give protection to the guard and sufficient space for them to promenade. The outer building contains a small kitchenette, with tables, chairs and the necessary accommodation for the comfort of the guard. Attached to this is a lobby, also guarded with a steel door, and beyond that an iron grille, above which is a powerful electric light to enable the inner guard to scrutinise his relief and make sure that he is the right man – that is to say, that he is not being impersonated.”
    Mr Reeder was a little puzzled, but only a little.
    “Very extraordinary,” he said, “can you tell me any more about Buckingham?”
    The major hesitated.
    “No, except that he went to town more frequently than any of the other guards. For this I was responsible, I am afraid! I gave him greater freedom because he was the doyen of the guards in point of service.”
    “Extraordinary,” said Mr Reeder