John Creasey - The Toff In Town

The only sound in the gymnasium was the heavy breathing of some of the men and, in the distance, McMahon’s voice on the telephone. The tension had suddenly leapt to a high pitch again, and obviously Allen believed that he had a chance to win on this last desperate throw. His eyes met Rollison’s in a challenge and defiance.

Then Ebbutt said wheezily:

“S’like that, is it? I bet ‘ e knows where Mr. ‘Igginbottom is, though.” He took Allen’s arm, and although Allen tried to pull himself free, Ebbutt gripped his arms and dragged him towards the dressing-rooms.

Five minutes were enough to make Allen talk.

Pauline and Max, with one other man and Snub, were in a cottage on the borders of Epping Forest, near the Meritor Studios. Rollison had telephoned Grice, who had been in constant touch with the local police; they made the arrests. It was over in a few minutes. Pauline was caught completely unawares—rejoicing in the success of the broadcast. She hardly said a word, not even to Rollison, who was with the police. She had felt so sure that the alliance with Allen would succeed, believed that Rollison had been afraid to go to the police.

Snub looked a wreck, but the merry gleam in his eyes showed in spite of bruised cheeks and a swollen nose.

McMahon was near the cottage when the prisoners were brought out—and later, when Rollison passed a lighted telephone kiosk, he saw the reporter inside.

Rollison opened one eye and saw Jolly with his morning tea and the newspapers which did not usually arrive so early on Sundays. Jolly said that he had been out, and handed Rollison a copy of the Sunday Cry. McMahon had been allotted a huge headline and a great part of the front page. Rollison sipped his tea and read . . .

Two hours later he went to the Marigold Club, which was not a haunt of vice, or a luxury establishment where the wealthy were mulcted, but a club for women. On its committee was Lady Gloria Hurst, the Toff’s aunt. She had found Barbara a room at the club for the previous night. Tall and austere-looking, she received Rollison with a welcoming smile; for she was fond of him.

“How is she?” asked Rollison.

“As you can imagine,” said Lady Gloria. “But she’s young, she will be all right, although she’ll go on making mistakes.”

“Mistakes?” echoed Rollison.

His aunt’s eyes gleamed wickedly.

“She has a curiously high opinion of you,” she remarked.

THE END