“I don’t know that he had any further information,” said Macdonald. “He was suspicious. I’m wondering if there were any rumours going round the district that Sam Borwick had been seen hereabouts: I’m also wondering if there’s any story about valuables’ left at High Garth. There often are stories about ancient houses, plate in die well, sovereigns in the chimney, coins under the flagstones. And quite often valuables have been found hidden in old houses when builders got to work on floors and chimneys.”
Bord nodded. “And have you been wondering if Brough had an idea that if there was anything of that kind, he might as well have it as leave it for Sam? Don’t take me wrong,” went on Bord. “Brough’s respected hereabouts, known as an honest man, but there have been times when honest farmers went astray when it looked as though there were easy money to be had: you know, black-market meat when rationing was tight, false claims for government subsidies. Oh, it’s happened and I know it. It seems to me that if Brough thought there was treasure trove about, he’d have argued ‘No reason why Sam should have that.’ And he thought ‘If I’m going to have a look around to see what’s been happening, better have a witness to prove I haven’t been up to any hanky-panky.’ ”
“Yes, there’s that, and better have company in case there’s trouble,” said Macdonald. “It does look to me as though someone watched out when Brough and I went to High Garth and that Brough was attacked when he hurried back to his car. Betty Shearling said she saw a man going across the fell and thought he was one of Brough’s hired men.”
“It wasn’t. We’ve got his men taped,” said Bord. “Then there’s this: Jock Shearling was out there and his wife knew it. I’ve nought to say against Shearling, but this is the third time he’s been in a district where there’s been trouble: he was on Whemside at the time of the sheep-stealing racket, he was in Gimmerdale when Herdwick was arrested, and now he’s here.”
“There’ll be plenty of people to remember that,” said Macdonald. “I believe Jock’s straight, and his wife’s straight, too. Now there’s another point we ought to consider. We don’t know how long ago that hole was made in the wall at High Garth, nor how often it was used, nor when it was last used. One thing’s perfectly plain: that house would have been a godsend to any chap who wanted to lie low, once he’d found a method of getting in which couldn’t be noticed from outside.”
“Aye. Sam Borwick might have thought about that, when he was in trouble in Leverstone,” said Bord, “and Sam would have known about the dairy door and the rubble wall. Looks like Sam to me.”
“And to me. He could have used the place himself or told his pals about it, describing the method of entry which he might have arranged for himself. There was shelter, firing, and some degree of comfort: it would have been safe to light a fire there any night. There’s water in the trough. If a man meant to five there over a period of days, he’d have had to bring food with him. Food generally means tins these days.”
“Well, if there were tins, they were well hidden,” said Bord. “Now I reckon my first job should be to go down and see old Mrs. Borwick: it’s not a job I fancy. The old man’s had a stroke: nothing to be got out of him, and she’s not so good herself, I’m told. Weak heart and that. Not that she’ll tell me anything about that precious son of hers, and I couldn’t press her.”
Macdonald agreed. “There are some things we know we can’t do, and thank God for it: bullying an aged mother for information about a suspect son is no job for police in this country, but you might get some information about Brough’s part in the setup. He said she handed him the keys, you could ask about that, especially as he’s had an accident and can’t answer questions himself.”
“Aye, I’ll try along those lines, and the sooner the better. News travels, as you know. Now look here, Super: you’ll come in on this with us? The sooner we fix things up with the Commissioner’s Office, the better.”
“Right, settle things your end, there won’t be any difficulty at C.O. There will be a number of lines to follow up and you’re a bit short of men with experience of lengthy interrogations.”
“Aye, you’re right there; my fellows are reliable enough and observant of matters within their own experience, but they’re on the dumb side, not used to thinking out questions in words.”
“One thing they’ll be good at, picking up any rumours that have been flying around. If Sam Borwick has been seen in these parts, I believe your sergeant and young Hayton will get to hear of it. For myself, once you’ve got the formalities settled, I’d like to go and have a crack with the Leverstone men and try to pin down these stories about Sam Borwick having been run in. Incidently, do you know the date Mr. Staple was in Leverstone, when he said he saw Sam being run in?”
“No, I don’t know the date, but you could go and see Staple yourself without waiting for the formalities. He knows you, and he’ll talk
