Furious Old Women by Leo Bruce Page B

respect your confidence as far as I honestly can. You see, you might tell me something which would have a direct bearing on the recent murder case. What could I do then?”
    â€œI want to show you something.”
    â€œEven then, how do I know that it won’t be my duty to report it?”
    â€œI don’t know what to do,” said Mugger. “And I’m not a man not to know what to do. I saw you talking to Slatt the other night. Did he say anything about me?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI give
him
a hard time. See, I don’t say I’m an angel.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œNor yet a psalm-singing hypocrite. I like a bit of fun,” said Mugger lugubriously.
    â€œWhat sort of fun?” asked Carolus, falling headlong into the trap.
    â€œWell, not too old. Nor yet so young it’ll get you into trouble. About twenty-five or thirty with a nice big chassis who don’t open her mouth too wide.”
    â€œThat wasn’t exactly what I asked. However, do you find your bit of fun in Gladhurst?”
    Mugger looked gloomier.
    â€œOf course I do. It’s everywhere, if you know how to look for it. There’s one working out at Ryley’s farm….”
    â€œDon’t let’s go into details.”
    â€œWell, you asked me. I mean, where should we be without it? You can’t have all work and no play, can you? I remember one lived in Church Cottages. You’ve never seen anyone like it. It was as though she was on fire….”
    â€œYou had something to tell me, I believe?”
    â€œI was telling you about this one, lived in Church Cottages. I had to tell her in the end she’d get me into trouble if my old woman got to hear of anything. Then there was a German one came to work for some people here. Oh dear, oh dear. I shall never forget it. She was tall as I was, very near, but big-made with it. There
was
a lot of her. I used to say to her, there
is
a lot of you’, I used to say, but of course she never understood a word of English. Then when I was rabbiting one night….”
    â€œLook, Mugger, I’m sure your reminiscences are very interesting. You ought to write a book some day. But I’m trying to find out about Miss Griggs, not about your various adventures. If you’ve got anything to tell me, let’s have it. If not I’ll drop you off where you like.”
    â€œWell, I have got something to tell you but I don’t know how you’ll take it.”
    â€œI’m afraid I can’t give you any assurance on that. I certainly shan’t talk for the sake of talking.”
    â€œI don’t know what to say. Suppose I was to hint to you, no more than a hint, mind, that I might know where a bit of jewellery was to be seen?”
    â€œYou mean? Oh, I see. Good heavens, man, you can’t keep that. You’ll find yourself charged with murder if you’re found in possession of it.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m afraid of. But I’m not in possession of it. I’ve left it where I found it.”
    â€œWhat about the money?”
    â€œThere was no money,” said Mugger and for the firsttime a touch of animation was in his voice. “No money, there wasn’t. Not a sausage. Jools. No money.”
    â€œHave you done any work since helping Rumble to dig Chilling’s grave?”
    â€œWork? No. To tell the truth I haven’t had time. There’s one come to live with her auntie just near the station. Just right, she is. You know, not too thin and not a big sack of potatoes either. Only thing is she won’t come out of doors. Says it’s too cold. So I have to wait till her auntie’s out.…”
    Mugger’s long face expressed nothing but gloom.
    â€œYou haven’t worked for a couple of weeks yet you don’t seem short of money.”
    â€œOh well. Got to have a bit of luck sometime. But those jools are just as I found them. Something told me not to touch