Hawke's Tor by E. V. Thompson Page B

trouble because of her. I’ve heard the name of Jowan Hodge mentioned, do you know him?’
    It was quite apparent Alfie was being deliberately vague about his wife because he did not want her to be interviewed. Amos had no intention of allowing the matter of her whereabouts to remain a mystery, but for now he hoped the Ring o’ Bells landlord might be more forthcoming if he believed he could divert their attention away from her by giving them something else to concentrate on. The ploy worked.
    â€˜There was talk about her and Jowan Hodge at one time, but I’m sure it was no more than talk. He’s happy with his wife, and she’s strict chapel so wouldn’t put up with him playing around. If Kerensa set her cap at him it was because when he struck it rich up at the Phoenix he came in here buying drinks for everyone. She was never one to pass up an opportunity with someone who was generous with his money.’

    He looked at Amos hoping he might have diverted attention from himself and his wife, but he was met with an expression that told him nothing.
    For a moment, Alfie faltered before saying, ‘There is someone else who was smitten with Kerensa and caused trouble in here because of it – even though he’s a married man – and that’s George Kendall.’
    â€˜His name has been mentioned,’ Amos said, nodding approval at Tom who had his pocket book out, taking notes. ‘Tell me more about him.’
    â€˜Well, I don’t like talking about my customers, but Kendall isn’t one of them anymore and hasn’t been since before Kerensa met up with Horace Morgan. He’s always been violent, even when he was a boy, and I pity that poor wife of his, she’s had more black eyes than any prize-fighter. It’s fairly certain there was something going on between him and Kerensa, but she put a stop to it when she and Morgan started going out seriously together. She didn’t stay here for long after that, but Kendall wouldn’t accept it was over between them and before she left he came into the Ring o’ Bells more than once threatening what he’d do to her if she didn’t change her mind. The last time he’d already had too much to drink somewhere else and mouthed off at her, as usual. One of the miners who was in here drinking told him to leave her alone and a fight broke out. It took a half-dozen of the miner’s friends to better Kendall and throw him out. I warned him then never to come back in the Ring o’ Bells again and he never has. I believe he caused more trouble for Kerensa once or twice after that, but it wasn’t inside here so it was none of my business. Thinking about it, he’s got to be one of your main suspects.’
    â€˜Thank you.’ Reserving his opinion on why Alfie Kittow might be so keen to throw suspicion on someone else for Kerensa’s
murder and the abduction of Albert Morgan, Amos asked, ‘Where might we find this George Kendall?’
    â€˜He lives down at Berriow Bridge, but he won’t be home again until tomorrow. A couple of the miners who work with him up at the Notter mine were in here last night. Kendall and the men he works with have struck a profitable lode and are working double shifts to clear as much of it as they can before their pitch comes up for auction again.’
    Amos knew little about mining, but he was aware there was a bidding system on a great many mines where at set intervals particular working places would be auctioned off, the bidding miners agreeing the percentage they would retain of the mined ore’s value. It seemed that George Kendall had been fortunate enough to come upon a promising lode on his particular pitch.
    Satisfied their visit to the Ring o’ Bells had not been entirely wasted, Amos and Tom settled down to enjoy the meal that was sent in to them by the landlord of the Ring o’ Bells, ‘compliments of the house’. While they