Ravenscroft.
‘Well she is not here, I can tell you. Searched all the barns and sheds myself this morning.’
‘How did you learn Miss Chilton was missing?’
‘The news was all over the town this morning.’
‘And you searched your buildings in response? Did you think that she might have made her own way here?’ inquired Ravenscroft.
‘No. The church is a good mile from my house. Rather a long way for a girl to have wandered out here on her own, I would have thought,’ replied the farmer in a casual way.
‘But nevertheless you thought it necessary to examine your buildings?’
‘Look, I don’t know what you are implying, Inspector—’ began Russell.
‘I am not implying anything, sir. I am merely curious to know why you took the trouble to search your outbuildings, knowing that it was unlikely that the girl would be there,’ continued Ravenscroft.
‘Well she could have come here, I suppose. That is why I searched the buildings. Look if that is all, I need to get on. I’ve a lot to attend to today. If the girl should turn up I will of course inform you of the fact,’ said the farmer abruptly turning away.
‘We understand that you and Sir Charles have recently had a falling out,’ said Ravenscroft quickly.
‘Ah, I see. You have come about my land. Chilton thinks there is a potential salt mine underneath this field. Wants to uncover it and add it to his empire. I told him it was not for sale and sent him packing.’
‘And how did Sir Charles react?’
‘Well he didn’t like it, did he!’ said Russell raising his voice. ‘He’s used to having his own way. Thinks he can buy up the whole town, and countryside for miles around, and all the folks as well. Well I told him he was not to be so humoured. My ancestors have farmed this land for the pastfive generations, and there is no way that I will be selling any of it to that jumped up, loud-mouthed, intimidating bully. That’s all I’ve got to say. Now good day to you,’ replied Russell placing his shot gun on his shoulder.
‘So you have not taken his daughter then, sir?’ called out Crabb.
‘Good day to you!’ replied Russell, glowering at the constable, before turning on his heel and striding off towards his farm at a brisk pace.
‘I think Tom, that we might have annoyed our Mr Russell,’ said Ravenscroft retracing his steps out of the field.
‘He could have the girl tied up in one of those old barns?’ suggested Crabb.
‘He could, but you are forgetting one thing Tom – why would Russell have taken the girl? What reason would he have had to have done so?’
‘Perhaps he hated Sir Charles and took the girl to get his own back. He’s got a bit of a hot temper, I’d say.’
‘Does not seem likely, although I would agree with you that there appears to be no love lost between the two men,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘He could be holding the girl for a day or so before making a demand for money for her return?’
‘Maybe, but until we receive such a demand we will not know. Now that we have made the acquaintance of Mr Russell, let us return to the canal and see whether the men have found anything there.’
‘Anything to report?’ asked Ravenscroft as he and Crabb neared the canal bank.
‘Just this, sir. One of the men found it floating down there,’ replied the constable passing over a piece of material to his superior officer. ‘Could be the girl’s handkerchief?’
‘You could be correct, constable. White with red roses embrioidered round the edge,’ said Ravenscroft examining the item. ‘And see here the letter “M”.’
‘Mildred Chilton?’ offered Crabb.
‘Take charge of it, Tom. This is valuable evidence. We will make enquiries at the house to see if it’s owner was indeed the young lady. I take it that you found nothing else, constable?’
‘No sir. We’ve gone up to the lock gates in either direction, but there is no trace of the girl.’
‘And the river?’
‘Nothing there either,
‘Well she is not here, I can tell you. Searched all the barns and sheds myself this morning.’
‘How did you learn Miss Chilton was missing?’
‘The news was all over the town this morning.’
‘And you searched your buildings in response? Did you think that she might have made her own way here?’ inquired Ravenscroft.
‘No. The church is a good mile from my house. Rather a long way for a girl to have wandered out here on her own, I would have thought,’ replied the farmer in a casual way.
‘But nevertheless you thought it necessary to examine your buildings?’
‘Look, I don’t know what you are implying, Inspector—’ began Russell.
‘I am not implying anything, sir. I am merely curious to know why you took the trouble to search your outbuildings, knowing that it was unlikely that the girl would be there,’ continued Ravenscroft.
‘Well she could have come here, I suppose. That is why I searched the buildings. Look if that is all, I need to get on. I’ve a lot to attend to today. If the girl should turn up I will of course inform you of the fact,’ said the farmer abruptly turning away.
‘We understand that you and Sir Charles have recently had a falling out,’ said Ravenscroft quickly.
‘Ah, I see. You have come about my land. Chilton thinks there is a potential salt mine underneath this field. Wants to uncover it and add it to his empire. I told him it was not for sale and sent him packing.’
‘And how did Sir Charles react?’
‘Well he didn’t like it, did he!’ said Russell raising his voice. ‘He’s used to having his own way. Thinks he can buy up the whole town, and countryside for miles around, and all the folks as well. Well I told him he was not to be so humoured. My ancestors have farmed this land for the pastfive generations, and there is no way that I will be selling any of it to that jumped up, loud-mouthed, intimidating bully. That’s all I’ve got to say. Now good day to you,’ replied Russell placing his shot gun on his shoulder.
‘So you have not taken his daughter then, sir?’ called out Crabb.
‘Good day to you!’ replied Russell, glowering at the constable, before turning on his heel and striding off towards his farm at a brisk pace.
‘I think Tom, that we might have annoyed our Mr Russell,’ said Ravenscroft retracing his steps out of the field.
‘He could have the girl tied up in one of those old barns?’ suggested Crabb.
‘He could, but you are forgetting one thing Tom – why would Russell have taken the girl? What reason would he have had to have done so?’
‘Perhaps he hated Sir Charles and took the girl to get his own back. He’s got a bit of a hot temper, I’d say.’
‘Does not seem likely, although I would agree with you that there appears to be no love lost between the two men,’ replied Ravenscroft.
‘He could be holding the girl for a day or so before making a demand for money for her return?’
‘Maybe, but until we receive such a demand we will not know. Now that we have made the acquaintance of Mr Russell, let us return to the canal and see whether the men have found anything there.’
‘Anything to report?’ asked Ravenscroft as he and Crabb neared the canal bank.
‘Just this, sir. One of the men found it floating down there,’ replied the constable passing over a piece of material to his superior officer. ‘Could be the girl’s handkerchief?’
‘You could be correct, constable. White with red roses embrioidered round the edge,’ said Ravenscroft examining the item. ‘And see here the letter “M”.’
‘Mildred Chilton?’ offered Crabb.
‘Take charge of it, Tom. This is valuable evidence. We will make enquiries at the house to see if it’s owner was indeed the young lady. I take it that you found nothing else, constable?’
‘No sir. We’ve gone up to the lock gates in either direction, but there is no trace of the girl.’
‘And the river?’
‘Nothing there either,
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