BIGGLES SEES TOO MUCH

by Captain W. E. Johns

4. BIGGLES MAKES SOME INQUIRIES (Pages 37 – 46)

Biggles and Bertie have lunch and Biggles thinks about what to do. The crooks will expect him to move out of the hotel, so he feels inclined to stay put. Bertie says “It goes against the grain to give ‘em the impression that they’ve got us scared”. “They’ve got me scared all right; don’t get any wrong ideas about that” confessed Biggles grimly. Bertie says they know one man who must know who the crooks are – Limpy Logan – but the police would have to find him first. “He wouldn’t squeal” says Biggles. “He might, if we turned the screws on hard enough” replies Bertie. Biggles has the registration number of the Daimler and wants Scotland Yard to tell him who it belongs to. Biggles doesn’t want to ring from the hotel, but will do from the clubhouse where Algy are Ginger are. It takes half an hour to drive to the clubhouse and Biggles tells Algy and Ginger what has happened that morning. A telephone call to the Yard reveals the owner of the Daimler is Mr. Julius Brunner, who lives at Penlock Grange, nor far from Polcarron. “Apparently he’s one of those international financiers who have a finger in all sorts of pies. One of his interests is a chain of hotels, on the Continent as well as in this country”. Bertie remembers seeing the name “Brunner” over the door of their pub in Polcarron. Biggles recalls that the person’s name was Stephen Brunner, who may be a relation. Biggles suggest that all four of them go to have a look at Penlock Grange. Algy drives, with Ginger in the front passenger seat, so Biggles and Bertie can be less likely to be seen in the back, in case they bump into the chauffeur again. They drive to the village of Penlock and Biggles gets out to ask for directions to Penlock Grange, whilst buying a packet of cigarettes at the Post Office. On leaving, he collides with a man coming in – it is the chauffeur still in uniform. The chauffeur drops a letter and Biggles picks it up and hands it to him. The chauffeur asks Biggles what he is doing there and Biggles says he is just having a jaunt round to look at the landscape as a change from the sea. “You still staying at Polcarron?” asks the chauffeur and Biggles replies “Yes, I see no reason to move”. “Be seeing you again then, perhaps” the chauffeur replies. They part company and Biggles returns to the others, who have seen what has happened. Biggles says the letter was addressed to Mr. S. Brunner at the Fisherman’s Arms in Polcarron. They drive up and past Penlock Grange and the Daimler follows them, but turns in at the Grange. Ginger suggests he is dropped off “to have a prowl round”. Biggles agrees and says they will wait for him at the village. “Don’t take any chances. These men are dangerous. They’ve demonstrated that” he tells Ginger. They drive to a pub in the village on Penlock and order Cornish teas. After two hours of waiting and no appearance of Ginger, they start to get worried. Biggles suggests Bertie takes Algy back to the aerodrome, then Bertie can return to collect Biggles and Ginger. Ginger should be back by then, if he isn’t back, they will have to find out why. Algy and Bertie leave and Biggles pays the bill. He then returns to his chair in the garden to wait.