Part One
Life was treating Bainton Gray very well indeed. In a short space of time, he had gone from a humble, travelling milliner, to a prospering hat shop owner.
Although he was now financially secure, Bainton still remained a bachelor. He'd broken off his engagement to Mara Fletcher a few days ago. She was so suspicious of the way Bainton dealt with his female customers. Mara had even accused him of being “too familiar” and giving them long meaningful looks!
This unseemly behaviour only existed in Mara's jealous mind. Nothing Bainton could do or say would convince her that his sense of propriety was too correct to behave in such a manner. Reluctantly, he'd had to end their courtship.
But since then, Mara had taken to hanging around outside the shop. She’d peer through the window, her nose pressed against the glass. Bainton found this disconcerting, to say the least! To make matters worse, she'd recently started slipped pleading notes under the shop door.
Bainton's sister, Penelope, who cared deeply for her brother, didn't like seeing Bainton distressed by this. So on one occasion, she'd confronted Mara about the notes. She begged her to leave him alone. But Mara had replied angrily that she’d make Bainton sorry for breaking off their engagement.
Later that week, Bainton, feeling peckish, headed down the road to Stone’s grocers to buy himself an apple. Before he reached the grocers, however, he heard a sound that made him stop and stand still.
He could hear a pitiful yelping noise. Racing down the alley towards where the sound was coming from, he was angered to see Mr. Stone lashing out at a small dog. Bainton grabbed the stick off him. Furiously, he snapped it in half.
In his temper, he kicked Mr. Stone’s rear end!
“NEVER, let me see you treat any creature like that again, do you understand?”
Mr. Stone didn’t say anything. He knew that he'd been caught red-handed, but he wasn't going to admit it. He was furious; why shouldn’t he hit a mangy mongrel that had entered his shop to beg for food?
Bainton sighed as he noticed the wounded dog quivering with fear. He picked up the scrawny dog as gently as he could and took it home. He gave it to his dog-loving mother. The little dog could be cared for properly now.
After that incident, Mr. Stone and Bainton had become sworn enemies. It seemed that Bainton couldn't even pass him in the street without receiving hostile looks.
Bainton didn't care much for Mr. Stone, but he had other things on his mind. He was planning something special.
It was now two days before the display. Penelope was behind the counter making finishing touches to the hat centrepiece. She left it on the counter, so that she could retire for a while.
The door chimed and a young woman entered. She was accompanied by a sullen-looking man. After trying on a selection of hats, the girl chose a yellow bonnet and stood in front of the looking glass. She asked her moody companion what he thought of it. He replied that she looked splendid. But that was the response he’d given to every hat she’d tried on!
“Shall I buy it then, Peter?” she asked, with a coy look at her suitor.
"Yes", he replied, with a bored look upon his face.
Bainton looked on. He didn't normally interfere with his customers' choices, it wasn’t the proper way to run a business. But he couldn't help noticing that the hat didn't do justice to the girl's features.
No, it was no use, he just couldn’t keep quiet a minute longer.
“Please excuse me madam...," he began. "If I may say so, that particular shade of yellow does not suit your complexion. I could not help noticing that the bright colour makes one look, er...rather pale. I'm sure that I can offer you a much more fetching hat."
He paused before continuing: "Please allow me to recommend one that will flatter your English rose complexion much better”.
To his surprise, Peter glared at him. Bainton felt embarrassed. He'd tried to be polite, but perhaps he'd sounded a bit insulting. To his relief, the young lady smiled and looked as though she might laugh. Her eyes shone brightly.
Peter, on the other hand, was not so amused.
He started to rant that he found the remarks about his fiance's complexion grossly insulting!
Bainton was stunned by this outburst. But the young woman hastily intervened, “Peter, don’t be angry, I knew that hat wouldn't suit me. I tried it on deliberately, to see what you’d say!”
Then the young lady started laughing. Bainton felt relieved. Peter went quiet, but looked a bit annoyed. He moved away and stood near the window, watching from a distance.
Bainton showed several more hats to the young woman. Her name was Cordelia and she was a witty and charming girl to converse with. When she noticed Penelope's new hat creation, which was sitting proudly on the counter, she asked if she could purchase it. But Bainton had to explain that it wasn’t finished yet.
In the meantime, the surly Peter stood nearby, observing them closely. Seeing them talking and laughing together somehow angered him. Being of a jealous disposition, he couldn’t stand anyone talking and smiling with his girl. And now Bainton, with his boyish face and charming smile was getting his fiance's undivided attention!
Peter decided that this young coxcomb, Bainton, needed teaching a lesson. He couldn't stand it a minute longer.
Grabbing his fiance's arm, he made an excuse for them to leave, saying they must be on their way. He then ushered his reluctant fiance towards the door.
The day of the display arrived and Bainton and Penelope were getting things ready. As the magnificent chiffon and lace hat took up it's rightful place in the window, it finally began to look as though all their hard work had been worth it. Penelope arranged it carefully on it's wooden stand. It looked so elegant, with it's feathery plumes nestled amongst silk and satin flowers. But it came as a bit of a surprise to Bainton when Penelope suddenly announced that she didn’t want to sell her creation. Seeing her brother's look of dismay, she hastily added " I'm only jesting!"
After about ten minutes, the shop door chimed. Bainton returned to the counter and was surprised to see Mr. Stone standing near the window. He was holding a large empty box. When he caught sight of Bainton, he appeared rather nervous.
He started to explain, in a very ingratiating voice, that he had come to offer an apology for being cruel to the dog.
“I thought I’d bring you a peace offering". He continued: "Could you make use of this box?”
Bainton was wary, it didn't seem like Mr. Stone to be nice. How odd! What was the point of offering him an empty box? Very strange behaviour indeed!
He politely declined it, so the grocer left.
Some time later, Bainton found himself on his own. It was late afternoon and the shop had gone quiet. Penelope had retired to the back room for a well earned refreshment break. There were no customers, so he stood looking out of the window. It wasn't long before the shop door chimed as someone entered.
Bainton's heart sank as he saw Mara entering the shop. She was wearing her best clothing and a huge hat. As she walked towards him, he couldn't help noticing that she looked very attractive. She gave him an enchanting smile. There were tears in her eyes as she told him that she loved him truly. Stifling her sobs, she told him that he had been so cruel to break off their engagement.
Bainton felt wretched, as she pleaded with him to change his mind. He turned away for several minutes; it was painful to look at her. He tried to collect his thoughts. What could he say to her? He struggled to think of something. Eventually he turned around. Gently, he told Mara that he needed some time to think.
She went away looking happier. Just then, Penelope returned from the back of the shop. She caught a glimpse of Mara leaving as she was closing the door. Bainton was forced to explain events. He told his sister that he felt guilty over Mara. He didn't like seeing her upset, but he just didn't know what to do.
An hour before closing time, Cordelia returned with her sulky looking fiance in tow. After seeing the brooding scowl on Peter's face, Bainton thought it wise to let Penelope see to them, so he disappeared out the back. But oddly enough, Cordelia didn’t seem very interested in any hats that Penelope showed her, so she left without purchasing anything.
The last customers of the day arrived. One of them, an elderly lady, exclaimed:
"I simply must have that glorious hat. The one in the window".
Penelope went over to the window and took it off it's stand. But something was wrong.... The hat looked different!
Penelope had checked it that morning. She noticed right away that this wasn’t the same hat, it was just a cheap substitute! Puzzled, she turned the hat over, to examine it. Then she noticed a small note inside, attached to the lining. She took it out and read it. There were just three words:
“REVENGE IS SWEET”
Bainton examined the note. He could think of no explanation as to why someone would do such a thing. He cast his mind back, trying to remember everything that had happened that day. Had the hat been substituted when they were both in the back room?
So, this was a planned theft; but who had taken it and how?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*Now read "Part 2" - containing The Solution - to find out who did it....
Click on the link below:
http://thebaintongraymysteries.blogspot.com/2011/03/bainton-gray-and-hat-shop-mystery-part.html
Click on the link below:
http://thebaintongraymysteries.blogspot.com/2011/03/bainton-gray-and-hat-shop-mystery-part.html
