Chapter One:
"SWEET SHOP TRAGEDY! "
The newspaper headline screamed it's story from the front page. Bainton sighed and put down his paper. He already knew all the details. Because the crime had taken place in his own town.
The details of the case were as follows:
Mr. Gabriel Thorpe, his wife and daughter ran a sweet shop. Unfortunately some of their stock had been ruined due to damp conditions in the stockroom. After a loss of profits, it was said that Mr. Thorpe had desperately tried to recoup the loss. The newspaper claimed that he'd resorted to drastic measures to cut costs. Allegedly, he'd been mixing small amounts of arsenic into his sweets. It made them look more colourful and more appealing.
No one would have believed it of the gentle, smiling Gabriel Thorpe. But a young lady, Alice Smith, who bought her favourite sweets from his shop had died. She was found to have arsenic poisoning. Mr. Thorpe had been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
Bainton returned home. He'd just sat down in his favourite chair when there was a knock at the door. He got up and answered it. He was most surprised to see Sergeant Wright standing there.
Wright had been a Constable until the Churchyard murder case. His arrest of the guilty culprit had impressed his superiors so much, that he’d since been promoted. (Actually, it had been Bainton Gray who'd solved the entire thing, but no one else knew that!)
“It’s this Thorpe case, Mr. Gray," he said, stroking his moustache thoughtfully. "It's got me right puzzled, I can tell you..... Gabriel Thorpe's been arrested. He's being sentenced soon. But the man denies ever adding any arsenic to his products. He insists that he only uses the best ingredients. I’ve known the man my entire life and he just doesn’t strike me as the criminal type. I think there’s something odd here.”
Bainton sat in the chair, deep in thought. He liked Gabriel Thorpe and wanted to know the truth.
“What strikes me as odd is this...", said Bainton. "If the sweets from the same jar were sold to a dozen or so people, why is it that only one of them has died of arsenic poisoning? Why didn't the others die?”
Sgt. Wright looked at Bainton. He felt confident that this quick-thinking young man could solve this case.
“I do know people at the prison where Mr. Thorpe is being held. I might be able to arrange for you to visit him with me. May be you could ask a few questions?"
Bainton nodded in agreement. The sergeant continued:
"Then we could see Mrs. Thorpe and her daughter. Maybe they might know more about Alice Smith too? Apparently she was a regular visitor to the shop; a few people have mentioned that.”
Bainton had never visited a prison before - and hoped he never had to do so again. He held a handkerchief to his nose, as the smell of dampness, and other unspeakable things, was quite pungent.
Escorted by a guard, Bainton and Wright were led down a maze of cold, dark corridors and steps to meet Gabriel Thorpe. Bainton had been granted only a short visit.
Mr. Thorpe now sat facing Sgt. Wright and Bainton, a look of sorrowful resignation on his face.
Bainton showed Gabriel the newspaper story, claiming that Thorpes' sweets had been laced with arsenic. He urged him to tell him everything he could about events leading up to that fateful day.
Gabriel admitted that he was the only one who made the sweet mixtures up. But he was most insistent that he’d never used any kind of noxious substance in his sweets. There wasnt much more he could tell Bainton. He claimed that the ill-fated Alice Smith visited his shop when he was out. So either his wife or daughter Frances must have served her.
Bainton couldn't help noticing that Gabriel looked overcome with grief at the mention of the dead girl's name. As he covered his face with his hands, Bainton consoled him. But he still had to ask him something personal:
“Mr. Thorpe, I know this is … perhaps rather frank, but I need to know all I can about this. Was Alice special to you?”
He had to be careful here. "Was she your... I mean, were you fond of her…romantically?”
Mr. Thorpe sat bolt upright, eyes wide with indignation.
“NO!” He said firmly and honestly. "Absolutely not!”
Bainton was startled by Gabriel’s vehemence. He looked at Mr. Thorpe intently. Gabriel bowed his head and swallowed several times, choking with emotion. He then looked up before proclaiming, in a quiet but steady tone of voice:
“Alice Smith was my daughter.”
Chapter Two:
Gabriel knew that he would have to confess to a secret that had been with him for over twenty four years.
As a young man, he'd ended up in hospital. He’d been taken care of by a nurse. Her name had been Theodosia Crux. The time had soon come for him to leave hospital. But he'd grown used to seeing Sister Crux. He explained to Bainton how they'd fallen for each other.
Gabriel had left hospital and subsequently enlisted in the army. But he'd been posted abroad. He'd returned to Britain after his short service army contract expired.
After he'd arrived home, he'd found an old letter waiting for him. It was from Theodosia. The letter told him that she had been "with child". She hadn't been able to bear the shame of being an unmarried mother, so had hastily married before the child was born. She'd married a Dr. Francis, who worked at the same hospital.
Theodosia had then gone on to reveal how her new husband had turned out to be a cold-hearted man. He'd been angry about having another man’s child in his house. Not long after the birth, he'd secretly arranged to have the newborn adopted. The baby had been whisked away and handed over to a Mr. & Mrs. Smith, who were childless relatives of his.
Gabriel Thorpe had never told anyone about this. Some years later he'd met a woman named Ruth and subsequently married her. But she knew nothing of his past.
Dr. Francis had since died. Gabriel had learned that Theodosia was widowed some time after her son was born.
He knew that she too had passed away, less than a year ago; her secret apparently taken to her grave.
On hearing this, Bainton wondered whether Mrs. Ruth Thorpe, or her legitimate daughter, Frances Thorpe, had discovered his dark secret? Could the motive be jealousy?
Was this really a murder? Or an accident?
The next day, Sergeant Wright and Bainton went straight to the back of Thorpe’s sweet shop. The shop had been closed since Alice's death.
A young woman answered the door. She looked crestfallen when she saw Sergeant Wright. Introductions were made and they all sat down.
"Is your mother at home?" enquired Sgt. Wright.
“Yes, Mother’s at home. But she’s not well, she has a terrible headache. She seems...rather drained lately. Maybe she's missing Father.”
She proceeded to answer all questions promptly:
"No, I didn’t help make the sweets".
"Yes, I used to serve Miss Smith in the shop".
Bainton wanted to ask if she knew she had a sister. But he knew it would be best to find out some other way.
After leaving, Sgt. Wright commented that maybe the young Miss might be more forthcoming if he wasn’t there? Wright then winked at Bainton before saying:
“I know young ladies take to you, Mr. Gray!”
Bainton blushed, somewhat flattered. But he knew it would be improper to call round alone. He decided to bring his sister with him next time.
The next day Bainton arrived again, this time with Penelope - who had some flowers for Mrs Thorpe.
When he asked to see Mrs. Thorpe, Frances replied that her mother was still ill and was very tired.
Penelope offered to undertake some housework to help her. Miss Thorpe thanked her happily. Little did she know that it was a cunning ploy so that Bainton could be alone with Frances.
Bainton looked at Frances and smiled charmingly. She smiled politely back. Wondering how he could broach the subject of Alice Smith being her dead sister, he decided to drop a hint.
Referring to Penelope helping with the household tasks, Bainton commented about how wonderful sister’s were. He was fishing for information. But this didn't register any reaction. Only polite interest showed on Miss Thorpe's rosy, angelic face.
Just then, they heard someone coming downstairs. Ruth Thorpe came into the kitchen. Her face puckered with disapproval when she saw Bainton.
“I’ve had enough of you sneaking round here. You and your questions and flattery. Please leave, Mr. Lawrence!
Bainton was puzzled to hear himself addressed by the wrong surname. He explained that he was actually Mr. Gray.
Mrs.Thorpe looked confused. But she still insisted that he leave anyway. She pointed to the door with a shaking hand.
“Goodbye, Mr. White! ”
Bainton was rather put out. So much for Sgt. Wright’s comment about him charming the ladies!
Chapter Three:
Bainton wasn't going to give up. So he sent Sergeant Wright over to question the rather formidable Ruth Thorpe.
She answered all the questions. Though she did seem rather confused by some points. But then maybe she was nervous?
Sgt. Wright also sent a letter to Mr. Thorpe's solicitor, asking him for the details of his will. He then received a reply. Thorpe’s will, (which had been made before Alice’s death), was to be divided between his wife, natural daughter Alice Smith and legal daughter Frances Thorpe.
He also learnt that when Alice had died, she'd left no will.
Bainton was on his way over to see Miss Thorpe. A young man was just leaving.
He nodded politely at Bainton.
Miss Thorpe explained that the young man was there to give advice about finance because they'd had to close the shop.
Frances was in good spirits, considering her situation. She questioned Bainton about his unusual Christian name. He explained that he was named after a village where his father was born. Miss Thorpe replied that she liked the name Bainton. "I like my own name too", she said.
“Frances," she said, repeating her name once again whilst laughing.
Mrs. Ruth Thorpe entered the kitchen. She cast a suspicious eye at Bainton, and addressed him curtly as Mr. Black.
Bainton was tempted to respond with, “Sorry, I’m afraid I’m Mr. Puce actually".
But he curbed his impish humour. Mrs. Thorpe really was a very absent minded woman. What, with her headaches and sickness as well, anyone would think she was very ill.
Unless she was only pretending to be?
Bainton said he would see himself out. He did so, but then sneaked back up the path and listened at the back door.
“Young men shouldn’t be here unchaperoned! First that clerk, Mr. Lawrence, from the chemist ...and now this Mr.… Bainton? Well, I'm telling you, I don't trust their sort. Why do they have to keep asking questions and snooping?”
Listening outside the door, Bainton was startled at what he'd heard. He realised that Mr. Lawrence must have been asking questions too. He decided to go and ask this Mr. Lawrence some of his own!
Chapter 4:
Bainton went along to the pharmacy after it closed. He caught up with Mr. Lawrence as he was leaving. After introducing himself, he invited him to the local public house, saying that he needed to discuss something with him.
As they sat in The Crown and Oak, making polite conversation, the two young men hit it off well. The young Mr. Lawrence said that his name was Francis.
Bainton decided to get to the root of the problem. He asked him what he knew of the Thorpe family.
Francis Lawrence replied that he'd known the family for only a short time. He’d never met Mr. Thorpe, who was always so busy in the shop. From what he'd seen of Mrs. Thorpe, she seemed distrustful of everyone. She was a very sour woman, he said. He remarked that her face always looked like she’d eaten one of the bitter lemon drops from her shop.
He added that he'd also seen her acting rather hostile when she'd served Alice in the shop.....
That night, Bainton lay awake thinking about things. Was it possible that Ruth knew something?
How?
Bainton was on his way to the Thorpes again. This time Penelope accompanied him.
After they were shown in, Penelope offered to have a quick tidy round. Whilst tidying, she noticed a screwed up piece of paper. She unfolded it.
It was a note, written in clear bold capitals:
“PLEESE RESERVE PEPERMINT HUMMBUG SWEETS FOR ME.
I KNOWS THEY SELL OUT QWICK.
I WILL COLECT THEM.
FROM
Miss Alice Smith X.”
The letter was shown to Miss Thorpe. She looked at it, but showed little emotion. She looked at Bainton and Penelope, who were staring at her intensely. Seeing they were expecting an answer, she replied:
“Well yes, I did know about this note. Perhaps I should have mentioned it? You see, I found the note, then I put the sweets in a paper bag. I marked the bag A.S. Then I left the bag on the shelf. That afternoon Alice came into the shop and I gave her the bag of sweets.“
Finding the note was a remarkable piece of luck. Perhaps it was the significant breakthrough that Bainton needed to get to the bottom of this case?
But it did leave one unanswered question in his mind: Could someone have tampered with Alice's sweets?
If so, who?
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Click on the link below to continue to Part 2 of the story:
