VALLEY OF NO ECHO.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 133, 16 March 1940, Page 7

VALLEY OF NO ECHO.

\ By T. C. BRIDGES.

:: (Copyright). fc

| Thrills and Perils of Canadian Police Work. I

CHAPTER IX

yon would most definitely have hanged, and lioav much good Avould that have done for your sister or mother?” Chet Wilson bit his lip. ‘‘You mean he is to go scot free?” “He must go free if you and your sister refuse to prosecute., but in any case ho aaull appear in Court this morning, and I. and my friends will be there as AA'itnesses. Marrable won’t be able to shoAV himself in any kind of society after we haA T e done with him.” ChetWilson lay back on his pilloAv, frowning. At last he looked tin. “That Avill be something,” lie said, “but all tho same, Mr Marloiv, I shall never rest happy until I have had it out with Marrable, personally. One day Ave shal meet, each Avith a gun in his hand and then I shall kill him.” Keith nodded

KEITH MAKES ANOTHER ENEMY.

It was unwise of Marrable to wain Keith that he meant to fight. It gave the latter 'time to duck the blow and close. Among the many things taught in modern police training are holds unknown to the ordinary fighter. Once Keith had obtained such a grip, liYLarrable, though he ivas three inches taller than Keith and far heavier, Avas helpless. He struggled desperately, but his face Avcnt white with- pain, and suddenly he fell back against the wall and slid to the floor. . , “Get a rope, Jack,” Keith called, but the ready-witted Blanchard had already ripped off a curtain cord. “All right, Keith. You hold linn. I’ll tie him,” he said, and in a matter of moments Marrable's Avrists and ankles were firmly bound. Ho glared up at Keith with shocking malevocence. “I’ll kill you for this,” he threatened in a- strangled voice. “If you’re not hanged first,” replied Keith, drily, as he got up and dusted the knees of his trousers. “Hoav s the boy, Jack? That bknv was enough to finish him.” Leech and a Avaiter had already lilted the young fellow'on to a couch, and tAVo of the Avomen present were looking after tho girl. “He’s still insensible,” Leech said, “but he’s breathing all right.” Keith turned to the head waiter, who avrs standing by, Avith a shocked expression on his face. “King up a police car and an ambulance,” he ordered. “And, don t worry,” ho added in a kinder tone. “This Avas no fault of yours, and I'll see that there’s no trouble.” “Thank you, sir,”' said the man gratefully, and hurried away. The girl was the first to come to. She looked round, saw her late escort on the floor and shuddered. Keith was certain that she had no sort of liking for the man.

“More unlikely tilings have happened but, I hope that some day avO' shall get the goods on him and send him uw for a long term. Now I must go for court opens at half-past ten. But I shall see you again soon.” “Do come again,’ the boy begged. “I may have talked like a fool, but I’m really grateful to you.” When Iveith saAV Marrable in the dock he grinned inwardly. The big man Avas still in dross clothes, but they Avere crumpled' and dusty. He was unshaven. He looked as if he had not enjoyed a good night. Yet Keith had to hand it to him that he held himself Avell and shoAved little sign of the fury that must be boiling within him. Keith. Leech, Blanchard and the Altamont head Avaiter were the Avitnesses, but Keith had to explain that Chetivood Wilson refused to prosecute. Therefore the matter' of dope Avas not even mentioned. The ease came doAvn to one of brawling in a public place and resisting the police. Possibly the Chief of ’Police had whispered a Avord to tho judge, before he took his seat, for his comments Avore scathing and he sentenced Magrable to a month’s imprisonment AA'ithout the option of a “And a sAveet time he’ll have in prison,” Keith remarked to Blanchard as Marrable Avas taken away. “Nothing to what you’ll have if that blighter ever gets his hooks in you,” replied Blanchaid. “Did you see the look he gave you before he. left the doak? It Avas pure poison.” Keith laughed. “I’ll take my chance,” he said. He was to remember that remark before he was many months older. (To be continued).

“My brother?” she asked in a mere whisper. “Where is he?” “He is here,” Keith told her. “Marrable knocked him down, but lie is' not seriously hurt.” She tried to struggle up, but Keith pressed her gently back “You must keep quiet,” he told her “Yonr brother is being looked after, and there is nothing to worry about.” The girl subsided. It Avas plain that she was almost too weak to moye, and Keith noticing the miserable thinness of her face and. the frailness of her bady felt a fresh sugre of anger against Marrable.

The police car and the ambulance arrived together. Keith made himself known to burly Sergeant Dickson, who Avas. in charge, and explained Avhat had happened. “Marrable,” repeated Dickson. “He’s a bad hat if over there A\*as one. Trouble is Ave never could get anything on him. All right, Corporal, I’ll take him along. And if these people will prosecute, I reckon he’ll get a stretch. Do you know their name?” Leech spoke. “Wilson,” he said. “Chet Wilson and the sister’s name is Celia. They come from Quebec.” Dickson made a note of the names, then ho and the constable Avith him hauled Marrable to his feet, cut the cord that tied his ankles and marched him off. Marrable did not speak but his eyes as ho looked at Keith w T ere as evil as the lidless orbs of a rattlesnake. By this time Chet Wilson had recovered consciousness but was still hi a. half dazed condition. Keith saw him and his sister into the ambulance and went with them to the hospital. He did not leaA r e until he Avas told that neither of them Avas in finy danger. “Wilson himself,” said the doctor to , Keith, “Avill be all right by morning. The only trouble Avitli him is slight concussion caused by tho back of his head hitting the table or the floor. But his sister is in a bad way. I’m pretty sure that she has been taking drugs. I suspect cocaine.” “1 INTEND TO KILL HIM.” “I thought as much,” Keith ansAvered. “I only hope I can bring it home to Marrable. Tell Wilson, please, that I shall be round to see him in the morning.’ ’ Before ten next morning Keith Avas back at the hospital to find that Chet Wilson was practically himself again. He Avas a good-looking youngster, and Keith saw that, though slim, his muscles Avere finely developed. Chet put out his hand.

“I Avant to thank you' for what you did last night, fMr Marlow. I’m told you tackled Marrable, single-handed, and got him down. 1 can’t think how you managed it.” “All in the Avay of business,” said Keith with a smile, “They teach yon that' sort of thing in tho police. Actually 1 enjoyed going for that big brute,”

“Bruto is too kind a word. That man is a devil,” Chet Wilson said with bitter emphasis. “He looks it,” Keith agreed, “but I’d like to hear more. What sort of hold had he on your sister?” “Need you- aslc?” The veins stood out on the boy’s forehead and his voice trembled. “Ho took her away from home three months ago. I’ve been looking for her ever, since and, when I found her last night, I hardly knew her. The fiend has been drugging her.”

“You have her back, Wilson,” said Keith quietly. “And they will cure her here.” “Cure her! Nothing can make her as she was. You know that as well as I. do.”

“It would be foolish to deny it. The only point of view to take is that you have found her before her case was hopeless. And as for Marxable. well the law does not lock kindly on poisoners. He ought to get five years.” Horror showed in your* • Wilson’s eyes.

“You mean you want us to prosecute.”

“It is your duty, Wilson.” “No —never. It would finish Celia and our mother. Think of the scandal.” Keith was silent. Ho understood the boy’s feelings. Wilson went on. “Marrable will never trouble Celia again because I intend to kill him.”

“He nearly killed you last night,” Keith said drily. “If I had had a pistol he would never have touched me,” retorted the boy.

“Perhaps not. On the other hand, if you had shot down an unarmed man,