IT HAPPENED TWICE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 43, 30 November 1940, Page 7

IT HAPPENED TWICE.

j By T. C. BRIDGES. :: J I A Story of Mystery and Poison. j

(Copyright).

CHAPTER XIII,

ibetter. She pointed to the jewel case which Althea had picked up and put on the table. “I heard a noise upstairs,” she said, “and went up to see. Your door was locked on the inside SO I was sure it was a burglar and that he must have climbed in over the balcony. I. thought of the telephone, but felt that the police wouldn’t get here in time.. So I decided to go out on to the balcony by the window of the other front-room and catch him before he could get away.” “But it was an awful risk!” put in Althea., wide-eyed. Peggy smiled. “I was too anxious about your niecklaco to think of that. I went into my room to get a torch and just then the man unlocked your door and came out that way. 1. ran after him and caught him outside. I.gave him his choice, to give up the liacklacc and go free, oi Pd call the police. You see, if he once got away, 1 thought very likely the police would never catch him, or at any rate wouldn’t get back your emeralds.

PEGGY COMPOUNDS A FELONY Mason, who had never set eyes on Peggy and had not the faintest idea ot her identity, snatched his chance, pushed her violently aside and was away down the stairs. Wearing rubbersoled shoes, he went silently as a cat. The force of the push sent Peggy staggering. She struck the door of hei own room which was ajar, it flew open and she fell. By the time she had gained her feet Mason was in the hall below. Even so she ran down the stairs in pursuit, but she was too late. Mason had already opened the front door ad vanished in the fog of a November night. Peggy noticed that he had waited long enough to close the door behind him. A cool customer, this; evidently a professional. But Peggy was not defeated, fehe meant to get that necklace back, and she believed she could do it. She glanced at her wristwatch. It was only half-past nine. She had at least two hours before Althea returned—probably more. She listened a moment. No one in the house had been disturbed and sll "as quiet. She hurried back to her room, put on a long dark coat and a small hat, changed her shoes, picked up her bag in which was her latch key, ran down again, and let herself out. The fog was turning to rain as she walked quickly in a westerly direction, looking for a taxi. Luck was with her. She found one almost at once and told the man to drive to St. Mark s Teirace. Here Peggy stopped him, got out, paid her fare and walked on to No. 73. As she came near to the door of 73 sho heard steps behind her quick, light steps. With a great effort she refrained from looking round. A man passed her. There was no mistaking that sturdy figure and the quick stride in his big overcoat. Her heart leaped. This was Mason himself. Yet Peggy let him pass. She "waited until he stopped at the door of 73 and was putting his latchkey in the lock, then came quickly up. “I want to see you, Mr Mason,” she said calmly. The man started sharply and turned. The light of a street lamp showed liis face and Peggy saw fear m his eyes. But in a flash he had pulled himself together. “Who are you? I don’t know you. “You saw me less than a quarter of an hour ago,” Peggy told him. Sho saw him stiffen, but he tried to bluff. ,

“He caved in. He handed over the necklace and went off. Tl<en I came back. But I suppose I got a bit excited and, like a fool, I fainted, i hope you don’t mind about my letting him go.” “Mind! My dear, I think you were perfectly marvellous. It makes me shiver to think of the risk you took. And my emeralds. I would have been really sad if I had lost them. Dad gave them to me on my twenty-first birthday. They are insured for three thousand pounds. Now, ’Ruth, you must get to bed. And I really think I should ring up. the doctor.” “Please don’t. A night’s sleep will put me all right.” * . „ “Then I’ll help you to bed, Ruth. EDGAR REAPPEARS. Peggy was not to get off so cheaply as she had hoped and expected. She slept poorly and woke next morning with a really bad cold, which had been on her before her adventure. This time Althea insisted on sending for the doctor but, before ho came Peggy made Althea promise not to say anything about the burglar. “You’d get me into trouble, ’ she explained. “You see, I had no business to let the burglar go. The police would make a great fuss about it, I’m afraid.

Althea promised, the doctor came and ordered Peggy to stay in bed, saying ho suspected influenza. Peggy hated staying in bed. It gave her too much time to think, and it was not pleasant to realise that she had a burglar for brother-in-law. When the doctor .came next day Peggy begged to be allowed to get up, because Althea had a dinner party that evening, but ho would not hear of it. That afternoon Althea came to Peggy’s room and assured her .that she need not worry about the dinner. .Chen Althea took a morocco case from her handbag and gave it to Peggy. “Just a little remembrance for saving my necklace, Ruth,” she said. Peggy opened it and found a most exquisite necklet, a delicate gold chain from which hung £i pendant set with fine pearls. Peggy was breathless. She adored pearls but had never owned or dreamed of, owning any real ones. “Oh, Althea, you are too kind,” she breathed. “These are far too good for me.” 1 . “Nothing is too good for you, Ruth. I don’t know what I should do without you,” Althea answered quickly. Peggy lay back on her pillows, feeling greatly cheered and comforted, and by evening she felt sufficiently, better to take up a novel which soon captured her interest. Althea was taking her guests to the theatre and Peggy heard them leave. Still she went on reading until with a shock she heard the little silver clock on hen chimney-piece chime twelve. A minute later she heard the front door open. Althea was back and Althea, would like to have a chat before

“You are mistaken. .1 have just, come from my club.” “You have just come from 117, Belgrave Square,” • said Peggy sharply, “where you stole jewellery from Miss Rivers’ bedroom, and where you knocked me down when I caught you.” Peggy saw him glance round quickly and knew what was in his mind.

“If you bolt I go straight to the nearest policeman,” she announced in a Voice that, even to herself, sounded unnaturally calm. “There’s one at the corner. I passed him.” Leonard realised he was beaten. “How do you know my name?” he asked.

“Never mind how. I’ve seen you before.”

“Then what do you want me to do?” “To give back what you have stolen. Do that at once and you can go.” To Peggy’s amazement Leonard laughed. “Come inside and I’ll give you the case.” His ..tone changed to one of friendliness. “It’s too risky out here in the street.” Peggy hesitated. “It’s good goods,” Leonard assured her. “I won’t try anything. Give you my word.”

“I’ll take your word,” said Peggy, and he opened! the door and led her into the dingy passage. There he, stopped and handed hler the case. “You’ye spoiled the best coup I’ve worked for months,” he said, “but you’re a good plucked ’uiv. I hope I didn’t hurt you.” “You didn’t hurt me,” Peggy said 1 . She paused. “Is it*any use suggesting that you try some other and more lawful profession?” “Not a bit,” replied Leonard. “It’s too late.” He held the door open for her and she went straight out into the street.

turning in. Peggy got up, slipped on a dressing gown and opened her door so as to let Althea know, when she came upstairs, that the invalid was still awake. People were talking in the hall. Althea was speaking. “You’ll have a drink beforf? you go, Mr Trelawney.” * , “Thanks. I’ll be glad of one,” came the reply Peggy’s heart gave a tliuirip. bne felt suddenly weak and crept back to her bed. A littlo later, when her guests had left, Althea came to Peggy, reproaching her for being still awake. She stood chatting about the party and her guests, and of a little group of people she had met afterwards at the Green Lantern. “One of them drove me home. He’s a Mr Trelawney. He lias a big place in Devonshire. I rather like him, Ruth.”

The whole episode was so amazing, and her audacity had so strained her nerves that she felt oddly shaken, and hardly able to walk. She looked round for a. taxi, but taxi drivers don’t find many customers in St. Mark’s Terrace, and rarely go that way. In the end she had to walk the whole way home and, by the time she got there she was at the verge of exhaustion. She went, straight to the diningroom, wheire the sherry decanter gleamed linvitingly as she switched on the light. She filled a glass with sherry but, before she could lift it to her lips the room began to spin round her. All went black and she tumbled flat om the floor. When she came back to her senses Althea was on her knefes beside her, dabbing her face with a handkerchief wet with Eau-de-Cologne. And Althea looked more frightened tham Peggy had ever known her.

Peggy had a dreadful, sinking sensation. Presently Althea noticed how white she was.

“I’m keeping you awake. Go to sleep and you’ll be better in the morning.” Go to sleep! Peggy felt as if she would never sleep again.

The next day was bright and sunny and Peggy was at last allowed to leave the house. Althea wanted to take her for a drive, but Peggy was able to dissuade her and to pursue her own plan. So Althea had a taxi call and Peggy drove off. Once started she gave the driver new orders, and in fifteen minutes she was pouring out her heart to Olive.

“Oh, my dear, what has happened?” Althea asked. Peggy managed! a smile. “Don’t lie frightened. It’s nothing. Let me get into a chair and I’ll tell you.” “But I must send for the doctor/ “Don’t dream of it,” Peggy said. “I mean it, Althea. I give you my word I’m not ill. I was a little overdone and fainted.” She sat up and, with Althea’s help, got into a, chair. “Now if you’ll give me that class of sherry I’ll tell you just what happened.” She sat silent for a few minutes, sipI>ing the wine, and soon felt a littlo

“I shall have to leave’,” she ended unhappily. “There’s nothing else for it.”

“I think it’s the worst thing you could do,” Olive answered with decision. “And a bit shabby, too, Ruth. It’s plain that Althea Rivers is fond of you and relics on you, yet you talk of going off and leaving her to this Trelawney man. It’s up to you to try and savo her from him and you eahi’t do that unless you’re on the spot.” “But he is. bound to recognise mo,” Peggy said, “and then what good can I do?”

“You’re wrong. It’s not only the things I advised ; you’ve changed more than you know in the past months. You are older, more mature. Even your voice has altered. Mrs Jardi'no might spot you, but not Edgar Trelawney. You could safely dine with him at the same table. Trust me,

Ruth. I know what I’m saying.” Peggy felt a little comforted. ■‘There’s another point you seem to have forgotten, Ruth,” she continued. “You and Miss Rivers are going abroad. Yjou’ll be clear of Edgar for at least a couple of months. I don’t suppose he’ll follow you.” Peggy brightened. “But I wish you’d help me find some decent man who might interest Althea.” “That’s an idea. We might collect Alan Ensworth. He’s quite presentable and has a bit of money.” I (To be continued).