A QUEEN OF THE STAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 283, 26 November 1908, Page 8

A QUEEN OF THE STAGE.

By Fred M. White.

CHAPTER XXXVI. BEARDING THE BULLY. Ford strode along with the air of one ■who has a task to accomplish and will not be happy till he achieves it. It was a job after his own heart. Sefton, on the other hand, was wishing it- wel) over. When he came to think it out the errand required more diplomacy than he had expected. They were engaged on a filibustering expedition into the City of London, and very much depended on the way in which Weiss's manager received them. If he chose to show fight they were not \ikely to gain much, but on this point Ford seemed to have no misgivings. He smiled at Sefton's arguments.

"I should go straight to the point if I were you, sir," he said. "I don't think you want to -waste any time in preliminaries. The man is a coward, though he doesn't look it. Most bullies are."

"You. know him, then?" Sefton asked.

"Known him for years," Ford said crisply. "We've been in one or two undertakings together. He's clever and cunning, but when it comes to the pinch always backs out, so that Weiss and I had to leave only the business part of out concerns to him and attend to the riskier things ourselves. Physically he is a match for either of us, but he won't toe the line."

"I am glad to hear that," Sefton said. "I may assume he knows a good deal about Weiss's affairs."

"Yon may take it for granted ho knows everything," Ford said drily. "If there is any conspiracy against Mr. Bashleigh, as you think," then the chap we are after will know all about it. Probably he's at the bottom of the whole thing. You needn't he afraid there will foe any calling of police or anything of that sort. We shan't be handed over to the authorities as blackmailers, nor find ourselves charged at Bow-street to-morrow."

Sefton was willingly Taxing considerable risks for the sake of Gerald Bashleigh., but he had no wish to be dragged before the public. He and Ford at length reached the large building where Weiss had his offices on the second floor. There was not much evidence of business. A couple of clerks were yawn_jng over the morning papers, and one "of them looked up presently, and asked Sefton's wish.

"I should like to see the manager," Sefton said. "No, it's no use giving my name, because it will convey nothing to him. You may say I shan't detain, him long." The clerk reappeared presently, saying the manager would see his visitor. Sefton walked to the inner office, followed by Ford; a moment later the door closed, and Ford stood with his back to it.

A big man with a short black beard rose from the table and glared angrily around him. He looked strong enough for anything, except that there was just a quiver at the corner of his lips, and he had some difficulty in looking Ford iairlv in the face.

"You didn't expect to see mc?" Ford remarked. "If you put your hand in that drawer I will knock you down out of hand. I know what you've got.there, and if it's any consolation to you I have no weapon myself. You ought to know that we don't do business in that way in London. Sit down and talk the matter over. If you behave properly no harm will come to you, and when I apply warrant against Samuel Weiss on a charge of conspiracy it will be your own fault if you figure in the dock to answer to the same count."

The manager sat down promptly. He tried to smile in a superior fashion, but the attempt was not a success.

"I don't know what you are talking about," he said. "But you won't gain anything by this tone, and so I tell you plainly. I know nothing whatever about Eashleigh. I was on the Continent most of the time he was in the office, and when I returned I was told he had gone off with a parcel of diamonds, and that Weiss had put the matter in the hands of the police. If you only knew it you are merely wasting your time here."

<• "I'm not sure of that," Ford said. The manager shrugged his shoulders

'""Well, you had better come to the point," be suggested. "My I ask -what this gentleman has tocLo with it?"

"Let mc introduce myself," Sefton said. "My name is Edgar Sefton and Mr. Rasbleigh is a friend of mine. He is hiding from the police, because a warrant is out for his apprehension on ia charge of appropriating certain diamonds , the property of his employer. I may tell you at once that Mr. Rashleigh is innocent. He is the victim of a vile conspiracy concocted in this office and I am taking- it for granted that you know all about it."

"That's devilish Irind of you. the manager sneered. "And suppose I refuse to discuss the matter any further. Suppose I ring the bell and tell the clerk to send for the police? Suppose I give you in custody for attempted blackmail?" Ford barst into a hearty laugh. "Upon my word!" he exclaimed. "YooVe got more pluck than I gave you credit for. I didn't think you had nerve enough to bluff like this."

"Didn't you?" the manager retorted. * r A"t any rate I can make it awkward for both of yon. If I ring the bell "

"Do it," Sefton said curtly. "Send for two policemen, one for you and one for mc."

The manager hesitated with his hand upon the bell. Gradually the truculent expression on his face changed and he "mfled in a slickly way. "ipf course," he stammered, "I don't j^ v t .to do anything offensive. And a<r ,\you are making no accusation «5i me-" "*: for the present," Sefton said meaning . iThat f£>r you tQ decide t you like ring the hell ior -?, u-** neither Mr. Ford nor myself will objeev v ht us for a few h. rrSj but v find ft a +h a> for yourslf before the day is 01. pre pared to hirf'th-r SP ° ke qli:tl y and courteously. to him attentifly vf te^ d turbed a n riU-at- ea le P al PaWy di=Sefton to proceed ¥<5 SlgDjfied to went a o^ m^° t f ge fi d the latter you thai T r S Pla « let mc tell you unat 1 rejrard your wm ■™n&~ .fires

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to deal in. smuggled diamonds. You have a quantity at the present moment in the safe yonder." The manager snapped out some kind of a denial, but the uneasy glance he cast at the safe convinced Sefton that his shot had not gone astray. He smiled contemptously. "Oh! 3'ou needn't be afraid we have come to rob you," he said. "I have called for the sole purpose of learning from you the truth about Mr. Rashleigh."

"But why drag mc in?" the manager asked. '"And what has Samuel Weiss to gain by Trumping up a charge against Rashleigh?"

"Well, he might gain Miss Weiss's money," Sefton said. "Ah! I see you kDOw what I mean-"

CHAPTER XXXVII. THE MISSING WITNESS.

The manager moistened his lips with his tongue. He paid Sefton the compliment of listening carefully.

"It is very good of you to give mc your attention like this," he said. "Now let mc see if I can interest you further. Let us assume that Miss Weiss had inherited a large fortune, which comes to her independently of your worthy emloyer. It is only natural for a man to covet this money. We will further assume that the girl who is known as Miss Iza Weiss is no relation of the estimable Samuel at all. I wonder if you are prepared to admit this possibility?"

The manager nodded. He was singularly impressed by Sefton's intimate knowledge. "You are a sensible man," j the latter proceeded. "We will assume, then, that Miss Weiss is not Miss Weiss at all. I can see that this is no news to you. Probably you have known i.t for years. And I have not the slightest doubt you have often discussed the possibility of obtaining possession of this money. You might have managed it between you if Mr. Gerald RashAeigh had not intervened. Mr. Weiss discovered there was some sort of understanding between Mr. and Miss Weiss. Hence arose fhe conspiracy against Rashleigh which was hatched in this office and to which you were a party. You won't deny this."

The manager seemed to be working it out in his mind; as if it, were a sum in arithmetic.

"That's hardly good enorugh," he said. "I won't deny what you say about Miss Weiss because you are evidently able to prove that. But I "don't think you can prove that I havo anything to do with this conspiracy. If you have any more cards up your sleeve, lay them on the table. If you haven't you can go to the devil."

Sefton nodded ns if he were inclined to allow the point. Apparently this man was more astute than he had imagined, and had put his finger upon the weak spot in Sefton's argument. Ford saw it too,, for the smile died from his face and an angry gleam came into his eves.

"Don't be a fool," he exclaimed. "Don't push us too far or you'll be sorry for it, Kellett."

The last word shot through Sefton's brain, with a dazzling flash of illumina.tion. For the fraction of a second he wondered where he had heard that name, and then, in the same infinitesimal space, it came to him.

He had not expected such pure and unadulterated luck as this. He had never dreamed of finding in Samuel Weiss's manager the original owner of the little black book which had indirectly caused the death of George Vane. Sefton recovered himself instantly. He saw his advantage and meant to press it home.

'TTou are a trifle too previous," he said softly. "Before we go any further, suppose we try hack a little. Let us go back to the time when Weiss had a house in Herefordshire. Did you ever hear of a place called Harley Lodge, Mr. Kellett?"

Kellett had some difficulty in replying. Once more he moistened his lips, and the eyes he turned upon Sefton were full of nameless fear.

"I have heard of the place," he said. "But I never went neaj it."

"That," Sefton said slowly, "is a lie, a clnmsy lie, too, not worthy of your astuteness, Mr. Kellett. I believe you were there once, and that was before this office was open, before you went to South Africa with Weiss for the last time, when you did such good business in smuggled diamonds by means of that sagacious poodle. I wonder if you can recollect the dog's name?"

Kellett muttered something under his breath.

"Really, you are giving yourself away," Sefton went on. "My opinion of you is not what it was. But if your memory needs refreshing, that dog's name was Fuss. He was stolen from a clergyman in Herefordshire. Perhaps you will tell mc next you never heard of the Reverend George Vane."

Kellett writhed uneasily in his chair. This merciless cross-examination was Having its effect upon him. Beads of perspiration stood out upon his forehead, and every hair in his coarse beard seemed to quiver.

"I have heard the name," he stanv mered.

"Of course you have," Sefton said encouragingly. "You went to Herefordshire to see Weiss because you wanted money badly. That was before the palmy days of diamonds. You were exceedingly hard up, and you could get nothing out of Weiss. You met him in a wood within a mile or two of Mr. Vane's house, and argued the matter out. It was not a friendly argument, Mr. Kellett, was it? You came to blows, didn't you? And you got the best of the fight. Was it Weiss's right or left eye you put temporarily out of action?"

"Good Lord!" Kellett burst out, "where did you get all this from? Who told you?"

"Oh! that's nothing," Sefton said airily. "A mere child could do it if he only knew the way. There's another thing I am curious about. When Weiss induced you to go back to Harley Lodge what did he give you to take to the pawnshop? It was a disappointment to you that the plate hadn't been left at Weiss's disposal. But I really am interested to know whether it was a bronze or a cabinet picture which you selected after all. And what became of the pawn ticket Weiss was so anxious about?"

Kellett mopped his forehead.

"Oh! go on," he cried in desperation. "Make yourself at home. Enjoy yourself, as if the place belonged to you. 1 dare say you think tuis is very funny." Sefton's manner suddenly changed. "No, I don't think it in the least funny," he said. "You will find that it has a au'h more serious side. Wher. jyn

had that encounter with W«iss you lost 1 something. Dont shake your head, because I know better. You dropped a little black book which contained a deal of valuable information of great use to a blackmailer. With that book in your custody you could have gone to Miss Iza and told her who she really was. You went to Herefordshire with that intention. But Weiss persuaded you that you would be merely wasting.your time. You patched up your quarrel, and returned to Harley Lodge, where I presume you came to some satisfactory arrangement. You did not know that the little black book had passed into the hands of Mr. Vane, who afterwards discussed it with Miss Iza. It was singular my old friend Mr. Vane should be the means of telling Miss Iza who she was. It was also unfortunate that their talk should have been overheard by Samuel Weiss. He tried to get the little black book back, but was frustrated by the dog Fuss, which he subsequently stole and ueed to good, but dishonest purpose in South Africa. Weis3 never knew that his eavesdropping had been discovered, or he would never have gone the length of murdering Mr. Vane, of course you know all about that, Mr. Kellett?" Kellett threw up his arms ly"l didn't," he screamed. "I swear I didn't. I defy you to prove that against mc. lam innocent."

(To be continued daily.)