THE FATAL HOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 19

THE FATAL HOUR.

By NICHOLAS CARTEK,

v tkor of "A Rouble Mystery," "The SSf of a Countess." "Kendr.ck's X,'" V* Man," "At Face Pleac ' Value," etc.

CHAPTER XV

A FATAL SLII

Plt -v wa« rrailv for Mr Snawley, ready | J h both gun, tn hold up tho entire Jan 2— but only in case chore was no of fact. P.t.y did not nt th e interrupted interview to end S„ and there. He had not learned all 23 he wanted to know. The way had „h- been opened fur it. and he foresaw £ m immolate arr,-t would seal the JpVoi all. leave hi* work only halt done, ~d the mystery as deep, or nearly as jwd as ever. .... afellow of quick wit and infinite, resoirces. Patsy had hit upon another idea, better pmjert. As quick as a Hash. when Snawley graced the doorknob. l t "v also clutched it with both hands and "held it motionless with a grip of ""snawlev tried vainly to turn it—and. naturally enough, inferred that it was out of order. i.t the same moment Fnseo tan r-poke 'and said, a bit impatiently: ■■That's nnlV a closet. Snawley. Pit down an.l finish with this fellow." Pnawlev turned from ihe closet door w d resumed his seat. p at =v heard him with a feeling of „\ m ""satisfaction. heard him settle heavily in his chair and say, in the same threatening, flinty tones: "Kow, Marvin, you subdue that rasping'viice of yours." You show your whole hand. too. fare up. or you'll be settled with in a way you'll not fancy. What do you mean by a game that we're playing. or what do you know about this woman?" "Gee! Snawley's the big finger in this job after all. instead of the woman," thought Patsy, quick to rightly interpret the 'threatening change in the burly speaker. It had no visible effect upon Marvin, however, who had not stirred, in his chair. He still sat with his lowering gaze fixed upon Frisco Fan. whom he continued to address, instead of replying directly to his questioner. "What I don't know about you isn't ■worth knowing." he grimly asserted. "I hail from your old stamping ground. I've knocked* round Frisco for more'rt 30 years." "What if you nave?" Fan icily sneered. "D'ye think a man could knock round there' that long and not know about you?" Marvin came back at her. ''You're Fannie Fales, that's who you are. Out in those diggings you were known as Frisco Fan. You lit out about two years back. Fan, and weren't seen round there again until about a month ago. Mighty few saw you then, least of all the police ; but I saw you, and know what you came after."

"I guess not. Mr. Marvin." "You didn't stay long," Marvin, added, js if there had "been no interruption. "You didn't stay long—only long enough to HI his ear with your story- aQ| i tnen get away with him.'" "What are you talking about? Get Sivay with whom?" "A Moke named "Bill Donald.'' "What do you know about him 1 ." "All about him, and about Stow that. Snawlev!" Man-in turned like a flash, with one hand leaping from the side pocket of his seedy plaid suit, and thrust a revolver squarely under Snawley's nose. The latter had reached for his own. 'Don't you pull a gun on mc," Marvin quickly added, snapping each word through his teeth. '"You Eastern coveys can't get the drop o n a Westerner. I'd plus all of you full of holes before you could lay mc out. You hear ray little verse to'a finish. Snawley, without getting haired up. Then you'll see there isn't any need for guns." "Gee! He's a quick guy. for fair." commented Patsy, who had viewed most of the scene through the keyhole, and easily heard all that was said. "No wonder the chief wouldn't take a chance after thi3 lascal trot the drop on him." The "threatening incident began and ended in a moment. Snawley recoiled, bringing hoth empty hands into view, and Marvin quickly replaced his weapon jn his pocket. "That's more like it." he growled. "Now well to on with the love feast."' Frisco Fan's brows had dropped to a frowning black line over her gleaming eyes. ""What do you know about Bill Jlonald?" she repeated. "All about him." said Marvin, with a grim nod by wav of emphasis. "I lived in the same Water-street crib where he hung out."

"You did. eh ?" "I had the room over his. You know what that means, Fan — or ought to know." 'What does it mean?" "Through a crack in the floor T saw you visit "him, and heard all you said to him. It put mc wise, all right; make no mistake about that. I've been ramping on your trail. Frisco Fan, ever since.'

"You followed mc East?"' "You bet I did! On the same train with the pair of you." ''What was your game?" '•To get a bit of the game you're playing," Marvin eoollv admitted. "Oh, is that so'?"" sneered the woman. "Do you think you've done anything to earn it?" "Don't you'" Marvin lurched toward her with a fiery e lance. "If 't hadn't been for mc you"d have been mugged and jugged by this time. Have a look at these, and you may tumble to what I mean." Marvin dove into another pocket with the last remark, and tossed upon the table—a pink silk garter and two ambercoloured, jewelled combs. Frisco Fan stared at them for a moment, instantly recognising them. 'Where did you get them?"' she involuntarily gasped. "In your bedroom this afternoon.' snapped Marvin, with an exultant toss of his head. "If I hadn't—Nick Carter would have got them—ar.d got you!"' "Got mc! What do y«u mean? Where do these fit in?"'

"D'ye know where you lost the mates • to them?" "Do you?" "Yes." Marvin stretched one brawny hand over the table nnd laid it on the woman's trembliiiir wrist. "They were found by Nick Carter." te forcibly added. "Found in the ta_ieab where'you and the covey with you put Out Bill Donald's light." "flood God." "Now say, will you. tiiat I've not earned «■ bit nf the coin! Say it—and IM sell out to Kick Carter, instead ol" to you."' The effect of hU disclosures was all fat Marvin anticipated. * Ear the first time Frisco Fan realised

how narrowly ,~he had escaped detection, arrest, and inevitable conviction. A.U this was equally obvious to her three confederates, and in an instant their sentiments for Marvin underwent an entire change. The woman, though ghastly for several moments, impulsively grasped his hand and asked:— "Are you sure of it, Marvin—that they were found by Nick Carter?" "Yes."' 'in the taxicab?" "The comb was there; the garter was in the street." "I knew I had lost them, but not where. I did not dream of this." Fan declared, still white and afntsted. "How did you discover it. Marvin?" "By sticking to your trail." Marvin explained, noting with a leer of satisfaction the more amicable aspect of all. "I lost you when you took the taxicab. all the same, for I couldn't keep up with it. But I was on hand when the stiff was found and Carter showed up. I asked a fellow who he was. and saw the body taken to an undertaker's shop." "Boyden's place," Frisco Fan put in. ''Sneaking back of it. I looked through a window. I saw all that came off, and heard all that Carter said. He found the comb on the seat of the cab. After T bolted, for he sot next, and tried to nail mc. I saw him get the garter from a young fellow he had sent to watch the house near which the taxicab was found." "Evidently." said Snawley. glancing at the man with a pointed beard, "this is the fellow Carter had nailed when Lang downed him." "Must be." said the other tersely. "From over a fence?" asked Marvin quickly. "Yes." 'T wondered who he was. That's right, pard—l was the one." "Xever mind who he was. Marvin, at present." Snawley said, in a decidedly friendly way. "He was in my employ, and on the same mission as yourself. Your beincr there, however, headed him off. He'd have explained, if he could have overtaken you." "I wasn't taking any chances with strangers," Marvin replied, with hi 3 i habitual growl. "Go on with your story." Frisco Fan interposed. "I'm still in the dark. How did you know Carter was after mc today, and was going to my apartments?" "By a stroke of luck." Marvin proceeded. "I lost track of you on the night of the job. and. all by chance. I saw you come out of your flat this morning. I trailed you to the broker's office, intending to call you down after you went home. While I was nosing round there I saw a man watching you from a seat near the office door. He was in disguise, but 1 ( knew by his figure and actions that he must be a detective. I was dead sure of it when he bolted out and hurried away in a taxicab." "You didn't follow mc. then?" "Xot much, having learned where you hung out." said Marvin. "1 could cornel you any time. I went to find out what Carter had up his sleeve." "I see," Fan nodded. "I got next, all right, when he hurried away after listening to a telephone number "the broker had called. I knew he'd head for your rooms as soon as he could learn where they were, and that he'd have you foul if he found these things there." And Marvin, with a crafty leer, pointed to the telltale evidence lying on the table. "So you went and got them, eh ?" Snawlev remarked. "'•You bet I dill—and irot him." Marvin nodded, with a grin. "I broke into the flat from a back window, and was under Frisco Fan's bed when' Carter sneaked in and made a search. It was dead easy for mc to hold him up. I could give him cards and spades at that game." There was now a look of genuine approval in Snawley's black eyes. He thrust out his hand impulsively and shook that of the speaker. "You're all right. Marvin." he heartily said. "I'll not say I approve of your original scheme, you rascal, but what you have done for us since reaching New York shall be liberally rewarded." "I thought you'd say so." Marvin nodded. "But this is no time or place for discussing our game, and must be done to foil these Carters." Snawley quickly added. "Here's a roll of money. Marvin, merely to show that we'll use you as well as you can ask. We'll meet again to-morrow and settle the whole business." "Meet where?" questioned Marvin, sharply eyeing him. "I'll write the address on a card, also a line to the two men you'll find there," said Snawley. quickly proceeding to do so. "One is the man who cracked Carter on the head the night he collared you." "Oiod enough! I'd like to meet that I man."

"You can find the place easily enough. Co there from here and ring the bell on a gate in the back wall. Press the button twice, and then once, and my men will know the .-ignal. Give them this card. Take care you're not seen from the street, mind you." Marvin replied with a nod and s| growl, and pocketed the card. "We'll see you there to-morrow," Snawlev added. "You'll find, as I've said, that you can make more by casting your lot i with ours than by selling out to Kick

Carter." •'I know that, all right." Marvin vouchsafed significantly. "Shall I head for this crib now?" "Not vet." Snawley quickly answered. "Well leave ahead of you. and in pairs. We shall then attract no attention. You two get away first." The last was to the couple Fatsy had shadowed to the house, and they at once made ready to go. while Frisco Fan also arose and began to put on her street gari ments.

Patsy saw and heard all that was done and said. and that there were only two courses for him to choose from. One, to step out with his revolvers and hold up the entire group. The other, to allow them to leave and afterward shadow Marvin to his destination. The first. Patsy quickly reasoned, would have him still in the dark. He had not vet discovered the motive for the taxicab murder, the identify of the man who had figured in it, nor even that of the victim so denrutely as to remove all doubts. >'ow convinced that there were others in the _ang. moreover, and that all hands secured and the whole truth Earned by playing a waiting game, Patsy promptly decided that that was the better course. Still crouchins on the closet floor. he .peered -rough the keyhole and saw Delia depart, in company with Snawlev, junior, which name he now felt sure was only an alias. minutes later the elder man lett with Frisco F:'n. both shaking hands with ACarvin before they withdrew, though nothing more of special significance was said. Marvin had not moved from his chair. He sat where Patsy could plainly see him." ne took out tho wad of hank ~,.t , .- pnawlry had given him, :ir.d pro- | coerted to count them—several hundred j dollars, at least. "Them's a biff |ob on. a mlgtltv "'7 I job," thought Patsy, constantly watching

him. "Money seems to be no object to the rascals. Th.c game stretches clear across the continent. By Jove, there must be no slip up at this stage of our work." Marvin replaced the wad of bank notes in his pocket. His hangdog face wore a look of mingled avarice and exultation, as evil a look of triumph, as ever settled on a human countenance. He then took out the card Snawley had given him and read it more carefully. "I might arrest him at once and get that card," Patsy reasoned, hit with another project. "I could then go to the place mentioned and put up a bluff at personating the evil-eyed skunk. Even then something might miscarry before I could learn the whole truth and nail the entire gang. My other scheme is the better."

Patsy was quick to see every opportunity that presented and he felt sure he had selected the best. As the last thought passed through his mind, Marvin thrust the card into his pocket and arose to 20.

Patsy had "already returned his revolvers to his pockets, and he. too, noiselessly arose, prepared to follow the rascal the moment he left the room.

Then occurred one of those untimely mishaps, which, utterly beyond anticipation, sometimes completely upset the best laid plans. Not familiar with the place, nor having noticed the direction taken by the others, Marvin blundered when hurriedly departing, and opened—the closet door. After having been so long in darkness, the sudden glare of light blinded Patsy Garvan for a moment —and gave tho startled rascal an advantage.

Instantly Marvin seemed to jruess the truth, or very near it. With a half-s-mothered oath, with the unavoidable quickness of a cat. he leaped upon Patsy before the latter eou'd mo\e foot or finger, clutching him by the throat and dealing him a terrific blow on the head. Ordinary it would have only sliohtly staggered the hard-head a d young detec" tive. As he reeled, however, borne v>ackward by Marvin's impetuous assault, Patsy's bead collided violently with the rear wall and bewildered him. At tho same moment, stepping on the edge of the tin tray he had placed on the floor, he lost his footing and fell in a heap in

one corner. I-ike a flash Marvin took advantage of the mishap. "He wipped nut his revolver —then hesitated. His impulse was to ahnnt—but he knew the report would he heard. Instead he turned the weapon qnicklv, and the butt of it descended twice on Patsy's unprotected head. In another mom«>nt Marvin was stealin? hurriedly out of the house. All that remained behind him. in evidence of what h;id transpired, was the motionless form of Patsy P.arvan. senseless and bleedins on the closet floor. I (To he continued on Wednesday next.)