LADY LIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 177, 26 July 1913, Page 22

LADY LIL.

EKSATIOKAX STORY OT A SOCIETY BEAUTY. A ROMANCE OF LOVE AND THE SALVATION ARMY. (By ARTHUR APPLIX.) Author of "The Chorus Girl," "Thc Girl Who Saver His Honour," ''The Stage Door," cic. etc. CHAPTER XXVII. Mr. Peter Allen stood for a moment 911 thc steps of his club in Piccadilly watching the ceaseless procession of motor-cars. cabs, and omnibuses. The theatres were just over, and the world which amuses itself was going home. It made a brave .-bow. this procession —the smart cars of the millionaires wilh their flashing lights: through the window-, faces in silhouette <>t' beautiful .women, pretty girls, and smart men. •stretching right and loft, up and down the length of tho fashionable thoroughfare. .1 row of arc lamps shining brilliantly through the faint mist : and beyond, the dark foliage of the trees in the park. Gleaming through them the rod eyes of the Palace and its environ-j monts. Peter Allen sighed and searched for a| rigar in his case, lit it, and inhaled the fragrant tobacco. With the roar of traffic echoed happy laughter. Flashing "lights showed him -zlimpses of youth and beauty, la spite of the faint mist and a. keenness in the air, the west wind brought the scent and savour of spring hi its arms. But for Peter Allen it was wintertold aud cheerless. For the last lev weeks ho had practically lived in his club, irying to warm himself with the companionship of his fellows —trying to forget that he cherished a hopeless love \tais heart. It was no good, he told himself bitterly -—no good a.t, all. Whatever he did, whea> ?vcr he went, the memory of the woman he loved and had lost pursued him. lie had sat up night after night at the club playing bridge. In spite of trtrmp ing his partner's best cards, revoking, und making absurd calls, luck favoured him here. Duck in everything except love. He quite expected to hear that yome forgotten relative in some tar-away country had died and left him o fortune. He desceended the steps of his club, walked in the direction of Hyde Park, tnen turned up to the right irrto Mayfair, where he lodged. The roar of traffic in Piccadilly ceased as if by magic, the brilliant lights disappeared. -With his ban-is in the'pockets of his coat. Allen strode slowly up the long narrow street, where the gas lamps at irregular intervals iast long shadows through the mist. He pulled at- bis cigar quickly. nervously. His conscience was at work, and ho was angry with himself because ho had not called on Lady Lil and her husband since their return from Paris. He had not oven written a letter'of timduleiiee to her on her father's death. He had merely called the day after the tuner il. which he attended, and left his <sard. Ho v..i.- a coward, ho told himself an_ril\. and so he deserved to suffer. Vox the series of tragic events which had followed so quickly one on the other made him fed as if his neglect of the woman he had loved, and who bad given him Ik r friendship, was in some vague way responsible for the dreadful fate which had overtaken her. Ol" course, not for one moment did it enter Ids simple, loyal heart that she was in any way responsible for tbe murder of Silas Weinhardl. Instinctively men refrained from discussing "The Mayfair Mystery" in h's prc-sonce. It would have gone badly with them if they had done so. Peter Alien was the type of English gentleman who disliked mysteries. He was perfectly -certain that Lady Eil had nothing to do with this one. which centred around her. Her disappearance wis due to some other cause. And in his heart ho suspected Sir Rupert. He had always disliked the man. always distrusted him. If he had not been a rival, he might have warned the Duke or Lil against him. But the fact that he loved Lady Lil had sealed his lips. And no-w the woman ho loved, and would love, to the end of all time, was threatened. A warrant issued for her arrest, as if she were a criminal! His blood bailed at the thought. But he was utterly helpless to serve her. Automatically he turned to the left down his street, past the mews and a motor garage. Then be stopped anil looked up at the sky. The stars twinkled faintly through the -fog, very far away. Presently the banging of a front door 6tartled him from his reverie. A young man was coming unsteadily down the flight of spotless, -white steps of a house which stood between the mews and a narrow lane which ended in a cul de sac. A dissipated young man, obviously ol German extraction. Allen heard him sweariug under his breath as he gazed about its if in search of a taxic.ab. He .watched him out of sight. He looked at the house, and it struck him that though he only lodged a few doors away he had never noticed anyone leaving it before. It had a certain reputation, this bouse, among men, and its reputation was not so spotless as its exterior. A big. Bilent honse. The lower windows barred, like many of the windows of mansions in Park Lane and Piccadilly: every window closely curtained. He had never seen lights shining through those windows. He shrugged his shoulders and passed on. It had no interest, for him. though sometimes he wondered what secrets it held, what ugly deeds had perhaps been committed within its walls. For. though • silent, clean, and apparently respectable, it was sinister. And it had a reputation. Allen passed on, his thoughts once again drifting to Lady Lil. When he thought of her now an almost reasonless fury against her husband seized him. He had half a mind to seek him out. As ho inserted his latchkey in the doer nf his lodgings a couple of sharp hoots of a motor horn and tho rattle of the engines of a taxioab attracted his attention. lie turned his head and sa.w a cab puli iiji with tho grinding of brakes and a shower of sparks from the steel-stud-ded tyros exactly opposite the big house ho had been contemplating. At ihe same moment a man jumped ont. leapt up thc steps two nt a time, r.inrr the bell, and hammered loudly on the knocker. Thc incident was uncommon enough to be remarkable. Allen was sufficiently curious to watch. Only a. few second; j,-.-so;! and thc man knocked again Einrc vigorously than before. Sli.!>|iiny bis latchkey back into his pns-kcl. Peter Allen strolled up the street towards the house. As ho reached it the front door was cautiously opened. He saw tho man put one foot inside, but lie.got no farther, for a porter blocked the way

Allen stood still "beneath a gas-lamp < nnd watched. "I've -called to see a lady who is staying here," the man said. ' It was the sort of remark Allen expected. But the man's behaviour was unexpected, and Allen drew a little closer. He could not hear the portr.-'a re-ply. lie noticed the man make a desperate effort to open the door wider and gain admittance. When he saw him more clearly, something about liis figure, his build, seemed familiar to Allen. He noticed he was only using one arm, his left, in his endeavour to force an entrance. His 'isht hung limply by his side. 'The day ho 'had left his card at Bronnington Gardens after the Duke of Tawinouth's funeral ho had seen a deformed man leaving the house. A man with only one arm—a savage-looking man with a dark, withered face. Something more than curiosity stirred in Peter Allen's heart no-w. He crossed the pavement and planted one foot on the flight of white stops. As he did so he saw the porter push the man back with all hi? strength. "1 tell you there's no one of the name of Ul Smith staying here. Never 'joard of .*ut-h a person. You had better be off quick, or I'll call the police." Thc door closed again, and the man who had tried to gain admittance reeled back a couple of steps and stood glaring at the door, breathing heavily. Peter Allen saw him clearly novr, recognised and remembered him. It was the fellow he had seen leaving Lady Lil's house the day following her father's funeral. The man —.100 Savage—turned and sa-w Peter Allen watching him. lie strode to his aide and peered into his face. "Who are you? What nre vou doing here? Do yon know this bouse?"' He fired" off the questions rapidly. Allen hesitated a moment. lie had heard tho name l-.il Smith. It seemed aisnrd to place any connection between Lil Smith and Lady Lil. "The name LU was common enough, yet he was just in the mood to have his suspicions easily roused. Anyway, the incident he had witnessed was both unusual and dramatic. "I think T have more right to pat chat question than you." he said, quietly. "As a matter of fact. 1 was just returning lo my lodgings when the noise you made roused my curiosity. What's the trouble?" Seizing him by his left hand. Savage dragged Allen beneath the gaslight and looked closely into his face. His own seemed more distorted than usual. But the .strange eyes were bright and very terrible. 'I've seen you before." Allen said. "You were leaving Bronnington («.irdens one day not long ago when I called there.'' Savage caught his breath, and the bent body straightened. "Yes. 1 lemcmber you." he said, unsteadily. And Allen realised he was trembling with suppressed excitement. "You know Lady Lilian Roper? You are a, friend ol" hers—or her husband?" "I am a friend of Lady Lilian." Allen replied, instinctively. There was a moment's silence. iSavage kept a grip of Allen's arm. lie still stared into his face. The former met hie gaze calmly. But his heart- now was beating fast. "Yes, I can trust you." Savage whispered under his breath. He gave him his name. "Listen! Lady Lilian is a prisoner in that house. Someone calle<l "The Doctor' has brought her bore. She is iu danger. ] had a message to-night.'' He released Allen and drew a scrap ol paper from his pocket and held it out to him. Allen read the message: — "it .says Miss Lil Smith." he commented. Savage nodded. "Yes, she has been living down in the East Knd under thai, name, hiding— from bor hus-band." He saw Peter Allen start. "Vou know. then, the kind ol" creature she married'.' That doesn't matter now. Tiii-s message was telephoned to the matron of an expedition which is srarting for tho Congo. Lady Lil was to have lodgr-d with her si week before the boat sailed. She never appeared. 1 feared something was wrong, and to-night J got. thi?." "The Doctor." Allen repeated the name aloud, and Savage detected fear in his voice. Kor the name was not unfamiliar to Peter Allen. Ho hail seen a man bearing that pseudonym orrco. He had heard it whis pered in the clubs and bars of the West Knd. A name decent men spoke with repulsion—a name even the wildest young fool had reason to loathe—-a name certain women feared. ■'You're sure there's no m'wlake?*' he said. "Sure that it's nor a trick?'' Tho expression on Joe's Savage's face answered him. Allen swung round and gazed up the street. He was slow to realise a thing—but quick to act. "We must inform the police, lorce an entrance, and have the house searched," he said, quickly. Savage dragged him back. "Wait. Think a moment! YOll say you're, a friend of Lady Lilian. Vou must know what's happened. You must know there is n warrant out—for her arrest. Innocent or guilty, that's not the question now. If the police find her in this house, ii will go badly with her. It will be used as evidence against her. The police must not find her. There'3 no time for explanation now." "Perhaps you're right. But her husband—why didn't you go to him?" Allen asked, witts a sudden flash of suspicion. "'For the same reason tbat I didn't go to the police." Savage growled. "But yon're wasting time. We're got to get into that house, even if we have to break the door down.*' He r_sed his right arm, nnd then Allen saw the withered, stump. "l"m only half it man," Savage said, and his voice cracked. "But if I once get inside. I can fight. Yes, by Heaven! I have strength enough for that. Can we get round and enter by the hack ?" He started to run towards the blind alley. Allen followed him. "Steady, man. steady," he whispered. "I knosw the sort of house this is. 1 know what sort of man the Doctor is, and if we make a row—if we make a scene —there will -be no need to call the I police. They'll come. Even they can't I force an entrance on tiie flimsy evidence I you've got. not unless yon can swear ; that Lady Lilian Proper is hiding there; I then they would send for the warrant and arrest -her. The Doctor would probably find some way of getting her out ! of the house before they searched, iThere's not a. moment to be lost: but we ;must go carefully." | He looked at the lower windows,! 1 heavily barred. An area with railings divided them from the pavement. They walked to tho end of the alley: a high stone wall faced them. | "if you can climb that you can get to tho hack of tho house." Savage whispered. "Oct me inside the house, and I'll get her out." Footsteps from thc pavement in the street. Allen drew doc Savage into I the »iiadaw of the wail. The footsteps idrew nearer. A couple of men passe:.'

on their w-ay to their rooms. Allen, recognised one, a member of his clnb. The footsteps died away, and -silence I came again. The two men examined the wall. There was no chance of finding * foothold at the base, but higher up, just j out of reach, the stones were uneven j and the plaster broken. With one man J standing on the back of Hie other the , wall could be sealed. \ "You had better go first; you've got j two hands." Savage whispered. He bent down so that Allen might I mount on his back. But again they were j interrupted by the sound of footsteps. Someone was running down the street now. running swiftly A man passed the cul de sac, stopped as he reached the corner, and, turning, looked up at the house. The lamplight fell on his face. His hair was matted on his forehead, his features were red and swollen. "Two or three days' growth of beard covered his chin. A big. heavily-built man. they could hear his stertorous breathing. He seemed about to retrace his footsteps, when he caught sight of Allen end doe Savage. They saw him hesitate as if uncertain what to do. Then he turned down the cul de sac, and half a dor?.n quick steps brought him to their side. He peered into their faces, his fists clenched for defence or attack. "Who are yer? What are yer doiu" 'ere':" he panted. He gave one glance at Savage, then kept his eyes fixed on Peter Allen. "Who are yer. quick What are yer arter? Are yer a friend of Lil Smith's? Yus or no!"' Before Allen could reply Savage leapt forward. "Did you send a message—a telephone message ?" An oath ripped from Burt the Bully's lips. •'Yer got it? Yer 'er friends': Is this the "ouse ?" Savage :iodded. Vnder his breath be quickly told Burt of his attempt to enter, and the Bully ground his teeth in impotent rage. "Yer don't think yer'U git in that wye? If it weren't for the perlice " He at the house again, then at the wall. He divined their intention. -'There ain't n moment to lie lost." he whispered. "We've pit to get "m out if we rouse the 'uie town. But it may be too lite." "Too late."' "Yus. I knows tho Doctor. When we've got aingel-fiec I've got- iu settle with 'im. I'll break hi* neck." There was no time to reason, scarcely time to think. Peter Allen saw that this fierce, butcher-like brute wns in earnest. He was honest, too. Events had happened so quickly that he hardly knew where he was. All that mattered for the moment was to get into that house, and if Lady Lil ■ was there to get her out. It had to be done quietly, secretly. "Yer git. over the wall." Burt whis- ' pered. "I saw a pynter's ladder against a 'ouse in tho street a few yards up. 1 Soon as one of you chaps is over, the other can come back and 'elp me bring it down. But look slippy, for 'Kav'cn's sike. look slippy." ll did not take Peter Allen long, with • tiie help of the gigantic Burt, to get on •to tho top of the wall. Trustiiur to luck. >he dropped into the courtyard on the other side. Then lie crept round • to the back of the house and looked up. : On hie right a tall, straight, windowlese 1 wall, the back of a shop or warehouse: 1 on his left the back of the hoii'o where : Lil was hidden. The windows wore a" in darkness, and as his eyes grew accus 1 tomed to Ihe light he could see thai onr 1 window on the third floor was barred If ss.hc were hidden in the house, it would • be in that room. He listened, waiting, wondering if the other two men would be able to get thr - ladder down unporceived. Presently h<

heard eJow. stealthy footstep*. Kvidently they hud unfastened it aiv were bringing it along. Mis lienr: was thumping i:i hte breast Not only the r-afctv buf the lift- of ti woman he loved was at stake. No tim to consider whether hi* actions wer rash or not. Obviously the right thin would have been to inform the police. Ye - in the <i ten instances it, mi#ht have bee tiie worst for l/.idy Lil. He heard a low whistle and Ihe grat ing of ihe ladder against the wall. " II answered, and was about to run ba<wlren another sound caught his ear. Something that sounded like scream. It was so faint, so muffled. fi far away that he could not be sure. Hi nerves, .strung to the utmost tensioi might have deceived him. It came frot the silent, grim house. Quick as lightning he ran back to th wall. He saw part- of a long ladde bobbin;; up and down in the darkne- ; over his head. Slowly it descender ' then, as it came with a null, ho stoo ■back and did his best to break the. nois of its fall. A few moments later -foe f>avni;r sli down, followed by Hurt tho Bully. Th three men dragged the bidder rijri . over, then on tip-toe carried it along th courtyard. Peter Allen said iiothin as to "-ho sounds he had heard, but. li showed them where the ladder shoul ■bo placed. Jt rpquiretl all their unite strength to get it up. The minutes passed. He heard Jc lavage talking under iris breath, an the laboured breathing of the Bully n he worked like a demon with tl strength of two ordinary men. At laf they got it up against the wall in Ik I with the "barred window. Kven who 1 almo&t perpendicular the topmost rue j was fullv six feet beneath thc windov I si!!. "1 qo first." Bnrt said, between h I teeth. "Vou two hold the ladder unl | I get those bars free. There's a lian mer in my pocket. I cracked, one sku with it ter-night. 1 guess I'll get the! bars apart. As soon a.s yer "ear tl winder smash yer can follow—if v< likes.'' Before Allen could slop Aim he con menced to mount the ladder. It qui' ercd and trembled beneath his weigh but he mounted swiftly. They watched him until he reaehc the top rung but one. Then he raise .himself to his full height, stretched oi _3 arms, and, dragging himself up, stoc on the window-sill. The window ba: were old and rusty. The men below saw Burt wrench t\\ apart as easily as if they had been . wood. Skilfully divesting himself of h coat, he placed it against the windo panes. They saw a. hammer flash in tl air and descend.. A muffled crash . brokeu glass and splintered woodwor a woman's piercing shriek, a cry f( help, an answering oath, again tl uiu_ed crash of glass and s-plinten woodwork. The snext moment the figure of Burt tl Bully had disappeared from sight. (To bc continued daily.) The seaeons change—Wolfed Schnap] is for all seasons. Buy whole bottlcs.----1 (Ad.)