SOUR SATURDAY STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 225, 20 September 1913, Page 18

SOUR SATURDAY STORY.

THE MISSING CENTREFORWARD. (By B. R. PUNSHON. Bayllss ran up the stairs three at a time, burst into my room, and flung himself into a chair. "It's all up," he cried, "it's ruin—ruin—l shall never dare show myself in the place again." '•I'm sorry," I said vaguely. "Have some tea —there's no prussic acid handy and unluckily I use a safety razor now." "Don't be a funny ass," he snarled. "Sheridan is missing." Bayliss was secretary and Sheridan was the centre forward of the town club. The team was to play in the cup final the next day, and it was largely upon Sheridan's powers that our supporters relied for their hopes of victory. "He will turn up," I said consolingly, and not greatly disturbed, though I was as keen ou the cup final as anyone, for Sheridan never was a person of regular habits. "I thought the team went to London by the ten o'clock and you with them?" "So they did." groaned Bayliss. "but no one has seen Sheridan, and I can get no track of him." "When did you see him last?" "I saw him home to his lodgings last night at ten, and then he was going straight to bed. I made him promise that because his brother has just come home from America, and Sheridan was a bit excited about it —you know what an excitable, rackety chap he is. It seems that just after I left some boy brought a note to him, and he went out and never came back. The landlady didn't trouble, as he had a key. She went off to bed, and didn't know he hadn't returned till this morning." "What about the brother?" I asked. "He is staying with some relatives. I went round there, but he had gone out; he went before breakfast, before any of them saw him. I wonder if he can be in It?" "Not likely," I said. "They are twins and rather chummy, I believe. They may be up to some lark together, but that isn't likely either. They wouldn't risk the cup for the sake of a lark—Sheridan is as keen on It a_i any one." "He has been decoyed," said Bayliss miserably. "He is mad on cards, my theory is that they have got hold of him somehow, and got him playing poker, and he has clean forgotten everything." "Including the cup?" I asked. "When once he gets fairly started on poker," said Bayliss solemnly, "he Is capable of forgetting everything. If he does remember all they need say will be 'Lots of time for one more hand,' and he will go on playing till morning. Even if he does remember, and get to the Palace before kick-off, he will have be .n up gambling all night, and won't be fit to play in a friendly. I must find him to-day, or lose the cup." And the wail with which Bayliss uttered j this last word was eloquent of his distress. "Have you been to the police?" "Hang the police! They hum'd and had, j and wanted to know my reasons for suspecting foul play. I offered to swear an affidavit he was murdered, and the inspector said that in that case there could be no hurry. So 11 said he was a fool and quit." "They will doubtless do their best for you I after that," I murmured with gentle sar- ' casm. • "So then I thought I would try a private detective, and I went to Brown in the High Street. He asked for a fiver for expenses. ; and he says he has a clue. He brought mc. a trouser button; he wanted mc to identify I It, and I asked him what was the good of a button when I wanted the whole man." | "Well, It was a beginning," I observed, and added, just in time to stop another angry outburst—"l suppose old BraithI walte is at the bottom of It?" Bayliss nodded gloomily. It was plain he was of the same opinion and that that increased his depression. Mr Braithwaite was chairman of the other team in the final, and it had been the hobby of his life to see his club win the cup. This year he had thought himself sure of it till Sheridan began to show such splendid form in the cup games—Sheridan was one of those players who always seem to produce the top of their form in a cup game. "Well, well," I mused, "if that is so, why not ask Mr Braithwaite?" Bayliss got to his feet, heavy with dignified resentment. "I came to you because I thought you might help," he said. "If you think it Is a subject for jokes, I don't." "I am perfectly serious," I assured him. "It is nearly four o'clock—you should have come to mc before but no matter. There is a train at five fifteen. We can catch that and be at Brnithwaite's house by seven. Will you come or shall I go alone?" "Well, I'm hanged," said Bayliss, staring as though he thought I were mad. "There is nothing," I remarked sententlously, as I got my hat and coat, "so subtle as simplicity. That is the secret of the success of Maeterlinck." "What clnb does he play for?" Baylis asked. "The Blue Birders," I answered. "Obviously, the simplest way to find out anything is to ask the person who has had most to do with It. In this ease —Braithwaite. So we will ask him." "Do you think he will tell us?" Bayliss asked scornfully. "He will kick us out." "Braithwaite," 1 answered gently, "is not a big man. Neither am I. But you are. I find the fact comforting. Also Braithwaite is remarkable for his extreme precision in small matters. That is what we want." "What I want," said Bayliss gloomily, "is Sheridan." "Come along." I said. "Rub up your manners and remember to speak nicely when we see Braithwaite, and put that sweater under your arm. It may prove useful these cold nights." I It Is not a long journey to the town where Mr Braithwaite lives—perhaps the fact that they and we are such close neighbours explains why we are also such keen rivals, if the term rivalry can be applied to a contest in which we are invariably winners except when luck is dead against us. We took a cab from the station to his house, and asked to see him on important business. We were shown into his study where he was sitting alone, busy with correspondence about the morrow's great match. "Mr Braithwaite," I said, coming straight to the point. "We want to know where Sheridan is?" "Bear mc," said Braithwaite, not moving a muscle of his face. "Why come to mc? I know nothing beyond a somewhat vague paragraph I noticed in the paper to-night." "Unfortunately," I said in a desperate attempt *o bluff, "we have information that you are-concerned in an attempt to prevent Sheridan from playing to-morrow. Conspiracy is an Indictable offence, and you : would not look well in a dock." "-our accusation is so absurd that only I your state of excitement excuses it." he answered smiling. "I know nothing of Mr I Sheridan, though it is a pity such a brilliant I player should be so erratic. If he does not turn up, we may very probably win." | And he could not quite repress tho sudden 1 flash of triumph that crossed his connten- , ance though he did his best to hide It. "Mr Braithwaite," I said impressively, I "we have documentary evldenc*"

"Nonsense," he said, though I could see my words slightly disturbed him. "Where is it?" "Here," I said, taking an old envelope from my pocket, and edging towards him Suddenly I leaned forward and caught hhn by the throat, just stifling a scream. "Quick, Bayliss, the sweater," I cried, and in another moment Mr. Braithwaite was expert- j encing the unique sensation for a'respectable 1 British merchant of being held prisoner by j force in his own house. I held his arms, and Bayliss had the sweater wrapped round his head, effectually preventing him from crying out. Luckily he was a very small man, and quite helpless 'n our 'hands, though he managed to catch mc a nasty kick right on the shin. "Now," I said, "will you tell us where Sheridan is, or must we search your paperto find out?" He made no answer. Bayliss held him helpless in his cbair while I searched among the papers on his writing table, and then in his pockets. All in vain. I could not find the faintest hint or intimation. I began to feel very uncomfortable, and I could see that Bayliss' eyes were uneasy. Our proceedings had been fairly high-handed, and a disquieting vision of an appearance in the police court to follow began to take form in my mind. I searched among the papers again, and found nothing. Bayliss was beginning to look a little pale. Mr. Braithwaite emitted a muflled chuckle of triumph. "Look here," .1 said to him, "we are bound to find out In the long' run, so you may as well own up. If you tell us where Sheridan is, and save us further .bother, we won't say anything more about the matter." It was an attempt at bluff about as weak as it was desperate. Braithwaite laughed —and not a pleasant laugh either. He said: — "Ton shall answer for your extraordinary conduct —I shall apply for a warrant for your arrest to-night. This will mean gaol for you both." Bayliss put the sweater over his month again, and brought "his threats to a summary end. All the same both of us felt pretty bad. We had got ourselves into a bad hole, and I at least saw no way out. Braithwaite, I knew, would have no mercy. ' I had not the least Idea what to do next, and then I looked blankly at Bayliss and he looked blankly back at mc. There came a tap at the door. Braithwaite wriggled, and Bayliss held him tighter than ever. I looked longingly at the window, and wondered if we had -better make a bolt -or „_ The knock was repeated. I went quickly across the room, and opened the door. A maid servant was there with a tray, on which lay a telegram. "Oh, all right," I said; "-here will be no answer." The girl looked surprised, but "withdrew. I shut the door, and saw that Bralthwalte's look of triumph had changed for one of extreme uneasiness. On a sudden Impulse j I tore the telegram open. It contained simply the three words: all right." But what attracted my attention was the I name of the sub-office from which themes- ! sage had been dispatched. It was- a little straggling village not five miles from our town hall, and Inhabited, as I well knew, by a poor population of colliers and a tew farmers. Why should Braithwaite be receiving from such a place telegrams late at night to say something was "still all right"? I I put the telegram down on the table, I and said to Bayliss:— : "We'll be off now, and to avoid tedious ceremony we will leave by the window. Good-night, Mr. Braithwaite, pray accept I our apologies for any inconvenience caused. Shall we remember you to Sberidan? Come on, Bayliss." As I talked I had opened the window. I vaulted out. Bayliss followed mc. In a moment we were both racing lite mad across lawn and flower beds while Bralth- i waste stormed and shrieked at the lighted* window behind us, threatening us witpenalties of which penal servitude was the I least and lightest. ' But I cared little for his threats now. i Bayliss was not happy. He said: | "We've done it now—we shall see the , inside of a prison over this business." "No doubt you will in time, Bayliss," I answered amiably, "for no <ran can escape his fate, and the way you behaved over that half quid you owe mc for the bet you lost on the last Derby—" "Why, you owe mc that," Bayliss gasped. "Do I?" I said. "I had forgotten—-how-j ever, no matter. What I vas about to say is that you are going to see I hope not the inside of a gaol but the outside of Sheridan." ] We were lucky to catch a train immediately, and as we travelled I watched the j telegraph wires by the side of the track' and wondered what messages they were bearing for our discomfiture. Not that I saw | what Braithwaite could do. He could take no steps and take no warning that would not involve disturbing Sheridan, and that was all we wanted- We were both qnjte sure that once the spell of the cards was broken by any means whatsoever, Sheridan would remember, and that then nothing would keep .him from the team and the morrow's game. We arrived, and securing a taxi-cab | we started off for the village whence the i telegram had been sent. We did not go to the post office —I kept that lv reserve. We stopped outside the public house and went in. The landlord recognised Bayliss at once, and began talking about our chance In the Anal. We chatted for a few minutes, and then asked a discreet question or two. In a very few minutes we had. learnt all we wanted. Two strangers the day before had hired a small cottage near by that was let furnished in, summer to visitors from the town. It was well suited for the purpose for which we suspected it had been I taken as it stood In a solitary position and ' was surrounded by a high stone walL "Now, Bayliss," I said as -we left the | public house, "we must be diplomatic" "Yes," he answered, and! I saw him glance at the thick stick he had taken some trouble to bring. "Yes," he repeated, and balanced bis stick thoughtfully in his hand. "Let's get to Sheridan first," I said. "Then I daresay they will accommodate yon with a row if yoa want one. In the meantime, be patient and cautious." "Oh, rather," he answered, and hit out with his stick at an imaginary enemy, a blow that would have felled' an ox. We left our taxi waiting at the publicI house. A sharp walk of about half a mile brought us to the cottage the landlord had described. We decided to waste no time knocking. Bayliss gave mc a back and I climbed to the top of the wall, He followed mc safely and we dropped down within. We were both smiling to think to ourselves of the little surprise we were about to give Mr. Braithwaite's carefully arranged poker party. But we had forgotten one thing. We were about a quarter of the way across the garden when we heard an ominous growl out of the darkness, and then a loud fierce bark and the rush of rapid feet on the gravel of the path. "Run," I yelled to Bayli_s. It was unnecessary advice. He was doing ] it already—hard. I followed'— fast. How , we ran, stumbling in the darkness, colliding with trees, trampling over flower beds, j crashing through bushes, behind us the rush I of the hurrying dogs. Ahead of as was a | lighted window and near it a tree grew, its bra-ches visible against the light from the window behind It. For this tree we aimed. Bayliss was ahead of mc, he had had a start and kept it ' I could just distinguish __m tn front as I raced! bet-ind,

and I could hear the rush of the doge _»■'•??. close behind I knew I would' f eel t_elr teeth in another minute. Bayliss made a' leap and landed in the tree. I caught hold • '■' of one of its branches and swung myself 7 . up. Even as I drew myself Into safety the foremost dog sprang. Its teeth - caught the leg of my trousers and tore : 'away a great patch of the cloth and I some of the skin as well. Bayliss climbei - ; a little higher, and I followed, and" 7: I the two dogs growled and barked and ■•■'? leaped like mad things beneath, making noise enough to rouse the whole neighbour. 7 hood. ■'????©' "Hist," Bayliss said in my ear. "Look! they are all here." .1 scrambled to his side. From our Insecure perch we could see throngh the,.' lighted window into the room within. Three men were there seated round a table. One was Sheridan. We could not see him very?" distinctly, for the room was lighted by _ lamp with a heavy shade, that left all tin upper part of the chamber In darkness, bet 7 we both recognised his back, clad In t_e Norfolk jacket he always wore, his trick ot "*'-' holding his head a little to one side, the big -'■":" signet ring on his left hand. The other twV ; so far as we could see, were strangers t_7us. Sheridan appeared deeply absorbed 1_ his game, but the other two were exe__ng--.» ing uneasy glances. No doubt the noise : without had alarmed them, but they wool, not notice it for fear of breaking the spell ' that held Sheridan. All round them the eerie' ■ 7 lay thick like snow. They had been playing •77 with hardly a break for nearly twelve home, , 7 and had got through a score of packs. " "The window is open," I said. "Puah It _■ and jump in." -,7'o'ii® In a moment Bayliss was within. I f_V 7; lowed close behind, and outside tbe don howled with renewed fury. . "Sheridan," Bayliss shouted, the moment he touched the floor, "It's cup day to-taoe. ? row. Why aren't-you In London?" The other two men leaped to their feet M we entered so unceremoniously, but Shed-7 .- dan Just gave one look over his shoulder ■■ and then looked again at his cards. "I'll open the pot, gentlemen," he said hi ? that strong Irish brogue of his I knew c* 7? well. He looked at Bayliss. "Really, tlr, 7 ? don't you see we are busy? and do yon of___ enter other people's houses by the w_*?'-' dow?" Bayliss's jaw dropped at this greeting. "Sheridan," he cried, "you've got to phf. ? ? to-morrow, man." I "I'm playing to-night," said __eri-_v "Go to blazes," he 'added over his shonldet, •as he turned back to his cards. '< I could almost have laughed at Bayl__f_'7? : appearance, and yet I was no less takes 7 ? aback myself. All the time we had both bee_ ? certain that the mere sound of onr voice.??? would recall Sheridan to his allegiance. I' ". fancy the other two men were almost -I ■ : confounded as ourselves at Sheridan's n__- 77 tude, but they at once took advantage of it, ? and began to denounce us with a fine ebowof indignation. One of them swept up the 7., cards and began to deal again In excited ' oblivion of the jack pot Sheridan had opened, '■ while the other continued to denounce n« in flowery language. I was watching She-ldm and I thought he looked strained somehow, and different from his usual self.? j ptrt [t ; down to the excitement of the gambling, an_ the long hours passed in that heated atmosphere, and I thought to myself that probably he was already spoiled for to-morrow's geme. A highly trained.athlete is as delicate and v easily upset' asa young girl. * "Sheridan," Bayliss cried, making oneliet - ' effort. "Tbe cup, man, the English cujlV. .-' • He repeated the two words. .'._snS__i-'"■' Cup" as though they formed some powerful talisman Sberidan must respond to, fcji 7 Sheridan took no notice, engaging In a lead I dispute with the man who had swept _p'__- ; '-" cards. Then Bayliss caught him by the Sum'"' ; and pulled him round, and at once the ___ who was abusing us struck at Bayliss. Instantly Sheridan was on his feet, and he .7 pushed his big fist Into the face of the nuu. ; " '7 who hit at Bayliss. § "None of that now," he said, "none of f • .. that." "Sheridan," Bayliss cried, "are you mad? Will you let us lose the cup, man?" "Blow the cup," said Sheridan. "And 7* Tm not going to play in any match to» ? morrow. Is that plain enough-for you? Are. "7 you satisfied? Can we get on with our ? game?" i | ><''■ 'Wery well," I said furiously, for I tew we were helpless, and as for Bayliss rteer ■',■:■* dismay and surprise had taken from -hha-7'7 the power of speech, "but I warn you I wfll? ■ take care you shall never play football . again!" "K'A^f) "I prefer poker. I've won £100," hr answered, and he completed my bewilder-"'' ment by bestowing on mc a deliberatei 7 wlnfe. ! '.--..^sffe One of the other men opened the-door'?' for us. Bayliss, recovering Ms speech " and half beside himself with disappointment 7 and anger, persisted in shouting threats and: ' entreaties to Sheridan, who took not the 7least notice of him, though once again I saw ■'•,'.■ him wink at mc. They hustled us out of??" . the room and down the stairs, and one 6t7}'them went with us across the garden for - '' protection against the dogs. He abused -.?; and threatened us all the time, but neither 7 of us took any notice, for Bayliss had re-;: lapsed Into a silence of anger and surprl«-i <"■-.". and I was wondering what those two '■/■■:■ puzzling winks had meant. ''.*-«.>.- I decided that he probably intended te leave in time to get to the palace, and tiat he had not realised that he would certainly - be in no fit slate to play, indeed that he ■;:.; would not be allowed to. In solemn and very sulky silence we found ,]?•; ■ our taxi and drove home. I felt BayliM v had mismanaged the whole affair. Bay__» '7 had given up all hope of the cup, and wal; ■'■'■ wondering how he was going to expl_U» 77 what had happened, "I shall resign," he said once. "I'm outf y fit to be secretary to a class for Infants -»?•";'.; a kindergarten." /■■■ ; H|§|S? I was able to say that I agreed with MB .;.' there, and to my surprise he had the effroß" ;■■. tery to blame mc for what he was pleased ;,' to call the mismanagement of the affair. I. . suppose we were both a bit upset, and St - was something of a relief to us both to hare. a good quarrel. Anyhow, we quarrelled , ; fiercely all the way home, and when we got..-.._'■ . there we found a telegram waiting for ; ; Bayliss from the trainer in London. T&if v was its amazing contents:— "Sheridan arrived safely, travelled bj : '.- . next train. States attempt to decoy hha y.. to join poker party last night His twin. • brother took his place, personating him. : _. Advise investigation. Sheridan seems hi, . good form." ', m s "Great Scott!" Bayliss cried, "then he was safe In London all the time, and that ..-.. I was his twin brother we were trying : s rescue." '...^i-; He gave a yell and dashed out of th_ ; •■ room and down the stairs four at a tuna ' As for mc I was too disgusted for words. .. Certainly I was glad that Sheridan was _U ' right and able to play, but when I thoug-t of our racings and chasings, of my spoilt ' trousers, of all the time and energy ; had wasted with the real man all the time ■ safe in the trainer's hands, I made up ml ;: mind very solemnly I wosild never try to help a friend again, now that Bayliss - ' • had rushed off 1 had not even the consols- - j tion of telling him what 1 thought of hh_. And the rest of the story is history, f>J 'we won the cup after a magnificent;: i ' struggle, and when Bayliss returned Witt his team in triumph, I had made up mj ; .... mind to forgive him for all I had undergone , ! while helping him to rescue the J" 0 "* 1 man. And then when I was writing to saj . so he had the cheek and Impudence to send ■■--_■ a note to say no doubt I had meant wen, , and on the whole he had decided to thlM ,no more about it, and to treat mc just v * . lgame as before.