NUMBER 17:

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 180, 29 July 1916, Page 20

NUMBER 17:

Br TMUSB TKACX*. Hu'tKor of "Ba£nbav> Island," *The POlar of Light" m Otte Wonderful Vigm*," Tie Term* of Bonerier," "Th&.Bouse of Storm,'' "Thare-Vr<u2io-Oi!^arW^^^;• eta, ate*.

-A Mystery of London.

CHAPTER IX. SHARP WORK. The American's easy-going* badinage provided the best sort of tonic. Thevdon laughed as he transferred the pistol from one pocket to the other. "3ly motto is 'Defence, not Defiance,"' he said. "I hope sincerely that I shall not be called on to shoot, or even threaten anyone. Using firearms, although for self-protection, is a very serious matter in this country. May 1 ask your name? Mine's Theydon. I live in those mansions wo have just quitted." "And I'm George T. Handyside, 21,097, Jlark Avenue, Chicago," was the answer. "'Jβ that your telephone number? ,, j "No, sir. It's my home ad-dress." "Well, Mr. Handyside, if ever I come to Chicago, I'll travel along Park Avenue and give you a call. How many days' journey are you from the centre of the city?" "Say, Mr. Theydon, I'm real glad to make your acquaintance. I haven't been joshed in that way since I left the eteamer. This little island of yours is all right as a beauty spot, but I do wish your people wouldn't carry such a grouch agin life generally. Great Scott! It'll do 'em a heap of good to try a real chesty laugh occasionally." *Tell mc where I can drop across you in London later in >the week, and I'll see if we can't fmd a smile somewhere." The American scribbled the name of a Strand hotel on a, card, which Theydon disposed in his pocket-book, at the same time producing one of his own cards. ''You'll hear from mc," he said. "Now, Mr. Handyside, pardon mc for the next few minutes. I have to write telegrams." The first was to Forbes, addressed in duplicate to Old Broad Street and For4escne Square. It ran:— "If this message is not qualified by soother within a few minutes I am in the 125 train for Eastbourne." Then to Winter:— "Young lady summoned to Eastbourne Tjy telegram stating that her mother is ill. Suspect the message as bogus and emanating from Y.M. See Furneaux. He •will explain. Am hoping to travel by Bame train. If disappointed will wire again immediately.— Theydon." He read each slip carefully, to make Bure that the phraseology was clear. The speed at which the cab was travelling Tendered his handwriting somewhat illegible, but he thought a means of circumventing that difficulty. Which way are you going?" he inquired of his unexpected companion. •'To a place called Sutton." "What time does your train leave?" "Guess it's about 1.30." "You have five more minutes at your disposal than I have. Will you hand in these three messages at the telegraph office? I'll read them to you, in case the counter clerk is doubtful about any or Iho words." "Sure thing. Air. Theydon. You've interested mc. I don't care a row of beans if I drop out Sutton altogether." "I'm greatly obliged, but that 13 not necessary. You'll have loads of time. We're in the park already, and our driver has a clear run to Victoria. Vowlisten!" Mr. Handyside did listen, and pricked his ears ait the mention of Scotland Yard. "Gosh!" he exclaimed, "this is better'n a. life-line movie! For the love o i ilike. let mc in by the early door! Xnw, how's this for a proposition? You *end those telegrams, and I'll fix the. cab an' buy the transportation to Eastbourne for the pair of us. I'm not heeled, but I may bo useful, an' I'll jab any fellow in the solar plexus at call." Theydon gazed at this self-avowed knight errant in surprise. Handyside was a man of forty, whose dark hair was flecked with grey. He was quietly dressed, a wide-brimmed high-crowned hat of finely-plaited white straw providing, the sole note of markedly American origin in his attire. The expression of Jus well-moulded features was shrewd but pleasing, and the poise of a sparo but sinewy frame gave evidence of active habit and some considerable degree of physical strength. "Ton my honour," said the Englishman, "I'm half inclined to take you at your word, except in the matter of expenses, which, of course, I must bear. You see, if my services arc called for, #nd prove effective, I may need help." "Go right ahead." said the other calmly. "Tell mc as much or as little as you like. Where's this place, Eastbourne? On the south coast, I guess." "Yes." "I thought it would be. A man on the eteamer a6ked mc to come and see him at /Westgate, which is about as far east as you can go in England without wetting your feet. I'm getting the hang of thinge here by degrees. Southport, of course, is away up north, and Northamptonshire in the Midlands." Theydon grinned, but .the taxi was passing Buckingham Palace., and the hour was 1.17 p.m. "I cannot give you any sort of an explanation now, Mr Haiidyside," he said. "Later in the week, perhaps, 1 may have a big story for your private ear. All I can say at the moment is this—l have reason to believe that a young lady, a daughter of Mr James Crcighton Forbes, a well-known man in the city of London, is being decoyed to Eastbourne in the belief that her mother is ill. Now, I may be wholly mistaken. Her mother may be ill. If that is so, I am making thia trip under a delusion. At any rate, my notion is to try and fall in with Mise Forbes accidentally, as it were, and watch over her until I am quite sure that ehe is with her mother. You follow mc?" '"Seems to mc," said the American imperturbabl}, "it's the most natural fhing in the world that Mr Theydon should want to show hia friend Mr Handyside, of Chicago, England's most bracing and attractive seaside resort, if that's the way to describe Eastbourne?" "Both the plan and the description are admirable." "The plan sounds all right. Aβ for the description, I have been looking up a selection of poatera, and those seven words apply to every half-mile strip of beach in the island. When it comes to a real sho'.v-down, your poster artists have got our real estate men skinned a mile. How muck did .you •promise the taxi man?" '"Half a sovereign." "Two-fifty. Gee! That's the nearest thing to Now York I've struck yet. And the railway tickets—first-class, of *©UIBe?"

The cab stopped. Theydon eprang out and raced to the telegraphic office, where, as he anticipated, there was a slight delay. Handyetde awaited him at the correct barrier, and together they walked down a long platform, Tlieydon peering into every carriage, though convinced that Evelyn Forbes would not travel other than first-class. Thus, not being a detective, bnt only a very anxious and perplexed young man, he had eyes only for such ladies as were already seated in the train, and failed to note the immediate interest his appearance aroused in a man who occupied a windowseat, and who was watching unobtrusively everyone who passed. Oddjy enough, after the first wondering glance, this observer was more closely taken up with Handyside. It was as though he eaid to himself: "Theydon I know, but who in the 1 world is his companion, and why are they travelling by an Eastbourne express —to-day of all days'!" The train was well Slled; there were only a few seconds to spare when Theydon came across Evelyn Forbes in a compartment which held two other passengers —a lady and a gentleman. Recognition was mutual, and Theydon flattered himself that he betrayed just the right amount of pleasurable astonishment. "Miss Forbes!" he cried, raising his hat. "Well, of all the unexpected meetings! Don't say you are going to Eastbourne!" "But I am," she said, and, though ehe smiled, her eyee were heavy with uashed tears. She was deeply attached to her mother, and the thought that the loved one was too ill even to communicate with her by telephone was distreseing beyond measure. "Just imagine that!" went on Theydon, determined to rush his fences and travel with her unleae openly forbidden. "I'm taking an American friend there for the afternoon. May we come in your carriage'; Is there room for two?" Now, although Evelyn Forbes had been attracted to Theydon during their vivacious conversation overnight, she would vastly have preferred the comparative solitude of a journey with; strangers. Still, she could hardly refuse such a request, and commonsense toid her that a pleasant chat with a man who could talk so well as Theydon offered a better means of whiling away two and a-half hours'* than brooding over the nature and extent of her mother's unknown illness. " There's plenty of room," she said. Without further ado. Theydon entered and Handyside followed. The compartment held five seats, while a door led to a side corridor running the length of the coach. The two .remaining pants were worthy Britons who neither invited nor received any special attention. Mr. Handyside was introduced, and promptly said the rignt thing. " I guess I knew what I was doing when I forced Mr. Thpydon to take mc out of London to-day. - ' he said, with a smile which left the girl in no doubt as to the nature of tlie implied compliment. " But it is hardly an hour since 1 spoke to my faUier at Mr. Thcydon's flat," slip said. " Were you there, too, llr. Handyside?'' " No. in the next block. That was the nearest I got to Mr. Theydon before we met" and took a cab for Victoria." Thpydon was pleased with his ally. Xo diplomat, trained during long years to conceal material facts could have headed the girl off more deftly, while every word was literally true. "Ah!" slip said, glancing meaningly at Tlieydon. " we are all the sport of fortune, then. How strange! Of, course. Mr. Thpydon. you don't know why I am here. I have had a telegram from my mother, or one sent in her name. She has been taken ill suddenly." " That is bad news," was the sympathetic answer. "If the message has not come direct from Mrs. Forbe3 may it not be rather exaggerated in tone? Some people can never write telegrams. The knowledge that each word Co3ts a halfpenny weighs on them like a nightmare/ As he hoped and anticipated, she produced the message itself from her handbag. " This ia what it says," she said, and rca,d: —"'Mrs. Forbes ill and unable to communicate by telephone. Come at once. Manager, Royal Devonshire Hotel.'" Thlen she added, with a suspicious break in her voice:—"That sounds serious enough, in all conscience-, "It is addressed to you personally?' , said Theydon. racking his wits for sonic means of lessening , the girl's forboding without tickling the ears of the other people in the compartment by suggesting that she might have been brought from her home by some cruel ruse of her father's enemies. " Yes." " But isn't thlat somewhat singular in itself? One would imagine that such a significant message would have been sent to your father." "Why?" " Well, men are better fitted to withstand these shocks, for one thing. Tt was lieartless, or, to say the least, thoughtless, to give you such news with thp brutal frankness of a telegram." " I cannot understand it at all. Mother wrote this morning telling mc that she was going to Beachy Head this afternoon with a picnic party." " I am convinced," said Theydon Bravely, " that eomeone has blundered. It may be the act of some stupid foreigner. I shall not be content now, Miiss Forbes, until I have gone with yon to the Royal Devonshire, and learnt what the extent of the trouble really i 3. Then, if Mrs. Forbes needs your pre sence, perhaps you will allow mc to telephone to your father, as he will be greatly disturbed when he returns home and learns the cause of your journey." " But I can't think of allowing you two to break up your afternoon on my account. I'm sure, when we reach Eastbourne, I shall see an array of golf clubs among your luggage." "No," smiled Theydon. "My friend here refuses to play until he has 6een something of the country. He knows that the golfer's vision is bounded by the nearest bunker." Handyside took the cue. "That's the exact position, Miss Forbes," he said. " I was warned by the horrible experience of a friend of mine. He left Newark, New Jersey, on a sightseeing tour in Europe, tout unfortunately took fiis clubs with him. Now. if you ask him what ho thought of Wietanineter Abbey or the Wye Valley he i

tells you he hadn't time to look 'em up, but that the fifth, hole at Sandwich is a corker, while the thirteenth at St. Andrew's hod been known to restore the faculty of speech to a dumb man. Yon see, come poor mute had either to express his feelings or bust." Evidently, Miss Evelyn Forbes would not 'be allowed to mope during the run to Eastbourne. As between Theydon and herself, the situation was curiously mixed. On the one 'hand, Theydon had now a remarkably close insight into the peril which threatened Forbes and each member of his family; the girl, on the other, knew •well that her lather was bound up dn some way with the tragedy at Number 17, Innesmore 'Mansions. Nevertheless, an open discussion was out of the question, and the two accepted cheerfully the limitations imposed by circumstances, so that strangers in the compartment little suspected what grave issues lay behind an apparently casual meeting between a pretty girl and t-wo men that summer's afternoon in the l£astbourne express. The American played his part admirably. When not passing some caustically humorous comment on British ways and manners, he was being even more critical of : his fellow-countrymen. Aβ he, himself put it, 'he guessed New York society was mighty like London society with tlie head cut ofT, and proved nis contention with many wise saws and modern instances. Thus, the journey south passed pleasantly enough. When they alighted on the crowded platform at Eastbourne the girl reverted to the topic uppermost iv her mind. "You gentlemen will ihave to look after your luggage," she said. "I'm sure you will forgive mc if 1 hurry to the hotel. If you conic there, Mr. Theydon, I'll take care thut 1 sec you at oneo. It is exceedingly kind of you to bother yourself with my affairs." But Theydon had a scheme ready, having foreseen this very difficulty. "'Mr. llandyside will attend to everything," he said glibfy. "Please let mc come with you. 1 shan't have a moment's peace until assured that Mrs. Fonies is suffering from little more than a slight indisposition." Evelyn looked puzzled, but was willing to agree to anything so long as she reached her mother quickly. Handyside, too, made matters easy by lifting his hat and walking off in the direction of the luggage van. "Well," she saia. "I reaUy don't care what happens if only I lose no time." Suiting the action to the word, she hurried towards the exit, and was murmuring something that sounded like an apology for her seeing brusquenesa as they paeaed the ticket collector. Here a momentary difficulty arose. Theydon had forgotten to ask Handysidc for his ticket. The girl, of course, had her own ticket, but her companion was not allowed to pass the barrier. He began an explanation to which a busy official paid no heed. In desperation, he produced a sovereign, and his card. "Here," he said. "You can hold this as a guarantee that my ticket will bo given irp. This lady has been called to the bedside of her mother, who is said to be dangerously ill, and I simply must be allowed to take 'her to the Royal Devonshire Hotel." Luckily, the railway-man had the wit to see that this camest-cyed passenger was speaking the truth. "That's all right, sir," lie said. "Wo have to bo particular about tickets, you know." Evelyn Forbes was a few yards in advance, and impatiently awaiting her escort, when a gentleman approached and spoke to her. "Miss Forbes, I believe," he said, raising his hat. "Yes," ehc answered breathlessly, because the man's garb suggested, before he uttered another syllable, that he w<l3 a doctor. He had a curiously foreign aspect, and spoke with a pronounced lisp. "I am assistant to Doctor Sinnett," he said, "and he hns sent nic to take you to the hotel. This is his car. Will you come, quick?" He pointed to a , smart limousine drawn up near the exit, and, in his eagerness to he polite, almost pushed the girl towards the open door. Insensibly, she resisted, and turned to explain matters to Theydon, who had just placated the Cerberus at the gate, and was running after her. "Mr. Theydon " she began. "There ith no time to wafhe, I athure you," said Dr. Sinnett's assistant imperatively. At that instant Theydon came up. His temper was ruffled, and he did not scrutinize the doctor's appearance as closely as might be looked for in one who was actually on his guard against foul pla} , . "What is it now?" he asked. "This gentleman has been sent by Dr. Sinnett to bring mc to the hotel," said Evelyn. "Now, Mr. Theydon, perhaps it will be better if you wait for Mr. Handysidc, and come on at your leisure." "I'm a stiff-necked pereon," said Theydon, trying to smile unconcernedly. "I've made up ray mind to sec yoii safely to your destination, and I refuse to leave you oil any account. I'm sure the doctor will lot mc sit beside the chauffeur." Then, for the first time, lie glanced .it the newcomer, and was almost stupefied to discover thnt the man, despite his faultless professional attire, was a Chinaman. Moreover, this Chinaman bore a livid scar down the left side of his face, and his eyes were set horizontally, a sure sign of Manchu descent, because all southern Chinese have the oblique Mongolian eye. Though prepared for treachery of some kind, the very simplicity of this scheme almost disconcerted him, and he blurted out the fint words that rose to hie dips. "is your name Wong Li Fu?" Half unconsciously, a hand dropped tn the pocket containing the revolver. answer, he was struck a violent blow on the throat and sent sprawling. The attack was 60 sudden that he was nearly I'nprcpared for it—nearly, not quite, bocause a flare of baffled spite in the dark eyes gave him the ghost of a warning It was fortunate that he saved himself by a slight backward , flinching, since he learnt subsequently that his assailant was a master of ju-jiteu' and that vicious blow was intended to paralyse the ntrvee which cluster around the cricoid cartilage. Had he received the punch in its full force he would at least ihave been disabled for the remainder of the day. v/hile there wag some chance of the injury proving fetal. The Chinaman instantly 6eized the terrified girl in an irresistible grip, and Was about to thrust har into the automobile when a big, burly man flung himself into the fray and collared the desperado by neck and arm. "Stop that?" ho v said authoritatively. 'Tlet go that young lady ar Til shake the life out of you!" i By this time Theydon .was on his feet again, and rns-hing to the aseistance of Chief-Inspector Winter, who seemed to have miraculously dropped from the skies at the right moment. The Chinaman, seeing that he was in imminent danger!

of capture, released Evelyn, wrenched himself free by another ju-jitsu trick, swung the girl into Winter's arms, thus impeding him, and leaped into the car, which made off with a rapidity that showed how thoroughly the chauffeur was in league -with hie principal. Naturally, tho people coming out from the station, reinforced by the mob of semi-loafers always in evidence in ench localities, gathered in scores around Evelyn Forbes and her two protectors. Such an extraordinary scuffle was bound to attract a crowd; few had 1 seen the commencement of the fray, because nothing could be more usual and commonplace in a fashionable place lilce Eastbourne than the eight of a frockcoated and top-hatted gentleman handing a well-dressed lady into a motor-ca*. The firet general intimation of something bizarre and 1 sensational was provided by Theydon's fall. After that, events travelled rapidly, and the majority of tho onlookers imagined that it was Winter who had knocked Theydon off his balance, while the rush made by the latter to intercept Wong Li Fu waa actually stopped by a well-intentioned railway porter. Worst of all, Theydon was quite unable to epeak. He indulged in valiant pantomime, and Winter fully understood that the Chinaman's escape should be prevented at all hazards. But the Chief Inspector accepted the inevitable. The landaulette -was equipped with a power ful engine, and the only vehicles available for pursuit were some ancient horee<lranvn cabs. He noted the number on the identification plate, and that was the limit of his resources lor the moment. Moreover, Evelyn Forbes, finding hereclf clutched tightly by a tall, stout man "whom she had never seen before, Avao rather more indignant than hurO Disengaging herself from the detective's hands, she looked to Theydon for au explanation. "'Has everybody suddenly gone made?" sue said vehemently. "What is the meaning of this? Did. you know who that man was? And why did he try to force mc into his car?" Theydon, slowly regaining his breath, stammered brokenly that he would make things clear in a minute or so. Then he gasped to Winter: — "That is Wong Li Fu—the man wanted —at No. 17!" "We'll get him all right," was the grimly curt answer. "Meanwhile, are yon and Miss Forbes going to the hotel?" Hardly less surprising than Winter's appearance on the scene was his seeming knowledge of the purpose of their journey. "We must get out of this," he went on, gazing around wrathfully at the ring or curious faces. "Here, you!" he cried, singling out a policeman who was forcing a passage through the crowd, "clear away this mob and get us a cab!" The policeman seemed inclined to resent these masterful directions, but a word whispered in his ear when he reached Winter acted like magic, and he soon had the gapers scattered. A cab was called, and Evelyn Forbes was already inside when Theydon remembered tho American. He looked around, but could see nothing of him. "Where is—Mr. Haudyside?" he said, still finding a good deal of difficulty in articulating his words. "is that the man who came with you from London?" inquired Winter. "Yea. He's —an American." "Well, he may have been scared, and made a bee-line for the States. He is not anynrhere in sijrht." "Oh, please, Mr. Theydon, do let us go to the hotel." pleaded Evelyn. She was pale, and yielding to reaction after the excitement of the fracas. Unwillingly, since he was certain now that there was absolutely no grounds for the girl's alarm on her mother's account

—at any rate, so far as illness was concerned—Theydon entered the cab, and Winter followed., "The first thing to do," said the Chief Inspector, when they were en route, "is to assure this young lady, whom I take to be Miss Forbes, that she has probably been brought to Eastbourne by a lying telegram, and that her mother is quite well in health. Secondly, why should Wong Li Fu be described as the man wanted in the Inncsmore Mansions inquiry; and, thirdly how does Mr. Handyside come into the picture?" "I can't—talk—just yet," wheezed Theydon hoarsely. "In a few minutes— I'll—tell you everything." Evelyn had not realised earlier that her self-appointed champion had been seriously hurt. She was deeply concerned, and wanted to take him straight to the nearest doctor. But he smiled, and essayed to calm her fears by whispering that he would soon be fully recovered. It was pleasant to know that he had succeeded in rescuing her from some indefinable though none the less deadly peril, yet the insistent question in his sub-conscious mind was not connected with Evelyn's escape, or the flight of her assailant, or the mysterious presence of the Chief Inspector, but with the vanishing of Mr. Handyside. What had become of him? It was the maddest of fantasies ito imagine that he could be bound up in some way with the Young Manchus. Yet, why did he fail to turn up at the Station? Theydon could not even guess at a plausible explanation. He leaned back in the cab and closed his eyes. Really, there were times in life when it would be a relief to faint! L (To be continued next Saturday.);