"ROBIN ADAIR."

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 207, 30 August 1916, Page 10

"ROBIN ADAIR."

By CHARLES PROCTOR,

Author of "An Innocent Judas," "My Am Folk," "The Dice of God," "Ashes of Vengeance," etc. lit;: CHAPTER XXXII. PAM ON THE TRAIL. "As a detective, my boy, you are about the most dismal of "dismal failures that ever walked the face of the earth," commented Pam Panmure, apostrophising his reflection in the mirror as he shaved, "lou have sneered at the methods of the police at times, and a study of the works of Edgar Allan Poc, Coiian Doyle and Maurice Leblanc convinced you that the solving of mysteries was mere child's play to a trained intellect. "You flattered yourself,. Mr. Panmure, that you had a trained intellect, and because you could as a rule see a little further than most people, you jumped to the conclusion that you could put Sherlock Holmes in the shade if you set yourself to the task. Well, you have set yourself to the task, and at the moment the task has got you flat on your back, Mr. Sherlock Panmure, with both shoulders flat on the mat. You have cpme off second best in your wrestle with, the problem, my son, and you are beaten. I repeat, that as a detective you are the most dismal failure on record!" He completed his toilet and went down to breakfast, feeling very downcast and downhearted. Since discovering that Robin had disappeared, Pam had worn himself out in his efforts to discover Vat whereabouts of his friend and of Sheila, but all to no purpose. He had failed to find a single clue on which he could work, and had almost lost heart. Robin Adair seemed to have disappeared as completely as if he had vanished into thin air, and Pam chafed at his own helplessness. The fact that Robin had disappeared was known to a few of his friends, but the matter had not yet been chronicled in the newspapers. Mr. Lennox Adair was naturally desirous of avoiding any scandal, and although he and Mrs. Adair ■were very much distressed by the strange disappearance of their adopted son. they had, on the advice of the family lawyer, kept the matter as secret as possible, and had not appealed to the police or to the Press to assist them in finding Robin. A very clever private detective, an exScotland Yard man, had, however, been engaged, and was supposed to be following up clues he professed to have discovered, and Pam, for one, had very little faith that the man would succeed, although be confessed that this feeling was , due in a large measure to his own lack . of success. "Well, I am not beaten yet." Pam muttered, as he finished his breakfast. "There is-always the chance that something ihay turn up to put mc on the trail of friend Robin, and I should love to solve the mystery and get ahead of that deThe thing has..become a perfect obsession' with jne, .but ~f ..don't get any forrader. However.7b.ere; goes to. see if there is any news at Robin's house first of'alL then I must do my usual round — Mrs.. Stewart, Valeric, the lawyer, and Robin's office, before t-try again to-think of something 'original. This detective job fe about the mostHeprcssing thing I ever struck." - - —- - - ."He glanced through the morning the "personal" columns, in which, on the previous day." he had- "Agony" advertisement which rea"3: "Robin is earnestly requested to communicate .immediately with Pam"; but there was no answering "Agony" from Robin, and after careiessly skinxming through the news of the day Pam strolled round to the Adairs' house. Here something of a surprise awaited him. When..he reached the door of the house, he found a big. red-haired, redfaced man, who looked like a mechanic, talking earnestly to the maid, who was gazing at him in some perplexity. -'You sec it's terrible important,"' Pam ■overheard the man saying at he arrived en the scene. "I must see Mr. Robin Adair at once, and if you'll gie mc. hi; address, I'll go to wherever he is—ay, even if it costs mc a pound. It's a mattor? of conscience, young wumman, and I'm shair if he kent Sandy Ferguson was wanting to see him. Mr. Adair would be anxious to see mc." "Sandy Ferguson!" exclaimed Pam, as ■the- man. suddenly conscious of the arrival of a third party on the scene, glanced round at him. "Are you Sandy Ferguson?" "That's my name." answered Sandy teomewhat suspiciously. "Who are you?" "My name is Panmure. and I am one of Mr. Adair's most intimate friends," said Pam quietly. "T heard ab«.ut you from Mr. Adair, and have been most anxious to meet you. I understood you had disappeared —bolted suddenly. W r on't you come in?" He nodded to the maid-servant, and led the way into Robin's sitting-room, Sandy following a little reluctantly. "My business is wi' Mr. Adair," "said Sandy, as Pa.m. invited him to take a seat. "I canna' discuss private affairs wi' you." "I think you can," Pam responded quietly. "Indeed, you cannot help yourself, unless you are seeking for trouble rtrith the police." "The policel' What do you mean?" "You may, or may not, be aware of the fact that Miss Stewart disappeared mysteriously some days ago, and that later Mr. Adair also disappeared. You are the man who called on Mr. Adair and told him you were engaged to be married to 'Miss Stewart, and that if he interfered there would be trouble. I have reason to believe that you were responsible for the disappearance of Miss Stewart, and-that the story you told my friend was -untrue. I am also inclined ■to think you know something" about the disappearance of Mr. Adair, and that this visit is a piece of bluff on your part t'esigned to discover whether anyone suspects you are in any way connected with the crime." "Nothing o' the sort!" exclaimed Sandy, looking decidedly scared, "i ken nothing abont Mr. Adair's disappearance, and I'm no criminal." "Then why are you here?" thundered Pam, looking" very fierce and stern. "What have you done with Sheila Stewart?" "I ken nothing about Sheila Stewart— as sure as death. I ken nothing about her," replied Sandy, flustered »-and dietressed. "I wouldna hurt a hair o' her head, and I dinna ken whaur she is-or! what for she's run awaY J "All very-well, my friend, but why are J you here?" demanded Pam. "What is this mysterious private business youj wish to see Robin Adair about, if it has n °uT in ? to do th >lis6 Stewart?" I didna say it had nothing to do wi' Stewart; I only said it had noth- ™°„ „ do 3>' Miss Stewart's disappearance Icpl d JV» about i What \ came t0 see Mr. Adair hU nardon^- 6 to ConfesE ' and to ask ' Btand ifc ™c longer, : ' SnM th « d 'rfy trick T plavefl." •

"Go on" urged Pam eagerly, as Sandy paused to mop his brow. "It was lies about being engaged to Sheila Stewart—a' lies," proceeded Sandy. " She wouldna ha'c mc, although I asked her, but that hussy tempted mc to tell the story—told mc that if I got rid o' Robin Adair —I mean stopped him frae coming after Sheila— that Sheila would marry mc. She tempted mc, and she gie'd mc money— and it was her that made mc bolt, frightened mc into trying to leave the country by telling mc a pack o' lies and giving mc more money. She's a limmcr —a disciple o' the de'il'" " Who is this woman you speak of?" inquired Pam, a little perplexed. " Her name is Miss Delmontc—Miss Valeric Delmonte —1 found that out, and she's rich, but what her game is I dinna ken. Maybe it's just sheer devilment, ■but I've come to my senses now, and I'll stand my punishment for what I've done rather than go through " "Valeric Delmontc!" interposed Pam. "Are you quite sure? W 7 hat is she like, aud how do you come to know her?" Sandy described Valeric fairly accurately, and told the whole story with a wealth of detail—some of it superfluous —in a manner which left no vestige of ;doubt in Pam's mind as to his sincerity. His one aim was to right the wrong he h&d done, and to help Sheila if he could, and he was ready to take any punishment for the deception he had practised. ■" I don"t know how far this will help mc. Ferguson, but it certainly will help," said Pam, when be had heard Sandy out. "If I can do anything to help you to find Sheila or Mr. AdaiT I'll do it, Mr. Panmure, - ' said Sandy earnestly. " 1 wouldna. wonder but that hussy. Miss Delmonte, has bad "something to do wi' Sheila's disappearance." " You may be right," remarked Pam gravely. "I am going at once to see her. I will call on you if I need your help, Ferguson." i Sandy took his leave, and Pam, after a few minutes of deep thought, and : after making inquiries as to whether there was any news of Robin at -the house, departed to call on Valeric. His thin face was pale and grim as he mounted the steps of Valerie's home, for Sandy Ferguson's confession had come as a shock to him. and the task before .him was distasteful. He was admitted to find Valeric in the ball dressed to go out, and she greeted him eagerly. " Oh, I'm so glad you've come, Pam," ©he exclaimed as sho greeted him. " I have been trying to get you on the telephone, and there is something I want to see you about. Have you any news!'" " Yes, news of a kind, news which concerns you, Valeric,". Pam responded quietly, as she led him into the drawingroom. ■' Do you know anything of a man named Ferguson—Sandy Ferguson?" Valeric started violently, and her face paled. In silence she stared at Pam for a moment, and he read fear in her eyes.. Her mind had been full of the events of the previous - night, she had intended asking Pam's advice as to what was to be done, and whether she should go to| the police; and his question took her completely by surprise. " Ferguson?" she repeated uncertainly.; " No, I don't think I know anyone of the name—except the man who was engaged to the. girl Stewart." "That is the man I mean," said Pam. . " I have' seen him this morning, and he has confefEcd everything!" - '''Confessed everything!" Valeric gasped, then recovered herself immediately. " What on earth do you mean f" she asked in altered tones. Very calmly and deliberately Pam explained, relating exactly what had happened, and Valeric listened in silence, .biting her lips and fighting for composure. " Ridiculous!" she burst out at last. " I deny everything, and I am surprised that you should ever consider the possibility of there being a word of truth in it, Pam. You insult mc by suggesting this man's story is' true, and I refuse even to discuss the matter w-jth you." "In that case, Valeric, tnere is nothing more to be said." Pam remarked quietly. " Should you change your mind you might communicate with mc." He bowed formally, and went at once from the room and the house leaving Valeric standing white-faced and with a despairingly scared look in her dark eyes"Ferguson can prove nothing, and I can play my own game,'' she whispered at last. -- Paiu won't go back on me— he loves mc. and I can win him over when I -ike." She was a little wide of the mark, for Pam Panmure was no fool, and her denial had but confirmed him in the impression that Ferguson had told the truth. All forenoon he wandered about restlessly, wondering what 'best to do in the circumstances, but he arrived at no decision, and after making a few calls strolled into his club. Here another surprise awaited him, for in the smoking room of the club he found Hugh Ladbroke seated alone, muttering to himself. Ladbroke waked up as Pam entered, scowled, then rose from bis chair. Obviously he had been drinking heavily, and his eyes were bloodshot. "You're the friend of Robin Adair, 'aren't you—eh?" he asked thickly with a sneer. "Nice sort of people you associate with! You'd change your mind . about him if you knew what he was— and I could tell you—yes, I could tell ; you. Not even entitled to the name he bears—a nobody—and worse." "Really!" Pam remarked coldly. "You seem to have some very exclusive in- ' formation." "Yes, I have," Ladbroke said trucnlently. "I'll make him look smallshame him. I know who Robin Adair ] is—he is a son—the nameless unacknowledged son of Lord Invercart and' some ' serving maid —that's what he is!" His face flamed with passion, and he spluttered out the whole story with many a vile oath. Pam, his nimble 'brain acting quickly, listened, interjecting an occasional question, and when he had heard Ladbroke out, he hurried club without a word by way of response. "A clue at last!" he muttered, as he reached the street, and drew a deep ibreath. "I am going to see Campbell Glouris, Lord Invercart, at once! If any man knows where Robin Adair is, he knows." j- (I'd be continued Gaily.)