"PRINCE PUNNIE."

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 190, 12 August 1922, Page 23

"PRINCE PUNNIE."

By _ARTHUR W. CMARCHMONT.

(Author of "Wfeen i Wm» Cx__r," ate, etc)

CHAPTER XX. ! ILADI BEY IS DISCOVERED. I In view c: Mrs. Ambrose's chamge of attitude, it was clearly necessary to ' keep her under observation, so I went to make the necessary arrangement at once and thus did not reach home until it ' was time to dress for the Mostyns" dinner. | ■Mason w in. for him. exuberant spirit-. That is tc* say. he allowed him■self the iuxury of quite a broad smile when he s to report the happenings during my absence. | The listening po-t had at last begun to-field results. Mason had heard Mahjuoud and '_ian:on discussing Mrs. A__ibrose. "It wasn't very clear, sir." he said, "but the Pasha seemed very pleased. ] heard him say two things quite distinctly". "1 must go out at once" and 'Ie had better ':>» to-night.' He did go out sir. so I waited for him and left tbe key in the do><r when he came back.'" I "Did it come off*" "Yes. sir. He kept it about ten minutes and some time afterwards I heard fomeoiie tell him the key would be ready to-night" •'Well cone. Mason." I had a look at the key and. although it had been carefully cleaned, the microscope revealed some minute particles of wax which showed it had served its purpose. "Was jt before the Pasha went out or after his return, you heard him say Tt must be done to-night"?" j "Before, sir." ; 'You're quite certain?" "Oh, yes. sir. I wrote it down:" and he showed mc what he had written. ] This was something of a puzzle, but I decided to make it easy for the Pasha ; to search my Sat that evening. "Tell Adams that. _ls I shan't be' home till late. I've .riven you an evenins off. You might add casually that you're goins to a music hall." I said, and after making a few preparations which would enable mc to know if anyon? had searched my papers. I dressed and went off to the Mostyns. , I worried a little about the mysterious "it" that was to "'"be done" that night; and took the precaution of slipping a revolver into my pocket, lest "it' should mean violence of any sort. Tne evening was a failure so far as effecting any understanding with Olna. Her manner was certainly less antagonistic; but Celia made it impossible for us to get a word alone together. There was not one moment when eh» ■=-»"■ *>"♦ j wan ennsr Ulna or mc; and although Punnie did his best to detach her. even asking her to sing to him, she pleaded a cold. Nothing would induce her to slacken her vigilance.^ It was an open guess that this con-, dnct was in some way the result of her visit to Mrs. Ambrose: but it was im-' possible to think of any plausible coa-l netting link. Her googling tactics with mc were open and unashamed; and Olna j w.*iched her with a smiling interest j which made it difficult for mc to be civil i to the girl. j I was glad when the time came for] mc to set away. Punnie left with mc j and was quite wrathy about Celia. "She j did it on purpose, of course. Wish you lack, old man." he said, with a scoffing ! laueh. j "Thanks. Punnie." "She didn't mean you tofbe alone with <~Hna. but it doesn't matter much, because ; I've got a scheme. She and her mater 1 have talked so much about those war pictures at the Grafton that Olna wants to see them. We're going there alone together to-morrow afternoon. If you can manage to turn up there about three, well diddle Celia. Seem to drop in by and 111 clear off after a bit and leave you to it. Is it a go?" and I agreed readily. As nothing had yet occurred which suggested the Pasha's mysterious "it." I went up with him to his flat to make sure that "it" was not to occur there; and under one pretence or another, made sure there were do signs of trouble there. Unless the "it" had been postponed, therefore, the only person who could now be concerned was myself. There was a heavy log, and I kept a very sharp look out. but nothing occurred to rouse any suspicion during the few hundred yards I had to walk. •If any mischief was on foot, it would be waiting for mc in my flat, so instead of letting myself in with my latchkey, I rang the belL Mason did not come. A glance at my -watch told mc it was halfpast eleven. He would have been home an hour before. I rang again, and a third time, keeping my finger on the push. Still no reply, so I prepared for .iction. I took off my dress-coat and waistcoat, left them on the landing, swung my overcoat over my shoulders., and with my revolver ready, undid the door and pushed it wide open. Nothing happened, so I switched on the electric light. It was all as usual; not a thing was out of place. If snyone was waiting for mc. they wouij "probably expect mc to walk" straight into the diningroom. and must have been worried by mr ringing the bell. It was therefore prudent to reassure them. So I called loudly for Mason with drunken hw-coughing, swore vigorously, lurched against a chair and cursed more profusely than ever. Then tossing off mr great coat, I fumbled with the handle of the diningroom door and pushed it open vigorously. Something which had no business to be there, was behind it. More drunken curses covered my next move. I switched on tbe lights, paused a few seconds, crouched down and darted lorward. just escaping the grip of a couple of men who tried to seize mc. They -were both armed with knives and I turned and covered them before tbey got over the confusion of their failure, "Put your hands up, both of you," I thundered. °ne of them obeyed; but the other only made a pretence and possibly under the delusion that I was too drunk to. aim straight, made a rush for mc. A bullet through his hand undeceived him. It also convinced his companion that it was no place for him. for he bolted like a rabbit, while the other bound up his wound, regardless of the fact that I was covering him all the time. "What's the meaning of this?" I asked sternly. He went on binding the hand without even looking up. Then he glanced about for the knife he had dropped, spotted it on the other Fide of the room, and moved toward il. "Stay where you are," I ordered. -Again he took no notice, so I got to the knife first, put my foot on it, and pushed him out of the way. He wu at cool as a Stoic; gave up the attempt to

recover the knife, put nis injured iiand ', under his coat, and turned a wooden look on mc. * "What's the meaning of this" I asked again, and repeated the question in Turkish, adding that he knew hi. life was in my hands. He just shrugged his shoulders slightly and murmured the word "Kismet." Not another syllable could 1 get out of him whether by threats, persuasion, offers of money, or of liberty. There was nothing to be done except search him. and that I did thoroughly, without the faintest resistance from him. His eyes gleamed when I took twenty pounds in notes out of his pocket—the price for the job. no doubt—and he drew a quick breath when I came across a paper in Turkish which told mc al! 1 needed to know. Those were the only signs he made, except a gasp of astonishment and a lock of intense gratification when I gave him back his money and told him to go. ] returned his money because I knew the type. He hadn't the slightest feeling against mc: he had taken on the job solely for the money: and the return of it would render it very unlikely that he would ever be induced to make another attempt of the sort against mc. I found Mason lying on his bed. He was unhurt, but had been skilfully tied up. and was under the influence of some strong narcotic; I left him to sleep i! off. and in the morning he told mc what had occurred. He had returned about ten o'clock, and when he entered the kitchen, the two men had thrown a cloth over his head and doped him. He knew no more, of course. He was verysore about the affair, so I made.light of what had occurred. ; As Mahmoud was sure to be anxious for news, it Feemed only polite to re- : lieve his concern, so 1 dropped in during the morning to ask h<_Kv he was. He was manifestly surprised to see mc: but_ we had quite a friendly little chat r.nd as 1 wa* leaving I urged him to be careful about thieves. "They got into my place last night: I fancy thpy must have got hold of a key. somehow or other, but the police will soon see to that." I added, with a laugh, as I shook hands with him. He tried to force a laugh in reply, but the effort was not a success. The mention of the latchkey .-nd the police shook him up considerably. I I lunched at my club and went from there to the meeting -with Olna. She , and Punnie had done most of the pictures when I arrived, and he so overacted his surprise that, when he fudged some excuse to leave us alone, she asked j mc point blank whether it was a chance j meeting. "Certainly not. He let out that you were comin_r here, and I de-eided that I also wished to see all these." She laughed, and it was both a relief and a charm to hear it. "And is he I cominsr back. Captain \A himster?" "I think not. I shall be disappointed in him if he does." "And why, pray" "I'm inclined to think he wishes us to have a quiet chat v together. Shall we sit down ?" She hesitated but decided to adopt the suggestion. I think picture gallefies ought to be subsidised by the -Mate, they "make such excellent rendezvous. "Have you anything very particular to say to mc?" she asked after a moment. "Isn't it your turn?" "Why should it be? r ' "I tried to give you the chance last night, but " "Celia," she finished for mc as I paused. "Unfortunately." "Unfortunately ?" she echoed with a lift of the brows and a smile. "That was the word I used—and meant." "I don't think I understand~you." "I'm quite sure you don't." She puckered her brows over this. "Are you going to explain then?" "About what?" "Well, there are many things." "I did my best to make some of them clear the day before yesterday, but it wasn't exactly an unqualified success, I'm afraid." *" "You don't suggest it was my fault, surely ?" "I "do. That's just it. When the temperature drops suddenly from a comfortable summer heat to umpteen degrees below zero, one generally likes to know what has caused the frost." "What degree on your rather strange thermometer 'indicates indifference, Captain Whimster?" "Something below: summer heat and yet much above distrust, Miss Meredith. Depends upon the amount of it." She paused aDd played with the handle of her bag. "Are you going to persist in your refusal of the governors-hip?" she asked. "Saturally that would depend upon the weather." "The weather?" she" asked, momentarily puzzled. v "As indicated by the thermometer, of course." ' "How stupid of mc. Well. Peter does not wish you to refuse it." I "My thermometer doesn't register the weather with him. You see, there's no distrust to affect it in his case." I"I thought we had done with the I thermometer." "I hope we have done with the distrust. Much more important." 'You lilake a great deal of it." "Officially it is vital" "Only officially?" "When it's a matter of duty personal considerations can't be allowed to weigh with one." Again she paused. ""You drive a hard bargain, Captain Whimster." she said, with a slight toss of tbe head. "Meaning ?" "You are trying to compel tne to gay I wish you to continue with us." "Scarcely compel, really. I merely wish to know your desire." "Never mind the actual words, but you are driving mc into a corner." "Then shall we talk about the pictures. Now, that sketch of Mons " "Please," she interrupted; and there was another pause until, she smiled and said, "This is not very official, perhaps; Ido wish you to help us, but'l didn t intend to admit it"; and she looked very straight at mc with her head well back and a tinge of colour on her cheeks. "And the distrust f "Ther. never wag any really." "Only annoyance or —or pique?" "1 think it's time I went," she declared rising. "There is still a great deal I hava t* say.'-

"I think we've ..aid a <_reat deal j already: and I'd rather leave it for i another time." "I will make an official call at King's j Gardens, and then " | "I will explain to Celia." she finished for mc. Hub an unnecessarily innocent | smile. ."One of us mast, of course." 1 agreed | ( very gravely, a- we went out into the ] street- "Shall I pet yon a taxi." | "I have to call at one shop, thank i yon." | •May I walk with you'" 'Jn an official capacity?" she rallied. i "Nn. strictly personal thi- time." "By a'l mean-, then:" and we nalKed on tope.her. little dreaming of what lay . juct ahead of v*. | ! She went back to the subject of Celia < and. with an air of much seriousness. was chipping mc about her. when a bi,2 j man Ftopr-e 1 in front of us. raised his i hands in astonishment, and. st3r;np at j , us both exclaimed in a deep voice loud { enough to be heard acros= the street. "If thi* dwin't box tlie compas-! By thunder: How d'ye do. Miss Meredith?" and he thrust ou! hi- hand. O'.na did not recognise him: but 1 did. ! I knew him too well: and a chill ran] up mv spine. It was Admiral Brunnicke. . the one man who know the secret she ■ had so long sought in vain to learn. i •You don't know mc: but I knew you i in a second.. I should have known ;\ou i ,-yen if you hadn't been with our friend. Had; Bey. there:'' and he clapped mc on the shoulder and laughed heartily. "Now do you remember?" he asked her. "I waC.n. on that island when he brought you with him.'' (To be continues daily.)