DR. BURNEY'S GREATEST CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 242, 13 October 1925, Page 18

DR. BURNEY'S GREATEST CASE.

BY DIXON KATE.

CHAPTER XXXXV. Sir John Rufford'e hand trembled as he closed the door upon the dying man. "He is raving," lie repeated. "His words are meaningless." He opened the door of a sitting room opposite, entered it with Gilbert Burney, and closed it again. "Sir John Rufford," said Gilbert, when they were alone. "I do not attach much importance to Rawdon Weatcliffe's words; he is obviously dying, and is probably delirious. But I have an account to ask you for concerning your conduct when I was drugged in the Green Park Club. Are you prepared to give it?" Sir John sank his head in his hand. "Do you insist upon it now?" he pleaded. "I am ill and shaken. I am not fit for a long discussion." "There will be no discussion,"-Burney answered. "I want to know whether you were concerned in drugging mc; otherwise I cannot account for your conduct in the matter." Before, however, Sir John could answer, there was a sharp knock on the door and a police inspector entered, followed by two men in plain clothes. "I must detain you two gentlemen " the inspector began, and then stopped. "I beg pardon, Sir John," he continued, "but I did not recognise you at first. Wβ have just raided the Green Park Club and came on here through the subway, which has now been cleared. I am bound to account for every person found on these premises." Sir John smiled faintly. "It will not be difficult to account for Dr. Burney here, and mc," he answered. "We are both in attendance on a gentleman in the next room who is dying." "That is quite satisfactory, Sir John," the inspector answered. "Will you kindly tell mc the name of the gentleman who is dying?" "His name is Rawdon Westcliffe," Sir John replied. The inspector gave a visible start. "Rawdon Westcliffe!" he repeated, "and he is dying? He is lucky!" "Why is he lucky?" asked Gilbert Burney. "Because," answered the inspector, "there is a warrant just issued for his arrest and the arrest of Lord Helmore, on a charge of murder." "Whose murder?" cried Gilbert in alarm. "The murder of Captain Melroee," the polise officer answered. "And -has Lord Helmore been arrested ?" Sir John asked. "No," was the reply; "and in my opinion he will not be captured very easily. He is very clever and has any amount of money at his disposal; so has that Indian doctor who has got away witJi him." "Iβ there no clue?" asked Sir John. "Not the slightest. They are supposed to be hiding together in the opium dens in the Eaet End of London, disguised as Lascars. Our men have searched them all, but it is like looking, for a needle in a haystack among the hundreds of Asiatics." "Do you think you will get them? asked Gilbert. ' "Oh! we are 'bound to get them in ■time," was the answer. "That is, if they are alive." The inspector was about to leave the room when Sir John stopped him. "In the next room with the dying man," he said, "is the sister, Mies Weetcliffe. I trust you will not in any way disturb her." "You may rely upon it that we shall not," the inspector answered. "I quite understand." "Wβ can do no good here," Sir John remarked to Gilbert when they were alone. "Give mc two or three days to collect myself and to prepare a statement, and I will give you all the information you ask for, whatever it may cost mc." He looked old and worn as Gilbert -gave ihim the respite he asked for; Gilbert could not help recollecting the time when he received so much kindness from the now broken old man. He saw Sir John going down the stairs with, bowed 'head as he turned to enter the room in winch Cora knelt toy the bed of her dying brother. .But 'almost as he entered, Rawdon Westcliffe threw back hie head, and took hie errors to the judgment of another world. CHAPTER XXXV. With all the tender consolation that Gilbert could give her, it Was a long time before Cora got over the shock of her brother's death. She returned at once, by Gilbert's advice, to Morton Manor, which was now hers, together with -what little remained of her brother's fortune, but there had been certain portions of his fortune tied up in a< settlement, which he could not touch. Still, Cora was a very rich girl. Gilbert had suggested a chaperon to Cora, some clergyman's widow, who could play propriety till they were married. But this Cora resented. "As we are to be married so soon," she pleaded, "is is worth while?" Mrs. Williams, now a widow, for the poor old butler had passed away, was promoted to housekeeper, and in that role, according to Cora's liberal ideas on the pomt provided all the protection she needed. T^^-.r 8 are marri ed, dearest," suggested Gilbert, as they were idling away a lovely summer afternoon in the old gardens at Morton, "what do you think of my removing to Harley Street? The last book of mine Bee m ß to have created some little notice in the medical world and ac I have my own money—and have' saved some—why should I not start as a specialist?" "That would be very nice indeed" commented Cora; "but let us always spend our week-ends at Morton " As Gilbert was as fond of the place as Cora was, that point was soon settled. "And now," suggested Gilbert, with his arm round her, "when shall we be married?" "Not just yet," pleaded Cora; "not until some time has elapsed. I have only just lost Rawdon." But Gilbert pleaded with her, and it was settled that they ehould be married very quietly two months from that day. Then Cora asked a question very anxiously. . . "Have the police arrested Helmore and the Indian yet?" she asked. "No," answered Gilbert, "there is not a word of news about it in the newspapers. If the police know anything thly are keeping very reticent. I asked our inspector in Redborough whether anything had transpired, and he told mc he had heard nothing. Scotland Yard would give absolutely no

information on the point. He told mc that he believed the TTard' was at fault, and that Helmore and the Indian had for the time baffled them. With unlimited means at his disposal and unusually clever brains, Helmore had set them at defiance. Hidden, perhaps, in some opium den in the East End of London, he and the Indian doctor were 1 probably awaiting an opportunity to get away as stowaways on some ship with a crew ot friendly Lascars. Once out of the country, our Inspector thought they might get clear away." "It is an awful thing to think," said Cora, "that two men with such terriDle powers are at large." "Yes, it is," agreed Gilbert. "But, my dear," he added, "if all criminals had the advantages of Lord Helmore, I don't think many would be caught. He must be more than a millionaire, and money can do, I am afraid, most things in this world. Once in India, he and Mir Abdullah, no doubt, would make for the North-West Frontier." "But how can Lord Helmore get money," Cora asked, "if he is in hiding?" "A man running the risks that he did probably had a large sum handy in small notes, and bonds to bearer, sufficient to keep him for years." The days and -weeks passed, and Cora and Gilbert drew nearer to the day on which their quiet wedding was to take place. Gilbert, with an impatient lover's forethought, had already got the license. All was ready, even Cora's simple trousseau, and a new maid engaged to accompany her on the honeymoon. Both had declared for the Italian lakes, and the Riviera when the weather got cooler. Meanwhile, Gilbert worked hard, as usual, at his Redborough practice; none the less hard because he was in negotiation with a clever young doctor, who wished to buy it for nearly double the sum Gilbert had paid for it. Patients had flocked to benefit by his wonderful talent. So he and Cora also had in view one of the modernised houses in Harley Street, a house bright and cheerful in comparison with the other old Georgian mansions in the street. So all went well until the first few days of September —their wedding was fixed for the middle of the month —and then came a shock to Gilbert which, by its force and suddenness, well-nigh unhinged him. He had spent the lovely afternoon and evening with Cora; they had been very happy together, wandering like children through the old gardens of the Manor. They had parted, like the couple of young lovers they were-, with kisses under the bright moonlight, and Cora had stood watching Gilbert as he sped in his car down the drive. He looked back and saw her waving to him from the top of the flight of steps. He had reason to remember that last glimpse of her afterwards. He had hardly reached his house when the telephone bell rang. He went to it at once, thinking it was a call from a patient. It was not; it was the voice of Mre. Williams which he heard. "Oh, sir," she cried in great distress, "come at once. You had hardly left when two Indians came. One was the same—" The message broke off, and no amount of frantic ringing on Gilbert's part restored communication. He was almost' beside himself with alarm, but he did not hesitate .to act at once. \ He went to his room and put in hie pocket a email automatic pistol with which he had recently provided himself. Then, putting on a motoring coat, he went back to his car, which he had only just put up in the garage, and started without a moment's delay for Morton Manor. Passing through the town, he stopped at the police station and gave information of the occurrence just as he had received the newe from old Mre. William*. Hβ left the sergeant busily writing the account in his book, and headed for Morton Manor. It was dark when he reached the lodge gate, and found it closed, but he was too impatient to wait for tie lodge-keeper to open it, but got out of his car, lifted the gate off its hingee, and swept it back. He had reason after to regret this act of impatience. Then he rushed the avenue at full speed. Arrived at the door of the Manor House, he found it closed; there was no sign of a light in the whole house. He rang several times and knocked hard on the door, with a stone he picked up from the drive. But there was no answer. Then he -became frantic, rushing round the house, and calling continually upon Cora by name. But no one answered him. Then he heard the eound of a car, and, when it reached him, to his great relief Superintendent Johnson from Redborough stepped out of it. "This is likely to be a big business, Dr. Burney," he said. "Directly I got your report I came on here. Have you formed any sort of idea who these two Indians may be?" Gilbert was dazed with the shock, and could form no definite idea; his one longing was to discover news of Cora. "No," he answered, "I have formed no idea. Who are they?" "Are you not aware that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Lord Helmore on a charge of murder, and that he has escaped and ia supposed to be in hiding with an Indian doctor T" "My God!" exclaimed Gilbert Burney, "you don't say that you think these are the two men?" "I think it very probable," answered the Superintendent, " and I have taken every precaution. I have commandeered a racing car."

While he was speaking two more cars had come thundering up the drive, one a powerful eight-cylinder. From these descended a number of constables, who quickly proceeded to surround the house, while a blacksmith prepared to break down the front door. But he had hardly delivered a few blows upon it, and the constables had not completed their circle round the house, when from the direction of the stable yard there came like a streak a long grey racing car of enormous power. It swept past the group of policemen before one could raise a hand, but not before it had been noted that it contained three figures, two men and a woman, closely muffled in a cloak. As it passed the police cars the man who was not driving stood up and fired several pistol shots at their wheels, but apparently without effect. "There is not a moment to be lost," cried the Superintendent; "we must follow them in the big car. I believe the lady in the car is Miss Westcliffe." Even as she swept by the same thought struck Gilbert. There was a familiar look even in her muffled form. The Superintendent and Gilbert entered the big car, the chauffeur took his place, and the vacant seats were filled by constables. Then the car set off at full speed down the drive after the fugitives. Certainly not a minute had been lost in getting away. Then Gilbert bitterly regretted lifting the lodge gate off its hinges. The time taken in opening it would have allowed them to come up with the grey car. (To be continued daily.)