THE MYSTERY OF MADEMOISELLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 2 November 1925, Page 20

THE MYSTERY OF MADEMOISELLE.

BY WTLXIAM _E QTTSTJX.

CHAPTER VIII. Room Number 320. Having established herself in the hotel, Joy awaited an opportunity of speaking to Cecile. Apparently the latter was out during the afternoon, for though Joy searched the public -rooms, she was unable to discover her. Not until dinnertime did she see her, when Cecile took her place at a table with a man of a somewhat odiously handsome bearing.

Joy, who had seen Cecile through the dining-room door, did not herself enter the room. She wished to see the French girl alone. She would have to wait until the man had left. Meanwhile she would go to a neighbouring restaurant, and have a meal herself. It was after this, when she wa3 returning to the hotel, that she saw Mademoiselle and her companion stepping into .a taxi. The man looked about him suspiciously, as though afraid of being seen. Indeed, there seemed an obviou3 air of mystery about them as they disappeared into the conveyance.

Joy quickly called another taxi and bade the driver follow the other to it 3 destination. This proved to be not far distant, for the car containing Cecile and her friend presently drew up outside a tobacconist's shop in one of the smaller streets on the outskirts of the city. Joy, who had been watching the other car through the window of her own, hastily sprtke through the speaking tube to the driver, telling him to drive slowly past the other vehicle. Then, from the recess of the taxi, she watched Mademoiselle Cecile and her companion alight. They were met by a man in a dark overcoat, who had evidently awaited them. Then the trio disappeared through a door between the tobacconist's shop, and that adjoining it.

As soon as the empty taxi had gone, Jop stopped her own, and bidding the man wait, entered the tobacconist's shop and asked to be shown a selection of Egyptian cigarettes. Whilst the man was engaged in serving her, Joy chatted to him. Then she said: "I did not know that there were flats above these shops until I just saw some people go upstairs. Are they ni.e flats? I am looking for one." The tobacconist described the flats, wherupon Joy asked who were the people who had the rooms above the shop. "I couldn't tell you, Miss," said the tobacconist. "They seem to be foreigners. They have only been there a few weeks." "Whet sort of .foreigners?" asked Joy. "That again I couldn't tell you," answered the man. "They don't interest mc except that they occasionally come in for cigarettes. I think the flat is occupied by two men. I've seen no woman about." Joy forbore to question the tobacconist further, and returned to her taxi, instructing the driver to take her back to Ker hotel. She had no definite plan, but when she found herself again in the hotel, she decided upon a bold stroke. It

seemed clear to her now that the French girl was mixed up in some way with a set of foreigners, who, no doubt f had some mysterious business afoot. She was practically certain in her own mind that it all concerned her brother's disappear - anc. She decided to enter Mademoiselle's room, whilst she wa3 out, in search of further clrea. There was, of course, the risk of her returning, but it was unlikely. On the pretence of ascertaining it any friends of hers were staying in the hotel, she looked over the names in the big register at the reception counter. There she discovered that the number of the mademoiselle's room was 320. A few minutes later' she was in the corridor in which the room was situated. For a few moments her courage failed her. What, right had she to do as she proposed, to enter another girl's room; The idea suddenly seemed repellent to her. And yet ! There was no knowing what she might not discover in that room. For all she knew, the -whole secret of Gerald's disappearance might lie behind that I white enamelled door. Regaining courage, she went to the chambermaids' room in the corridor, and explained that she had come upstairs without the key. Would they mind opening the door of room 320. And so it was that a. few minutes later Joy found herself standing in the seclusion of Mademoiselle's hedroom She had prepared herself for shocks when she had set out to follow the French girl, but she had not quite expected a shock like that which awaited her when she entered room 320. Standing on the mantelpiece, in a delicate gilt frame, was a photograph of Gerald* Hutton. At first Joy could hardly believe that it wa3 a photograph of her own brother which looked out upon her. But there was no mistaking it. There were the same clear, steadfast eyes and the selfsame whimsical mouth. But she had never seen the photograph before, and its appearance in the French girl's room amazed her, especially as it. was so placed as to indicate that' Cecile was on very close terms with the original.

Then Joy gradually Decame aware of something strange in the atmosphere of the room. At first she was unable to decide what it was. Certainly there was the delicate aroma of some Eastern scent. But that was not all. There was another, an entirely different scent which seemed to linger in the air unmixed with the other. Suddenly a previous recollection of the scent flashed upon Joy. It was the queer aroma which had hung about -the mysterious fifty pound note. ner next move would be to open the drawers in the dressing table in search of further clues. She hated the thought of it, but when she glanced up at the photograph of Gerald _Sic felt imbued with new strength. Anything, she told herself, was justifiable in the cause of saving her brother. She took the handle of the drawer and was about to open it when a sweet voice behind her said: "Ah! I'm afraid you musn't do that!" Joy had not closed the door when had entered the room. Mademoiselle, who had gently pushed the door open when she found someone in

her room, had come upon Joy in the very act of opening one of the drawers. Joy turned, startled, at the voice. Then, seeing the French girl standing there, she turned deadly pale. "I —I'm sorry!" she muttered. Then she sat down on the bed, a sudden weakness taking hold of her. Cecile quietly closed the door. Then she removed the coat she was wearing, revealing her slim, exquisitely gowned figure. She seated herself in a divan chair and regarded Joy with a certain amount of compassion. "How very, very awkward," she said quietly. Joy, who wa3 slowly recovering from her fright, made no reply. .She was trying to think clearly. Should she throw herself on the mercy of Mademoiselle, or should she take a firm line and demand to know as a right that which she wa3 endeavouring to discover by investigation ? "What are you going to do?" she asked Joy at last. "I Liiink it is I to ask what you are going to do," said Cecile, with a half smile. "How is it that you have followed mc up here?" "Surely you need not ask," answered Joy, with a little show of spirit. "I am trying to do all I can to find my brother." Both girls glanced instinctively at the photograph on the mantelpiece. "Ah! Mr. Hutton," murmured Cecile meditatively. "Yes, Mr. Hutton, whose photograph you have there," said Joy. "I know, as a matter of course, that it was horribly wrong of mc to come up to your room, but you admit that I have some justification." "None that I can see," answered Cecile. "You could have come to mc and asked any questions' you wished. I have not refused to answer anything. How can you be justified?" "I —I wanted to find out things," replied Joy w-eakly. "You are so mysterious. I am sure you could help us "if you wished. But as you won't, I must do what I can myself." "Does Mr. Elmore know that you are following mc about like this;" asked Cecile suddenly. At the mention of Dennis' name, Joy was moved to some show of anger. "I don't see that the nameYf Mr. Elmore need enter our conversation," she cried. "In any case you are probably very well acquainted yourself with what ' Mr. Elmore knows, despite the fact that he is my fiancee." Mademoiselle Cecile rose from her chair and moved towards the door, her action suggesting that Joy should leave the room. "For that remark,"' she said quietly, and very slowly, "I shall refuse to talk to you any more. You are quite right. I could help you in many ways, but now, I'm afraid, I cannot give you any assistance. I am going to bed now. Please take my advice and go back to London in the morning, as soon as ever you can." By this time Joy had moved out of the room and was standing in the corridor. She and-mademoiselle stood facing each other for a few seconds in silence. A smile as of sympathy overspread Cecile's face, and Joy felt a momentary desire to throw her arms about the charming creature and plead for forgiveness and

help. Overcoming it, however, she spoke a muttered "good-bye" and hurried away along the corridor. When she gained her room Joy flung herself upon the bed, her mind overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts and suspicions; and, above all, there was a sense of shame, for, somehow, there waa an air of magnanimity about Cecile which Joy felt she had not deserved. Then a new mood seized her. How could she be so silly, she asked herself, as to feel sentimental or generous towards mademoiselle when she practically stood convicted of complicity in the plot which had robbed her of her brother. No! she would never again allow herself to be vulnerable to Ceclie's charms. To-morrow she would return to London and tell Scotland Yard of her discoveries, and then, mademoiselle, beware! Meanwhile, during Joy's absence, Scotland Yard had been busy following up another clue. Inspector Bentley, who was now back again and once more in charge of the case, pursued inquiries with far more energy than Superintendent Shean had been willing to give. He was disappointed to find that Joy was not in London, for, not only did he admire her acumen, but he had a strong regard for her personally. Her frank manner and courageous eagerness made great appeal to him. It was, therefore, with much satisfaction that he received a telephone call from Joy two days later, announcing her return to town. During those two days much had happened. He had, among other things, heard from his man in Paris that the mysterious Mr. Burnham had been traced to that city, and that close watch was being kept upon him. He eagerly asked Joy to come round and see him later in the day. When Joy arrived, she observed by his face, that he had news for her, though she was willing to wager that it would pale in importance beside her own momentous discoveries. Almost immediately the inspector acquainted Joy of what had happened in Paris. Whilst he was speaking, the telephone bell rang. The inspector put the receiver to his ear and listened intently. "Very good," he said presently. ''"Keep the closest watch. I will come up and see you in an hour's time." Bentley replaced the receiver and j turned to Joy. "Miss Hutton, we are in luck's way." jhe said. 'Charlea Burnham is again at ! the Regent. He has been followed from iPari?Y Joy gave an exclamation of delight. "Splendid." she cried. "That, together | with what I am going to tell you will surely clear up the mystery." (To be continued daily.)