THE MYSTERY OF MADEMOISELLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 261, 4 November 1925, Page 18

THE MYSTERY OF MADEMOISELLE.

BY WILLIAM LE QUEUX. COMMENCE THIS FINE SERIAL THE MYSTERY OF MADEMOISELLE. SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. GERALD HUTTON, a brilliant young diplomatlsti has mysteriously disappeared. His sister JOY, and her fiance, DENNIS ELMORE, are endeavouring to solve the mystery, la conjunction with Scotland Yard. It transpires that Gerald travelled from Italy with a young French actress. MADEMOISELLE CECILS, who, it Is clear, knows something of Gerald, but she discloses nothing. Dennis ia obviously fascinated by the French girl, and Joy is furiously jealous. Ceclle and Dennis have a tete-a-tete, but the latter is unable to discover anything about Gerald. Joy returns home and finds a letter addressed to her brother, inside being another addressed to a Mr. Burnham, unsealed, and containing a fifty pound note. Joy (who is the daughter of Sir James Hutton, ei-Home Office analyst), with the aid of an old friend, JACK TRAVERS, analyses the gum on the envelope addressed to Burnham, and discovers that It is Impregnated with a fatal poison. Joy Hutton and Travers visit Scotland Yard, and find that the note has been traced as part of the proceeds of a French burglary. Dennis visits the cabaret where Ceclle dances. Joy hears Dennis is meeting Cecile. She is Intensely miserable. Joy learns Ceclle has gone to Scotland. She follows, and breaks into Cecile's room at an hotel in Glasgow, in the hope of finding a clue. Cecile surprises her therer and a dramatic situation arises. Mr. Burnham returns to London, and is watched by the police. CHAPTER X. The Hand of the Enemy. "Yes, I am-going to arrest him," repeated the inspector. "We will see what he has got to say for himself now. It won't be so easy to bluff this time." "It certainly seems plain sailing," was Barker's comment. Then, after the two officers had formulated their plan of action they went round to the hotel where their man was staying. At the time of their call, Burnham was upstairs in his room. Together Barker and Bentley went up and knocked at the door of his room. Burnham, thinking it was one of the hotel servants, at once opened the door, and the police officers stepped quickly inside. Immediately Burnham saw that one of the two men was Bentley he sprang quickly to the dressing table, and, opening._. drawer, drew out a revolver which he raised against his visitors. The inspector, however, was too quick for him, and with a quick movement knocked Burnham's arm up sharply. Then, before the latter could make a counter-move, he wrested the weapon from him. "Not quite smart enough!" said Bentley t when Burnham ceased to show signs of resistance. "You are a poor hand with a gun." "I admit it," said Burnham, crestfallen. "I only carry it about with mc in the hope that it might prevent intrusions of this kind. What do you want with mc now? I told you all I could in London." "Not all," remarked the inspector grimly, as he proceeded to arrest Burnham oh suspicion of being connected with the robbery at Moret. Burnham listened closely to the officer' 3 words. "If you behave yourself, no one will know that you are under arrest. We shall catch the next boat to England." "As you will," said Burnham, "it is obviously useless for mc to resist you. You will regret all this, nevertheless, when we get back again across the water." "Meanwhile, I shall search your ■ baggage," eaid the inspector, ignoring the other's words and proceeding to examine the contents of Burnham's two bags, Except for the miniature he found nothing else to implicate Burnham. "I shall retain this," he said. "By all means," retorted Burnham, affably. Their voyage and the train journey to London next day were without any untoward incident. "Burnham quite gave himself up to the idea of being undei arrest, and at times chatted volubly with hi 3 captors. On their arrival at Scotland Yard, Bentley lost no time in taking his- man before Superintendent Shean, to whom Burnham repeatedly protested his innocence. "I hope I have at last met someone in possession of his sanity," he said. "Your friend Bentley here seems to be very scantily endowed with it. Please get voui questioning over as soon as possible. 1 am tired." The Superintendent then put various questions to Burnham, all of which the latter seemed to answer satisfactorily Not until the subject of the miniature cropped up, did he show any signs oi being perturbed. "You know where this came from,' said Shean. "It is part of the proceeds oi a burglary at Moret." "I was not aware of that," answered the other. "If you wish to know, j bought that miniature from a mar named Mertens, who has an office in the Rue de Rivoli, in Paris." "In which case we must detain you whilst we investigate your story," replied Shean. A little Scotland Yard was ir telephonic communication with the Paris police, who, on the following morning reported that the story told by Burnham was quite true. The man Mertens remembered selling the miniature to him. He himself had obtained it under apparently honest circumstances, and had had it in his shop for some time before he had sold it to Burnham. "So what are we to do?" asked Shean of Bentley. "We cannot keep him here oc such slight grounds, and since he denies all knowledge of Mr. Hutton, and we can't prove he is lying, we have no optior but to let him go." "It certainly seems like it," agreed Bentley, and so it came about that Burn-ham-was released with the-usual stifi official apologies for his having been detained at all. Shean, however, retained the miniature for the time being. "I still think _c has had a hand in it all the same," said the latter, when Burnham had gone. "Your case is certainly growing more interesting. I will see that an extra man is put to follow up Miss Hutton's clues in Dublin and Belfast." In the course of the inquiries which he made after the release of Mr. Burnham. Inspector Bentley discovere- that during his absence in Jersey, Cecile had returned to London and had resumed her dancing at 1 -the cabaret. He also learnt that Joy Hutton had returned to her home in Gloucestershire, having left a message that she would be back in town again without delay. The inspector decided to call upon mademoiselle, and make a few inquiries of her. He found her as charming as when he had first seen her in his office at Scotland Yard. The difference now was that she was on her own ground and more able to reply with composure. She gave nothing away, and seemed to show a gentle resentment at being interrogated.

Yes, I have, been to Ireland and to Scotland," she said. "Miss Hutton would, • of course, teil you that. A dear girl, but ■ —ah—so irresponsible. Why should she • follow mc? I, too. am anxious that her brother be found, _ liked him and am sorry to see his sister behavm fe so impetuously. 1 might have helped her in some way, but now—no!" "Why did you go on that journey, mademoiselle?" asked Bentley. ( "Why should I not?" asKed Cecile. . I have not to ask you or anyone else where I shall go or whom I shall see. If I am doing anything against the law you have your remedy. Use it." "I shall use it all right, if I find it necessary," said Bentley somewhat threateningly. If he expected to awe the French girl, however, he was mistaken, for Cecile burst into a little trill of silvery laughter, which brought a smile to Bentley _ face, despite him- ; self. "So you are growing sharp-tem-pered," she cried. "Be calm, monsieur. If you find out that I have done anything wrong you can arrest mc, but until then " And this was about as far as Bentley got in his efforts to gain information from Cecile. On the day after his interview with the Parisian actress the detective received a visit from Joy. She had, on hearing of the flight of Burnham, and of the inspector's pursuit, returned to her father's house. Here she found Sir James "considerably better, though still not allowed to * leave his room. Together father and daughter discussed the many things which had happened since they last had met, but it was clear to Joy that her father's reasoning had suffered considerably from his recent illness. Obviously she could not expect much help from the onetime famous analyst. She must work alone; this especially as she found that Dennis had left his own home a few days ago for Scotland. Was there any connection between his visit and the recent presence in the Scottish capital of mademoiselle. It was a question which caused her an amount of uneasy feeling until, on her return to London, she heard from Inspector Bentley that Cecile had returned to. town. Jay was bitterly disappointed when she learnt from Inspector Bentley that Mr. Burnham had been arrested and allowed to go again. It was unthinkable! The man was obviously connected with the affair. Bentley explained, as well as he was able, that there were limitations to the powers of the police to keep people in prison. That night, after dining alone, Joy repaired to her own room, where she attempted to read a novel in the hope of temporarily forgetting her troubles. Presently there was a knock on ber door. Joy opened it to find a page bearing in his hand a salver on which lay a visiting card. "A gentleman to see you, miss," said the boy. Joy took up the card and examined it. It bore the name of William Voles, but carried no address. What amazed Joy, however, was a rough pencil scrawl in one corner, obviously in her brother's writing. "Please see him —G." were the words which Joy found some difficulty in deciphering. "Tell the gentleman to wait," she said to the boy; then, when he had gone, she sat down in a chair and gazed fascinated at the strip of pasteboard. What could it mean? Clearly the person downstairs would know something of Gerald and his whereabouts. It seemed almost too good to be true! A little later -she went downstairs into the hall, where a porter indicated the man who had come to see her. Joy made an attempt to hide her eagerness and bowed formally to her visitor. "You wish to see mc, I understand," she said. "Please come into the lounge." Mr. Voles followed her out of the hall. He was a tall, thin man, with a gomewhat ugly, drooping moustache. His clothes, smart at first glance, proved, on closer acquaintance, to have attained a degree of seediness. Joy at once decided that, whatever he was, he was certainly not Gerald's stamp, and, therefore, unlikely to be a friend of his. "I see my brother's writing on your card." said JO7 when they were seated. "I hope you have come to tell mc something about him. What do you know?" "You will learn what I know, presently, Miss Hutton," said Voles. "Your brother once did mc a good turn, and I am now in the very happy position of being able to repay it." "That is pood of you," said Joy. "Kindly continue." "I don't want you to ask mc a lot of questions," continued Voles. "Thes fact, is, however, that I have means of seeing your brother, and as a matter of fact. I am going to sec him again to-night." "I hardly know how to thank you," exclaimed Joy. "Can you take a message to him?" Whilst she spoke she was rapidly debating in her own mind whether she would follow Voles when he left the Jiotel. "I can do more than send a message," said Voles. "I can, if you wish it, take you to see him. It will be rather dangerous, but if you pose as my wife we may possibly manage it. You may not have a chance of seeing him alone, but " "Oh, I don't mind that." cried Joy. "I shall be so happy to see him and to know that he is all right." "I'm afraid you will not find him all right, Miss Hutton," eaid Voles. "However, you will at lea«,t be able to see for yourself. When will you be ready?" "In ten minutes," said Joy. "Please wait." So saying she hurried to her room and hastily put on her coat and hat. She admitted to herself that she hardly liked the appearance of Mr. William Voles, but he spoke sincerely and seemed to bear miich genuine gratitude to Gerald. There was a risk, of course, but that was only to be expected. Soon she rejoined Voles, and with him left the hotel^ "I have a taxi waiting," said Voles as he indicated a shabby-looking vehicle. Just as she was about to enter the cab Joy's eyes met those of a man standing on the kerb. For a moment she thought the man recognised her, but decided that she was mistaken when he moved away. Had she known, it was none other than Barker, the henchman of Inspector- Bentley. Voles opened the door of the taxi and ushered Joy into it. To her surprise she found a man already seated in it. In answer to her startled exclamation Voles 6poke reassuringly. "It is quite all right, Miss Hutton," he said. "This is a friend of mine; a helper, if I may say so." As the taxi sped along, Joy knew that the city was being left behind, and that they were driving through one of the slum • districts on the edge of the metropolis. Suddenly Voles produced a handkerchief. "I'm going to blindfold yem? be said.

Joy sprang from her seat, only to he pulled down roughly by Voles' friend, who kept hold of her wrists whilst Voles tied the handkerchief over her eyes. A cry escaped her lips. "Be quiet, you little fool," snarled Voles, "or you'll get something to quieten you." At that moment the car drew to a standstill, and Joy was hurried out. •She felt herself being partly carried upstairs. Then she heard a door slam behind her, a heavy slam which seemed to have entirely parted her from the outside world. (To be continued daily.)