THE GIRL IN THE PURPLE MASK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 10, 13 January 1926, Page 16

THE GIRL IN THE PURPLE MASK.

■ : Br ROLAND VANE, j

Author of "BntterCy or tne Catmret," "Serat the Sheik," etc. CHAPTER XXIX. Woodward Scores a Point. So far she had not been able to do so, for Barrowby had watched her like a cat, and she had been afraid to trust any of the hotel servants in case they were in his pay. Also, she had no money, for Barrowby, although he spent money on her, allowed her nothing, for herself. As Barrowby did not reply to her last remark, ahe got to her feet. "I'm tired of being cooped up here," she said. ""Take mc out." Barrowby shrugged his shoulders. "Very well," he said. "We will go I to the Kartnerstrasse, But first of all to the post office. There may be letters for mc." Marion had noticed that he did not have his letters sent to the hotel. At the post office, of course, he was forced to reveal his English identity, for he had to produce hie passport before he could claim his letters. Less than an hour later Marion entered the post office with Ijim, and they made their way to the poste restante. There was nothing for Barrowby, and they left. As they were passing down the steps of the building, an obvious American bumped against Marion. "Pardon," gnadiges fraulein," he said, as he recovered himself, and raised his hat. Something in the voice struck Marion as familiar. She looked more closely at the man. Despite the American clothes, the Stetson hat and the tinted hornrimmed spectacles, there was something about him that made her heart leap. The next moment, with a quick motion, the man placed a finger on his lips to .enjoin silence. Then the doors of the post olfice closed on him as he passed through them, leaving Barrowby and Marion outside—Barrowby totally unconscious of what had .happened, Marion wondered how on earth Woodward—for Woodward she was certain it was—had come to Vienna. At a discreet distance Woodward followed Barrowby and Marion. His long wait had come to an end at last. He had been in Vienna three days now, and knowing that 'Barrowby was receiving communications at the poste restante, he had watched it continuously in his American disguise. He had begun to think that Barrowby had left Vienna, when at last Fate had played into his hands. Barrowby and Marion walked slowly along the Ring—that wide boulevard which encloses the centre of Vienna. Woodward walked on the opposite side of the boulevard, keeping just a little couple he was following. Eventually Barrowby and Marion turned into a restaurant. Crossing the road, Woodward glanced in and saw that they were seated at actable and were apparently going to have- lunch. "Then they're safe there for about an hour," he said to himself. He walked on and turned at last into the elaborately furnished, "American Bar" of the Grand Hotel. Seating himself at a quiet little table in an alcove where he knew he would not be disturbed, he ordered a drink, and then turned his thoughts to the question of contriving an interview with Marion. "The only thing I , can do is to keep following them," he came to the conclusion at last. "If Barrowby will only leave her for a few minutes, I might be able to fix an appointment with her." When he considered that the couple he was watching would have finished their lunch he walked back along the Ring. A glance into the restaurant showed hhn that Barrowby was paying his bill? A few moments later they left —and the , "American" followed them. If Marion suspected that she and Barrowby were being followed she gave no hint of it. She, of ■ course, was just- as [ anxious to Have an interview with Wood-1 ward as he was to have one with»her. But-no chance seemed to offer itself. During the afternoon Barrowby , and Marion walked leisurely round Stadt Park. Woodward; afraid of cbeing noticed too often by Barrowby anoVthus arousing his suspicion, had to keep well in the background. .. ■; ■ Eventually' Barrowby and Marion turned into one of the great cafes oa the Ring, in- which an afternoon orche»« tral concert was being given.. -Wood* ward followed them. They sat at A table neaV the orchestra. Woodward sat at another, near them, but with hie back to them. - . - Hβ had chosen his seat well, for a mirror on the wall allowed him to see the reflection of Marion's face and the [ back of Barrowbyte head. Marion looked ' in the mirror. • Her; eyes' met those of Woodward,'and she'flashed a glance at him which told him that, she had recognised him. He gave an imperceptible hod. ■ ■ Barrowby was studying the programme of music. From her handbag Marion-took a cardboard box of cigarettes. It was almost full, but, carefully, ;so as not to be observed, she emptied i its contents under the table, leaving but ■ one in the box. ° Shortly afterwards she ' lit the cigarette. Barrowby had finished with the programme, had ordered coffee for Marion and a- lager for himself, arid was chatting airily to Marion. Marion threw down her finished cigarette at last, opened the box on the table to take another, and then, as though she had just noticed it was empty, turned to Barrowby. • "Do get mc some more cigarettes" she said. "Look, there's the cigarette stall over there. No, I don't like those you smoke." She waved away the case he handed to her and mentioned the name of an expensive brand. "Get mc some of those," ehe said. "I am sure they will stock them here." \ ' "You like to keep mc running at your beck and call, don't you?" said Barrowby, but nevertheless he left the table and walked over to the little counter where cigarettes were on sale-. It was the moment for which Marion had been waiting. Quick as a flash she brought out a pencil and scribbled some- I thing on the inside of the empty cardboard cigarette box which lay on the table before her. Then thrusting away the pencil, she closed the box and dropped it on the floor by her feet. Woodward had watched the whole proceedings' throush the mirror. Then, with a vigorous kick ehe propelled the box over the floor towards Woodward's table. i Again their eyes met in the mirror. She gave a nod in the direction of the cigarette box. Woodward nodded back. "Clever girl," his lips formed, and then Marion turned away, for Barrowby was ;back with a box of the cigarettes she "had wanted. Ten minutes later they left the cafe. No sooner had they gone than Woodward, bent down quickly and picked up 'the cigarette box. Eagerly lie opened ■■- " > '

it. There, in Marion's neat handwriting on the inside of the lid, were the words.: "Am staying at the Hotel Grauhof near the Prater. I must see yon, but you must be careful, for Barrowby watches mc like a cat." Woodward thrust the message in his pocket with a smile. "Does he?" he said to himself. "Well, it will take more than Mr. Bertram Barrowby to keep mc away from her." * ■ * * As the knock came to tlie door of her room Marion Scarborough turned. She had returned to the hotel some while previously, and had managed to get rid of Barrowby by telling him that she was suffering from a headache and wished to be alone. ■She had 'been gazing out of the window when the knock came—gazing out into the narrow alley and wondering what steps Woodward would take to meet her. She was certain, of course, that he would manage something. But she was not prepared to see the door swing open immediately after the knock, and the form of the disguised Wjjodward slip quietly into the room, as it did. "Forgive mc, Marion," gasped Woodward.' "I had no time to wait until you told mc to come in. I had to take the risk. Barrowby or anyone hanging around the corridor might have seen mc and got suspicious." • He crossed to her and placed his hands on her shoulders,' looking keenly into her face. CHAPTER XXX. An Interrupted Tete-a-Tete. "What lias happened, darling?" he asked. "What took place after you were carried away from Venice?" "Sit down, Harvey," said Marion, motioning him to the comfortable settee which stood in the room. "I aifi so glad you came, for I need your advice more than any girl ever needed a man's advice." She crossed to the door and turned the key in the lock. Should Barrowby come to her room now, he -would not be able to enter before she had been able to hide. Woodward somewhere. Then she returned and sat beside Woodward. He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes. "Tell mc everything," he asked. In a low voice she told him —told him how Barrowby had brought her to Vienna, and how, since then, he had hardly let her out of his sight. She told him., too, of the "offer" of partnership Barrowby had made. Woodward sat silently through the recital, only nodding his* head now and again to- signify that she could have done nothing else than she had done. When she had finished, a silence fell upon'them. "You will be wondering how I got on. the track," he said at last. Then he went on to tell her of his suspicions at Venice, and how he had discovered that Degreville had wired to Barrowby at Vienna. , "After you left the cafe in Kartnerstrasse to-day," he concluded, "I made my way to the cafe opposite .md kept watch on this hotel. I waited my opportunity."- There is a restaurant attached to_,th« .hotel,, and I went there. When leaving. I- sa.w ; - that? the coast was clear-and I' slipped along to this room. I knew it was yours, because I looked at the hotel regieter down* below, and made a few discreet inquiries of the waiter." "Tell mc, what shall I do?" asked Marion. "I have held out so long, hoping ■ that- v you would not desert mc, but that you- would get on the track and follow us• here. Now lam wondering wHtft is the' best thing for mc to do." Woodward did not answer her immediately. He was thinking hard. "Of course," he said at last, "we might put all our cards on the table and try to bluff Barrowby,' but I don't think it would, answer. - Besides, there is still that business -of the Samuels' pearls hanging over your head, and you will find it impossible to clear yourself unless we can find out the whereabouts of Quilter, and prove that he holds the pearls—or as many of them as he has not, already disposed ofi" "But how are we to do that?" she asked. " ,c ßarrowby is the keystone to the whole affair," said Woodward. "Sooner or later he is bound to meet Quilter, for I know that he is working under ; that man's direction. Barrowby does not know how to dispose of the jewels he stole from Mrs. Lombard. can only get rid of them through Quilter. Consequently he is bound to meet Quilter some time or other." "And when that happens?" •When that happens, Quilter has got to be arrested on some charge or other. Once get him into the hands of the police, and I can wire Ferraby at London, and he will see that Quilter is held." ?c ßut how are we going to manage it, Harvey?" Marion asked. Harvey looked at her keenly. "Marion," he said at last, "you are willing to take risks to clear your name, are you not?" ."There is no risk I would not take to have finished with this," she answered. "Very well, then," he said' slowly. "You will have to play a distasteful part, tout remember that I shall always be near you—following you continually, no matter where ou go. There ia only one way we can bowl out Barrowby, ' Marion." "And that?" she queried eagerly. "And that is that you must pretend to fall in with Barrowby's suggestions, ,, he answered. "You muet let him think that you are willing, at last, to become his partner in crime, and to assist him in his career of swindling. ,, ! "Is—is there no other way?" asked the girl, tremulously. "None that I can think of," Woodward replied. "You see, as his partner, he will talk more freely before you. He may even let out some hints aa to where Quilter is to be found. Once we can find out that, the rest will be easy. But it is not going to be easy for you until we find Quilter. What do you say? Are you willing to take the risk?" "I am willing to do anything to clear my name and to bring to justice the scoundrels who have made mc shoulder the responsibility for their misdeeds" she answered, getting to her feet. Woodward stood, up also, and gkzed at her with frank admiration in his eyes. She made a picture of surpassing beauty as she stood there, her head thrown well back, her little fists clenched, and her eyes flashing. "Don't be afraid, Marion," he said, taking a step towards her. "We shall bowl them out. And then—then Marion—" ' He did not finish his sentence immediately. Instead, his arms went out, and closed about her shoulders. She' did not resist, but lowered her head upon His/breast. He bent down arid kissed her forehead. j "And then, Marlon," he continued, but she looked up and placed a tiny hand over his mouth. •