THE PEACOCK'S EYE

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

THE PEACOCK'S EYE

;::;iiii:iiiisii'By« iFrank Arnold KUMMER?

CHAPTER XlV.—Continued. "In the head of his cane!" Ash ton exclaimed in astonishment. "But where was his oane ?" "He had it with 'him when he came to the house. When he collapsed it fell on the floor. I was just going to pick it up when those men came in and seized me. What has become of it 6ince I don't know." "Someone must have picked it up. The butler perhaps. I came into the room with your father not ten minutes after you'd been carried away. The butler •was with us. I didn't see the cane, but I was occupied with poor Rarusey, and aft-er that with thoughts of-you. I remember now that some one took up his hat and placed it on the table. Perhaps the cane was taken away by the police. I haven't been to the heuse since. After all, it waa only last night that all this occurred. So much has happened since then that it seems days ago. I hope the cano has been taken away, for then Jansen, if he reaches the house before us, will have his journey for nothing. However, we shall soon know;" He glanced out of the window. ''We shall be at your home in less than rive minutes." They did not speak after that. The situation was too tense with excitement. When they whirled up to the front door, Ashton felt for the automatic pistol in his pocket, then jumping out, made ready to carry Josephine into the house. This, however, she would not permit. "It will only frighten father," she said, "and I'm quite able to walk. This rug has been so warm that I feel as though I've had a Turkish bath."

She sprang from the car, and with Ashton's assistance made her way, a trifle unsteadily, up the steps, still enveloped in the rug. The aetectivc rang the bell. The butler who responded to their summons, gave a cry of joy when he saw his young in the doorway. '"Miss Josephine." he exclaimed. "Are you—are you all right?" In his excitement he scarcely knew what he was saying. "I'll let your father know at once. He's in the library." This, however, was not necessary. The banker, who had been sitting alone iu the library, waiting in the utmost distress for some word from Ashton, sprang into the hall at the sound of his daughter's voice, and a moment later had clasped her in his arms. "My precious girl!" he cried, kissing her joyfully. Then, realising suddenly her weak and dishevelled condition, he looked from her to Ashton. "What has happened," he asked. "Tell me—" "Xo time now," the detective replied. "Miss Hall had. better go to her room at once and get into her bed. She has had a fearful shock. You and I have some important matters to attend to and there's no time to be lost." "VVhat matters?" inquired Hall. ! "First, tell me this. Has anyone been here to see you, on any pretext, during the past hour?" ; '"No—no one at all." "Thank God-" the detective exclaimed wit h a sigh of relief. "That's splendid!" exclaimed" Joseiphme, who had paused on the landing to hear her father's reply. Now, it doesn't matter about my having told ithem, does it?" She gave Ashton a happy smile, then vanished up the stairs. "What are you talking about?" asked -»'r Hall, somewhat mystified. His joy at the return of his daughter had driven all thought of the missing diamond from his mind. "Come with me," said Ashton, "and I'll try to show you." Ho went into the library, the banker following, and, standing near the end of the couch, gazed eagerly about the room. An expression of disappointment crossed his face. "What's the matter?" Hall asked. "When Ramsey came to the house that fatal night he had with him a hfavy walking stick with a silver top. [Your daughter says that he brought it 'litre with him—into this room. Do you k;i"w wi-at has become of it?" | The banker shook his head. I "-Vo," he replied. "I didn't even know he iiad a stick with him."

"Will you call your butler—quickly? It is most important, and we've scarcely tin." as it is, I fear." Mr. Hall pressed a button in the v/ainscotting, and a few moments later t!i» butler appeared in the doorway. "William," the banker explained, "Mr. Ashton wishes to ask you a few questions." -Very good, sir," replied the man respectfully. •■Can you tell me," the detectve said, " vvhsit 'has. become of the slver-topped <"'ru' tjiat Mr. Ramsey brought here the u'gi-'i lie was shot?" "Yes, sir," the butler answered. "When he fell on the floor, just about 1-ere. sir"—he indicated a point near t! e end of the couch—"the cane rolled underneath fie settee, sir. I found it there after the body had been taken away by the police.'' "And what did you do with it?" Ashton exclaimed. The man turned to .the fireplace behind him. ' I set it hero -in the corner, sir. I was greatly excited at die time. 1 oaven't thought of it since. -:,ir." He appeared to I.:- niiicn surprised that the cine was no lunger standing where he had left it. Ashton regarded him sternly. "Could any of the other servants have removed it?" he asked. •'Yes, sir, Jane might. She's the maid who h; (s charge of the downstairs rooms eir.'' ' "lii-M'.;; he,- here—quick!" The detective's words came like the snapping of a whip. He realised that at any moment Jansen and his companions might arrive at the house, and he wished to be ready for them.

The arrival of the parlour-maid solved the mystery. .She had that very morning removed the cane from the' library and set it in the umbrella-stand in the hall, where it now innocently reposed among a number of other walking-6ticks and several umbrellas. Ashton seized it with a cry of joy, and, accompanied by Mr. Hall and the butler, went back into the library. "What's,all this about?" the banker asked, now completely mystified. Ashtou turned to him with an impatient shake of his head. '•I haven't time to explain now," he sjftd. "You'll know eoon enough. Just at present we a moment to spare. Have you a revolver in the house V

"Yes." "Then get it, and station yourself in the hall, just inside the door of the room opposite. Wait there until I call you." Ho turned to the butler. "You, William, do exactly as I tell you. Some gentlemen will arrive here shortly, asking for Mr. Hall. There may be one, or more— I don't know. When they come, tell them that Mr. Hall is upstairs, resting. Say that you'll go and speak to him, then show the caller or callers in here and ask them to wait. Do you understand? After you've done that, go slowly upstairs, as though to announce their arrival. When you get upstairs, come down again at once by the back stairs, aud make your way as quickly as possible to the front hall. I may need help. If you can do so, arm yourself. That's all."

Mr. Hall and the butler had no sooner left the room than Ashton, going to the light, rapidly unscrewed the silver top of Ramsey's cane, and, removing it, looked in. What he saw apparently pleased him, for with an exclamation of satisfaction he replaced the silver knob, and going to the corner beside the fireplace, set the caneagainst the wall. Then he hurried to the telephone and spoke to the police station.

"This is the house of Mr. Rowland Hall," he announced, as soon as the connection had been made. "I am ; Grant Ashton, a detective, speaking for Mr. Hall. I want you to send three good men over here immediately. Be sure, however, that they come very quietly, and enter the grounds, if possible, without being seen. They are to station themselves just inside the main entrance gate of the place, keeping out of sight in the shrubbery. A car will enter the grounds very shortly containing four men. As soon as it drives up to the door your men are to close quietly the iron gates. This they will be able to do in the darkness without being seen. If the men in the car attempt to escape, arrest them. They're wanted for the murder of John Ramsey and the kidnapping of Mr. Hall's daughter."

Ashton's message came like a bombshell into the police station, the officials of which had been vainly trying to find some clue to Ramsey's murderers. "Well send- the men over at once," the superintendent exclaimed. "I'll come with them. We'll be there In five minutes." "Very well," Ashton replied. "If the car hasn't turned up by the time you get here, come up to the house and see me, leaving your men on duty at the gate." This done. Ashton switchnd off the overhead lights in Ihe library, and sat down in a shadowy corner to await developments. In what seemed to him an incredibly short time the butler came in with word that the- superintendent had arrived and was waiting in the hall. Ashton sent for him. at once.

"I haven't time to explain matters now," he said, "but the men who killed Ramsey, kidnapped Miss Hall, and stole the Peacock's Eye diamond are expected here any minute. I'm going to receive them, or one of them at least, in here. Mr. Hall is waiting in the little room opposite. Suppose you join him. From behind the curtains of the door you'll be able to see right into this room. When you hear me say 'Hands up!' come in." The officer, whose name was Pierce, nodded, and crossing the hall, joined the banker in the room opposite. Ashton resumed his seat on the library couch. They did not have long to wait. Jansen and his companions had left the dock some fifteen minutes before Ashton and Josephine Hall, but their detour to secure another car had lost them over half an hour. Ashton, seated on the couch, heard the doorbell ring, a,nd quickly stepped out of sight behind the further side of the wide chimneypiece. He knew that, in the semi-darkness, Jansen would never see him here unless he were to walk to the far end of the room, which was not at all probable. Ashton, on the contrary, expected the artist to do just what he did—make a dive for the cane and unscrew the top of it beneath the light of the lamp, in order to assure himself that the prize was there. Peering cautiously round the chimney piece, he saw Jansen remove the silver top and grasp the great pink diamond with a gesture of delight. Then the detective stepped quickly forward.

So absorbed was the artist in his momentary contemplation of the jewel that he failed to hear Ashton's footsteps as the latter advanced over the thick-piled Oriental rug that lay between him and the table. When, an instant later, Jansen looked up, he found himself gazing into 'the black muzzle of an automatic pistol. "Hands up!" Ashton exclaimed sternly. In his sudden fright Jansen permitted the jewel to drop oa the floor. Then, heedless of Ashton's command, he bent swiftly down, recovered it again, and darted towards the door, at the same moment calling for help at the top of his lungs. The detective did not fire, for his quick eye told him that Mr. Hall and Pierce, the superintendent, were both approaching the library door on a run from the opposite side of the hall. Jansen, landing low to avoid Ashton'e fire, failed to see them. As a result, he ran full into their arms, and before he realised what had happened, the superintendent had snapped a pair of handcuffs on his wrists, while at the same moment Mr. Hall seized from his hands the Peacock's Eye. Jansen's calls for help, however, had not been in vain. A sudden thundering assault upon the front door told those within that there was" more work ahead of them. While Mr. Hall, revolver in hand, stood guard over Jansen, Pierce and the detective flew to the front door. At a nod from Ashton, the former turned the catch.

The door, thus suddenly released, swung inward, and two men, with revolvers in their hands, appeared in the entrance. Doubtless they had anticipated merely some feeble resistance from the banker or his servants. When thrown somewhat oil their guard by their sudden and unexpected entrance, they saw Pierce and Ashton, with levelled revolvers, backed up by the butler, William, who advanced from the back hall with a shotgun in his hands, they hesitated for an instant, and then fled precipitately down the steps. Before Ashton and his companions could accustom their

eyes to the darkness without, they heard their car roar off down the drive at a tremendous pace.

The two men followed on foot, running as swiftly as they could in the wake of the fleeing car. The distance to the entrance gate over the winding drive was perhaps two hundred yards. Only a fraction of a minute had elapsed when there came to the ears of Ashton and his companion a loud crash. The two increased their speed, knowing well enough what had happened.

"They -didn't see that the gates had been closed," the detective exclaimed, "and they've run smash into them."

When tney reached the entrance they j found that their surmise had been correct. The heavy car, plunging at high speed into the barred iron gates, had torn one of them loose from its masonry fastenings, but the battered ironwork had fallen in such a way that the car had been deflected to one side, and hurled with terrific impact against one of the stone gateposts. It lay parti v on its side, its top crushed down over the seats, its forward part a crumpled mass, while from the dark interior came a succession of hideous groans. About the car were grouped the three men who had been detailed to watch the gate. One of them had in custody the Japanese servant, Nogi, still wearing his mechanical smile. Another held as prisoner Peters, the chauffeur. The \l <* oc «*Pant of the car, the man % b ?Tv beard ' had a «empted to had been cau g flt bet ween the side of the car and the stone gatepost. It was clear that lanterns, tools, and a larger force of men would be required before his release could be effected. Ashton left matters in the hands of the pohce and walked slowly back to the house. He felt a certain satisfaction that the diamond had been recovered and Jansen arrested, but this was tempered by a tear lest Josephine might suffer some illeffects as a result of the fearful experiences through which she had just passed. He found Mr. Hall still guarding Jansen, who sat in utter dejection upon a chair his eyes upon the ground. Ashton somehow felt that perhaps the artist had, almost unwillingly, been led into paths he had never expected to traverse when he first embarked on this perilous adventure-

Pierce, arriTing a few minutes later, telephoned some Instructions to his office, and carried the prisoner away with him. Then Ashton and Mr. Hall were free to talk. "I don't understand head or tail of all this," the banker exclaimed. "What happened to Josephine? And how on earth did the missing diamond get into the head of Ramsey's cane?" "I can't reply to either of those questions now," the detective told him. Your daughter will have to answer the first. The second I hope to be able to tell you more about to-morrow. Have you informed Mm. Goldsborough of the recovery of the diamond?" "Yes. That is, I told William, my butler, to do so. I didn't want to leave Jansen. She was overjoyed, of course, and wanted to come out at once, get the jewel and pay you a handsome reward." 'Which I certainly shall not accept," remarked Ashton, w'ith a smile. "What did you tell her?" "I sent word that we were all verv much upset and that I thought it would be better for her to come in the morning. I assured her that the jewel would be safe here overnight, especially as I had counted on your remaining. Will you?" "Gladly. I should have to do so in any event, to give the necessary information to the police. I'm going down there after dinner to clear up, if possible, some

features of the case that I don't understand. I've an idea that Jansen is ready to confess anything. Just at present, however, I'm most concerned about your daughter. She has had a terrible shock. She barely escaped with her life. I don't wish to disturb her, but perhaps I might see her before the evening is over. I presume she's in bed. If not, she ought to be." "I'll go and see," the banker replied with a smile. A few moments later he returned. "Yes, she's in bed," he said, '"and fairly comfortable. I haven't heard her story; she has a severe burn on her left shoulder. It's painful, and I've sent for the doctor. She says, however, that you must come up for a few moments before you go to the police statiou."

Ashton accompanied Mr. Hall upstairs at once. He found Josephine lying in bed, looking very charming in 6pite of her experiences of the past twenty-four hours. "I'm so glad you've come," she said. "I owe my life to you. If you hadn't been there to save me when the barge sank I shouldn't be here now. I can never thank you enough or repay you." She paused, her face flushed, her eyes very bright and eager. Ashton took her hand, in his. "I don't want you to thank me—or repay me," he said. "I'm sufficiently repaid already by knowing that you're ,safe," and he smiled.

Their eyes met. She seemed to find food for much thought in what he had just said, and pressed his hand. Ashton rose to go. "I've some work on this case to do before the evening is over," he said. "I hope that you'll feel well enough to-mor-row to hear the results. Good night:" "Good night," she told him with her lips. What her eyes said Ashton alone knew, but it made him singularly happy. (To be concluded Saturday next.)

Over £70,000 has been raised by Lord Headley and the British Islamic Society towards a 6cheine for the purchase of a. site and the erection of a Moslem mosqu* in London.