Hers To Command

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 259, 2 November 1931, Page 15

Hers To Command

By REGINALD TEMPLE, fltithnr of . . ■ HARGREAVES KNEW,"— z

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. In the grillroom of the Hotel Especial the HON. PIERS LINDON, a young and muchtravelled bachelor, meets LADY KOSE LI/AY and her companion, MONICA MERRY. Both are attractive girls, and neither of tiiem is more than twenty-four years of age. Lady Rose is the daughter of the DUKE OF SHROPSHIRE, whose impecuniosity is responsible for the fact that Rose is acting as society chaperon to Monica. Monica is a mystery, even to Lady Hose, for the two girls were friends, in spite of the financial arrangement between them. All Lady Rose kuows about Monica is that she lost her parents some years ago, and since then she has lived on the other side of the Atlantic, where she has moved in the best of New York society. A brief conversation reveals the fact that Monica has travelled in the same remote part of Africa as Lindon, a disclosure which puzxles Lady Rose. In a subsequent talk with Lindon Monica Merry reveals the fact that she has something very important to say to him. In response to Lindon's question as to where she wished to go for this earnest conversation, she asks him to take her to a night club. Lindon knows only one such club, the Silver Mouse, where Monica discloses an extraordinary plan that he shall act as a sort of "knig'.t errant." The project is somewhat bewildering to him, but he undertakes it in a spirit of sportsmanship and even consents to accept a retaining fee of a thousand pounds for six months. They are just shaking hands on the contract when the club is raided. The police take the names and addresses of all present, including those of Monica and Lindon.. Later a summons reaches Monica, and when she telephones to Lindon about it she is astonished to find that he has gone to Paris. A subsequent telegram, however, assures her that he will be returning on the morning on which the case is heard.

CHAPTER Vl.—(Continued.)

During the few moments that the fellow had been speaking to Lindon, Monica had caught, through a door, a glimpse of the dock. She knew it was the dock, because it was occupied by a red-faced woman who was declaring- in a loud voice that the policeman had made it all up. What he had made up Monica was unable to hear. But presently the woman gave a shriek and was hurried out of the dock by a policeman.

Into the dock from which the inebriate had emerged Monica and Lindon were shepherded together with a number of others. The dock was not actually big enough to accommodate all of them, and the residue surged round the entrance to it. Monica felt happier at finding that she and her companion were with the residue. Behind her, hemmed off from the Court by a wooden partition, were the general public, composed for the most part of tatterdemalia who had come there because they had nothing else to do, or else by friends of various prisoners who had been or soon would be in the dock.

In front of her, on the raised "Bench," sat the magistrate himself, looking both benign and bored. He had a habit of repeatedly removing his pince-nez and wiping them with a purple silk handkerchief. To his right was a queer little pen which she later learnt was the wit-ness-box, whilst beneath the front of the Bench sat an uninterested-looking man who was the magistrate's clerk. Uninteresting, perhaps, but important, for at times he almost took over the examining duties of the magistrate himself.

Almost before she was aware of it there was a policeman in the witnessbox, a plain clothes man, reeling off the oath with humorous facility.

It was all very soon over. The weed's solicitor put up a lukewarm kind of light, urging the magistrate to be lenient, because there were young people among the defendants who were probably visiting a night club for the first time, whereupon the magistrate said he was glad of administering a lesson to them before they acquired the habit of frequenting such places.

Monica could not repress a smile when she thought of the apparent harmlessness of the "Silver Mouse" as she had seen it that night. She wondered if any of the powers who ordered these raids had ever taken the trouble to acquaint themselves with the realities of these absurd places.

The end of it was a reprimand and a two-guinea fine all round. Lindon asked Monica to be allowed to pay her fine, and soon they were breathing again the comparatively fresh air of the streets.

"And so ends the great case," said Piers as they turned into Regent Street, and he hailed a taxi.

"I think we will go to the Especial and have an early lunch after all that," he added.

Monica gave a start. "No, don't let's go there," she said. "Somehow I don't care for the Especial during the day-time." In reality she was afraid that if they were noticed by Gustave he might refer to it to Lady Rose that night when they dined with Piers. That had been arranged formally. She supposed that invitation still held good, despite all that had happened since it was given. She had a feeling that Lady Rose would not be pleased to know that she had met Lindon during the interim. Accordingly Lindon drove her to the Savoy, where they were soon in restful conversation. "I think," said Monica, "that it would be a good idea if we went soon to my bankers, where I have to do a little business. I expect you can guess what it is." "I suppose it is to draw out a thousand pounds to pay me. Please be assured that there is no real hurry about that." "Oh, yes, there is," replied Monica. "I feel I haven't got you on the rein yet. I don't like these sudden tripe to France, when you are supposed to be at my service. Which reminds me that you still have to give me your explanation of that;

piece of desertion." "Quite so," agreed Piers, "and I will give it. You see, I have so long been accustomed to doing just what I like without having to consult a superior, that I'm afraid I acted yesterday morning as though I had no employer. Early in the morning I went out for a walk— for a swim at my club, as a matter of fact—and there I met a man I hadn't eeen for ages." "A good old threadbare excuse, if all I've heard about men is true." 'Ttt's part of the married man's. stock-in-trade," said Lindon, "and therefore of no use to me as a bachelor. But please listen to what I have to say. I met this man who had just returned from Paris and we began chatting and recalling old friends." "I don't see how this is differing from the old, old story," interrupted Monica. "You will presently," replied Piers. "\nd we spoke about an old mutual pal of ours named Robinson, and I learnt that my friend, Bennett, had seen Robinson in Paris only the day before and that he was seriously, ill and not expected to live over the next day. Well,

what was there for me to do but to rush over to Croydon and get an outgoing 'plane to Le Bourget?" Monica shot him an admiring glance, though she spoke with a suspicion of acidity when she said: "You could have 'phoned me or wired

me." "That's what I intended to do from the aerodrome, but I only got there just in time to dish into a : Golden Ray which was just setting off. Consequently I wired you from Paris." "Very well," said Monica, "you can consider yourself acquitted. And how about your friend?" "I found that the doctors had decided to perform an unusual operation and that it had been successful. I stayed overnight and saw him this morning. They said he was almost out of danger. Then I flew back, as you know, but only just in time." . "All is forgiven. I think your friend must value your friendship." Monica put a gloved hand upon his arm as she spoke. "I'm glad you told me that story, because it makes me feel more justified in having chosen you as my helper." Lindon bowed over the carnations that graced her table. "I could tell the kind of man you were when I saw you first at the Especial. I knew that you were kind and would do anything for a friend. Funny, but you seem to be one of those men who cannot for their lives keep their character out of their eyes."

"Isn't this conversation becoming rather embarrassing for a modest man?" asked Piers.

"Perhaps it is," eaid Monica, "so we'll drop it. In any event I've said all I wished to say, on that point. All I ask is that you will remember what I have said when you next feel like accusing m-2 of trying to be flirtatious with you." "I certainly will," said Lindon, with conviction.

What an extraordinary girl she was! She seemed to combine psychology with common sense in a way that commended it to him, for it Avas a combination which he found extremely rare among girls. "And now what about driving me to my bank," began Monica, when coffee had been served. "You can't do all thit aeroplane hustling and work for nothing, you know." "Quite right," said Piers, inwardly amused at her eagerness to produce the cash. "Let's go round there just as soo.i as you're ready." He was anxious to let her know that he was doing all this for money, and not because the adventure appealed tn all that made him one and over what he was.

Presently they took a taxi to a bank in the Strand. Monica entered, bidding him remain outside. It was not long before she reappeared, carrying a substantial looking envelope. "Here you are," she said. "I would rather give it you like this than in the form of a cheque. You will find ten hundred-pound notes in there." Lindon took the notes and thanked her with as much grace as he could command.

"How about a receipt?" he th«?n asked, casually. "No need for one," said Monica. "So far as I'm concerned I've seen the lust of it. If you fail me in helping me I leave it to your own feelings as to whether you return it or not." "What a confiding woman," saki Lindon.

"Of course I am," replied Monica, "but. please stop calling me a woman. I know | it's a lovely old English word, and all that, but it's just a little too old for me. It sounds so very earnest." Lindon laughed, and then his face became serious as he wondered where all this money came from. Monica seemed to have parted with a thousand pounds as though they had been pence. Presently he spoke. "And now, perhaps, you can tell me just what I've got to do to earn my money." They were in a taxi driving to her hotel. "I cannot tell you to-day, but tomorrow you shall know, unless anything imexpected happens. Then I might want you at any time. Here we are at the hotel. I must leave you." "Good-bye, then," said Piers, reluctantly. "I take it we shall be meeting at the Especial to-night. You and Lady Rose, you know." "That's right," said Monica, "at seven o'clock." A few moments later ehe had gone. The dinner that night at the Especial promised to be e pleasant one. Monica had telephoned to Lady Rose, but had missed her. Consequently she proceeded to the Especial alone. She arrived before Lady Rose, who presently joined her and Piers in the lounge, where they were taking a cocktail. Lady Rose looked pale and severe. When Monica had seated herself her

companion produced an evening paper. "I've something a little distasteful to show you." she said. So saying she turned to a page containing a report of the Silver Mouse raid case. "See," she added, "both your names are there." (To he continued daily.)