Man, Moon and Mascot

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1932, Page 15

Man, Moon and Mascot

(By H. BRENNAN).

PART 11. "Yes and yet again it might not," snorted the other. "That lizard's only been with me for a little over a month, 'a it's outlived its welcome already. It's "o'm" before it thinks up something really humorous to do to me. Anyway," L concluded seriously, "I'd never feel Lily easy with the thing about the place. Now, this chap you were speakin" about.' «T was thinking of Rawlington—what, never heard of him? Bit of a character -practical joker and all that. He makes a habit - of picking up a stray cat off The streets and entering it in a prize cat show —he grooms it gives it an imZ,,; ns pedigree, and then a retinue of Servants —he has won several ribbons like that. He loves games like that— any thin" to fool the experts. He'll take ibh thins: right off your hands and work f alSmself just for the fun of the thine You go to Rawlington—he's your ma n The very thought of it will have him turning handsprings till his whiskers trip him." "Good—that's the idea. But you're sure he'll handle it? Good—good. Now, will vou please tell me where was the— foolishness, I think, was the word you used —in telling you all about this? I would have been stumped if I hadn't," he trowed.

"It was a mistake, all the same." The voide was obstinate. "Why, man? Why? Come on—why?" "It's better to keep things like that to yourself," the tall man responded, somewhat lamely. "feut I got my solution from you." "Yes, I admit, but still —" "But still what?" ~ . "Well, you've narrowed down the neld of those you are trying to attract. You see, I'm a burglar." "Oh—don't rot, man!" "Well, that's not strictly correct. I mean I was one. But if I was to drop a word'in ascertain quarter I'm afraid the ''boys' would leave it strictly alone. They, have quite a good private telegraph system of their own, too. I'm afraid you'd have to keep your lizard, if I did." He! laughed at the consternation on the other's face. "But don't worry—l've finished with them for good."

"I;. wasn't thinking of that—l can't imagine a fine young chap like you as a thief'*:" The hatless man was incredulous. 1 ': ■ "YSI might be a little more tactful, reproachfully. "Thief doesn't soundr-er—polite. _ Let it be burglar, : please:" , . . - A sudden thought came to the hatless man. : "Does the girl know you are — were-a the —that is a—a —burglar ?" he blithered.

"US,-; she- doesn't. She's really the reason for my giving.it tip. She's as broad as any you'll ever meet-—she doesn't approve of burglars, but doesn't believe they be boiled in oil. If she. thinks like that, that's quite enough. That girl- couldn't be wrong. Now, don't think/I'm making excuses. I'm not, but I'd life! you to understand. It's rotten being misunderstood. Ever since I can remejnber .I've had to scratch along on my own. To take what I wanted seemed the most natural thing possible. Still, I had enough restraint to keep me in a presentable shape, and to be presentable seems to be a big help. One day I led the conversation round to burglars. She told me what she thought of them. It was rather hard on the. vanity. I had always imagined myself rather a fine chap, but I saw she was right, and kept on deciding that next time would be the last. Oh, it's just a habit, and hard to break, like most habits. The thrill of it seems to hold you. Conscience! I never knew what that was. But I stopped for good, suddenly. But I never thought of it as anything wrong, and I don't even now." His voice rose in defiance.

"I had an idea I was being watched, and one day a chap that I thought was a detective walked up to me, and then I realised what a fool I had been. I finished then for good." The other was smiling. "So you don't know what conscience is? Then yours must go under another name—it works well, anyway. But how long have you been going straight?" "Oh, well-11, about —" he mused reflectively, "Say ten minutes." "Eh!"

"Just that long. E took you for a detective —you gave me. the fright. I had an idea that I had been watched for some time." He shrugged. "We're fatalists, you see. But I'm done with it now, and you can guess tha.t after making a resolution like that I didn't intend to be caught. You were near the most almighty thump on the jaw that you ever had." "Good Lord, I'd still be wondering what it was all about." The tall man grinned. The other, drew a deep breath. "Phewew! So you won't be among the hunters, I take it. But never mind, there are plenty of others." "Well, you send the old animal along to Rawlington, and in a few days he'll have the necessary circle buzzing with the news of an important discovery among the antiques. Something unique; the only specimen of its kind." "Good! And won't the light-fingens j jump to it. Oh, hang it all, we've overlooked something," he interposed dejectedly. "What art dealer or fence would touch anything 'absolutely unique, the only specimen of its kind?"' "Don't worry; that won't stop them. There's Faafnir—sorry, I was forgetting you are not an initiate. I wonder if you have ever met a really fanatical collector— collector of anything? The only thing they'd stop at for a rare specimen is plain murder—the rabid ones, I mean. Well, Faafnir (and that's his real name, though he uses another for business) has his own peculiar circle of wealthy monomaniacs—he slips them a word when he has anything choice. Ten minutes to half an hour after your lizard had gone Faafnir would have it. A queer bird, Faafnir."

The hatiess man was regarding the other attentively. "You know, I've been thinking that von know too nuicli for a common- burglar." '"I had a first-class master, and was well trained, you see —I was- never caught.. But ; this is between you. aiid; we, of course."

"Certainly, most certainly I But do you still maintain I made a mistake in telling you all my troubles ?" asked the hatless man, throwing away his cigarette. "Certainly, most certainly!" "But I have some worth-while information in return, including the fact that you are —or were—a burglar," parried the other. "1 know —but you were foolish to tell me, all the same." "I can't see that." "Hum! Just a minute. Where did I put my newspaper?" \ "You threw it in the waste basket." "So I did —here it is now, and here they are now." He withdrew both hands from the basket. "One lizard, sculpture, perhaps, of the Ming, Ding, or Highland Fling dynasty; one gold watch, inscribed —now, let me see —oh, yes; Edwin Robin Reynolds, 1888. Your father, perhaps?" he inquired politely, dropping the articles into the other's lap. The hatless man gasped. "I dropped them into the basket when I handed you the lighter with the other hand. I thought you had followed me over from the flats, and I didn't want those to be found on me. So you see, it was a mistake to tell me about it." "I'm beginning to think it -was," came the rueful answer. "I admit, of course, that the haul was hardly worthy of my talents, but opportunity, you know—oh, well—'" The tall man brushed down his coat and settled his hat firmly. "You'll come out all right. Rawlington will fix it —trust him." "Here, just a minute —" The hatless man was suddenly alert. "You burgled my flat—how do, you know I'm going to let you stalk off like that?" The tall man smiled easily. "Well, I told you that I didn't intend to be caught at this stage. Do you think I waited here calmly to be caught? No use running—it attacts too much attention, but I was ready. You wouldn't have held me—" I "I have a voice, and there are plenty of people within call —" "But that didn't worry me after we began to talk. You don't read that way to me. And besides, they both have the same coloured hair—" "Yes, I was thinking of that, but —'' "I hoped you would. Anyway, you said yourself that you were easy-going." "Yes, I suppose you've summed it up correctly. I just don't feel like it, now that you've given it up and all that. A story like yours sounds good after all the ordinary hum-drum we hear." "Yes," assented the other reflectively. "It would be a good yarn, even if it •wasn't true, wouldn't it?" "Look here —" The hatless man turned, almost savagely resentful—"lf .you're going to tell me that this is a lie then don't—l'd much prefer to believe it true." "Oh, don't worry —I wouldn't dare to go on now. I've handled something unlucky. Be easy—l've done with it." "True about the girl, too?" He nodded. The hatless man exploded. "Then what the devil do you mean by saying things like that. Why, man, I want this thing to go tl-e right way. It's the finest thing I ever remember hearing, [f you were lying, then keep your mouth shut. You're a fool, with a touch of madness thrown in. Why wreck your story like that, even if—if— But, hang it all, you weren't lying—l know 'it—l know it!"

The tall man was grinning broadly. "You see, I like to say the unexpected thing—l find it the funniest thing on earth."

"That's why you said you were a burglar, I suppose? A pretty dangerous amusement, I think. But; your story was true, wasn't it?" • %

"It's true, of course—"

"About the girl, and all? Good for youl Now, what about the address so I can send a wedding present." "Thanks, but I don't think I will," laughed the tall man. "I don't want your old lizard—that's just the humorous thing you would think of. I'll tell you something, though—her name's Alice."

"No—no," protested the other. "Rawlington does me for the lizard. I'd like to send a present—you sec, my wife's name is Alice, too. Oh, Well, if you yon't, you won't, I suppose. Well, goodnight, and thanks for the information." "Good-night, and thanks very much— for many things." "But, I say—you stick to that girl of your's: she'll keep you straight. But tell her—what you've been—it isn't decent if you don't." "I'll tell .her, of course, but later on. "That's good—but 1 the sooner the better. She must be a treasure—never forget that —& treasure." The tall man beamed happily as a reply, but not so happily or so broadly as the well-satisfied moon far above it all. THE END. .