THE FLYING COURIER

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 15

THE FLYING COURIER

By BOYD CABLE.

Author of "Action Front!" "Between the Lines," eto.

CHAPTER XV.—(continued.) They had just finished a long drawn and very pleasant meal when Glynn noticed a man come to the Subardar and speak cautiously to him. The newcomer was notably well dressed and bore himself with an air of authority, the Subardar evidently recognising this, as he bowed low and saluted gravely. Then, as the stranger walked out and disappeared, the Subardar came across towards the table, and halted some

paces from it, waiting permission to approach. Glynn motioned to him, and ho stepped to Glynn's side, bent his head and murmured in a low voice: "I have a message for the sahib's ear." Glynn asked the others to excuse him a moment, stood up and stepped a few paces from the table from the Subardar. "One of the Royal Household has arrived from Hydrapore," said the Subardar, still in the same low and cautious murmur. "He wishes to have private speech with the sahib because something has happened in London which is being kept private but of which he must inform you."

"Is it —has anything happened to —one of importance there?" asked Glynn, with a sudden wonder whether the Prince could have taken a turn for the worse, perhaps even died'.

" I know nothing," returned the Subardar, " except that the matter is grave, and one with authority to speak for His Royal Highness must have private word with you."

" Could he not come here, or would he meet me at the hotel? " asked Glynn.

"No, tliero are too many here or there who might recognise him," said the Subardar. "Ho has asked that you, accompanied by your friends there, if you so wish, should go to the New Theatre, and at the interval go to one of the tables in the gardens which will be indicated to you, and there wait his coming."

Glynn asked some questions about the theatre and the gardens, and then, saying he must ask his friends whether they would care to go to the theatre, he returned to the other two at their table, leaving the Subardar to wait in the background. Glynn explained the request, or the instructions that he had received. Xorah, of course, understood fully his veiled language about word from the people to whom he was carrying his package, and Doyle, without knowing anything of who these people were or what the whole business was about, had bean told enough about the various attempts made to rob Glvnn.

Korah made no secret of her dislike of the proposal for the meeting in the theatre grounds, and on her suggestion Glynn sent for the restaurant manager and questioned hiin as to what sort of place the theatre was. The answer seemed quite reassuring. The theatre was of good class and thoroughly well conducted. The gardens outside were set with littlo tables, and it was the custom for many of the audience to come out from the performance at the interval and have refreshments in the cool of the open air. Others of the public than those of tho audience also sat in the gardens in the evenings. And finally, in answer to a questibn of Norah's, the gardens wore brightly lit, and patrons could either sit in quiet nooks amongst the bushes, or in the clear open central space. After the man had gone Xorah turned to Glynn, "I suppose you must go," she said, " but I confess I don't feel like sitting in a stuffy theatre. Could we not all go straight to the gardens, and wait there for this messenger to come to you V " " I think that's a good notion," agreed Jimmy Doyle. " A theatre on a night like this seems outside reason."

" Then we'll make it the gardens," said Glynn, and signalled the Subardar forward.

The Subardar bowed. " But the sahib's friends will not mind if for a time he sits at a table a little apart from tliem," lie said. "It is a private conversation which is particularly requested." '• That will be all right," said Glynn. " My friend* understand it is a. matter of business. Will you give orders for a cab; and can you send a. message that I shall wait in the gardens?" " As the sahib orders," said the Subardar. " lie will not have to wait long." [ Tliey roso soon after and the restaurant. The Subardar was waiting , them at the door, and as they passed him ho dropped in behind Glynn, and followed to the outer door. "Do you come with me?" Glynn asked him promptly. "Always and everywhere, sahib. It is the order." They found a cab waiting them at the door, and got in, with the Subardar taking the seat beside the driver. Jimmy Doyle, sitting facing Glynn and Nor ah in the" back seats, could see out over their heads, and lie noticed idly that as they moved off, another cab which had been drawn up a few yards behind them, also began to move. ; Glynn had told the Subardar not to let the driver hurry but to take it easy and let them enjoy the open air and the intermingling of East and West in the street traffic. Jimmy Doyle, to ' whom - it was cill intensely new and queer, kept looking about him and asking a string of questions, but after a little as they dawdled along, his gaze became concentrated on tho traffic astern of them. Twice he caught sight of the cab which he had seen start after them from the lestauiant, and with a suspicion in his mind he said syldenly, "I say, Glynn, we re not in any hurry to get to this place. Do you mind if we turn round and drive a few hundred yards back along this street ?"

"Not a bit," said Glynn in some surprise. "Want another look at something ve passed?" "Yes." Doyle said, and Glynn shouted to the Subardar and gave him the necessary orders. The cab slowed, turned out and round, and. in a moment was running back down the other side of the street. Jimmy Doyle kept careful watch astern, and a minute later Glynn asked if they might draw in to the kerb and stop for a minute. ; Glynn, still thinking he had seen something at which he -wished to have a closer and more leisurely look, again gave orders, and the cab in obedience to them pulled out and halted. "What next?" Glynn asked with mild amusement. But there was no amusement or mere sightseeing interest in the look Jimmy Doyle had set on something beyond their heads. "I don't know what it means Glynn," he said slowly, "but we have been followed ever since we left the restaurant. A cab with two men in it lias been on our- heels all the way, turned when we did, and has stopped now a little way behind us." '

"Is that it?" said Glynn softly. "It's certainly worth looking into. Let's walk back and interview these gents in the cab."

Glynn jumped out, followed by Jimmy, and an obviously surprised Subardar was quickly down beside them. "Subardar," said Glynn sharply. "We are being followed, and I'm going to see who by. Better stick close."

"Followed," exclaimed the Subardar, and went on in evident alarm. "There is something here that is not good, sahib. Better that you drive 011 quickly, and get away from any who follow. They must mean ill." "I'm going 'to lind lout," said Glynn doggediy. "Jimmy, lead on to your cab. Get round beside the driver and be ready to lug him out neck and crop if ho tries to drive off. Come on." Jimmy led the way back, Glynn beside him and the Subardar, still protesting, close on their heels. The other cab waited, and a man peering out watching their approach turned and spoke a word to his companion with evident satiefactionr Both men were Indians and in police uniform. One was preparing to step out when Glynn arrived beside the cab, and Doyle quietly took post beside the driver. I

"Get back, and sit down," eaid Glynn with ominous quiet, and the pistol gleaming in his hand and pointing straight into the cab gave emphasis to his order. Both men pressed back in their seat and held rigidly still. "Is it the sahib Elliman who speaks?" answered one of the men, and before Glynn could anewer, the Subardar hissed a warning in his ear. "They are in police uniform, sahib, but they are no police. It is a trick, and I was warned to beware of such a trick." "Never mind who I am," Glynn answered the man in the cab. "What do you want? Why do you follow me?" "We are of the police, sahib." said the other. "It ie an order that we find you and bring you to the police office." . "A trick, sahib," breathed the Subardar warningly. "Get away quickly." "Go back to our cab," said Glynn in a low voice over his shoulder. "Turn it across the street, drive back and halt opposite here. Have the driver ready to go on quickly when we run across to you." He turned again to the cab as the Subardar. after an instant's hesitation, hurried off to the other cab. "There is nothing for which the police have a right to command me." he said. "You may go back to the station and tell them I eaid so."

"But Elliman 3ahib," said the man eagerly. "Will you not drive back with us that the matter may be explained to you."

"So that's the trick," thought Elliman. "I get in there with two of them —and I wonder where I'd get out." He saw his own cab coming down the other side of the street, and as it slowed and halted just opposite, he callcd to Doyle, "Be ready, Jimmy. After me, straight across the road."

lie darted round the back of the call and dashed across the street, Jimmy following and overtaking him before they reached their cab. It began to movo as the two leaped in, and. Was racing away and out of sight before the other could negotiate the traffic and make the turn to follow.

CHAPTER XVI. Enter the Police. Glynn's failure to arrive at the hotel where he would have stayed if he had not been diverted from it by the instructions the Subardar had conveyed to him, had created more disturbance than he conhl have guessed. There awaited him at the hotel an Indian gentleman of the Prince's household at Napalata, who had given his name at the reception desk and asked that Glynn should be informed as soon as ho arrived that one was waiting who desired a meeting, and also instructed that he should be told the moment Glynn arrived. When it liad passed tho time when tho cars should have brought the passengers from the liner on arrival at the 'droine, the Princc's official went to make further inquiries.

He was astonished to hear that the other passengers had arrived some time before, the liner having landed ahead of time, but that no Saliib Elliman had come to the hotel. Tho official waited impatiently a little longer, and then, feeling vaguely disturbed, made further and urgent inquiries. He got in touch with Airways offices, and after a time was told the hotel at which three passengers had asked to be set down. To this hotel he telephoned, only to be told 110 one of the name of Elliman was there, but if one arrived he would bo given any message. Actually Glynn was in the other hotel at that moment, but the denial of his being there was in accordance with the supposed orders lie had given through the Subardar. Now thoroughly alarmed, the Prince's officer went straight to the police, and put before their chief the main facts of the case and his own fears of sonic foul play being at the bottom of Glynn's failure to turn up.

The chief knew all about the Napalata crisis, and it needed no more than a plain statement to set the wheels of the police machine rapidly turning.

Under the personal inquiries of the police at the hotel where Glynn had gone, the reception clerk told the truth, and the additional fact that, since he had telephoned, the three passengers had gone out together to dine, but had said nothing of where they were going. From Airways the Chief learned the names of Norah Seaman and Jimmy Doyle, but could tell nothing further than that they had come by the air mail from London.

"If the three are together," said the Chief to the agitated official, "they will be the easier to trace. I have set men to reach the good hotels and restaurants, and to report here."

"It is this Indian known as the Subardar who is the most alarming to me," said the official. "It was he who told the hotel to say that Elliman Sahib was not there, who arrived with them and went out with them again. He is not known to me. I am afraid, greatly afraid."

The telephone rang, and the Chief answered it. listened and after a sharp question and answer or two he gave his orders to intensify the search, and if Glvnn were found, to bring him in, under arrest and by force if need be; and also most particularly to bring also any who were with him, including the Indian Subardar. "The last named was to be brought under arrest in any case, and under the closest guard.

He put the telephone down and turned to the official. "Your courier is all right, or was a few minutes ago," he said. "Two of our men saw one they thought answered to the description

they had of him, and with him an English man and girl. They were leaving a restaurant by cab, and the police followed in another one."

He went on to tell what the two police had reported of Glynn's refusal to accompany them, and of his disappearance with his companions. "We'll find them," he concluded, "and probably within an hour. The whole police force has been warned, and urged to every effort."

"An hour," repeated the official. "So much can happen in one little hour. It is evident the courier has' been imposed upon and is being guided by his enemies who pretend to be his friends. If they have him in their hands and within the walls of some private place, it will need less than any hour's work*to bring the Prince's plans to wreck and give triumph to that usurper The Vulture."

"If we knew who this woman Seaman is, it would be easier," mused the chief. "If she is merely an English girl Elliman has become friendly with, he would not take her to any low quarter or any house but one safe and reputable. If she is in the pay of The Vulture's people, she might lead him into the trap."

Another report came in, that seats had been reserved on the train that'night for Hydraporc by Captain Elliman and Miss Seaman. The reservation had been made by messenger. Mr. James Doyle had also booked a place in the train for Bombay next day. The chief promptly put a telephone call through to Hydrapore and asked the police there to make immediate inquiries and report by 'phone anything that could be found out about a Miss Norah Seaman or any people of that name there. At the prince's palace in Hydraporc there was even greater alarm and strain than was felt by the official in Karachi who had telephoned all the facts of Glynn's disappearance. The prince's vizier or premier, and his secretary sat together hour by hour waiting for any further news and trying to find hope in the lack, of any. It cheered them a moment when they heard of Glynn and his companions having been seen safe and abroad in the streets of Karachi in a cab, but the relief of that news dwindled steadily as time passed on and no further word came of their being found again. The officer commanding the prince's bodyguard sent in to ask for an audience, and at his coming the talk turned on the preparations for next day—the Day of the Feast. The prince in London had been right in his opinion that the report of his proclamation heing made by means 'of a talking film had roused a fever of argument as to whether such a proclamation could be held good within the law of Napalata, and for days past the people had been squabbling over this point of law more than over the rumours of the prince being mortally ill or dead.

"If the talking film is here in time to-morrow to make the proclamation by the appointed day." said the vizier, "we can at least maintain that the law has been fulfilled, and that we shall uphold it by force." /

"My troops are in readiness," said the officer grimly, "and if I have your orders to strike down any who cry out against the prince after the proclamation is made, be sure our swords will uphold the prince."

"After the proclamation is made." repeated the vizier slowly. "But if the talk film is not here, and the proclamation not made—what then?"

The officer frowned. "It will be bad business," he declared frankly. "For days past we have made much of this evidence of the prince being alive and not in any danger. But the people of The Vulture have said as much or more of the film being a hoax, and of it being certain the film will never be shown because it would be of an impostor the priests, would denounce as such; now there is danger he will be believed right if the film is not shown." "Can you depend on your troops if the proclamation is not made?" asked the secretary. "They will not turn against the prince," said the officer slowly, after a momentary hesitation. "I do not think they will refuse to obey orders. But even if they obey orders and have to use force against the mob stirred up by The Vulture's people, they will have little heart, and The Vulture's men have much, for the fight." / "It is in the hands of the Karachi police, under God," said the vizier softly. "We can only wait the coming of the film. The film—", he repeated with a sigh. "It is so little a thing for so much to depend upon." (To be continued daily.)