The Bayswater Mystery

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 20

The Bayswater Mystery

—By CEDRIC SHORT. . (Continued from last week.) I had. been riding.isteadily along, tins road for about three; minutes, when Sty shadow;.suddenly stretched itself to an enormous length on the road before me. This, of course, meant that some vehicle behind me was throwing forward a. beam of light, more proof of this was 'given when I clearly heard the hiss of hard tyres on the • moist surface of the road. Naturally, I drew my. bicycle a little to one side, so that whoever it was in the reai - , could pass me if he should think fit .to do so. Strangely enough - the unknown rider preferred to stay in his present position, for the sound,.of,his tyres came: from the same spot " in my rear,' and my exaggerated shadow kept its ridiculous length. I did not look back to see who it was, but steered my bicycle once more on to the smoother part of the road. After riding on for a while in this fashion, I noticed that I was passing the cemetery, of which my cousin baa spoken, for I could s£e"the white headstones on the graves, gleaming through the rain, which, by this time had lost a little of its force. At the same time I remembered something else that Cecil had told me, and I almost.froze in the saddle with terror. I realised I had suddenly become horrified at the thought of (his mysterious something which persisted u - in following close at my heels, and yet refused to pass when I -gave the opportunity. For the first time I noticed that the light was blue. Yes—blue.

. Could it be possible that any earthly being would follow me along this lonely Toad with such determination on such a night and illuminate the roadway with such a ghostly blue! It couldn't be-possible! As I watched the light blue beams danced wildly about me-. I knew til's thing behind me was a ghost! - Did I l<Sok round to see? Not I! I was now; at fever heat, despite the fact that a biting wind prevailed. I .forced the wheels to revolve at twice their former speed, tlie extra exeition. causing my breath" to come in short, "jmnatural gasps. But still the mysterious thing kept the, same determined distance in the rear! At last I reached the sweeping downward curve,in the road to the Bays water ■wharf. Here I ceased psddaling, and allowed myself to glide down with the natural steepness of the road, realising at the same time that the blue light had disappeared, and the hiss of ghostly wheels behind me had stoj?ped. My bicycle skidded to a stop in front of the Bayswater news-stand, the inside, of which was brilliantly hit. Wajk,ing rather unsteadily into the cosy little shop, I asked the elderly gentleman behind the counter when the next ferry would arrive. "In about fifteen minutes," he told me in a hoarse whisper. After gazing for a while at the covers of numerous magazines, I purchased one magazine and a tablet of nutmilk chocolate, then, leaving my bicycle where it stood., I started-.walking towards the end of the wooden wharf. By this,, time the' rain -had stopped, though the dark sky had a very troubled appearance, and the waters of the harbour tossed- and wrestled angrily in the

inky blackness. Quite suddenly a beam of blue light flashed around the corner of the slieltershed, and the dim, ghostly figure of a young man glided into my vision. . _ ' - r - ■ . Without more ado I turned quickly about, and ran with all speed back to the welcome brilliance of the newsstand, diving with such haste jnto the littre shop..,that the surprised. shopkeeper nearly fell off his stpbl.;: As an excuse for my behaviour, I'' told .hitn that I lost some money, and. so spent' .several Tniriutes looking; abbut-the floor, "until the bus arrived. " - The, ferry from churried the Bays water wharf sLortly afterwards, and I casually fftllowed- the sir a 11' oro'vvd on to the boat with my, ■ bicyclS,which I propped against the funnel on the upper deck. As I did this, I noticed.: that there was another ./bicycle against the other side of the funnel, but" I ; iook no particular notice of it at the time. . Seating myself well back in the row of seats, I broke, off a piece of chocolate from ■ the tablet .which .1 had .bought,placed the piece where any normal, hun-; gry person would place it, .then started to read' a ' Western story, "from my magazine. Presently a young man walked steadily ■up the aisle toward me. His hands were thrust deep into the pockets of his raincoat, and his felt hat was pulled down slightly in front like my own. Seating himself beside me, he Said: "You like fast riding, don't you? I 'could hardly keep up with you; in fact, I fell right behind when we reached Bayswater." I gaj)ed at him.- , "You mean you—you were-r-" "Yes I was following . you all the way. Didn'f; you know it?" #' "Has your bicycle lamp got blue glass?" I asked him. "Yes," he replied, "I put it in myself when the original glass was broken." Something seemed-to turn over inside me>, and I swallojved whole, a large piece.of chocolate in my"surprise.