A LIFT TO BASWELL

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

A LIFT TO BASWELL

By Audrey Reynolds

"I'm - lire that is Mr. Kidleyci ear. said \f ii-iiael. surveying .1 -ie> tourer which iva< parked in front of the bank. "He'J give a lift to Baiiveil." u Mr. Ritilev ? Oh. ye-, he'd give 11s a lift to Ba-Ae.l." said Michael's twin si-t-r. "We'd better wait and a.-k him. I don't suppose he will be in the bank." The twelve year-old twins leant ajain-t the car in leisurely fashion. "I say. Michael," said -loan presently. pointing to the hack seat of the car. "Let's hide under that ruj and surprise Mr. Ridley." "Righto. Let's." agreed Michael. So the twins, who were in carefree holiday mood, climbed in and curled up on the floor of the car. With t many chuckles they anticipated Mr.! Ridley's surprise when they should cast aside the rug that bid them so securely and pop up behind him. Suddenly in the direction of the bank there rans out the loud report of a shot. Then came a confused noise of shouting and running feet. Before the twins had time to move they heard two people fling thems«ives into the car and stamp the engine into action. Then Michael and .Joan, petrified, found themselves being hurtled down the street and humped about on the floor of the car in a manner that nearly knocked the hreath out of them. The car was driven at furious speed, rocking round corners in a most alarming fashion. "It's not M-Mr. Ridley," jerked out Joan after a peep at the evil-looking, heavily-moustached faces of tbe two men in front. "S-sh." Michael warned in a*whisper. as well as he could for the humping of the car. "Something very fishy here. Bet you they are bank robbers!" Joan shuddered. Michael, cramped though he was. had got over the first shock of surprise and was enjoying himself now. she could tell by the eager look on his face. But for her part she wished she were safe at home, miles away from these brutallooking men, who probably carried guns on them. too. However, she set her teeth, and. determined as she always was to emulate David, she did her best to appear bold and eager. After what seemed ages the car came to a sudden stop. The twins, hardly daring to breathe, lay as if paralysed, certain that now they wonld surely be noticed. But the two men got out of the car and there followed the sound of a brief conversation with a third person in harsh, coarse voices. Soon came the noise of a second car roaring to life and speeding off—then silence. The twins crawled out of their hiding place and stood gazing after

tin- r>v.. .-eater \vhi<h was disappear- : •ng round a bend. "We're pipped!'' exclaimed Michael in disgust. "They've changed cats and left this one behind to throw the police off the scent. And, I say, Joan, this is not. Mr. Ridley's car! after all. Hi«» tyres were not like these." 1 Joan gazeiT round her at the bar- I ren countryside. "I haven't the faintest idea where we are." she said. Strangely enough

now that the men had gone she felt | almost as disappointed at losing j them as did Michael. "Let's follow after them," she j added, and Michael gave her & look I of approval. Joan was not like other ; girls, he thought. She was a plucky | kid. And always game. But— "Good for you, Joan," was all he ' caid. j So they plodded down the road on | what seemed a hopeless quest. Round the corner they went. ! And there stood the two-seater! | Half-screened by some bushes it stood at the side of the road. There I was no sign of the men. The twins j crept closer, on tiptoe. Then Michael ' clutched Joan's arm. I "There they are," he breathed. "Among those trees. They're changing their clothes. That shows they're ! up to something shady. Going to bury the others. I suppose. This is j our chance. Joan. We've got to get ; into the dickey seat. Not a sound now." The men were only a few yards away, two of them changing into different-coloured suits and pulling off the moustache* and wiga with

which they "iad disguised themselves. Mercifully they were tf>o absorbed to hear wl\at seemed to Joan the perfectly thunderous noise with which she aqpl Michael gingerly crept into the dickey seat. They were not a moment too soon. One of the men returned and started up the car just a« Michael closed the lid on them, and eoon they were speeding along again on what promised to be the adventure of their lives. Where they were bound far they had no idea, nor

what they could do to help matters once they arrived there. They were Able to move more freely than had been possible before, but even so they were very cramped and as muscles began to ache the adventure began to lose some of its thrill. To make matters worse, as time wore on, they both began to feel the pangs of hunger, for it was a long time since they had breakfasted. Joan regretted her temerity in coming and even Michael lost his look of keen enjoyment. But. when hours later, or so it seemed, the car slowed down and after bumping for some time over very uneven ground it came to a stop, the twins for®rot about their aches and pains and were instantly on the alert once more. Would the men open the dickey seat and discover them ? They listened anxiously as the men heaved themselves out of the car and breathed a sigh of relief as they stumped away. There was an agonised squeal as one of the men brutally kicked a dog out of his way. and for some time the twins could hear the unfortunate creature yowling and whining with pain.

Presentlv, however, all was still. Inch by inch Michael pushed back the lid that covered them and peeped out. No one was in sight. So he signalled to Joan and they both crawled out silently. All round them lay neglected fielda and hedges. Some distance away stood a weather-beaten old farmhouse which was just visible through the trees. The place had not been used for some time, for window panes and doors were broken, and what had once been a garden was now a mass of tall weeds and rank, overgrown grass. No other houses or signs of habitation were to be seen and Michael wondered for a moment how they would ever find their way home again and what mother would think if they didnt return home fairly soon. The twins advanced cautiously to the house. Halfway there Michael remembered something and whispered to Joan to wait there for him. Presently he was back and the two set off through the deep grass until they reached a side window. Through this they could hear the voices of the men. "I tell you, you rat. it's share and share alike," came in the angry tones of one. There was a violent argument, followed by sounds of a scuffle. During this Michael managed to peep into the room. As he dropped back from the window he turned to Joan, his eyes shining. "It's a gang of thieves all right," he whispered, excitedly. "They have got a whole suitcase of banknotes there. Gosh, Joan, what can we do?" "Let's get away from this winI dow." Joan urged. "I'm sure they | will hear us." I They tiptoed stealthily to the : back of the house where stood several old sheds which had once been used as outhouses. In one of these they perched themselves on some rotting sacks of lime, and pondered desperately on the wisest move to make. But time went by and they were no nearer a solution than before. "What's that?" asked Joan suddenly. raising her head. Michael listened to the dull droning sound that was coming from far away for a brief second. | "It's an aeroplane," he announced, j Then, quickly. "Gosh, Joan, it's ; probably looking for these thieves l here. Can't we signal to it some- : how if it comes close enough?" ) At that moment Joan's eyes fell on the sacks of lime that lay, ancient and rottinsr. around them, and at sight of them a plan suddenly formed in her head. I "Yes. we can. Michael, we can," she said excitedly. "I've an idea. Help me to carry one of these sacks ; out into a field." I "What on earth for?" demanded Michael. "What use will they be for signalling?" j "Oh. don't waste time, please I Michael." begged Joan. "It's the ! only tiling we can do. Well have to 'make letters on the ground with the j lime and write a message for the j pilot of the aeroplane to read." I

"B,v jove, Joan, what a ripping idea," said Michael with enthusiasm. "Come on then." The noise of the aeroplane was growing more distinct as the twins staggered to one of the fields with a great sack of lime. The sack was so rotten that the lime poured out through the holes as they walked and formed a trail behind them. Their clothes, too, were powdered with it. But they cared nothing for that. Eagerly they set to work, sprinkling the powdery stuff in great handfuls on the grass to form a gigantic letter "B." At the end of the word "Bank" they ran out of lime and had to hurry back to the shed for another sack. And all the time they had to keep a watchful eye on the farmhouse in case the men should happen to come out and see them at work. As they finished the word "Thieves"- the aeroplane was plainly in sight, swooping about the sky in great circles. "Suppose it doesn't coma over here," said Joan anxiously. "It's jolly well got to come," said Michael with determination. He waved his, cap frantically at the 'plane although he knew it was useless. To their great joy the aeroplane swooped in their direction and passed directly overhead, turned and came back again. "He's seen it, he's seen it!" shrieked Joan, forgetting all about the men in the house and dancing with excitement. For as the machine dipped lower and lower the. pilot could be seen distinctly, leaning over the side and waving his hand to them. Then the aeroplane zoomed upwards again and kept on, in a straight line this time, heading, the twins hoped, for the police.

"Look out," warned Michael suddenly, seizing Joan by the arm and hauling her towards the shelter of the hedge. Crouching there, the twins watched the men, who had come tumbling out of the house at the noise of the aeroplane and were standing gazing up after it. Had they heard her shrieks, Joan wondered fearfully. Would there be a search for them? But no. the men turned and went hastily inside again, and the twins breathed freely once more. "I believe they are going to leave," declared Michael, starting to his feet. "I bet that aeroplane scared them. We'd, better hurry and see which way they go." There was nothing cautious about the way the twins reached the house this time. They fairly sprinted over the ground and were just in time to <see the three men hurl themselves into the two-seater, one of them clutching the suitcase of notes tightly in his arm®. Then they were off with a loud roar from the exhaust.

"I do hope the pilot will be quick," said Joan. Michael smiled in a curious way though he said nothing. But when the police car arrived about twenty minutes later he had plenty to say and had soon told thr>in the whole story with Joan's help. "I don't think they will have jjot very far," he added finally, "he.niii-e I made a pretty decent hole in their benzine tank with my penknife and a stone from the ground." "Smart work, son," smiled t lie sergeant. "By the way, the pilot wants to congratulate you two on the message you gave him. You certainly are a bright pair. From your description it sounds as if men are the Torbury Trio who have been wanted for the last 18 months. In that case there is a very tidy little sum that you will collect as reward." "Oh, topping!" said the twins. Then Michael remembered something. "I say," he said, "when you have finished arresting those chaps, potild you please give us a lift to Baswell ?"