THE IVORY CYLINDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 142, 18 June 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE IVORY CYLINDER.

By Wallace Dixon Continued

NCW READERS BEGIN HERE: ( The one ambition of Carey North, an orphan lad of 17 years, is to make hi* < doctor brother proud of him. The call , of adventure is strong in hie veine, and when at midnight he seee three men emerge from the darkness on the river wharves carrying a slim, white faced ' boy, Carey decidea to And out what it ie all about. Together with the help of "Irieh" a taxi-driver friend, he * succeeds in carrying out his plan. Later, he diecovers that the boy's name is Mortimer Blake, and that he is an English immigrant. While Mortimer is resting in his brother'e house, Dr. North shows Carey a queerlooking object which he eaid wae given to him by a sailor While examining it, he eees a face preeeed against the window, but when Carey arrived on the balcony, there was no one there. He began to think he had been dreaming. Now read on: CHAPTKR IT.—Continued. Dr. North had followed him outside, and the two brothers peered unsuccessfully over the hi.nil railing, wondering how anything human could ascend and descend so silently and rapidly. It seemed incredible that anyone could perform so difficult a feat. "Yet I'll swear 1 saw someone,'' said Carey obstiuatelv. "It looke-.l to he the face of a man, and its eyes were directed right at you —or. I should say, at the cylinder in your hand."' Dr. North hid re-entered his study. Now he returned with an electric torch. I which he (lashed rapidly from side to side. Presently his enterprise was rewarded. "This looks human, at any rate," he remarked, with « chuckle. He stooped and picked up a very old and dirty tobacco pipe, the l>owl of which was distinctly warm. The short vulcanite stein was almost bitten in half, as if by the constant pressure of strong teeth. "It's human enough," Carey agreed, "except for its odour, which is positively inhuman. For goodness sake throw the beastly tiling away." "What! . . . and lose our only means of identifying the eavesdropper!'' said Dr. North. "No fear. This unmentionable object may yet prove to have its uses. So we'll keep it. Carey, I think we'll make a search of the grounds. It inav be that that man is hiding somewhere below, waiting a- second chance. Though what lie can want, I'm sure 1 can't imagine."

But now occurred a sturtliliy interrupt ion. From somewhere overhead came a violent scraping. followed liv a smothered grunt inp. Kven as the scientist swiinj; his torch upwards. there came a little "bower of dried mortar and dust, and a rattle of falling masonry. Upon tlie floor of tin; balcony was precipitated. to till' accompaniment of much l>ad language, the bulky body of a man. He Mas on his feet in an instant. Before the onlookers had time to."rasp the situation, the intruder '' whs astride the railing and hid let him- 1 self drop into the darkness hcncath. v They heard the heavy tlnnl of his land ill jr. the echo of an odd footfall, and then ' I silence. ( "Well. I'm hiinjred!" exclaimed Carey I dUjrnstedlv. "I'll het that chip thinks|' we're the slowest couple on earth. He's ] rijrlit." , "So that's why we couldn't find him!" j his brother remarked, flashing his torch on the gap left in the litoken coping- ' stone high to the wide of the window. "He was dinging to that all the time we were searching. Instead of going down, he went up. And then the liricks pave way. Carey, he was too smart for us." "I wish T knew who lie is. and what he wants." Carey complained, as they entered the study once more. He was completely mystified. Dr. North said nothing for some seconds. Then he smiled grimly "At all events, he and his accomplice were under no delusion as to what they came for. Yes. of course, there were two of them. And they got it! "* "(lot it! . . Cot what? What on earth are you talking about. Bill?" Or. North simply pointed. Carey whirled, and then gasped. The ivory cylinder was yone. CHAI'TKK I If. Mortimer Blake Finds Friends. Two incidents claimed Carey North'attention next day. The first was the coining of the sailor. .loe tinsecond was the story related In tic yuiiii<; Knplishman, Mortimer Blake, mm >coinplet<'ly recovered. It was about noon that the s.-iiloi arrived. Apparently ..is approach went tin noticed, for the lii-t they knew of 11 i - arrival was b>- hearing the ruffled toneof the liouseina id. in an apparent attempt to ilissuaile someone from entering the vestibule. "What is it. Kllen ?" Carey called o\er the stair head. "It's a sailor. Mr. Carey." the j'ir! replied. "He says he wants to see Dr. North." "Xot wants to si'e. miss. boomed a man's voice, "but i> to see. That ain't, .loe Mum'>' way <>' doin things, arter afloat, man and boy. for on forty year. A\ast there let me steer a course for the sawbones.'

Ignoring the maid's little shriek of protest, the caller began to mount the .-tails. At the same time Dr. North came out of his study. The two met midway on the stairs. "Halloa! . . . Halloa. Carey," said the scientist, who appeared amused, rather than Hilary, at the discovery, "Why. if it isn't my sailor. Well, my man. what do you want ? I'm not made of halfcrowns. you know." "Belay there," growled good liumoui edly enough Carey noted. "Belay there, d' all shipmates here, I hope. me a word or two with you deck, eh? And no offence . port in such a rough and read Dr. North laughed in spite There was something about which spoke of an honest hen.'. ■ > ' ; his unprepossessing exterior. "Come into my study Carey." he in\ ited. "Well?" lie said, as the • i . ' behind them. "Name, Joe Aluggs—honest 1 calls mc," said the sailor. none having been discharge ing as ever was, on account drop too much, as you mig' \ running foul o' the first mat* '<iel oil here, ycr rainblin' >..■•. ..t savd, 'vcr slack-faced lump of tow and putty and common booze,' he sajil, 'or I will . . ." "1 sec," interrupted Dr. North amiably. "And so you got off?" "1 was throwed oil." corrected Joe Muygs, with a comradely wink at Carey. "And so I sayd to m\sclf, 1 sa\>, 'Honest Joe, I will call the pilot h boa id and make full speed ahead for the kindhearted gent that offered to take caie of your bit of a bone ruler for you yesterday, before any two by tour run of a ••uii takes a fancy for it. you being drunk and disorderly . . .' " Dr. North held up a restraining hand. "Now look here. Joe Aluggs. you . . ." "If you don't mind, sir Honest Joe is what I answer best to," the sailor intervened glibly. "Well then Honest Joe." corrected Dr. North, with a humorous shrug. "I say you know perfectly well that you made me a straight-out gift of that cylinder. Now just what is the game?" "Did I now?" asked the sailor. His round, grape like eyes regarded the scientist in genuine surprise. There was no doubting his sincerity. (To lie continued Saturday next.)

Margaret Corbatt—l'm arm' I Hi il ' campaign i 4 i-"\\ I" ' • 1 .fl\ .1111 i"i ' 'i In fnriii H I-111 l>. \|.II if.ii'-:. ;t 11:1 ■ • 1 1 11 Ui' ■ 111 •ii*■ •i a 1 \"iir K :il I'll'-i- ui In!;'. N " ,vmi ran |»ii ii■!i a-1 • a ludjir IT mi it'- Hi " ;r Voli rail' 111 - i-nd in I !•> '' i' ' -1. Vi.ll do lint Ii a\ •• I" I'l.v l" I"' a 111 < -111 >i■ •i . Nerah Ryan— I■ ■' —. ni. w i.n a 10l 111' C|U = ■ --1 ■i■ 11- \ m ;i-IM- I I i»->ll nl I Hill alilr I" a A<■;■ lII'- null. 1 i i' <• 111 1 1• 11 i• *i!' 11 lli 1 I a- a <•:u'■ i 111■ ■:1111 1 r an I ' 1 i Will receive \ .1111 I'l'l I ll'.ralr -11 ■i! 11 \ II .iiiiv name appear* In i..ul "l In • I. ■ •' it "111. anil I "IV. aril il :" Ir - •• I" I N-u will 111 • -11 i i'i'i' ,\ i- a riwai'l "I li.iif .i 'i •>' i. (;rinitrates of Hunt an' awanli'ii all p'.n lisliert ri nil I'lllll I «in-. a IHI u i' •11 J 'I Ii i* '' rani- 1" I a 1111 ur p"ir- v-m air ■1. I'!'' I'm' a 1) ink pri/.i'. Vnir • -111 ••Inn 'it ar. mi| too ]«it•' for you to If inriinlr.) in in - vi'ar'.- birilida.x < Jock Brookflald—Wf haw- no pcifriends at pre-cnl, Jork. I am nn i• I• • to comply with your i-ripi.--'. I'm . i tliav l)i' alilr to arrahtrc 111..- lain I"! ■'i Joan Abal—Welcome li"inr aitaiu. Jr.m I Would llhr to ri'i'i'ivnf a 11■ 11 r i 11 "in \ -1 li-ll li|f tin' all alum! >■ ■ 111■ 11 - 11 . an I perllap- If It «a< part •' nla iI \ mlmr I nI 1111Klit 11 ml a ronirr Im' il in :in -r paifi'S. Wo ii lil >ll|| I ,H'|' In < 111 tli - ' lln afraid Unit tin- position recai din? p" 1 ' - ;» not (piiti' rli ar lo \ "ii. I -li.i 11 ■!■• Illy 1)1" I In I'Xplain. I'mnl - r nm ■ I I • • ward's a liouk prize air au inP-il i fcl'l'llt ri in! II II 111 I" 11S . -lull if - ,| 'k' - nr riddle*. I'mrii pm I - i.. : •! f I'ri'ti t, and arr aw atMeil I-. t > % i r lulls that worn lowai'l- I'M -i ' - our w niti-r rampaiini. Daphne Roland—-nrv. lup'r.'. i-:i 1111 l r Hi pr 11 fIII ■ 1111 - a I | i '.I Doreon Ol«e»on— : 'iii •' 11 ' ! '' your cllort- ai'r inrrinr; w.i-i m ■ • • llnri'l'll. I hop" v" I \< P Im ,' ■•.' "" work. ymi a I ii 1 I■ ' 11 11(| 111 Ii- a l"l I '!• k ;1 ' ' 1 tll't Icr lo ll r \ rl.ip 111 "I I |\\ 11. 111-I '-.111 "I I I "11 -' ' " ' ' r|-r'- umk. I WI II llw I" - I ' -■ I I ' Mlll'l J "'l' -t"! ' - Joan Alcock — 1 •••• I' 1 ' ' ' ' 1 • ..Ml 1, I II- lIV I" !' •'• ! '' , " ' ' , di .pl"- 1. .1 -in I 'I ' •, : , \ a I:. aP I' 1 ' '"' '''' '• • ' 1 \ ■ nil- p.ui - >' • " ' i : ' ' ' ■' i' , ~ | - i;, 11 ■ i .i- . P • •!. i •/■