Serial Story DEMON'S DECOY

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 13 (Supplement)

Serial Story DEMON'S DECOY

SYNOPSIS. Elizabeth Allen comes to Syria from New York to become secretary to Dr. John Morris, who has a sanatorium near Beirut. She discovers that the doctor and his oolleague, Professor Meres, apparently aided by Miss Hilton, trained nurse, are up to something queer. The only patient, Michael Brown, is supposed to be mentally unbalanced and is kept a prisoner, but the doctor's niece, Mary Morris, in love with Michael, insists that Morris and Meres are deliberately trying to drive him mad. The doctor's young assistant, Dr. Slc;/>en Payne, who falls in love with Elizabeth, also believes this. Then Meres drugs Elizabeth and whan she comes to tells her she is Michael's twin sister and treats her as though she were suffering from amnesia. When he makes an attempt 011 Stephen's life, Stephen and Elizabeth and Mary decide to hide thomselvco in a storeroom in the cellar. Stephen forces Nurse Hilton to go witn thom as a hostage—though she insists she is not in league with Meres and Morris. Meres shouts that Dr. Morns has cut his throat and is dyinq! Stephen goes out to aid, returns excitedly and bundles Elizabeth out and encounters a tall, wiry man with a hatchet face.

Chapter XXXII. PLIZABETH had started in i-i amazement at the sight of the man. It was Professor Auer! Hut before she eould speak, Stephen linil bowled him over and was grappling with him on the floor. He had taken the older man by surprise, and that, the difference in age, gave him a considerable advantage. "Stephen!" Elizabeth cried. "Stephen, don't! It's " Just, then, Nurse Hilton, coming up the stairs bcJiind her, pushed her aside and, rushing to the fighting men, tried to pull Stephen off. But the fight was already over. The professor had gone limp. Stephen stood up and turned to the nurse. "Keep yonr hands off me!" he said angrily.

Miss Hilton stepped back, white and shaking.

"I—l was afraid you would kill him," she faltered.

Desperate Measures "Know him?" Stephen demanded grimly. "No." "Oh, but I do!" Elizabeth cried. "You shouldn't have done that, Stephen. It's —it's Professor Auer!" "I don't care who he is," Stephen granted. "He's the man who shot at me in the morgue." "There must be a mistake," Elizabeth protested. "He—he wouldn't do a thing like that!" "Well, he did," Stephen retorted. Nurse Hilton was bending aver the unconscious man. "He's still breathing," she reported. "Of course, he's still breathing!" Stephen said, annoyed. "You didn't really think I was trying to kill him, did you? I only wanted to beat him up a bit. Be had it coming to Mmf" "There most be * mistake," Elizabeth repeated. "Erafeesor Jamr wovld never have, shot at job." "All right, my sweat/* Stephen, said patiently, wa3Z h*ie to find oat about that aomenother time. Bight now you're Ma—sis preoccupied with Dr. JCodsxs and. I managed to bribe Ahmed-to let yon out. He sent one oP'the*kitchen boy* for a car. Ii must be here by sow. Game along!*

While he vm talking, Mary had appeared, and now ran after him as he started dewa the corridor with Elizabeth.

By--Mildred Snow Gleason

"Stephen'" she gasped. "You've <*ot to let Michael out! We'll go with her!" l '\ou can go," he answered, "but I haven t got tlie key to Michael's room and I haven't time now to try and "et it." J "But Stephen, you've got to!" Sorry, Mary—l m not goinsr to risk losing this opportunity for Elizabeth to escape." Ihey were out of the service quarters before Elizabeth had a chance to put a word in. "What about you, Stephen!" she asked. "What are you going to do?" "Stay here for the present." "Then I won't go. 1 won't go without you!" Elizabeth protested. "Darling, you've gut to go without me. I can't leave Morris with no one but Meres to look after him. Meres is no physician." "1 won't go and leave you here in danger," Elizabeth insisted. "But listen, darling," Stephen argued. " Ihey won't try to harm me as long as Morris is in danger, and, in the meantime, you can send back help from town." .

Professor's Victory Elizabeth considered this angle for a moment, then gave him. "Very well," she said, with a sigh. "I only hope you're right." "That's the spirit!" Stephen grinned cheerfully. "The worst is almost over." With Mary still following them, they came out into the front hall, and found Ahmed leaning against the entrance door. "Xo car," he grunted. "Boy no come back." Stephen swore softly. "All right," he said to Elizabeth. "I'll walk to the village with you to get a car, and then come back. Let us out, Ahmed." The servant shook hie head. "Professor kill me if he find you gone, too!" . Elizabeth acted quickly. Taking the little revolver from her pocket, she pointed it at Ahmed. "Put up your hands! And move away from the door!" The Arab, amazement written on his face, obeyed slowly. Just, as Stephen was about to search him for the door key, he and Elizabeth were startled to hear a grating laugh. It was Meres, who had quietly come up behind them. "No use, Payne. He hasn't got the key."

"Well Bee," Stephen growled, and proceeded with his search. It was, in vain. "All right, professor —you win again," he sighed. He turned away from the Arab. As he did so, Ahmed suddenly leaped at him from behind, forcing him to his knees.

In the same instant, Meres, taking advantage of Elizabeth's momentary confusion, grabbed her and disarmed her.

Sorry, Miss Brown,'* lie said, with a mocking bow, "but guns are dangerous in the hands of pretty young women." Elizabeth fought back the tears of humiliation that came to her eyes. Sorry to have been such a wash-out, Stephen." Stephen, struggling to hie feet, was white with anger at being overwhelmed, but he managed to smile at Elizabeth. It s okay, darling. Just my own stupidity." ".\o, no," Meres murmured, "just your bad luck." He turned to Elizabeth. And now, Hiss Brown, since you chose to disregard my advice about staving in your room. I'm afraid I shall have to lock you up again." Elizabeth shrugged. She was so tired, both physically and emotionally, that nothing seemed to matter. She'started toward the stairs, but Meres stopped her. "No," he said, "this time in the study. \ou, too, Payne. I'll call you. when there is any change in Dr. Morris." Mary Morris, who had been watching from the background, now came forward. "Let me go with them," she said. Meres hesitated a moment, then shrugged. "\ ery well," he said, "if you wish to be locked up—" Just then a new voice broke in. "Ah, professor!" Meres wheeled. At sight of Professor A tier coming down the hall with Nurse Hilton, hie jaw dropped in astonishment, and his face turned suddenly white. J "Auer!" he exclaimed. "What on earth are you doing here!"

Chapter XXXIIL

PROFESSOR AUER, apparently recovered from his fight with Stephen, halted before the stupefied Meres and held out his hand, which Meres automatically took.

"Didn't Morris tell you I was here?" Auer murmured. "I was called to Syria unexpectedly in connection with some research and I thought I would give you and Morris a surprise. As soon as I reached Beirut, I came out here to the sanatorium. I'm surprised Morris didn't tell you I wag here. I arrived early this evening." That, thought Elizabeth, was a lie if he were really the man who had attacked Stephen in the morgue yesterday. He turned to her now with a smile. "Well, well, Miss Allen! I'm glad to see you again. I had heard that you had come here. How are you?" "As well as could be expected," Elizabeth answered coldly, remembering suddenly that it was this man's dismissal of her that had been the first step in the series of events that had led her into her present predicament. Despite hie smooth explanation of his presence here, lie was probably in league with Meres and Morris, she thought. No doubt, Meres' display of surprise was just an act. Meres had probably brought him here. She now no longer doubted that Professor Auer had, indeed, been the man who had shot Stephen when taken by surprise in the morgue—though she had, at first, been so incredulous.

He was now looking at Stephen. "And who,''. he asked Meres, "is this young I should like an introduction to also an explanation from him. Quite without provocation, he attacked me a few minutes ago. It was something of a jolt, I assure you." Meres, raising his eyebrows at this information, -■ at last recovered his tongue.

•This 5s Dr. Payne, who is Morris' assistant. I'm sure I don't know why he should have attacked you. But I'm ,not surprised," Meres added sarcastically. "He's a young man of rather violent temperament—and most unpredictable in his actions." Stephen curtly cut in. "I don't think Professor Auer needs any explanation of my action." Auer shrugged and turned to Meres. "Where is Morris?" he asked. Meres' face became grave. He hesitated a moment, then said, "I have bad news for you. He—he cut his throat a while ago." Auer started. "What! Is—is he dead?" "No—but in a critical condition." Auer looked genuinely concerned. "-May—may I see him?" "Well ..." said Meres. "I think it would be better to wait until later, want to keep him as quiet as possible ju*t now."

Auer Tells p Story Auer nodded. "Yes—of course. But I should like to see him as soon as I may." He paused, then glanced at hlizabeth. "I'erhaps, in the meantime, Miss Allen would let me have a little talk with her? It has been so long since I have seen her." "Of course," Klizabeth murmured. Meres seemed not at all pleased by this suggestion. He looked uncertainly at Elizabeth and Stephen, then seemed to make up his mind that his intention to lock them up would have to be abandoned for the time being. "Certainly," he said. "Use the study." Then he turned to Nurse Hilton. "You had better come with me to look after Dr. Morris." The nurse nodded and followed him without a word. Klizabeth started to lead Professor -Auer to the study, but Stephen stopped them. "Wait a minute!" he addressed himself grimly to the professor. "If you don t mind, I'm coming with you. I have a score to settle with you!" "By all means," Auer said amiably. Stephen turned to Mary. "You had better come, too. With tilings as they are, you wouldn't be safe to-night alone in your room. If you are tired, you can go to sleep on the couch in the study."

Mary agreed listlessly, and went with them.

As soon as they were in the study, Stephen locked the door. Then, when Mary had flung herself in exhaustion on the couch, and the rest of them had taken chairs, he wasted no time in coming to the point.

"And now," he said to Auer, his voice like ice, "perhaps you'll explain why you tried to. murder me yesterday, and what you're doing here! Friends of Dr. Morris and Professor Meres are not very welcome with some of us."

Auer was visibly distressed. He cleared his throat in embarrassment. "It e rather ridiculous for me to say I'm sorry," he mumbled, "but that is all I can say. I made a bad mistake." "I'll say you did!" Stephen retorted. "And I'm waiting to hear why." Auer 6ighed. "To explain and make you believe me, I must tell you. the whole story." He paused. "Vest Go on," said Stephen. to begin with, Dr. Morris and Professor Meres. and I, and also Dr. Theodore Brown—the father of the young man who, I understand, is a patient here —went to college together." ''Theodore Brown?" Stephen murmured. "The famous tropical fever man? I didn't know he was Michael's father!" "Yes," A tier nodded. "We were all great friends in college, but later as the years passed I saw them less and less frequently. Morris and Meres became located here in Syria, and Brown travelled a great deal—until his tragic death about a year ago. "Then, about" four months ago, Meres was in New York and came in to see me. A month later, when he had returned to Syria, I received a cable from him saying that he had told Dr. Morris about my secretary, Miss Allen, and that Morris wanted to hire her. I was surprised, for I didn't know that he had even noticed Miss Allen when he was in my office. Also, I thought he was rather high handed in wanting to take her away from me, and cabled back to that effect. "However, he was in a position to exert pressure on me. It happened that, when lie was in New York, I had been in rather serious iinaneial difficulties and he had come to mv rescue by lending me a large sum of money. He now sent me a second cable peremptorily telling me to discharge Miss Allen without giving her a reason—or he would call the loan." "And so," said Stephen contemptuously, "you just let her go without trying to find out the meaning of all this!" "I was in a spot," Auer excused himself. '"And besides, I had no reason, at that time, to suspect that Meres and Morris were up to anything wrong. I was mystified, to be true, but Miss Allen is an exceptionally capable secretary, and I simply supposed that Meres must have had a private talk with her and now was merely being selfish in forcing me to give her up. If I had known than what I have learned since I should have made ever 3' effort to prevent her from coming here."

"I balieve you're either a crook or a fool!' - Stephen exclaimed witheringly. "But go on! What have you learned since, and how?"

(To be continued.)