THE KING OF GREENHAVEN

Evening Star, Issue 21320, 26 January 1933, Page 3

THE KING OF GREENHAVEN

A Story of Modem Smugglers

[By Richard Wayne]

(The characters in this story are entirely imaginary, and no re fercnce to living persons is intend ed.)

CHAPTER XXIII. IIOGKII ON THE WATCH. Left, to his own resources for a day or Ijwo, Roger became keenly conscious of tho bleakness of life at Greenhaven, without the company and comradeship of Joan. If ho had been less sensitive, the good folk at Greenhaven would surely have called his attention to the circumstance that all was not well with him. Ben Joad, for instance, took an early opportunity of stopping him in the little street and in extending what purported to be homely sympathy. “ I see you go off to your birds alone yesterday again, Mr Merriman,” he said slowly. “ And Miss Joan, she finds a powerful sight of housework these days. Hardly showed her nose outside doors," she didn’t.” “ What the dickens has it to do with you?” Roger demanded irritably. “ That’s the way every man speaks when things go wrong between him and his sweetheart,” old Joad said genially. 11 But it has got this much to do with me, Mr Merriman, that 1 make bold to say that Miss Joan will sure to come right if you handle her proper. Abel Sharman was only saying this morning ...” “ Oh, shut your head!” Roger interrupted. “ Have yon people nothing better to do than "to discuss matters which do not concern you and which you cannot understand?” “Not at the time being,” Joad said stolidly. “ Yon can see for yourself there’s not much doing at the moment. But, as 1 was saying about you and Miss Joan . . .” “I don’t wish to hear what you were saying,” Roger cut in. “ Something quite impertinent, I’ve no doubt. You might do worse than remember, Joad. that there is a limit, to hypocrisy and bare-faced effrontery.” “ No call to lose your temper,” the old fellow said, with no sign of perturbation. “ Greenhaven has set its heart on a match between the two of von, Mr Merriman.”

Roger turned his back on the old rascal, and hurried away. It needed no such incident to give him a sense of satisfaction in contemplating the day of reckoning which awaited Ben Joad. The cunning and malice which underlay the ostensible simplicity of Joad’s comments made him more determined than ever that this hoary impostor should not escape the exposure and punishment ho had earned. The fateful day came sooner than Roger expected, and ho received his first intimation of it by the appearance of the lorries, in their customary secluded position. Beyond giving tho signals arranged to those who were to co-operate in the operations which were designed to end smuggling at Greenhaven, there was nothing Roger could do except to go about bis usual occupations in the bird sanctuary. He took it for granted that he was more closely observed than before, and that any variation from his usual procedure might excite suspicion at the time when it was most desirable to produce a sense of security. The day dragged slowly out, spent in tasks which now held no interest, since Morriman was preoccupied with the issue of the coining night and all that depended upon it. Yet he must follow liis custom of working as long as daylight permitted, and for once Roger found fault with the lengthening of the days, because it delayed bis return to Grcenliaven. At last he decided that it was safer to start for home, a last cautious inspection of tho lorries revealing that the man with glasses was noting every move he made. As he came to Greenhaven Joan stood in the middle of the road to stop his car, and by her face Roger knew that she was aware of what was planned for that night and was in dread of it. “ Jump in,” he ordered. “ I wonder if you know how 1 miss you these days.” “Oh, Roger!” breathlessly. “ I wanted to tell you. They will be running a cargo to-night.” “ That was sure to happen sooner or later,” lie said. “ Are yon sure it is to night.” “Don’t you see,” she asked with an impatient ‘gesture. “ Something will happen, t told you what Mr Chance threatened if I returned here. And now I fool that ho is doing as he said and it is all my fault.” “Rut how could he know?” Roger asked. “ Anybody could know,” Joan said scornfully. ‘ “ A child could tell that something was in the air just by walking through the village. Roger, if dad goes out in his boat to-night . . . But I have asked him not to go for mv sake.” “ Well?” “ He asked me the reason of my sudden whim. As if I could tell him.” “But why not? Why not repeat just what Chance said as the reason why yon ask him not to take the boat out?”

“ I couldn’t. 1 wouldn’t have him think that I doubted him. I was tongue-tied, Roger. What must I do?” . . “ I’m afraid you can do nothing, except wait on a happy ending,” Roger said. “If you were to tell Wedlake of the threat which Chance employed you would only make him the more determined to take his boat out. Whatever unworthy suspicions Chance has managed to infect you with—and they arc unworthy, Joan, as yon will presently admit—you cannot imagine Wedlake skulking at home when the men were in danger of interference.” “ No, he would never do that.” “ Then ho will go, whatever yon may say. Eor my part, 1 think it impossible that Wedlake is involved in smuggling.” “ I wish I had your faith, ’ Joan,said mournfully as Roger stopped the car at her gate/ “Promise me that you will stay indoors, Roger. I feel that there will be bad work to-night.” “ If I thought that, bow could 1 promise?” Roger asked evasively. “ Good-night Joan; you will see the world in brighter colours to-morrow.” It cut at his heart strings to leave her there so white and forlorn, but there seemed to bo no choice in tho matter. Outside the T.obsterpot lie was stopped once more, by Abel Sharman this time.

“ Will you be cruising to-night, Mr Merriman, along with Mr Wedlake?”

“ f iiadn't thought of it, Shannon.” linger answered. “ And I’vc hoard nothing from Mr Wedlake.” “ [ wouldn’t think of it. sir. even if Mr Wodlake asked you,” Abel said

earnestly. “ There was some talk the last time, and I wouldn't like to have more than talk.” “Threats, Sharman?” “ There are those who say you see more than you need and know more than is good for you,” Sharman said doggedly. “ Call what 1 say a throat if you like, 1 mean it as no more than a warning.” “ Warning for warning, Sharman.” Roger replied gravely. “ Take care lest that bold spirit of yours may load you into doing something which will bring serious trouble upon yon. You and your friends are fools, living in a fool’s paradise of security. Do yon think, man, that it can go on for ever?”

“ Who’ll stop ns?” Abel asked. “ Anybody who tries it will do so at his own peril.” “ I’m not so sure,” Roger retorted. “ Informers have a trick of saving their own skins. But 1 thank yon for your warning just the same; 1 think it was well meant.”

“ It was all of that,” Abel answered. “ Indoors is the right place for you to-night, sir.’ Roger drove away, wondering whe“ttier he could be able to carry out his plans without interference. On that score he was enlightened early in the evening, for on glancing out of the window after dinner he descried the ungainly bulk of Sain Wrench stationed outside his door on sentry duty. And for that, Roger surmised, he had to thank the wily Mr Ben .load. The watch set upon him gave him little or no concern. To evade this stupid .giant and to escape into the covering darkness was a simple matter, though his absence from the cottage might later be discovered. That might have been important while his work at Grocnhaveu remained incomplete, hut within a few hours, he hoped, an end would Ik? put to Greenhaven smuggling. Ho put out the lamp at the usual time, and after a reasonable delay and an inspection of the sentry at bis door he opened his bedroom window ,and slipped out. He had to leave the open window as evidence of bis evasion, but when once ho was clear of the house that gave him no concern. Stealing noiselessly down the slope, he posted himself in a little clump of hushes, which he had marked down as an observation post from which the road to Swayle sanctuary could Ik? watched. Crouched in this shelter. Roger heard the hoarse shout with which Wrench, some half-hour later, announced that the bird he was set to watch had flown. He could also hear abuse shouted at Wrench for his carelessness; but apparently the men had too much to do to allow them to waste time in any scal’d) for Roger. “ You know what to do if he shows himself.” Abel Sharman .shouted. “ When I’vc time, Sam Wrench, I’ll have something to say about you lotting liifn go.” And that was all for the time being. Long minutes passed slowly by and stretched out into nearly an hour by Roger’s wrist watch. And then, very slowly and quietly, the lorries came drifting along the road into Greenhaven. Almost as soon as they had passed him Roger heard the roar of Wedlakc’s engine, and decided it was time to sec what happened at the harbour. Ho made a detour over ground which ho had chosen carefully by daylight, and arrived unseen near the entrance to the pier, where the usual small group of men were posted. Ho could not see them, as he crouched low behind a post, but tlidir low-voiced talk came to him with startling distinctness. “ I tell you it was not Merriman,” one voice said. “It was Miss Joan her own self. Passed only 2yds away from me, she did. I could most have touched her. Tell me 1 don’t know Miss Joan from Merriman?” “What would she bo doing, then?” the other speaker asked. “ Never before in all this time has she gone night riding with her father. ’Tain’t natural she should be out with him to-night.” “ Well, she is,” said the first man confidently. “ Make what you like of it.” CHAPTER XXIV. WRECKED. They were still discussing it, as Roger slipped past them unobserved, making in tbo direction where ho sup■pbsed the lorries to be waiting. He did not know whether to ho glad or sorry that Joan had persuaded Wodlako to take her out on the power boat, having failed in her effort to keep him ashore. Mo understood what a relief it must be to her to exchange the suspense of waiting for a share in action, whatever it might lead to. Roger flattered himself that it would lead to nothing, since he had been at some pains to arrange it so. But the thought of Joan hurtling through the darkness disturbed him. as he recalled his own eerie experience, when Wcdlako took him as companion. Joan had, as a matter of fact, so importuned Wedlakc, first, that lie should not go out at all, or, if he must go, that he should take her with him, that her guardian reluctantly consented to the second alternative.

“ Though, for once, you seem to mo unreasonable,” he added. “ You must know that you will only be in my way if anything should happen, as you suggest is probable. And if nothing at all should happen there is no reason why yon should be there.” 11 Or you cither,” Joan retorted. “ Isn’t it enough for you to know that 1 shall he better with you than waiting miserably at home in dread at every sound?” “ And before that visit to London you used to go to bed and sleep through it all,” Wedlake reminded her. “ Yon were not troubled by presentiments or anything foolish at that time.” ‘‘ I should never have gone to London,” .Joan agreed. “ But I’m afraid you must accept the consequences, Pad. And .1 promise not to he a nuisance or to get in the way, if you will only take me with yon.” And so, as the fishermen had remarked, Juan had put out in the speed boat, with no further word on either side. Her drooping spirits rose in the first rush out to sea. The wind and spray on her face, the enfolding darkness. and the leaping speed of the boat were ail in accord with her humour of the hour. It. was easy to disregard any danger that- might lurk in the blackness of the

night; easier by far than to wait at home, dreading what any minute might bring forth. Keen the suspicion oi Wedlake, which had so distressed her ever since Chance had formulated it in clear uncompromising words, seemed an unreasonable tiling, while she sat by him in his boat and rushed away into the empty night. And wliile Joan took comfort in the motion and the novelty of the experience Wedlake suddenly switched on Ins lamp, and flooded the restless waters with light. Before Joan's dazzled eyes had accustomed themselves to the glare he had switched the light oft again; and he also stilled the turmoil of the engine. “ Listen, Joan.’’ be said, speaking in his usual even manner. “ Your presentiment, or whatever it was, seems not to be so vain a thing as I had thought it. There is a boat lying where no boat would be on ordinary business; and from the glimpse 1 had of her I venture the guess that she's a preventive craft.” “What shall we do, then?” “ If you wore not here I know what I should do well enough. Hut. as you are here, it is a question with me whether I ought not to slip away while I can and get you back to the shore in safety.” “ You wouldn’t do that, Dadt Joan pleaded. “ I should never be able to look you in the face again.” “ She’s making for us,” Wedlake said. “ And if 1 slip her she’ll blunder right into those poor fools who are lifting their contraband. This is an ugly fix into which you’ve lauded me, my girl.” “ Uni not here at all,” Joan said. “ You hear, Dad; you must just carry on as though I were at home.” “ Right!” Wedlake decided in an instant. “ Now we draw the pursuit. Sit tight, Joan, and do exactly as J order. ’ ’

At that he started Ins engine again, and at the same time switched on the strong lamp, which advertised his whereabouts to the boat now coining up to investigate. Wodlake's boat shot forward, but not at the high speed which her owner usually affected. At the same time their pursuer turned on a strong searchlight, directing it full upon the chase. As they splashed over the sea Joan grasped the purpose of Wedlakc's manoeuvres. Like the mother lapwing, ho was drawing the revenue men away' from the smugglers, disguising the high speed of which lie was capable. Turned halfway round to watch the pursuer, Joan saw that she was drawing closer with every minute of their flight. Nearer and nearer she crept. Wedlake marked the distance she gained, for he frequently turned to look over his shoulder; but lie never quickened the speed lie was making or made any move to scape. Presently the pursuer was near enough to hail them, and a hoarse shout, conveyed by a megaphone, reached Joan’s ears, even above the noise of their throbbing engine. “ heave to or we’ll fire upon you.” “ hie down,” Wedlake shouted. “ Flat on the hoards, Joan.” As Joan obeyed lie cut off his betraying light and quickened his pace. At once there was a rattle, which Joan knew must mean the discharge of a machine gun. “ Keep down,” Wedlake called at the pitch of his voice. “ That was to scare ns. Next time they may try to hit us.” They were driving at full speed now, and leaving their pursuer rapidly. Once more came the rattle of machine gun lire, and Joan heard the whine of bullets mid the zip of their contact with the water. The boat was fairly flying now, and Joan laughed aloud as she considered what Wedlake had done, lie had drawn lire from the revenue men, .and so caused them to warn the real smugglers that danger was loose on the dark waters. The searchlight of the following boat was dimmed by the distance . Wedlake bad put between them. They were skimming the water at a prodigious speed, and running clean away. There was not even an attempt to use the gun again. In her exhilaration at the success of Wedlakc’s tactics, Joan overlooked the circumstance that they were heading into unknown waters, thinking more of what was behind than what lay before them. The crash and the shock which ended teir headlong flight was the more unexpected. At one moment they were topping the waves exultantly; in the next, Joan found herself gasping in icecold water, striking out mechanically and calling on Wedlake as she swam. She could get no answer; there was nothing, only the light of the revenue boat, growing brighter and brighter. The cold numbed her, and broke her will to go on struggling. Her movements became feebJer. and she felt herself sinking below the surface. She know she was drowning, and she did not wish to die; but she could do nothing to prevent it. Then a strong hand grasped her arm, and she felt herself lifted out of the icy stinging water. “ Dash my buttons, it’s a girl,” said a pleasant voice, in tones of amazement “ A girl, and a one-armed man,” grumbled a deeper and rougher voice. “ (fill coining aboard, sir, halfdrowned.” Joan gulped down something hot that made her gasp and splutter. She saw dimly a circle of manly faces, interested and concerned. “ There’s a warm bunk waiting for you,” said tbo pleasant voice she bad first beard. “ You’d better turn in, before you catch your death of cold. We’ll manage to dry off your clothes somehow, I expect.” “My father? ” Joan asked, her trembling lips hardly able to frame the wo I'd s. “He’ll do, 1 reckon,”’was the reassuring answer. “ JIo had a tot of hot, grog, and fell fast asleep. But he’ll have to wake up presently, and answer a few questions. And your turn conies after his, miss, if you’d like tn know.” “ What did we hit? ” “ Search me. You get into the bjankots, or you’ll be sick on our hands. You’ve trouble enough in store without that.” “ I think I will.” Juan agreed. “ Thank you very much,” And take another pull at that tumbler before' you drop off,” someone advised. Joan was shown to a little cabin, mid flung off her soaked garments, to snuggle luxuriously among warmed blankets. A pleasant drowsiness took nosscssion of her. and she could not have moved a finger, even at a king’s command. 'the next thing slm knew, somebody was shaking her shoulder, not too gently. “ Your clothes are dry. a nr) the skipper wants von in his cabin,” she was informed. Th ’ boa i was staf ionary. as Joan realised vv'ii’; slie hastily dressed. Two men were waiting for her as n sort of guard ; hut as one ranged on either side of her, Joan eanght sight of Wedlake. apparently unharmed by his immersion, and oven smiling reassuringly at her. “ Hood girl! ” 'he railed, as she waved her hand. “ You have only I'd! the truth when you are quo 1 ' tiered.” “That''! do!” one r.f her escortsaid '■•rufilv. “.She’ll fell Hie truth and like it. before we have done with her, ” (To be continued.)