Mystery of Darling Point

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 3 August 1932, Page 7

Mystery of Darling Point

BY ROBERT KNOCK,

Beverly Doyle might have been a business manager engaging a clerk, so matter of fact was his tone.

But Vance determined that, as he was supposed to be a crook who had long defied such institutions as Scotland Yard and the French Surete, it could hardly be expected of him to bow before such dictatorial treatment as this.

"And where does my opinion come in?" he asked levelly. "It doesn't," said Johnny Warren with a laugh. "The Whisperer never encourages opinions." "Oh, you know this mysterious being, too?" murmured Vance. Johnny Warren bowed elegantly. "I am the Whisperer's second lieutenant!"

"Quite Systematic, indeed," observed Vance. "But not for me, I play a lone hand."

. "My dear boy," said Johnny Warren, "Be sensible. Running foul of the Whisperer is twice as bad as locking yourself in an airtight room, turning on the gas, taking a dose of arsenic, and whiping a razor across your throat." "Indeed?"

"Emphatically indeed," said Johnny cheerfully "The Whisperer could get you nabbed by the police in no time —but do you think he would bother doing that? Not on your life. Within twenty-four hours you'd wake up and find yourself in the Morgue" Vance shrugged. "This seems to be getting more like a sensational novel every minute. Well, before I go," he said with finality, "I should like to thank you for your very kind assistance to-night. I am more grateful to Miss Doyle than I can say."

Then for the first time Josephine spoke.

"Mr Barnaby," she exclaimed impulsively, "you must not try to leave. I feel sure that something—horrible—would happen. It is—it is a case of choosing the lesser of two evils." Vance turned and looked at her for a moment, and realised that he had been waiting for just such words as these from her.

He allowed an expression of indecision to overspread his features. Then he turned to Beverly Doyle: "If I should sign on—what about it?"

"You will be escorted from the house at once and taken to a certain associate of ours, who will make you his guest for the time being. Later you will be supplied with all necessary details, and then various opportunities will be given you to show your skill."

"Very well —I'm prepared to give it a trial, as I really haven't much choice. When do I leave?" "Immediately."

'May I make a small request? Before I go I should like a few minutes alone with Miss Doyle."

The other turned to his daughter. "You don't mind Josephine?" "No, I don't think I mind," she said hesitatingly.

"Very well." Doyle glanced at Johnny Warren. They went from the room. Vance waited till he heard the soft click of the closing door. Then he drew out the wallet which had reappeared so strangely that night.

"Miss Doyle," he said, "did you cause this to be returned to me?"

The startled look in her eyes as they rested upon the wallet betrayed the truth. "How did ?"

"I saw you in that launch with the men who held up the Otiosa. Why were you there " For a moment she was silent. Suddenly she flung up her head. "Why?" she echoed. "Because I am my father's daughter. I was with those men because I am their mascot." "I see," he murmured half to himself.

Many things became clear to him now. And he could understand that it was because of her father that Josephine was entangled in this web of crime. And her loyalty to Beverly Doyle would make her stand by his side to the bitter end. Looking at her now, he realised fully, for the first time, her fidelity, her courage, her heart's true honesty. A great tenderness towards her came over him. "Crooks' mascot . . ."he said softly. "Yes —crooks' mascot!" she cried. "And I am proud and glad of it." With a whimsical smile he shook his head. "No, you are not proud and glad of it. You are very unhappy. There is a great trouble in your life. I want to offer you my help. However strange my actions may seem, I want you to try and remember that I am attempting to help you." He picked up his hat and coat. !" Good-night, Josephine," he said, using her Christian name for the first time. "Thank you very much for the j wallet." j As he strode from the room he I made a decision.

(Copyright)

"I also," he said to himself, "shall adopt you for my mascot, Josephine —but it will not be as the mascot of a crook!" CHAPTER VIII. Beverly Doyle was waiting to escort Vance to the front door. Outside at the steps stood a long, low roadster, evidently built for tremendous speed. Johnny Warren, muffled up in a great coat, was bending over and fumbling with something at the back of the car. When he straightened up he had a rectangular object about a foot long in his hand. "H'm," said Vance to himself, "changing the number plates. Something must be in the wind."

There followed a swift whispered conversation between Doyle and the young man. Then Vance was requested to take his seat. Johnny Warren slipped down behind the wheel, and a moment later the powerful engine woke to thunderous life.

Vance's head went back with a jolt as the roadster leapt forward. They whirled round the curving drive and shot out into the tree-lined avenue, where the car began to gather enormous speed.

"Where are we going?" Vance shouted into Johnny Warren's ear.

Johnny swerved the car violently into a cross street. "To a place over there!" He motioned in a totally different direction to the one they were taking. Puzzled, Vance turned up his coat against the icy wind cutting his face. "Why go this way?" he asked at last. "Take a look behind!" said Johnny his eyes fixed on the road ahead. Vance screwed round in his seat. The only object to excite any interest was a car some distance behind travelling in the same direction ,as themselves.

"Police car!" said Johnny. "Trying to stick on our trail. Well, this is just how I like things!" The young man flung back his head and laughed with reckless joy. He twirled the car round at right angles into a narrow thoroughfare and crushed down the accelerator.

Then followed innumerable twistings and turnings through a network of deserted lanes and small streets at such dangerous speed that even Vance found .himself a trifle shaken. Presumably the word danger had no meaning for the debonair driver.

The white beams from the headlamps of the other car gradually drew further behind, and before long had disappeared altogether. Johnny turned into a wide boulevard and slowed down to a smooth steady pace.

"Well," he chuckled, "that leaves Detective Chaytor out, eh?" For a moment Vance had the startling impression that there was a double meaning to the words. But he changed his mind at sight of the other's good-humoured face.

"You certainly know how to make a fellow gulp down his heart a few times," he admitted ruefully. They were now in a hilly part of the city. Judging by the houses, it was obviously a fashionable quarter. Shortly Johnny swung into the pavement and shut off the engine. "We've arrived!" was his cheery announcement.

He nodded upward at a flat, dark, eerie-looking house perched aloof above a rocky terraced garden. "Queer sort of place," commented Vance.

"And queerer people in it, believe me," Johnny added, stepping from the

car. He led the way up to the dark portico, and had scarcely taken his finger from the bell before the door was noiselessly drawn inward. In the half-light Vance saw that it was an Oriental attired in European clothes who stood there. He bowed low, and spoke in almost pei'fect English. "The master awaits, most honourable sir." he addressed Johnny. The young man chuckled. "Good old Chenge Tai you're priceless!" The Chinese shut the door behind them, and led the way through a dimly ,lit entrance hall and along a softly carpeted passage. As they proceeded, Vance became ! more and more sensitive to the pecu- I liar atmosphere of this house. The yellow man in front, the pad-pad-pad of his footsteps, the shadows, the gro-tesque-seeming furniture, the mirrors in odd corners—all went to make it a house of strangeness. Presently the Chinese brought up before a door upon which he gave three knocks. Then he opened it and bowed them into the room bpyond, withdrawing and shutting them in. Vance discovered that they had entered a laboratory with blazing lights and glistening white walls and fitted with all manner of strange paraphernalia. "Heaven above!" thought Vanoe, "What have I come to now?"

(To be Continued)