The Little Grey Woman

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 September 1929, Page 10

The Little Grey Woman

[COPYRIGHT.]

By

Aidan de Brune

Author of “The Dagger and Cord’’ “The Shadow Crook” Etc.

CHAPTER X. Denys Fahney stepped from the dock at Central Police Court feeling ia downcast. He had obeyed the In specter’s injunction not to press I m bail- and that in spite of the objec tions of Peter Causton, who had com© hot-footed to the Court, to defend him. In the waiting-room, at the conclusion of the proceedings, he had been allowed a short interview with lus solicitor. With a few words lie recounted the story of the previous night s happenings; then He had returned to his cell in the police station, to await th© arrival of th© van to take lnm, and others, to Long Bay Gaol. It was nearly mid-day when the warder arrived. Denys packed his belongings, and waited. A short interval and the barred door was opened and he was bidden to go down the corridor to the entrance gate. There he found a number of men waiting. He loked at them curiously; they represented the flotsam of Sydney’s nightlife Presently ho noticed that one of the men was beckoning, furtively, to him. He moved closer to the man’s side. Almost immediately the man pressed towards the grated door; but not before Dears caught the muttered words: “George Street. You promised you would see her, to-day.” What did the man mean? Denys took an impulsive step forward, then hesitated. Ho knew that it would be useless to question the man, even if the police officers, hovering about, allowed him to. He had promised to see someone that day! Yes. In the vestibule of the Almanza Rooms he had promised Doris that he would come to her that day, a free man. But, he had spoken on impulse, in an attempt to comfort the girl. Almost as he uttered the words he had realised he would not be able to fulfil the promise; that the case against him was too strong and that he would have to remain in custody, possibly until trial.

Now he was bidden to remember that promise. And, to the remembrance had been attached the words: “George Street.” What did they mean? Had someone planned to rescue him? That was absurd. Surrounded by police officers, in the heart of the main police station of the metropolis, What could the would-be rescuers do? Yet, hope sprang to life in his heart. He Looked around him, questioningly. At that moment the gate swung open and the prisoners trooped out into the court-yard.

In the yard Denys looked about him. To his left lay the walls of the Central Police Court. To his right was the great archway, under which stood the prison van. Opposite him were police officers; before the doors standing a group of reporters, officials and visitors. He could see no hope of escape. Every avenue appeared to be blocked. Slowly the prisoners drifted across to the doors of the van. There they gathered in a little knot, almost touching the group of onlookers. The doors of the van swung open and the prisoners commenced to enter. Denys held back, shifting across until he stood between the two groups of prisoners and visitors.

Suddenly the knot of visitors was in motion. Someone was pushing forward. Denys felt the suitcase firmly taken from his hand. He was pushed on, changing places with a couple of men. A few steps ami he was surrounded by the visitors. He stood, watching, while the doors of the van were'closed and the vehicle rolled out of the yard.

Denys found himself being urged forward; walking under the big arch into Central Lane. On either side of him were men he did not know. They did not speak nor even glance at him. He looked back and one of the men swore under his breath.

They turned to the left, walking down the narrow lane to George street, and gradually quickening their pace. In the main road, the men swung to the right—towards the Town Hall. A few yards and one of the men stopped and whistled. Immediately the door of a closed car, a few yards up the road, swung open. The remaining man pushed him into the car and closed the door, quickly. As if in answer to some signal the car shot forward, gathering speed as it ran up the road. Denys sank back on the soft cushions with a sigh of relief. The rescue had been so simple—so complete. But a few minutes before he had stood in the police-station yard, awaiting the command to enter the prison van. Now he wits free, speeding through the city in a closed car. The car turned into Park Street and just managed to cross Elizabeth Street before the traffic was held up.

“Well, Mr. Denys Fahney!” A soft voice at his elbow spoke. “So you are free, again. Have you nothing to say?” Denys looked around, amazedly. Subconsciously lie had known there was someone in the car with him; but he had not thought that person was a woman. He looked at her in great bewilderment.

A little grey woman! Wrapped in a long', grey cloak, the hood pulled over her head, well forward, covering the major portion of her face. “Have you nothing to say, Denys Fahney?” The voice was softly imperious. “I have taken you from the hands of the police. Is that not worth a few words of thanks? Remember, but for my intervention, by this time you would be on your way to Long Bay Gaol to spend the next seven days in irksome solitude.”

“Why have you rescued me?” Denys blurted out the question, clumsily. “No, I don’t mean that! Of course, I owe you many thanks; but I am still so surprised, so bewildered, I don’t know what to say.” “Is that all?” The masked woman laughed, softly. “Do you not owe me thanks for giving you the opportunity to keep your promise?” “My promise?” Denys started at her in astonishment.

“Your promise to Miss Lyall; that you would call to-day aud explain the happenings of last night. Do you know you quite spoilt the poor child’s enjoyment. Mrs Matherson had to take her home and”

“You are not Doris.” The barrister blurted the words amusedly.

“No, I am not Doris.” There was a sober tone in the light voice. 1 111 afraid my Doris-days are over —for ever. Yet, there are compensations. “But I must not go near her,” exclaimed Denys. “The police will be on my tracks in a few minutes. They will go to Doris’s home to search. Really . .” “Are you repenting already, of the freedom I. have given you?” Again the Little Grey Woman laughed. “No, you have yet an hour —or more before the hue and cry will be after you. In that hour you must see Doris. You promised and I promised —and I nevei break my promise.” “You promised? When?” “After Inspector Knox took you from the dance last night.” The woman leaned forward, peering out of the window of the fast-moving car. “I promised Doris that you should come to her, then

“Then?” Denys echoed the ’word, as the woman paused. “You must go about the work you have promised Sir Roger Westerton to ... ”

“You know that?” The barrister spoke quickly. “Who are you? Sir Roger promised me that nothing should be said on the matter outside the Cabinet-room.” “WHO put tlie suggestion, to employ Denys Fahney on the quest of the drug-ring, into Sir Roger’s head?” The eyes of the woman sparkled brightly through the eye-holes in the grey mask. “Denys—Denys Fahney, you have much to learn of women and women’s ways. You men flatter them, defer to them yet attempt to keep them strictly outside the charmed circles of government. Yet women rule to-day through their influence over men. One day they will rule openly.”

“Then we will have to seriously revise our police force.” Denys laughed. “Or we will have all our prisoners abducted by women.” “Perhaps then there will be no need for prisoners or prisons.” The woman spoke earnestly. “Now you must leave me. Denys Fahney here you must alight and make your way to Doris’s home, alone. I can take you. no further.”

She leaned forward and touched a button fixed on the back of the front seat. Immediately the car swung in to the curb and stopped. Denys alighted and closed the door. The Little Grey Lady leaned forward, extending her hand, clad in a long grey glove. “Good-bye, Denys Fahney.” Her voice was low and sweet. “Go to Doris. She is expecting you. Stay but a brief time. As you said, the police will come to her in search of you. Then, to your task and ...” She paused a moment. “Remember to watch the flight of the Falcon.”

The car moved suddenly forward leaving Denys, hat in hand, staring after it.

What did the woman mean? Why had she rescued him? Why had she told him to watch the flight of the Falcon?

He looked around him, recognising the neighbourhood. He was in one of the most lonely roads in the Rose Bay district. He knew that but a couple of hundred yards from -where he stood ran the main road. There he could find a car or a tram that would take him to Doris. “Watch the flight of the Falcon!” What did the woman mean? What connection could those words have with his rescue and the work ho had to hand.

She had known of the secret agreement between Sir Roger Westerton and himself. But, the crooks who had framed him for the attempted murder of Carl Gerlach had known of that interview. Inspector Knox told him that morning that he had gone to the Artists’ Ball in search of a couple of suspected snow-runners. Then Carl Gerlach and James Burle were snow-runners. Through their spies they had learned of his acceptance of Sir Roger’s commission to track down and disperse the drug-ring. The Little Grey Woman had also become acquainted with that agreement. She had told him he -was to watch the flight of the Falcon. Then “The Falcon” had some connection with the illegal supply of drugs to addicts in high society circles in the State. Denys found a taxi cruising along the main road and boarded it. Ten minutes later, he alighted at the gates of Doris’s home, in Vaucluse. He walked up to the door, his head whirling in excitement.

“Doris!” His finger had hardly touched the bell-push when the door was thrown open and the girl was in’ liis face. “Denys, you are free!” “Denys!” The girl was leaning back on his arm, to stare up, lovingly, into his arms. “Denys, you are free!” “For the moment. An escaped prisoner!” The young man’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “Really, dear, I am still bewildered. I thought I was due for remand to Long Bay Gaol, and I find myself at Vaucluse —in your dear arms. How it has come about I cannot yet realise.” “But I knew you would come.” The girl caught at his hand, drawing him into the house. “She told me so.” “Who told you?” “I don’t know.” Doris laughed delightedly. “Oh, Denys, I was awfully afraid last night. Isobel Kilgour is a dear. She helped me, wonderfully. Then, Mrs Matheson insisted that she bring me home, at once. They were very angry over you. They said it was absurd for that silly policeman to arrest you—that you never shot that man. Just as we were leaving the hall ”

“Who were with you, Doris?” Denys interrupted. “Only Mrs Matheson and Isobel Kilgour, dear.” The girl looked up, wonderingly. “We were standing amid a lot of people in the vestibule, awaiting my car, when someone thrust a note into my hand.” , .

(To be Continued).