The Little Grey Woman

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 October 1929, Page 10

The Little Grey Woman

[COPYRIGHTS

By

Aidan de Brune

Author of “The Dagger and Cord” *The Shadow CrooV Etc.

CHAPTER XVIII. sharp clock-clack of tho clock on the side-hoard the ° sounds that broke the ° the room, for a full minute. Burle sat upright in the chair, his eyes fast ®™r d on the three fingers of the hand clutcl mg mo edge ot the partially-opened door For a fraction of a second - o-lanced toward the bedroom. Now, even the muzzle of the menacing automafic had disappeared. Again lie tool • cd toward the outer door. What was the man doing there? Did h 0 believe that he was still unheai d, unobserved? Did he not know that the lingers holding the edge of the door were betraying him? Burle glanced furtively, toward the bedroom as his hand stole towards his hip-pocket. Suddenly, from tlie darkness peered out the menacing automatic, beckon ing to him to sit still. Suddenly the fingers were - withdrawn and the door pushed still fmther open. A head of black sleek hair came’ into view. Slowly the forehead and features followed. With a start, Burle sprang to his feet, his terror ot tho White Falcon lost in surprise. • “Gow! Tod Gow!" He clutched at tho back of the chair, almost overcome with the relief. “What the hell do you moan by entering my fiat in that creepy manner? Jove you gave me the shock of my life! Why ...” “Burle!” The short, broad man who had entered the room bent forward; peering at the masked face. “Burle, and behind the White Falcon’s mask. Why, then ...” z “No.” The drug-master stepped forward, hastily; then glanced quickly towards the bedroom door. “Not . . “Burle and the White Falcon the same man!” The half-Chinese features of the man wrinkled in an evil; grin. “And to think none of us guessed: that! Another of your tricks, eh? Lor', and a, good one, too. Taking it in. with both hands, eh? Well, there’s enough for two, eh. or ...” Burle could not mistake the suggestion in the man’s voice. Again he stepped towards the bedroom door. He could see nothing.

Was the White Falcon still lurking there? Why had not the threatening automatic reappeared when he disobeyed orders and left' the chair. Involuntarily he swung round, as .if to go to the bedroom —to find out if' the mystery man was still there, or had been scared away by the arrival of the half-caste.

“What’s the matter?” Gow came further into the room, following the. direction of Burle’s eyes. “What-’s the game, Jim? Wearing that mask for practise, wdiile you’re at home? You’ll have to alter yours voice,, y’know. I recognised that at once, and so will .the others.” Again his. eyes followed Burle’s towards the bedroom door. “Say, what’s there?” Disregarding Burle’s outstretched arm he passed to the- bedroom door and flung it open. His. fingers sought the light-switch and pressed it down. He looked inquisitively around the empty room; then back to Burle’s agitated face. “Empty!” Burle followed the halfcaste to the door of. the room. “Why, he . . . .” “Who?” “The White Falcon!” “Still trying to tell the tale?” The man laughed, .leeringly. “Cut it opt, Jim. You’re the White Falcon and a damned bad one, too, if you can’t act the part better. But I’m on this lay, now, and I’ll see that . . . .” “I tell you Gow, the White Falcon was in this room but a few minutes ago.” Burle spoke eagerly. “He was in the sitting room with me when you put your key in the lock. Fool that 1 mi); I didn’t remember I’d given you a key. But he had me all mazed up. When you came along the passage he . . . .”

“Went into the bedroom and disappeared.” Gow laughed, disbelievingly. 'He entered the room and went to the door leading to the hall, testing the lock. The door was fastened. “Look at that. The door locked and the key in the lock, on this side. Now, Jinn what are you giving me? Trying to beat me out of my share? That kite won’t fly. I’m in this, for keeps. Kick, and I’ll see there’s a new White Falcon —and a new Jim Burle —wanted in the gang. See?” Burle nodded. He realised that nothing he could say would change the man’s opinion. Gow was certain he had discovered the secret of the White Falcon; that the mysterious crook who had blackmailed the drug-ring was but their leader. That under the disguise of the White Falcon the drug-master was attempting to wrest from the gang a still higher price for their illegal The looked door, did.- not deceive him. Both he and Gow well knew supplies. how to open and shut a locked door, with the key on the opposite side. In a secret cupboard in his sitting-room. Burle had a complete set of burglar implements. Long since he had abandoned the more dangerous game for the softer and more profitable pursuit ’of drug-running. But, why had the White Falcon left the bedroom? Why had he fled before the arrival of a> single man —a man who- had not the slightest knowledge that he was in the flat? The White Falcon was no coward. Many times, during the past months, he had escaped' from almost impossible positions by sheer daring and nerve. Time and again, Burle and his followers had behoved they had the man. cornered, to be faced with a resourcefulness that showed them, they were dealing with more than a normally brave man. “Get this, Gow”. Burle - swung savagely on: his lieutenant. “The White Falcon's beem here. Shut up, and listen! live only been home a few minutes. When I entered the sittingroom he- was there, waiting for me. When he heard, you at. th©, door he forced me to sit in. that chair and wear this mask. When you entered the sitting-room? he was standing just within the bedroom door, threatening me with his gun. I daren’t stir; I daren’t call out to warn you. Then, when you. spoke—when, I called, out your name, he disappeared. ’Cause, he went out of that door. You or I .could do the same trick any time.” “Kid-Stakes!” The half-caste leere<i

up at the drug-master. “Try again, Mi. James Burle! Think I’ll swallow any think.you like to feed me with? Well, I did once, but I’m wiser now, and a damned good thing for you. The gang were getting tired of your tricks. The White Falcon stuff was wearing thin. No one but you had seen the fellow, and the others were asking questions. Now . . . .” .. , r “Now?” Burle spoke, questionmgly. “Now, I’ve seen the White Falcon! The man leered, evilly. “Understand? I’ve seen the White Falcon—and 111 tell them so. I won’t say 1 recognised him, unless I have to. That’s between you and me, so long as you play squai e they’ll take my word, believe me, ana they’ll go on paying higher and higher for the stuff.” . “There’s not an ounce in hand. Burle made a despairing gesture He turned sharply on the half-caste. Look here Gow, if you can see a way out, vou’re on. I’m not pitching a tale when I say the White Falcon s been here, and that I’m not him. For months I’ve had to buy tho stuff from him. Timo and again, Ive tried to run packets for myself, but he’s crossed me every time. Now ...” “The Marutui’s sighted.” Gow spoke in a whisper. “The Marutui?” Burle whipped round eagerly, his face alight, with hope. “When? Where?” “To-night. On the board at the General Post Office.” The half-caste laughed again. “You told me to keep a watch for her and I have. Now, what’s the Marutui to do with us?” “And the White Falcon doesn’t know.” Burle gave a sigh of lelief*. “Yes, he doesn’t know, for he’d have taunted me with his knowledge if lie had.” , , “If you shout it that way, he 11 hear it down in the streets.” Gow spoke cynically. “You haven’t told me. What’s the Marutui got for us?” “Gow! Ted Gow!” The drug-mas-ter seized the little man by his shoulders and swung him round. “We’ve won! We’ve beaten the White Falcon.” “Beaten yourself!” Gow released himself with an effort. “Well, if you like it that way, I don’t mind. Now, what’s the joke about this Marutui ? “This.” Burle led the way to the sitting-room. “Get a drink and sit down, man. The Marutui’s arrived!” “Want to drink her health? Well, I don’t mind. Drink it all night in this sort of stuff . Here’s health!” “Dick Graine’s on board that boat.” “And ” “He’s bringing a big parcel of the goods with him.” Burle drained his glass at a. gulp. “Lord! The relief of it! There’ll be no trouble now. Get this stuff landed and ” “Lauded? In Sydney Harbour and with all the dicks after us and it?” The half-caste laughed harshly. “What the hell ” “There’ll be no trouble.” The drugmaster bent forward, earnestly. “Listen Gow! I told you to keep a watch for that boat for I had you in mind for the job. You drive a car?” “Yep!” “Get to the wharf to-morrow morning as soon as possible. Be certain you’re there before the boat berths. Find Graine and tell him you’re the chauffeur he asked me to engage for him. He’s a cat on board —a. real beauty. It’s your work to get it landed as soon as possible. Drive it to the House of Dreams —you know. That’s your job. Get that car to Epping and you stand in with me, otherwise ” “I’m the mug, am I” Gow started to his feet. “So that’s your game? Cushions stuffed| with snow, eh? You big stiff! Think they’re not on that. Why, they forgot that joke before you were born!” (To be Continued).