FOOL-ERRANT

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 June 1930, Page 10

FOOL-ERRANT

“Star” Serial

(By Patricia

Wentworth)

THE DARK HOUSE. “When can I see you? Give me your address, and I can write to you.” “Oh, I don’t know.” “Please,” said Hugo. He was not playing a part; he had really forgotten everything except how much he wanted that address. “If I give it to you, you mustn’t come and see me. It wouldn’t do. You must remember you won’t come and see me.” “I promise I won’t come and see you.” “All right then.”

She scribbled on the menu-card and tore off the written slip. “Don’t tell Jim Hacker, will you, Mr. Hugo?” “Of course not.” 1 He thought she meant that; he thought she was playing her own game, not Hacker’s for the moment. He thought with an odd little thrill, that she liked him—-“reelly.” He felt a momentary softness towards Cissie. She gave him a little push. “Oh, do go! I don’t want him to see you,” she whispered. That sounded genuine enough. Hugo went away wondering what he should say if he were to meet Hackei* on the doorstep. He certainly didn’t want to meet Hacker.

He walked briskly along for a hundred yards or so, and then looked at the address which Cissie had given him. It conveyed nothing to him. He walked on until he came to a tobacconist’s, where he bought a box of matches and asked for information. The girl behind the counter was very affable.

“Morrington Road? Why that’s up off the Bayswater Road. I’ve got an aunt lives up that way, and this Lexley Grove must be one of the small turnings out of it. 0, not at all — only too pleased to be any help.” This in response to Hugo’s stammered thanks.

As he left the shop he heard her remarking that she wouldn’t half mind taking up with a nice young fellow like that.

He took a ’bus to the Bayswater Road, and then walked. He had a bit of thinking to do,.because at every turn it seemed as if he had to find the right one amidst a hundred chances of doing the wrong one. If he went to the door and asked for Loveday, he ran the risk of Cissie finding out that he had called; and if Cissie knew that, she would also know that her pretence of being Loveday hadn’t deceived him. He couldn’t afford to take that risk; there was too much at stake. But he had to see Loveday. • He decided to find the house and reconnoitre.

Morrington Road was one of those streets which have gone down in the world. Its tall houses had once been inhabited by well-to-do people. They were now let out as tenements, and the pavement in front of them was crowded with children at play—very dirty and uncared for, some of them. Hugo found Lexley Grove at the less populated end of Morrington Road. It was a dark street with a row of tall houses on both sides, the even numbers on the right. The number Cissie had given him was 50. He started to count the houses, for it was much too dark to read any number, and many of the houses showed no light. Hugo did not like the street; he did not like to think of Loveday living there. He had counted sixteen houses, when he saw that the row on the other side had been interrupted; some dozen or more houses were gone, and in their place a dim street lamp showed a hoarding and dark, gaunt scaffolding poles. He counted on. At twenty a policeman passed him—at least he guessed it to be a policeman from the measured tread. He had reached the twentyfourth house, when he heard steps coming from the opposite direction. Someone ran up the steps to number fifty and put a key in the latch. Hugo heard it grate, heard the door swing in and the man enter. He heard these things, but he didn’t see anything; it was too dark to see; .the opening door showed no light within.

All the way along the street Hugo had been wondering what he was going to do—thinking. Now he didn’t think at all. He ran up the steps, pushed the door, and found it, as he knew he would find it, ajar. He came into a dark hall, and heard hurrying footsteps on the stair above him. .The man who had entered must be very familiar with the house, for he was running up the stairs without a light. Hugo felt his way forward. It .was black dark, and it was a darkness that could be felt. The house' gave out darkness. He groped, and his hands touched the balustrade, his foot struck the bottom stair.

He went up, moving quickly, quietly, listening for the steps that climbed above him. The man had left the door ajar—he had not waited to strike a light—he ran. These things meant great haste, and the probability of as hasty a return. / AFRAID FOR LOVEDAY. Hugo turned a bend in the stair and, looking up, saw a narrow yellow

(To be Continued).

beam of light high above him. Somewhere at the top of the house a door had opened. The hurrying steps had ceased. He heard voices. He kept his hands on the bannister and went on up the stair. It was uncarpeted, and he had to take the greatest care to move quietly. He came on to the landing immediately under the half-open door from which the light still streamed: and as he stood there, the door was drawn to. But the murmur of voices still went on; he heard a woman say, “How long?” and he heard a man answer her, “Ten minutes will be

safe. You’re sure she’s off? We don’t want a row.” Hugo stood in the dark, and was afraid for Loveday. The man spoke again; he had a foreign accent. “Answer me—is she asleep?” The woman cringed and answered him, “I don’t know—l gave it to her.’ ’ “Then she’s off*-and so am I.” He came running down the stairs. Hugo slipped across the landing out of his way, and the man passed, hurrying down, down into the darkness. The front door banged, and overhead the woman gave a sort of gasp and began to sob. Hugo heard her whisper, “I can’t—l can’t;” and then he heard’ her fumble at the handle, the light streamed out again. He ran up a dozen steps and came on to a narrow landing. A door on the left was open about a foot. The light was within, and he saw the woman’s shoulder and arm against it. She turned with another gasp.

“Why have you come back? They haven’t come —already? Oh, don’t, don’t!”

Hugo had his hand over her arm. It was very thin. She clutched at him with a hot, dry hand. “Don’t let them come! Don’t —who —who are you? I .thought—” The terrified whisper died in her throat. “Where’s Loveday? Is she here?” “Who are you?” She was trembling violently. “I’m Loveday’s friend. What’s happening?” Her hand tightened on his. “They’re going to take her away.” “Who?”—he felt her tremble—- “ Where?”

She spoke in a dry whisper. “They’re going to take her away. If you’re her friend, why didn’t you come before? They’ll take her away and get her on board the ship, and no one will ever see her again. And she looks like Min!”

Hugo shook the arm he held. “Where is she? I’ve come to take her away.

“You can’t, they’re watching the house. They’ll wait till the policeman’s out of the street, and then they’ll come. She knows too much.” “Where is she? Quick.!”

He was remembering that the policeman had passed him just as he reached the house. “In there.” She pointed across the landing. “Is she drugged? What have you given her? I heard ” She wrenched her arm away, sobbing.