OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 208, 19 August 1911, Page 9

OUR SERIAL STORY TRIPPED AT LAST.

BY

HEADON HILL.

CHAPTER. XXV.

“CARDS ON THE TABLE.”

(Continued.)

Bcne's brow cleaned. “I am an expert myself,” he replied. “Give me a few hours on her at the back of the i*land.wdnere the coastguard cannot see us, and Louis and 1 will fake her into something quite different. I shall! have to make a new manufacturer's name-plate and use your kitchen lire as a forge, but I’Ll change her so as her own old owner wouldn’t know her.”

This precaution provided for, the Colonel strode on to tlie house, where he was met in the hall by the jovial Foiso.n, whose joviality was less apparent than usual this morning. “Greysteei has arrived ?” he asked iu his husky voice. “He has arrived, but thanks to our inimitable Tim Sehoop who, as we 'arranged last night, kept him engaged while I passed on my way back from the doctor’s, luj did not see me,” Gremlin .replied. “Everything is going on as well as we could hope, the only loose screw being Greysteel’s unfortunate recognition of you on your way down. The fact that he did not reach Po.-thruaui last night suggests that he has been following that clue at Plymouth. But forewarned is forearmed, and 1 have taken steps to counter him.’’

“Trust you for that. And the old medico? You have put the gag on Iriin?”

A sinister gleam crossed Ciemlin’s face. “Doctor Chetwynd has been given to understand,” he said, “that any indiscreet suspicions imparted by him to the detective would not only lay us by the heels, but would have the, to him. far more important result of blackening his son’s name for all time. I was quite frank with the old man—threw the cards on the table in fact. I told him of the nature of my hold over Meklreth, and. of Ins sou’s complicity with Bankart’s mwderer. The doc-tor quite sees that if he 'denounces the Slate House to Greysteel his revelations would 1 have far more serious results for Beacon Towers, and incidentally for Master Hamid’s memory, as an acoessdry to Meldreth’s crime.”

“Has he given his son up for dead?” Folsom asked.

“Practically, though Im* clings to hope.” was the reply. “But that doesn't affect his desire to save his son's reputation.” Folsom nodded. “Sou seem to have got Greysteel properly cornered, provided he doesn't see either you or me, and that the motor-launch isn t recognised.” he said.

“One of the advantages of an island. where we can’t Im* taken by surprise.” replied Gremlin. “And as for myself and the motor-launch, we shall "bo out of the way for some hours. As soon as Rene has finished faking her, 1 pro]rose to go to Falmouth in her, and there take train for London tn order to procure a. special licence at the Faculty Office. If Greysteel intends to visit the island at all he will probably have been before I get buck to-morrow night. Ranioo will simply tell him the truth, that I have gone to London on business.’

“Humph! this is Wednesday. and you are to be married on Saturday. Not long to wait, but 1 slum t be sorry when it's over.’ growled bolS.OUU “This blamed Tec having turned up again has made the game a bit too lively for me. '1 hough there s nothing against me at present except tho M<-hheth job.’’ Cremlai laughed his musical laug'n. “And that job, mv friend, is no job at all. for want of a prosecutor. Come’ tlm ‘Terror’ with a. fit of the nerves L-a a novelty. ho said. “1 can understand that you are more element with a. brace and centre bit to work with, but you must remember that there can be no after trouble in this affair, once we a-re through with it. When Little l-oivis Bankart's carcase lias bieu taken out and dropped into ! forty fathoms, as it wild be ten minutes after 1 am Meldneth's son-in-law, (Jreysteel can have no possible grip on either Meldretli or our -elves. It won’t help him to know that I am f the ‘Black Prince’ and that you are the ‘Lambeth Terror.’ He can suspect what he likes, but he can't prove anything without tho body.” “Can't you sink the d—d thing before you go to London ?” hazarded Mr Folsom rather shyly. “I shan’t feel easy till we're quit of it.” “And loose my hold on Meldrctli before we reap our reward! You ought to know me Imtter than that. Terror. Some fisherman would take him the news, and he'd snap his fingers at us after all. No, I don't part with what's left of Gmis Bankart till the marriage .settlement has been rendered effective by the performance of tho ceremony."

“Well, perhaps you’re right,” was Fo bom's grudging assent. “But what about the young doctor? He’ll l>e a nice sort of fire-brand to letloose after it's ail over. He’ll have been dished out of his girl, and it’s odds on his being so desperate that he’ll blow the whole thing. - just to get square on you. Ho won’t care a twojioiiiiy about tho consequences to Meldreth and himself then, when he finds he can’t get what he was playing -.’or.’ - ’ A dark scowl clouded Gremlin's face. “1 have a project for securng Harold Chetwynd's silence; I am aoing to lay it before him now.” was .he reply. “If he agrees he will In? ' oimd to us by the closest of ties, if not, he v ill have to remain drown’d, only it will lie practically instead theoretically.” With a reassuring wave of his hand Gremlin parted from hiis coilleague and stepped across to the drawing-room. On entering he made as usual, for hits daughter's couch and kissed her teller Jy, starting back in pained surprise when site checked his caress with a petulant gesture.

(To be Continued).