SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 167, 20 June 1925, Page 9

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS

Derek Campbell, successful novelist and journalist, has vowed to avenge tins death of his mother caused by Richard Burton, a notorious criminal who tied overseas in pre-war days and has now returned to steal a wonderful old ivory image, the property of Blair, the owner of the ‘•Morning Telegram and Wireless.” Derek is in the employ of Blair and his quest is to run Burton to earth. The image is stolen and Derek goes to Paris where he believes Burton nas hts headquarters. On the journey he meets Olive Newton, a beautiful girl whom he knew as a nurse during the war. Olive is violently seasick and being unable to continue her journfey begs Derek accept and deliver a package to an address tn Paris. She appears in great distress as her employer told her it was vital it should reach its destination that night. He agrees and leaves her very ill fa the hotel at Calais. When he arrives al Paris he is met by Howard, the Paris correspondent of the “Morning Telegram and Wireless.” Derek suddenly has an inspiration that the packet contains the stolen image so he opens it and finds within a mocking message ad dressed to him by his arch-enemy, Bur ton. CHAPTER VII. It goes without saying that DercK was greatly taken aback by the unexpected message which awaited his efforts to know the contents of the package which Olive Newton had entrusted to him for safe delivery. His first thought after the surprise was thae Olivo Newton should have been instrumental, in Burton’s hands, of creating the embarrassing situation in which he now found himself, and he began to puzzle over the question —“Did sli« know?” It ceertainly seemed" rather extraordinary that he should have found this sarcastic message from his arch-enemy. Supposing he had not opened the packet whatever would the real addressee have thought on opening it? But, evidently Burton had calculated on Derek finding it. The whole thing had been astutely planned from the moment of Olive’s arrival on the platform at Victoria, immediately before the boat-train left, right up to the present moment, Burton seemed, in some uncanny fashion to have accurately forecast every single move in trie events which transpired. And what of Olive? Was she aware of the theft of the ivory image and of the subsequent plot to cover Derek with ridicule; and was ahe working against him? Frankly, Derek was puzzled at the whole affair, and after a few moments • consideration, he decided to pack up the parcel again to make it resemble as nearly as possible the original appearance. He made a careful copy of Burton’s message, and then, putting on his hat and coat, strode down the street found a taxicab, and ordered the driver to proceed at all speed to the end of tue ru<i des Pipots. 44 You might wait for me hero,” he ordered, when they arrived in the Villette quarter and Derek stepped into the cobbled street wlyle his eyes searched for No. 52 bis. In a few minutes rc saw that his desination was a little “bistro,” or lower-class cafe, and, taking a good look at it, decided to enter. Had he been unaware of contents or the- packet he would surely have wondered how it came about that Olive’s employer could have sent her to this place, and, in spite of his mixed feelings tow’ards Olive, he was au? little glad to think he had relieved n*-i of the necessity of coming into this “den,” for that word alone described the interior of Nd. 52 bis des Pipots.

Very ancient paper covered the walls. At one end of the room there was a small zinc counter on which were set a number of bottles, around it being gathered a little knot of poorly dressed men of rough speech. Everywhere was dust and dirt, while a dingy old lamp was the sole illumination of tne place. The door creaked noisily as Derek opened it and entered. He though! rapidly, and decided to asx ror * bottle of beer. There were two small tables with a few chairs, and he seated himself at raised his hat, murmured “bon soir, ’' to the men by the counter and the proprietor, who graunted inhospitably iu reply. A woman appeared from the back part of the cafe and stood by Derek. He gave his order, and as she passed to the counter he observed her closely. She was a slovenly woman of fierce countenance and sullen manners, and when she put the “bock” on the tabic before him she scowlingly asked if he wanted anything else. Instantly her man=cr underwent a marked change, and she bent over and whispered: 44 Are you from the Chief?” 44 Yes,” he replied softly. 44 1 s he at home?” The woman, before replying to the question, consulted with one of the men at the counter. When she returned she said: 44 The conference begins at ten o clock to-night. Come back then and sit at this table. It should be safe, but onnever knows, and there may be .some accursed policemen hovering aboutl feo first order a drink and wait developments.” . x , He slipped a five franc note into her hand, at the same time whispering his thanks. Then draining his glass he raised his hat, murmured ”bon soir, and stepped out again into the street. He walked for a minute, and then look ed back, but apparently no one in the little bistro was interested in his movements, so he retraced his steps to the taxi, and twenty minutes later came back to Massiac’s restaurant, always a favourite retreat of Derek’s when in Paris. On his entrance he was greeted most cordially by Massiac himself. * 4 4 Ah, Monsieur Campbell, it is indee . a pleasure the most exquisite that 1 experience in beholding you once again cross the portals of this my poor abode Already your friends are assembled and waiting but for dinner to commence .rs it your wish that I serve it instantly. I have one or two dishes which ni.i> spoil if delayed, Monsieur . “Go ahead, most charming friend, replied Derek, and he came into the brilliantly lighted restaurant, to see u eheery faced Frenchman rise up iron, his seat to shake his hand. “Ah. Gustave, its good to see again,’* said Derek. “Howard fold m-, of your continued joys. And you hai left the good Madame Quiheret at home then?” , . “Yes,” Monsieur Campbell.’ eanu Gustave’s reply. “She is tending the little one, you sec!” After more talk dinner proceeded. an> when it reached its end and cigars wey lit, Derek began to think of the iitt • “bistro” in the rue des Fiptos and ot his appointment, there at ten o clock that night.. liShould he keep it. And i! m would be meet there the man he soug.i’ most ! and if he did well ivhnt < uuuco bad Deiek alone I '

The comfortable feeling wh’ich the dinner had brought began to fade as Derek contemplated the possibilities of a struggle witn Burton assisted by halt a score of Villette quarter ruffians. Clearly Derek could sec that it was •» ease of calling in assistance, and who more likely to be glad of the opportunity than Gustave Quilberet any Pierre Lecoque, his hanusome companion Pierre was an ex-airman and one the bravest of fellows, with probably the stoutest heart in all I’aris lor a rear “rough and tumble” scrap. Derek looked up at the blue whis>. of smoke arising from his cigar aim began to think of Olive Newton. ilc felt still a little sorry for her, tor undoudtedly she had been ill on the steamer. He wondered if she cared for him at all. This was not likely, he admitted, if she had knowingly confided the packet to him, being certain whai the sequel would be but he was never theless inclined to think that she was but a tool in Burton’s hands. He decided he would try and learn what Gustave knew of Burton, and also to see if he knew of the existence of any such important criminal organisation as Burton might conceivably have created in the underwold of Paris.

“I say, Gustave,” he said presently, during a lull in the conversation, “I want your help in the little enter prise which brings me to Paris. It’s confidential business, but its results may have very far-reaching effects. Now q-j you remember just before die war hearing of the exploits of a superscoundrel who was called Burton? he had a hundred aliases, but it was as 44 Burton” he was generally known. was he who hauled Lady Montybank’s jewels from her while she was seated in her box at the opera here on a special evening when the President of the Republic was present. It was Burton who engineered a demonstration against the Government at a time when there were grave doubts against the suggesteu trade agreement with South America. His worst exploit was to cause typhoid to spread among the whole of the inhabitants of a little village in England because he happed to have an uncomfortable bed in a local inn where he was compelled to stay owing to a breakdown of his car. He left a message saying he would bring punishment on the village. Typhoid was his weapon! He controlleo probably the major portion of tne illicit drug traffic in France, Belgium and Great Britain, and had the blood ot at least a dozen people on his hands — people who met their death because they happened to be in his way, or to have railed in some task he set them. Either by fear or favour he was the acknowledged head of a baud of the most desperate criminals who ever operated in recent times. One by one they wentracked down, but always Burton contrived to elude his pursuers. In the end we—and 1 myself, as a young reporter, was in some way responsible for finding the clue which at last set us on his trail—managed to trace him lu room near the docks at St. Nazaire, but we got there too late. He had flown, but we found his companion lying senseless on the floor badly wound |

“But couldn’t he have given yov some information about Burton.’” as*;cd Gustavo, who had grown very interested in Derek’s narrative. “It wasn’t a man, it was a woman! ’ replied Derek. “A woman named Paul ette. The police took her in charge but she was afterwards released. biorefused to say a single word to the police, but to me she opened her lips, and if ever a woman hated a man —well that woman was Paulette Levalleir, who hated Burton so intensely that she vowed that one day she would tear out his eyes. She made me promise not to tell the police what she had told me. but when 1 left her she said: “One day Burton will come back to France, am.' when he docs he will have Paulette to reckon with!” “Now, Gustave, 1 want you to try and learn if anything is known in loctv or cosmopolitan criminal circles Paulette. 1 ve got very good reasons for believing that she will emerge shortly. She is at liberty to do so, lor she received a free pardon after the war. One other thing, Gustave, have you hear t anything ot the establishment of any such organisation as Burton might create here?” Gustave was silent a moment, an. then said quietly: “1 will find out. believe I shall have some news vei> soun from one of my men who ha.--been following up a clue in a case which came to us and which seems most sus picious.” “Thanks,” replied Derek. “Now <iv

you know anything either for or agains: a certain ‘bistro’ at No 52 bis rue de. Pipots in the Vilette quarter.’” • ‘ Yes,” said Gustave, quietly. “ W have something in the office watch you ought to see anout that. Would you like me to fetch it?” “Oh, no,” replied Derek. “Lct' J have another liequeur here and go uto your office. Its still in the street of the Three Pebbles, ch?” “Yes; and there’s always sonieon»< on duty there now, eh, Pierre?” Pierre Lecoque, who was thus addressed sat silent with Howard listening ii a most interested fashion, and said confidentially: “I say, my old one, can yon let me in on this little affair of yours It seems ages since 1 had a real jot which I could take to my heart. It an seems so slow’ nowadays but your business certainly does promise some excitement. Gutave will watch thingand give advice where wanted, but I <1 like to be in the thick of it all, not penned up in the office. Will you give me a chance, my old one ’” “Thanks, Pierre,” replied Derek genuinely touched. “I’ll be glad if you’ll help in this. Can you drive ;< car?” . “Like the very devil himself,” <L dared Pierre, with real Parisian empmsis, “and an aeroplane, too, and a. mo tor-bike or a motor-boat or even a dun ky cart or a tube train, if needs be, I’J drive anything, and if 1 can join h driving Burton to the place where n< rightly belongs, then ‘little Pierre’ wii. be ever grateful to you ior tiic chance? ” “ Good! ’ ’ replied Derek ‘•I’ll remember this. No lets get away to the headquarters of the “G.Q. De tective Bureau.” Howard had to return to his office it being a busy hour for him, but te. minutes later Derek, Pierre ami Gus tavc were seated in the latter’s office listeniug while the head ot the Bureai read a succinct report taken down Ir one of his most promising men from reliable observer in their employ. L was only made that day; ‘•Watched fur clue in Ma»rt • : > No. 37521 in cafe in Avenue -I. .loures this afternoon. Pretended ?• be half drunk and sleepy. Nill rame in. held a whispered conver>; liou with Madame. Ho sat down : my table. Asked me if L was free Said 1 was. He said we want you l knife a man to-night. 1 said 1 wan' ed a hundred francs. He said lomuch. 1 said 1 would not «lo it fo less, and wanted fifty at once an Ihe remainder 10-nioiiow noon. Nille

refused; grew very violent. I ordere I I two absinthe. He drank both and then I agreed. I,’aid me fifty francs anu went out leaving me to pay the bill! Have to be in rue des Pipots just belore ten o’clock to-night, then Nillcs wall give me full instructions!” “By jovc! That’s pretty cold-blooded, if you like, ” ejaculated Derek. “Ami will your gentlemanly friend be likely to carry out his instructions?” I “Oh, yes; it’s quite possible Th:r chap is pretty clever at that game, 1 believe, but my fellow has given him more than the chap Nillcs has paid, so I think the person Nillcs intends shah die will escape this trip—that is, unless Nillcs has some other ‘stunt’ up ths sleeve. From what I know of Nillcs it is very likely that he has! ” Derek shuddered, but neither Gustave nor Lecoque saw, as the latter was filling his pipe from the pouch of English tobacco which Derek had offered him, and Gustave was looking for an other card. | “This,” he said, after a short pause, “is a little summary of what we know of Nillcs. He’s the man most likely to be Burton’s right hand man, or chiei continental representative.’ ’ “Nilles, Victor; age 37; born j Quimper; evaded military service, '■ imprisoned ” i Suddenly Gustave broke off reading and said. “I can’t read out all these crimes. Some of them make me sick even to see them written down. Look at it yourself. Monsieur Campbell, and se>i the terrible record of the man who probably is in Burton’s confidence, an< who has arranged this assassination to uight especially at his chief’s bidding I wonder who is the proposed victim , 1 don’t envy him.” j • ‘ Don’t you ?’ ’ asked Derek. I “No; I think Id rather jump in front i of a motor lorry than go down the rut | d.es Pipots alone to-night. Listen, m} old friend, rm’ des Pipots is a sink o! iniquiiv. All the worst crimes in Europ' i an planned there. Its a place of whicr l-.oncst men speak with bated breatn It., quit.- likely that Burton Ims agon?thcie, yet 1 don’t think he would mak* it his headquarters. But ma I ■ how you heard of the rue dos Pipots, my ’ i dear Campbell? ' ’ ■; •• Well. Gustave." replied Derek ’ -dov.lv, as the ' lock struck nine; ‘‘ 1 hap ’ pen to have an appointment at No 5? ru . hi lioilT tnnv . .. i .. ;i ( To be Continued, j