“THE GORGON.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2765, 21 August 1931, Page 3

“THE GORGON.”

: :o:: — (By J; LINDSAY HAMILTON.) (Copyright). %

SYNOPSIS. -

Colonel Dainton, late Indian Army, is anxious fori the safety of his millionaire brother-in-law, James/ Rawson, who-, is missing. James Rawson had been-in London some weeks before and had called at a nerve specialist’s, Dr, Farrar, in a nervous state of fear. He had also drawn a fantastically large sum of money 6n his arrival in London. Colonel Dainton confides in his pretty daughter, Helen, and a ■friend of hers, Peter Southwark. Jenkins, Colonel Dainton’s servant, is brutally 'murdered, and it is discovered that he was a blackmailer’s tout. Andrew Eden, of the foreign Office, takes things in hand and feels he is on the track of a big criminal gang, the leader of which is known as The Gorgon. While on her way to London, James Rawson’s daughter Celia is drugged and taken in am ambulance to a hospital, but Eden follows and after she has recovered carries her out to the car. She had to admit, however, that he did everything possible to make her comfortable in the, car with cushions 'and wraps. And later, as the proofs of his considerate foresight became self-evident she was almost persuaded to forego her vows of vengeance. ■As they left the grounds of the Home, an incident, trivial enough in itself, seemed to afford Eden intense interest and no little surprise. A luxurious limousine came to rest outside the great iron.gates and for a moment the headlights of Eden’s rakish little saloon were, turned direct upon it. Eden caught a glimpse of a long thin face, and a dark lanky figure pressing back into the furthest corner of the car. ■ But it was enough. He pursed his lips as-tthough to whistle. ■ “The perfectly respectable Egbert, by/all that’s wonderful,” he" muttered. “Pious Egbert Bromilow, ofßromilow and Steele. Steele I could understand. He’s a wrong.’un, I know. But dear Egbert—hospital visiting at 7.30 in the evening. This begins to iook interesting. Celia, emerged a little from her wraps. ' • “It must be,” she said very sweetly, “Frightfully interesting, but -perhaps you will tell me what it is all about. I might be interested too. There is quite, a lot I want to know. I go to sleep in a liner and wake up in a hospital witli a perfectly awful head find find myself at the mercy of a complete stranger who. treats me as 'if I were a bargain he had acquired at an auction sale. Really, I think you owe me an explanation.” Eden grinned amiably, not in the least abashed. z “Of course you want to know,” he agreed soothingly. “Bargain snatching.” The idea seemed to tickle him. “I have done quite a lot of it from time-to time. You’ll have to see my collection of old ivories some time. But never before: —” he laughed openly and Celia felt angrier than ever. “Well,” she cut in coldly. .‘Tin \ waiting to be enlightened.” “Yes, of course. But' first try some of this wonderful black coffee. ; It will clear your head.” He produced a thermos flask and a small tray with a dainty little cup and saucer from a leather case. “I know it’s wbnderful I made it myself and coffee-making is one of my greatest attainments,” he admitted cheerfully. Celia would dearly have liked to snub this complacent young man, but the aroma of the coffee was too tempting. She capitulated , and began to sip it with evident enjoyment. “It certainly Is wonderful,” she admitted generously. v - Eden then told her brieflly that he was engaged in trying to trace her father; that her arrival had added complications which he did not attempt to explain; that his insistence on an immediate, departure was only a wise precaution for her own welfare." S . .-■

But Celia was not to be put off lightly. “Then it is true that father is in danger. What you mean is that I, too, am running into the same danger. Now, Mr Eden, you will please tell me everything and stop treating me like a child. I- am here to find father and would undertake any risk i to do it. Tell, me all. I think I can be useftjl —-even to a man of your at- ; tainments,” she ended with a spice of malice. . , 1 “I admire your courage,” was all ’ Eden said and Celia glowed at the warmth of his praise, and then felt annoyed with herself for the weakness. I Forthwith, in proof of the sincerity 1 of his remark, he plunged into the ’ story, withholding nothing, minimis- i ing neither the difficulty of finding her -i father nor tjie extreme danger to her- < self. “The anonymous letter was a i trap,” he explained. “Mother Katey, who by, the way, will be arrested to- i niglit, made a touching picture walking beside, stretcher. In her own motherly way she would contrive 1 to make herself useful to you on the i boat, I suppose.” !

“She was, a perfect nuisance,” Celia agreed. “But I put up with it because it seemed to give her so much pleasure to do little things for me.” “It would,” said Eden grimly. “She loves to do things for people. She used to run a select establishment in London with three beautiful daughters, somebody else’s daughters, of course. Her object in life at that time was to make the dear young people happy. When .the police raided the place, she had made her escape to America.” . “She contrived to. drug you,” Eden went on. “I don’t know how, but she ’ would possibly say you looked pale and worry you until you agreed to lie down and drink a little coffee or perhaps a quinie tonic, a special recipe of her own, containing laudanum.” “You might almost have been there?” said Celia with astonishment. “It. was coffee she gave me in my cabin. But however did she get me off the boat?” Eden shrugged,. ' “Trust- Katey to arrange that; a clever tongue or bribery. An ambulance is waiting on the quay, supposedly sent on the instructions of one of the Governors of the Home.” “And what then?’’.asked Celia with excited interest. “Simple enough for them to pick you up there. Hence the haste of our departure. There was just a chance they might have arrived prepared for interference. As it is % we shall reach London without fear of pursuit I think.” “Oh! but I would have refused 1 to go and demanded protection from the staff of the hospital, "said Celia spiritedly. “Supposing it were you- Uncle’s solicitor who called, what then?” “Oh, that would be different. .But he wouldn’t call for me. How should he know anything about it?” “That is just what I-, should like* Jo know,” murmured Eden softly. “We passed him at the bottom of the drive.” “You surely don’t suspect him?” said Celia in astonishment. “I suspect everyone,” Eden laughed. “But he certainly seems to fill the bill. He could convince you with perfect' case. He would convince the Matron with almost equal ease. , She need never know your real identity. You would just have disappeared without leaving any trace.” “I see that, but I can’t believe it possible,’/ said Celia. ■“lt will be interesting, very interesting, to hear what he has to say for himself,” Eden spoke with a relish that suggested a pleasure in store. “Yes, I think we shall have to take a kindly interest in dear Egbert.”

Chapter S.->—A Search Warrant. When the first rush of excitement at ,meeting her American cousin was over Helen looked around as though she had lost something but for a moment did not know what it was. “Why> Daddy of course. Where is he? What have you done with your beloved Uncle?” she scolded Celia playfully. Celia, who was lying back luxuriously in a comfortable chair with her eyes closed, roused herself to speak, but Eden took it upon himself to answer for her. “He should be here any moment. You see, somehow or other, we missed him, Miss Dainton,” he explained Innocently. “He may wait till the next -train.” “Miss him? I don’t understand. Do you mean to say you left him waiting in Southampton and he doesn’t know Celia is here?” she gasped indignantly. Eden screwed his face into an expression of absurd penitence that was more aggravating than convincing. “Guilty,” he pleaded, “but there were extenuating circumstances. Really, it could not be helped, Miss Dainton.” A smile almost of hopeful anticipation crossed his face. “I’m afraid he will be a little cross.” Helen laughed maliciously. “He will,” she said with obvious enjoyment. “If I know Daddy, he’ll give it you hot and strong, and I’ll stand by to suggest a word here and there when he gets stuck. . Oh yes, he’ll be beautifully cross.” “Perhaps I'd better make myself scarce before he comes,” said Eden with exaggerated alarm. “Coward,” scoffed Helen. “I’ll go and have a yarn with Peter Southwark. Poor chap, he must be tired out working so hard all day. He’s writing a play, you know. It’s wonderful how he keeps his nose to the .grindstone. He’ll be glad of.a little company I should think;’! Helen glared at him. The remark might be innocent enough, but if it. were not, heavens! — —nose and a grindstone working hard all day. Eden smiled boyishly at Celia. “Good-night, Miss Rowson. I hope you have forgiven the bargain son and he was inclined to think the snatching,” he said with an impudent

twinkle in his eye. And Celia, who .had already forgotten the incident in the importance of subsequent revelations, flushed. Earlier impressions were' swept away wholesale. It was not that she resented the way he had carried her off—that was more or less explained—but that he should deliberately remind her of it after it had ceased to be of any significance. She renewed her earlier vows. He should be made to pay for it. ' She spoke pleasantly enough, however. “Good-night, Mr Eden. We shall see you again I suppose." “I’m afraid so,” he .replied sympathetically. He found Peter Southwark ostensibly working. It might have been a letter he was writing, or a novel, or even a play, hut from the blank sheet of foolscap before him it would have been quite impossible to guess what Inspiration had sent him flying to pen and ink, and having sent him, now seemed to have left him stranded, feverishly chewing the end of his pen in a vain attempt to recapture that first fine frenzy. Oil Eden’s entry lib turned with a sigh of relief snd gave ,up the unequal struggle. His visitor wasted no time in preliminaries. “I want to make use of you, Peter," ho said abruptly. “I may land you in some dangers.” He paused, but Peter offered no ■comment. He merely nodded. “To put it bluntly,” Eden went on, “Now that Celia Rowson has arrived, the flat below is about as safe as an active volcano. I have a man down there as watchdog, but I want you to keep your eyes open itoo. You. needn’t worry about the outside of the house. Leave that to me, I can’t even tell you what to expect,