“THE GORGON.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2766, 24 August 1931, Page 3

“THE GORGON.”

(By

J. LINDSAY HAMILTON.)

(Copyright).

SYNOPSIS.., Colonel Dainton, late Iridian Army, is anxioug for 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 on his arrival in London. Colonel Dainton confides in his pretty daughter, Helen, and a friend of hers, Peter Southwark. Jeni kins, 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 hei’ way* to London, James Rawson’s ‘ daughter Celia is drugged and taken in an ambulance to a hospital, but Eden finds . her and takes her to her Uncle’s fla£ Eden-thinks the flat is very unsafe and expects trouble,' so leaves Peter Southwark and .one of his own men to watch. ' ■ Peter signified his assent by admir-- , ing the workmanship of his automatic. Next he produced a pair of weighted Indian clubs and a thick coil of bell wire. ■ / “A hundred yards of it, left by the ■ last tenant,?’ he remarked pensively. • <“Say three yards apiece—that’s ' enough for thirty-three, and a third of them.” / 1 . ' Eden was not'misled by the apparent levity. He knew his man and : proceeded, therefore, bo tell, him concisely the whole position. Peter, . however, had already shrewedly guesse'd at the significance of Eden’s dram- - ,-atic entry into the affairs of Colonel Dainton. : “You s know, of Rowson’s visits io Dr. Farrar six weeks ago?? Rather ; a queer thing has happened,” he said diffidently. ‘Of course it may have no significance, but I’ll tell you and you can judge for • yourself. Miss Dainton and Lmet Dr. Farrar at lunch to-day in Winchester. I suppose he was attending'some, special case. I k had: never met. him before but apparj ently he recognised Miss 1 Dainton, for 'he came j over and made himself known. She asked him point-blank ’ what he thought of her Uncle’s disappearance. . He didn’t say much, but :one gathered he had changed his opinion somewhat. Something was , clearr ly worrying him and he got it off his. mind in a sudden outburst: ' ' : "Your uncle left a- mummy in my care, Miss Dainton,. quite ' a unique : mummy., ; During last night, it was stolen. ■ I can’t think how it could ■be/done, for the case is still there in -my library, empty. Who would want to steal a mummy? It’s all very puz- ■ zling and I’m very much worried about it. It was left in my care and I’m responsible.” ' * said Eden with, inter- ' est. “Colonel Dainton said nothing of that to me.” “Oh, 1 1 expect he forgot. He is not so much concerned with Rowson’s curios as with his. disappearance.” y / “As Dr. Farrar says, who .would dream of stealing a mummy even supposing the thing was possible?” Eden ? muttered. “You say'he has changed his opinion.' Did he know about the murder of Jenkins?” “No. He was shocked when I told him. but it seemed to me that his own trouble occupied his mind to the exclusion of everything, else. One thing he did say, however, and that was, that he had a theory about Row- ’ ' murder of Jenkins might be connected with that mystery.” . “Ah!” said Eden softly “That is . very interesting. A clever man Dr. Farrar. The greatest authority in the world on the human brain. He has made a life study of criiriinal insanity. I must call and see nim. The mummy,-too’, should prove interesting, ,i perhaps-more interesting than the Doctor himself.” “But it’s gone,” objected Peter. “Of course. - So you said. Well, -we shall have to content ourselves . with the empty sarcophagus.” There came a rap on the door. H - was Smith. He seemed to be bursting with information, yet anxious to deliver it in its proper, and most effective sequence. ; “A message from Stevens, Mr Eden,” he began. “He says he saw Colonel Dainton get into a taxi at Southampton. He followed iri another car to within fifteen miles of London when a reckless motor-cyclist drove him into a ditch to a*void a *. smash and of course, he Host him.” -- “That looks bad,” said Eden sharp- , ly ’ ' “And that’s - not all,” said Smith with an air of satisfaction. “A man called' this afternoon to repair the telephone down below. He found it was O.K. and guessed he must have ' got the wrong address. But I watched .him ,on the quiet, and when he’d , gone I found-this in between two i books In the bookshelf.” . -He drew \ long envelope, from his

pocket and handed it to Eden, who glanced rapidly at the contents. ; As he read his face lit up with a grim smile that boded trouble for someone. “Good man,” he said .approvingly. But there was more to come. Smith was evidently blessed; with a sense of the dramatic! He drew himself up and with a positive glow of satisfaction announced his climax. “And now,” he said significantly. “Inspector Durham has arrived with a search warrant. Chapter 9.—lnspector Durham’s Choice. • Smith’s fondness for a dramatic climax was not rewarded as he felt it should have been, for Eden’s expression of pleasurable anticipation remained unchanged. “A search warrant. Of course, a search-warrant,” he repeated mechanically as though it were something as natural as the arrival of the morning milk or the evening n’ewspaper. He was silent so long that Smith, believing he was no longer wanted turned to go. Eden stopped him. “Ask Inspector Durham to come up,” he said. “If he seems disinclined you can drop a hint that I can save him a tedious and unprofitable search.” He turned to Peter as Smith departed. ' , ■ . “A tete-a-tete,'old man; just Durham and I. . Sorry to turn you, out of your own room. Perhaps you could-run down and stop Miss Dainton from worrying about her father. Tell her-,l’ve had word that the father may not return till morning. Anything, so long as she. doesn’t guess the truth that we haven’t the/foggiest notion where he is. There is just a chance he may turn up by then.” Peter gladly accepted the role and when presently Durham’s bulky figure loomed in the doorway, he made his escape. V . “How do, Mr Eden,’—said ,Durham with a twist of the mouth that served for a smile. “I’ve not seen you since we cleaned up that international dope gang down Limehouse way.” A stranger would have taken him for a somewhat morose publican. He was built on heavy lines and walked with a slow dogged m.ovement, shoulders lurching and head thrust forward aggresively. The down-turned, corners of his wide mouth gave the impression of a permanent scowl of disillusion. ’ ( '“A very creditable coup,” Eden drawled. “You got your promotion, I think. It -seems a pity that a useful man . like you. should retire so soon;” ;/ Durham jerked his head up sharply. ' “Retire,” he growled aggressively, but there was a note of uneasiness in his voice. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m not thinking of retiring yet a bit.” “I’m' glad to hear it,” replied Eden heartily. “I must have been wrong. When I heard you were building a swagger bungalow at Seahaven I felt sure the Force was going to lose you. It must be costing you a pretty penny” he added with friendly interest. “Oh! that,” Durham spoke with a deprecating air. “Thpt’s the wife’s affair. . She’s been left a bit of money. But, I can’t stand her gossiping,” he said brusquely. “I’ll get on with the job. Good-night to; you, Mr Eden.” Eden rose. His smile was as serene as a summer sky. * “I think not, Durham,” he said very gently, and Durham swung round a look of sudden fear on his face. “How much does Grimaldi pay you to protect his interests?” Eden snapped. “Will you tell me or shall I tell you?- You iriust be a very thrifty man. £12,000 is a nice little nestegg, Durham. Is it four or five safe deposits you have? I never can remember.” ! ! Durham flopped heavily into a chair. He had turned a ghastly white. One shaking hand went furtively to his pocket. 1 “I wouldn’t add murder to it if I were you,” Eden went on in the same even tone, “I’m not the Public Prosecutor.” “You seem to know a hell of a lot,” snarled Durham savagely. , “I do," he agreed heartily, “but ! there’s something you can tell me. ,Who put you up to searching Colonel Dainton’s flat?” Without the slightest hesitation Durham supplied the information. “Jacob Stein, one of Birdie’s pals, came to the Yard and made a state•ment. He showed me a letter he’d Jiad from Birdie and you can take it from me a search-warrant was justified. Colonel Dainton hasn’t returned either.!' Doesn’t that look fishy?" he demanded roughly. ' “Is that what you are looking for?” Eden drew a long envelope from his pocket. “A letter from Birdie to the Coroner, at least, that is what it claims to be, and Stein, no doubt, would verify the writing—he’s a good

liar. Sufficiently damning to bring about the Colonel’s arrest. A .man with the usual telephone gag left it carefully in the bookshelf this afternoon." Durham sat up sharply. “I know nothing of that anyway,” he , said with genuine surprise, and Eden believed him. “No,” he agreed, “but all the same I don’t envy you, D,urham. • You’ve got in deeper than you know. If you draw out it won’t suit me and you’ll find yourself where you’ve sent many another man. There is an alternative. You have heard rumours, I expect,! of a mysterious being known as “The Gorgon.” You are mixed up with that crowd, unwittingly perhaps. Go In deeper. Play a double game. It’s a big thing to do Inspector, and calls for nerve and pluck. If you are suspected you’ll certainly lose your life. You may only lose your little nest egg. 1 .1 tell you frankly I’m not concerned about that. On the other hand, .if you pull it off, I promise you the hand of a grateful country to shake. Take your choice. Somehow I think you are fine enough to choose the latter.” - Eden, closely watching -Durham's face, had read the faint signs of conflicting emotion like an open book; fear of disgrace, despair, a glimmer of hope, then doubt, and now finally the light of battle shining clearly in his eyes. His heavy jaw snapped to like a vice. . ' ' “Dorie,” he blurteti out roughly. “I’m your man. on those coriditions." Eden held out his hand without a word, but there was real warmth in the handshake he gave him. “Grimaldi’s city premises,” he said at last, “tell me ajl you know about them'.” (To be continued.)