“THE GORGON.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2767, 26 August 1931, Page 3

“THE GORGON.”

(By

J. LINDSAY HAMILTON.)

(Copyright).

SYNOPSIS. Colonel Dainton, late Indian Army, is anxious 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. 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; In the meantime Colonel Dainton disappears. Eden discovers Inspector ■ Durham is mixed up with “The Gorgon” and his gang, but he promises to remain silent as Durham .agrees - to tell him all he knows. Chapter 10.-—Messrs Bromilow and Steele, Solicitors. It was ten o’clock in the morning and a depressing drizzle was falling. To Helen the whole of the world outside seemed to be compassed in one dirty ‘ stretch of road, two houses shrouded in clinging mist and a sofi- • lary tree, bare of leaves, drooping its branches miserably under the blight of smuts and saturation. There, was, as yet, no sign of her father. Peter had managed to allay her fears on the previous night, but ’how they had returned ten fold.. - Surely he would have sent her word unless- —and there it was, the fear. ; Perhaps some serious accident had be,- ‘ fallen him. There was an allerna- ’ live but she steadfastly put it from her mind. .. . She'had spoken of her fear to -Peter and he at once offered to telephone all the London hospitals. Eden, he knew,-would overlook nothing, but ' at the same time it would ease Helen’s anxiety to know that something • definite was being done. “When 1 think of the cool way your Mr Eden, told me had missed Daddy, and all you have told me since ; ■ _—ooh! I could shake him, Celia 1” • “Don’t call him' my Mr Eden,” she protested vigorously. “I refuse to ' accept any responsibility for him. He is aggravating'io a degree.” “And J believe he knows it,” said Helen with a flash of humour. “The , annoying thing is that one can’t help liking him. I heard - quite a - lot of nice things about him yesterday. Peter . . .1 mean Mr Southwark, thinks the world ( of him.” “Why not call him Peter and be done with it,” said Celia- slyly. Helen blushed. “IPs the name I like,” she explain- ■, ed hastily. “Peter is one of my favourite names, and so ” ■ But Celia was merciless. - - “Andrew -is one of, mine, but I should no more dream of calling Mr Eden Andrew than I would think of toothache as a blessing.” Helen laughed heartily. “Now, you do love him, Celia.” . “I won’t be unfair," - said she more ■ seriously; - “He really was rather •splendid *to me last night, but,” she . went on impenitently, “he fills me with a'' fiendish desire to swear and the fact that my education has been neglected’in that respect'annoys me in- - tensely. Your Peter now is very dfferent." “He’s not my Peter,” Helen protested. “Why, I’ve only known him —"She realised with a shock that - they had only met two days ago—“for a short time,” she finished lamely. “Helen, dear child, surely you can see he simply adores you. Oh! very well, I won’t. Let’s pull, Mr Eden to pieces instead. I thoroughly enjoy it.” The unconscious subject of their criticism was patiently awaiting the pleasure of an interview with the z senior partner of the firm of Bromilow and,Steele. ' ■ The little room where, lie sat was bare and uninviting, but Eden was en- . joying himself after his own fashion. A drama or, as it might prove, a comedy, was being enacted under his observant eyes. A little man with a jaunty air had 'entered the building • before Eden reached It. A,moment later a plainclothes detective had stopped in front of the entrance, hesitated and finally ■ plunged in after the little man. When E'den followed, he found the waitingroom empty. ■ ‘ Five minutes later the detective ; emerged alone from Steele’s office, and ; he looked anything but happy. Eden was now waiting for the finale, . The door of Steele's office opened half way. “And don’t show your face here again," he heard a thick, angry voice say, and the jaunty little man stepped out. “Tut, tut!" he reproved the owner of the voice indulgently. He was a man of middle age, sandy-

haired and obviously a confirmed optimist. His sharp little eyes twinkled with inquisitive humour when he saw’Eden. “Good-morning Sandy. I see that Lady Bannerman is poorer this morning by, £30,000 worth of jewellery,” said Eden conversationally. “So my old friend Bennett of the Yard has just been telling me,” remarked Sandy cheerfully. . “But the papers always exaggerate so, don’t you know’” Eden eyed him quizzically. “Clever work, Sandy So clever I thought there was only one man who could have done it, but apparently I’m wrong? You told me yourself you were going straight, so, of course, it must have been someone else.” “Tliat’s what Bennett thought," said Sandy with gentle reproach. His mouth widened into a 1 broad grin. “Can’t* a fellow go and see -his/solicitor without all Scotland Yard wanting to know about it?” “I’m a little curious myself,” admitted Eden. , “Oh! I don’t mind telling you,” said Sandy airily. “I’m buying a poultry farm, chickens and what-nots and ■feathery fowl. I’m settling down in the country." . “What, again?” asked Eden sceptically. “Yes, for good this tirno. There’s my little girl leaving school in a month’s time and I want her to have a home and a respectable law-abiding father.” “Come and see me to-night,” said Eden softly. “You know where I live. One minute. Before you go you’d better leave that envelope I sec_ bulging out of your pocket; the deeds O f the —er —poultry farm, no doubt. But Bennett hasn’t finished with you yet. You’ll find him waiting below. He's a very suspicious man and might mistake legal documents for legal tender.” Sandy looked at him sharply. Then his hand went slowly to his inner breast-pocket and he drew out a wallet. "May as well take the wallet too,” he said carelessly. “The deeds are in it and I'm trusting you with them. But no mortgage understand.” “Oh! as for that" said Eden, “you can do me a service. We'll talk of that to-night." Meanwhile a scene of discord such as would have disturbed the equanimity of many a trusting client, was taking place bc : hind the door of Steele’s office. Such was. the long-standing reputation of the'flrm for probity and honourable dealing that a witness would have begun by doubting the evidence of his senses, and would have ended in all probability, by doubting the stability of the Bank of England. Bromilow’s accustomed air of discreet gravity was gone. The somewhat smug austerity of his face which had earned him among his own staff the nickname of “Cold-storage” was no longer visible. Cold, malignant passion glittered in his eyes. His thin drawn back in a wolfish snarl, disclosing large, irregular teethHe did not raise his voice, it was as low and smooth as ever. “Your personal tastes cannot be allowed to jeopardise our interests, Steele," he was saying. “I don’t think I need warn you further. Your life, presumably, has a certain value to you, if to no one else.” “There’s no harm done," grumbled Steele defensively. “And, anyway, it won’t be likely to happen again. It was a temptation, I admit. Precious stones are a mania with me and I got ’em for a couple of thousand.” “Where are they now?” asked Bromllow. Steele jerked a thumb in the direction of a large safe let into the wall. “Where no one will find ’em,” he answered with a sly wink. “I slipped them away before Bennett came on the scene. That little cock-spar-row was smart too. He dropped the notes I’d just given him into my own drawer and leaned against it casually, so Bennett found nothing to be suspicious about. ' You needn’t worry. I played all right, virtuous indignation at the intrusion, then shock when he made his business known. I insisted on him searching the room in case his man had managed to hide it. I even opened the safe.” “That was unnecessary," said Bromilow coldly. . “Over-acting a part is always dangerous.. But I need say no more. Take it as a lesson, Steele.” There was a timid knock on the door and a young girl entered the office with a card.' “Andrew Eden,” Bromilow read, "Wishes to consult you re Col. Dainton’s interests. Urgent." He looked sharply across at Steele and handed 'him the card with a look of enquiry. “Don’t know him," said Steele. “Show him into my office in exactly two minutes, ** Bromilow commanded in measured tones. Eden was effusively apologetic in his greeting. Possibly he felt his own insignificance in the atmosphere of sanctity and decorum which seemed to emanate from the dignified solicitor. “Colonel Dainton could not come

personally,” explained Eden. His manner gave one the impression that he was aware that he, was intruding on a great man’s valuable time, but that he hoped to justify that intrusion by the important disclosure he was about to make. “He isn’t in town just now. In fact, we are not quite sure where he is or when he will be back. ' But after what has happened I thought it best to put the papers into your hands. It was best, don’t you think?” he asked anxiously. “That I can judge of when I am better informed,” he remarked dryly. “Of course," agreed Eden with a foolish grin. “I’ll begin at the beginning. He went to Southampton to meet his niece. You know Southampton don’t you? She was coming over from New York and he was to meet her there, but through an odd mistake she missed him. She was taken ill on board and they took her away, in mistake for another patient I expect, to a Convalescent Home. Let me see, what was it called? Levendale ? No, Lever something or other, I can’t' quite remember. Perhaps you know it?” lie asked with painful anxiety. “Never mind the name," interrupted Bromilow with an air of patience. “Pray proceed.” Eden took a deep breath and plunged on. “Well while he was away some letters of a most alarming nature were found in his flat and his daughter is prepared to swear they weren't there earlier in the day. Sc someone must have deliberately put them there. That’s clear enough, isn't it? Now the point is this," he lowered his voice into a significant whisper. “They practically accuse him of the murder of his valet. It's ridiculous, of course, 4 but if they fell into unscrupulous hands it might be terribly embarrassing for him. I thought they ought to be placed in your hands and told his daughter so." (To be eontiiiutd.)