"FIND THIS MAN"

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 4844, 12 May 1936, Page 6

"FIND THIS MAN"

SERIAL STORY.

By ADRIAN DE BRUNE. Author of “The Dagger and Cord”; “The Shadow Crook”; Gray’s Manor Mystery”; Etc., etc.

CHAPTER VIII (Continued). Ivy insisted that Mary receive the young man alone. She wanted to be free —to be able to take advantage of anything that might crop up. In a few words over the coffee pot they settled their plans. Mary was to receive her visitor in the library; Ivy was to be in the “ den,” a small room opening out of the library. There she would be close to Mary and unobserved, and if she wished she could overhear all that passed. The “ den ” held another advantage: from it a door opened on to the driveway from the road to the garage. The girls had hardly passed into the library when the maid announced Richard Kithner. Ivy went to the “ den ” and Mary picked up a book, sitting down in one of the comfortable lounge chairs before the open fire. When Richard Kithner entered she looked up casually. “ Oh, Mr Kithner ! You wanted to see me ? ” For a moment the man hesitated, smoothing down his sleek, black hair. “You look comfortable, Mary. You seem to have fallen on your feet, eh ? Why—what’s the matter ? ” “ Only the ‘ Mary.’ ” “ Oh, don’t fuss. We’re not at the office now.” He came across the room and stood before the fire, looking down on her, his arm spread along the mantel-piece. “ Where’s the heiress ? ” “ Mrs Western ? ” Mary showed surprise. “ I don’t remember her address. You can get it at the office in the morning.” “ I suppose I should have said the supposed heiress.” The small, even teeth gleamed in a cold smile. “ What a disappointment, eh ? She thought she was the old man’s darling—anil got put out in the cold.” “ Are you referring to Miss Breton ? ” “ Oh, cut it -out, dearie ! ” Richard Kithner tried to smile ingratiatingly. “ You know I mean Ivy Breton, so don’t try to make me believe you misunderstood.” He paused, and as Mary did not reply, continued: “ I’ve come here on business strict q.t. business.” “ I am on holidays, Mr Kithner.” “ And they’re doing you a world of good.” He spoke impulsively, his head on one side. “ D’you know, Mary—” “ Miss Varney, please.” “ Well, go on as you’re going and you won’t be ‘ Miss ’ very long ! ” He laughed at what he thought to be a joke. “ Say, girlie, what’s the heiress doing ? Why, she’s waved the magic wand over you ! Oh, it seems it’s your hair. Dressed in a new style, eh ? And that frock—it’s a whale! Sure, Mary, if I’d known what you were hiding I’d have rushed you strong long before this.” “ Mr Kithner ! ” “ Oh, cut it out ! ” Mary thought he had been drinking. He went closer to the girl, sitting on the edge of the desk. The buhl box caught his eyes. He picked it up and turned it in his hands. “ The buhl box ! How does if open, Mary ? ” “By a spring, I believe,” the girl answered indifferently. “ I have not tried to open it. It is not my property.” “ No ? ” Richard Kithner was exploring for the spring, but could not find it. Say, Mary, where’s the heiress ? I asked you that before, and you didn’t answer.” “I have told you—Miss Breton is not an heiress. Mr Sixsmith left his property to his half-sister, and Miss Breton will have to earn her living at the end of three months from now.” “ All my cock and hen ! If you want plainer language all eyewash.” The young man laughed loudly. “Look, here, Mary, there’s some mystery about old Sixsmith’s will. I’ve got a hunch he was framing something.” “ Why 1 ” “That’s what I want to discover--and to do that I want your help.” “ Well ? ” ‘ Old Sixsmith left only about six thousand pounds, didn’t he ? ” Mary nodded. It was useless to deny knowledge of a fact that was public property. No doubt Richard Kithner had obtained his information from his father. “ Well, what became of the rest of the money ? ” Then, noticing her look of surprise: “ Oh, you’re not going to tell me, like dad did, that he lost it in speculation. I’ve made inquiries, and I know different.” “ In what way ? ” “ Well, six months ago he came to dad and put some house property in T,is hands to deal with. Produced a bunch of securities, something over a hundred thou., to support his fad. Dad put in some money, too, and did the work, and they made quite a killing. Two months later old Sixsmith took a fly in oil, and just cleared out

at the top of the boom. Made another pile in the old * come-back' liquidation, and—” “ What, then ? ” Mary was interested, in spite of herself. “ I don’t know.” “ You know that about that time he invested a sum of money for Miss Breton ? ” “ Oh, pin-money ! Bah ! ” The young man sneered. “ That’s all it was. The old mian called it that to dad. It was then that he told dad that the girl was going to have the lot, if he could pass the buck to his relatives that’s Mrs Western and her son.” “ Well ? ” “ It’s like this, girlie.” Richard Kithner bent forward over the girl, impressively. “ You’re the king-pin in this game. Ivy’s taken a fancy to you. You know that ! Well, then, you stand pretty for our purpose. You’re in her camp, and you’re joining hands with me. See ? You’re where a clever girl can grow clover for herself —and her pals. I’m on the outside; no others will think. They won’t think that we’re in co. over this. You get the infor. and pass it to me. I’ll do the work, and we’ll clean up a bit.” “ How ? ” “ I’ve got a line—no, I’m not telling you what it is, but it’s a whizzer. I’m playing it for all it’s worth. In a few days I’ll know quite a lot—if you stand in with me I’ll have the whole story set. Then we’ll beat the band.” “ How ? ” In spite of herself the girl was growing more, and more interested. “ You get the full story of where and how Mr Sixsmith left his money. What then ? ” “ I’ll give you sufficient dope to go to the heiress and make terms.” “ What terms ? ” “ I haven’t decided yet. Shall we say half ? To be divided between you and me. That do ? Thought so. Then you shall tell here where to find her fortune the one old Sixsmith hid for her from his relatives and she’ll give you half. See ? ” “ Sounds reasonable.” Mary pretended to be reluctant. She hated the man, but even then was loth to fool him. “ Are you certain that you will be able to discover the real facts ? ” “ That Ivy’s the heiress ? I’ll bet that! It’s all up to you. Get me what I want, and within a fortnight you’ll be fifty thou, or more bette: off.” “ What do you want me to do ? ” “ Get me the real photograph that was in the buhl box and a copy of the letter. I’ll do the rest. Now —is it a go ? ” “Yes.” Mary stood up suddenly. Richard Kithner extended his hand, and very reluctantly Mary’s placed hers on his palm. “vßight-o, partner ! ” • The young man went to the door. “ I’m off. I don’t want the heiress to catch you and me together now. By the way, if you get a telephone message from * cousin Paul ’ you’ll understand, will you ? ” He went into the hall, looking back with a leer at the girl. Mary waited a moment, then went to the door of the “ den,” calling Ivy softly. There was no response. She switched on the lights in the room and looked around. Ivy Breton had disappeared. CHAPTER IX. The development of the conversation between the lawyer’s son and heir and Mary had not surprised Ivy. She had guessed that Richard Kithner was not making a social call on his father’s secretary. He had an ulterior motive, and now he had shown that. He had come seeking information; more, he had sought an ally in some only-partially developed scheme to hold her to ransom if she wanted to solve the mystery of her godfather’s will and inherit the fortune she was now certain he had left her. Mary bad said that during the time she had been with Kithner, Wales, and Kithner the young man had not paid her any attention; in fact, he had shown antagonism towards her. Mary’s summing-up of Richard liithner’s character had prepared her for the line the conversation had taken. But she had not been prepared to find that Mary, the girl she had chosen for friend and companion, to show a greater knowledge of the mystery than she had let her know in her conversations with her. Only that day, discussing the mystery, she had stopped while speaking, claiming that certain knowledge she possessed belonged to her office and must remain secret. Now she had to face a question. Would Mary give her all the help she was capable of givingin solving the mystery ? Ivy could not answer her own question. She would have to wait and see. One thing Ivy had now quite clear in her mind. Her godfather had not

been ruined when he died. He had been a wealthy man, but for some purpose had hidden his wealth, leaving the cryptogrammatic letter and the photograph in the buhl box as the only clue. For what reason ? Had he guessed, when he was settling his estate in preparation for death, that directly he had passed on his relatives would commence to sauabble over what he had left behind ? Had he guessed that if he named her his heiress he would embroil her in a lot of trouble ? If so, then he had evolved the mystery of the buhl box, confident that her wits would baffle and defeat those who sought to rob her; certain that her quickness would solve the mystery he had surrounded the buhl box with before her enemies. If only she could discover the identity of those who sought the secret of the buhl box ! She knew only one—Jack Lome. Yet she was certain that at least three other persons were interested. She stamped her foot, angrily. Three days had passed and she was no nearer the solution of the mystery than when she sat in the drawing-room and heard the old lawyer reading the clause in her godfather’s will leaving her the buhl box. That evening she had learned one additional fact —that Richard Kithner was interested in the photograph of the “ unknown.” What did that mean ? What could his interest be ? He had said that he intended to solve the mystery and hold her to ransom for the secret. Had he spoken the truth ? Ivy doubted it. Jack Lome and Richard Kithner ! They were both interested in the buhl box and its contents. Jack Lome had seen the photograph of the “ unknown”; Richard Kithner had not. He had asked Mary to obtain it for him. Then the two men could not be in collusion, for if so then Jack Lome would have shown Richard Kithner the photograph while he had it in his possession. She had fallen so deep into thought that Richard Kithner’s sudden departure had almost taken her by surprise. She flew to the door of the “den” opening on to the driveway, carrying her hat, coat, and bag with her. She was standing in the shadows of the- tall hedge when the young man passed on his way down to tne main road. Ivy slipped out on to the pavement, hugging the shadows. Richard Kithner knew too much to be ignored. She must follow him—discover whom he spoke to, and, if possible, what were the hidden plans in his mind he had hinted to Mary. If only luck would favour her —just a little ! Kithner walked slowly down the road, and at the corner stood hesitant for some seconds. He turned quickly in the direction of the city, as if moved by some sudden impulse. Two or three cruising taxis which had bailed him were waved aside. Ivy thought that strange. Men of Richard Kithners’ type did not walk unless compelled to do so. Keeping carefully in the shadows, Ivy followed to the main road. He had slackened his pace''considerably, and when he came to the end of the block halted again. Now he looked about him, as if expecting to meet someone. He looked at his watch and switched his stick impatiently. Then he moved on very slowly. A man came out of the shadows, falling into step beside Richard Kithner quite naturally. For some moments they did not speak; then the stranger asked a question, for Richard Kithner impatiently shook his head. For some seconds they walked on in silence; then exchanged a few brief questions and answers. Ivy quickened her steps, and drew nearer the two men. She must know more of this second man. He was tall, a few inches taller than Richard Kithner, who Was above the average height of men; and they were of 1" build. Somehow he was vaguely familiar to Ivy, yet she could not name him. Where had she seen him before ? She was certain that he was not altogether a stranger. The two men came to an intersection and halted, waiting for the crossing to clear. Ivy drew nearer, watching the men intently. For some minutes they stood, speaking together in low, hurried tones. Then the traffic was stopped, and Richard Kithner, with a wave of his stick, started to cross the road. The stranger turned and came back towards Ivy.

The girl hesitated, looking about her for some place in which to hide. She knew that it would be foolish to turn back, for any sudden movementon the partially-filled pavement would attract the man’s immediate attention. She could only walk on, keeping her head averted, yet watching the man closely. He came nearer, passing under the light from an electric standard - and Ivy stopped in surprise. The man was Charlie Western! What was he doing in that quarter of the city ? Had he come there to meet Richard Kithner immediately after his talk with Mary ? That seemed probable. It was absurd, in the face of Richard Kithner’s actions within the last quarter of an hour, to believe that the meeting was accidental. He had lounged down the road as if expecting to be met. Charlie Western had caught up to him, and the two men had quickened their pace, as if the meeting had been arranged. Then Richard Kithner was acting with Charlie Western in trying to solve the mystery of the buhl box ! What interest had Mrs Western and her son in the box and its contents ? The girl turned and followed the man. She must find out where he went and to whom he spoke. Yet for a moment she doubted. Should she continue on Richard Kithner’s track ? No ! There had been something in his attitude, in the manner in which he had parted from Charlie Western, that showed that his work was finished for the night. Again the girl’s thoughts went to Airs Western and the buhl box. The woman—and her son, too —had shown antagonism to her legacy, when the will was read. At the time she had supposed it was the miser instinct she knew existed in the woman. She had not liked to see anything taken from the house that was to be her property in three months’ time. Now the woman and her son knew that they could never hope to get one penny from the Sixsmith estate. Her telephone message to Mrs Western that morning that some man had put in a claim for five thousand pounds against the estate, had shown them that the will under which they inherited was valueless. The debts of the estate would swallow up its assets —perhaps even the legacies to the servants. Failing to obtain anything from Basil Sixsmith through his will, Mrs Western and her son had resolved to probe the legacy that Basil Sixsmith had left his god-daughter. Had they thought, like others, that the old man had not been ruined when he died ? That he had left his property—a considerable amount—hidden, and that the key to the hidden place was contained in the buhl box ? The buhl box ! How many strange figures had it gathered around it within the past few days ? Again Ivy went over the group of people whom she knew were interested. There was the burglar who had copied the photograph. A sudden thought came to the girl, Could that burglar have been Charlie Western ? Now she remembered that the man had appeared to be very tall and about the same build. He had not acted the part of the burglar well. How had he got into the house ? Immediately on coming to her senses the following morning she had tried to discover how the man had gained entry. All she had discovered was that the hall door w T as on the latch. She had questioned Alice and Faith. They were certain that no door or window had been unlatched or opened during the night. Then the man had gained entry to the house through the front door. That would not be difficult, for the lock was old-fashioned. But, even then, he must have had some sort of a key ! Suddenly Ivy remembered. Some four months before her godfather died Mrs Western had appealed to him, asking that she and her son be accommodated while their house was being re-decorated. Basil Sixsmith had grumbled, but agreed. Ivy believed that her godfather had supplied Charlie Western with a doorkey during his residence in the house. Had the man returned it ?