THE SOLUTIONS OF RADFORD SHONE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 100, 29 April 1908, Page 2

THE SOLUTIONS OF RADFORD SHONE.

BY SPECIAL ABRANGEMENT.]

Being Narratives by Officers of the Criminal Investigation Department, and of the Provincial Police, in respect of dealings with the eminent Expert, Mr Radford Shone.

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Communicated to and edited by

HEADON HILL

GHAPTER 111

THE «SNG BOHB.

(Continued.)

I gathered little from my ambush, except that Nightingall was again doing the agreeable' to the surly Mexican. Once or twice I thought that he drew the Don's attention to Minna van Cortlandt and young Vanneck— good friends again now, and flirting outrageously^ Presently, amid laughter and lingering good-nights, the millionaire and his guests disappeared into their tents, and I, after the fashion of Indian servants, stretched myself in front of Nightingall's tent door. I had an idea that he might communicate with other members of his gang, but no one came. His dispositions must have been made previously, or by subtler methods than receiving midnight visitors.

As "I lay under the stars, listening to his quiet breathing witnin, I strove to penetrate his deadly purpose. That he had concealed the bomb so cunningly as to defy search for it I had no doubt, but the manner in which' he meant to use it puzzled me. It was inconceivable that he would stand at the roadside as one of van Cortlandt's guests and fling the death-dealing ball under the royal elephant !as it passed. Even though in the confusion confederates might succeed in despoiling the mangled prince of the diamond, he himself could not hope to escape. The first thought of the bystanders would be to seize the thrower of the bomb.

Turn it over which way I could, I saw no certainty of defeating him, and in my perplexity I fell- sound asleep. ,

When I awoke it was broad daylight and the camp was already astir. Springing to my feet, I boldly entered the tent, ostensibly to valet my master's guest; but to my chargin he had evidently been up and dressed some time. He was bending over a basket of magnificent mangoes, arranging leaves among tho succulent fruit with artistic effect.

"Ah! Manajee," he said, all trace of his suspicion clean gone, "you are a heavy sleeper, it seems. Fine mangoes, ain't they?" "Sahib been shopping in the market?'' I schooled myself to say. "No," was the; reply. "A fruitseller was here half an hour ago; he had to step over your,carcase to get to me. I bought these to please the ladies." .-.

He took the basket and went out, going towards the mess-tent, outside which, old van Cortlandt and his sister, with Minna and her two cavaliers, had posted themselves. Away at the Nizam's ' camp a burst of barbaric music signified the start of the procession, drawing cries of excited anticipation from the merry group, near which I posted myself, as if anxious to make myself useful. The cattle-king, catching . sight of me, Mnt me into the mess-tent for a brandy-and-soda. >

When I came out a cloud of dus]b heralded the approach of the procession, while Nightingall, with bows and smiles, distributed his mangoes. Light at last broke in on me. Instead of proffering the basket, he himself selected the fruit and handed it to each individual, coming last to Don Ignacio, to whom he presented a particularly fine specimen. Two things I noticed—one, that he nodded significantly at the scowling Mexican; the other, that while the rest began at /once to eat the luscious fruit, the Don kept his in his hand. <■

Nightingall beckoned me, and bade me hold the basket, in which there were a few mangoes left. I had evidently ceased to interest him, for he spoke carelessly, with all his attention for the crowd of Europeans and natives lined up at the roadside to see the Goojerati chieftain pass. In that crowd, doubtless were the birds of prey who were to pounce on the mangled heap and seize the priceless diamond under pretence of rendering assistance.

Preceded by clashing cymbals and quaintly-garbed footmen, the" State elephant came on, the Nizam conspicuous in the howdah by reason of the stream of fire that blazed from his turban. "The Star of the South" caught the rays of the Indian sun and flung them back .on the gaping onlookers and on Nightingall's sternly expectant face. I edged close to" Don Ignacio, who, just as the huge beast neared us, seemed to brace himself and start forward. I plucked the jealous dupe by the sleeve. "Here, Sahib; take this instead," I said, offering ,him another mango from the basket. "That one is not ripe. The elephant will not like it." In his haste he snatched the harmless mango, putting into my outstretched hand the one which Nightingall had given him, and which my first clutch of it- told' me held the bomb. In a trice I had denuded the fruit of its deadly kernel, and, with the baleful glare of the defeated criminal on me, I stepped up to the howdah of the second elephant, from which Eadford Shone, superciliously complacent, was appropriating the homage of the spectators. «tmT ~ing' Shone," I said casually. ,11, cf, at the hotel this evening for chat hundred rupees. Here is the bomb. It I hadn't watched things it would have been inside the mango which that idiot is offering to your client's mount."

At that instant Don Ignacio, felled by a blow -from the State elephant's trunk, sprawled upon the ground amid roars of laughter. The procession came to a momentary halt, and under cover of the confusion the celebrated amateur leaned down to me from his howdah, his prominent eyeballs all ngog at the perilous brass ball in my hand.

"Who—what are you?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper.

"Only a poor ignorant professional from the Yard," I replied sweetly, "com© across the sea to pull chestnuts out of the fire for my brilliant betters. Inspector Quilliam, at your service."

_ From the motion of the great man's lips I concluded that it was not a

blessing that he vwas invoking on my bead, and then, the Don having been hauled out of the way, the gorgeous pageant started on again, and that night the hospitable American was minus a guest and a servant, both of whom had left without warning. }

Doctor Nightingall, alias "Deadly Smooth," aware now /that his first recognition of me had been right, gave .-up the game; while Radford Shone earned his enormous fee by looking mysteriously important during the Durbar festivities. But he changed his hotel, and did not return to England in the same ship with me.