Such a Jolly Museum

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7106, 15 March 1933, Page 9

Such a Jolly Museum

REVELS FOR THE YOUNG WHERE MANY THINGS “GQ” Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Lyons, director of the Science Museum, South Kensington, is ono of tho jolliest “old boys” in London. Ho is a Doctor of Science and a Fellow of the Royal Society, but visitors seeking him at the museum rarely find Sir Henry in bis office, “directing" or “researching,” or whatever it is.

More likely Sir Henry will be in the Children’s Gallery, playing with all the curious switches and knobs which make lights flash, aeroplanes rise from the ground and "stunt” merrily round a glass case, engines whirr, and all sorts of jolly things—and ho enjoys himself enormously.

Sir Henry knows what boys like, and he spends half his time trying to find more jolly things for them to do. That is why the Science Museum is ono of the most popular placos in London during tho Christmas holidays. Eight thousand children were going to the museum overy day during tho ■recent Christmas vacation. Caps from Harrow and Clerkenwell, very good children from Mayfair, with most superior govornessos, and ragged little urchins from goodness knows where—they all love tho Science Museum. It is a museum that “goes/' and that is the secret of its popularity. It is a new building, too, and not burdoncd with tho accumulated rubbish of years.

Anything which SH Henry can persuade to “go” as going, says tho News Chronicle. A great beam engine slowly moves dts mighty shaft, littlo rotaries, gloaming with grease and oil, silontly turn a maze of whirring wheels. These go by electricity. Then there aro cunning little handles which start railway trains and electric switches which illuminate the fascinating dioramas illustrating tho history of lighting throughout the ages. There is no putting ponnies in tho slot —at is all free.

Boyish heroes have changed in recent years. D’Artagnan, and even Captain Scott, have been succeeded by Sir Malcolm Campbell, Sir Henry Seagrave and the Kings of Speed. And the Science Museum is tho place whore boys may revel in hero worship. High overhead is tho first aeroplane to cross the Atlantic. British, every bit of it, and bravo Britons flying, too— Sir John Aleock and Sir Arthur Whitten Brown. What a poor thing it looks beside the lovely streamlining of the Schneider Trophy machine. Then there is Miss England 1., in in which Sir Henry Seagravo smashed record after record. And there is . , . everything, in fact, that a modern boy loves.

CHAPTER Vl. (Continued.) The Inspector looked at the youth. "Is your name Joe Gongdon?” i "Yes." | "You know what you have to do?" “Yes. Sir Hylton told me I was to get certain Information from the prisoner; and 1 was to lose no time.” the youth spoke In a surly, gruff voice. Tho Inspector smiled grimly. “I don't envy you your task. We’ll come for you In half an hour. It’s unusual, but we’ll do it in this case." "Thanks,” Gongdon said briefly. Jellico was smoking and brooding over the paper when the cell door Opened to admit a young man, and was closed again. Jellico glared at him. “Who the devil are you?” Quick as lightning the youth took off his wig and moustaohe and showed the face of Reading, the red-hair-ed cleric of Tho Freedom Company. JellioO stared at him. "How the devil did you manage It, boy?" Then Reading spoke rapidly and breathlessly. "No time to explain— NVhltehouse did it all. We have to change plaoes—hero are the togs—slip Into them. We’ve got half an hour—maybe less. Don’t forget the moustacho—lt hides your lip ” ‘‘We both have that upper lip, boy,” Jellico said quietly, as he changed. “Yes, that’s a mercy. The office Is watched and locked—the. slip door’s safe, and the winding passage. Whitehouse Is waiting for you in the underground room. Take in some food—you can live there for a time. Ready? So am I. I had to pad—you don’t have to."

“No, though we’re alike in face, we’re unlike dn bulk,” he smiled a twisted .Then, as he watched Reading get into the clothes he had just discarded, and put on a fair wig greyed at the temples, he asked: "Have you counted the cost, boy?” Reading threw back his head with n reckless laugh. “Yes—what odds? A few weeks here or else “The King’s Hotel. 1 Regular work and exercise. Reduction of sentence for good conduct. “I'll make them sit up when I do coma outl” he showed his teeth.

“This job exhausts the rescue stunt, or--—”

Reading nodded at him. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be out sooner than you think. Dont forget the food supply—you may have to lie' low for some tlmd. They're coming—be ready—■” When the door opened the prisoner was still sitting with the paper, and the youth, was ready to go. It Was a sergeant this time who was on duty. He turned to the youth as ho took him from tho cell to tho entrance. "Got what you wanted?" "Yes, lira going straight back to Paris SireeV’ i’hp oonstablg called a taxi and gave the driver Sir Hylton Clive’s address. When tile ohauffour was driving down Oxford Street the man in the taxi stopped him.- "Go down Blank Street and stop at the restaurant there on the left. I want to get some sandwiches. Then we can go on to Park Street.”

The ohauffeur Obeyed, and pulled up at tho Restaurant, and the man got out. Shan’t be long,” he said, and went Into the restaurant. "phe ohauffeut waited ten minutes—twenty mhmt&3. He ut a cigarette, got off the driver’B seat and stood on the pavement. He looked at his watoh. He had waited three-quarters of an hour. Ho Went and looked inside the restaurant hut could see n 6 trace Of his fare. He went back to his oab ahd agaip waited. When an hour find half had gone by, he hailed a ionslable who was walking dawn tho other aide of the etreet. The oonstable came over, "What’s your trouble?” he asked. "Won, mister, Pm in a flx. I drove a fare here who went in to get some sandwiches, and he's been in there an hour and a half, after saying he shouldn't be long. Ho must be having a blooming banquet; I looked inside biri couldn’t see him, but he might be in another room. I don’t know whether to wait or get another fare, Hp hasn’t paid me.”

"No, l pxpooi not. I This restaurant has anothar entrance in the next street. He probably Went out that way. Done a punk, Vdu may whlatle for your farO, •‘Where did you drive him from? Fart" Tb§ chauffeur looked puzzled. "No not hi'. One of your mates hailed me from the police station near Corn street, ana ibid me to drive to Sir Hyltbn Olive's liouso in Park Street. When Wb got into Oxford Street the fare stopped me and told me to turn dpwn this etreet and stop here as he wonted tO sbt some eandwlohos, He seemed 411 ri&hi I've often driven fares from ijh&t station. Your mates knpw me well.’' "It sound? queer. I’m on duty and IbkYb' My advloe Is that you drive back to the station and tell them what’S happened. Say that I sent you—you oan give ’em my number. You must look on this job as a bad debtl" The chauffeur looked the disgust he felt. "Time I had some grub myself; I’ll follow the gentleman’s isample and get a sandwich, and then drive straight, back. Gentleman indeed! I don’t think 1” Half an hour later he drew up at the police station, left his oab, and went inside. 'He saw the same oonStable who had hailed him before. "Has Sir Hylton 'Clive sent you back with a message 1” ho asked the chauffeur.

“ fnever got there!" the man said wrathfully, and then he told his story of the affair. The oonstable listened attentively, and asked two or three pertinent questions, "It looks fishy, and we can’t do anything unless Mr Gleeson comes In. He's working for Sir Hylton On this case. I'll ring him up and Sde if I oan get him/’ Twenty minutes later Gleeson arrived In a Oar. "I came round as soon as I could because you said it was important; but I can’t stay long as I am on a case for Sir Hylton tonight. What did you want me for?" Gleeson asked a uniformed Inspector. "Well, as this concerns Sir Hylton, we couldn’t do anything until you came,” and he then stated the facts briefly, and showed Sir Hylton’s card and letter. "It seemed all in order,” he added, "until tho driver of the taxi oame hack—and then It looked odd when we heard his tale," Gleeson looked at the card first,

“Has Sir Hylton run out of visiting cards that he uses letter press?” he asked. “I wish 1 had been here — I have seen Joe Congdon and should know him. We’ll soon clear this up. I’ll ring up Sir Hylton." He went to the 'phone. “Can I speak to Sir Hylton Clive? Inspector Gleeson speaking. "I’ll put you through to his study, sir; he is there," said Purvis' voice. “Is that Sir Hylton?" Gleeson said after a moment. “It’s Gleeson speaking. Sir Hylton, did you send Joe Congdon this afternoon to the Police Station for Corn Street, with your card and a typed letter with your signature?”

“No—certainly not I Joe Congdon is in the suburbs, doing somo work for me. What has happened? Has Jelllco escaped?"

“I think he has,” and Gleeson stated briefly through the ’phone what had happened. “You know Jellico,” Sir Hylton said. “Go and. look at him, and see who has rescued him, and come on to me if you can.”

Half an hour later Gleeson was shown in; he was smiling as he entered, “It was very neatly and cleverly done, and they lost no time, Sir Hylton.”

“Who has taken Jelllco’s place?” “The red-haired clerk who is in the office. He’s very like him.” “Reading. His natural son, I expect. “Well?” “I went In quietly and spotted the wig at once, though it was a very good one. He had pushed it back a little to cool his head and the red hair was visible. I had it off in a moment, and then felt him to see if he were padded. He was, and must have been baked. The little devil did nothing but grin; “It's a luoky thing you weren’t here, governor, or you’d have spotted me,” he said. I answered: “You came in of your own accord, and you will stay in, young man, and get an extra long sentence for your folly.’ Ho Is certainly very like his father.” “Temple and I will have to tackle him again. Where do you think he has gone?”

“Back to the old lair. There must be another door that we don’t know of. Those city houses are rambling old places.” “They have kept me so busy lately I have not had time to inspect those premises. “I’ll ’phone to Joe to come back at once, and send him to have a look at them. Nothing escapes him, as a rule. He has eyes like a hawk. There is nothing mere to do now. I shall see you to-night. You have their password so it will be fairly easy I am taking Temple with me after all. He wa® so keen on coming, and we may want more help.” “Very good, Sir Hylton. I’ll get baok now. As you say, there is nothing more we can do—until later."

When Jellico left the taxi and entered the restaurant, he bought a good supply of sandwiches, some meat pies, cakes and rolls, also two bottles of .ginger beer; all of which he packed into n small handbag he was carrying. He then went our, ol the back entrance, made for Oxford Street and took a motor bus to Liverpool Street; got off the bus, and went by devious back ways towards Corn Street. Reading had warned him that the office was watched; so he waited about until it was dusk, and it was about halfpast six when he slunk up the back end of the side street that ran down beside their office, and entered a door that apparently belonged to the next houeo. He closed the door without sound and walked stealthily—for he didn’t know what he might be up against. Ho didn’t know if the house were in the possession of the police, or what he might find. If the polico vVere there and had discovered the winding passage and the lower room, Whitohouso would have gone. So ho went wairily. He stopped in the passage and listened. There was not a sound. A deathly silence reigned. Ho moved on a few steps, felt the wall, and pressed a spring, when a door Opened in the \fall of the passage and disclosed a short flight of stairs. Jellioo struck a matoh to see the steps. Ho hadn’t used th 6 underground passage for soma time—(there had been bo need, things had gone so well with them), and he was uncertain of the way for a moment. He struck another matoh (he had no electric toroh, they had taken that away wheh they searohed him), but he must be frugal with the matches as ho had only two boxes; and went on down the winding passage, on and on until ho came to another door on the right. He turned the handle and entered quietly.

A man who was sitting thero with a small lantern, sprang up. “Good God I how you startled me! So our ruse suooeeded and you’ve got hero. I'd given you up. What a time you’ve been I Have you brought any grub? I’m starving. I know there’s tinned food in the outer office, but it’s not safe to go up and get it. There is a swsrm of those devils all round the place. Give me some food, Jellico, for the love of heaven!”

J-ellioo placed the bag on the table, and opening it gave the man some meat pies and rolls. “How long have you been here, Whitehouse " he asked.

"Since twelve noon. I came In just as you were going off ■with Straight for a picnic. No one saw me come In, and soon after that the outer doors were looked and we were trapped. I knew timo was everything; made Jim slip out of the side window' to follow the car, and warned him not to come back. The boy w r as smart, and sent ono of our pigeons baok with a note to say where you were. Then Reading and I got busy—and you know the sequel." “Yes, I know the sequel because I am here," Jellloo drawled, “but I am sorry you used the boy.” 'Whitehouse was eafting hungrily. He looked up and laughed. “Well, of all the ingratitude! Of course, tve rescued our Chief. It was damned cheek of Straight to corner you. When this has blown over tve’ll start again under a new name. The Freedom Company will be too notorious for a time. Reading didn’t oaro; lie's game for anything.” “I’m sorry you used the boy.” “Someone had to take your placo. He was the most like you.” “I had a way out.” (To be Continued.)