A MYSTERY OF MAYFAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13482, 5 July 1907, Page 3

A MYSTERY OF MAYFAIR.

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.]

BY JOHN STRANGE WINTER.

[COPYRIGHT.]

CHAPTER XX,

A STORMY INTERVIEW.. "Blacken Place, Camden Town," said Rodriguez to the driver of a hansom,, and he jumped in, dropped back on the cushions, weary but yet excited. He was on his way to pay a surprise visit to the nefarious Mr. Niggins. Faster," ho said through the flap to the driver. They rattled and jolted" along Oxford-street, turned the corner into Tottenham Court Road, and here Rodriguez endeavoured to drown his thoughts by taking a languid interest in the endless procession of vehicles which thronged the roadway. For weeks he had been a dullard, with no life, no anything to rouse his restless spirit. He was now on the move, with funds at hie disposal, and he was terribly in earnest in his de-

sir© to obtain the necklace, the chart, and the miniature. Miriam was the pivot ;Oj a plot, and the centre of a mystery which was not very clear to him. '

"Truth is a valuable asset, but deceit has its uses. Mix the two with sufficient skill, and the combination would baffle even an astute man or woman of the world."

The more ho dwelt upon Miriam's .desire to regain the missing jewels and document the more he became convinced .that his policy was to retain them in bis possession should he succeed in the .undertaking which he had promised to carry out. Evidently they were clues or proofs; but to what? Their precise value or meaning was not. however, the most important thing. He meant to secure them, but having.done so he fully intended to hold them in his own hand as hostages to fortune, and by means of them to'place himself on an equal footing with Miriam. At present she held him fast, bound handand foot as it were, and could by a word place • his neck in a fatal noose, a dreary outlook for a. man who loved life and its pleasures to the very full. He frowned darkly as be remembered that at the present moment be was absolutely ■at the mercy of % thoroughly unscrupulous woman. His credit in practically all parts of the world was exhausted, his debts were for him enormous, but just then these did not trouble him very much, fori he knew that he was safe enough at Mar-1 low, and that troublesome duns and writs could not reach him there. For » while his safety was assured, but the inflexible fingers of the criminal law might clutch him at a.ny moment, and when he least expected to be caught. Miriam's wealth alone could make the future safe. She was the frail vessel to which, he was clinging, and if she flung him overboard he would be engulfed in a sea of poverty. and starvation,, sinking among the dregs of the submerged, never to rise .again. Should he then miserably perish for want of a little nerve and trouble? No, a thousand times no. He determined that lie would never tempt • Providence by biting the hand that fed him, he would be faithful to the woman who-" had vowed that very morning to be his .wife. His sensual nature craved for the luxuries with which she supplied him, while pov-erty-he abhorred. He was on-the brink of ruin, and must save himself from falling into the gulf of wretchedness and actual want. He was in the realms of conjecture when he thought of implacable fate in the person of Simeon, and huddled tar back in the cab in a cold sweat of tear Jest some unforeseen accident might fling him in the path of the French deI tective But Rodriguez was not of the breed to all into a panic at close danger: it was the uncertain, distance that quenched his courage. ,i" The aroma, of an Espanola and the steady rhythm of the traffic lulled his fears to. rest and calmed his nerves, the unseen terror with which. Simeon inspired him less pronounced till it faded away .altogether. He screened his features 'behind a. paper, though he trusted his face, now clean shaven, would not be recognised bv friends or enemies. There Was a stumble and a clatter, and the horse was jerked by the driver to a standstill Rodriguez alighted, paid his fare, walked to the end of the street, and waited till the cab had been driven round the corner into Hampstead Road. Blacken Place is ;l narrow thoroughfare of very small villas. The front gardens were gay with flowers, and the, tiled paths neat and cleanly swept. The la«e curtains hanging at the little bay windows gave the jerry-built residences a-modest show of respectability. '■-;.:■ By this" time the afternoon had waned, a.nd dusk was fast deepening into night, the- pavement cleared of children and their mothers. He went quietly towards the villa which bore the number 27, when a tradesman's cart dashed by. Jermyn-street was painted on the panel thereof," and he recollected in a flash that his rent was unpaid, and that the luggage he had left behind him must remain intact, or the incriminating evidence secreted in his trunks would, perchance, be brought to light. A post office was close by, and into the shop he -walked, purchased paper and an envelope, borrowed pen and ink, and wrote a short note of instructions' to his landlord that he should lock up his room, and take special care of his luggage. Enclosing a five-pound note,, he registered and delivered the directed envelope to the girl behind the counter. He stood undecided at the iron gate of No. 27, debating with himself whether he should knock or leave visit till a later hour. The measured tread of an advancing policeman, however, brought his indecision to an end, and he strode up the tiled pathway and rang the bell, which was instantly answered by .a, neat maidservant,

; "Your business, sir?" said she. Rodriguez was about to reoly, when it cough from above caused him to stop. He comprehended the significance of the cough, and, glancing upwards, he saw the redoubtable Mr. Niggins leaning 'over the banister.

"Bring the doctor 'ere, Mary," he called. Rodriguez was shown his 'way up the stairs and into the room at the top of the landing. No sooner was the servant gone than Niggins bolted the door, an uncomfortable grin on his face. He " demanded, in a menacing tone: "What's yer game, ii-comm* 'ere in a respectable taxpayer's 'ouse?" "You received my wire." "I ain't got no wire." >* "A telegram." "Yer ain't! Blowed if yer are. Why, so yer is! The 'Harlow to'ff, 'is 'air gone —shaved clean as a babby's 'ead. Well— I—am—jiggered." Rodriguez's keen eyes were on the man, and Niggins shuffled to and fro like a bear in. a cage. He had a wholesome fear of hie visitor-, and a guilty conscience told him that he was in a particularly tight corner. : ' :

" Where's the girl?" Rodriguez asked, curt and to the point. "In the kitchen."

"Where are the diamonds."' demanded Rodriguez, sternly.^.- " Where's the wot'.'V answered Niggins. in very real astonishment at the question. "The necklace you changed, you infernal scoundrel," hissed Rodrigeuz savagely. " Yer'ud em this blessed mornin',. bliine," he began, but the other's sneering smile told him that something had happened, of which he was not aware.

" S'welp me, , I'm strife," he exclaimed.

" Niggins, you are a liar." "Yer'got the ease in yer "and." "Trash!" throwing the imitation stones violently on the table. "Them 'ere —

" Where, are the real ones?" cried Rodriguez, striding towards Niggins. " — '■ — it, yer ain't a-goin' to stick that "ere knife of yourn into me, is yer? S'welp me, I'm a pal) cully," lie snuffled lamely. "1 paid you three hundred pounds for them," said Rodriguez, clenching his fists. " Yer did quite kerect, an' there's the vally. What's the sport, me lud.Y" ; "Where arc the real ones?" Rodriguez: persisted iu a tone of concentrated fury. " f say, guv'nor, yer. ain't 'ad much sleep, jer mighty white about the (fills."

| Rodriguez's fade was pale, there was -a i haggard look of o»re, a darkness under the eyes that told 'tale of what he had been through during the pas: few hours. "Take .-are," said he, threateningly, "or your diet will be dry bread and gruel, a plank bed and an iron cubicle." . "It ain't,bad as orl that, I ain't copped yet." In 'spite of his pretended bravado the rogues teeth were chattering with fear, for imprisonment was 'him an ever-pre-sent terror.

"Mr. Niggins, I do not permit a man to swindle me with impunity : if he succeeds in doing it, he has to pay the price. Those sovereigns, obtained by false pretences, must be refunded.

"Nar, do' yer see green in these 'ere peepers?", "No prevarication, you scoundrel."' Rodriguez's voice was cold and grating. "Right y'are, mate," blustered the receiver. "This is a grave matter, Mr. Niggins." " So long as there ain't a sexton in the job, I don't mind ; " rejoined the rogue, trying a game of bluff. " We'll, waive the money question." "Ob, Hvill we? Nort me. Them quids ■ain't a goin' to be waved,'they are safe in the bank and there, my noble toff, they remains, till they sprouts into thousands. You an'-1 'ave got to square that knifin' business, yer knows." "I'll throttle you." "No fear. Take yer 'and from my collar," expostulated Niggins, wriggling from i the other's nervous fingers. ! "How, did you. obtain the real diamonds?" Rodriguez demanded. ! "They were nicked."' I means' I bought 'cm in a-regular way o' biz." - i " Did you know from whence they were ! stolen

-} ■ " Nu.i\ not till yew tells me." -! Do you let lodgings?" asked Rodriguez, 5! abruptly; -I "Do 'voir- think pore old Niggins is by himself," an': stick a knife in 'im?" said the rj receiver, fumbling at the fastening of the door in order to effect his escape. " Don't be an idiot, I'll do you no harm, -only give me the information I am seeking" You were the tenant of a house in \ the Seven Dials and the rooms were Jet to j la. class often wanted by the police." »j Wiggins turned savagely- on his unwelcome visitor. i- "Wort d'yer • mean ■ castin' slurs.on my | 'lodgers? One of 'cm was a regular tip-top-per, the Honorable Alec Blandford." [ \ ,| "Lord Blandford's son! You are lying, [Iyou scoundrel," exclaimed Rodriguez. . i " Gospel, I tell yev. 'E's a: pal o' mine, J called on 'im in Jermvn-street, an' 'e treatled me jist proper. Tipple! Slap up— Jci-gers, prirno." Niggins swaggered to the 1 opposite side, of the room, and the other Masked unthinkingly, "What became of the ,'man"on the stairs?" * - - I ;'" What the deuce do yew know about the j man chucked on my landin', and no boots ' on 'is pore feet, a gash on 'is pore 'ead big enough to post a letter in. Ye're a nice ' sort o' cove to be in London/ bashing people's 'eds and stickin' knives into 'em— 'ere, stow that," lie yelled, when Rodriguez suddenly threw a heavy book at him,* striking him full in the chest. ""Where is that man now?" Rodriguez asked, endeavouring to conceal his anxiety under an assumed indifference. \ : . ; : "If splits, we'll say notkin' about them quids?" ' "i i» | " Agreed, provided you tell me the truth. " 'E's livirt' in Jermyn-street, along o' the Kidder." "The Kidder!" echoed Rodriguez, bewildered. "The Honorable Alec Blandford, the biggest doer what ever toed a line. I'm proud on 'im." . ■ " But I don't understand?" Niggins' ferrety eyes closed into cat-like-slits. ~,-.....• . Niggins,- relieved of his personal fears, laughed till the tears rolled down his cheeks. - "It was the Kidder as swapped the dimunds," he shrieked. You tell me Blandford is a thief!" lie asked increduously. ;* " The night I came by the diamonds," said Niggins, " the peelers' was airier me, an' I slipped the case in 'is pocket. I did a scoot, gave the cops leg ■'bail, an' left .'im my banker. The artful coon got on the scent., did a swap, an' there we is, 'e sold me, gospel—an', stuck to the sparklers as is worth a. pot." "Truth?" said Rodriguez, his firm hand grasping Niggins' coat. " Tele my Bible heath." : "And in which house in Jermvn-street does the Honorable Alec Blandford live?" Rodriguez inquired. ... \ :? "Four doors to the right o* yourn." " First floor?" ,'• Niggins nodded.. •■■ >. ■•■■- ■■■•< " Then it was into his room that I rushed, by accident." '" You'd been a doin' a prig?" suggested Niggins in an ecstasy of enjoyment. "No, no, ! ' said the other impatiently, for the association with the fence was sickening him. "I must obtain an interview. How, when, where? I must not be seen by Lawson, that would mean extinction," he exclaimed, striking his hands together in an agony of doubt. "Yer ain't er a goin'? No use. E's sailed the strek." " France?" "Parris." " I. am going, and shall want your help." "What, me—me tossed in the briny, a mixin' breakfast, dinner, an' supper in my stomach, not for' Niggins—." And the fence rolled back in his chair, his face chalky-white at the mere recollection of a , stormy sea voyage he had once experienced when crossing to Antwerp to dispose of several packets of diamonds, the proceeds of a burglary in Hatton Garden. - "You are sure that he has gone to Paris?" -asked Rodriguez thoughtfully. - : "Dead cert. The cook an' me.is a courtin", 'arc! at work a-savin' the dibs to make a 'appy 'ome. She give me the informs ! tion,'' /; Niggins leered and chuckled., and Rodriguez felt a sudden desire to strangle the grinning brute on the spot. , " If yer after the necklet 'es took it to gay Parree; yew bet the artful Kidder' knows 'is book." " Has he gone by himself?" : " Nar. Three chaps besides." " Who are they?" '. =i - . [■■•■ . '•' "Can't say. Didn't spot'cm." "Was one of the four short, stout, and : " A Parlee-voo, 'e jist was, an' a heye that fair funked me. "I did a slope whence twigged me at the station." \ " Simeon .'" muttered Rodriguez. " Unbolt the door." - ■

Niggins' willing hands, were drawing the bolt, but the other's sinewy fingers gripping .his wrist prevented the door from opening'." , ! " "' . ~ " Remember an old adage—' A still tongue makes a wise head.' I pay a. babbler thus," said Rodriguez, producing the horn handle, from which a thin glittering blade darted forth. , . >. ;.-:.""..'■

Niggins shook, his arms relaxed, the blood: receding from .his cheeks and lips, leaving his face the pallid hue of a corpse. He mumbled fainCly, his mouth opening in a spasmodic effort to speak. Rodriguez looked hard at Niggins. A skilful movement of the wrist and the shining stiletto with the broken point was pressing against the throat of the terrified fence, who dropped a limp heap in the comer of the room. The' other, seeing that he had created a' lasting impression, closed the door, running lightly down the steep flight of narrow .stairs and out into the street. A cloud was gathering about him, but he was reckless. Was he about to unearth a. secret that had laid hidden for years? He knew not. Nothing was certain, save that he was bound for Paris. (To bo continued daily).