THE GOLDEN GASKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14971, 19 April 1912, Page 4

THE GOLDEN GASKET.

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARBANGEMBN

A ROMANCE.

BY LEWIS RAMSDEN, Author of " Prisoners of the Council," "The Word of a Somerleiffh," " Red Cavalier," etc.. etc.

1 COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER Vlll.—(Continued,) PcDoiMoitß must have noon my message almost at ones. Ho wan only in the not* cage about half a minute before ho Game hurrying out. " He'a gone, gen'kmen," bawled Puddt» more in stupid amazement. " (iouft away." He had left tho cottage door wide open, and the light, coming across, enabled me to see something of tho thrsa man stand* ing near me. Two of them wore mo Lap* caps and coats, and wore those members of the Golden Casket Syndicate, Mom and Levison, whom I had seen at tho Royal Hotel hi Axmouth. I had less doubt than ever in my mind that thoy were also the two who had run down poor Godwin in Bhirehampton Park. The third man was a tall, rather weedy young fellow, whose attitude suggested the slouch of the young man about town. He wore a long overcoat and a soft felt bat, turned down in fr*,nt. " Gone away in his flyin' machine!" again shouted Puddimore as he cam© on cautiously, looking about hini, evidently not yet seeing his friends, and not sure exactly where he had left them. One of the two motorists stepped forward. This was Moss I afterwards found out- " Ach! Be quiet, fool. He may be near, and may tear you," ho exclaimed angrily, and spanking in a kind of-stage whisper, with a German accent. ' Ho turned to his two companions with guttural grumblings. "Dei- tolpel— sinnigolfanzer," were the words I caught. " He, he, hj!" giggled the young mam with the f*>lt hat. " Doosid pleasant to hear yea' swear in German. Couldn't you give him a bit of Hebrew as well, Moses?" " Moss, not Moses. I haf before told you, Meester Guy," snarled the other angrily. " Don't lose your hair, oh son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It's just my humorous way, as that delightful onearmed pal of yours would remark." Guy Bond's manner of speech was an affected drawl, of that sort which Is tho only sign of "culture" which a liberal education leaves with some men. Ho seemed to bo taking a pleasure in teasing the man Moss, and I should think in this he was bound to be highly successful, for besides the aggravating drawl, Guy's tone had a maliciously playful sneer still more exasperating. '' What's this rot about a flying machine?" ho asked, as Puddimore camo up. " It's on the paaper, zur. He zed he come on a flym machine, and now he's gono awaay <>n't." " Eediot! " exclaimed Mon " Selah ! " said Guy with his sniggering laugh. "Do you hear, Puddimore? That is our opinion of you, candidly expressed by this Israelite in'whom there is no guile. Mr. Mayne has been jewing you. 3So reflection on present company, of course. He, he. he ! Ho was a stranger, and ho took you in. Queer that I can't help being scriptural when I'm in the company of people of the chosen race, ain't it? " " Eediot!" again snarled Moss. " You should extend your English vocabulary. You made a similar remark just now, oh Moses. Sorry. But about this Mayne johnny; that's the main question. See the little joke? He, he, he. We don't believe in the flying machine, there is no boat ho could manage to get hold of ; ergo, he must still be somewhere on the island. Hadn't Ave better be looking for him ? " He turned to the other man, Levison, who had not yet spoken. "Hath the silent one no word of wisdom? What saith the son of Levi ?"

" A little less of your persiflage, Mr. Guy Bond, or there will be trouble."

That was what Levison said, but with an accent which I will not attempt to reproduce. It made me wonder what his nationality could be. I remembered that James, at the Royal Hotel, had spoken of the two as Russian Jews; but Moss was evidently a German Jew. Perhaps it was Levison who was tho Russian. However this may be, his warning was uttered with so much emphasis, not to say ferocity, that its effect upon young Bond was immediate if not permanent. "Sorry; no offence, Levison, of course. If we are to get hold of this chap I suppose we must hunt for him, though." "Ja wohl! " grunted Moss. " I told you he'd bo getting fidgety if you didn't let Puddimore go back, only you wouldn't trust his discretion. But he's not such a fool as he looks, are you Puddimore?" said Guy Bond. "We must haf a light," Moss again grunted, impatiently. " Yes; I suppose we must," agreed Guy. "Fetch us a lantern, Puddimorea light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Jews. He, he, he ! Must have my little joke, Levison."

" It'll be like lookin' vor a needle in a bundle a' hay," grumbled Puddimore. " You see the point of Puddimoro's remark about tho needle, I hop©, gentlemen?" sniggered Guy. " The dog," curtly suggested Moss, and at first I wondered what he meant. " Great thought! " approved Guy Bond. "My cousin's charming little pet is a capital tracker, and will soon scent him out, wherever he may be. We must be careful of ourselves, though; he is a nasty brute to handle. Puddimore, go back to the hous© and bring Satan here." Eh, 7ur? Not me, zur," Puddimore refused respectfully but very decidedly. " I understand your objection," drawled Guy Bond in his sneeringly humorous way. "The valiant Puddimore refuseth to fetch Satan. What are we to do, gentlemen ? "

" Go yourself," suggested Levison. " Thanks awfully, Levison, but ike idea of employing Satan was not mine, you know, and I don't pretend to be on friendly terms with him. In fact, no on© is, excepting my cousin Elsa, and she isn't likely to countenance our little plan. Let us all go. If Satan is in one of his usual tantrums we shall have enough to do, but if wo can onco get him on the track of this chap Mayne we shall see some fun."

Tho others agreed to this suggestion, and they all moved off. It seemed high time that I should depart also, though I did not mean to leave th© Holm without seeing Elsa Godwin again if I could help it.

Unfortunately, however, I did not get down to th© shore as quickly as I thought I should. I found myself involved in quite ii network of those narrow lanes, the hedges of which were so high that they were dark in spit© of the bright moon.

But though I thus wandered out of my way for nearly half an hour I heard no sounds of pursuit, and so, when I at length came to where the broad central road opened widely on to the beach, I commenced to cross the moonlit space with little apprehension of being seen. Suddenly from somewhere up the valley came a fihoufc, the view-halloa of my pursuers. I paused to see exactly whence the shouts came, and into the pale light which made the white road clear there emerged from the fringe of the shadow cast dv the trees a group consisting of the four men, not leading, but being led by a huge dog of the Great Dane breed, which was leaping and straining to be free from the chain. Borne down on the quiet air of night I could hear the excited " He, he, he! " of Guy Bond, the guttural oaths of Moss, the voice of Puddimore apparently tendering various kinds of advice, for they were trying to slip the animal from its chain. Just for a moment or so I stood to take in this interestng scene; then I commenced to move pretty quickly across, the beach, towards- those rocks around which

I must clamber before I could get to my boat. I had not, howevei, got half way across the sands before the men succeeded in loosing the Great Dane. Down the huge brute came, making tremendous leaps directly towards me. CHAPTER IX. I'HiC SKIRMISH OF THE BOCKS. Even if I could have made up my mind to throw dignity aside and to take" to my heels it would have been no use, for Satan would have been upon me before I could cover half the distance. I have always been fond of dogs, and have some excellent friends of the canine kind, but I knew very well an animal of the disposition with which I had heard Satan credited, set on to a stranger, and savage from tho chain, would not be likely to afford much chance for friendly overtures. Fortunately, I was not defenceless. I had, before venturing on my expedition to Nut Holm, provided myself with a quick-firing pistol, a pocket Browning, and on this I put my hand as the huge brut© came tearing towards me, down the sloping road of tho valley, -with great leaps. Still I did not mean to proceed to any extreme measure without first dodging the onward rush of the animal, and then trying what persuasion would do. I romembcred ho had been spoken of as Elsa Godwin's dog, and I had every wish to avoid an act which might earn her dislike. The possibility of such a calamity was, however, avoided in an unexpected manner, and to my great relief. From high up the valley (from somewhere near tho monastery nuns, I judged) came the sound of whistling, clear and sweet. Instantly the hugo animal checked its onward rush, and so great was the impetus that with straight forelegs it fieemed to plough the sand for some yards before actually stopping. • Then it < stood stock still, "a splendid creature of harlequin colour, its fine head erect, its cropped and pointed ears listening intently. The sweet, clear whistle was repeated, and Satan was off like a shot, going up the hill at almost as great a pace as We had come down. Puddimoro and the > three members of the Golden Casket Syndicate had been running down i when tho dog was making for me, Moss and Guy Bond shouting excitedly. At the sound of the whistle they had stopped, and now, as Satan came tearing back again they scattered before him, Puddimore in particular scuttling like a frightened rabbit. I heard his yell of terror as Satan swerved aside in pursuit, but a repetition of the whistle recalled tho dog to his straight course. The laugh had apparently turned to my side, but I did not stop to enjoy it, for, taking advantage of the scattering of my enemies, I sprinted across the sands and 'towards the rocks. It was a good thing for me the diversion had happened, for lis Satan continued his upward journey, and before 1 had quite reached the shelter of the rocks, I saw the three coming down the road again, and Puddimore hurrvmg to join them. Then I saw the man Moss slop and raise Ids hand. I immediately flung myself flat down upon the sands for, very fortunately, I instantly realised what tho movement of this lawless scoundrel meant. As I dropped there sounded the successive reports—" Crack, crack, crack !" of his automatic pistol, and the bullets flew over me, their sound seeming to impress upon mo what would have happened had I been less prompt. Luckily the sand happened to be lying in a ridge just where 1 dropped, and this ridge extended to tie rocks; so behind it, and out of the enemy's' sight, I quickly crawled to their shelter. From behind tins safe rampart I looked. The four were advancing cautiously, evidently quit© uncertain about the effect of tho shots. In tho first flush of mv , anger I had a mind to open firo in return, and had I obeyed this very natural impulse I think I could have wiped them out. But inbred respect for law and order prevailed. I could not bring myself to shoot them down as one would an attacking band of murderous savages, although two of these men had proved themselves to bo no better. I had, also, to fight against a feeling of unreality. In spite of the evidence of experience, I could hardly bring myself to believe that so near this present-day England, here were men who would kill for lust of gain, for the sake of a clue to hidden gold men who seemed as careless, and to act with as much impunity, as though tho time of their acta was a couple of centuries ago and the scene- somewhere on the lawless Spanish Main. Still I waited with pistol in hand, though with intent to give warning rather than to do execution. As I have said, they commenced to advance cautiously, but they could not see where I was, and I suppose were afraid of losing me, for they now moved quickly again. Possibly, too, they concluded I was unarmed since I had not replied immediately. It was the comparatively inoffensive Puddimore who gave mo the Opportunity I required. He was lumbering along keeping, as ho imagined, behind the others, and thus allowing them to shelter him; but really being nearer my present place of vantage. Also ho wore a big bowler hat of ancient date, and this, at short range, and in the full light of the moon, presented a capital mart Never could there be a better picture of sheer fright than that presented by Puddimore when the quick bark of my pocket Browning had sounded, and the bullet had carried off his antiquated headgear. The shock of grey hair which it had covered seemed to stand up. He appeared so petrified for the first few moments that I imagine he believed the shot had passed through his head. Then he gave a yell which woke the echoes of the island valley, and started oft in great leaps, pausing for a brief moment now and then to look behind him, for all the world like a hunted hare.

Nor were the others far behind him. A second shot which passed within an ace of Guy Bond's soft felt hat, even if it did not actually touch it, proved a sufficient hint that thoy were well within the dangor zone, and they had better hurry • to get out of it, so they scattered and fled. A third shot which I sent after the man Moss, and which might have graced or winged him without causing me any great concern, went rather wide of its" mark, owing to the laughter which shook me at the sight of Puddimore's eccentric flight. From tins particular part of the rocks, which jutted from the main cliffs, I could view a considerable distance up the broad central road, th© white surface of which reflected tho moonlight and was therefore well illuminated. And as my scattered enemies scuttled for the shade I saw, coming into sight, and halting far up this road, the slender figure of a girl, leading an animal which looked as big as a tiger but which I knew was the Great Dane,' Satan, now walking quitely by her side. The girl was, of course* Elsa, Godwin, and she stood to watch tho discomfiture of. tho four men. I could even fancy, from her attitude, that she too was appreciating the comic side of Puddimore's flight, although of this I could not be sure. It was only for a brief while she stood,, then she turned away, probably before the others, busied about their own affairs, saw her. In my heart I thanked *' My Lady of the Miniature," for I guessed (and as I afterwards found, rightly) that she, hearing the sound of firing, had come with the intention of giving assistance, had such been necessary. I waited some tim© for my enemies to reappear, but they did not do so. having, I suppose, concluded that my position was too strong to be takon by a night attack. So I presently commenced to climb my way back along th© rocks to the little cove wherein I had left my boat. Moonlight though it was, I found this climb much more difficult than it had been by day, and by the time I had accomplished it I felt pretty sure that I should not be followed, and thus could, with fair safety, spend the night in the boat. With overcoat and sail cloth I made a bed, and in spite of the unusual circumstances and surroundings, soon fell into a sleep which lasted until dawn.

As soon as I awoke I left my boat, and once more made my way along the face of the cliffs to the beach. Thence, and with considerable caution, I sought'those embowered and sheltered lanes which led up to the monastery ruina and to the adjoining manor house. At this very early hour not a soul seemed to be about; all was quiet save for the ever present murmur of the sea and the jubilant spring-songs of the innumerable birds. As I mounted the gradual ascent I stopped often to admire the varying and delightful scenery which this gemlike islet afforded, with its cliffs, its beaches, its verdant uplands on which grazed flocks of sheep, its sheltered cen-

tral valley with its wealth of foliage and flowers and, girding the whole, the shining, dancing waters of tho sea. There was a little wood close to the old priory. Some part of the ruins themselves had been overgrown by it, and it was in this wood I meant to hide, choosing some place from which I could view the house and ruins, and thus be likely to see Elsa Godwin if she should com© out. I could think of no better way than this of obtaining the interview which I meant to have before leaving Nut Holm. There was one drawback to this plan which I was already commencing to experience. I should have to wait fasting, and already I was beginning to foci the claims of a robust appetite. Still tho knight-errant, bent on offering aid to a damsel dispossessed, must not bo hindered by a.uy such unromantic consideration as going without breakfast.

I was smiling to myself over this thought when I entered the wood by a path narrow, winding, and apparently little used. Following this I came to a glade, looking across which I could see amongst the trees, an outlying portion of tho priory ruins, relics of massive masonry, half veiled by ivy and bramble. And as I stopped across the little glado towards these ruins I was startled by the sound of a deep and ominous growl. Before I could be sure whence it came, there leapt at me from somewhere about a green-covered wall the form of a hug© animal. There was no getting away from an encounter with Satan this time,' for in another bound he waft upon me. (To be continued daily)