THE RED FARM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15190, 2 January 1913, Page 3

THE RED FARM.

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' \ ; , ; , ..• "■ ■. ' ■"■• . . , ': . ..; ' BY MORICE GERARD, Author of "The King's Signet," "John Montcalm." " The Unspoken Word." "The Broken Sword," The Unseen , Barrier," etc. v __ . COPYRIGHT. : * ; CHAPTER Vll—(Continued.) * Romance and mystery had come into his life together. Adventure he had had in plenty, sport of all kinds in every quarter of the globe ; but hitherto all the happenings had been fairly obvious,, presenting no problems for- solution, merely requiring calm courage, a ready brain, and a hand capable of fighting its own battles. Now he was involved in quite other issues. His imagination, his interest, had been stirred, roused," quickened into life, and . that by a woman—a girl! This alone would nave been sufficient to occupy his thoughts; but when associated with it there was something which others < knew and he did not, something which his best friend did not care to discuss with him, piquancy was added.to it all. Superstition is latent in all of us, ready to be called forth by something out of the common. Straff had plenty of common sense and a certain hard-headed way of judging/things, which as a rule kept him in the straight road o£ the obvious ; bub that night he felt himself the sport of powers, whether for."good or evil, not usually reckoned, with in his estimate of the forces operating in "his life. '■'-, .■'■[ For half an hour he paced up and down, occasionally exchanging a salutation with a policeman on his beat, to whom he was well known. His cigar was burnt out; he flung it into the river, where it fell hissing like an angry snake. v Now he "leant over the parapet. By his side was a piece of masonry which cast its shadow over him ; just below was a land-ing-stage, where the river steamboats occasionally discharged passengers, a place of call for other vessels when a landing was wanted at this end of the Embankment. 1 ;'.'■.' -' ; " : :''-', For the moment Straff er • had put away ' the personal problem from ■ his thoughts; he was taking stock of the lights which, dotted the river as far as he could see. From the opposite side revolving advertisements blinked through the surrounding darkness of the night; in the centre of the stream a long line of barges was made apparent by lanterns at both ends ; nearer him, again, at a short distance from the landing-stage, was a. small steamer, ser-viceable-looking, as far as ho could judge. It might be either a private yacht or a better sort of tramp plying to the port of London with light merchandise. Straffer had spent so large a portion of his life on the sea, and was so keenly interested in. the acquisition of knowledge, that very few professional sailors could give him points as regards Che superficial knowledge, at any rate, of vessels of all kinds, and their handling. It puzzled him now that he was not able to place this particular vessel or to decide off-hand what its vocation was. ' The tide was at its height, the water lapping .against the landing-stage below him. A clock began striking on board the steamer; it was midnight, but as .yet the hour had not sounded from Big Ben or its less important confreres. Straffer took out his watch, but the shadow where ho was standing obscured the dial; he put it back into his pocket, and was,about to move in the direction of the nearest lamppost when a stir : on board the yacht—if yacht it was—attracted his attention and arrested his movement. Up to now anyone would have thought that those on board were asleep, or that the vessel was untenanted. , A boat was put out from'' the stern; it contained one man only, who plied a pair of oars. There was something silent, almost stealthy, about his movements. He looked round from time to time as if wondering whether his actions were observed; then ho scanned the Embankment, if for the same reason or because he was expecting something or someone, Straffer could not decide which; -/ ** The stranger in ," the boat was quite unconscious of Straffer's propinquity, hidden as he was in the angle of the': masonry. ? Shipping one oar, and paddling with the other, the boatman, drew alongside of the landiug-stage, stepped out, and secured the painter to a stone projection intended for the purpose. By this time the hour was booming out from 100 clocks simultaneously. . : v .. ' ouraffer surveyed the newcomer with an interest ho could hardly account for; it was partly occasioned by the sense conveyed of stealth and secrecy. Why did this man not wish to be seen? For whom was ho waiting? Conjecture answered in Straffer's mind—and answered wronglya woman! ■ ■'" • ' ; '.' r '. : > "' ' The man remained on the landing-stage. He was big and fair, as far as Straffer could judge; also broad-shouldered and muscular. Then the interest shifted from the water's edge to the road; a motor advanced j rapidly, and a man jumped out. Straffer j turned round to look in the new direction. I Something in the gait of the man struck him as familiar. Improbable as it seemed, out of all the dense population of London, he felt almost sure that the latest arrival on the scene was the wretch who had behaved so abominably earlier in the evening. He could not be certain; the ' motor was | different, and the long cloak in which the ; man was enveloped was certainly not the same. Nevertheless, that half-tipsy lurch j and the , general appearance and height j made for identity. ' . ' j" . The two men met on the landing-stage, evidently by appointment. The boatman raised' his hat; but, except for a short, quick nod, ho received no mark of courtesy in return, neither did they shake hands. | For several minutes they paced up and down, side by side. Of course, Straffer had no wish to hear the conversation, but j sounds came to his ears to indicate they were discussing some matter in German, not too amicably. : . ' Suddenly, Straffer listened intently. Just as they reached the point nearest to him, the name " Montanet" said by one of them—the boatman, he believed. Montanet! He seemed to be haunted by it tonight. Surely he must have been mistaken? Almost immediately afterwards tho men separated. As they did so one sentence came clearly to Straffer; it was sad twice, by way of emphasis. "I will go and see for myself. I will go and see for myself, I tell you." Straffer understood German as well as his own 1 language. • . r Left alone, the boatman went to the water's edge. There he stood looking towards the Embankment, listening. What was ho listening for? ' » , - The owner of the motor crossed the pavement to his car; just as he did so two"men, ,shabbily clad, came up at a brisk walk. They made straight for the motor, and seemed to beg. Afterwards they ran off 'in opposite directions. One, holding a pocket-book in his hand, came close to Straffer. He had evidently just snatched [ it from the pocket of the open coat of the man from whom he had begge"d. Straffer stepped out '' and struck , him a blow with his fist. The tramp reeled, and at tho same time dropped the pocket-book then he darted across the road and jumped on to a passing tram. - Straffer picked up the book, with a view of restoring it to its owner, but the latter was evidently not aware of his loss. The motor had driven away. • CHAPTER VIII. ' v The pocket-book felt fat and bulky when i Lord Straffer picked it up; it had the aroma of Russian leather, and on the front of it two raised letters, which gleamed like gold. Straffer walked to the light of a lamp-post to decipher them, and made them out to be "L.L." He looked about for a policeman, but none happened to be in eight at the time. He was about to call a passing taxi, which, j by its slow pace, he judged to be unoccupied- when .once more he heard the light pot/alls of two men running together in j the direction of the steps leading down to j the landing-stage already referred to. He could not help connecting them with the men who had made the daring attempt at robbery before his eyes, an object which would have been attained but for his intervention. . Turning back, he walked rapidly, almost running in fact, to the spot he had occii- ! pied before. Looking oyer the £arapet he !

■mm -: ""ii-M i 1 linn - ilMßWifilllllfni -1 I mil ii ...■ 1 saw that the boatman who had. held a conversation" with the man from the motor was sitting on the thwart, while the painter, remained attached to the stone '» projection. ' The two men he had heard, running camo to the aide, disentangled the *-. rope," and jumped into the boat. ' At the same • time one of them flung a fairly large bundle into the water where the tide was running 1 strongly. "'"•' r Straffer felt sure these men were the same who had been dressed in rags as tramps; now they were in ordinary sailor's gear. If he was right they must have thrown off their rags in some dark alley, and the bundle consigned to the river probably represented the disguise, for which they had no further use. Of course, he could not be sure, it was all conjecture, and • somewhat far-fetched and vagmv at that, L- but the impression remained. He thought he would see what the effect of his voice would be. Speaking in German, he called out: ''What are you men " doing?""' .. , Ho received no answer, but some guttural I exclamations were uttered by the men to whom he called. The big one at the oars pulled away with all his might. In a few " minutes they had" passed round the stern i of the vessel; almost immediately afterwards the fires, which had been banked ready, were replenished; full steam was , put on, and the screw began to turn in the 1 water. ' ; Straffer watch**! the vessel with fascinJ ated gaze, wondering what it all meant, ' anxious to find a clue. Along the paved walk of the Embankment came the tramp of steps. He turned round _ eagerly. 5 It was the sergeant of police and a coni stable. Straffer hurried towards them. 1 Both officers saluted. 1 " Out rather late to-night, my lord," the J sergeant said. " "Yes, Tomber; I like a stroll, as you • know, before turning in. To-night I have ' had an adventure which has detained mo beyond my usual time." > "What was it, my lord?" i ' :"' " I'll tell you about it in a moment. But » do you know anything ■ about that "steamer ; just showing its heels?"he pointed with I his ringer as he spoke: "It looks a cross ; between a gentleman's yacht and a swell i tramp." ) "No, I can't say I do, my lord." The • sergeant turned to the constable. "You - have been on this beat some time, have i you noticed the vessel?" ; " Yes, it came alongside and dropped an- . chor about two hours ago. No one seemed to land, at any rate not while I was by." " You did not notice it specially V ' . " No; I fancied it was private ownership, , not a cargo-boat. It is not an Englishbuilt craft, according to my judgment." "Is there anything wrong, my lord? • Shall I wire or 'phone to have it stopped? | That can foe easily done." , Straffer/considered for a minute or so, . then he shook his head. He was not afraid ;■' of responsibility, but he had nothing tan- . gible to go —suspicion, and nothing else. If the vessel was boarded, the captain and crew would deny all knowledge of I, the only part in the transaction which could justify detention,/ or search, namely, the ; stealing of the pocket-book. -•" I am afraid we must let them go, sergeant. The evidence I have is too vague to ! act upon." He proceeded to relate what , he had seen. , - - - The sergeant, listened carefully, and , agreed that it was all mysterious and sus- • picious. But there was nothing strong ; enough, to justify the arrest of the vessel ' on the water by the ! river police. "I will take care," the sergeant said, ' " that a look-out is kept on both sides of ' the river for that bundle, and, if found, I 1 will let you know, yiy lord. ~ The old ' quarters,' I suppose?'' : : " ? r ■". . 1 '■' Yes, the Savoy. In the meantime I " will go with you to Scotland Yard, and > have this pocket-book overhauled,, to see ' what it contains,, and if there is any indi--1 cation of ownership." . ' ; The sergeant whistled for a taxi. In a few seconds one came up from the direcl tion of Charing Cross. 'i- ' "■New Scotland Yard, as quick as pos- > siblc." Then to Straffer: "After you, my ( lord." . . .' , ■ -, •' . . •• ■ i A few minutes' rapid driving brought • them; to the police headquarters. Ttioy • Were/ shown almost immediately into In-. , specter Harrison's _ : private room, where s Lord Straffer onco more told.his story.' ■ The inspector smelt the Tnook, and looked it over carefully; the embossed letters were- • clearly ! gold. * i : ■ ' ( ! , ,'■', A dangerous thing," he , commented, [ "to take onto the Embankment at night. The cover is worth stealing, let alone the ! contented I should say you could v nbt buy . it under ■ .ten to twenty guineas. \* LJL.' must be a man with more i money! than , wits." So saying the inspector slipped off . the broad elastic band which held •it together. Opening the book carefully over the table he whistled softly to himself. By jove, you stopped a rich haul in the nick of time, ':, my lord." . -.-..,. •,..,. The sergeant's eyes glistened as he drew, ' a step nearer and looked over his superior's shoulder. "Never saw such a sight of notes in my life," he said. . The inspector handled v the < bundle with respect, and flirting them with his finger so as to; display the values, lotted them up , mentally. r ' ' ,' v :,v,. ; v'V !; ' •■'■ :., : Straffer , was ; the, least, moved of. the party, being the most accustomed to handle large i sums of money. -,; "Not far off a thousand pdiihds, ihspector?" :/!■///,'/ -/,-/-;> v. ~'ZZ/-., "That's about it, my lord." So saying, Harrison placed the notes carefully on the table, and then proceeded to search every part of the pocket-book, which had several compartments and subdivision*, for, aicara, or other indication to whom/ it'.belonged., The search went unrewarded. -~, "I suppose we had better follow the usual course?" he -said, after thoroughly satisfying himself on the point. '< 1 ' , ■ "What is that?" .-. I . . > " Have a small handbill printed, and circulate it throughout the metropolis, precise enough to catch the .eye of the real loser, hot definite, enough to encourage the clayer outsider." t '~' "You will let me know if there is any result. I am staying at the Savoy." ./;■'"■ will have ; 'word sent at ; once, my lord." . • ; . ■;■-"Thank you."/ - : J Straffer, on his departure, left a suve-* reign in the sergeant's hand with a word of acknowledgment for his services. When he awoke the next morning the in-' tention was present in his mind to run dowfi to Vine Cottage' and inquire after I Miss Montanet, . but his ;, breakfast-table, with its small pile of correspondence, in-; tervened. His man of business requested his presence before noon; a lady of importance in tho social world, and a great friend, asked him to luncheon, and to escort her to a picture gallery afterwards. When he left the picture gallery in the afternoon it was too late for the expedition, in view of the fact that he had promised to dine with the / M.P. for his constituency at one of the ! political clubs at a comparatively early hour to fit in with the: sitting of Parliament. ; : •■,, ■'. ' At ten p.m. he returned to the Savoy to find a short note awaiting him from Inspector Harrison: -' "This is . with my respect to inform your lordship that we have found the owner of the pocket-book; it belongs to Mr. Louis; Levison, M.P., of 1, Poncheeter Gardens ; he desires us to express warm thanka to your lordship for the trouble you took in the matter." • (To be continued daily.)