THE ADMIRALTY'S SECRET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15849, 20 February 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE ADMIRALTY'S SECRET.

BY CARLTON DA WE. Author of " The Vrime Minister." " Clcodora. " "Straws in the Wind,'' "The Grand Duke," "One Fair Enemy."' " The Shadow of Evil." etc. COPYRIGHT.

CHAPTER XVI— ( ('out irj'i<••.!. 1 | The house in Bloom.-bury «as just like all others thereabout, square. box like, chrtv and ugly, and in reply to his knock and ring the door was opened by a sloppy foreign waiter mi a soiled shirt and a slimy evening dress, who without a word took hi.- bag and slewed him into a littie room at the far end of the passage, the sort of smiggei y landladies reserve f"r j their own private use. Then the man j spoke for the fi: -1 time, informing him j that lie would tell the • ■ missis." and a minute 01 so later the "missus " duly , entered. She was a vt-rv opulent lady, a trifle shinv. perhaps. from 1 i*■ r fat e. vhu it shone as though it had been freshly i greased, to her shiny hla< k dress In her i ears she wore huge imitation pearl drops, j while round her massive throat depended a heavy gold (ham and locket. lie: fat 1 ed tinker- sparkled with a bewildering i an ay of rings. <>hvMiu-lv a lady in easy en. untstani'es. one -with wliom business | vas m a state of boom. Nuholson instantly recognised this and greeted her I ".ith the iii"st amiable of smiles : ivhilshe. always quick to le-ognise "diss." bowed her graeefule.-t. " I've just arrived from Birmingham." j he said, "and I want to know if you can put me up for a few days ? "We charge two ten an' all found." she answered promptly, though it all : depends on what room you ',n e. Our j second floor front is going out at the end of the week, but that would be an extra ] ten shillings, because the outlook is so refreshin', an' the air so -pure.'' ] Oh. I only want a bedroom for the j present." he said. "You see. 1 shall have to much to do dining the daytime." " There'.- the top floor back, whirl; was let to a forring count last month." " I'm sure that would suit me admirabiv. I suppose It's quiet * No children ? " and be smiled amiably. "I never takes "em." said the lady. " An" as for quiet, you won't 'ear no'.hmk up there but the wind an' the rain. .Miss AI ei i -ii jaefers it. She say.- the air is so refreshin' ".M:.-s Meri n. T presume. v.'iom I rejrit to sav 1 hive not the honour of knowing, is also on the top floor 1 " "(inly tie two rooms. You'll have the pla< e to ye: sell." " If you don't mind I should like to pee it : and to prove mv bona fides wouid you mind accepting tins on account." lie squeezed a sovereign into her perspiring palm. "I'm sure. sir. there's no necessity." Rut the large mo.st palm did not unclose. " Mere matter of form." lie said airily. 'l on quite understand ; a business proposition." She understood that kind of business proposition quite well, and going to the door .shouted " F.rr.ile !" Emile. in no hurry, came slopping along, a pasty-faced, discontented-looking person who apparently performed his duties with a bad grace. ' Show this gentle-man to the top floor back. You'll excuse me. sir, not going up with you, but I find the stairs such an awful drag." He followed the sloppy Emile up innumerable stairs, fortunately meeting no one by the way. Slopping through the door. F.mile dropped the bag down un the floor, and then slopped out again. -Nicholson looked round the room with a grin. It was not the soi t of room his fastidiousness had been accustomed to. He could not c rnceive it possible to sleep soundly on that wretched little bed. he did not unduly prolong his scrutiny the shabby washstand, or the ill-used cane chair. Rut realising that his intention was to make little use of these he did in"t undully prolong his scrutiny ot them. Other and more important matter were buzzing through his brain, and at the thought of them his nioutii tightened and Lis eves grew hard. Luck certainly seemed to be with him just now. He had not dared to hope that things would turn out so opportunely. That she should actually be in the next room was one of those strokes of good fortune which came only to the brave. At least so he told himself a dozen times, and this belief in his own courage, coupled with the certain knowledge that chance was favouring him, set his"adventure in a rosy glow. He sat himself down on the bed and patiently smoked through a cigarette ; and yet incessantly his eye was fixed on that blank wall which divided her room from his. his ears keenly alert to any and every sound. Could she by any possible chance be there? Could any human being have remained so long in one room without betraying his or her presence? | Softly he rose to hi" feet- and tip-toed j towards the door. He was positively I quaking now ) his lips were dry. he held | his breath as though the mere act of 1 hiearning aloud might betray him. Then j gently. cauti.iu.-ly In opened the door an ; men, two inches, wide enough to push his ; head through, and there he stood, his head j only protruding through the aperture, for , all the world like some obscene animal I < aught in a trap. , In this attitude he remained for quite a ' minute or so listening intently. ' Then I softly he returned to his room, "and with j that deadly calmness hich was so char- | acteristic of the man drew from his over.coat pocket a bottle (the purchase he had I made at the chemist's), uncorked it. and j poured part of its contents on a towel. This lie carefully folded and put in his 1 pocket. Then once more he cautiously aiC j proached the door, opened it gently and stepped out on the landing. Still moving (like a cat, lie approached her door, and", j stooping. placed his ear to the kevhole. 1 hen. without hesitation, he turned the , handle and entered. A moment mere he ! hesitated : then stria k a match and lit the i gas. I The room was a far-simile of the c.r.r ho i had just qu.tt-d. and a .ynical smile , played round his mouth as the thou-ht . flashed through him that this hu.»:n.»v s "\!f j hers dili not set m to produce ui<: m notary results. It might also hive been a warning to him h.ul the ie:epi; V itv of his mind inclined i:i thai direction. Bit apparently it did not, for with that swift noiseless movement of his he crossed "to the , nest of drawers and without cereI mony pulled :: open Rut ever ,-s his j hands went among her things his eves I caught sight of a small flat trunk which | stood at the foot of the bed. Instantly j he took a step towards this, and had just seized the handle preparatory to haulm".' the tiling out into the middle of the room' when he stopped and looked up sharplv! listening. Di.-tinctly there came to him the sound of a light step on the -tail's Realising tint it was too late for him to beat a retreat, he peered anxiously round. Then a sullen, determined look came into his face, and with a quick, lithe movement he < rossed to the door and partly shielded himself with a dressing-gown that hung there. The next moment the door opened and Eunice entered. The door opening obscured him, but as she turned to close it she looked'straight into his eyes. With a little startled gasp she fell back a pace or two. He pushed forward a pallid face and stared at her with an almost intolerable insolence. CHAPTER XVII. A I>I;sI'KRATK \r>:i)i}:vT. With a quick movement lie turned the key in the l<xk. ' 1 liat better," he said, the smile deepening on his fa.a- without addm- to its attractiveness. ° "\\ hat does tins mean' Why are you here .' she gasped. Please don i e.\c ite you; self," he reI'.ied i <voil\ . and above all don't start .-i i earning or making now, as. ]' m sure you wouldn't like your friends to knowthat 1 iii hoi <• with you—at this time of the night —in a locked room! Thev niiglit misconstrue the situation; it's the sort of thing friends would do. And whv i.m I here* He laughed unpleasantly. "It s not for the sake of your beautiful eyes, my dear. 1 think vou realise that fairly well." She stood facing him. her back to the mantelpiece, her eyes dilated, her lips cuivering. ' This is a monstrous outrage." she &aid..

"You may call it that if you pleas#""*--'-call it anything you like as long as *■«*% V fully realir-o why lam here, what 1 r j. Y . come for, and what I mean to get. y 0 ' * are a bold woman, Miss Eunice Men<»T 1 cne, I will confess, who gives the grass U 5 no time to grew under tier feet. }j n « there are others, my dear girl, other! who art- equally keen, and vo'u're „ against one of them now. W hat *av« •°u done with those papers you stol. trom my flat : ' 8 ''I stole ironi your flat ' Precisely. Vour hear.:,- &„ k _ as your intelligence." " Would you like to know .' ' - lo knew is the reason for this un ceremonious visit." "They have been p.* ted to ir ;r p I-ert Aimanie. - r Ku " < "So that lis mar. n..,y handle I them in the morning:' h- , n ;;jed "V i dear y >ung lady. C- us h % j other credit o, greater imeiiig.n, *. v&a see. I treat you as an intelie : .,l I 'I will even confess that 1 admire equalb your com age and y ur a 0:1:: v. g, * being the case 1 rep."at ..nr.- n.'ie- \v^ C have you done ~„n , ft. - "i,,;,, J" stole cm my flat: 1 want' to appreciate the im> rtai - c ~f Ih.s * Hon, and the rathe, gi.ve ,-suits « hlfh may come of it. Indeed n, o>a jj?" to strike a bargain w,t.". v : .i, Boik Ix-ing in the same line, .c 1 . shorlda't we Jet up a proper bu,m^ '. -.nneclion' Our tastes are considerably in •- expan" sne than our juirses. but \»;tn -p«D- '• M\e .hail c-ur purse.-, but wnn beaotv on the one nand. and int-tih • on th« 'the,-. I see n-. reason vhy t!. ■.-e pursed should ever b- leaner than t.V . are at present." ' All this he said with the ea~e of man who is discussing a t>erfectl\ whc-Jo. some and honest proposition. He gpofc. without the least embarrassment an j but for the fact that Ins eves wiJS | her rather furtively, and hisioseS I which suddenly seemed to betrav u-' alien origin, t .-.itched a little, jc - fii! !no -sign of anxiety in his manner 6 i , "How long nave you been one of _ I Austermann s -pies? ' 0:5 ! "Is there any necessity for nc < .into that?" tie answeied with a ° ; and airy gesture. •• And you a ugly word, my dear younf lady, one I niignt. l>e capable ct a serious ra^' j pret at ion. 1 m not sure that I even knf' | this person of whom you speak any case the matter is quite I U ha. ] ve come to see you about a - 1 little business that concerns only von -J ; me. If . 1 have obtruded rather . momously into you- apartment, too ! realise that 1 am merely follows, Tn Z I own «amnl. You nte, my flat vvjfi 1 mer^" >OUr 1 return compt . "ft hat makes you suppose that 1 „ I -eied your flat ? " es " , " That affair has passed beyond tie sun. ! P° s ttious stage : let rv' descend to mm I tangible realities. Dc you know : valid reason why we should not enter inl j partnership' I frankly admit that ; business is not without its risks • but it" ; the risk of th- thing that adds piqnancj | to the proposition, both of us bene po* : sessed of highly adventurous natures. .Moreover, there's money in it. money I which to meet our extravagant tastes. One . cannot play the part of the sybarite co I nothing, and I rather think vonr tastes [ like mine, are distinctly syba'ritic." I That he could talk thus lightly, calafr : callously, in such a situation filled 'he'Titt'. ; amazement. And vet through her'whin j of confused ideas on- thought seemed to . stand out with almost horrible dtstiactoess ' this man might be capable of any crisis. i There seemed to be no shame in W, no i thought ev«*n of shame. Instead of bebj , one -of the secretaries of the First Lori , of the Admiralty, he might have been I nondescript adventurer who had never j heard of that important official. His ! treachery sat so lightly on hi as to coni vey the so-cesion of its being an ordinsrv | phase of existe I "Whatever my tastes or inclinations," ; she answered coldly. " they would be -si* I to run contrary to yours."' ! i " Then you do not think there is any ; chance cf our entering into partnership ; " Not the slightest."' ' " I-rar.kly. I would rather yon were tie friend than th enemy, and 1 tiunl j-cn'a r jirobably find that as the friend I mig& . be of infinite service to you. That, ho'J- * ! ever, is for you to decide. But one thing ; j is fairly evident— enemies we may do . leach other inconceivable injury. Xodonbf h!" you have already made up your mind how :* ! to act v "' , i • I "It is possible." ou will tell Sir Rupert Aimayne i " Exactly what I think proper," she an- ' swered defiantly. i " And do you for one moment imagine'%. i that he w ill believe you? Remember TOOT ' record. Between you and me. it would. ' " j incontinently damn you in the eyes of any l ! unprejudiced judge. A woman with wet . antecedents rests under a peculiar disad-» I vantage. A self-confessed spy and thief | cannot reasonably expect mercy from ; ' censorious world. My dear, your life "is: ■ i taint-d in the most horrible manner; witii the best intentions in the world to p \ straight you'll find every path barred." en dorijt take into serious account wotafia » ; like you. unless it's to denounce and ptmi^. them. You've deliberately cut yourself . ' adrift from the respectable portion of tfce ! community, and take my word for it, fi i that portion only that counts." i " It's a pity you didn't stay to thinks. * ; this." Ifl7. ' "Oh, I'm perfectly secure; no «** . would dream of accusing me. Thinkj; • the position I hold, the honourable can® : that stretches before me. My dear yonEE k • j lady. I possess those social advantages ; which always carry cenviction to the a? ! mind. If it came to a question of cross-;,; e I swearing between us, can you for one rao- • : ment doubt who would get the verdict?" " You are a very dangerous rascal!" ' said. t j ! He laughed. "Not if I'm 1 thwarted. You've no idea how amenable ! I can be under ordinary conditions. 1. | still think we would make a glorious coH".. : bination.. You have remarkably fine ej®?!,, : Miss Merion. I do not wonder at poof I Radley proving such an easy dupe. Yc*-J ' might even dune meif 1 could afford ; it. Rut the truth is, I can't. That's ths : unfortunate circumstance which roles SO ! iiiuc " r f life. Our interests and our TOfl t'on.s are always pulling in contrary , dire^tions. P-r t'.id 'Radlry ! I imderi stand exa t'v. He lias mv deepest Sj®- : 1 •*''>' " " . Si.c did imt c.uite know what he B®' ! iv all it.:', w -.etiiT iris 01-je-t was to Or . ; te or alarm : er. Certainly there w®*,* , ■ nea. ilv- f oidne.-s in his manner which ; be the prelude to any overt a. t. i " Having said so much, explained your : position and vottr philosopl y in such .on* i mistakable terms, don't you think Jtß i about time you unlocked that door and ■ took v 'jir departure , " , - ; "Almost." he answered coolly. " There s just that little matter of these plans. Grce : them to me. a- d I promise you shall I ;- r?r .. I see mv face again—nr..ess you particms. . i wish it. . „ , ' " I shall never have that wish, s" e : said. 1 ■• You never know." he replied with • I smile that show d i.is teeth. ' She noticed ! that thev were veiv white and lons, a c<l j suggestively c.n mv orous. Its always eitrfmelv rash ••> prophesy. Birds of a i feather — you know the adage * He COT" I tied to smile in the most ingratiating , ] manner imaginable, but a frown wool . have pleased her more. " I shoiildn t i der if ore day you propose of your own free ; will what vou now so haughtily reject. In | fact. 1 don't see what else is before von. I You've begun badly, my girl. and in j?" I ginning Viadlv you are already hal I way to destruction. Eleventh hour re- ! pent-anr e. and all that sort of thing -3 ! well enough in *'« plate, bat its rI3W . iis not among the affairs of men ana women Why l av- you so suddenly o*!ve loped this 'si igular leaning towards ! virtue?" _ . 1 He put the question with a quizzing, an impertinent smile. A hot f st.read over her face and heightened th® - glow in her eves : hut with an effort sh® i repressed the retort that trembled on her lips. Xk Are vou going ' ' slie asked. -.a."i "' Presently. These sudden paroxysm' w of remO'i*," he resumed in the same .. coldlv insolent tone. "weaken ore like epileptic seizure I should warn yon to ; beware of them Lieutenant Ridley is .J,' one of those dull, respectable fellows who ; .. r; set no farther than the tip of their nose- • He would never understand or appreciate ■ - a woman of temperament. Consequently TJ you martyr yeurself in vaLi. Already he has formed hie opinion of you. Nothing > ,j ! you may do now is likely to "alter it." '-f (To bi continued on Wednesday »«W|||||||