THE GIRL WITH THE VIOLET EYES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE GIRL WITH THE VIOLET EYES.

BY GUY THOBNE, Author of " When It Was Dark," " The Path of a Hundred Deaths," etc,

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER VIII. A DESPERATE CHANCE.

Not half-ah-hour after Rupert had returned to Eagle House he heard the toot of the motor horn outside the iron gates and knew that Dr. Lipsius and his daughter had returned. He had wrapped the dictagraph in brown paper and hidden it behind the topmost row' of books in the big shelf, thinking that as safe a place as any for the present. Ho did not know when he would have an opportunity' of carrying out his carefully designed plan, but he hoped that the first preparations might be made in the dead watches of the night, when all the house was sleeping. Meanwhile, the grinning imp of a Chinese boy brought up his dinner and a bottle of claret, and Rupert fell to with good appetite. At nine o'clock a message was sent up to him that the doctor would renuire his services at eleven, and until that hour he smoked over the fire and tried to read, though more often he found himself gazing into the heart of the glowing coals a s if trying/to read his destiny there. A deep hush lay over Eagle House. There was no sound but that of the winter wind, which began to wail among the trees and sob around the building. Many thoughts passed through his mind. He saw again the gaunt prison infirmary and heard his father's dying message; and once more, mentally, he renewed his oath. He shuddered and felt icy cold as he remembered that grey morning when he had gone to the Galaxy of Permanent Portraits to pursue his ' dreary business in- the Chamber- of Terrors. Again the duster was in his hand as he flicked the evil, waxen faces of the great dolls who sat there, dusted the glass case containing the identical ropes that had assisted this or that monster out of the world, _ passed bv the life-size model of the guillotine, the black, spectral gallows, and ■ turned the corner towards the rigid figure of MrsLot in its dusty, widow's crape. And again he felt the sick, unnameaole horror i when that figure fell and disclosed a human corpse. He shuddered violently and poked the coals into a.blaze, thinking with a deep sigh of relief of Helena.beautiful and living still, living, trusting n ! him and loving him. Ah! she alone was a thousand times worth the peril in which he stood. ... He heard again the warning voice of Sir Jasper, as the careworn baronet unfolded the true history of the man who was sitting down below, sipping his port and smoking his cigar. "There are rumours that Lipsius was the most skilful secret poisoner of his day forty years —for he is seventy now. He is a man of immense wealth. .He has been behind innumerable financial companies for many years. Hence the ruin of your dear father and many other of my friends, whom we have now sworn to* avenge. His skill, audacity and resource are supreme. He foresees everything and provides for it. It is impossible to exaggerate the power of this man's intellect. And to crown all. he has a freakish, fantastic, hellish humour, which, to contemplate, ices the very blood itself. ". ■ . .A man who could not only murder a girl, , but plan the hideous mockery upon her body that Dr. Lipsius has done is an antagonist so formidable that the wealthiest, bravest man might well quail before crossing swords with such an one." There was a quick rap at the door. "Master is ready for you, Mr. Cook," came in soft, clicking gutterals from Quong. Rupert jumped up, put his revolver and life preserver in his pockets, threw on his overcoat, and hurried down ..the stairs. -. •* ' ■ ,"• Dr. Lipsius, in a heavy fur coat and deer-stalker cap, was waiting in the hall. He seemed preoccupied ,■ and merely motioned Rupert to follow him, -as the valet opened the heavy frontdoor, and the two men descended the steps into the drive. The doctor walked briskly over the frozen gravel, Rupert : following close upon his heels, until the turn disclosed the orange-lit windows of the lodge and the' gleaming motor headlights behind the gates, They passed through and Stow clanged the iron barrier behind'them. • "You had better get in with me," the doctor said to Rupert, '' it'is .a' bitter night.',' And as he sat himself in the. front seat, the young man wondered at the continual consideration and kindness shown him by this dark and secret soul clothed in a mountain of; flesh. 'V. "'", The great car moved: off, without a sound. It was a Rollsrßoyce of the latest pattern, started by electricity, . lit. and warmed by .the. same agency. There was not a vibration of the springs. : ; The soft suede upholstery gave luxuriously to the body, and though Rupert knew they were travelling' fast there was no sound but a low hum, like that of a distant hive of > bee's.. The blinds were down over the windows, but the interior of the car Was lit by a glowing bulb from the roof. That they were going downhill into Richmond was all that Rupert knew, though he felt that they turned to the right at the bottom and were humming towards London. . ''.. The doctor spoke no word. His big head was sunk upon his.breast, his hands thrust deep into his fur-lined pockets. His face was set and pale, the immense dome of forehead knotted with.thought..

After a time Rupert ' became almost hypnotised by the steady, easy motion. He had felt too poignantly in the .earlier part of the evening to have much capacity for emotion left. Warm and comfortable in the luxurious car, he abandoned himself to a sort" of waking dream. Outside, he heard the roar of traffic, the clanging of tram bells, the horns' of taxi and motorcabs, while every now and then the blue radiance of an arc lamp or perhaps some glittering music-hall front showed the silken blinds- a vivid red. Then the noise of the Ohiswick High Road was left behind. The car gathered' speed. There was a senso of outside spaciousness, felt though not. seen, until,at length again they were traversing some great and brightly-lit artery of London. Suddenly. the noise was dulled, the car swerved, ran a little way, and-stopped. Dr. Lipsius lifted his head and spoke. "I am going to see a gentleman in his office," ho said. "I shall, probably be there for about half an hour. You will please wait outside in the-hill." As he spoke, lie fumbled in the ticket pocket of his coat and produced a small Yale latchkey. Then he opened the door of the car, descended on to the kerbstone, , and Rupert followed him. i They were in a side street. A few yards away was the noise and clatter of the great thoroughfare through which they had come. For a moment Rupert I did not recognise it. Then, as Dr. Lip- '< sius went up to a narrow door set in the sido of a tall building, the young man almost reeled back against the car. An icy sweat came out in beads upon his face. His tonpue seemed to shrivel up, his throat crackled like burning parchment, and it seemed as if an iron hand was squeezing the very blood from his heart. He himself had entered that narrow door a thousand times. It was the side entrance to the Galaxy of Permanent Portraits, and he realised in a sudden flash of mingled terror and fierce jov what this meant. Dr. Lipsins turned. " Hallo, Cook!" he said sharply, " what is the matter?" ,■ ' , In an instant Rupert was himself. In that Supreme moment his forces did not fail. "A piece of orange peel on the pavement, sir," he said, hurrying forward. " It ought to be made a penal offence to throw such stuff 1 about,".the doctor murmured, as ho entered a v?ell-known passage in which the electric light was burning and ascended some stone steps towards a green baize door, in.' the manner of' a [man. who was thoroughly at ; home. <"; Another short corridor, this time carpeted with linoleum, one mow,door, and then the well-knipn, gaudy entrance hall of famous, wig fforka show, " . ™1

k The velvet hangings,' the soft I carpet, the photographs in their gilded ;, frames,. the cut-glass chandeliers which hung from the painted roof, were all shrouded in • dusky mystery. One light only was burning, the light over the door leading to the?. private office of Rupert's old chief, theJ big, blond Jew, Mr. Montagu. :'« " You will find ono of those settees quite 1 comfortable," the doctor said, with a~ kindly nod, as he crossed the ball and -1 rapped at the panel door. , ?% There was the scraping of a chair, the sound of a well-known voice, and a stream I of light flashed out into the vestibule as the proprietor hurried to meet his guest. Rupert, shrinking bark into the shadows i with deadly fear at his heart, heard that soft, smooth voice quite distinctly. "Ah,: here you are, doctor, come in, come in! I have been expecting you this last half, , hour." ' Then the door closed softly. 5 It was ; a moment for instantaneous ■ action. He had tc decide what he should ~ do with the rapidity of a general upon a < battlefield when the fate of Ins army hangs in the balance. He was in deadly peril. Physically, perhaps, -in case ot an attack. he could save himself. He was armed;; he was also warned. Here, the chances were in his favour, if lie wore discovered for what he really was. But discovery would mean an instant end to all big careful preparation and elaborate plans. ]>, would mean that the whole campaign or himself, Sir Jasper, and all those unknown people who were assisting the"' baronet, would have to be. abandoned. Dr. Lipsius, hitherto quite unsuspecting 0 the forces arrayed against him. and the net beginning to close around him, would know everything. Never again would there be such an opportunity as now. Until this moment everything seemed to have fought for Rupert. He had gained access to Eagle House: he was trusted bv its master. Already he had discovered-i •that Marchmont, the man who had stolen the cipher-book, was in constant and confidential communication with the doctor, v That was a great gain and it was piovedv beyond the possibility of a doubt, Tot; night, again, he had gathered further evi.| dence of supreme importance. Dr. Lipsius '■" was associated with Montagu and the waxwork show. Suspicion became a certainty from this moment. There could be no! reasonable doubt that the murder of Helena's twin sister, the satanic joke perpetrated upon her dead body, was the work of Lipsius and his confederates.;; And yet, at any moment that door might? open, and Montagu, oiled, curled, blond and bland, might stride out into the vestibule and recognise his former employee. Rupert felt in his pocket, for his automatic pistol, and gripped the stock with.; a hand mat was wet. ,i Then, swift as lightning, he remembered something. In the breast pocket of „ his coat was a little leather case._ It had , been there ever since his last interview) with Sir Jasper Meredith in Park Lane. ' It contained '.he results of Mr. Willy's genius. It was the marvellous, the, so to speak, concentrated, essence of disguise, provided At such enormous cost by that famous artist in such matters. Until now, Rupert had almost forgotten it.; '-; ; It was a desperate chance, but now, if • ever, he must use it. \\- With quick, nervous hands, he' withdrew ; the case from his pocket and opened it. It; took but a few ; moments to ' slip the:- . moulded pad 3 into his cheeks and mouth. As before, the lower part of his face was now absolutely altered. He pressed the india-rubber pads into his nostrils, and his nose became '' that of another man. Finally, he just touched bis eyes with a.' drop of pungent liquid from the tiny.' , phial no thicker than a cigarette. They smarted for a moment, and when he went to a mirror in the wall and cautiously lit) . a match, his face, as he ordinarily knew • it. was blotted out and had vanished. Ha i pulled his cap down: over his head, i hunched his shoulders' a little. Then, a3; [ he was about to close the case, his eyes 1 fell upon a little aluminium box containing the pastilles he had purchased at tie ' chemist's recommended by Mr. Willy. He; i had forgotten - these-: were the only ] means which the voice, tell-tale of all , things, could be - disguised. . They pro- ' duced an immediate huskiness, and so he , began to suck one."'. '.-.'■ '. || •No' sound came from • Mr. Montagu's. i room. • There was no sound at all in the. ghostly vestibule, save only the dim murr mur of London's midnight traffic, and once > the sharp chiming of a gilded clock strike.: [ ing the hour of twelve. . ..' ; : £Jm » !>' As the minutes 'went on, and Rupert' 1 paced , noiselessly -up and down the thick » carpets, the suspense; became almost• inl tolerable. Even now,, though certainly 1 Montagu would never know him, the odds; > were fearfully against him.' What if Dr. ' Lipsius saw the transformation, /and '; it was ten chances to one that he 1 would! i Any ..'difference would give the. game * away to "eyes so keen and a brain of such", i. deadly acumen. , - Could he • contrive so < that the' Jew alone should 'see) his face— • it might be possible, but the chance was . small. ■', Still, it was the only chance,; and he must go through with it.. If the; worst | i came to the worst, and he'was discovered,* i he could cover both men with his revolver: I before they £ had time to draw their own, i if they -also s were armed,, and make his ; escape into the nighfc. : y/;^ '. The half'hour struck, the, hall seemed ' very^ cold, the noise of outside London | was gradually \ dying . away. He had: ' walked to the far end, by the baize doors ' which led to the ; turn-stiles, and was " about to retrace his j footsteps when ? sudf; • denly/. the door of the private room "ad; " the other end was firing open, flooding the 1 lower part of the vestibule with light. :f : -} ' .moment had come! _ . '>^> ■ For ; 'a* few seconds no one appeared. r Dr. Lipsius was speaking and Rupert ' heard = every word distinctly. ; '.:a

"Very well, $hen; we- will go to the S3 Savoy at once. We will walk down to- -■;?! gether— little exercise will do me good>;4 —" and here the doctor mentioned some ,vj| name which Rupert could not catch but _-t| which had a foreign sound—" will be Waiting for us with reports." . >\*os "Yon have a man here, doctor, haven't you?' • , :-\-M "Oh, yes; my .good Cook—my faithful bodyguard, Cook, said the doctor, with a purring chuckle. " I shan't want him :jJ to-night. You shall be. my bodyguard, ■-.:/■ Montagu, as far as the Savoy. I'll send , ; )| him home." ~:4v^ The doctor came out of the room.;/;; "Cook!" he called, to Rupert, "you can % go home now in the motor. Tell Quong - I shall not be home till to-morrow morn- i* ing." _ J|| " Very good, sir," Rupert mumbled. 1 ;;: His heart was banting wildly. He had to •:% advance towards his master, and he knew "•:. that directly he came into the broad band .% of light which poured from the private ■ .•;. room, his face could not escape notice. '.?

But the fates were with him. "Til show the man down, doctor."said. || Mr. Montagu obsequiously. "He might not be able to find his way." x '& " Thank you, thank you! then I'll put .? on my coat. Good night, Cook !" • "Good night, sir!" Rupert answered, , ; | and followed Mr. Montagu to the baize . S door leading to the side entrance. \.|J| "Mind the step, my man," said Mr*-,| Montagu, in his suave voice. " This way's, Like your job with the doctor?" >.t|| Rupert turned his face full on his latfl•• ■ employer. .There was the same cufleiV? yellow moustache, the hair sle>k with pomatum, and Mr. Montagu was redolent -0 of scent and polite good humour, as OJLjS| yore. But he looked at Rupert as if he v, was a perfect stranger. .^'||i.' "I like it very much, sir," he answeredv£' in a husky voice. " Good pay, lots to m eat, and nothing to do but attend' on C:Sr master!" ;',% ■-,

Mr. Montagu laughed. " Most men would envy you," he said. "The doctor is a dear old gentleman, and as a collector ffl of Japanese antiques there is no one''W- | touch him in ' Europe. But he has h« little foibles, and as he can afford to pay for them, well, they hurt nobody but him- v , self, and incidentally benefit a good many people. Because he has a fancy to.hava a bodyguard walkin? about with ,nmvjj| that is no business of anybody else. ™ 9 all have our hobbies, and that is HJ33J§|§' "Very lucky one for ' me, sir," salo Rupert, with a twisted grin, touching'-hi* 9 v cap as they went out on the pavement.;, i where the big Rolls-Royce was waiting. ■. ; : Mr. Montagu gave the doctor's message. to the chauffeur and Rupert got inside WjJ|| car, but not before Mr. Montagu baffl withdrawn half : a-crown from his v*«*fe|g coat pocket, and. bestowed it upon bia» \yith. a friendly smile. : ' '*allf a J3fe-I*, fp