THE TEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE TEST.

BY A. T. OLDHAM.

(Copyright.) " Is that the house—the one with the green 4, ate ?" he asked the two villagers who had witnessed the crash and came hurrying up, "Thank you! You might just help me up the drive, if it wouldn't be too much trouble. Ouch, I'm afraid I've injured my leg badly!" A pause ensued. Then he continued, as if to himself: "For a fellow who has never seen his uncle for fourteen years, this is a nice manner in which to arrive at the ancestral mansion," Jebb rose painfully on his sole serviceable leg. endeavoured to arrange his torn coat and collar, and failed miserably in the attempt. He became aware for the firsttime since the accident that he had also suffered gashes on his hand and arm. He put his hand up to his torn collar and drew it away wet; the throbbing in his head seemed to increase as he realised whence the dye came. You might, bring along the relics of the cycle, if you would 1.-e so good. So sorry to give you so much trouble. Ah! here's someone from the house." A girl who had just come down the short flight of steps ran down the path and began: "Is anything the matter? Can I do on seeing the whole extent of Jebb's injuries. " No, please don't be alarmed," said supporting himself against the wall with one hand while the other he sought for a hat that was missing. Its absence irritated him for some reason, and he suddenly grew confused. Where in the duece had he left his hat ? He concentrated his wandering mind with an effort. " I beg your pardon," he began aloud. "I believe Mr. Hayden lives here? So the villagers told me. I am his nephew from Africa," then with a feeble grin, " the one who has been away for fourteen years. I had an accident in the lane just now. My motor-cycle refused to steer, and followed its own inclinations. Your pardon for appearing before you in such a state, but —" The girl, however, was now calm and self-possessed. She turned to the two villagers, saying: "Would you help him in, please, while I go to tell Mr. Hayden ?' The mfidical man pronounced the case fairly serious, and for a time Jebb, whose enfeebled constitution the physician would have thought due to lack of food had he not accounted for it by his patient's life in Central Africa, was more or less delirious. But later lie found himself able to talk coherently, and three days after his arrival the following conversation ensued between himself and his cousin, Hayden, junior: " The boat was slightly behind time at Southampton—most unusual. I did not wire in view of the surprise it would be for uncle. Romantic return of the ' Wandering Jew ■' You know the sort of thing." "Oh, rot!" put in Hayden, junior. " You'll find dad no end pleased to see you. Long ago he forgot the—" and abruptly he changed the subject. "What part, of Africa have you been in V* j "Africa? Oh—or—yes." Jebb seemed lat a loss for a moment. " I was at Katanga —copper, you know. A beastly unhealthy place, too! But there's a railway between 'it and Portuguese West Africa, which makes it endurable. ' In turn he changed the subject. By the way, does uncle ever speak of me now ? We didn t part quite as iriends should last- time I saw him.' " Oh, yes, he's always looking up ihe news of the Belgian Congo," said his son, pleasantly. " I'm afraid I must go. Well, good luck!" And he held out his.hand. Jebb took it wi*h his left. A few minutes after Hayden's departure the. " Wandering Jew," continued his story with the girl who had announced his arrival. " You know, ever since dad died, uncle and I have disagreed on money matters, Miss—er—" " Sinclair. Uncle adopted me nine—ten years, ago, just after father died. Father had no relations whose existence he knew of. and uncle was his closest friend. Did you not know ?" " I know nothing. He only wrote twice. He never mentioned you. The first envelope contained £2O and no letter and the second a letter purporting to be final, but. no money. She laughed, but became immediately serious. "He spoke of yon several times and | wished you would come back. He felt ! you ought to be friends again." | A pause ensued, and then: "By the way, where is lie? T suppose I he would come and see the remains of his | nephew while he was delirious ?" " Oh. I've never told you, have I?" (a fact of which she was fully cognizant) " though we have been talking about him like this. Uncle has been away almost a week. He went two days before you came, i You know how keen he is on antiques, I suppose, especially old silver. When he learnt accidentally that a dealer in Rouen had a piece of plate that he has wanted ! ever so long, nothing could stop him from going on the spur of the moment. He sent a telegram yesterday. I'll just get it." "Oh, don't trouble, please!" but she was already out of the sick room. On her re-entry lie continued: " Fancy the doc. tying me up here! All the plans I have thought out are going west. Oh, thank you !" and he wondered why she smiled as he read the characteristically brief telegram : " Have found dealer. Sold. Shall trace Marseilles buyer. Don't expect me.— Hayden." " He will have left- the first address by this stage of his search, so it would be little use writing. There are two chalices and a piece of communion plate that he has already. He wants four pieces of the set. Would you care to see them, Mr. Jebb? I should only be a minute taking them from the safe." Ten minutes later she carried into the room a small leather case, which she carefully opened, withdrawing the three pieces of plate, each enveloped in chamois skin. " They're supposed to be very old," she explained. " I've seen one of them described in a catalogue as"—she took a deep breath " ' cunningly fashioned by the dexterous silversmiths of Ivry for the monastery of that town in the fourteenth century.' Danger? Oh. no!" she laughed. " Of the two keys Uncle has one and the other is always kept inside the big combination safe in the library. Most burglars would expect the plate to be there, too, and start on the safe immediately, 1 suppose. But it isn't. It's in the small one in Uncle's study. We've only been in this house eighteen months, so we have not had much time for burglaries. but even in London no attempt was ever made. And Uncle is fairly well known as a collector," she added. She. offered one of the exquisite chalices with its few glittering rubies for his closer inspection. Jebb found himself loth to take the cup, when—- " What do you think was the word' Uncle chose for the lock combination? You'd never guess." " But Jebb had been observant when handed the telegram. Something prompted him correctly to hazard, " Leslie." Jebb sat up in bed and listened intently. Not a sound broke the stillness of the house.

Then came a faint scratching. A mouse 1 The sound ceased, only to begin once mor-| after a pause. Jebb hastily jumped up and a sharj twinge, of pain - shot through his leg .Slowly he crept downstairs. At the foot he hesitated, irresolute, un til the renewal of the noise, which had re ■solved itself into a gentle tap—tap—tap (guided him through the blackness of tin hall to the study t'oor. Again he hes/tated, while an eerie ye flight tapping against the study wiiutov continued. Slowly Jebb pushed the door ajar am slipped into the room. Yes, there tfit fellow was! He could see the dim outlim o{ his head, slightly blacker that the surrounding darkness of the moonless mglit. Even as he watched, the tapping cesser and the man outside bent foiwau straining his eyes to penetrate the biatKness of the room. Suddenly deciding, Jebb turned quick! J •and made his way back to the door, plunged into the darkress of the hall anu crept toward the side door. Once there, the bolt, was slowly drawr and the key turned noiselessly in tin lock. A few more seconds, and J&bj turned the angle of the house, came- fui upon the night-bird, and—spoke up: "It's no use tapping any longer. George since I'm here." At the first sound tiu man whirled round and a lowering fact cleared up magically. "It's like you to give nie such a scare! trot the key? If you haven't it'll be at the more work for us." "1 see you received the little note I. with difficulty, managed to have conveyer! to you," remarked Mr. Jebb smoothly, "and I am pleased to sec with what promptitude you have fulfilled my instructions, hut —there is an unforeseen difficulty." "What is it? You haven't raised any suspicions inside?" "Not on your life, I'm stilt the wandering prodigal come home at last, waif hi: for dear old nunky to turn up and forgive and forget." The stranger winced. "I've only been on my feet three days," apologised Jebb, "so I'm still convalescent. As you know, that's why the business couldn't be done sooner." "Yes, we've delayed an age," growled the other. Then, "Here, cut this, let s get along inside. Did you get the key?" And Jebb answered deliberately: "No. I did not. I am not going to get i it. You are. not going to get the plate, i ! have changed my mind—and. incidentally, yours, too,", he added in a lighter tone. It was some seconds before a succession of short gasps denoted that George was beginning to find his voice. "You—you-—what? Are you in your senses? You—you—urge me on, and—"Not so fast, my unwholesome friend. It was you who hinted to me of your inglorious career in Africa. It was you who told me of your desire for 'revenga on an uncle who had rightly turned you adrift. From the moment 1 met you in London, ever since your startled look when you learned my name also was Jebb, and.that I was as near being 'down and out' as I well could be. it has been you who have urged me to do what you shrank from. You posted me in all necessary informa-. tion of your family, so that I might pass off as the returned prodigal. How you knew of old Hayden's approaching absence I don't know, but I do know my share was to run the actual risk of getting the plate." The Stranger was still strangely silent. "The idea of 'borrowing' a 'bike' from a 'friend' was certainly good," mused Mr. Jebb, "but you're at liberty to return the pieces to him now. They don t amount to much." His manner swiftly changed. "What's the use of me telling you all this ? I'm not here to talk. Clear! "You've been here quite a long time; wbat'll you say when Hayden conies bac-k V muttered George. A sudden calm took hold of Jebb. "I shall tell the truth —the accident—how she took, me in—how ' He changed the subject abruptly. "You want to know wbv I quit at this stage of the business? Afraid? No. Of course, you won't for a moment believe —" "A thousamrpardotis for my intrusion, but, this night air is really bad lor our patient, you know." At the first slightly mocking tones, "George" smothered an exclamation. Then, turning, suddenly and silently, he disappeared into the shadows of the. night. Mr. Wilber Jebb leaned dazedly against the window frame and laughed outright. Out of the blackness a white woman's form stepped leisurely. After a silence of half a minute: "Am I addressing Mr. Wilber o>- Mr. Gcprge Jebb?" asked a pleasant voice. Mr. Wilbf r Jebb straightened his five, feet ten, and replied coldly: "I'm sorry this has happened. With seeming ingratitude for all you have done for me. I must leave in the morning. I I come, let us go indoors!" Bui. the girl stood, seeming disconcerted bv his replv. 'Her glance fell upon his left shoe, and her manner changed. "I knew! I. knew all the time," she said uncertainly. I Then, softlv: "You were far from silent during those two delirious days, and you never realised how much you told inc. Why—-why do you think I took so much trouble to explain about the safes?" A dawning light broke in his eyes. I "Then -" he began lamely. Helpfully, she came to his rescue: "I in sure your leg would be better if you were I to sit here," and pointed to a green garden i seat just beneath the open window. "Besides." she added tranquilly, "on second thoughts 1 don't really think this night air is bad for you.