HELD IN RANSOM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19136, 30 September 1925, Page 7

HELD IN RANSOM.

BY GERALD CUMBERLAND.

Author of " Tho Cypress Chest," " Set Dotni in Ms/ice." " Tho Poisoner," Etc., Etc. (Copyright.) CHAPTER XL Because words did, indeed, seem idle, ho was silent for a long time. Dawn began to creep up the eastern sky. He could see her pale face under her wealth of blctck, glossy hair. For tho first time • c /nce he had known Iter, she looked happy ,• —transfigured almost. There was stamped upon every feature a resolution that was new to her. At last she had taken her destiny into her own hands: at last she was mistress of herself arid her future. As they neared Havre, Frank gave himself up to close, concentrated thought. He was planning out she day—seeing in his mind's eye the dramatic events that would result from his message to Scotland Yard. He pictured Audrey in some Whitechapel slum. He pictured Scotland Yard, and tho organisation of the raid on Blendean Street. He saw tho rescue of Audrey and. her restoration to her uncle in Pont Street.. Last of all, ho dwelt ou his own reunion with Audrey, Suddenly,, ho pulled himself up with a muttered exclamation. All this time ho had been thinking of himself and his own affairs. Not a moment had been given So the Princess. But surely ho owed her something ? Surely he must guard her safety ? Left without help, she might easily bo captured by Markhnm Gros and ins confederates. Quickly he formed a plan and turned to her eagerly. said just now, Princess, that vou were worried about my safety. But. I'am troubled about yours. Intensely troubled. *ou intend returning to Georgia, but to oo so will not 'b'o so easy as you imagine, ion may be caught by the police. You may ho overtaken by tho vengeance of

' ,Y^— But I must risk that, Mr. Mi-chelle."

"But why risk anything? Why not come back to London with me? 'Turn Kmg s evidence, Why not? You owe Markham Gros no loyalty. You will then be undisturbed by the police. Moreover, bv giving up Gros' gang to justice, vou will be free from any danger from that quarter.

thankfulncs ° '°°k surprised

"It is very good of you to think of mo at. all, she said. "But no! I want to po away away to my own country. I want to forget everything—yLondon "and Paris and all my past life. And I want, perhaps, to forget you. No—not forget you. I can never do that. But I muut pass out of your life at once and finally." Though he urged upon her all the arguments he could think of to induce her to change her mind, he was unsuccessful Perhaps she was right, after all. In any case, she knew her own mind, and in was clear ho could not weaken her resolution..

With the dawn of day, the wind dropped and the clouds dispersed. By the time they had reached the outskirts of Havre, the sun was shining brillinntlv. 'ln ten minutes we shall be at tfio Post Office," sho tcVd Aim. " There I shall leave you, for I can be of no further service to you. You have enough monev for your needs ?" Yes—more than enough. You also?" " Yes. It was the Chief's habit to pay us well. -And I havo my jewels." " You will write to me when you reach your own country ?" She shook her head. But I shall want to know you're safo " he urged. . ' shall be safe," she answered. Then in a low voice, she added: " Whether dead or alive, I shall bo safo." "What do you mean, Princess?" he cried. You are not—you are not thinking of suicide ?"

Thinking of it—yes. I have thought of it for the last twelve years—-ever since I was a child. But now I am prepared for it

Sh® opened her satchel and showed him the butt of an automatic pistol. " For God's sake, Princess, don't do that! I implore you not to! You must come with me. I see it now—you must como! It is the only way in which you can got peace and perhaps a little happiness. By turning King's evidence, you can put all your past life behind you. and begin afresh." She glanced at him occasionally as ho urged her to this course of action; when he had finished, she shook her head with decision, though a wistful smile played abont her mouth and in her eyes. Iso, Mr. Mi-chelle—it is impossible I couldn't go throifgh with it. I couldn't lace sitting in court day after day and sending to gaol even Those who havo so deeply injured me. I should hate myself for it. I couldn't do it. I want to get right away from all my past life—l want to forget it. And if it should chance that either the police ot Gros's organisation overtake me—well I shall be content to die. I have lived near death for so long that it has ceased to havo any terrors for me."

"Do it for my sake!" ho said. " You are as kind as you are good, Mr. Mi-chelio. But you know as well as Ido that it would not be—it could not be—for your sake. From the bottom of my heart I thank God that I have met you. Do not make it harder to part from you than it is already." She released her hand from the steering, wheel and placed it for a moment within his. Overcome by a sudden access of tenderbess, Frank raised it to his lips. A minute later the car stopped at the Post Office. A few people were already astir in the street. Frank alighted, anil taking off his hat, took her hand in his. " Good-bye," ho said. " May you be happy!' As long as I live I shall remember you."

Her eyes filled with tears and her mouth quivered. She tried to speak, but no words camo. So smiling bravely, she started the car, and in less than a minute it had turned the corner and was out of sight. In the Post Office, Frank had no difficulty in despatching his telegram, even at that early hour, but the cleric in charge told him it vrould be impossible to establish telephonic communication with London in time for Frank to catch the Southampton boat. So it was arranged between them that the clerk should telephone a lengthy message which Frank thereupon wrote down. " I don't for a moment suppose all these particulars will be wanted," said Frank, •at the end af half-an-hour's writing, "but I've given them in case they are." Ho had pat down every essential fact he could remember about the criminals ho had seen both in the Rue de Cambre and in the villa at Rouen. But, from beginning to end, he made no mention of Princess Tamara Warenski. By four o'clock that afternoon ho was in London. But while he was or? his way there, important events were happening which were to have a great influence on Frank's future. His telegram from Havre reached Scotlaud Yard by nine o'clock that morning. Within five minutes of its receipt preparations were being made for a raid on Blendean Street. Four sergeants, twelve constables and an inspector, were detailed for the work.

It is popularly supposed that the officials at Scotland Yard live in a whirl of excitement, bnt such is very far from being the case. The great building with its long corridors, its stone stair-oases and its multitudinous offices is one of the most silent in London—almost as quiet as Westminster Abbey. The recording of crime is a matter of routine; the investigation of it is both an art and a science. And the entire staff is under strict, almost military, discipline. For these reasons, there is never any excitement, or rushing to and fro, or unnecessary ringing of telephone bells. The entire organisation is run as smoothly as a well oiled piece of machinery. • Of the twelve constables selected for tho job of rescuing Audrey Stansmore and arresting her guolers, oniy four were in uniform. They were lined up in the big court-yard before an inspector who briefly told them the object of their visit to Whitechapel and outlined the natrire of tho work before them. The sergeants and the inspector wero armed with revolvers.

All of the men, of course, already knew a great deal of the..case,.through reading the newspapers which, ever since Audrey's disappearance, had been full of theories, clues and rumours regarding it. \ It had been the sensation of the week* The policemen detailed for the worjk wero specially selected men of considerable experience and proved courage. 1 They left Scotland Yard in thpe different parties, each party having separate and distinct duties assigned to it. On arriving at Whitecliapel by taxicab, 'ono P ar ty was split uj) and guarded both ends of Blendean Street. The second party, at a given moment, was to scale tho wall at the back of No. 347, and enter tho little yard in order to prevent the escape of tho criminals through the back windows and door; at precisely tho samo moment, the third party would enter the house by the front door.

It was'known to Scotland Yaird that tho gang of criminals they were up against was one of the most "dangerous in Europe. For many years the organisation had carried out one successful coup after another. They carried on their work cliiefly iu France. Belgium, and England, and were reputed to bo enormously wealthy and to possess great power. It was supposed that the: leaders of _ the organisation were of high social position, and it is true that Markham Gros and his two chief assistants, Iram Tor and Ivan Benedick, jdid-. occasionally frequent tho houses' of Mayfair and the intellectual salons of Paris. On several occasions the Paris a lid London police had been within an ace of laying Gros, Tor and Benedick by '.the heels, but tho criminals had always escaped at the hist, moment.

But at last it did scorn as though at least one branch of tno organisation would be broken up. Still, not a moment was to bo lost.

Now, let us return to Audrey!-, in >her room. Since we have last seen her, sho has been kept tinder rigid and unrelaxed supervision. On that fatal morning of Frank's telegram to Scotland Yard, she awoke early. Sho had spent an almost sleepless night; on the few occasions on which she dozed off, sho was, visited by distressing nightmares from which shft awoko uneasy and afraid. Soon after dawn sho got out of bed 'ani made herself some tea, but it brought her but little comfort. Sho was almost dazed by her position. Htr lack of experience of the world and its evil ways made it impossible for her to «oHjoctnre what was happening. Why had they taken her ? She could see no purpose in it. It had occurred to her more than once that sho was being held up for ransom, but she dismissed this theory as being altogether too far fetched. At school she had read Edmpnd About's " Thi? King of the Mountains," and know that in foreign, wild countries where ther® wero brigands, men and women wero kidnapped and imprisoned until relatives or friends paid their' captors largo sums of money for their release.

But horo in London—no, the supposition was absurd.

But though Audrey was by no means wanting in courage she began to feel sick with fear. She was ill tlMough lack of sleep, exercise and air. The constant anxiety was beginning to tell on hsr. Sometimes she felt that she was on the verge of a terrible nervous breakdown; others, it seemed to her as though alio wore going insane. Bernard Voules visited her thrkio daily. Each timo she saw him sho shrank away in horror. Yet ho fascinated her— Having drunk her tea, she tried to read, but though her eyes read page after page, her brain took in no singlo word; Tno thought of Frank was continually; in her mind. Why did he not come to! her ? Sho closed her book and began pacing up and down her room. Sho was weary in every limb, yet she could not reiki. '• A strange excitement had her in thrall, f It seemed to her that something dreadful was abojit to happen. Her breakfast was brought to her, hut she could not eat. At last, feeling feho could befcr the strain no longer, she threw herself oh to her bed and gave |iway to a fit of weeping. It was the first time she had broken down since sho hid Wen capturedj no dotxbt it would have been wiser if sh& had given way to her feelings days ago, For, having exhausted herself by weeping, she rose from her bed, feeling strangely calmed and soothed. Her overwrought, nerves ,no .. longer troubled her, and in her heart she felt a conviction that all would come right in the end. She must be patient. Suddenly she became aware of something unusual happening. There was a loud rat-tat on the front door. Half a minute later a frightened voice called—a femalo voico. Then a door was closed, and harried footsteps came up thsr«taircaßo and along the passage. Then another voice, soft and frightened, cancd-'-'bttt. A passionate discussion was takfiSfJplace'downstairs. Then silence, |, stealthiness of the sounds and the ldw> ; awer Voices, awoke her curiosity.' "* '.-Sotnithmg unexpected had happened. Heir gaolers were afraid. What did it mean ? / Hadt Frank found her at last? Had he brought the police to rescue her? Downstairs there was the utmost confusion, On the knock being sounded on the dopr, Miss Poole had gono from the kitchen, into the lobby and looked through the spyhole by ajeans of whicli she could observe what was going on dutside the house without herself being'B©eh. Standing" on the doorstep were three men, By their demeanour, by tha set expression of their faces, sho knew them to be police officers. At the sight of them, her heart leapt in her bosom. She, ran to the bottom of the stair case, and ip ft smothered voico, that was half fl #hisper; half : ;» <sry, called out: " Mr. Voules! Mr. Voules!"

Voules came out of his study An the first floor. He knew by the tone of Miss Poole's voice that something unusual had happened. She ran up the stairs to him, Then Voules, guessing from the wpression of her face that the knock on the door had been given by the police, called " Morgan! Morgan—come here—quickly," Morgan, a pale, lanky fellow frpro the slums, was employed as a servant and messenger boy. Ho came quickly up the stairs and joinrd Voules and Miss Poole. 5j "Listen! Keep your heads, both of you, and do what you're told." said Voules. "Stay here while I—'* j ;u He was interrupted by a second imperative rat-a-tat-tat, much louder than the first. He ran lightly downstairs, gave a single look through the spy-hole, turned instantlv on his heels, and with'.three bounds "leaped up the stairs and ra-jotaed his companions. "The Police!" he said, breathlessly. " We've got to take the girl with us—she's worth £IO,OOO. iou, Miss Pooie—you Morgan—bo til of you go—" • " No!" said Misr. Poole. " There'« no time. We shall all be caught."

" Caught be damned. Do as you are told!" * 1 " No!" said Morgan, "we mast leave her—" "On your f>eril. Remember i your oaf.h! Think of Gros' punishmentJif you disobey!" | But Morgan, trembling with fear, had already broken away and was now at the foot of the second flight of stairs. Voules whisked a revolver from his pocket and pointed it at the quaking servant. 5 "Another step—and I fire!" Morgan halted. _ 7_ " You wretched coward!" hissed Voules. "Now ... do as I tell you. Take Miss Stansmore to the hiding-place . . >. both of you. I'll got tho skylight open and wait for you." f Both the man and the woman .obeyed him. Like frightened hares they ran to Audrey's room and, having opened the door, rushed frantically in. (To b& continued daily.)