THE RIDDLE OF THE RAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19834, 3 January 1928, Page 15

THE RIDDLE OF THE RAIL.

BY FRED M. WHITE.

• CHAPTER XXIX. fishwic*, at once a trusted and re,fable senrant and an unmitigated scounfal, turned back upon New York for wbat he hoped was tlirj last time. He had certain work for the great firm ( t Keidermeyer on the continent of Europe and, when that was finished, ho would be a froe agent in the future. "Within a few months, he hoped to find himself somewhere in South America, where, for the rest of his life, he could live in ease and comfort. For Fish wick was of a somewhat romantic turn of mind. He wanted the sunny skies wd the luxurious foliage in the background, with palm beaches and blue lagoons, quite in accordance wit 1 {he pattern laid down by certain novelists. And it would oe no fault of h own if ho failed to get away with all these things. . , . Still, ho was not quite so easy in his m ind as he night have been. Ho had done a great deal of shady work m his Le in connection with Vane Egerton and, on nearly every occasion, Egerton had got «nr With the lion's share of the plunder. ,And. though Fishwick had not shown that he felt this conduct on the part „• his confedorate, it had cost him a ■ecr-Aj searching of heart and a good many bitter, and angry moments. He had waited patiently enough for the day when he could get even, and now that day had ""perhaps it have been just as well if he had simply vanished with tue g.»rls and never been heard of again. « had only to finish his work m Europe •nd then to step upon a steamer bound for Rio Grande, leaving Egerton to wonder what had become of bim and what be had done with those twelve precious nrtrls. But, at the lar>t, he could no. Strain a wild longing to lot Egerton ww that he had noK been fooled all these years and that ilie was getting iis own b;ick at last. Hence the letter ih»t had caused Vane Egerton to figmatively tear his hair and set off in purnit of his partner. He knew perfectly well that Egerton *as the last man to take such an affront Muz down. He knew the vengeful and vindictive nature of the man, so that his heart was full of fear. Still, he had got * coed long start and, if he could kaep out of Egerton'a way for a. month, then he would be absolutely safe. _ Ho lingered a few days m Paris, settlmg a matter there, and then crossed c-rer to London, where he put up as usual at the Palatine Hotel. Another week would see his legitimate business at an end, and ho calculated that, a further fortnight would enable him to get ria of those pearls at a very handsome profit. Yd, all the time, the shadow of Egerton was hanging over him. That was perhaps why lie took every rstep to hide lis tracks. For this reason, he removed sB the marks from his clothing and reduced identity to a vanishing point. And ♦hen, when the right moment came for him to disappear, he left Jhe Palatine Hotel with only the pearls in hm possesson and the two cases of valuables beIciipinz to Nsidermeyers were deposited is the hotel safe. At the last moment, hs would forward the receipt for these to Neic.erineyer's financial agents in Lndon with instructions to coibet the casas and then he, himself, would go oat ilnto the darkness, so to speak. It was rather a characteristic of his complex nature that he made no attempt to rob or deceivs his legitimate employers. From that point of view, he had always played a straight game; first, because it paid him to do so and, secondly, because, under a great name like Neidermeyer"') he could carry on his illicit work vtiioout danger of suspicion. And, once this was done, he made his way to Birmingham with the intention of tryng to do a deal with the jeweller, Fastnet. He arrived there on the evening before Whit Saturday and made arrangements' ever the telephone to see Fastnet the following day. He would have much preferred Fa3tnet to come and sec him, but he dared not make a point of that and he dared not linger much longer, because he had a vague idea ihat Egerton was not very far oft. It was all very well to tell the iattei that he was afraid to show his face. in his native land, but it was by no means a certainty. Neither was Fishwick to know that, for some considerable time past, Egerton, under an assumed name and'properly disguised, was in the habit of spending some months in the year ra England. This was vital matter which Fishwick was destined to find out iii good time. Heanwhile, he must get rid of those Whirls. He must persuade Fastnet to bay them and to ask no questions. He knew perfectly well that Fastnet had a ditnt who was as keen on collecting pearls as Cora Van Geldt had been. Because Fastnet bad told him so during hi last tour round the big dealers in England. But, then, so far as Fishwick kniw, Fastnet was a strictly honourable man and not in the least likely to run any risks, even if he could see an enormous profit dangling before his eyes. 'And, moreover, Fastnet probably knew everything in connection with the recent troubles in New York. He would know, for instance, the details of Van Gcidt's tragic death and most -certainly be aware cf the story of Cora Van Geldt's missing treasures. That was the matter that the police had seen to. No doubt by this tiffle every police headquarters in Europe weald have been supplied with details connected with the missing pearls. Still, tbsre was just a chance, and, in any case, things like pearls are not so very easy to identify. Of course, Fishwick was not to know tbat Van Geldt himself, before he died, had insisted upon those pearls being measured and weighed, and photographed. Thai', was an important item that did not, enter into Fishwick's calculations. 'Anyway, if he could induce Fastnet to bay the gems, it didn't very much matter what happened afterwards, because he, Fishwick, would be thousands of miles away where he could afford to laugh St the authorities. But Fast',net was certainr to ask questions. And, this being admitted, it was i? to Fishwick to tell him some plausible aSjpy as to how the things had como into ibig "hands. Perhaps he could induce the Birmingham dealer to believe that they belonged to Neidermeyer's, and that they had come into he hands of that famous firm as security for a loan io some noted KSiety woman. Or perhaps he migjit fike up some sort of plausible story with 6 touch of Russia in it. /Yes, that was t' > idr-a. Russian crown jewels. Hidden by the man who had stolen them at the time of the imperial iwgedy who had been waiting all these years for an opportunity to transfer them to America where they were offered for By the time that Fishwick stepped into Fastnet's office, he had got his sfory 'i»re or less pat. Re laid the pearls on '% table, before Fastnet and *sked his opinion of them. Fastnet, of course, had been almost paralysed. These were just the pearls '-Hat he wanted ani, in ordinary circumstances, he would have been ready to pay sltaost any price for them, . " Where on earth did they come from lie asked. !*' Oh, that," Fishwick said coolly, " is spittle more than I can tell you. " Question iu, would you like them ?" " Most assuredly i should- like them," tijje jeweller replied. " They arc precisely I was looking for and never expected to get. I think I told you all about that the last timo vou> were here." Yes, I remember that," Fishwick ~*id. " And that is why I'am here again, t. could have sold them in Paris three hnie* over, but I remembered my promise to ymi and there they arc for your first refusal." J J " For which 1 am obliged," Fastnet aniled. " But you can hardly expect me »* buy a unique set like that without ■lking a few questions. If they were •JBst ordinary pearls, I should not hesi-

A POWERFUL STORY OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE.

(COPTRICBT

tate for a moment. But they are not. For all I know to the contrary, they might have been those stolen from Mrs. Van Geldt," " They might, but they are not," FishvvicJc said coolly. " Then where on earth did they come from ?" " Ah, that I can't tell you precisely. Can't you think of some country in Europe where such things were more or less plentiful before the war'! I dare say millions of 'pounds worth of gems were stolen and subsequently lost in that big struggle. I mean looted from palaces and all that sort of thing and then hidden, never to be recovered again, because the man who originally stole them was killed in a fight, or perhaps a revolution." Fastnei looked up with understanding in his eyes. " Oh, that's the idea," he murmured softly. " Russian crown jewels and all that sort of thing. Belonging to nobody, unless you reekon with the Soviet Government. Ah, in that case, it is a very different matter. Can't you be more explicit ?" " No, I am afraid 1 can't, for the simple reason that there is nothing more to he explicit about," Fishwick said.. " You know as well as I do that prewar Russia was crammed with historic treasures. Crown jewels and the family heirlooms of grand dukes and all that sort of thing. And how much of it got away in the revolution ? And how much mere was left behind ? Why, during the last two or three years, Russia has been more or less run on the proceeds of these family treasure houses. Well, that is where they came from, anyway. And, it you like to buy them, they are yours at a price." " Very good," Fastnet said. "They arc exactly what I want and you may consider thom as good as sold. But I have to consult my client first, because this transaction runs into big money. Come back to mo again after the holidays are over and I will arrange for the lady to meet you here " ""ies, that's all right," Fishwick said hurriedly. " I will come any time vou like to make an appointment. At the same time, I should be glad to leave these pearls in your hands. j[ never have been robbed yet, but, mind you, it is nervous work, and I have been walking abouft the streets with such things in my possession. I hope you won't mind if I ask you to take care of the stuff." ,^ ou n ," mn ' oc k them up in my safe?" " That is precisely what I do mean," Fishwick replied. " Very well then, I will. And I will let you know ivhen my client is ready for the interview. All the same, I would much rather you took the pearls away with you. Still " CHAPTER XXX. Fishwrck returned to his hotel, feeling that his time had by no means been wasted. He had managed to interest Fastnet without in the least arousing his suspicions, and he knew enough of the world to be certain that the lady in question would never be able to resist those rosy treasures once she had caught Sight of them. And, even if Fastnet decided at the last moment to back out, then it would be no difficult matter to obtain the lady's address and bring off a deal with her privately. So here was Fishwick, more or less at a loose end for a day or two until the Whitsuntide holidays were over, and wondering what on earth to do with himself. He had absolutely finished with Neidermeyer after he had sat down and written a letter to their London agents, enclosing the receipt for two cases in the safe at the Palatine Hotel. And, this being done, he wondered how he was going tc kill time between now and next Wednesday or Thursday. He was turning this matter over in his mind after luncheon when he noticed a letter in the grill outside the office addressed to himself and this he took from the rack, wondering who his correspondent writing from London might be. He sat back in the lounge with a cigar between }iis lips and toro open the envelope. There was not much inside, only a few lines typed on plain paper, but those few lines filled him with dismay. A feeling of fear clutched at his heart as ho read as follows: " Leaving England for good, are you ? Going to spend the rest oi your life somewhere down South in the eternal sunshine. And a very pretty arrangement, too. But not quite yet. "In making your arrangements you seem to. have forgotten all about The Old Curiosity Shop. But other people haven't. If you value your future and jour safety and clon't want to come to an exceedingly unpleasant end, take the next tram to Abbotsbury. And when you got up there, walk along the Worcester Road until about a mile out of the tewn you come to a country hotel called the White Hart. Then cross the line and walk back four houses. When you reach the last one, walk up to the front door, through the greenhouse where the :roses are, and enter the house. \ou need not trouble to knock. Just walk straight in, through the hall to the garden room at the back, and wait there. But don't do this until you are pretty sure that your movements are not watched. And, whatever happens, don't fail or—well, don't fail. " QUILP." Fishwick read this again and again with the sweat pouring down his face. Ho knew, only too well, what that letter meant an,d at whose hands it had been dictated. And he knew, moreover, that he dared not defy so plain a warning. He was being carefully watched and every movement of his noted. Not that he had seen anything suspicious, but because now he knew. The last thing in the world ho wanted was to obey this summons. But he was bitterly conscious of the fact that if he did not do so then ho would end up with a knife between his shoulders or his body floating lifeless down some convenient river. He would- go, of course, and purchase his life at. the price of those pearls. Whom, exactly, he was going to meet he could not guess, for there are many men in the underworld with whom he had come in contact during his illicit dealings in the last few years. Well, -f the worst came to the worst, ho would have to disgorge his prey and, once he was resigned to the fact, he called up a taxi find left the hotel and an hour and a-half later, found himself walking down the Worcester Road leading out of Abbotsbury. Yes. this was the spot, right enough, for there was the White Hart and, on the other side of the railway siding, four houses standing in their own neat grounds. lie passed these, until he came to the last, where he paused at the gate, and looking over it, saw the little greenhouse jutting out from the porch. Outwardly calm enough, but inwardly greatly disturbed, he made his way down the garden path, after satisfying himself that nobody was in sight. The inner door yielded to his touch when he turned the handle and passed along the hall into a room at lire far end. And there he saw a man standing with his back to the empty fireplace. (To be continued daily.)