THE HEART OF A DANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20080, 18 October 1928, Page 22

THE HEART OF A DANCER.

BY JOSEPH HOCKING

CHAPTER IX. —(Continued.) " That seems a good idea," Clinton assented. " T have important professional appointments tomorrow morning or I •would join you. Prevent the man, if you possibly can, from seeing Mr. Burko again." " That should inoi be difficult," said Borgc. " I will tell him Mr. Burke has a detective waiting in his room to interrogate him. Leave it to me. Clinton agreed, tried vainly to convince himself that lie was in no imminent clanger, but spent the night in an agony of apprehension. Remembering it was com--jnon knowledge that Alan Burke had been in love with Daphne and been desirous, of making her his wife, and that anyone who iuailo inquiries could easily have ascertained the fact, Clinton imagined there was something particularly sinister in the mystery man':? call on Burke. " It must bo a consipracy," he argued ('mentally. " They think that by bringing Burko into the case—believing that he must still be sqre about my having won Daphne—l shall bo more easily victimised. 3 want to fight, but I don't know what 1 am fighting against."

His conjecture was correct, ns subsequent events proved, but it was not until later that he discovered the mysterious German was a blundering confederate of Zivmtof. As it was, he waited anxiously to learn tho result of Romanoff's interview with the German.

" I do not know what to make of it," Bornanoff reported when he called. " I intercepted the man outside Mr. Burke's rooms, scared him by telling him Mr. Burke had a detective waiting to question him, took him into a public house and offered him twenty pounds to tell mo who it was, what information he had, and what his game is." " Well," asked Clinton anxiously. He would tell mo nothing, but made a rambling statement to the effect that Zivintof owed him fifty pounds and had told him how to get it. He said bo would not disclose his information for less than fifty pounds, and that lie must have the money before he would speak, so in desperation I paid him," " Go on! Don't keep me in suspense," exclaimed Clinton. " Who is he, what is he, and how much docs he know ? " Who and wjiiat ho is he declined to Ea y," replied Serge Romanoff. " All I could discover was that he came to England with Ziviniof. What he knows is that Pavlovina is Irma Zivintof, but he has his facts strangely mixed. He seems to think that I ran awav with your;wife while vou were in prison in Russia., that you are still in lovo with her although you have married again, that I shall be Milling to pay to prevent the possibility of your taking her awav from me, and that you will be willing to pay to prevent your rich wife knowing of her existence. He is a fool, that German, but dangerous, nevertheless."

" Why did he call on Sir Ronald Bell and Alan Burko as well as on you and me ?". " He said Zivintof told him Mr. Burko was your wife's lover, and would gladly pay for his information. Do not Icok at mo so angrily, Mr. Wallace; I am only relating what 'the man said. Zivintof, lie said, had also told him that ?ir Ronald Bell, your wife's father, was wealthy, and ■would pay money, and Pavlovina, also, ■would pay, and perhaps Mrs. Wallace as well. It is mysterious. He seemed afraid to reveal his identity, talked of proofs, but would not produce them, and seeemed to know a great deal and yet little."

" Did ho promise not to divulge the information to anyone else when you paid him the fifty pounds ?" " Yes, and I am inclined to think we need not trouble ourselves further about him. It may be, of course, that he is a .very cunning knave acting the fool, but he left rne with the impression that he had actually advanced money to Zivintof, and that he was satisfied with filtv pounds. • Zivintof, I gathered, had told him he had only to apply to us for money and he would get it. He said he needed tlie money to enable him to got back to Germany, and that Zivintof had fooled hirn."

"1 don't know what to make of it,' remarked Clinton, shaking his head.

As I understand the matter, ho advanced fifty pounds to Boris Zivintof and accompanied him to England, Zivintof lwthat he could get large sums of money from .you, me, Sir Ronald Bel! explained Romanoff. When Zivintof was arrested and .sent to prison, the man found himself stranded. He protests that he is not a blackmailer, and 1 believe he will actually go back io Germany now I have given him his fatty pounds. " J hope to heaven that he does! " exclaimed Canton fervently.

Scarcely had Romanoff taken his leave •when the telephone bell and Clinton's secretary announced that Mr. Alan Burke wished to speak to him.

" I fcay, Wallace, can vou sir. me if I run round to your place now ? " inquired A lan over the wire. " It's rather important. That Bosche fellow has just been here arid made some startling statements. Your defective man didn't turn up. I'd rather I)ee you personally than explain things over the telephone." I can see you in halfan-hour," replied Clinton, after glancing at his watch and his list of appointments. " i think I can guess what the Bo.sche told you." He experienced a nott of reaction of fwimg. The succession of event;) had thrown him into a fatalistic state of mind, arid, while, still determined to make a bra vo fight to spars Daphne unhappiness, be felt that be would almost welcome the whole truth being made public. His atlft(id<l' perplexed Alan Burke when ,he called.

" You said on the telephone you could guetis what t!he German tol'J tnu, Wallace ? " Burke began. " Yrf>-~h<} told you, 1 suposc, (hat Pavioviri.'i is iti reality my wife, ami tliat 3 am aware of the jfacl?" ivtiponded Clinton. " Surely you were not looliftli enough ki pay him for I hat information ? " " Well—cr—as a matter of fad, lie aroused my curiosity by raying you Jia<i triad l'i prevent hih seeing me again, and laughed when I Huggejited it was n. detective who had intercepted him," answered Alan, looking uncomfortable. "1 parted with a tenner ori account, and he then told rrie I'avloviria is your wife, and that Serge Romanoff is aware of the fact as well as you, and that he is a partner otanian named Zivinfoff— " ton CS << i es know," interposed Clinhim. Zivin?n7' off i KOt " lt, HU)ry out " f claims to t! W 1# aL ' )r( ' w,lt 1,1 )?aol- - Zivintof LW ° " f rdativc " f cow, and »n»' 5 1 i married in Mosf "» ffla. ,h 0„ f Irma, and had th« ;,i avlovma to him large sums of moXv™ 0 r^" 1 ' 1 r ' dy are satisfied you Kot ■ Y; . 1 hopis you pounds ? " Value (or your ten •/.. "I say, Jiang it all, y 0 ... ... matter very coolly!" esclainied i r**lf , thero IS any truth u, W H-,V Ur \ c * ! Bosche said-' *" al ' 11,9 ' "My dear fellow, have you f o „ SoUon that X showed you documents beyond ariiadov/ of udoiibt thai, l' av . lovina could not possibly be Inna? " in . tcrrunted Clinton again. Arc vou an - WW 10 distress?.» : ' ;Banust

FINE STORY OF SWIFT ACTION AND ROMANCE.

(coprmcnT.)

" No, no—certainly not! But —er — well. I mean to say, something should be done about it."

"If Daphne v.ns not in a delicate state of health, I should have the German arrested for conspiracy and attempted blackmail. It is only the fear of causing her distress at a period when her inind is peculiarly susceptible to shocks that deters me' from taking action. You will understand my position better if I tell you that Daphne will soon become a mother, and that I am naturally anxious about her."

" I say—l—or—ves* of course that makes a ' difference'," stammered Burke, greatlv embarrassed. " You don't think I'm a frightful rotter, do you? I mean to say, the Boseho blighter seemed so sure about Pavlovina, and all that sorL of thing." 'lf you arc still in doubt, I should advise you to go and sec Serge Romanoff," said Clinton, coldly. "Of course, if you prefer to accept the word of some unknown foreigner who admits he is in partnership with another alien who is in gaol —" " I say, Wallace, you needn't lie so hard on me," broke in Burko. " I suppose I've made rather a fool of myself, but you needn't rub it in. You know I'd be the last man in tho world to cause Daphne distress, and I don't bear you any ill-will. If the Boseho blighter comes back for moro money, I'll boot him out and hand him over to the police if lie makes a. fuss. Sorry if Ive made «i fauxpas, old man, and wasted your time. Hope Daphne will be all right." Ho departed feeling small, and leaving Clinton moie troubled in mind than ever. Fortunately lie had much work and many cases to distract his attention and prevent him from brooding over the danger that threatened. "Had a trying day, darling?" asked Daphne, when he returned home. " lou look worried and worn out, poor man. But, I hope you won't feel too tired after dinner to go to the theatre. This is tho night of tho new Dougloff show, you remember, for which l'avlovina gave me tickets." "I am rather tired, but I shall probably feel as fit as the proverbial fiddle after a bath and a change," said Clinton with forced lightness. "It will be interesting to see Pavlovina again.

He reflected with a bitter smile as ho dressed that he, as well as Pavlovina and Sergo Romanoff, would be acting a part. There was the usual brilliant and distinguished audience for tho new Dougloff show, tho usual storms of applause for all the public favourites, and enthusiasm reached a, high pitch when Pavlovina and Serge Romanoff appeared in an entirely new scene, beautifully staged. In this they had to perform a sorics of acrobatic dances which called for a high degree of nerve, strength and skill. Pavlovina took the part of a tiger cat, and at tho climax of the act she had to take a flying leap on to the shoulders o:f Romanoff. Whether she misjudged the distance or Serge failed to catch her, no one ever knew. As it was. her spring took her right over Romanoff's shoulders, and she crashed, head downwards, on the stage, moaned, and lay as, one dead. Serge, with a cry of consternation, flung himself on his knees beside her, raised her head, then signalled frantically to someone in the wings.

Some of the audience, imagining it was all part of the performance, began to applaud, but tlie applause was very quickly .silenced when the curtain was lowered, and Dougloff appeared before it. "Ladies and gentlemen, there has been tho unfortunate accident, and. Pavlovina lias herself injured," lie announced, agitatedly. "Will any doctor in the audience have tho goodness tc come behind tllie scenes immccliatemcnt, please." "You go, Clinton," whispered Daphne.

Clinton nodded and rose at once without a word. As lie made his way out of the stalls toward the gangway ht> noticed that two other men, one of whom he • recognised as a well-known Harley Street physician, were also hurrying out, presumably in answer to Dougloff's ap peal. However, piloted by an attendant, he went behind tho scenes to find almost the entire company, to say nothing of stage-hands, crowding in concern around Pavlovina, still unconscious in the arms of her husband in the middle of the stage.

Dougloff. who was greatly agitated, recognised Clintjn at once, rushed at him, and clutched him eagerly by the arm, dragging him toward the unconscious dancer.

"Monsieur, monsieur, quick, quick!" he panted, "She seem to be dead! My Pavlovina, my beautiful Pavlovina! 0 nialheur! malheur!"

"She is probably only stunned," said Clinton reassuringly, taking command of the situation, and• ordering the crowd to stand back. "Better carry her to her dressing room," he added, as Serge Romanoff gasped out something unintelligblc, with anxiety and appeal in his darlc eyes, and his face ghastly with fear beneath his make up.

Romanoff: roso with Pavlovina in his arms, carrying her as easily aa if sho was a cluM, and Clinton, accompanied by the other doctors, followed him to a dressing room, where Serge tenderly laid his wife down on a couch. "For God's soke tell mo that she is only stunned," he said pitcously. "Bring her back to life, I implore vou !" Examination revealed the fact Pavlovina j in falling had pitched upon the crown of Iter head where she had a Wound evii dcntly of long-standing.

'Severe concussion through striking fhc place where she was previously injured," said the physician, and Clinton nodded agreement. "Looks an if she had sustained a fracture of the skull at some Inno Impossible to tell the extent of the damage at present." His and Clinton's efforts to restore conBciousneMi failed, an ambulance was summoned. and poor Pavlovina was conveyed looking like a painted corpse, to hospital for further examination. Clinton and .Serge, the latter looking grotesque in his stage cos.fuine, accompanying her. At the hospital a more minute examination reVMilc' the fact that the previous injury to Pavlovina's head must have beey very serious. "Better take an X-ray photograph to ascertain the extent of the damage," suggested Clinton, and the house surgeon agreed. While the radiograph apparatus wa-< being got iri readiness, Clinton questioned Serge, who was pacing distractedly up and down a waiting room, almost beside himself with anxiety. "Yes J OJga's head was hurt years ago," tferge fold him, when he was able to pull himself together sufficiently to answer questions, " She was struck with the butt of a rifle in the revolution, and her head was still had when first I met her in Warsaw. Oh, monsieur, surely she is not going to dieV ou can save her. Once, you loved her, and she is more than all the world to me, rny Olga, my Pavlovina. You will not lett her die, although her death would set yon free." " Don't 'filk in that absurd fashion,' sriapnedl Clinton, startled by the last words. " The injury may not be serious. Pull yourself together, and don't give way to hysteria. I must leave you now find go back to the theatre, but you must rtist assured that Pavlovina. is iri good hands and that everything possible will be done for her."

He patted Romanoff on fhe hack, bade him liti of good cheer, and drove back to Iho theatre, after exchanging a few •wprd|i with the house surgeon. Arrived >ack at the theatre, lie found the audience •'pplaiu.inf. a lf| C >!ii ii l " OKr am rr ! c having, perforce, had I > avlcv;!,i e ! e 'V c OW ' nft ,f> absence of [ . a " nt ' Sfirge Romanoff. U.o bo continued daily,)