THE MALLARD MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20098, 8 November 1928, Page 20

THE MALLARD MYSTERY.

CHARLES D. LESLIE

CHAPTER IX.—(Continued.) But the dinner did not last long. It wis quite a simple meal, only five courses i,t least that is how Hopo would have described it. That dinners could bo even simpler she was to learn directly—and in half an hour it was over. Bates, having served coffee, placed cigars and cigarettes cm I lie. table and withdrew. " No, thank you." Hope, sipping her roffee, refused a cigarette. Keeling at last master of tlio situation George. very leisurely lit one himself and slid blandly under tho cloud of pale bluo smoke, ho had dismissed to the ceilmg: ' And what would you like to do to-night, Mope? Shall we drop in at the Arnold—the favourite dancing club of the moment - or try a show ? " " I am'writing letters in my room tonight." " Oh, come, I can't allow that. I've a pocket, full of money. Let's go out and enjoy ourselves." He leaned forward, speaking with caressing cadence; ho reminded Hope of a purring tom-cat. Slto finished her coffee and rose to her feet. " Suppose we come to an understanding. While lam under this roof I can t refuse to meet you at meals here. Rut there my relations with you stop. I will not. go out. with you." "Why?" " Is a girl obliged to give a reason lor declining an invitation? " "To oblige me," lie said challengingly. " You insist ? " " Please." " Several good reasons. I'irst I do not. like you. Second, lan, wouldn t like it. Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you, we arc engaged." "' Engaged—to lan! Goorgo was on his feel., incredulity in his voice. Across 11 if, table he stared at her, amazed, unbelieving. " Why, you haven t known him till two days ago." '•Surely the length of our acquaintance concerns ourselves only, lie asked me to marrv him, and I have said ' cs. "That fellow! Thai down-at heels tiiimp who came here in rags " You have been misinformed; be wore n suit made in Savile Row crumpled, I grant." Hope was beginning to enjoy herself. " Man who had to work his passage home as a common sailor." " Yes. ho worked his passage home. Have you ever worked in your lie, George? I mean real, hard work, not • ard-sharping, or swindling a bookmaker. Inn is a man, and that is why I respect him. Not a tailor's walking advertisement." . kt Arc you aware Uncle, Arthur has clone with him? More, suspects him of being concerned in the theft and murder here. " A ridiculous accusation! "Is it, indeed? I'm not so sure. But rou talk of marrying him! Can't you realise you are dependent on I nele Arthur, and he's done with him. \\ 1-y, what can you marry on .' "Don't he impertinent. It doesn I concern VOIl." " But it does. You're going to marry rue,.Hope." She laughed in his face. Oh. dear lm, (leorge. get that idea out of your head. All the devil in George was awake. Ilis usually immobile face was convulsed with rage; he looked so ugly, so evidently struggling with a passion tr.at threatened to overwhelm him, that many mrls would have been frightened, lint, not Hope. Modern though she was, wide as iiev reading had been, compared to that of girls a generation ago, she was, in some, respects, as ignorant as a child. In her knowledge of life there was a recognised code for men in their relations with tons, and she imagined it was never broken. So it merely amused her to see his singing passion. She wondered if he would start smashing the furniture. He was pushing tin armchair out o! (lie way. that lie intended to lay violent hands on hor, never entered her head. And just then Rates knocked and entered. " You are wanted on the 'phone, Miss Hope. A Mrs. ffarley, if 1 have the name." (leorge had just time, as Hope leaving the room noticed, to turn his back on the servant. She'went to the 'phone, the message was of no importance, hung tip the receiver, and walked upstairs to her room. Foostops pattered 011 the stairs behind Tier, followed along the corridor, caught her up by her door. " Hope, Hope, I want to speak to you." She turned, her bauds 011 the handle, to meet a changed George. He'd got his temper under control; ho pleaded hoarsely. " Hope, hear reason. Don't drive rne to desperate measures. Give up lan. I ran get any money \ want out. of my uncle, and you'll never have a penny from him if you don't marry me." " Don't be a fool." she answered, _callous and contemptuous, " there isn't enough money in the city, or jewels in the East to bribe'mo to marry you. I've always disliked you, but your open chase of rne because I was an heiress, amused rue. Now I hate you. You are not fit. to clean lan's boots." He stood before her, sullen, silent, beaten, or so she thought, and she turned the handle and backed a step into her room. And then with the suddenness of lightning, incredible things began to happen. George sprang forward, pushing her so violently that she released her hold and staggered some paces back. He closed the door, and, with a quick turn of (he key, locked it. And as the bolt snicked, Hope suddenly realised she was at his mercy. CHAPTER X. HOI'E LEAVES GtIORVENOR SQt.'AltE. "Wide eyed, panting, Hope stared at the transformed George. Mallard, who confronted her. " How dare you," tho words rose automatically to her lips and died away unuttered; though dazed, she bad sensu enough to realise their futility, (ieorge. had pushed her out of her world into another, ,1 large, uglier planet, where horrible things could happen. She went white as bo enrne to her and caught her in his arms. I lie suddenness, the amazing change in her position paralysed Imt. A minute ago, a bare minute, site was the spoiled diughler of Hie house, tolerating, at her eccentric guardian's desire, a relative she didn't like, now a frightened girl, at I lie mercy of a cad bent. 011 her dishonour. They were alone on that Moor; the bell was yards away, screaming could bring 110 succour—- " You brute, you utter brute, let rne go!" " Presently," he mocked, " presently, you little devil." Sim was lighting now, fighting will every bit of her supple, well-knit frame, and her mingled anger and fright gave her double, strength; for a minute she held him, but only for a minute. She knew herself weakening, her strength was being crushed out of her, she was fainting i.ll his arms. I'nseen bv hef, unseen by fleorge, a diminutive figure now appeared from under Hope's bed, grasping one of ihe four-pound dumb belli Mi.«s Ashley owned, but. seldom used, for fnorning fxerciso, Gritting his leelh, llin fig ire raised the bar and aiming at the back of George's head struck hard and true; then was heard, in the words r,f an outworn clinche. "a dull, sickening thud," (leorge sighed, relaxed, sagged at the knees, stood inert, the strength gone, out. of him, Hope, with an effort, freed herself of hi 4 hold, be reeled, crashed lo the floor and lay there, supine and inMirisible, "'Sfrnth," laid the rescuer, "a fair knock out that, miss." Ho was a bry with a. prematurely nl<| face, rather dirtv, rather shabby, but self-possessed, and Clearly quite pleased I with himself.

A CRISPLY-TOLD STORY BY AN EFFECTIVE WRITER.

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In her eyes ho was not so much as a boy as a miracle, a god out of tho machine. Bewildered she asked : " Who are you; what are you doing here ? " " Litly, that ain't tho wye to talk to a bloke wot's come to yer 'elp like I 'ave. When I sees you addn't give this bloke any rendyvous I up and does the Dyvid and Goliath stunt. 'E's no class. Don't mind 1110 goin' through 'ini, miss. I'm a perfessional." With amazing celerity tho boy relieved the unconscious George of a gold wristwatch. a pocket-book a gold pencil-case, a gold cigarette-case, a vulcanised match box and some looso silver. Knowledge came to Hope. Why, you must bo a cat burglar," she exclaimed. Bight fust time, lydy," grinned the bov. " Shinned up (he water pipo at (he back, got in by the landin* winder, other rooms all unoccupied, but picked tip a few sparklers 'ere," and he displaced a dirty handkerchief half full of glittering jewellery. Not a bad haul for the juvenile thief, for Hope had some quito valuable bits of jewellery, chiefly her guardian's gifts; and, as related earlier, none of it was on her person. Still shaken by tho ordeal she had gone through. She laughed hysterically, then said: "Oh, give ine the ruby necklace back. It was my mother's, and I prize it for that reason." "Tyko it. lydy." the boy generously held out his plunder, and Hope mechanically thanked him for restoring her own property. "What is your name?" she asked. "Jinnny, miss. Jimmy tho bantam, they calls me, 'cos I won't grow, and 'cos I stands up to any bloke wot asks me to put 'em up. I'm goin' to lie a Jimmy Wilde one day. Bantam weight champion of the world." " You've done 111 c a very great service, Jimmy, and I hopo you will get away." "1 'opes so, miss. It's a toss-tin, of course, but we as to tyke chances in my perfession. 'Aven't killed the bloke, 'ave I ? Lor no, 'c's breathing like a bull bitch asleep. The dirtv swine! I've 'alf a mind to jump on his dial. 'E's got off too cheap with an 'eadache." "No, leave him alone, Jimmy. I'll have him thrown out of the house within half an hour. And I'll have him thrashed into the bargain," said Hope vindictively. For. indubitably, when she told lan she could guess what form his displeasure would take. "You'll excuse me, lydv. but I'll mike my get-awav ncow. it's lingerin' on the scene of the crime that gets criminals flinched—specially in the pictures." He made an awkward attempt at a Claude Duvan bow, and Hope opening the door saw the coast was clear and intimated as much. But, as tho nefarious Jimmy passed her, moved by a sudden impulse, she stopped and kissed him, "Goodbye, Jimmy, and thank you," she said. Poor Jimmy blushed deeply and scutfled off with an inarticulate protest. Hopo saw him disappear into the end room and turning ran down the stairs to her guardian. The door was locked, but Arrowsmith opened it to her demand for entrance, and she burst in. Lord Mallard was lying on the couch reading by (he light of a reading lamp. '"Cousin Arthur," she began, "that beast, George, must leave the house to-night!" To a startled audience of two, Hope poured forth her (ale, but to her amazement it was not taken by her guardian in tho spirit she anticipated. Lord Milliard plainly did not credit her, and on learning that George was lying stunned in her room with a damaged head, seemed more concerned about him! Arrowsmith was despatched to bis succour. "Ob dear, 011 dear," he, wailed. "You're mistaken, you must be mistaken. It was. just a rag, I'm sure, and the young man has been well punished for trying to frighten you." Hope stamped her foot in anger, and grew incoherent in rebutting what was indeed quite a natural assumption. Arrowsmith returned. "Mr. George lias a bad wound on the back of his head. I have helped him to his room, and propose to return at once to dress it: he declines to say anything." "Oh dear, 011 dear," wailed Lord Milliard. "Cousin Arthur," said Hope, "you seem besotted with George. Well, you must choose between us. Either he or I leave this house to-night." It seemed the least her guardian could do after the insult George had put upon her. She had told the facts as they happened, only suppressing Jimmy's' part. ' As we were struggling he tripped and fell and his head hit I lie brass railing on my bed. ' Put incredible to relate Lord Mallard hummed and hawed, and begged her to calm herself, and finally she rushed out of the room, banging the door behind her. When she reached her own room, cleansed of George, she wasted no time iu tears or speculation, but began to cram a few things in a kit bag. She owed it to herself, to her self-respect to go; how could any decent girl livo under tho samp roof as a vile cad like George ? How was it, that her guardian, whom she had always been able to do what she liked with, couldn't soo that? It was incredible. Some obsession concerning his previously hated nephew possessed the old man. She could only pray it would be short-lived. 111 a very few minutes she had packed a tailor-made, arid a few sundries into her bag and put on a hat; wrapped herself in her heaviest cloak, and bag in hand, descended. No one saw her go, the servants were all downstairs when she opened tho front door, and let herself out. A diminutive figure, somehow looking familiar, was loafing near and approached her. "Why, Jimrnie, you! Is this wise to stay about here?" " I've passed the stuff to a confederate, miss. But you ain't goin' are you? I'm waitin' to see the bloko thrown out." "They wouldn't do it, Jimmy; so I'm going. Run and get me a taxi." He was back with 0110 in three minutes, (nit 111 that time Hope had made a serious discovery. There were a dozen, there were twenty houses, which would tie thrown open to her if she came asking for a night's shelter. She was a popular girl, sought after; hostesses begged her to come to their parties, and there was Lady Cantelupo who officially chaperoned her, and was handsomely paid by Lord Mallard for so doing. - But it came to Hope, with a blinding ray of reality, that what lay at tho base of her popularity was her status as Lord Mallard's heiress; take that away she was just a good-looking girl. Willi a (lash of insight she saw the change that would take place when the iriends she bad quartered herself on learned that she had quarrelled with her guardian. No, if, couldn't be risked; in all her fashionable circle was there anyone fnrul enough of her to lako her in out of charily? I'ut, thank heaven, she had 0110 woman friend, though not, in society. Thank tho kind tales that made her acquainted with I'renda Foams. A taxi rattled up and Jimmy, springing flown from beside the driver, opened the door. " Jimmy," she said, " will you do something more for me?" A needless question; she had made a conquest of Jimmy. True he had robbed her, but that was in tho way of business. His eves shone wi(h worship; he nodded eagerly. Hope opened her wrist bag; it held, among other things, a notebook; on a sheet of this she wrote an address which she (landed the boy. " Tell (he driver (hat address. Keep I lie paper and como here to-morrow just before (en. A gentleman will drive up ill a (axi; he will be wearing a blue suit, he's rather big and allilel ic-looking. Ask him if he is Mr. Lan Mallard, and if he says 'yes' Rive him that paper and tell hiin I'm staying there." (To ho continued rlnily.)'