"SHADOWS BY THE SEA"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20111, 23 November 1928, Page 22

"SHADOWS BY THE SEA"

BY JEFFERSON FAKJEON

CHAPTER YIII. " THE rECULIAIt BEHAVIOUR OF LUIGI." They spoke little during the rest of tho journey, and they reached their bay in Jess timo than the outward journey had occupied them. The little strip of yellow sand was now completely covered, and they had to make their landing stage a rock. When they had clambered upon it, 11 voice hailed them from above. "Hurry up!" called tho voice. " You've tmly got ten minutes!" "AU right, brother mine!" sang back Beryl, and then turned to Leonard with a smile. " It'll have to be only eight minutes, I'm afraid. Now, then—tell mo!" " Right," responded Leonard. " Jim — the boots of our hotel—came upon a dead man at tho foot of the gap. I stopped my gamo of tennis to go and have a look at him,; When I got to the spot, he'd gone." Goodness!" gasped Beryl. " Yes—it was pretty queer," went on Leonard, " and perhaps you can understand now why 1 wasn't too keen to tell you when you were in tho middle of the ocean. I'm only telling you now because I believe you're the kind of person who can help—and there are so many people who only hinder." '■ Thanks,' she said. " Thanks—awfully. But you're going to tell the others, too, aren't you ?" He looked at her reflectively before roplving. " I haven't quite decided, Miss Haines," he said, slowly. " They'll have to learn soon, of course —but, just for tho moment "Well, I'll keep injim till you tell rrio not to," slio interposed. " But —although I'm sure you're wiser than 1 am—l think you'll be making a mistake if you keep mum too long." " I agree," ho answered. "It will only he for a few hours, at most." She' picked up her mauve bathing-wrap, and threw it around her. " Anyhow," she observed, as they began to ascend tho privato path to the hotel, "you've told mo everything, and I'm sure i feel vastly flattered. But Leonard Sefton had not to!d her everything. 11 o had not told her, for instance, that when they liad been on the wreck ho had heard something breathing behind tno door ho had been unable to open. • ... Leonard Sefton and Beryl Haines formed a fino advertisement for tho exuberance of swimming that evening over dinner, for although among thp diners these two possessed tho grimmest secret knowledge, they provided tho gayest tone. Old .Mr. Griddle, sitting at his favourite corner table, remarked to Luigi that, if only he were a little younger, he would be tempted to try tho effect of before-dinner bathing himself. " We've not been so lively for a week," he observed. " This new arrival is certainly cheering us all up a bit." "'E is ver! —how you say?—live 'earted, yes," agreed Luigi, rather absently. " Well, don't you think it a good thing?" asked Mr. Griddle, rather sharply. Luigi's tone had not been particularly enthusiastic. "Si, si!" repeated the waiter, grinning galvanically. "'E laugh a lot—" " And laughter's what we want," interposed Mr. Griddle. "It seems to mo you could do with a little more, Luigi! Now, now—you'll have my glass over with your elbow in a minute!" "Pardon J" mutteied Luigi. "All zis —it upset me. In Italy, I laugh. All zo time, yes! But, 'ere—?" lie shook his head, possibly in sympathy with the hand that was pouring out Mr. Griddle's Burgundy, for that slvook, too. " It's time you stopped feeling upset, then," < remarked the old man, diiyly. " Unless anything fresh has happened today ? Eh? Has it?" Luigi did not reply at once. He appeared to be very.intent upon the business of wine-pouring. Then, as ho saw Mr. Griddle's eyes upon him, lie suddenly answered: "To-day? Oh, no! Nosing 'appen now. All over;"

As ho hurried away to attend to the table where tho Haineses were sitting, a burst of laughter arose. "Jolly good, jolly good!" cried tho voice of Napoleon Truelove. " But Ive just thought of a riddle better than that—" " It's got bo original," exclaimed Beryl Haines. " Mine was." "Oh, it's qui to original—l've only just made it up," Napoleon assured her. " At least, I got the idea when I came across a broken bicycle in the old shed here. Silly ass I am— now I'm giving it away, before I begin " " Well, for heaven's sake, old chap, rlo begin," pleaded Guy. " Righto—here goes," said Napoleon, clearing his voice. "The questions a bit long, but tho answer's worth it. A fellow wenj. out on a bicycle, and there was an accident. Got that ? " Yes." " All right. Now, tho accident was nil because tho man and his bicycle disagreed. They disagreed about how they should travel, Got that.'" "No." " Well, never mind. The question is —-how did they disagree ? How did each of them want to travel 1" " I say, Nappy, how many riddles is Ihis ?" enquired Beryl, politely. "It seems like 11 dozen." " Well, tho answer's good, anyway," retorted Napoleon " Listen. How did "they travel ? Now, then. Iho man bicycled, and tho bicyclo bust. B-u-s-t—----IJ-ii-s-s-e-d." . "And now there's Another accident! exclaimed Guy, amid loud groans of disapproval. " I don't wonder you knocked that roll over, Luigi. after hearing such a vilo riddle as that!" Luigi* picked up the roll, apologising, nnd replaced it by another. Ho certainly ■was behaving very clumsily this evening. When the meal was over, Leonard sought Miss Fyho in her oflice, and remarked upon

" Your Italian waiter's full of nerves fii--night,". lie said. "Is lio always like 1 his?" " He's never exactly pacific," replied Jessic;i Fyne, smiling slightly, " but then 3'vo enly had liini a few days, so 1 don't know his ordinary habits, Why, what, has lo been doing'."' All the things (hat a proper, wellregulated waiter should not, dot" answered Leonard. " Upsetting rolls, and bringing Hit; wrfiiicr dishes . . . Where did you pick him up " He applied for the job after my last waiter had his accident." " Oil, yes-—I think you told me. Were liis references all right?" " Yes, they seemed so. But I didn't liave time to go into them very seriously —yon see. it was just after my father disappeared—and, then, I had 'to have someone. I was very glad lie, came." Leonard noddei], " Yes—lie chose an auspicious moment, didn't he? ;\ru you {satisfied with him?" " I think so." "That means you're not rjuifp. I'm riot, Miss Fyne. I'm not satisfied with liiin at •all." " Why, what do you mean ?" 1 11' tell you presently—but, of course, J may bo all wrong. First, I'd like to liave a word or two with your most youthful retainer, if [ may. Well you send for him ?" She stretched her hand and pressed the bell-push thrice. While they were waiting for Jim to appear sho asked, abruptly : " Did you enjoy your swim, Mr Sertoli?" *' Very much," he answered. " You reached the wreck ?" " Yes—and was nearly late for dinner ill consequence. I suppose you swim. Miss l r yne ?" 4 " Until a week ago I bathed regularly before breakfast." By ' " Bvt now you've no time?" I' G '"rlination."

A FASCINATING AND ROMANTIC DETECTIVE SERIAL.

(COPYRIGHT.)

" I soo. Yes, I understand. But I think it would be an excellent plan if you resinned the* practice to-morrow. You must look after yourself, you know—you must give natiiro a chance to help your spirit , . . Ah, here conies Jim. ilpw

he must hate carpets!" "Why?" sho enquired. " They don't show foot-prints," ho ro plied.

Jim stood before them solemnly and expectantly. Mr. Sefton had described him as tho < Record Department, and ho wondered whether the contents of his precious book were about to bo further consulted. But Leonard's first question was not, concerning the note-book.

" Have you told anybody about our disappearing corpse, Jim?" he asked. " No, sir," answered tho boy. " Not a. soul ?" " Not nobody,i sir. You told mo not to. I ain't oven told Lopjy." " Luigi!" exclaimed Leonard, sharply. " Why do you mention him ?" " Well, sir, 'corse 'ti asks mo wot 'appencd. but I didn't tell 'im nothin'." " No, I still haven't got this straight," said Leonard. "Why should Luigi ask you ? Does he know anything about it.' " Yesir When I fust comes up alter seein'—arter seein' 'im, yer know —1 meets Loojy in the road." " You didn't tell me that. Then Luigi knows what you found at tho foot of tho gap?"

" Yessir. I told 'im." " He was on the lawn when Jim spoke to me," interposed Jessica. " Yes, L remember. I saw him. But I didn't realise that Jim had spoken to him, and Jim didn't mention it." "Ought I to 'ave, sir?" murmured Jim, depressed. ■ "No reason at all why you sl%uild have," answered Leonard smiling suddenly, "and I'm not saying it's of any importance." Ho considered for a moment. " Then Luigi's the only member M tho staff who knows, besides you, eh ?" ' " Yessir." " I suppose you're quite sure of that, Jim? Quite, quite sure?" " Yessir." " None of tho maids, or the cook—?" " None of 'em. sir, 'cos if they knowd they'd bo torkiu' about it ot'l tho time, d6n't T know 'em!" " Good enough," replied Leonard, while Jessica watched him and wondered exactly what ,wa3 at tho back of his mind. " Now, just ono more question, young man, and then you can go Is your note-book absolutely privato, or would you mind letting me have a glance at it? I've a notion it might be quite helpful—you're really quite a smart little chap at making notes." Jim swelled with pride, and put his hand into his packet. But tho prido left his face the next moment. " Golly!" ho exclaimed, inelegant under emotion. " It's gorn !" Leonard frowned, and ho glanced at Jessica. " That's a nuisance," ho remarked. " But perhaps you've just laid it down somewhere, and forgotten." " No, sir—it was in my pocket!" exclaimed the boy, excitedly. " Somo'nn's took it!" His voice quivered with indignation ; yet there was something rather pleasant in tho situation, to counteract his grief For who would trouble to stejil a note-book unless tho note-book were valuable.

" Well, see if you can find it, Jim," said Leonard. "Now you've got a definite job. I want you to bring me your book, or tho name of tho person who has taken it from you."

" I'll do it, sir," replied Jim, " Miss Fyne, wo seem to bo getting somewhere," . observed Leonard, when they were alone again. " We're gradually building a pattern, and although I don't know what the final pattern is going to be, I'm growing convinced that your new waiter figures pretty prominently in it. / And the delicate business is that we mustn't let him know yet of our suspicions." " But what do you suspect him of, Mr.. Sefton?" asked Jessica, anxiously. " You don't mean—you can't mean—?"

" I don't mean anything more than I say. For the moment, I suspect Luigi of nothing definite. But—well, just listen to these points—none of 'em vital by themselves, but are quite interesting when we put them together in a collection. ftem, Luigi hears of a most interesting corpse, yet does not say anything about it. Jim, not Luigi, had instructions to remain silent. Item, Luigi was the first person .titri saw after making his discovery. Don't think I'm assuming things from that, but it's another little point worth remembering. Item, when we question Luigi about an afternoon visitor, he says he has seen none. liut when Luigi is recalled, he goes back on himself, and describes a small shabby mag when wo expected liim to describe a well-dressed one. I don't believe Luigi's small shabby man exists—because, item, it takes Luigi a long, while to tell lis where the supposed visitor wanted to be directed to." " Yes, I lemember that,"'

" Item," proceeded Leonard, " Luigi is obviously ill at ease over dinner, bungles his work, and bungles worst when mention is mado of a broken bicycle. Luigi's predecessor is in hospital owing to a bicycle, accident. And, item—Jim's note-book has disappeared. Query, did it contain any reference to a broken bicycle? Yes, I shall have to ask Master Jim that." " The bicycle on which the last waiter had his accident is in the shed outside," exclaimed Je. c sica, suddenly. " Would you liko to look at it ?" "I would, very much. How did it got into the shed ?" " After the accident, it was brought back here. The waiter—Anderson's his name—doesn't live in tho neighbourhood, and there was nowhere else to take it. They didn't want it at the hospital, of course."

"Of course not," nodded Leonard, rising. " What I'm wondering is whether that bicycle might interest them at the polico station." They left the office and crossed to the fronf-door. As they entered the grounds, laughter came from the tennis lawn, although t.Jio light was beginning to fade. Jessica Fyne paused for an instant, and listened. " That's you doings Mr. Sefton," sho said. " They used to play every evening. I'm grateful to you—you know that, I think. But—isn't it odd ?" " It's odd, but it's also useful," replied Leonard. " Business has got to remain as usual as long as wo can keep it as usual, until—" Until when?" sho asked, for ho had paused. Until (hat mosaic is completed," he answered, " and wo can seo our way," When will that bo ?" " A day or two at most, I hope—a few hours, at least." And—after ihat?" " Peace,'' he promised liet\ with a a smile. " And sunshine again." They crossed to the'shed, and Jessicathrew the door open. Tliero was no bicycle in it. f " I r OW .?f! Pn (1 ° y«n ring your 'bell or Luigi . asked Leonard suddenly, ,! r, • T .'" ssl ,™ s 'ood staring. it Twi M •'! , Sll ° answ ored. " But—Mr. • efton fhnt bicycle was here just before ''inner—T know it was." .. a, "' pr dinner," added Leonard the bicycle isn't here. Will you go twice?" H " You want to sneak to Luigi?" * "I think it most important to speak to Luigi ?" ' She closed the shed door, and they refill ned to t lie little office. Jessica pressed the bell-push twice. A minute went by. sho rang again 'T'nrther item." murmured Leonard Disapponnnce of Mr. Luigi." (To be continued daily.)