THE STOLEN MASTERPIECE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20603, 30 June 1930, Page 16

THE STOLEN MASTERPIECE.

By T. C. BRIDGES

CHAPTER XXlV.—(Continued.) Uncle Robert's pet ganio was backgammon, a pastime which Jim abhorred, but by way of penanco ho played a couple of games with tho o|d gentleman, then took himself upstairs. To himself ho vowed that ho was far too unhappy to sleep, but when a healthy young man bas been up sinco live and walked a matter of 20 miles, Mother Nature usually takes a hand, and Jim's head had not been five minutes ou the pillow boforo ho was as sound asleep as ho had over been iu tho wholo courso of his life.

110 slept and 110 dreamed, and his dream was that ho had gono down into tho inner cellar to look for Ching and had beeomo somehow awaro that Ching was bidden in tho old chest. Ho had, therefore, opened tho chest and was looking down into it when someone caino up behind, caught him, thrust him in and slammed down tho lid, leaving him to suffocate. Ho struggled desperately, but in vain, and woke to find that this was no nightmare, but a horrid reality. Something, a rug or blanket, was actually wrapped round his head and a heavy weight lay upon his body and stomach, while at least ono pair of hands held him down. Jim fought furiously, kicking and struggling with frantic energy. Ho tried to cry out for help, but tho blanket muffled his cries and cut off his breath, whilo tho weight upon his body in ado it impossible to move. Presently he was choking—suffocating, and as the air was cut off from his lungs his struggles gz'ew feebler. His lungs seemed to swell as if they would burst his chest, his throat was dry agony, sparks appeared to flash and corruscato beforo his eyes. Then his senses left him and lie lay limp. " He'll do now," camo a gruff whisper. "Is all clear outside?" A slight pnuso whilo tho second man listened at the door. " All clear," caino a voice, pitched as low as that of tho first speaker. " Then help mo down with him," said the latter. CHAPTER XXV. CltlMi 'JELLS HIS STORY. It is a beastly thing to bo choked into insensibility—practically as bad as hanging—but tho coming to lifo again after such a process is almost worso in that it is slower and quilo as painful. When, in addition, you liavo to struggle back to consciousness iu pitch darkness, with your hands fast tied and lying on cold stone, tho business is about as bad

an experience as can befall a man. Yet that was how Jim Coryton found himself when his senses began to come back to his numbed brain. It was indeed only by degrees that ho recognised his plight, for his head ached so that ho could hardly realiso anything beyond tho pain of it. His throat was equally painful, and terribly dry, his tongue felt like a stick, while, his eyes were balls of fire. At first, too, his memory refused to work. Ho could not recall to mind what had happened, and it seemed to him that ho must bo dead, and had gono to some black place of torment. But Jim Coryton was a strong man in first-class health and condition, and presently tho numbing effects of tho shock began to wear off, his half-paralysed lungs began to inhale air, and tho blood lo flow again through tho choked arteries. After that the mental processes camo slowly back to work, and ho remembered tho nightmare that had changed into a horrible reality. Reality! But what was this reality ? Where was he? How had ho come there? Who wero his altackors, and how had tlicy corno upon hiin so suddenly? This brought him a step further back to Butch, and Butch's warnings. Butch had told him he was in jlauger, but onco ho had reached tho Roost he had not, given that warning a second thought. Ho had gone to bed, and to sleep, without even locking his door. What, a fool he had been—oh, what a fool! Tho conviction brought a groan from him, and tlio groan brought all echo. But, was it an echo? Ho could almost sweaj that it was from another throat than his own, and lie lay btill and silent, almost without breathing, listening with a fierce inlentness. Seconds dragged by, but ho heard nothing. At last tho suspenso grow too much for bis strained nerves. "Who is it? Who is thero? Answer, can't you?" lie cried aloud. And almost instantly the answer camo. " It's Mr. Coryton," said a voice, so low and hoarse it was only just audible. For a, moment Jim's surprise was so intense that ho was literally unable lo speak. At last his dry lips framed ono word "Ching!" , " Yes, it's Ching, sir," camo tho butler's voice, out of the blackness. " B-bufc I thought you wero dead—murdered. I found your cap down by the waterside this morning aud marks of a struggle. Wo had the polico and they too, thought you wero drowned." " Better for mo if I had been, sir," said Ching, and his voice was so thin and weak it wrung Jim's heart. " Drown- j ing's an easier death than starving in the dark like this." "I. don't understand," said Jim. "-How did you como hero? Who put you here ? Where are wo " I don't rightly know where wo arc, sir, but I know who put mo here. It was that thero Aylmer." "Aylmer!" repeated Jim, almost too surprised for words. "Impossible! It was Aylmer who wont with mo for tho polico this morning." "Like his dirty cunning," said Ching bitterly. Sheer anger lent a little strength to his voice, so that Jim could hear his words more plainly. " lie did it just to put you off tho scent, sir. Ho know as the polico couldn't lind me." " But tell mc—explain," bugged Jim. " I can make nothing of if." "Thero ain't a, lot to toll, sir. Y>iu know,, as I'vo. told you before,'that *Mr. Aylmer was after the treasure. That firsL night, you wero hero—you remember?" " I roniomber that right enough, hut I'm afraid 1 didn't pay much attention to your warning, Ching." " But I told you no moro than tho truth, sir, and when tho picture went I suspected him of having a hand in the job."

" But ho whs away in London," exclaimed Jim, bewildered. " You've no proof of that, 1\ Tr. Cory ton, except his bare word. It's my belief lie was never 20 miles from hero. You know a car canio hero that night." " I know a. car eanio down tlio branch road. You mean that was his?" I've no proof, sir, but I'm pretty sure of it. Anyway, 1 rnado up my mind to watch him. Last nigh I —or perhaps it was the night before " " 1/ was last night," put in Jim. " Yes, sir, but I feel as if I'd beoti hero a week. Well, last night I heard a board croak. To say the truth, sir I havo fixed two boards so they will creak if Hnyono steps on them. I heard it and I was up quick, and out. It was Aylmer right enough. Dark as it was, I could swear to that by the height and the bulk of him. Aylmer. and going down the stairs quiet and cautious as big cat. I know the house. .1 know the boards that creak and them that don't, and I followed him. No trouble, for I luiew us well as if I'd been told just which way he was going. Across the hall, through

{COPYMGIIT.)

A THRILLING STORY OF ENTRANCING INTEREST.

tho swing door, into tho passage, inside the passage ho stopped and turned ou a littlo torch. I. saw tho gleam of it through the crack under tho door. " If I'd had sense I'd have gone back for you, sir, but 1 was so afraid of missing him, and so suro I could tacklo tho job myself that J. only waited until ho was inside tho cellar before I went after him through tho door. Ho had closed the cellar door, but I had oiled tho hinges myself, and knew they would not squeak, so I gavo him timo lo go below, and followed.

" There ho was with his torch in his hand, stooping over a flagstone iu tho floor. 110 kneeled down and did something—l couldn't sco what, but I take it ho was shifting a spring or something. Anyhow, part of tho wall swung back just like that way Miss Nance found into the secret collar; only this was in the left-hand wall. Then Aylmer stood up, took a good look all round and walked through this opening.", Ching paused, ilia voice was so hoarse Jim could hardly hear him. "It's my throat," whispered the poor little mau. " It's dry as a bone." Jim* said nothing, but his wholo soul was seething at the thought of the torture Aylmer had inflicted on Ching. It occurred to him, too, that, very soon he would bo m tho samo plight. Presently Ching went on. " I gavo him plenty of tirno beforo I followed. Of course I was a bit excited, for I reckoned he'd found tho way down to old Rabb's plunder pit. I went quiet as a mouse, and I could sec his light hobbling along a good way ahead, lfo was walking down' a passage cut in tho rock, and sound as tho clay it was made. A bit damp in places, and ran at a slope downwards." " But it was madness, Ching," put in Jim. " What chance had you against a great brute of a man like that ?" " I know that now, sir, but I didn't think of it at tho time. I was mad keen to find out just wbero Lie was going and what lie was about. H wasn't the treasure I was thinking about so much as tho picture. You see, 1 reckoned he'd hail it somewhero down below. Besides, I didn't reckon ou tackling him. My notion was to seo what ho was about, then clear out and come back." Ho paused onco more to get his voice I back, then went on. " And that's what I'd have dono only for a bit of bad luck. Tho passage curved, and Aylmer and his light went nut of my sight round the curve. I could still "see tho glow of it, but for tho rest l was pretty much in the dark, so I didn't notice that I'd come on a stoop slope, or that the floor was wet with drip from tho roof. I had on a pair of thin crepe-solod rubber shoes. Fino things to walk quiet iu, but terrible bad on wet stone. Next thing I know, my feet slipped from under me and I camo down such a crack as near stunned me. "Before T could get my feet again I saw the light coining back and knew as ho'd heard me. I got. up and started to run, but bless you, I hadn't a chance. My feet kept slipping and auyhow his legs is twice as long as mine. I wasn't half way back before ho had me. His hands is like iron. You wouldn't believe how strong lie is. Ho caught mo round tho back of the neck and scragged mc till I dropped. Then ho turned the light on iri<\ ' J thought it was you,' Jie said, speaking quiet as you like, but tho glitter in Ihoso eyes of his fair scared ine. ' Three limes you've failed me,' ho said, ' but this is tho last-' I though he was going to finish mo thero and then, but instead ho turned mo over on my face, put his kneo in tho small of my back, pulled my arms round, and tied my wrists together. Then ho picked mo up like I was a sack of coals, flung mo over his. shoulder arid walked ou down tho

:lope. I wouldn't say how far we came, for I was still all dazed like with tho fall and tho throttling. All I know is I hot wo came out, into a wide place, a. kind of cave, and there ho dumped irio down aud loft mo". What with tho shock, and everything, .1 reckon I fainted. Anyways tho next thing I remember I was here alone in the dark, andihcre I've been every since." "The swine!" said Jim fiercely. Ho wan so angry at Ay liner's treatment of Ching that., f"r the moment, ho forgot his own troubles "And you can't get loose, Ching?" ho asked. " I'vo tried till I was sick, sir, but lie's tied mo too well for that." "Have you a knifo about you?" " No, sir. And if I had I couldn't get it." " I know, but I thought I might." "Ho ain't taking no chances," said Ching bitterly. " How did ho get yuu, sir ?" Jim explained. He told the whole story of tho provious day, of bis meeting with Butch, aud Butch's warning. " It's all uiy own fault," ho finished angrily. " I never even locked my bedroom door, and they caught mo whilo I was sound asleep." "They? Who was tho other, sir?" " I wish I know, but I was out. They choked mo till I was insensible. Still it must have taken two to carry mo down here." " I reckon if, did," said Ching slowly. " But Aylmer's as strong as a bull. 110 could have done it alone." " .No," said Jim. " I'm pretty certain there wero two of them. Ono sat on mc and tho other got tho blanket over my head." " Then Aylmer must, havo let this other chap into tho houso. That was a bit of a risk." " Not so much as you'd think. Mr. Paget is still away and Major Hallam is laid up with a sprained ankle. I was tho only ablo-bodied man left in tho house." Jim heard Ching stir. ""I was wondering what they tackled you for, sir, but now I'm beginning to see," said tho man. " Ilow do you mean ?" " Why this is tho night ho's fixed to get away with tho stuff." " What stuff—oh, liio picture, you mean." " The picture,V repealed Ching. " No, sir, Aylmer could have taken that away any time he'd a mind to. It's the treasure I'm thinking of." Jim whistled, or rather tried to, for his lips wero too dry for sound. " Tho treasure Of courso that's it, Ching. Now I,begin to understand. Avlmer has found tlio plunder pit, and wo aro probably in it at this moment, but tho stuff was 100 heavy for him to get it away siriglohanded, especially as tho only way of carrying it out was through tho house. So ho had to wait until ho could get outside help. In tho meantime tho picture camo along, and lie stolo that, too, and hid if hero with Rabb's stuff. It all (its in." " You'ro right, sir," said Ching eagerly. " I reckon you'vo hit tho nail on tho head." Jim went oil. " Then ho had to clear tlio houso so first ho got rid of you, Oiling, and next me. That leaves no one but Hallam and Maurico who aro both disabled, Mr. Tromayno who sleeps like llio dead, and—and Miss Tremayno." Ho stopped with a gasp. Supposo Nance ! heard and camo out of her room. Ho knew how fearless sho was. Brute as Aylmer was ho hardly thought ho would injure Nance, but tho man with him—his accomplice. " Ching," ho asked, in a voico that was not too steady, " Who is helping Aylmer? Who is tho second man ?" " Hard to say, sir," said Ching. " But if you asked mo I'd say most like ho'd got Midian." . Jim groaned. Ching had only confinned his own suspicion, but it ijia'do him sick with fear to think what might happen to Nanco if she met this inhuman brute. (To bo continued daily.) I