ADVENTURE FOR TWO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 14 (Supplement)

ADVENTURE FOR TWO.

BY, ARTHUR APPLIN.

SYNOPSIS. ! Richard Darnloy, barrister, yearning for adventure, advertises for a job as cbnufteur-courier-companion, stating a fair number of qualifications, such aa an all-round man might bo supposed to possess. A reply comes from a Mrs. Sadie do Wint. who fixes an appointment at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Mrs. do Wint ia a middle-aged woman, obviously American. She puts Darnloy through a, rigorous examination before engaging him. Richard feels uneasy about accepting tho situation until bo sees Mrs, de Wint's niece, Roso Farleigh. The fact that she is to make a third of tho party settles tho matter for him. He i 3 told to make preparation for departure to France a fow days' hence. Ho is to wear a chauffeur's cap mid dark blue coat while on duty as chauffeur; at other times ho will dross as ho pleases. On leaving the two ladies ho proceeds to tho garage to try out Mrs. de Wint's motor. On Saturday morning, after reporting himself to Mrs. de Wint, he meets Miss Farleigh in St. •Tames' Street. A well-dressed man with a hooked nose is standing near gazing at her. Rose Farleigh and Richard Darnloy exchange confidences. They start on their journey at elcht the following morning. Thoy cross from Folkeston to Boulotmo. On the vessel Darnley notices that Rose is talking to fchd booked-nosed in an, and gets lior away to have her passport stamped. She says the stranger is a Mr. Leightner. _ Leaving Boulogne they run through Paris and on the Fontainebleau road they _ are obstructed by a rakish-looking oar which refuses to get. co.t of the way. Trying to pass it, there is nn impact, but no great damago done. Bringing his ear to ft stop, Darnley turns to see how Mrs. de Wint is faring and i 9 in time to see that lady take something _ from a leather handbag and thrust it into _ tho back of the seat, pushing it out of sight. Two men leap on the running-board. and a third points an automatio pistol, while a voice in good English says: " Put your hands up and keep quiet I "

CHAPTER IV.—(Continued). The men turned everything out of the Kand baggage in the interior of the car; the luggage behind had all been unwrapped. Two men searched while the third covered the women with his automatic. The dexterity and quickness with which everything was opened and the contents oxamined made Darnley wonder if tho men wero perhaps polico in mufti! They certainly knew their job. Their faces wero hidden by the turned up collars and the soft hats pulled over their eyes. . Tho fellow who seemed to be in command was tall, with a pointed red beard. He swore under bis breath when tho search proved fruitless. Darnley noticed that they hadn't spared either of the women; dresses, underclothes, shoes and stockings, everything, strewn beside the ditch, unfolded and shaken out.

He was told to get back into the car. Ho asked permission to smoke a gasper. This was given; he lit up and then carelessly stepped into the back of the Delage and dropped into the seat Mrs. do Wint had occupied, lazily spreading out his legs. " You've got me beat," he said, blowing a spiral of - smoke toward tho roof. " What are you after, anyway ? I've only just taken on this job, so I don't know "

He. stopped as a sound caught his ear, and against the skyline he saw the beams from the / headlights of an approaching jcar. It was moving rapidly. There would be no chance of attracting the driver's attention. Bnt as it came into the straight and the lights were focnsiied directly on to them Darnley moved to the right, as if to avoid the glare; it caught the man standing on the running board, throwing friTTi into bold relief. He dropped tho arm which held the automatic inside the ;window, and growled a warning that if Darnley moved he was dead meat. He ahaded his eyes with his free hand, and as he did ap Darnley put his arm behind Jxis back and searched between tho folds of the seat and the padded back for tho packet bidden there. His fingers came in contact with a soft chamois leather roll; he drew it out just as the car flashed past. In the blackness which followed ho raised himself quickly and Blipped it under his coat into the back pocket of bis trousers, then draw ing out his cigarette case offered the man a cigarette. He shook his head, stepped into the road again and kept his gun handy. Darnley strained his ears, wondering what was happening. He heard the voico of the man apparently in charge of the gang—whether they were police or thieves' didn't matter now—for that voice came from behind a belt of trees in tho wood where they had taken the women. " All right, you can stand aside. Now search tho girl." Darnley didn't stop to think; ho threw himself forward to open the door. A hand caught him by the throat and flung him back. Ho saw the gleam of a gun through the open window of tho door. "So ehe's got 'ein, eh ? " the man grinned. " I don't know what you're after," Darnley said in a voice loud enough to carry into the forest, " but if you swine lay a finger on one of thos_e ladies ——" Rose's husky voico raised protestingly stopped him. "Ho listened, straining his ears, trying to see what was happening behind the trees. His imagination flamed—for tho thought that any man should handle her roused him to fury. Ho could have tackled the man outsido the door, bnt even before he got his gun one of the other two would have had him, and then Roso would have been at their mercy. . 4 . He leant back in his seat again, sick at his impotenco, yet somewhere deep in his being a queer sense of exhilaration which ho didn't understand—unless it .was that he was glad he cared so much i—and his chance might come later! It seemed an age before shadowy forms emerged from tho tree 3. Darnley" was told to get out again and stand in front of tho engine with his hands up. Mrs. de Wint and Ro3e wero allowed to pack their belongings, standing with their backs to tho car, while the three men conversed for a few moments in undertones. Then they jumped into tho car again, threw out tho mats, took up tho boards, turned over tho cushions, examined them carefully by tho light of torches.

" Look insido tho gear box—you'll find it stuffed with bank notes," Darnley jeered. Tho man with tho red beard mado tho other two men put everything in its place and strap on thd luggage. Darnley was ordered to ait at the wheel. Mrs. de Wint got in behind and Roso took her placo beside him. She wasn't crying; fitio wa3 made' of sterner stuff than that; Darnley had a feeling thorn was no longer a flesh-and-blood girl beside him, but a figure of wood or stone. Ono of tho men walked up to tho headlights, opened thorn arid deliberately nmanhod tho bulbs. Tneir driver started his engine; the car moved quickly down tho road in the direction of Paris.

Darnloy Waited; ho heard the wind »ighing through tim trues. Perhaps it ■was reaction, hut tho forest suddenly bocamo ovil and antagonistic. There was a mi so of impending tragedy. Though thoy were free to continue on their road ho Jfilf, thut the danger, instead of having passed, was ordy just beginning. Ho took his cigarette ease out, again <md passed if to Rose v/ilhout looking at her. 15y the light of the match blio fitruck he saw her face for a moment. It was like a mask.

Suddenly Mrs. do Wint's voice broko t.b® silence: "What aro you waiting for, Daroley ?" She spoke as calmly as if sho wore in her sitting room at tho Ritz-Carlton Hotel. " I was waiting for your orders," ho replied. "/Do you wish me to go on to Fentainebleau ?" " Of course," sho replied, " aa quickly *8 possiblo." mfora starting Darnley got out and V- > the smashed bulbs in the head- ?... Wi with new ones from Ino casn of

AN ENTRANCING STORY OF LOVE, DANGER AND ADVENTURE.

spares. They had overlooked those; it occurred to him that thero must havo been quite a lot of valuable things they had overlooked. As he got back into his seat ho felt tho chamois leather packet lying in his breeches pocket. He pushed the engine into gear, and they started. The silence got on his nerves;; he wished someone would speak. It didn t seem natural—not a word about tho hold-up, not a word- From Roso it was natural; she was still too shaken to speak, but Mrs. do Wint was different. At last ho said over his shoulder: " Did they get away with much, or were you not carrying any valuables?" Mrs. do Wint must havo heard, but sho ignored tho question. Darnley looked at Roso, but tho white mask with fixed expressionless eyes baffled him. Ho felt she hated, perhaps despised him, because he had sat with his hands in the air instead of going to their rescue. Sho should have known it %vas for her sake be had kept quiet. _ All the same he was beginning to hato himself, though as far as the hold-up was concerned he'd got the laugh of the gang. Presently lights shone through tho trees and a moment later the car passed the Savoy Hotel. Close to Fontainebleau now. The Savoy made Darnley think of Mr. Leightner. He applied tho brakes and turned round.

" Don't you think wo had better slop and inform the police before we go into the hotel?" Mrs. do Wint looked at him thoughtfully, as if considering tho question, then leaning forward sho laid her hand on Rose's shoulder; lean fingers with tho long, pointed nails, carefully manicured, looked not unlike tho paws of an animal. "What do you think, Roso? We've lost nothing. It will only mean vexatious delay, stupid inquiries, publicity. Wo may bo quite certain they'll never catch those men. If I thought there waß any chanco of that " A shiver ran through Rose's body: "Go straight to the hotel, auntie," she said under her breath. " I can't bear anything more just now." ' The hotel where Darnley had engaged rooms was the Trianon; a small, pleasant inn just outside the town. It lay off tho main road in a garden sheltering behind pine and fir trees. Tho hands of tho. clock on tho dashboard pointed to ten o'clock as tho car drove np outside the main entrance. | The doors were closed; there didn't seem any sign of life. Darnley felt anxious as he jumped out and ran up tho steps. He tried Ijho doors; found them locked; knocked and rang. He had sent a telegram ordering rooms, bub there hadn't been time for a reply. Ho didn't want anything to go wrong now Ho didn't care if Mrs. do Wint was a crook or a thief, even if Roso was her partner—}or a decoy. In his present mood he was willing to believe anything and care for nothing. After all, he had asked for adventure, tempted providence, and for once in its life providence had taken notice and acceded to his wishes with extraordinary rapidity. He was relieved when tho bolt was withdrawn and tho door opened; ho saw shining lights, a pleasant stone hall, comfortably furnished; a dark-haired, smiling maid-servant ran down the steps. Tho next moment the host appeared, a jolly, bearded fellow, speaking perfect English. Yes, ho had received tho telegram; rooms were reserved; dinner would be ready in five minutes. Consomme; pou-let-en-casserole; fruits—would that bo sufficient ? He asked Darnley if ho would mind helping tho maid to carry tho luggage upstairs, as the porter had just gone off duty. She was struggling with Mrs. de Wint's case, so Darnley put it on his shoulder and sho led the way, chatting volubly, of course: "her name was Annetto, and how far had they come ? Wore they going to make a long stay 1 And wasn't it a pretty room?" It was—delightful! He congratulated himself on the choice of tho hotel and thought Mrs. de Wint could have nothing to complain of here. Tho most insensitivo person would havo folt at once that it had an atmosphere—an air of gaiety combined with cosiness and security. Annette was telling him his room was on the same floor and she would show it to him presently when Mrs. de Wint camo in. Darnley was unstrapping her caso. She said the maid would do that and told him to go down and bring np Miss Farleigh's luggage. "As soon as you've dono that, I want to seo you before you take tho car round to the garage." , . .. He brought np Rose s caso and leather hand bag. Ho had just put it on tho Inggage rest in her bedroom fand unstrapped it when she appeared from a door on tho left, leading to a private bathroom. The case had not been properly locked after tho evening's search, and it flew open. Ho stooped to pick up a white evening shoo which fell to the ground. " What are you doing, Mr. Darnley? ' Rose's voice startled him; ho hadn't heard. her speak like that before. _ He stared at her, holding the shoo in his hand. " I was told to bring up your luggago. As I unstrapped tho case it burst open," he said quietly. And then when she didn't speak he added: " What do you think I was going to do?" Ho couldn't act before her; he couldn t pretend to be a servant. And he wanted to win her confidence. Whether sho was a dupo or a decoy or a crook, ho felt sorry for her. Sho was young and very beautiful. Those men had handled her roughly in the wood. He didn't know what had happened and ho was afraid to think. Ho only knew she had como through ordeal w:th all the courage of tho modern girl. Sho turned away and he could havo sworn there wero tears in hor eyes. 1 didn't know there was in tho room. You startled inc." Ho put the satin shoo on tho floor: 4 Is thero anvthing else I can do for you ? She shook her bead; as ho moved avvay ho suvv her reflection in tho mirror. Sho was' smiling—smiling contemptuously at his failure to do anything in her hour of need. Ho remembered how ho had boasted to her in Bond btioet, asking her to put him to the test! Annotto appeared in the passage and told him that Mrs. do Wint was waiting for him. " Say I'm coming," he replied. He stood with his back to tho door, holding it ajar. " Look hero, try to forget what s happened. I've an idea you think I should havo done something, but thero wero four men, all armed. If I'd put up a fight they wouldn't havo hesitated to shoot me; then you, would have been at their mercy. And I'm rnoro good to you alive than dead." She turned then, and her eyes wero no longer hard. They searched his as if trying to read his thoughts. " No, 1 suppose you couldn't do anything," she said quietly, " but you took it so caltnlv.'*

" Tho only thing to do. Ono learns to ho surprised at nothing nowadays. Have you any idea what thoso men wero after, Miss Farleigh ?" " How should I?" sho replied quickly. "Have you?" Under tho circumstances it was a strange question to put to him. Rose was still looking at him, but ho was afraid to meet her eyes now. He was afraid to admit that suspicion was trying to worm its way into his mind. " Well, it looked like an ordinary holdup; not bo uncommon on tho Continent, you know. Perhaps thoy thought your aunt had some valuable jewels, or was carrying a large sum of money." Roso didn't reply. " Hadn't you better search your trunk and see if anything is niissing?" •

(COPYRIGHT.)

Sho laughed then, and he a trace of bitterness in her laughter. X haven't anything worth stealing. - " Mrs. do Wint, then " Rose turned away and went to the dressing table. Ho could seo her rcflcction in the mirror; a misty outlino, but beautiful. lie woudored if sho guessed his socret; wished he could tell her. Impossible, of courso; she was probably as unconscious of his feelings as sho was of the identity of the men who held up tho car and searched her. But he wanted her just to know that he was prepared to servo her and protect her, that sho mattered to him moro than anything clso. «J believo my aunt has some jewellery, but she told mo she sent it to tho bank boforo she left London," Roso said. " Well, that's all right, then," Darnley replied. " They've'got nothing for their trouble, anyway. I'm awfully sorry for the fright, they gave you. But you'ro all right now, are you not?" " Quite thank you, Mr. Darnley. Ho was dismissed; ho could find no excuse for staying any longer, yet he hated leaving her. But Mrs. do Wint was waiting for him Ho went out quickly, closing tho door behind him. Ho stood for a lew moments in tho passago outside before going to Mrs. do Wint's room. Ho hadn't made up his mind what ho was going to do about tho chamois leather packet, still safely reposing in his breeches The obvious thing would bo to hand it back to his employer. But the queer thing was that she hadn't mentioned its loss to Roso or to him!

Ho slipped his hand into his pocket and fingered the packet thoughtfully; no doubt that it contained jewels, hard stones—many of them, strung together in a necklace. Why, on reaching Fontainebleau, hadn't sho told hiin to drive direct to the police ? Her behaviour was mysterious; mors than that, it was incomprehensible. Well, it wasn't for him to suspect or to judge; ho would havo to hand the packet back to her and hope sho would bo grateful.

He knocked at the door of her room, and sho told him to come in.- " Close the door behind you, Darnley, and come over here." '!

Sho was sitting in an arm-chair near the writing-table. Tho curtains across the windows had been drawn, and ho could see through a gap in them that the windows were closed, though it was a warm, still night. He stood in front of her, waiting for her to say tho first word.

She was smoking a cigarette; outwardly she was as calm and as as sho had been at their first interview in London. " I have just telephoned to the chief of the police in Paris, telling him what happened to us in the forest. On consideration I thought it was my duty; it is altogether*too outto ignore. It upsets all my plans, and I shall have to go to Paris to-morrow. It may mean a delay of several days." She flicked the ash 08 her cigarette and glanced at him, as if waiting for him to say something. Ho looked at her luggage; it had been opened and partially unpacked. "Have you satisfied yourself they took nothing? —No valuables or jewels V She shook her head: " I never travel about with anything valuable; T asm wearing the only jewellery I brought with me—these ear-rings—and my pearl necklace, which must havo seemed so obviously imitation that they didn't bother to look at it!" " And your niece had nothing, either f" Suspicion had taken root now, and he wanted to bo suro Rose wasn't implicated. " Oh, no " Mrs. do Wint replied carelessly.' " " Now listen, Darnley. Perhaps you don't know what the French police are like, but I have experienced their methods, and I don't want Rose to bo examined and worried and bullied by them. Tho men who held us up are probably world-famous criminals, and the French police will leave no stone unturned if they think they can catch them. I want you to go straight on to Marseilles with my niece to-morrow morning; rooms will be reserved at tho Palace Hotel. I have friends there who will look after her until I arrive. You will take tho shortest route and avoid delay on the way. I place implicit confidence in you." Darnley didn't know what to say; he was tempted to take tho leather bag from his pocket, hand it to her, and with it his ijotice —wash his hands of the whole affair and quit! It was the thought of Rose that stopped him, stronger than the knowledge that he might be aiding and abetting a criminal. If tho jewels that had come into his possession belonged to Mrs. do Wint she would havo admitted their loss at onco.

Beforo ho could come to any decision, Mrs. do Wint said: "That's all now, Darnley. Yon had better put the car away, change and then join us at supper downstairs. And don't forget to have everything ready for an early start tomorrow morning." He said: " Very good,'! and left tho room. As ho ran down the steps of tho hotel to get into the Delage, a grey coupe drew up, and lie saw the man Leightner, who had introduced himself to Rose on the boat, get out. Darnley was lucky in securing a private lock-up for tho car. As soon as he had driven in ho closod the doors, bolted them and switched on tho electric light. Then ho took the packet from his breeches pocket, turning it over thoughtfully. He wasn't afraid of responsibility, but he w:i,s playing rather a dangerous game, and tho thing that troubled him was unless ho didn't play it fairly. Ho was in Mrs. do Wint's employ, and in spito of her having voluntarily informed him twice that sho had lost nothing at all, ho again felt that lie ought to have handed the packet back to her .... if it hadn't been for Rose ho would have done so. Something queer about Mrs. de Wint; both instinct and reason told him she hadn't como honestly into possession of what he was pretty sure were jewels. He felt beneath the washleather case. Ho didn't want Rose implicated. Whatever those men were who had held them up they were obviously not ordinary thieves, or they would havo relieved him of his banknotes, and ho knew Mrs. de Wint must have been carrying a considerable sum in cash, too. Anyway it was too late now to change tho decision to which ho had come. Taking a pen-knife from his pocket ho cut open tho bag; wrapped in tissue paper and cotton word ho discovered a diamond necklace, 110 drew a deep breath ns ho held it up to tho light; dazzling stones of great purity, colour, and unusual size; eacli ono, he rcalisod, would bo worth a email fortune to tho average man! Ho waved tho nccklaco in his hand. Now ho was certain that Mrs. Sadie do Wint was not tho rich American tourist she pretended to bo—and was her niece tho simple English girl, tho poor relative, seeing tho world under her uunt's chapcroimgc for the first time ? Ho heard tho sound of a motor-car drawing up on tho cobble stones outside; probably tno coupe belonging to tho man Leightener. Quickly unscrowing tho cap of tho potrol tank bo dropped tho precious necklace through tho narrow oponing. Using his pocket electric torch ho peerod in. Tho tank was still half full, it was [ >racticaHy impossible to see tho stones ying aC tho bottom. Ho screwed tho cap on tightly, quietly unbolted tho doors, Eushed one a fow inchc9 open and thon egan to whistle ono of tho latest foxtrots. It was too lato to wash tho car and ho wouldn't havo time in tho morning, so be jost shook out the mats, dusted the cushions, then, coming out o! the garage, locked up. (To bo continued on Saturday next.)