ADVENTURE FOR TWO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

ADVENTURE FOR TWO.

,B* AIM HUH AFPLIN

Cll AI'TEH XX. —tContinued. | The door of the tonneau opened and height ner' appeared, (.'vouching low in (lie undergrowth Darnley could see that lie had changed into a lounge suit ; ha followed the cliHiilteur to t lie back of the <;j i' and both bent down to examine the tank. I.ei'ghtiier told his servant to take off the tilling cap; lie then went over to the hedge, cut a long twig from one of j| le hushes within a few feet of where Darnlev was hidden, stripped it of its leaves and thrust it into the tank. Suddenly his anger blazed; till then he had been quite calm. " 1 told you to fill the lank. Pierre," he said with an oath. " 1 did fill it. last night. Put thirty litres in," Pierre replied, in a sharp highpitched voice. " There must be a leak somewhere in the pipe." He found a torch and examined it quickly, then crawled beneath the chassis and Darnley could see him following the pipe that fed the tank.

"Nothing wrong there," ho growled; he examined the engine.

Without another word Leigbtner drew n map fr6m his pocket, and taking the electric, torch from Pierro, looked at it. He called to Pierre; " \ou will walk back to the village we've just passed through; it's about five kilometres; there is a garage and filling station there. Wake the proprietor and pet a couple of tins cf spirit." He glanced at his watch: " In another hour the sun will have risen. If vou're not back before it's over tho horizon I'll break every bone in your 1,0 dv." He thrust out his arm and fastened his fingers round the man's throat: " You never filled that tank. Who cSuld havo got into tho garage and tampered with it. You never rilled it, do you hear'" ;

He flung the man ofl and he rolled ever in the dust.

9 " I swear by God—" " God help you if you're not back Jiefore sunrise!" Leightner watched him run down the roadhe ran like a frightened animal, his head bent and his long alms swinging at his sides. Darnley listened to his footsteps dying away in the dusty road Now his moment had come. He was clad chaijco had decided he should settle with Leightner quite alone. He watched him walk to the front of the cat, release the brake, and push it back until it was within a few inches of the ditch on the light hand side of the road. He opened tho door of the tonneau nearest to Damley, heacl and shoulders disappeared for a jnoment. . Darnley raised himself but before lie could spring forward Leightner stepped back, pulling Hose after him. Darnley 'dropped out of sight again; lie couldrit hear what Leightner was saying, but he was using that soft, persuasive voice 1 hat had first aroused Darnley s antagonism and suspicion. He couldn t see Hose's face; he couldn't see -her at all clearlv. Perhaps the dust was still in his eves, though he saw Leightner clearly enough; he seemed somehow to have grown in stature; he looked immense, forbidding, /but liose was like a shadow cast by one of the trees on the white load. .She swayed to and fro. Leightner seized her arm and dragged her forward a few ffpps. Now his voice, raised, and not finite so soft, came cleail/. "I'in sorrv for this delay—it seems a T ,ity not to profit bv it, though Since lou have shown a liking for adventure and romance, here is a perfect setting fo both. It's a pitv your lover isn t here hut he may join us at loulon later. I I can't induce vou to talk, he may; but meanwhile I'll act as his^deputy— perhaps that will open your lips. She made no reply, showing no tance. She might have been drugged or hy ? n feclm- of horror was gripping Darnlev threatening to paralyse him his body was oil fire, but his brain cold; instinct urged him forward to action, but ieasoi "hVL™ ' sloor) down, hearf .through the tiees wa.< crossed s Si «s didn't move after raisins; him- „|[ sullicicntly I" k «l' Lc '? 'S"„ bv sight, now and then lie was lnddenJJ trees but only for an instant. He !;S.y and steadily. Th. d pped iusfc before it reached the rising S 11, arid Leightner disappeared quite suddenly, as if the earth had opened mid swallowed him up. . . Then Darnley rose, and pulling off his overcoat, he flung it on the car as he crossed the road. Ho began to i.nr wherever possible a tree between himself and the spot where Leightner ha disappeared. He was conscious of little insignificant things as he »" the straight trunks of the pine trees though absolutely alike when seen casualiv in groups, had each an i.ulividual "shape; how, here and there in the undergrowth there were laige j flowers with live petals and long green stalks; ho found hiyiself counting • fir cones in his path, and he saw that the sea on the horizon was blue, changing to pearl grey, and, near the shore, pale

There was more space between the trees, now more open sky, and the stais were going out like fairy lamps extinguished at the close of a fete. I ft; Was running very fast his arms held close against bis .sides and his head Lack. He had given Leightner too long « start. He didn't seem to get any nearer tlijb rising ground of the sand dunes. He strained his eyes conscious of a mist before them; perhaps it was into that mist that Leightner had gone with Hose. Suddenly lie folt the ground fill - ing away beneath his feet; th'en theie arose,/right in front of him, sharply defined, two figures, not thirty yards away. He saw Rose first, with her back to a very tall, thin pine, her hands behind liei as if they were fastened, and the first pale light of the coining day was reflected in her face. Then he saw Leightner stain - hig close, to her, his feet on the black cloak that had covered her; he could see a pale spiral of smoke rising from the cigai ctte in li/s fingers. He (lung himself flat down in the under growth, waiting a moment to get his breath. Then he began to crawl slowly iorward. Leightner had his back to him, but Rose was facing him, and if she saw Jiiin, even if she didn't, recognise him, *he would probably cry out. And ha knew that. Leightner was armed. / CHAPTER XXI. Rose's hands were tied together and Hie rope passed round the tree. Her face, was like marble, expressionless and Jier eyes weie dosed and her hair fell in nutidy (;inls round her forehead; now and thou a little puff of wind, heralding the dawn, stirred them. Leightner stood, his f f, et planted wide apart, facing her; D.irnley. saw him lake out his cigarette case, light another cigarette, very deliberately inhale the smoke, then blow it between his thin lips. For a few moments he. stood quite still, staring at Rose, then turned and looked hack in Hie direction the road, hidden bv the trees.

Niothing stirred; there was no living thing visible. An immense stillness that Receded/day-break cast a spell of immo-

AN ENTRANCING STORY OF LOVE, DANGER AND ADVENTURE

bility over everything; only occasionally the little wanton breeze came, too weak even to stir the tops of the pines. Darnley held his breath; he had crawled to about 14ft. of Loightner, nothing to hido him but the scrubby bushes and tall dry grass. But Leightncr was looking into the distance, listening. Darnley had never seen him so vividly before and he wondered how he had ever been deceived by him, even for a moment. For the first time in his life he knew hatred; it uiged him forward, to lliitg himself upon the -man and kill him; he found himself coldly contemplating the surest and quickest way of doing it. It was like a nightmare in its vividness and unreality. He felt himself no longer an ordinary civilised human being. 1 Its had reached the border line dividing men from wild beasts lie was stirred by primeval instincts, hungry for revenge, knowing only two emotions —love and hate.

He lay absolutely motionless, seeing but unseen; he couldn't move and yet he didn't know what he was waiting for. He wanted Uoso to open her eyes so he could really see into her mind, and re discover her. He had a feeling that all three of them were actors in this night marc" drama, each waiting for his cue. The spell of the mystical hour before dawn, which held all nature iu its grip, held Leightncr, too. Presently with an effort he moved nearer to Hose, changing his position- so that now Darnley could see the profile of his face clear-cut against tho distant horizon, where sea and skv met.

" I nerd haidly snv that this little interlude was quite unpremeditated," lie said, flicking the ash off his cigarette. " Rut, in spite of my threat to Pierre, lie can't return before the best part of two hours,-so I thought I'd give yoQ an opportunity of eniortaining me." Rose opened her eyes and looked at him, but she didn't speak. " The sun will have risen before we reach Toulon now," Leightner continued. " It is rather ft busy little town and I can't take the risk of an unwilling companion, who, unless she's bound and gagged, might make a scene. I nless you tell me what I want to know I m afraid 1 shall have no alternative but to try another form of persuasion." " If I knew what you wanted I'd rather die than tell you." Darnley saw Leightner extinquish the end of his cigarette against the tree to which she was hound; he heard him laugh. He crawled a couple of feet closer

Very dramatic, but not convincing! Anvway, I don't wan t you to die. I think L can still find a way to make von speak. When we resume our journey I'm afraid I shall have to leave you here. You will be quite safe; it is a lonely spot, completely hidden from the road, which is very little used by traffic. And when it s dark I'll return for you." Stooping down he picked up something front the ground. I'm afraid I shall have to gag that pretty mouth again; but not now —not -for another two hours." He put his hands on her shoulders and Darnley slowly rose. He heard Leightner say, verv softly now: ' on won t tell me where Mrs. dc Wint hid that diamond necklace ? We would make it worth your while." Rose shrank back; her eyes and her face came to life, fear and loathing in both. Darnley saw her body trembling beneath her 'dress. Leightner's coarse fingers were gripping her tightly, pressing her against the tree. " I've told you I know nothing about

There was fear in her voice and Darnlev believed she spoke the truth. And then, as Leightner spoke, she saw him, and gave a sharp cry. Leightner misunderstood. " 1 know you are lying," he laughed, " and now you shall pay for every lie you ve told me. He caught her face between his hands, bent his head to kiss her lips saw the expression in her eyes —no longer fear, but joy! In an instant he swung round, just as Darnlev sprang forward. Rose's recognition, and the cry she had given, delayed him, perhaps only a fraction of a second, but it gave Leightner time to pull the automatic pistol from his hip pocket. Darnley saw it coming and caught his wrist, twisting it in both hands until, with a cry of agony, Leightner dropped Ihe pistol. Picking it up Darnley flung it away and planted him self squarely in front of Leightner. " Take off your coat," he asid.

Leightner, nursing his wrist, stared at hirn blankly, blinking his close-set eyes, unable to believe his senses. " Take off your coat," Darnley repeated. " What does this mean ? How did you get here?" Leightner stammered. " You were kind enough to bring me on the Delage! When your servant returns with the petrol, v.e'!! go back in it. I think the Chief of Police will be glad to see you, and to hear your report, but I can't promise lie will recognise you at once!"

" If you'll let me explain—" Leightner said quietly—and then he jumped at Darnley, using all his weight and strength to hear him to the ground. They rolled over but Darnley was up first. He waited for Leightner but directly he was up he crashed his left and right straight between the narrow eyes on the bridge of his nose. Leightner spun round once, then went down. " Get up," Darnley said.

Leightner was no coward; he was on his feet even as Darnley spoke; closed with him, tried to trip him up; jabbed two or three blows to his body, wickedly low. Darnley got out of the clinch but slipped, and a blow behind the ear sent him on his back. He saw Leightner's foot raised la kick him; rolled over, found his feet again and retreated a few yards. And then, as Leightner rushed blindly, head down, Darnley sent a fierce upper cut which caught him on the point of the chin. Leightner's legs sagged beneath him, he swayed, and Darnley sent his left into the half-open mouth. Leightner went down with a sound like a punctured toy balloon; he lay in a heap, legs drawn up, head hidden between liis arms.

Darnley turned him over with his foot. He didn't look a very pretty sight—blood on his mouth, his eyes staring vacantly, a glassy film over them. Turning away Darnley wiped the sweat from his face, then went quickly back to Hose. He unfastened the rope that hound her wrists behind tlio tree. She had been ho tightly bound that it took hirn nearly a minute. Her skin was red and bruised. She swayed as if she was going to fall and he caught her in his arms. " It's all right," slio said. " It's quito all right. Oh, Dick!" She raised her eves, but not to his. She was staring over his shoulder in (Indirection lie had left Leightner. x

" Take care!" she cried. ..." Quick, the pistol!" Darnley turned. He saw Leightner crawling along the grass, saw him seize something,' then rise with an effort to his feet and straighten his right arm.

Instinctively Darnley jumped ill front of Rose. At that moment the sun rose behind the bar of cloud in the east and the light glinted on the pistol in Leightner's hand. There was a flash ; a sharp report. Darnley was conscious of a strange ting ling sensation between bis shoulder and neck; the sun was shining straight in his eyes, blinding him, yet through it he saw Leightner coming toward him. ITe came very slowly with bent knees, a queer apelike gait, his right arm still straightened out- covering him with the pistol. Again lie fired— Darnley fell.

Leightner lauglied and dropped the pistol into liis pocket. When lie reached Darn ley's side lie bent over him. "Fool!" he cried. 'Clumsy fool!" Then lie kifl^d

(COPYIUOUT.)

CHAPTER XXII. " Boast!" —as Loightner raised his foot to kick L)arnley's helpless body Hose caught the length of rope that had bound her and slashed bun full in the face, lie staggered back, nearly falling; again she hit liiru with it; and once again, until, cursing, he caught tier hands aild dragged the rope from her. She was at his mercy now, almost as helpless as Darnley, lying face downwards on the grass, but she stood up, her head tilted back, facing him. " You beast." she said again, quietly now. " \ou coward ' He didn't speak but stood a moment glaring at her, pulling the rope through his hands. Then with a swift movement, lie threw it over her head in a. loop, bringing the ends together tightly and fastening them round her hody so that her arms were pinioned to her sides. He, put forward alt his remaining strength in pulling the ends tight —so tight that it cut her arms and made it difficult for her to breathe. An ugly smile twisted the corners of his bloodstained mouth as he waited tor her lo cry out; but she made no sound. Only her eyes, the colour of the sea reflecting the sky, looked at him contempt uously.

He whipped a handkerchief from bis pocket, wiping his face and neck and pushing back the matted hair from his turchead. ,

" So —the gentleman chauffeur is your lover, eh ?• 'fell me, lie is your lover .' When she made no reply he flicked the handkerchief in her face. " \ cry interesting. I ought to have guessed it. But I doubt if ho knows' how to make loveEnglishmen seldom do. I am sorry to have spoilt your romance and cheated you out of a possible husband, but I'll take his place later on. You'll find me much more—interesting."

Kneeling down lie turned Darijley over, put Ins hand in liis breast feeling for his heart; withdrew it quickly as lie felt the contact of warm blood, lie stared a moment at the, white face, put his hand 011 tho closed eyes, then standing up slowly drew the pistol from his pocket again", and pointed it at the unconscious figure. Rose took a sten forward, then stopped, stifling the scream that rose to her lips.

Leightner half turned his head, glanced

at her out of his swollen eyes. "An act of mercy to finish him off," said soft I v.

She took a deep breath. " Perhaps he. would rather die than tell you what l's. de Wint did with the diamond necklace." It might have been imagination, at that moment her nerves were strung to breaking point, but she thought she saw Darnley open his eyes, look at her; before she could he certain they were closed again, but she could see his fingers moving in the grass. " You are clever," Leightner said slowly, " but he doesn't know. I made sure of that when he paid me a visit vesterdav afternoon."

She laughed, and her voice was like (lie highly-strung strings of a violin out of time. "Do you think he'd tell you? He might perhaps, to save me. but even 111 en loyalty to his employer would stop him." Leigh!ner turned right round now and the mu/.zle of the pistol pointed to her breast. " What do you mean ?"

" Why should I tell you—lie might lie better dead than in your power: and I'm not afraid of death." }lc smiled horribly. " You won't die—you're too beautiful, but if you know anything to tell me which will save your lover's life be quick. I might even let you off too." She hesitated—she was acting now; if she was too eager Leightner might not believe her. She said, " When the car was stopped outside Fontaincbleau I was sitting in front with Danjley. I saw him look up at the mirror facing the driving seat; I looked, too, and with him 1 saw though he didn t know I was looking Mrs. de Wint take something from her ha" and push it behind the seat at the back of the car. Then when the car was stopped she and T were turned out.—taken into the forest and searched. But I remember seeing Darnlcy. at the orders of the gang, after they had gone through his pockets, get into the car, and he took Mrs. de Wint's place. I knew nothing, suspected nothing—until later.

Leightner took out his liandkerchieT again and wiped 11 is bloodshot e\es, staring closely into her face: " And then ?" " I imagine he had managed to get hold of the package; hide it, or pass it on to Mrs. de Wint. I didn't knotf what it contained, I didn't imagine they were thieves or anything like that just seemed rather ■queer, that's all. Leightner waited a moment, glanced over hi:; shoulder at Darnley. Then lie said: "You didn't think of questioning your aunt?" " She's not rny aunt She engaged me through an employment bureau. I'd never seen her in niy life until a couple of weeks ago." Leightner dropped the automatic back into his pocket, lie stood over Darnley, staring down at him ; he was still breathing the colour was coining back to his face. . " Why didn't you tell me all tins before I should have thought that the method I used to persuade you to speak—- " You think I'd give away the man 1 love?" she cried quickly. " A woman doesn't care what a man is when she loves him." ' . Leightner slowly nodded his head: " Nor what she does in order to keep him." , lie knelt down again and Hose saw bin, take a flask from his pocket and bold it |o Darnley's lips. Now the sun had risen clear of the bank of clouds, and land and sea shone in the light of a new dav Life began to stir in the undergrowth; in the trees. Little waves rippled on the distant shore; somewhere a bird twittered quietly; two butterflies chased one another, circling above Leiglitner's bent head. Then suddenly there came the rasping note ol a motor-horn. Leightner started, stood upright, and fazed in the direction of the road; it came again, louder. He pulled his pistol from his pocket and looked at Rose: " Don t move or speak." They waited, both as still us the unconscious figure on the ground. A minute passed—two—five. Still no sound except that of the sea, the wind and the twittering of the bird. . , , Leightner straightened himself, shaded his eyes with his hand, staring in the direction of the road. Someone was coming towards them, running through thu The mat) approached quickly, and when lie was a hundred yards off Rose recognised the servant, Pierre. Leightner went to meet him. Quickly Hose stepped to Darnley s side and kneeling down bent over him. 1 limine bis head slightly, he opened his eyes, smiled. Ho saw the* rope binding her, raised one arm as if be would tiy to loosen it but she shook her head. " It's all right. Dick," she whispered. 11 Arc you - are you badly hurt. They could hear Leightner's voice. The little breeze that had risen blow it to wards them. Thev could hear snatches of what Pierre was saying; lie bad hired a Ford at the garage-brought three cans of petrol in it—dismissed it a distance away from the Delage. Rose bent her head until it was close to Darnley s ear. " I had to tell him all I knew, or he would have killed you, Dick. ilis eves told her he understood, iliat s all right, darling—l lovo you—l'm all, right—ho only winged mo-second shot crazed my neck. I tried to fool him—i'm all right—look after yourself. She put her fingers to her lips. Leightner was returning. Rending lower Rose kissed him. " T love you," sho whispered, " and we're going through this together. umilintiufl on Hu.turil«.v