THE BLACK SHADOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21118, 27 February 1932, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE BLACK SHADOW.

BY JOHN IRONSIDE. Author of " Chris," " Lady Pamela's Pearlo," " The Crime and the Casket," etc., etc.

CHAPTER I. THE SCARECROW. Peter Grey condescended to cany his Knit case down the flights of stairs from the littlo topfloor flat he shared, more or less, with his sister, Patricia. But tho bsg had been packed by Pat, together with tho luncheon basket, which she carried down, and proceeded to stow •them both in the dickey of tho shabby two-seater car, waiting in the street. She bad got. an hour's leave from her morning work at tho dispensary, in order to start her brother off, at the cost of her lunch hour. Peter accepted all such attentions as me re matters of coursed Ever since be could remember Pat had always devoted herself to him, and, if he thought about it at all—which he never did—lie would havft decided promptly that this was a Bister's chief function in life, especially hen she happened to be the only one, end several years his senior. " Got plenty of petrol ?" asked Pat. •" Of course I have!" " She wants a wash down," said Pat, eyeing the car critically. " Did you tell them to do it ?" As Peter ignored the question she knew he had forgotten to give the order at the parage, and wished, too late, that she had not. gone round herself last night to make sure. " Pity you can't keep her at Jimmy's place. He would sec they turned her out fcpick and span," she remarked. " Well, 1 can't! It is too far, as you know well enough," said Peter ungraciously, pulling on his big; expensive leather motoring gloves, that had been one of Pat's Christmas presents to him. " You'll have a lovely run. Wish I was going with you,". said Pat, wistfully glancing at the strip of blue sky above the''narrow, dingy street. " Wish you were, but it can't be done this time," he responded. " Expect mo when you see me. to-morrow or Saturday. If there's nothing doing I shall push off to-morrow. Good-bye, old thing." " Send me a card to say if all's well," aho urged. " Good-bye dear, good luck!" She watched him out of sight, waved' her hand as he turned the corner, though he did not look back, and then hurried npstairs, where she had several jobs to do before returning to the dispensary. She felt unusually excited, but more anxious than elated. What would be the outcome of this expedition of Peter's? Possibly an entire change of circumstances for him, if not for herself, a turning point in their lives. It seemed such a splendid chance for Petex - , a full partnership in a sound country practice, offered to him for nothing. 'Most young medical men in his position would have jumped at it, but Peter hadn't, been a bit keen when it came to him through their old and good friend, Sir William Romney, the famous specialist. -,00 " I thbuglit of you at once, Peter, when 'Ablett told me his idea. It's the chance of 4; lifetime for you, my boy," said Sir William, when he broached the matter at the little dinner to which he had been careful to invite Pat, as well as her brother. "Ablott's onq_of the best—we were jit Guy's togetber; fflortr years ago than I care to count up. Lonely in his old age, since his wife died, and his daughter-in-law married again. His only son was killed in 'l7. Ho says he's getting too old for the work, though he doesn't look it. But he's made a modest ■frii'tiine. quite. siifficient for'hjs needs, and. \toukL hav§. retired In Javour of his son, * "Had come through. Now he feels that he ought to give a youngster the chance, 1 want you to be that youngster, Peter." "Tt's frightfully good of you, sir, said Peter. " But—a country—practice— ; jn the very depths of the country. Ive bo little experience. I should never-learn anything, never be able to keep up -to Sir William laughed indulgently. He knew what was in the young man's mind* knew how keen he was on his profession/ on his hospital work; keen and ambitious, dismayed at the idea of burying his talents in the hum-drum .round of a remote rural practice.;' Also he knew the exact financial position of brother and sister; and that, means the career of which Pet^f earned would probably resolve itself into a grim lound of toil and disappointment,- working up and waiting for the better appointment that might never come, eventually perhaps having to take a post as an ordinary assistant. " Modest youth! Yes, you ve precious little experience, my lad, but you 11 get quite as much as you or anyone else needs for a good all-round family practice down at Chelcombe, with Ablett. As I said, the chance of a lifetime, yours for the taking. Anyhow write to Ablett, and go down to see him as soon asjou can fix up two or three days' leave. / With anyone else Peter would probably have raised more objections, but as Sir William was one of the few persons whom the somewhat headstrong young man respected, he consented to the arrangement, more, as one conferring than receiving a favour. No harm in going down to see this old pal of Sir William's anyhow, and he could do with a break from the strain of his work and play in town. ror Peter plaved almost as strenuously as he worked, and very little of his leisure was spent in Pat's tiny flat, where the one fair-sized bedroom was always reserved for his lordship's use on the occasions when he had all night leave from the hospital, Pat herself occupying a slip ot a room like a ship's cabin, arid a veiy email one at that. But he made up his mind at once that, if Chelcombe proved to be the dead-ahvo hole he confidently expected, nothing would induce him tn bury himself there. ,ln the interval of arranging the trip something occurred that reconciled him a Jit tie to the idea. • though ft. upset him considerablv. For Isabel Barclay, on ■whom he had sedulously danced attendance for the last few months, not only definitely turned him down, but. announced her forthcoming marriage to Billy Morton, a wealthy young ship-owner. Outwardly Peter was by no means a sentimental young man. Both lie and Isabel were essentially modern, and therefore almost, ostentatiously unromaiitie in their avowed outlook on life and love. Their association had been perfectly open and frank. They met, as frequently as Peter's duties permitted, danced, and dined together, often at her own home, a big house in Lowndes Square, where fiec-and-easy hospitality reigned, or wherever their fancy prompted. Yet, in his secret heart young Peter had decided that Isabel was the one girl in the world for shim. On her all his ambitious dreams of a brilliant professional future centred. How that futinn -was to come, about he never troubled to think, but was qtiile content to enjoy the present jolly time. He had met Billy often enough at •Lowndes Square, and elsewhere, liked him ■well enough as one of their set, and didn't give a second thought to him. It certainly never occurred to him that Isabel could possibly prefer the quiet, pleasant-mannered, square-jawed young shipowner, who never had much to say for himself, and who didn't dance, to him, Peter Grey, in his own estimation incomparably tho.better man. It was the biggest blow lie had ever experienced, so unexpected that ho had made rather an ass of himself, as Isabel promptly assured him, lightly and quite good-humouredly. That made the snubbing all the worse. He realised that she had never regarded him as anything xnore than a jilaything, to dance and

A GRIPPING STORY OF MYSTERY. ADVENTURE AND LOVE.

laugh and frivol with, and drop when she tired of it. A distressing, but perhaps salutary enlightenment to a young man, who, hitherto, had been singularly well pleased with himself. Tat probably guessed at (lie truth, though he had said nothing to her. She had never been in 'he Barclay set, had neither time, nor clothes for such society, but she. knew her brother had been about a good deal with Isabel, saw the announcement of the approaching wedding, and referred to it casually, eliciting a curl, and, to her, illuminating comment from her brother.

She hadn't mentioned it again nor had he. That was one of Pat's good points, she knew when silence was golden. He thought of that, and was sufficiently inst to acknowledge it, as he fared on his wav this heavenly April morning, the good earth moist and fragrant after a series of showers, with every wet young leaf and blade dazzling green _ and diu-mond-spangled under the sunshine. By the time lie reached the open country the sulkincss that had hung over him like a cloud vanished, and his spirits rose responsive to (lie swift motion through Ihe sweet., soft air. Overhead larks were singing in ecstatic chorus, fluttering black specks against the wonderful blue sky, intensified by the white clouds that drifted lazily before tho balmy breeze. There was little traffic on the roads, and the car went well. Shabby though she looked, her engine and gear were all right. He had bought, her, dirt cheap, through bis friend, or rather Pat's friend, Jimmy Smith, otherwise Captain Smith, badly'biffed in the war, and now earning a. precarious livelihood as salesman in a motor-car show-room, Long Acre way. Peter regarded the car—which Pal had named " Susan" —as his one luxury and only now and then remembered that it was Pat who had largely enabled him to acquire and maintain this modest luxury. In his present softened mood ho remembered it now, and felt a twinge of remorse that, after all, he had not arranged to bring her with him. Dr. Ablett had specially invited her, though Peter had suppressed that fact, deciding at the time that he had better go alone, to see things (or himself. Pat would certainly have viewed them through roso-coloured spectacles. She had the hard-working Londoner's pathetic love of the country, and, if this Cotswold village was as beautiful as Sir William declared, she would probably have urged him to accept Dr. Ablelt's offer on that, consideration alone. Besides, if he had brought her, the, trip would have had to be arranged for a short week-end, and ho had chosen to apply for theso three days' leave in the week. But he was sorry now that it was 100 late. Good old Pat! Really he had treated her rottenly! Ho felt positively remorseful when presently he pulled up and investigated the tuck basket. A topping lunch, such as only Pat could have devised and prepared. He toasted her, in sparkling cider, that tasted as cood as champagne. Well, if"he did decide to migrate to this Chelcombe place, Pat should come with him, whatever happened. Hanged if she shouldn't!

With this magnanimous determination lie resumed his way, more clieerfifl than lie had been since he bad parted from tho faithless Isabel, whose very existence he had forgotten for the moment. At length he turned off the main road at a signpost that told him he was hut seven miles from bis destination. Quite a good by-road, winding through the bills, and Sir William was right enoughit was glorious' country, and air that simply put new life into one. Down a steep, winding bill be slid, and half-way up the next, just as he changed gear, Susan stopped short, and. refused to budge. Investigation discovered an empty tank. His impatient " of course" to Pat's inquiry had been quite unjustifiable, and that thick-head at the garage hadn't put on a. spare tin, as he ought to have done, even though be hadn't been told to. -I "He glowered round. Not a soul, not a house in sight, not a sound but the tvvit'tcr of birds. Where the deuce was the nearest filling station ? He had passed many on the main roads, but hadn't noticed one lately. On' the left, beyond a low wall of Cotswold stone, the land fell away abruptly in a deep, wooded gorge, on the right was a high, rough bank, covered with gorso and bramble, with a ragged hedge on top. • As ho Stood, frowning savagely at the innocent Susan, the silence was broken by sounds from above, very queer sounds too. like someone beating a carpet but every blow was punctuated by a sort of gasping cry, of anger rather than agony, and the excited yaps of a terrier. Someone was near at hand, anyhow. He hurried up the road, and just beyond the bend the bank sloped down to a fivebarred gate, leading into a big field of young corn, stretching up and over the hill, bounded on the left by a high stone wall, with a belt of trees beyond. Right in the middle of the field was a big scarecrow, which a short, slender figure in green, a girl whose bare head gleamed copper-colour in the sunshine, was whacking vigorously with a thick stick, uttering the cries he had heard, while a small, white-aud-brown wirebaired terrier danced round, barking approval. CHAPTER If. AN UNCONVENTIONAL OFFICII. Peter stared in utter astonishment, then strode across the field, hailing the furious little figure. The girl did not heed his first shout, but at the next she turned, the stick poised for a further blow, then lowered and pointed it towards him, and called, in a rich, ringing, young voice: "What are you up to? Don't you know better than )p tread down young corn like that ? Tread in the furrows, can't you? Idiot!" Peter halted, indignant and astonished. Not since bis student days had he been addressed with such peremptory rudeness, and then, of course, it was by other fellows, who got as good as they gave. But this was a girl, a mere child she looked at this distance. Still she might, be able to tell him where be could get the petrol he needed, so he swallowed his wrath and went on, taking heed to his steps. The terrier frisked forward and greeted him in friendly fashion, knowing, as all wise dogs do, lha(, here was a person, who, whatever his attitude might be towards bis own kind, had a soft place in his heart for such as she.

The girl stood ami waited for him, breathing quickly, iinrl with a fine colour in lirr tlelioalo-fon(urctl faun, lint, otherwise self-possessed. Sho watched him curiously, with hazel eyes keen and wary, as those of some fliy but fearless wild creature, shadowed by lashes much darker than her coppercoloured hair. " A\ T Jint on earth were you lamming into that thing for?" lie, demanded, his curiosity, for the moment, greater than his need. " That's tny business," sho retorted curtly. "What's yours? Do you realise flint you're trespassing? In }"oung corn, too!" She spoke imperiously, as (ho great Elizabeth herself might have done to some rash subject who bad roused her royal wrath. At the same time she stared significantly at his cap. Peter snatched it off, furious with himself. for the neglect of a, courtesy he would have offered to any cottage girl, if he hadn't been so taken aback. He was punctilious in such tilings. " I'm sorry," he said stiffly. " I ran out of petrol. My car's stuck in the road yonder, and when I hoard—and saw you - " He glanced significantly at the scarecrow, for the shooting coat and soft

(COP7MGHT.)

felt hat that hung on it were quite wearable. He wondered some tramp hadn't spotted and stolen them. " Well ?" she asked icily. " Judy, come to heel!" (This to the terrier, who promptly obeyed, but from behind the girl's slim legs, continued to regard Peter with friendly brown eyes). " Could you direct mo to the nearest garagn. or filling station?" " Chelcombe. About, a mile." she said, waving her hand to westward. "Chelcombe?. I'm going there. But, a mile, 0 lord !" he muttered in dismay. " Whom do you know in Chelcombe?" she demanded. " I)r. Ablet Ihe answered, feeling absurdedly like a schoolboy under interrogation, and. therefore, augrv with himself, and still angrier with her. " Dr. Ablett? " Oh!" She appeared to meditate for a few seconds, and he. thought he detected an amelioration of her manner as she resumed: "Very well, I daresay i can get you some petrol. Go back to you car and wait ten minutes, or say, a quarter of an hour." "That's frightfully good of you! But, j sa y—can't T fetch it ?" Peter stammered relieved, grateful, hut, if possible, more embarrassed than ever.

" Do as I tell you!" she said peremptorily. and started off, the terrier trotting demurely behind her. He watched her pass along the furrows, light, lithe, graceful as a nymph, and vanish round the angle of the stone wall. ]lo was half-minded to follow and see what lay beyond, but thought better of it. He was evidently trespassing on some big estate, as she herself had informed him. and doubtless Ablett would know who she and her people, were. Not that he. cared who she was. An ill-tempered and impossibly rude young person, the spoiled darling of some newrich folk probably. That green sports suit, simple though it. looked, was almost new and must have cost a pretty penny. He was an observant young man, and knew enough about girl's clothes to bo sure of that. Before he retraced his steps to the road he examined the scarecrow thoughtfully. It confirmed his " new-rich " impression. That, was a jolly good jacket, much too good for such a purpose, and the hat, too. Ho wouldn't have minded wearing them himself, down here. lS*o pukka country folk would have wasted them like that. They'd have given them to one of their outdoor servants. What unfortunate person was she vicariously thrashing when she belaboured the scarecrow? For that, he was pretty sure, was the explanation. Little devil! And suppose she had taken hereelf off now, and was merely boshing him ? He would have to set out to look for the petrol himself. But, she kept her word. Within the stipulated quarter of an hour a smart little sports car appeared over tho brow of the hill, and slid down, to halt abreast of poor, shabby old Susan. The girl was driving, with Judy beside her, and, jew of jovs, a green can of petrol. And what a peach of a car, quite new apparently! Peter mentally broke tho tenth commandment as he eyed it. " Thanks most awfully," he said, taking possession of the can. " And 1 say, you know, you must let me " He nervously produced and a shilling, which he had already abstracted from his pocket. He must pay for the stuff of course, and hoped the small virago would not fly out. at him for suggesting it. To his immense relief she did not. " It's full, two gallons. But T don't know how much it is, do you ?" she asked, more amiably than she had yet spoken. "Is that "right? Anyhow I haven't any change." " Yes, quite, light," ho spid mendaciously. " And thanks again. It's tremendously good of you." She nodded abstractedly, looked at the coins, arid stowed them carefully in the pocket of her green cardigan. As he replenished the tank he was disconcerted at hearing her voice closo beside him. She had jumped out of her car so lightly that he hadn't heard a sound, and was coolly inspecting Susan, muoh as Pat had done this morning, but more critically. " Your looks about dona in," she remarked. " Time you had a new one, isn't it?"

Tic ignored this as a gross impertinence. She looked at him, at her own car, then back at Susan, and said, in a tone that was almost conciliatory: " I didn't mean that for cheek, so you needn't be sniffy about it. I only wondered if you might happen to he wanting a car, nearly new, and dirt cheap ?" Peter, screwing the cap on the empty can, glanced up interrogatively. Her small face was quite serious, even anxious. " That depends on the car, and tho price," lie said lightly, as he crossed to replace the can in her car. She followed him, and said hastily: "Look here, you can-have this, for—say twenty pounds, cash down, of course, or as soon as possible, if you haven't got it with you. And that old one of yours in exchange." (To be continued daily.)