DEATH CHAIR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 11 (Supplement)

DEATH CHAIR.

Author of "The Vengeanc« of Hop-Fi." "The Adventures of Alonzo," " Th« Cold Kimono." etc., etc. FASCINATIiNG NEW SERIAL OF ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE.

CHAPTER XXV —(Continued). Vaness drove straight down to Fleet gtreet and in half an houi was closeted Vith Sparkes the night editor of the Daily gun, w ' ho Im<l jusL come on duty Holston's remark about " following ht.« own independent line of investigations " tad gi vcn l ' lo i oumalist nn 'dea Look hero, Sparkes," he said. " I want you to get in touch with our agents j n South Africa. Do it quickly. I want to know all abrut that fellow Garrington was mixed up in the Durward trial. Can you do this for me ?" >i j suppose so," said Sparkes. " It's evident that there's a story at the back of "J this. I'll CE,ble ri Kht away." "Excellent!" said Vaness, "and let. pie know directly you hear something. 1*1! g' ve y° u a sto1 ' V n " r 'p' ll in a little w l,jle One that will make your hair curl!" He left the office and returned to his £ at Ho was feeling satisfied with tho events of the lust two days. The Selks murder had absolutely convinced him of Alexia's innocenco, and he felt that it *35 simply r. matter of <imc beforo he put his finger o.i somo salient point which would clear her From his book case ho took a street directory and turned to Eenningtoi. Green. A moment's search soon told him that the only road oi street beginning th "Fa . •" 10 that neighbouihood was Palraerstoi Street. No. 17, the ad Jress which Selks had been writing when In bad been interrupted, wai <i house kept by a Mrs. Strev.'ns, and V/.ness bad no doubt that this was the address to which Selks had traced Garrington. He made up his mind that next day ho would e0 to Kennington Green and inspect this house. He realised that it was more than probable that a bird of passage like Garrington would probably stay there only for a little while, but thero was no harm in making a few inquines. His mind turned to Alexia. At least fhe was safe at Billeficay and, apparently, the police had no inkling of her whereabouts. To-morrow ho would go down and see her, aid -would tell her enough 0 { his investigations to give her some measure of comfort. Then he threw himself into nn armchair and, lighting his pipe, gazed into the embers of the dying fire. Her face looked out at him, and V aness, for the first time faced a fact When he believed her guilty he had loved her, and now that he believed her innocent ha knew he could never be happy until she was his wifo. CHAPTER XXYL Vaness had never felt quite so excited Jn his life as when he set out on tho following evening for Kennington Green. Sparkes had succeeded in getting a reply from the Daily Sun's agent at Capo Town, a reply which had amazed Vaness. It seemed* to him that the crux of the whole mystery, the starting point of any solution which would definitely solve tho two murders, was Garrington. Vaness had no reason to suppose that he would find Garrington at 17. Palmerston Street, but, at least, lie hoped that ho might get some information. He parked his car at a garage in Kenirington, and, after finding from a passerfiy where Palmerston Street lay,- he, set off ou loot. As usual, it was a foggy night, had Vaness, unused to the neighbourhood, walked slowly. Turning a corner, ho ran straight into a man, and they both apologised. The light from an adjacent street lamp illuminated the man's face, and Vaness was surprised to recognise Inspector -Soames. "Hallo, Mr. Vaness," said the Inspector, " what are you doing over here ? It isn't too nice this' side of the river tonight." "Just a little quiet investigation, Inipectnr," said Vaness. " I thought of asking you the same question." "To tell you the honest truth," said Soames, " I'm looking for this fellow Garrington, although, between you and ffie and the doorpost, I don't think he exists. I suppose you don't know that Ralston cisked if he might handle the Selk's murder as well as the other job, because he's now fairly certain that the two crimes are connected, and he's got nn idea that this fellow, Garrington, who was apparently employed by old Durward, lives over here somewhere. I've spent the whole day over here, but J can't find the fellow. He's probably made a get-away by now." " Hard luck, Inspector," said Vaness. "I expect he'll turn up some time. In the meantime, how's the Strex business going on ? "

will be back. Surely you must have some idea. What time does he usually come in?" The woman put the two half-crowns into a voluminous pocket. " Well, to tell you the truth, sir," she saio, more amiably. " I never knows when Vs in, and when 'e ain't comin' in. Sometimes 'e's away for days. Then 'e'll. st ty 'ere for three nights. Then 'e'll disappoar agin. Rum sort o' feller.' " I see." said Vaness, " What's this Garrington, do you know ?" " I dunno' fer sure," she said. "'E savs 'e's a sailor, and 'e looks like one, but I clunno' very much nboiit *im." " I suppose the gentler *an in the chair wanted to know all abou| him, too," said Vaness. " 'E did," said the wo nan. E asked very much the same qnnstions as you've asked. Seems to bo very popular lately, this feller Garrington. Mind you, if 'e's comin' in 'e usually gets back about alf-past ten, stays 'ere fer about threequarters of an hour, aid then goes off agin " " Was Garrington out tho night of two days ago?" asked Vaness. " about 11-15?" " Yes, 'e was." said the woman. " I know because I went to the pictures, and I got back at *alf-p;vst ten, and 'o was just going out of the 'ouse. 'E said 'e 'ad to go to tho sulmrbn somewhere." ' " All right," said V aness. " Thanks very niucb for your information. I'll come back at haif-past ten and take my chance of seeing him. Good-night." He closed the iron garden-gate behind him, and walked rapidly off. So Ralslon had been in search of the elusive Garrington. Vaness wondered exactly what Ralston's game was, and why, if hj« knew Garrinj;ton's address, he had not informed Soamss of it; or was Soames lying whon he said he had not found Garrington? It was quite on the cards that Ralston had tipped Soames off not to tell Vaness too much. In any event, it was obvious I hat Ralston was keen to interview Garrington, although Vaness thought he was ratljer a fool to do it alone and unprotected, more especially as lie thought Garrington was a murderer However, courage, he knew, had always been a strong point of Ralston's. CHAPTER SIXTH. Vaness walked quickly to the garage, got his car, and drove rapidly off toward St. John's Wood. If Ralston had already connected with Garrington, Vaness realised that the most sensible thing he could do was to get Ralston's ideas on the subject for, if the detective proposed to arrest Garrington when he foind him, Vaness realised that this would bring matters to a crux, and if there were any question of association between Garrington and Alexia it would be brought to light. In his own mind Vaness had very j?ood reasons for believing that there wa< no such association, although ho had not questioned Alexia about this.

When fie walked into Ralston's study where the detcc:ti% T e was in his usual position in front of the firu. Vaness wasted no words, but came to the point " So you've found Garrington, Ralston." he said. Ralston grinned. " You bet 1 have, he said. " Didn't take me very long, did it? That's the man we want."

" The question is w.iether he stayed for you," said Vaness. " I've just left there. He's out. They expect htm back to-night." _ . Ralston looked tip witi a grin. If I were a ba.d tempered rain," he said, " 1 should gei; pretty well annoyed with you, young fellow, my lad, butting in, going round asking questions, and spoiling my game. 1 thought ynu night be banging around ever there, a though goodness knows where you got your information about him, and I tipper! off Soames not to tell yoj anything if he saw y ou > I j l ' sorry you went to see Garrington, said Ralston. "WhvT" said Vaness.

" Well, it's obvious," said the detective. " I went over there this afternoon, but he isn't going to suspect me. I'm a cripple in a chair. I dorj't look like a policeman. Then a few hours afterward you turn up. Whore Garrington would think nothing of an enquiry which his landlady would tell h'm was made by an old cripple, he'll soon get the breeze up if he nnds that, line upstanding fellows like youriielf have been asking about him. You newtipaper fellows nre ail the same. " Perhaps it's lucky for some people that we are," said Var css.

Unreasonably enough lie was feeling short-tempered. Ralston's inevitable enthusiasm and egotism was inclined to annoy tha journalist sometimes. " It would be pretty hard luck for some people," said Vaness. " if there wasn t any newspapers. Why, hv this time, if you'd had your own w;iy, you'd have arrested Alexia Durward days ago over the Strex murder, although you now believe that Garrington did it. The fact, of the matter is, you people pick out the mos likely person, and build up all the evidence you can against him o - her, irrespective of whether they are innocent or guilty. Ralston bit his lips, and Vaness could see that lie was thoroughly annoyed. His fingers played a pecul ar tattoo on the arm of his chair. The noise of Ralston s knuckles on the wood brought the realisation to Vanes* that he had been r,K'e- " Forgive my being short-tempered, Kii slon." he said, "but my temper's been wearing a bit thin the last three or tour davs." , " That's all right, my boy. said the detective, "I get like that myself sometimes. .As a matter of fa't. I nearly lost my temper then. But you take « tip from me. and lay eff this fellow Harrington. What good can you do? JJo you thirk he's going to con r ess to the murder just because n Daily Sun man asks bin' to ? You bet ho won t. " Well, if he won't confess it to me, he certainly won't confoss it to you, countered Vancss." " True enough," said Ralston, grinning. «• but I'm not gr ng to arrest him for murder." " Oh. aren't you ? " said Vaness. " Not a bit of it." said the other. " I've p°t somcihing else on Mr. Garring ton. There was 'a, little burglary in which I believe ho vas mixed up. it took place a few weeks and 1 m going to pull him on that. When wc ve pot him that's the time when v-o ->h<i find out things on the other charge, so, in the meantime, you ay off Garrington, ehe I'll get angry with you." Vanoss grinned. " AH ri r 'ht, Ra ston." he said. " I won't spoil your gamo. On the cither hand, you know, I'm counsel for the defence, and I'm going on wit i it. Sec you soon." He shook hands with the detective, and went off. CHAPTER XXVITI. ft w;is twenty five minutes past ten when VanoFs pulled up his car before the house in Palmerston Street. The ' ron gate seemed to creak more loudly than ever as lie pushed it open. He tappet quietly on the door, and waited. In a few minutes the door was opened just two or three inches, and the woman s face peered out. Vaness, with great promptitude, put bis foot in (he opening of the door so that it could not be closed. " Mr. Garrington, back yet ? ' «e asked. " Yes, 'e's back," said the woman. M 'E's been carrying' on blue mure, or* 'E let me "ave it' good and piopcr for talkin' to people about 'im. or sayin anytliin" at all about 'im- He says e won't see nobody, and if you carne round 'ere askin' questions 1 was tell you to g° to 'ell." "That's all right mow," said Vaness, " but I'm going to talk to Mr. GarringI ton. He put his shoulder against

" Ralston's called a halt just for a moment," said Soarnes. "I believe you know that th»i girl got away. I put a sew man to keep an eye on her, but she *ent out, and the young ass lost her. Anyhow, that doesn't matter very much. She'll turn up within a day or two, because she ca:n't get out of the country, But Ralston isn't worrying so much about her as about this fcfijow, Garrington ; but, between you and ifie, Mr. Vaness, I think he'j wrong. It, ffims to me a very much "'Ore sensible ,Jourse to pursue to con tentrate on thji girl, and get some sort of 'tatemont him her. It*s ten to one 'he'll get frightened, and if she knows anything about this fellow, Garrington. she'll come across. Well, I must be getting along. Mr. Vane c s.' Tha journalist nodded to the policeofficer, and continued on his way. He thought it a rather amazing thing that, hy » fluke, lie should have been er^'ed lo [let a clue as to Garrington's address w hrst the police, apparently, were at a l°-8 to discover him. E'/fcnttially he found Palmerston Street. " w«is; a mean, dark street, turning ofT ® n ® of the main streets, fillrd with dilapi ramshackle houses. As he walked " u *i> the street searching for No. 17, he ""'iced that in most of. the windows were eai'ds announcing that rooms were vacant 0t single gentlemen. Altogetl ei it appeared to be a street of cheap lodgings last he halted outside No. 17, and pushed open the creaking iron gate. I'ne °° r was opened' in response to his re peated. knocking by a bedraggled and "ty woman. Her hair hung in wis]is about her lace, and her fingers pulled a shaAvl c'oser a'.»out her shoulders as e cold night air Mew in at the doorway. "

. pond evening," said Vaness. I m Xo °king fo r a j,j, v Oanington. Have you 6°tianybody o? that name staying here? " . pie woman nodded, and the journal's heart pave a leap. , i 'ave/' she replied, 4 but e £ n 'I- I dtmno when 'e's going to be J, - Any'ow, 'o don't see nobody. What V T 0 " want with 'im ? " I don't think that would interest kaid Vaness. " I've got to talk to J; Garrington, that's all." it docs interest me," she answered surlily. " L've got something *se to c |o beside*/ answer people knockin ~\® ( '°or all day for 'im." said Vancss. "So other . Pie have been enquiring for Mr. Gar- .*!*?>. have they?'-' d ills, they she answered, 'im °' s a been 'ere twice for *k» ;°' da y. a "feller in a chair, pry in riiw'- as k'n' questions. I am't Ha''- • watch-doff, and it's little ejio u o" .Jfcys for 'is room as it is without me to act as a bloomin' necre-

*i_ anes!l slipped five shillings into the K^° n 'a hand. "It must be a great g. W®! I know," .he said, "but Id be ■7® 4 you'd tell ine when Garrington

Isy PETER CHEYNEY. ' copyright..) * .. .1 o—r«■«._ > • ... _

the door, and leaned on it. The old woman made the best resistance she could, but it was of no use. Vaness managed to get the door open, and stepped inside into the dirty and evil-smelling hall. lie closed the door quietly behind him. "My Gawd! " said the old woman. " 'E'll do you in for this." "He might try," said Vaness. " I believe that's rather a hobby of his, doing people in, isn't? Tako a tip from me, and make yourself scarce. Which is Garrington's room ? " The woman nodded up the stairs. " That one on that landin'," she said, indicating tho landing at the top of the long flight of narrow stairs, which were illuminated half way up by a gas-mantle which was in the last stages of decay. " If you'll take a tip from me you'll keep away from Garrington. I think 'e's been drinkin'."

At this moment the door on the landing on the top of the stairs opened, and, looking up, Vanoss saw the man whom ho at once knew to be Garrington. He was a tall, well-built man, with a shock of blonde hair just graying at the sides, and a bushy moustache. His shaggy eyebrows and a general air of dissipation made him a most fierce-looking customer. He leaned on the bannister-rail, and looked down. " Well, what the h is it you want? " he almost shouted. CHAPTER XXTX. Die woman scuttled off, and disap peared down the stairs which led to the basement Vaness took a cigarette from his case, and lit it. " I want to talk to you, Mr Garrington," he said. " I represent the Daily inin. I want to ask you a few questions." Garrington gave an exclamation, almost a snarl. From his position at the bottom of the stairs Vaness could not see the man distinctly, but lie could just see the workings of his face, and the evil look which he bestowed on the journalist. " What tho h —do I know about any murders ?" he said, " and if I did, do you think I'm going to tell you ? There'll br» another murrlpr if I come down these cursed stairs. What in hades do you want with me ? Get out of this, and leave me alone." " Not so fast," said Vaness. " How did you know I wanted to talk about murders ? A guilty mind, eh. Mr. Gar rington ? The time may come very soon when you may have to talk. Don't yon think it would bo much better to talk now, and save yourself a lot of trouble You never know, I may be able to be of use to you." " Oh, you mieht, might you," sneered Garrington. " You come here with your questions, and I'll answer them for you. You want to know who killed Selks. Perhaps I did, and perhaps I didn't. Find out. And what else might you be wanting to know, Mr. Busybody? You'll lio v.-an'ing to know what I know about Miss .Alexia Durward. Ah, that's got you! I thought that would make yon jump. Ask her what she knows about the Selks murder. Yes. and ask her what she knows about tho Strex case, too. How do I know ? Oh. I know a lot of things." Vaness remained quite cool. He always believed in making the other man lose his temper.

" All verv interesting, Mr. Garrington," he sa : d. " but only words, and words won't prevent you swinging off the end of a six-foot drop. You know what for."

In the half light Vaness ronld see that Garrington's face was livid. He stepped forward, and seized the banister rail with one hand as if he would smash it into a thousand atoms. Vaness' eves, always observant, rested for a moment on Garrington's right hand. Then, without a word, he op°ned the door, stepped out, and shut it behind bim. u'ive minutes later found him speeding toward Billericay. His mouth was set in a hard, straight line, and his face was stern. Yet, mixed with this feeling of grim determinat'on, was one of amazing happiness. Aloxia Durward was innocent, and ha could prove it'

(To be continued on Saturday nert.)