THE CRY IN THE NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE CRY IN THE NIGHT

CHAPTER I TTj, 3 COnway Castle had just berthed, nllc i from tho quayside Inspector Ransome, of the C.1.D., glanced appraisingly at the first-class passengers crowding the rail, waiting for tho gangway to be lowered. The particular, business which had brought him to the port had been concluded an hour ago, and now he was merely an idlo spectator, one of a little crowd brought together by curiousity or the claims of friendship to watch tho arrival of a boat from the ends of tho earth. But professional habit joined with cowman human interest made him observant; and almost instantly he picked out the most notable figure at the rail. This was a tall man of soldierly bearing;, young, despite the touch of grey in his hair, handsome-featured though the face was thin as if ravaged by fever, and with grave eyes that seemed extraordi narily steady. The man was staring at the crowd on the quay a littio absently, clearly without any expectation of being met on his arrival, thought Ransome, wonderingly idly who tho man was. At that precise moment a girl hurrying along the deck, stopped, and touched tho tall man's arm. Instantly he turned and lhe grave became animated. The pair talked for a minute or two, then as a si}en sounded, the girl made a little gesture of' mock dismay; offered her hand, and a moment later fled away along the deck; whilst the man watched her go with a hungry look on his face. That was how Inspector Ransome thought of it; and, incurably romantic, he found himssif speculating as to the relation betweea the pair. Then recalling how quickly acquaintance ripens and fades on a sea voyage, he shrugged his shoulders unci laughed. (Ships that pass in tho night," ho thought in hackneyed phrase; and still watched the man. When the gangway was lowered and fastened the man who held his attention was one of the first to land, a deck hand with a large kit-bag following at his heels; and as he walked towards the inspector, the latter was privileged to witness a littio encounter that was both odd and intriguing. A sCoiitish man, of perhaps forty-five rears of age, modishly dressed and sporting a monocle, came hurrying along the quay, obviously to meet someone on the boat; and harassed by tho thought that he was a/' littio late. The line ho followed brought him face to face with the tall man newly landed; and as they met, the stout, jnan stopped as suddenly as if he had been shot. His monocle, worn without a cord, slipped from its place and smashed on the stone quay. The owner, however, never even glanced downwards. His rather bulging eyes stared at the other as if he found tho sight of him incredible; a look of utter amazement came on Eiis fat face; and as swiftly passed giving plape to one of stark fear. l*an3ome, who had seen fear on many fac&s, had no doubt of the fact, and tremendously interested, made a swift move in order to get a view of the face of the other man. What he saw there was more than interesting. The thin face was set in hard lines, the brow drawn together with a deep crease between, and the eyes beneath were blazing. The man had halted, and stood quite still staring at .the stout ono. who, apparently hypnotised by the other's stare, seemed unable to move, and overcome with apprehen6\oti. Then thy younger man spoke: " Studholme!!'... By heaven ! " The inspector was sufficiently near to cateji the words. The voice of th 6 speaker was not raised unduly, but there was cold passion in the tones that was won® than any violence. The inspector felt that himself and he saw the stout man shrink as if he had received a blow, then lift a'gloved hand in a helplpss gesturn as if to ward off some anticipated evil. /

stantly as the young lady whom he had seen apparently taking friendly leave of the man m the taxi, and ho was more interested than ever. Was sho the bone of contention—the cause of antagonism between the two men ? " Cherchez la femme," ho recalled the Gallic saying, and with a thought that it was more than possible he moved quickly nearer to hear what the girl might have to say. "Oh! Mr, Studholme, whatever has happened ? " Mr. Studholnae looked uncomfortable. Then he forced a laugh which in the inspector's view did him credit; and he lied cheerfully. "A stupid accident, Bobbio. I was a I'ttle late, and hurrying watching tho deck for you, I stepped off the quay into tho water! " "How unfortunate!" said the girl quickly. " A sharp lesson to mind one's steps! " laughed Mr. Studholme. " But there's no roal damage done. I know the purser of the ship and will borrow sonio clothes. I brought the car to take you to town and will keep you but a very little whilo." He hurried towards tho gangway, and Ransome, watching him go, mused to himself. " So the girl is in it, but is not to know the truth. Well, the gentleman is wise; is it not a story to tell against one's self. But I would give tuppence to know what: is behind it all." Tuppence is not an extravagant sum. It would scarcely have tempted the elegant Mr. Sludholme to an indulgence in confidences: even less so the other man who, seated in the comer of his taxi, stared out of the. window with an absorbed look in his grey eyes. Evidently his thoughts were centred on Mr. Studholme's misadventure, for, once, he laughed sharply.. " A good beginning," he murmured, " and an omen. Scoundrel knew me first glance. He'll send round the fiery cross, and the crowd will bunch . . . should make the hunt eAsy." The anticipation clearly afforded a measure of satisfaction, for he laughed again; th6n, wi.'h eyes half-closed, sat in reflection, impassive as a bronze Buddha. Arriving at the station, he purchased several morning papers; and when the train rolled in, found a corner seat, and diligently began to search the columns of the papers onp after the other. There was plenty of news for the average citizen —a political crisis of some importance; a disaster to a famous airman, the trail of a man accused of a subtle murder in which tho brightest lights of the criminal bar were engaged; but he scarcely glanced at tho headlines. In each paper a comparatively unimportant paragraph was what he sought: and having read it, he tossed the particular paper aside. The paragraph had variations, bnt the essential facts were the same: and the last one he read will suffice for all. A SOLDIER OP THE LEGION Sir Martin Charlton, of Charlton Manga, Somerset, who has been absent from England since the time of succession to the baronetcy, today arrives from the East by the Conway Castle, after five years of exile. It will be remembered that at the time of the late baronet's death, there was some mystery as to the whereabouts of his heir, the present baronet, and that the mystery was not cleared up for some months, when it was learned thst Sir Martin with the flair for adventure characteristic of his family was serving in the Foreign Legion in Tonauin. Books about tho .Legion are plentiful as fallen leaves in autumn, but most of them aro concerned with service m the Sahara, and no doubt Sir Martin will be able out of his experience to throw a n™ light on the world-wide activities of the famous regiment. As he finished reading the paragraph wh'ch ho himself had inspired through a friend, he tossed tho paper aside, and a hard look came on his face. " Flair for adventure!" ho thought. " Hadleigh will stare when he hears the truth." Four hours later, a distinguished figure in evening dress with the red r'bbon of the Legion of Honour in his buttonhole, he entered the Medici restaurant that was the vogue of the moment with London society. The maitre d'ho'el knew a personage when he saw one, and hurried to serve h'm. " Monsieur desires a table ? " " There is one reserved by radiogram." he answered. " But yes, for Sir Martin Charlton." " I am he." The maitre d'hotel bowed. " This way, sir. Already monsieur's friend awaits h:'m."

The tall man laughed—strained, cracked laughter it seemed to the inspector; and then took a step forward. There was nothing apparently hostile in the move. His hand was not raised to strike, and the watcher detected nothing violent in the acfiSn. But panic gripped the stout man. He moved sharply, t\Vo steps backward arid the inspector cried out in swift warning. " The dock! Look out, man! " Ho wis too late. With the second step the man trod on air and toppled backwards into the water, a hoarse, apprehensive cry breaking from him before he splashed. The younger man seemed no wny disturbed by the accident. With an/' indifference that was utterly callous, he continued ou his way towards a line of waiting taxis without even troubling to laok" over the quayside to find out what bad happened to the other. Inspector Runsome ran forward. The man in the water was struggling in a way that proclaimed he was no swimmer—struggling in water thafc was filthy with floating debris that had drifted to tho end /of the dock. The inspector shouted to a man who was busy hitching a rope to a boUard. ' The man saw the need and/promptly flung tho heavy rope towards the struggling one. Ho threw too well. The rope caught the man whom it was meant to help, 011 the head, knocking him under. Instantly the thrower followed the rope, and as the unfortunate one came up struggling frantically, he gripped him by tho collar, find a. spcoifd later thrust the rope into his hands, shouting—"Hang/op! Don't kick, you fool!" Seeing tne danger of tragedy was passed, the inspector looked quickly round for tho man who had been in a way responsible for the contretemps. To his amazement the man was just entering one of the waiting taxis with apparently not the slightest interest in the man whose life had been imperilled. " Well, I'm hanged! " ejaculated the inspector, and wondered whether he ought to stop the man's departure. But, as he instantly recognised, he had no ground for such action. The man had done nothing. Beyond those coldly passionate /words of recognition ho had said nothing; and the stare of those blazing eyes could scarcely be construed into a threat of violence that would be convincing in court. The activities at the dockside claimed his attention again. The man who had suffered tho involuntary ducking was just being hauled to the quay—a dripj Pjng, miserable figure, hatless, grimy, all his modish spick-and-spanness obliterated by the filthy flotsam and scum into which he had plunged. As soon as he was on his/feet he starod wildly round. Of all those present, drawn by excitement and curiosity, perhaps only RanS( >mc guessed whom he was looking for; as ho noted the man's eyes, commented to himself: Stared stiff! The other must be a terror! " * He looked in the direction of the taxi, was just moving off, and the passen--Ber s hend was at the window. Apparently he was not so indifferent as he had a Ppeared. He was staring in the direction the crowd on the quay, and as it • Jl ro ' fC , revealing the miserable dripping "guro that was the centre of interest, the man laughed. That' laugh, in tho inspector's view, set the coping stone to callousness. must be hard as a rock," he tnought as the taxi glided away. '"Onder what there is between him and lie other. Something uncommon. I'll Swear. ai\d something' that will lead to M trouble .if—" iri r'l bought broke off sharply ns a K'uish figure ran down tho gangway and !, slo "8 'hojquayj making for the rescued ■ Th<{ inspector recognised her in-

He followed the man down the gold and white room, between the tables where the shaded lights gleamed on white shoulders and fair faces; where now and again happy laughter broke through the syncopated musi3 of a hidden orchestra; and c4me to a table where sat a solitary man of his own age, smoking. At the sight of him the man dropped h's cigarette, and rose sharply, a light welcome on his face, his hand outstretched. "Martin, old man!" he cried with some feeling. " Back to the old pastures, Dick." Charlton's voice was light; but there was that in h's face which stirred a secret dismay in his friend. " Been through the mill," he thought swiftly to himself, whilst he answered aloud cheerfully, " Heaven knows why you ever left them for tho swine troughs of the Legion." " I'm going to inflict you with the informat'on shortly," said the other with a hard laugh. " But first wo will eat." He turned to the waiter who had taken up his place, and in consultation with his friend ordered the dinner and the wines, and while they ate, they talked commonplaces a» if five y«ir® had not passed since their last, meeting, but when they reached the liqueurs, Dick Hadleigh broke out. " Now, you old duffer.'—the story. Can't you sec I'm heated up to fiashEoint ? What took you to that confounded itgion ? " " Urgent need for sanctuary," answered Charlton tersely; "Sanctuary! Mean you needed a hid-ing-place ?" " Yes. It was that or Pentonville." " Pctonville,! " Hadleigb's voice was hoarse with amazement. " Pentonville, and a short walk in tho early morning with the chaplin reading the * last prayers, and the public executioner—" " Oh, stop joshing, Martin." " I'm not joshing. It was from that I fled to the Legion." " But that means— moans—" "Murder! Yes —that was it. And— Good God! " There was a sudden stress in the voice, a flame of amazed wralh in the grey eyes which made Hadleigh turn swiftly to discover the cause for them. sn>v nothing, and asked quickly: " What'.> up, Martin?" " On the left there, third table from the window," repl'ed Charlton. There's a man and a girl—' " Yes, I see them. Nothing particularly startling there. I know the girl— Roberta Rowthorne —Bobbie to her intimates and—" He broko off ns the lady's companion turned and he caught sight of his face. " Ah! " he said. " Arthur Studholme! A bad egg! Wonder what Miss Bobbie is doing in his company?/ He glanced at his friend, noted again the angry light in his eyes, and asked curiously: " You know Studholme —or the lady, Martin ? " " Bo:h," jerked tho other tersely, without taking his eyes from the pa'r. , Dick Hadleigh was a little surprised. It was rather' less than six hours since Charlton had landed in England and that did not seem an adequate time for tho cultivation of acquaintances, whilst in the five years of his service with the Legion Charlton could scarcely havo mot M'ss Bobbie. He wondered for a momont if his friend were just creating a diversion in order to avoid romplet ng the amazing confession which ho had begun. Then something happened which drove the thought from his mind almost before xt was completed. The girl, with a troubled look on her charm'ng face, turned abruptly away from her companion. As she did so, her eyes encountered Charlton's still wrathful and intense gaze. She cave a little gesture of 6iirpnso, the blood surged

By OTTWELL BINNS Author of "The Lnvenham Treasure," "Diana of the Islands," "The Mystery of the Atoll," etc., etc.

CLEVER. AND ENTHRALLING MYSTERY STORY BY POPULAR WRITER

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suddenly in her face; then sho bowed. Charlton returned the silent act of recogniticin, and as he d'd so, Studholme turned quickly, apparently to discover whom tho girl had saluted. As he saw Charlton ho was visibly disturbed. His face indicated discomposure, and in °tho bulging eyes flashed a light of fear. There was no doubt of the fact in Hadleigh's mind, and it was confirmed by the other's immed'ato actions. Studholme turned quickly and spoke to the waiter. Then he addressed himself abruptly to the girl who shook her head whilst her charming face took a mutinous look. Tho man leaned over the table and said something. . Whatever it was, Hadlo'gh would have sworn that it was expressed in less than a dozen words. Its effect on the girl was manifest. Her face went suddenly white, apprehension shone in her blue eyes, and sho rose quickly from the table. Studholme roso also. " They're going," said Hadleigh, sure that one or both had been scared away by the presence of his friend. " Yes," answered Charlton, grimly. The pair began to move towards the door, and Hadleigh, noting the intensity with which Charlton lollowed the r B°' n S) groped for the explanation of the odd occurrence without finding it. Then as tho couple passed through the glass turnstile door Charlton asked peremptorily : "You know Studholme's address?" There was something rather startling : D tho harshness of Charlton's voice, and the stormy light in his eyes stirred a sudden anxiety in his friend. " No," he answered. " Why do you ask ? The man's a sweep." Charlton laughed icily, and that laugh was more disturbing to Hadleigh than the wild light in the grey eyes. " A sweep! . . . you don't know. That man—and others—sent me to the Legion. But he, more than the others, was at the bottom of the black business . . ." He rose from the table sharply. " And I'rrt going to find him . . .to have it out with him—-to-night! " Hadleigh's anxiety increased sevenfold. There was_ a potency about his friend that was amazing, a suggestion of grim purpose that alarmed him. " Steady, old man," ho said quickly. I don't understand what is behind, but you're in no state to . . . to . . . meet Studholme to-night." " I'm going! . . . I'll see you later! " " But, Mart'n—" Ho broke off as his friend turned and began to walk quickly towards tho door. Ho could do nothing, and ho whistled softly as he conjectured possibilities. Then ho shrugged his shoulaers, ordered another liqueur, and seating himself apain began carefully to go over the pieces of a jig-saw puzzlo of which he had only part. " Pentonville! " he whispered under his breath once. " Murder! No. Not old Martin—" Meanwhile the man upon whom ho was th'nking, was acting with the decision of a man whose actions are directed by a clear-cut purpose. Signalling a taxi ho drove to a club, procured a Kelly Directory, and began methodically to work through it, with a concentration that was amazing. At the end of an hour and a half a new ; dea occurred to him, and calling one of the club servants, he asked for a telephone directory, and gave his attention to that instead. Within five minutes his index finger travelling down the long list of names, stopped suddenly. "Got it!" ho ejaculated. "Now—" Ho copied the address, and going out, signalled a taxi, spending a little time in consultation with tho driver before entering. Sharpnell's Lane. I've got an idea of it, sir. Somewhere t'other side of ' Ampstead ' Eath. Bit off the map for this time o' night." ' " Double fare! " said Charlton.

" Oh fall right. I'll find it." Quite a considerable time later, the taxi crawled down a badly-lit lane, bordered with trees, and pulled up as a reversing taxi blocked the way. Charlton's driver shouted a question to the other. " Say mate, know where Pondicherry Lodge is ? " " That's the gate across the road. Just dropped a fare." Charlton laughed a little grimly. He could guess who that fare was: and rejoiced that his long journey had not been in vain. Descending, he spoko to >ths driver. " You can wait, here. I may be some time. But don't go till I do come." " Right, sir." Charlton crossed the road; with the aid of a match read tfio name on the stone gate-post, and passed inside. There were trees on either side of the drive, which made the place very dark, but guided by a glimmer of light in front he moved on, and in a couple of minutes, passed the zone of trees, and saw the house in front of him, one room lit by a shaded light, and the door, standing open to the night, the light from the hall streaming on to the gravelled terrace. So much he saw, when from the house came an appalling scream, throbbing and quivering, a revelation of utter terror. For a moment he halted sharply, then the scream was followed by a hysterical cry, feminine in quality, and coming from someone thrown out of all self-control by some horrible thing. " O-o-h-h-h! .. . O-h-h-h " Something unusual was happening in that solitary house, ho told himself, as ho began to run forward, making a beeline to that lighted doorway. Before ho reached it, someone came into sight—a girl running blindly, her fur opera cloak askew, revealing white arms and neck. Ho glimpsed her face for one moment before she passed the point where the Sight, streamed behind her, and he gave, a gasp of amazement as he recognised the girl who had been with Studholme at the Medici. Two seconds later, the girl in her blind rush ran straight into his arms, and as she did so, gave a moaning cry, relaxing in such a way that ho thought she was fainting. " Steady, Miss Rowthorne," ho said, urgently. "What's the trouble 1 " The girl lifted her head, stared at him wildly for a moment as Im stood with the light from the hall lighting his face, then recognition came to her. "You!" she gasped. "Oil! thank God! ..." Then tho hysterical emotion surged again. " Take me away," sko cried. " Take me away! Take—" Her utterance cho,ked suddenly. Overcome by the stress of emotion, she gave a gasping sob, shivered and grew suddenly limp, this timo in a dead faint. Charlton looked at her closely to make sure; then from her white face ho glanced once at the open doorway, and once at the lighted room of the otherwise dark house. There was no sign of the owner; no sound of movement to indicate that anyone within had heard the girl's terrified scream. The place ttas silent as a cemetery at midnight, and after a moment's consideration ho lifted her, and began to carry her in tho direction of the gates, with tho single thought in his mind that ho must get her away from that silent house which had suddenly assumed an aspect most sinister. (To l.io continued daily)