RAINBOW GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21291, 19 September 1932, Page 16

RAINBOW GOLD

(COPYRIGHT)

A THRILLING STORY OF ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE

SYNOPSIS Dan Prescott and Gordon Wetherby find Cold in the nrid bush of Central Australia. Their claim may bo worth millions or it may just bo " n little jeweller's shop." They cannot stny and work the mine themselves, for during the greater part of the year this part of tho bush is a burning desert. If the gold is to be worked properly, they must have capital. They go down to Sydney and meet u man named Slade. who is agent for Milton Medlicott, a London company promoter. Wetherby and Slado tell Dan that they have been to tho mine by aeroplane, and are ready to fpnn a company, which will be promoted in London by Medlicott. Dan agrees, though he later feels that the plans of Slade and Medlicott " sound a bit crook," especially after the former had mentioned "mug" investors in England. Dan had left England when he was a boy, but he was sure that Wetherby was Australian born, until tho latter Bhowed him, up in the bush, a photo, of his finance, Gladys Clements, a London girl. When they had been in Sydney a few , Wetherby sprang another surprise. " Meet tho missus. Dan." he said, introducing a pretty blonde. We're on our honeymoon." Dan is dumbfounded, before ho get furious. What about the girl in England Wetherby has jilted ? What about Wetherby's trip to England to give Medlicott detailed information which will be necesary for floating the comnany? Dan had intended to Btny in Australia and keep an eye on tho mine, but owing to Wetherby's honeymoon, Slade attempts to induce Dan to make the trip to England. CHAPTER I.—(Continued) " Let me get this right, Slade," Dan said. " Why do you want mo to go to England ?" " Because you are the goods, Prescott," Slade said. " I don't mind confessing that I doubted our smooth friend Wetherby and his stoi-y of a gold mine. " But after one minute with you I was convinced." " I suppose I ought to Salaam," Dan said. " But where docs all that taffy get me ?" "To London," Slado said. " There you'll meet Milton Medlicott. ITe'll see this proposition through your eyes. Fix with him how much money is wanted to work this mine; he'll do tho rest, and make you a rich man." " Listen, Slade," Dan said. " There's a lot of Svork to be done before you can get gold at Leopardwood Creek." " By the way," Slade interrupted, " the company is registered as the Dondan Gold Mining Company. Do you get it? Don and Dan struck mo as soon as I heard you two partners talking. Dondan lo tho niug English investor, will sound like some wonderful Australian treasure house." " Why the mug investor 1" Dan asked keenly. " Because all investors who buy goldmine shares are mugs," Slade said easily. " You know that, Prescott. Every ounce of gold that's raised costs about twice as much as it is worth. This mine happens to be the exception, but the people who are going to make money out of it will be tho mugs, just as much as if it cost them their last shillings." " I thought this Medlicott had bought the mine, and was putting up £50,000 to work it," Dan objected. " Mr. Medlicott financed the parent company, in which you and your partner hold 40 per cent interest," Slade explained. "He'll probably form an extended company and acquire tho ground taken up by myself and my friend Rollins, A little of the gravy comes my way, too, remember. The extended company will be of £250,000, in which you two boys will have 100,000 shares, as well as £IO,OOO cash down. That will allow for £IOO,OOO working capital to be raised, and still give me and Rollins a fair interest as well as Mr. Medlicott." " That sounds a bit crook to me," Dan said bluntly. "Crook!" repeated Slado indignantly. " How do you make that out, Prescott ? When you sold your mine for cash and shares, was there anything crooked about it ? You passed on the risk of there being nothing. below the show of golden quartz which you unearthed, didn't you ? Suppose there is nothing more. Have you done anything crooked ?" " I—l don't think so," Dan agreed. " Well, if Medlicott passes the risk on, to the investor, why docs it sound crook to you? It's tho same thing, isn't it? You want to sit pretty yourself • why shouldn't.others sit pretty?" Dan felt there was a flaw in the argument, but could not pub his finger upon it.

" I suppose it's all right," ho said, doubtfully. "Any doubt about-it will be removed, Prcscott, if you go to London, and tell intending shareholders the honest truth. That's all Medlicott will ask of you. You'll find him a prince, and you'll have a good time." Dan didn't say yes, but ho didn't say no. They dined festively and sumptuously that evening, and Gordon Wetherby was so sentimental that Dan felt that the same Continent would.not contain them. He spent the rest of the night packing for the sudden journey and writing letters and arranging his affairs for an absence of some months. His partner and his partner's bride made a rare fuss of tho farewells; and after Lorna had flung her 'arms about his nock and hugged him, Wetherby slipped a bit of paper in his hand. Dan put it secretly in his pocket, and as tho Moonalong thrust her nose past Sydney Heads he took it out, knowing what he should find. Miss Gladys Clements, Truro Villa, Stado Street, Hillingdon. Well, ho might as well bo hung for a sheep as a lamb! CHAPTER II Eve Gilchrist sat at tho window of lier bed-sitting-room, looking down upon the activities of tho London street two flights below her. Her mind was only half-con-scious of what her eves registered, for Evo was considering what she should say at the appointment which sho had to keep on tho morrow. Sho had been out of work nearly a month now, and tho anxieties and deprivations of unemployment wero wearing upon her. It was not much of a post that she was likely to get—tho salaries paid to typists by softgoods houses in the quartpr of London to which sho ..was siynmoned were not apt to bo liberal; and Kvo thought of yet another phrase expressing bright but earnest endeavour, which might serve as usoful impromptu. Mechanically, sho noted that tho hardworked doctor had drawn up his car before,the apartment building opposite, while ho paid his regular afternoon visit to the girl who was said to be dying there. And tho two flashily-dressed young men whom she had recently noticed hanging about tho street corners wer.o again taking an interest in the car. Evo mechanically noticed these tilings, hardly aware that she was observing them or that they had any significance. But when the taller of tho pair slipped into the driver's seat, her intelligence woko up with a jerk. It needed only the rattle of the newly-started engine to send her scudding down tho two flights of stairs three steps at a time. As she emerged upon the street, things had begun to happen. Tho second'man —the shorter ono, who wore a hat of green velour—was poised before tlie window of tho corner shop. That window was full of jewellery, and the man held a brickbat in his hand. The car was moving slowly towards him, the man on tho driver's seat too intent on the actions of his confederate to notice Eve.

By E. C. BULEY Author of " Sea Urchin," " Calcutta Luck, etc. '—

Sho restrained an impulse to cry for help, and ran forward. Tho brick clashed through the window with an appalling din of broken glass. Tho man in the green hat snatched with an incredible swiftness. When Eve met him, lie had nearly gained tho moving car, and his hands were full of gleaming booty. "Look out! " warned tho man in tho car, as Eve caught tho robber by the sleeve with both hands. As she did so, sho saw a little man emerge from the raided shop, his face contorted with the fear and horror of tho moment. It seemed to Eve, clutching desperately at tho thief, |hat tho shopman was executing futile danco steps on the threshold, while lie cried in a thin voice for help.

"Leggo!" hoarsely commanded the struggling bandit; while gold rings and chains dripped from his fingers on to the asphalt of the road. Eve braced her feet, for slio was being dragged towards the car. She was aware that people were coming; she heard scuttling feet and cxcitod squeaks and calls.

Sho could see tho thief's fist coming, straight for her face. If sho changed her pose, to avoid tho blow, her resistance would be overcome. Then her head went buck with a jerk, and sho know that thero was nothing in her clutching hands. Ihe girl staggered dizzily, and then wont down beforo tho heavy blow. The car was moving quickly now; so quickly that tho man in the green hat failed in his effort to spring on the dashboard. Eve saw that with a glow of satisfaction. A policeman, who had turned up from somewhere, was struggling with him in tho next instant. Tho doctor, shouting in anger, was running in futile pursuit of the vanishing car. Tho little shopman was retrieving tho plunder scattered on tho road; and he had more helpers than ho desired. The street seemed full of people now, but the centre of attraction was the captured man, and the policeman idio was handcuffing him. Eve was helped to rise by a strong hand. " Plucky kid ! " said an* approving male voice. " Are you feeling all shaken up, after that shock? Step out; I know the place where you ought to go." In an instant, as it seemed to the dazed girl, sho was sitting in a taxicab, looking at a smiling man in evening clothes. He was not young, as the greying hair at his temples proclaimed, but the wrinkles of laughter about his eyes and the mirthful curve of his lips mado Eve think of a boy somehow. "Where arc you taking me?" she asked, struggling to regain her self-con-trol. _ " To the nearest chemist's shop," he replied. " There we can get a cooling lotion for your face. If a black eye is taken in time —" "A black eye!" Eve interrupted, in utter dismay. " Oh, am I going to have a black eye ? " " That thug hit you between the eyes, my child," her companion said gently. " I'm afraid you are in for a pair of 'em; but don't look so scared. Honourable scars, as I am ready to testify." Evo wrung her hands in the misery of the moment. "I mustn't have a black eye! I can't have a black eye! " she moaned. " I have to look for a new job to-morrow, and who would take a girl with a black eye? " " Here's the chemist," said the man cheorfully. " It may not be so bad, and, anyhow, something must be done for a pluckv girl like you, 'if you're seeking a job.- In you go, while I pay the cabman." There was a woman assistant &t the chemist's shop, and she took Eve into a back room and applied cooling lotions and comforting words. But when bottles of lotion had been provided and instructions for tho frequent application of the mixture given, it was clear that Eve must reconcile hersefl to a discoloured face on the next day. " Nothing to what it would have been if your friend had not brought you here at once," cheerfully chirped the woman in the white overall. Eve tried to bear up under the information and to thank the" man in evening clothes for the part he had played. " Look here," he said. " I'm going to put you in a cab and send you home. I cannot escort you, because I have a dinner engagement, but I've got a job for ' you, if you are any use as a secretary at all. Here's my card. Look me up when your face is fit to be seen in a business office; and you are hired from to-day, understand. You've earned the salary that will be going on while you are on sick leave, if ever a girl did. Good-night, and buck up." , When Evo descended from -the cab a little crowd was collected as near the raided shop as a guardian policeman would permit. Her landlady told her an exciting tale of the smash-and-grab raid which had taken place, but made no mention of a girl wnose intervention had brought about the arrest of one of the thieves. With the deepest thankfulness Evo realised 'that her part in the affair had already been overlooked and forgotten, perhaps owing to tho eagerness of those who knew the truth to claim credit for tho arrest. But sho would not have to be a witness, She would not incur the publicity from, which she shrank. For that she was profoundly thankful. The card in her hand proclaimed her benefactor to bo Mr. Milton Medlicott, of an address in the City of London. After concealing a discoloured face for three days, Eve, in very considerable doubt, called at this city address. She found an office full of people, male as well as girl clerks, and all were busily employed by Mr. Medlicott, who described himself as an outside broker. That meant nothing to Evo, but it was reassuring to find Mr. Medlicott businessliko, though cordial. Her shorthand and typing were sternly tested before sho was engaged, and tho salary, though liberal, was nob more than Evo felt sho could honestly earn. Such was Evo Gilchrist's introduction to tho city, where existence was presently to become ior her an amusing and exciting adventure, instead of the mcro struggle it had hitherto appeared. Tho first sight of England, decked with the beauty of lato April, stirred _ Dan Prescott as ho never imagined himself capablo of being moved. Twelve years had passed since ho had emigrated, and ho had almost forgotten in tho meantime what tho true green of grass and young buds looked like. It came over him that ho was glad that it was Wetherby who had remained in Australia and himself who had visited England. As soon as he landed at Tilbury Docks, ho inquired about trains to Hillingdon, and after a night of quiet in a modest London hotel, ho caught thn earliest train possible. Truro Villa turned out to bo ono of somo fifty houses, exactly similar, in a road of astonishing monotony. An untidy girl of fifteen opened the door to his ring, and on his inquiring for Miss Gladys Clements, she showed him into a stuffy, overcrowded little drawing room. Exquisitely uncomfortable, Dan _ was conscious of excited squeaks and giggles close at hand. His oyes roved about the room, cluttered up with cushioned wicker furniture and countless " ornaments," and came to rest upon a photograph frame on the mantel-shelf. With a gasp of horror he saw his own face staring at him out of the frame. Once more Wetherby had foaled hire in some way, for flic picture was one Dan had permitted to be taken in Sydney, at his partner's urgent solicitation. Only one copy had gone out of his possession, and that must have been sent to Gladys Clements by tho perfidious Gordon. (To be continue-d daily)