WATCHING EYES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21468, 17 April 1933, Page 15

WATCHING EYES

By T. C. BRIDGES (COPYRIGHT) Author of "Messenger's Million," "The Price of Liberty," "The Other Mans Crime, Etc., Etc.

ABSORBING NARRATIVE OF LOVE AND ADVENTURE

CHAPTER X.—(Continued) "Yet someone lias taken those bonds, Chowne —that is unless they're hidden in some place you or I don't know of," said Jim. " Thero ain't no place of that kind as I knows on," Chowne told him. Jim sighed. " Well, see here, Chowne, with my own savings and tho balance in the bank, I have about £Goo—enough say, to carry on for a year, but at the end of that time if I can't find the bonds I shall have to let tho house and go back to work. There's nothing else for it." " You don't be needing to spend all that money in a year, sir," said Chowne quickly. " Tho missus and me, us got our savings. Us wouldn't want you to pay us nothing until you gets what's rightly yours." Jim did not say much. He really could not, but once more ho vowed to himself that, whatever happened, ho would hang on to his house and theso two loyal folk. ****** Next day was bright and rather cool with an easterly broezo. So the sea under lee of tho tall cliffs was pleasantly calm and tho Grey Ghost made a good passage down the coast. Jim was surprised at tho size and power of her. " You could go across to Ireland in hor," ho suggested. " I've been," Harvey told him. " I wouldn't mind crossing tho Atlantic in hor for that matter." Harvey handled her liko a master and they wero at llfracombo before 12. Jim insisted on standing lunch and afterward told his cousin he wanted to call on some friends. " Suits me," said Harvey. "I'll meet you here at six if that'll do." Jim had Cynthia's address from Brandon. She had taken a small house called Appledore, in Drako Road. He walked up from tho front and, getting directions from a largo policeman, soon found tho road. Since tho houses had po numbers Jim walked slowly, looking at the names on each gate. A man camo out of a gate, a big, hoavy-sot fellow, and Jim pulled up and stared. Though ho could not seo his face, thero was no mistaking those thick shoulders and the peculiar shouching walk. " Harmer," ho said to himself, frowning. And the frown deepened as ho • reached tho gato and found tho name on it to be Appledoro. " The swino! What's he doing here?" growled Jim, and as if in answer to his question tho door opened and thero stood Cynthia. Sho woro a very pretty pale blue, figured chiffon frock, and nothing could have better suited her fair skin and tho shining gold of her hair. Framed in tho doorway she made such a picture that Jim could only stare. Sho was the first to speak. "Mr. Silver!" sho exclaimed, and Jim's heart leaped, for thero was pleasuro as well as surprise in her voice. Sho camo forward quickly. " What brings you hero? I thought Plymouth was where you lived and worked." " I'm not working," replied Jim, recovering himself. " I am now a gentleman of leisure. Didn't Bill tell you?" " I haven't seen him since wo came hero. Como in and tell mo yourself. I can see by your faco you have real news." " But you were going out." " To soo Noel. That can wait. Como in, I insist." She took him into a small but pretty sitting-room, made him sit down, and herself lighted a cigarette for him. " Now tell mo all about it. Has a fairy godmother turned up?" " You'ro very nearly right, only it was a godfather, not a godmother." And Jim went on to tell her of his sudden summons to Crag Head and of his inheritance. "Crag Head!" sho cried. "I know it. A lovely place. Oh, Mr. Silver, I am glad." She was so frankly pleased that Jim was in the seventh heaven. " But what brought you here?" she continued. " Did you really have to ask that question?" Jim answered, and was rewarded by seeing a faint flush rise on Cynthia's checks. " So you came to tell me," sho said. " That was nice of you. You don't forget your friends in your prosperity." ' I haven't so many that I can afford to loso them," Jim said. " Nor I, either," she answered, and this time it was Jim who got red. Ho asked about Noel. Cynthia said ho was better, but still in the nursing homo. " And thero he will stay for the present,' sho added firmly, Jim wanted badly to a'sk about Harmer, but did not like to, and Cynthia turned the talk back to Crag Head, so that for tho moment Jim forgot about tho unpleasant visitor. Time flow by, and before Jim knew it, a small clock on tho bookcase struck four. " You'll stay for tea, Mr. Silver?" said Cynthia. " Mayn't I ask you to tea?" Jim ventured. " Let me take you out. Do!" Cynthia laughed. " It is Mrs. Raft's afternoon out, so the pleasuj-e ,will be mine. It will save me boiling tho kettle. Where shall wo go?" " You know better than I." " Then I vote for the Criterion. They have tho most fascinating cakes. And tho music is quite good." ; Jim forgot his troubles as he walked with Cynthia through tho town. Ho could not help noticing how peoplo stared at Cynthia, or realising how other men wero envying him. What he did not realise was that his own tall, well-set-up figure and clean-cut faco attracted as much attention from the women as Cynthia's fair beauty did from the men. Cynthia herself was quite conscious of this, and liked him the better for his modesty. They got a table to themselves, and the cakes and music did not disappoint them. Liko Jim, Cynthia seemed to have put all unpleasant things out of her mind, and laughed and talked gaily. Again Jim forgot the clock, and got a sharp start when a hand dropped 011 his shoulder, and ho turned to see Harvey Lunt standing beside him. " Forgive mo butting in, Jim, but you haven't forgotten wo leavo at six ?' " It's nowhere near that," returned Jim sharply. " It's a quarter past five," said Harvey. Jim smothered his annoyance and remembered his manners. " Miss Carrow, may I introduce my cousin, Harvey Lunt?" Cynthia bowed. "Ho is taking mo home in his launch," Jim continued. " It's tho tide," apologised Harvey. " Otherwise I'd only bo too glad to wait. 1 feel a beast to break up a tea party." " You need not feel anything of the sort, Mr. Lunt," said Cynthia. " I ought to have left half an hour ago for I have a call to make." She rose. " Thank you for a lovely tea, Mr. Silver. Let nTc know in good time when you are coming again." " But I may sco you home?" begged Jim. " I am not going homo. I have to see Noel. You Can call mo a taxi and leave mo with a clear conscience." There was nothing for it but to obey, but as Jim put her in tho taxi Cynthia gave liim a firm hand clasp.,

" I really have enjoyed my afternoon," she said. " And I am looking forward to seeing Crag Head. Goodbye." _ Jim trod on air as he walked with Harvey to tho pier, and Harvey's thin lips curled slightly as he watched him. They wero nearly thero before Harvey spoke. " That's a very beautiful girl, Jim.' " Cynthia—Aliss G'arrow. You are right. And as charming as she looks." Harvey nodded. " I wish you luck, Jim." " Th—Thanks," stammered Jim. " That's decent of you, Harvey." Nothing more was said until they were in the launch and running out to sea. The wind had dropped completely and a thick haze hid the horizon. Harvey frowned a little. " I hope it, isn't goinp to turn to fog. This coast is no ]oko in thick weather. As if in answer, tho hoarse blast of a fog horn came through the haze, but the steamer herself was not visible. " It isn't far. That's ono blessing," said Harvey as he drove the launch swiftly across the smooth grey sea. " And it's not getting any worse either," Jim added. Harvey nodded but did not speak. His eyes were fixed upon a vessel that loomed up ahead and a little to leeward. Sho looked like a trawler and was steaming leisurely southward. Harvey edged slightly toward her and suddenly signals began to fly from her mast head. " That craft is speaking to us, Jim," said Harvey. " I'll run alongside and see what they want." A few minutes later the launch came alongside the trawler. 'A rope was flung and made fast and Harvey went up tho side. " Shan't be long," ho said over his shoulder to Jim. " Sit tight. Grey Ghost will tow safely." Jim sat gazing up at tho rusty side of the trawler whose screw was turning just fast enough to give her steerage way. Knowing little of the sea, it did not occur to him to bo anything out or the cpmmon that a trawler should speak to a launch. He only felt a vaguo wonder what they wanted with Harvey. I'or some five minutes ho sat quietly waiting, then Harvey, who hau gono below, appeared again 011 deck, and with another man. Jim stiffened and stared, hardly able to believo his eyes. J hough the second man now wore a rough blue jersey and duck trousers, badly stained with tar, Jim recognised him instantly. That thin, dead-white lace, sharp nose, those jet-black, beady eyes could never bo mistaken. "Shade Fowler!" ho muttered in amazement. " And Harvey talking to him. Now what the deuce does this mean?" CHAPTER XI HARVEY OWNS UP Jim saw Fowler nod. then turn and go back down tho hatch. Either he had not seen Jim at all, or ho had spotted him and was trusting that Jim had not seen him. A deck-hand laid hold of the tow rope of tho launch and dragged her alongside, and Harvey slipped lightly over the low rail and dropped to the launch's deck. " All set," he said easily as he came aft to tho cockpit, and started up the engine. He glanced at Jim and saw in a moment that something was wrong. " What's ttp ? " ho asked quietly. " That man," said Jim, " the one you wero talking to. Who is he? " A look of surprise crossed Harvey's face. " No one you've ever seen before." " You're wrong. I have seen him," Jim answered curtly. Harvey's lips tightened find for an instant his eyes went hard. " Where? " he asked. " Tho day I came to Crag Head. He came peering into the window of Cousin James' room. I went after him, but it was raining in sheets, and I lost him." Harvey pursed his lips. v " Did Uncle James tell you who he was ? " " Ho told me his name, and he told me to catch him. And if I had —" Jim's faco hardened. " I'd have run him in." " It's just as well you didn't catch him," said Harvey slowly. " Fowler's a pretty tough customer in a f-crap." "So am I, if it comes to that," replied Jim quietly, and again Harvey's eyebrows lifted slightly. " You'd nothing against him," he said. "Nothing against him! That's not true. Ho was sneaking round tho house, and I should have been perfectly justified in running him in as a burglar. His looks alono are enough to damn him " Harvey laughed. " He's not a'beauty I'll admit, Jim. But you're making a mountain <mifc of a molehill. He was merely looking for me." " Then why the devil didn't he come to the front door and ask for you, instead of slinking round tho house and peering into windows? " " That too, is easily explained. Uncle James had forbidden him the house." " He didn't do that for nothing," snapped Jim. Harvey shrugged. " Not from his point of view." He paused. " It looks to me as jf I shall have io explain," he said at last. " I'd be glad if you would," Jim answered curtly. " Well, don't get shirty, Jim, for there's nothing so very dreadful to confess. Tho fact is that Fowler and I aro in business together. He's agent for a Dutch firm. He brings over brandy and tobacco, and 1 get it ashore and dispose of it." ' Jim stared. " You're a smuggler! " " I plead guilty. Now you know why Uncle James turned me down." (To be continued daily)