THE SECRET POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21562, 5 August 1933, Page 14 (Supplement)

THE SECRET POWER

" CHAPTER TV.—(Continued) " Well, it is easily settled," Hannah ILindrum replied, with a laugh; then as fthe orchestra softened, before .Perris could anticipate the action, she loaned (across the table and addressed herself to the other lady.;,i •• •I; " Do you know that Air. Perris has to notion that he and you have met before, Miss Hanjar?" For one second Perris was appalled at the levity of thei action. It was, he thought, that of a child with a hammer smashing a vase, curious to discover ,what it held. But in the same moment he found an excuse for her. She could ' not know what was behind his desire for certainty. And even whilst thy thoughts flashed through his mind ho watched Thirya Hanjar closely and at the same time was aware of a sudden! keen interest iu:;Davi&:L&drum's blue .• Mi---©yes. >•. • The woman seein<%;quite un-, disturbed by the unexpected challenge. She smiled pleasantly, and there was not the slightest flicker of alarm in her dark eyes, no flush in her smooth icheek, nor any tremour in the voice as she replied: " I t'ink Mr. Perriai haf made a Jneestake. ... I could not possibly fcuch a pleasure haf forget." She smiled at Perris directly. Her Bark eyes had in their depths a flicker of mocking amusement. He was suro the woman, remembereihim, and: he ;was amazed .alike at hex selfrpossession bnd her. audacity as she. inquired with a little bubble of light laughter: . " Where . . . when . . . Meester iPerris?" Perris found the word less an inquiry than a challenge, and the challenge istirred the combativeness in him. Ho struck without mercy. ' " Last night on the Western Road. iYou were driving a' car and your tank had run dry—" Tho woman's laughter rang clear as a bell on the words. " But you mak* a beeg mistake. . . . I do not. a car drive. As I haf explain just now to Monsieur Davidj I haf nob de nerve. . . . Also, las' night I was here een "London, so you see —" "There was a man with you, who knocked mo off the running-board into the road, ... I have a bump as big as an egg on my head now as a souvenir of that. The man's name —" The woman made a sharp impulsive gesture as if to check him. Her face tost its ivory fairness, and became a ghastly white mask on which tho painted tips seemed an outrage. There ' was a gleam of stark fear in her eyes. It was evidpnt now that she was the prev of sudden panic; that she would do anything to stop the revelation she obviously feared.. Her white hand ;strayed to the cutlery on the table, gripped a knife. But in the same second Hannah Lindrum leaned across the table and set her own hand upon t|io one that held the knife. "No!" she said quietly. "Nol" Then Lindrum's voice harsh and imperative, sounded through a crashing finale of the orchestra. "The man's name? Out with % it, Perris." I ' CHAPTER Y. A WILD THEEAT Pterins did not hesitate. There were elements in the situation which he did not in the least understand, but things &ftd gone too fa* for him to draw back, {•▼ en had'he wished to do bo. 1 , " The name," he said quietly, "is Said Haditha." The effect of his revelation surprised him. For a second Lindrum sat as if turned into stone, then he broke out: , " Said— My God! are you sure?" " It was another man who so identified him; and from the nature of his ' profession' he is not likely to have made a mistake." ; " Grandison?" The question came quick as a bullet. , Perris did.not know whether he was tveting rightly in letting the fact be known; but there was something so urgent in Lindrum's voice and manner, that he immediately responded by a Hod. Tho face of his questioner changed,' took on a hardness which Perris found astonishing, and then Lindrum turned in his chair to face Thirya Hanjar. There was a wrathful contempt in his blue eyes, accusation in his voice. " You filthy traitress!" Tho woman shrank from him, cowered back in her chair as if she feared ho would strike her, and then oblivous of curious onlookers,' suddenly buried her face in her hands. What might 'have followed Perris could only conjecture. It seemed certain that a scene must develop—and a scene in a fashionable restaurant was the very last thing with which he desired to be associated. Almost he regretted having ■spoken the name, and was about to .warn his host when Hannah Lindrum's Voice, quiet, but clear as a bell, intervened. " David, you can't make a row Jhere! . . . People are already curious. ' Lindrum seemed not to hear her, but •the woman herself acted. Her hands ''dropped from her face. Her eyes flasho I •a Bingle tragic look at Lindrum, then ■she shivered, and rose slowly from her ■chair. " I weel—-go—" she said in a stammering whisper. . The words were addressed to Lin■drum, and to Perris it seemed that there was an appeal in them, but the man to whom she spoke was either deaf •to it, or chose to ignore it. " Yes," ho snapped. " Go, for God's The woman's face had still a ghastly look, and her dark eyes were flooded with woe. One delicate hand gripped i;he back of the chair for support; witti the pther she made,,a little;tragic gasitur^i'of'farewell. * - ' ";Adieu!" she whispered:and releasing her hold on the chair began to move from the table. She walked slowly, as if uncertain •of her steps, looking straight before her, quite unaware of the interest she ■excited; and convinced that she would never reach the foyer unaided, Perris rose swiftly from his place, and moving to her side, without a by-your-ieave took her arm to assist her. The woman did not refuse his help; but she neither spoke nor looked at him. As they passed between the tables,- she (seemed to. gather strength a little, and .when they passed the glazed turnstile :rnto the foyer, her face had lost some''thing of its ghastliness. " You would like a taxi?" he asked. She nodded, without speaking; and '"conducting her to a settee, he left her there and went to give instructions for a taxi-cab to be summoned. Then he caught an attendant. A glass of cognac for the lady jfchere. Quick. She is indisposed." ■ sir." The man brought the branny expedi- ' tiously, and Perris handed] it <• to the \woman. , , , " Drink. It will restore you." The woman took the glass and bejgan'to sip the spirit/When the commissionaire announced the taxi was -waiting, the glass was empty, and her if ace had its natural .hue. .though the t ' : v:. \ •' . ■ .

By BEN BOLT Author of "A Corinthian's Bride." "The Cay Corinthian," «tc., oto.

SENSATIONAL STORY OF LOVE AND TREACHERY

dark eyes had a set hard look. Perris accompanied her out of the restaurant into the street, and held ouen the door of the cab while she entered. •> "Your destination?" he asked.

" Tell de man to drive —anywhere. One of the parks. I weel tell heem when he shall stop." Perris gave the man his instructions and turned to close the door. The woman leaned forward, swiftly. Thero was a sudden blaze of passion in her dark eyes, and she spoke in a harsh whisper. " One day I Bhall haf you keel for dis." Having delivered the threat she sank back in her corner and closed her eyes. Perris stared at her in amazement for a moment; then shut the door and nodded to the driver. The vehicle moved off, and, as he stood watching it, Lindrum's voice sounded behihd r him. " Perris, you will have to excuse me. After that revelation of yours it is necessary that I should go to my uncle at once. Perhaps you won't mind squiring my sister—" "Not in the least," answered Perris promptly. There were things he wished to ask Lindrum, but they would keep, and at. 'the moment he was prepared to let them go for the pleasure of being able to talk with Hannah Lindrum alone. " Good! Then I go. I'm sorry. But when the devil drives —" He signalled -a taxi, and as it promptly pulled up, he said quickly: " You and I must have a talk, to-night, if you are free. Hannah will explain." He entered the taxi, and with a nod by way of farewell was driven away. Perris returned to the restaurant and was aware that many people watched hjm as he made his way to where tHannah Lindrum sat solitary at the table. That sitting there alone she had been the cynosure of curious eyes was easy to guess. There was a little splash of warm colour in her cheeks, and a flash in her blue eyes which betrayed annoyance; but Bhe was perfectly self-possessed, and she greeted Perris with a smile. " So David prevailed, and persuaded you to take pity on me—" " I needed ho persuasion," he laughed, seating himself opposite her. "I am delighted to bo here with you. ... I think we will have these other covers removed."

He gave the hovering waiter an order, and waited until the table was arranged, then he looked at her smilingly. " Now we will resume."

" Yes," she said quickly, " and you shall tell me all about Thirya Hanjar."

" You know more about the woman than I do, I imagine. . . What made you force the pace as'you did?" " You think that was wrong of me?" she asked quickly. "But I had a reason. I guessed there was some odd thing behind your recognition of that young lady, for whom I had no liking though I had never met her before. ... I had heard' David talk. He was falling in love with her,' and I had an intuition that the process might be*- checked if you told what jou knew." " I fancy the result will be something more than a check," said Perris quietly. " Yes. I have never seen David so •moved. He was terribly angry. That epithet he flung at her —" She broke off, and then asked quickly: "I do not understand at all, really, who is that man you spoke of—Said Haditha?" " Probably your uncle can tell you jnorfc than I can about him," he answered a little evasively. " I never heard his name before this morning." The girl shook her head reprovingly. " That is not a straight answer, Mr. Perris. Here am I perishing'with curiosity and you refer me to Uncle Benjamin, beside whom an oyster is positively garrulous." " Then your brother —" ,

Hannah Lindrum laughed.- " A safe deposit—of secrets. I should need a burglar's" kit . . . you are my one hope."

Perris reflected quickly. He had no doubt that the girl was quite and he was very sure that she was not trying to obtain information for some secret purpose. And there was no reason why he should keep back the little he knew, since her. uncle and probably her brother already had the information. "Well," he answered, " I will tell you, though I think you must regard the information as confidential —" "Of course." . " „ "Is is known only to two or three people at present, but it is almost certain that Said Haditha shot a man in the Plymouth-Paddington train last night." " Killed him, you mean?" " Yes, and afterwards pulled the communication cord and left the train. I saw him going and followed. I lost him; and lie was picked up by a car on the road a little distance from the railway. . . . Thirya Hanjar was the driver of tho car." "Oh! . . . you saw her?" " Not at the moment, but later." He told her of the encounter at tho garage and of his own discomfiture, and Hannah Lindrum listened with the deepest interest. At the end she gave a little emphatic nod. ' " So I was right after all to play the bull in a china shop. That womtfn wao exercising her fascination on David; no doubt to exploit him in some way. That was why ho was so upset when ho heard tho man's name. He must have known —" " Yes," agreed Perris. "He must have known —as your uncle knew." Thero was, he thought, a further possibility though he did not utter it; which was that, since, as the girl had hinted, Thirya Hanjar was in some way linked up with Benjamin Asher's affairs, she had been unfaithful to the confidence reposed in her. Lindrum's epithet pointed. to something of the sort and implied foul betrayal. That idea was supported also by the hasty departure to see his uncle, to whom, no doubt, he was taking tho news. He was woindering what it might have to do with the mystery of the murdered man, when the girl's voice broke on his reflection. " Well, it has dolivered David from that woman's spell. And that is something to be thankful for." " Yes," he agreed. " I am sure that she has claws." " Yes," answered Perris with a dry laugh. " She unsheathed them for my benefit just now." " 1 didn't see her," replied Hannah Lindrum quickly. " No. It was not here, but outsido when she bared them." " Tried to scratch you?" the girl inquired lightly. " Nothing so unladylike," laughed Perris. " Then—what?" "_Oh, when I had put her in the taxi, she promised me that one day she would have me killed." ', * s, " Good heavens! Yo*u think she meant; it?" • 1 " Yes, I xeally think she did. She is not English, you know; and the .East has its own standards, while it is implacable in the matter of revenge." " But—" The girl broke off, stared at him' a little helplessly for a moment, then she spoke again with .a .sharp .note

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of apprehension in her voice. " I have delivered David; but I have imperilled you. ... I never anticipated that. I did not know there was danger "in—" " Of course not I" interrupted Perris. "How could you? I did not realise it myself till a couple of hours ago." Then to banish the girl's obvious anxiety he laughed and added softly: " Anyhow, as you'll have heard, threatened men live long."

" But what is behind it allP" asked the girl, her face betraying deep perplexity. " I don't know. I wish I did." Perris laughed again. " You see I just tumbled into the middle of things without knowing anything about them. But I am glad I,did." "Glad?"

" Well, you know,", he answered, smiling, "if I had not I should not have been lunching here with you." His companion's face lightened a little. A ghost of a smile showed in her eyes. " You think that a compensation?" " Ample," he laughed back. " I woiddn't have missed it for worlds."

The girl's face lightened still more. She laughed in gay mockery. " That's the stuff for the troops—or is it the marines?"

" Solid truth either way," asserted Perris stoutly. " I mean it." The laughter died from Hannah Lindrum's eyes, and with a little note of seriousness she said: " Then there is further compensation for you. I am commissioned by David to extend an invitation to you for to-night." " To-night?" "At my uncle's house. We have what David-calls a scrimmage. Uncle is holding a reception, followed by a dance. There will be a host of people, and the invitation is that you join the host."

" That David may talk with me?" he answered smilingly. " He hinted as much." " David will not be allowed to monopolise you r " she retorted gaily. " There will be —my uncle." " And his niece, I hope." " Naturally she will be there, busy as the devil in a whirlwind Bince Bhe will be hostess."

" A responsibility," he laughed. " I shall go to see her carry it. " Then I will send you a card by hand. Since the gate-crashers took to storming heaven, none entereth without a ticket: Also it shuts prospective jewel-thieves outside the fold. ... I have your address." Half an hour later, having seen her into a taxi, Perris, rejoicing in his luck, drove to his club, and finding a comfortable chair by a window gave himself to meditation on the events of tlie morning, and especially to the scene in the restaurant. He had little doubt the thought which had ocoured to him while talking with Hannah Lindrum was the correct one. In some way Thirya Hanjar had betrayed Asher's interests.'What those interests were he could only guess; but probably they had to do with oil, since Asher was almost the first figure in that branch of commerce. The papers for which that man Dainton had been Bhot probably had to do with some concession in which Asher was interested; and the woman had been secretly confederate with the murderer. The knowledge of that r with the sharp revulsion of sentiment induced by it, would account for Lindrum's harsh accusation and his passionate command to her to be gone.

And she had gone with her wild threat to himself. That Bhe had meant it he had no doubt.. But he was not greatly troubled by the conviction. Forewarned was forearmed; and after all this was London and not some town in the Orient where a man might be knifed in the back and left lying in the streets. His thoughts went to David Lindrum. Had 'he gone to Streathem in the hope of finding that paper; and had he learned that, it had already been found and delivered to himself? Was that the reason for the invitation he had received to the reception at Artlington House P Did t Lindrum hope to pursuade him to give"up the paper? Was he in any way connected with the rascally pair who almost certainly had meant to get possession of the document? There was the possibility of that, though it .seemed difficult to reconcile with the man's, apparent friendliness. He puzzled over the questions for some time without finding satisfactory answers, then as his thoughts turned to Hannah Lindrum a light of dreams came in his eyes. He visioned her as he had seen her at his uncle's house, with the gay challenge in her blue eyes: then recalled her apprehension on hearing of the threat made by Thirya Hanjar, and felt his heart warm to her. David Lindrum might have secret reasons for.inviting him ,to Artlington House; but in going there he himself would have compensations Lindrum would never think about. And Hannah Lindrum—

/ At that moment the wild screeching of a motor horn in the street below broke through . his meditations. He looked down at the traffic which was in some confusion; a taxi-cab, having skidded across the road, struck another as it whirled round and broke a wheel against a kerb. No one appeared to have befei hurt, and within a minute a couple of constables were straightening out the traffic. Ho watched them at their task, approving their efficiency, and as the block caused by the accident cleared, noted a taxi pulled up on the opposite ■ side of the road. One of the constables spoke to the driver, who pointed to a wine merchant's as if explaining that his fare was in the place. The constable, apparently satisfied, kept the road clear Whilst the driver of the daiflaged vehicle changed his wheel, and then the man drove away. Perris noted that the other taxi was still opposite the wine merchant's office. He noticed the driver, a stout moonfaced man with a grizzled moustache, and a small imperial, and thought there was someone in the interior, but was not sure. He thought go more of either cab or driver for the time being; but when half an hour later he left the club he was a little astonished to find the vehicle was still there. The hirer, he thought idly to himself, must be ordering a prodigious amount of wine, and was exceedingly lucky to have escaped having the cab moved on by the police. An empty taxi came along, and engaging it, as he stepped in, lie saw the driver of the waiting vehicle in the act of cranking his engine. That was an everyday matter provoking no thought beyond the one that the 'driver's long vigil was ended; and as he leaned back in the taxi he thought no more of the vehicle until ho reached his chambers. There as he stepped out on /the side path, he saw the vehicle again. ,It quickened pace as it. slipped by, but whilst the passenger waa hidden he saw the driver clearly, and recognized him again. The coincidence struck him as a little odd. Was he still being shadowed? He could jiot be sure, for the taxi which had stirred the suspicion continued on its' way and took the first corner on its own side. Hurrying to his chambers, he tjook up the position by a window which commanded the street and watched. (To be continued on Saturday next)