THE STOLEN DEBUTANTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE STOLEN DEBUTANTE

By OTTWILL BINNS (COPYRIGHT) Author of "The Cry la the Night." "The Lavenham Treasure," etc.

A SENSATIONAL MYSTERY STORY

CHAPTER VII. —(Continued)

" I will come at once," answered Peter, and following the boy out of the room to the telephone, gave the stereotyped call. " That you, Mr. Pentreath? " came the answering voice. • " Speaking. Who —"

" But that girl," Podmore protested

feebly. " If she's a fraud, Peter, she's the best actress in London! There must be a catch in the business somewhere." " Just what I told myself. But I*ll ask you—where?". "Heaven knows!" Podmore was 6ilent for a/ moment then he asked quickly. " think when she tipped that wine she had just seen Billie Carlowe and had mistaken her for that other girl?" / " I am sure of it. I watched her, She was fairly out of her stride. But 6he got int<* step again when you gave Billie her name." " Um! I can't contradict you. Doesn't seem worth while. But I ask V 6 U — w hat's the game? Can't be that the girl just wants to be presented at Court in another name than her own. There are American females who go to £ ome lengths to be presented; but I can't see two men being murderd to achieve it. There's something else behind Question is, what? Peter' shook his head. " Don't know, unless it is a case of kidnapping and holding to ransom." "If it were that, why the substitute? Seems an unnecessary embellishment. Pity, you didn't got that girl last night." " I was lucky to get away myself." " True. But apparently you're not out of the wood yet. That fellow who sloshed you may have been an accidental contact, but it looks as if they were camping on your trail." "By Jove!" ejaculated Peter sharply. " What's hit you?" " I've just remembered that Dennis, the Scotland/Yard man, was to put one of his angel guards about me." " He didn't do much guarding! Must have been taken on the hop." " That's not the point. He didn't appear at all, but he may have followed that ruffian. In which case he will know where to find him and possibly may discover the whereabouts of that girl/' / "A possibility! But there's another way of getting at the truth. You haven't told/ Dennis about Mitis May Endicott. If ho heard your suspicions "

" Inspector Dennis. I want to see you. If you will remain at youf club I will be with you within ten minutes. Please oblige me. The matter is important." " Very well. I will wait till you come." " Good."

He went back to his friend and explained. " The C.I.D. man is coming here. There may be developments. He says the matter is important." " Always is with a policeman," chuckled Podmore. " I'll fade out, and when he's been and gone we'll discuss the importance together." Ten minutes later Inspector Dennis took the chair Podmore had vacated and went straight to the heart of his business.

" Mr. Pentreath, this afternoon you were assaulted on the steps of the Medici Restaurant? "

" Yes, I was knocked down." "You recognised the aggressor? He was the man who killed that chauffeur? "

" Yes. But how did you know? " " From the description you gave of him. Watson's tallied—" " Watson P Pardon me, who—" " The man I set to watch you for your good."

"Ah! He was thereP He sawP I thought he might."

" He followed the man to Waterloo. There he made a slip—must have done —for the fellow went down the steps to the xmderground, dodged and ran up again. Watson, afraid of missing him, ran after him, and when he reached the top of the steps was met by. the man he was after and got a sledgehammer blow between the eyes which sent him skidding downstairs. Ho twisted a knee badly and the fellow got away." " Rough luck on Watson," commented Peter sympathetically.

" What I want to know is; Were you aware the scoundrel was following you? " " No. I don't think he was following me. I think the meeting was accidental. I saw him through the glazed door, and was making for him when he knocked mo down, as your man saw." " He spoke to you? " " No. He wasted no breath, but just tried to knock me out, then fled. Didn't give me a chance."

" He's not. going to hear them until

they are precipitated. I don't mind being called batty by you; but no policeman is going to do it to my face. And there is a more solid reason for making slowly. Suppose I tell Dennis and he doesn't laugh at mo; what is he going to do?" " Interview the budding debutante, I Eiippose." / " " Yes: and in that case what is going to happen to that girl from Tulsa, whose place, let us presume for argument's sake, she has taken." " Phew! Of course. Those fellows would get the tip from Miss May, and "■ I

"You were fortunate to get off so lightly. I've been through Pasquali's papers. Ho was watching three men and a woman—the crowd who got him, for a certainty. He had the names—-a rather star collection." "And the woman's name? " " Cicero Jane."

" Jane I know, and Cicero stands for the misspent hours of my youth. But the combination is strange." Inspector Dennis expounded. " Tho woman takes the front half of her name from a district of Chicago. She's a corker. Was at ono time a cinema aotress doing ingenue parts. Later decoy bird for big blaokmail, and since then anything that isn't tho shortest between two points. The three men are among the most dangerous blackguards known to the Chicago police. So it will be well for you to be on your guard, as I warned you." Peter shrugged his shoulders. " London is not Chicago." " No. But if that man had drawn a gun he'd have had the street to himself in two minutes. Remember that. You were lucky he only tried to knock you out! But we shall get him and the others yet. Cicero Jane is distinctive and I've cabled for her picture." w I should like a private view."

"And what?" " W , they don't appear to be too squeamish. And having shot two men, another killing wouldn't give them insomnia." i» . "Exactlyl That girl would bo in extreme dange/. We don't know why they are holding her; but if an occasion arose in which her existence imperilled thera, they/ would not hesitate to get rid of her." "No! They'd drop her liko a brick —too hot for them." " And they would make sure she could not testify against them." " Long odds on that, I should think." " Therefore-—" " Reasoning sound, and conclusion evident. You've got to sit close on that little item of news until hatching time. That's pretty clear. Question is, what are you going to do in the meantime? " j " Two things: Find that girl and get her out of the hands of Jake and Co., and meet the millionaire grandfather of Miss May Endicott, whichever of the two happens to be the true-born ladv."

** You shall see it. Heaven knows you may run against her in one of your night clubs. Now, I must go out to Waterloo. May pick up something. The American boat trains start from there, you know." Peter did know it, but had not remembered it until that -moment; also, he thought, they arrived there, and when the inspector had departed he spent some time in reflection on those facts. Quite a long time later he was still considering them in relation to the visit of his assailent there, when Podmore returned with information.

" Dirl yoi/ say a millionaire, Peter? " asked Podmore earnestly. " I did. Why? " His friend made a gesture of mock despair. " You nsk me that when I am making the running with the only reputed granddaughter? Peter, the tip that fellow gave you has rattled your brains." / " The old man will be able to put us right. He'll know his own grandchild and will award the' palm. If we're wrong we can laugh at each other, but no one will ever know—and you can still make the running with the darkeyed May and invito mo to be the best man."

" Berengaria berths at Southampton to-morrow afternoon about three. One of the first-class passengers is Edward Henry Endicott, of Tulsa, Oklahoma." " How have you learned that? " asked Peter quickly. "By using the resources of civilisation —to wit, the wireless. Sent an inquiry out in the name of May Endicott and waited for the answer. Easy as eating pie, as Edward Henry himself would say." "And I'll bet you a pound ihat the bony-faced Jake is on his way to meet him at this moment."

Podmoro 'laughed. " No takers. But why this superb confidence? " Peter gave him the news the inspector had brought, and the other laughed again. " Jake didn't go to Waterloo to buy a paper. That's a sure thing. I have what you may call corroborative evidence." His eyes danced as he looked at his friend, and he laughed suddenly. " Since leaving you I have seen a certain lady. She was in a spanking car going west." "You spoke " No luck. She was not alone. An American gent sat by her side; a cousin of her grandpoppa, and they were on their way to Southampton to meet the old man and greet him on his arrival."

" Solomon's your name and Israel's your nation, my soull But how are you going to find the old boy? " " That will be easy. His granddaughter is to be presented at court—" " The dowager told me as much." '■And old Endicott is coming over — for a guess—about the time of the presentation. He doesn't mean to intrude,

but I'll wager he moans to see his granddaughter before she starts, or waiting in the Mall, or at the photographer's, or possibly at one of the kick-ups afterwards. I fancy all his pride centres in the girl—that is the w «iy with lots of the simple rich. And he will be hero in time for the next court—which is the last of the season. Sometime h,6foro the 14th he may bo looked for, and a consultation of the sailing dates from the U.S.A. will tell us what boats to meet." " Do you think we shall be the only folk to meet the boats? " asked Podmore quietly. Peter started at the question, then for a moment sat quite still, frowning over some thought. When he spoke his voice wns almost harsh in its intensity: "Dick, I believe you havo made a bull's-eve. If even within a mile of the truth tnbse ruffians will know ?f his coming. That girl will have the information. If alio is Jane and not May,, whatever tho game, they can't let him meet her or the whole thing will go skyward. They will have to prevent that somehow." " They shot that Pinkerton man, find the chauffeur." "And they may—" "Anything is on the cards when knaves deal them. And how do we know that getting tho old man over on this Bide may not be part of their game? J-hat is worth thinking over." V But why,? " "Don't khow. The reason is just( another piece//in the jig-saw puzzle. If. we could fit it in, half the picture would lock into place, and if we knew why those bandits are keeping that drugged K'rl the other half would lock in, tool lime wo got busy, I think. We can «°n the sailing-lists for a beginning." A bellboy appeared and touched a tovelock as he addressed himself to / J-eter. " You are wanted on the telephone, sir."

" But how do you know? " " There was a suitcase on the luggage grid which intrigued me. It looked as if she were leaving town, and I felt it incumbent on me to inquire. So I taxiod to the Daneby House. M'lady was resting and not to bo disturbed, for which I praised God; and slipped a note to James, the butler, who knew me when I was in creepers. ' But Miss Endicott is in, James,' I said, soulfully, ' and sno will receive me? ' ' Sorry, sir,' he answered, desolated to disappoint an old friend, ' Miss Endicott has just departed to Southampton to meet her grandfather, who arrives from America to-morrow. She has with her a cousin of Mr. Endicott's, who telephoned a little while ago.' I restrained my tears, and urged, ' But, James, you havo the address? ' James was always a sport. He answered promptly, ' The South-Western Hotel, sir.' So there you are." Ho laughed, then he quoted softly: " ' Where the carcase is, there are the eagles gathered together.' " Peter looked perplexed. " But if she is really going to meet old Endicott " I know. It is worrying. Looks as if wo were stirring up the nest of the mare, and that she is the real granddaughter, or she wouldn't dare to meet the old man. But all the story of going to welcome Endicott to tlieso alien shores may be just poppycock—an excuse to account to the dowager for her journey; or, alternatively, she may vow to Endicott that she is deputising for his grand-daughter, and pitch some cock-and-bull story to mislead him. You can take your choice. That young woman isn't going to Southampton for a joy-ride, while the betting is even that after smiting Dennis' man, bony-

faced Jake took train to the same town. As like as not, the whole lot are gathering there, and a trip seems indicated for us." " We'll take the next train."

" No, we can do better. That car of mine is eating her head off in the garage. We shall get there as quickly, and the car may be useful. Pack your sponge-bag while I run round for her."

Half an hour later they were on their way, buoyed up with the thought that soon they might get some clue to the mystery hanging about Lady Daneby's protegee and that drugged girl who, as Peter was convinced, was the victim of some outrageous plot on the part of the men who had murdered Pasquali and the other man so callously. But half an hour after their arrival, in an hotel in the High Street, they faced each other in a cloud of gloom. Podmore had been down to the South-Western Hotel, and was reporting the result. " Not a sign of the lady. No car like hers in the garage; no entry in the register; and no one of her description in the hotel. That information of the affable James was just a cloak spread by the lady to hide her real destination. We're sold! "

" But the Berengaria arrives to-mor-row," commented Peter, clutching at the only consolation that offered. " To-morrow is another day. When we've fed, we'll go the round of this town. Wo may yet find some sign of our birds. Anyway we can try."

They dined, and afterwards made systematic calls at all the likely hotels without making any helpful discovery, and when they had quite given up hope, turned into a cinema that had a continuous performance, and there, luck, like, the whimsical jade she is, suddenly smiled on them. Two men in the seats below them were laughing and talking, and without intentional eavesdropping, Peter and his friend overheard all they had to say.

" Didn't expect to see you here, Jowsoy," remarked one to the other. " Thought you were in for the billiards handicap at the Constitutional? " " So I am," laughed Mr. Jowsey. " But it isn't every day a man can see himself on the screen. I've just dropped in for the Gazette, then I' shall cut. They tell me 1 came out very well. Seems to be my lucky day. Remember the President Garfield? " " That old hulk of Randall's? " "The same! I've got a tenant for three months." " Never! What fool has rented it? " "An American, just landed. Wants to make the place his headquarters, and paid the rent in advance to save worry about references." "References!" the other laughed. " If he asked for them, now! Told him I suppose that John Randall cut his throat in the main cabin." " You bet I didn't! " Mr. Jowsey laughed at the idea. " I'm not so green. A man who rents a hulk doesn't want a ghost, and he's not going to know about Randall; though if ho did he's too hard-boiled to worry. But he has an invalid niece who wants quiet, and there's no sense in upsetting her nerves."

His companion laughed again. " Just as well to be considerate, and anyway the niece'U get all tho quiet she wants on the President Garfield. Ah! Here's tho Gazette. Now for your noble self." It appeared that earlier in the day there had been some civic function in the town, graced by the presence of a Royal Duke, and tho Gazette people, having filmed the procession with commendable promptitude, had issued it for local exhibition the same day. "There you are! " Mr. Jowsey was exultant. " Jowsey and Jowsey comes out well, doesn't it? Good advert, for the old firm. What! And there's yours truly and the gent who's taken the President Garfield. Not so bad, hey? " Peter's eyes, idly curious, found a sign which stood out well in the picture • —" Jowsey and Jowsey, Estate Agents." He glanced casually at the little group standing on the steps below the sign, watching the procession. There were three men and a boy. The latter and two of the men were bareheaded, and no doubt represented the office staff of tho estate agent, while the fourth man, hatted, was obviously {ha client. Peter glanced at the man's pictured face and jumped as if he had been shot, for the man was one of the three whose too close acquaintance he had made after the dance at Masborough House. There was no doubt of it; and in his amazement lie was moved to a whispered ejaculation. " The devil! "

Don't see him," retorted Podmore flippantly. The picture flickered out, and Peter gripped his arm. " Come outside." " It's a reflection on the show, but In the street Podmore looked at him inquiringly, and noting his manifest excitement, said tersely, "Spill itl " " I know where that girl from Tulsa is." " The deuce! Where? " " You heard thoso two fellows talking " " Something about a hulk or a houseboat, the owner of which, tiring of life " "Yes! She's there. On that converted hulk—the President Garfield." " But how " " It was in the Gazette. You didn't notice—and you wouldn't have known if you had. But I saw the offices of that firm—and the picture of the man who had rented the hulk." " You know him." "Know him! I'd know him among a thousand. It was one of thoso threo blackguards—the one they call Tony, and it's a certainty that his nieco is that girl " " Phew! " Podmore's surprise expressed itself only through the whistle. Jho next moment he gripped his friend's arm. " There is a tide in the affairs of men—Peter; this is a spring tide. I can hear it booming. How soon do we put to sea? "

CHAPTER VIII. " The first thing to do, is to find out the whereabouts of that precious hulk," said Peter. "But there'll be no difficulty about thn,t—Jowsey and Jowsov may have a picture in their window. Anyway, we can soon prove that. Their office is only a few yards down the street."

I They walked to the place. Messrs. Jowsey, being a go-ahead firm, spent money pn electric light after office hours. Their window, a picture gallery of properties "To Let " and " For Sale," was illuminated for the benefit of the prospective clients, and within a minute of reaching tho window, Peter gave an ejaculation. "Therel" he said, pointing to what obviously had been a schoonor, but which was now dismasted, partly covered with an awning, and flying a flag at the stern. " The President Garfield," he read in jerks. " Comfortably furnished. . . All conveniences. . . Moored in the most beautiful part of the Beaulieu River. Accommodation. . ." " Beaulieu River!" interrupted Podmore. " I know it. It's pretty solitary even when the tourists are about. Wonder exactly what part, and which side of the river?" " Doesn't say; and short of interviewing Mr. Jowsey at the Constitutional Club, we're not likely to loarn in this term." (To bo continued on .Saturday next)