CRUMPLED LILIES

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

CRUMPLED LILIES

By CARLTON DAWE . (COPTRigbt) Author of " Leathermouth," "Tho Desirable Woman,** "Fifteen Keys," etc.

A CAPTIVATING. SERIAL

CHAPTER Xll.—(Continued)

" Well, said George finally, and with an odious grin, " we will for the time being consider the ladies, as usual, your perquisite, and Mr. Basil Stamnos as mine. There are a few questions I am really anxious to put to him." Upon returning home I was greeted by Albert with a questioning look, to which there was only one reply. He then told me that Stevens had called, much distressed. " You warned him to keep his mouth shut?" " I told him," said he, waving his big hands ominously, " that if he didn't I'd twist his neck.' " Remember, no violence," I admonished. " What wo want is the quiet life." " Yes, sir; and it looks as though we might get it," he added slyly. " Now we're going to pay a call on two very charming ladies," I continued. " Etiquette, of course, demands that we should first prepare them for our coming, but if we do we may not find them at home. Accordingly we dispense with etiquette. You approve?" " Entirely, sir," he answered, a slow grin breaking gently over his grim face.

" Then we'd better be going."

CHAPTER XIII A JOUBNEY TO KENSINGTON i Within five minutes we were speeding westward. It was -just possible that we should not find the ladies at home; it was even probable that they had taken to flight. On the other hand flight would have meant an admittance of guilt, while as yet there was nothing against them but suspicion. Therefore I thought they would hold tenaciously to the position. The Crumpled Lily, unless I misread her character, was not of the stuff of which flitters are made. Beneath that fragile exterior was a spirit of purpose; behind those turquoise-blue eyes a cold and calculating brain. That she entirely dominated the more pliant Ella Bannerton I had no manner of doubt. Ella, whatever her other deficiencies, had certain feminine traits which commanded recognition and softened judgment. But the Lily was hard, cold, vicious; ono who played for her own hand, who subordinated omotion and the softer feelings to her desire for self-aggrandisement. And yet even she may once have shuddered at tho thought of vitriol. Without adventure we reached their door, and then it was I took a chance. Three times I rang sharply and then knocked thrice. It was Uncle Basil's signal. Would it succeed? I scarcely dared to hope; for I conceived that if Uncle Basil were involved in the disappearance of Wally he would not be likely to venture near Trentham Court. There would be other means of communication. And yet, scarcely had the sound of my knocking died down when the door was opened by 110 loss a person than the Lily herself. Though her amazement at seeing me was great, her presence of mind did not forsake her. She would have slammed the door in my face had not my foot foiled the effort. She demanded that I should instantly remove that offending member, but instead of obeying I widened the breach with my shoulder. At this she grew white with passion Fortunately her wonderful eyes were human; they could not strike me dead.

" What do you want? " she demanded.

" Merely a few words with you and Mrs. Bannerton. I regret obtruding in this manner, but I fear you leavo me no other alternative."

For a moment or two she regarded me fixedly from under pent brows, then opened tho door. I followed, Albert at my heels. He took it upon himself to close the door after him. This she appeared to regard as a piece of impertinence. I thought she was going to smack his face. " Put your servant outside," she demanded. While apologising for his presence I also said I thought he had better stay.

" You see, Miss Milmead," I oxplained, " I havo so little beauty left that I simply can't afford to havo tho remainder spoiled."

" Well, I'm quite ready, Mr. Policeman," she sneered, holding out a pair of fragile white wrists. " Whero are the handcuffs? "

" But I am not—not yet. I want to ask you a few questions first. You expected your Uncle Basil, didn't you? " " Think yourself very clover? " sho retorted.

" Obviously he is not at homo; but it is also equally obvious that there are others who use tho same signal. I am almost equally interested in them." " That interest is likely to increase," she replied. "So I understand. That will partly explain this intrusion." " Will you say what you have to and get out? You bore me." Pale, fragile, and very pretty in spite of the hard line of her mouth. Sho woro a loose silk dressing gown whibh was folded tightly round her slender figure. I remembered the last time I had seen it. Then sho had suggested to me the similitude of the Crumpled Lily. Now sho flaunted stiff and straight on her fiteru; a lily still, perhaps, but no*longer crumpled. Very much tho reverse, in fact. All this had taken place in the hall. Evidently it was not her intention to ejtend her hospitality. I glanced toward tho open drawing room door. " I have quite a lot to say," I reminded her.

" I object to unnecessary fatigue." She yawned insolently in my face. " You have not forgotten that I can arrest you? " " Then why don't you! I'm sure your friend Wallington would approve." This with a pale sneer.

" Ho is merciful," I reminded her, " though you don't appear to realise it. But if you must know, you are not tho only item of interest, though you are still extremely .interesting. That was a capital joke you played on him last night. No, I'm not referring to a certain corrosivo fluid, but to the tale you told his chauffeur. He had to take a taxi home "

" What a hardship," she sneered. " But the ]bke goes deeper," I said. " Would you like to hear the end of it? "

Again she yawned. " I'm not interested."

"Ah, then you've heard it? I thought perhaps you had." " What do you think you're trying to say? " she asked, looking at me from under close-pressed brows. " That you do not appear to realise your danger "

"At any rate," she answered mockingly, " I fully realise that you have always been my friend." " Do you know, I was rather afraid you hadn't. However, that's so much to tho good, and ought to smooth negotiations. But don't lot lis try to confuse the issue. What happened to Wallington after he left my place?"

Her lips curled scornfully. " Don't be absurd! How should I know?" " Then pethaps your Uncle Basil knows? Where can I find him?" " I thought Leatliermouth was expert at unravelling knotty problems?"

" But he does not refuse assistance. By the way, how did you come to know about him?"

" That is another of those problems he must unravel for himself." "He is really more interested in you j so interested, in fact,' that he's giving you every opportunity to clear yourself. If you're wise, you'll seize it." " And, if in your judgment, I am not wise?" " But I know you are, and consequently I am not without hope." "Really," she said, ''how much longer is this nonsense going to last ? You are' outstaying your welcome, Leathermouth."

"You Beem to like the name." "It suits you. I never knew one so appropriate."

" That's very charming of you, but scarcely to the point." " Then there is a point? I was beginning to doubt." " A very sharp one which may pierce deeply—if, Wallington is not liberated within the next twenty-four hours."

"Liberated!" she echoed. "I don't know what you're talking about. Has the cur run away?" " There are one or two matters which Scotland Yard is anxious to question you about. Once they get you there — Well, they are very thorough in sifting evidence.* They will probably ask you, for example, where your Uncle Basil is; most certainly they will want to know of Mr. Benrose, and who employed him to demand twenty thousand pounds in exchange for certain They may explain, for of course, you don't know, that such a demand amounts to blackmail —a very serious offence. There may also bo questions concerning tho death of Ronnie Pellew, and of certain mysterious persons who finance charming ladies." "Damn you!" she snapped. "Get out of this!" " Thore's time to quit tho ship before the other rats get the wind up," I reminded her, " but none to spare. It's a rotten contraption, and can't float much longer. If you are wise, as I believe you to be, you won't wait for the foundering." Now, all this time, though I had listened acutely, I had heard no sound of movement in the flat. Could Stamnos by any chance, be there? Where was Ella Bannerton? Was she listening at some partly-open door? I knew she had not a tithe of the moral courage of tho Lily. Ella was not a born intriguer, or so I imagined; trouble of any kind she would avoid, if it were possible. Of courso, she was fond of money, like the rest of us, and not over-scrupulous in her methods of obtaining it; but she was one of those women who, while enjoying tho luxuries of life, liked them to come easily and without fuss. I could concoivo her sleeping soundly at night in soft silk, consoling to soft flesh. Pretty frocks, pearls, delicious perfumes; good wine, good food, everything good. Not naturally vicious, perhaps not hateful in any way; a summer seas woman, lazy, languid, loving after her fashion. Might have earned an honest, if meagre, living in shop or office had not fato taken her in hand and led her in the opposito direction.

I asked if she were at home. Tho Lily tossed her head, disdaining to reply. Then, suddenly came the sound of a key being inserted in a lock, the key was turned, and the door opened. Ella Bannerton appeared. She stared at me in amazement, then glanced at Albert, who during all this time, had stood stiff as a soldier on guard. "Colonel Gantian!" she gasped. " Whht are you doing here?" " That's what I've been trying to find out for tho last hour," exaggerated the Lily, " but tho creature doesn't seem to know. Perhaps you may be nioro successful. To me, ho seems to bo labouring under a sad confusion of ideas, not uncommon in a policeman." "Policeman?" queried Ella, looking at me with frightened eyes. " Are you here as a policeman?" " Would you answer a, few questions, Mrs. Bannerton?" I asked. "No, she won't!" interrupted tho Lily fiercely. " You get out of this and do your damnedest!" " Unreasonable to the last," I murmured reproachfully, turning to the confused and anxious widow. " I have been warning her, Mrs. Bannerton, that tho ship is foundering, and advising her to quit before tho other rats leavo her in tho lurch." " And will you take a littlo advice from me?" tho Lily asked, coming close, lips pale and trembling, eyes burning darkly. I was awaro of a sudden quick movement on Albert's part. " 1 shall welcome it," I assured her. But though I expected a torrent of abuse, nothing came. It seemed as though she had suddenly realised tho value of silence. It must have required a great effort to check her tongue, but she succeeded. I noticed the littlo white toeth meet on the lower lip. Then, with a contemptuous shrug of the delicate shoulders, she turned away and entered the drawing room. Viciously the door was slammed after her.

. " What docs it moan, Colonel Gantinn?" jMrs. Bannerton asked in alarm. " Miss Milmead will explain," I said, " If you should think an explanation necessary. _ But don't forget the ship is foundering." 1 nodded to Albert, who opened the door and held it for mo to pass through. "Colonel Gantian!" she cried. But already ho had pulled tho door to. Without ringing for the lift wo descended tho stairs in silence. But as I passed the shaft on tho first floor tho lift was ascending, and glancing in I saw through the glass door a figure which struck me as being not unfamiliar. It was a quick glance, and being uncertain I passed on. But when wo were out in the street onco more I turned to Albert. " Did you see who was in that lift P" "No, sir. Who was it?" " I don't know, but I think it was your friend Brundrv." " Brundry! Wish I'd seen him. Shall 1 go back, wait for him, an' have a quiet talk?" " I think not." " Looks fishy, sir," he ventured. " Very." " They've got Mr. Wally all right." " I, was afraid they had." " Seems .to me, sir, that woman would be safer under lock and key. and Brundry with her. I never liked him from the first." " And leave others at large who are far more dangerous?" " Yes, sir, I see what you mean. "Well, perhaps I shall get a chance of talking to him later on." Which I had no doubt he would make the most of. (To bo continued daily)