CRUMPLED LILIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21702, 18 January 1934, Page 16

CRUMPLED LILIES

A CAPTIVATING SERIAL

CHAPTER XVJ DISCOVERT The visit of Bundry to the greengrocer could not possibly be regarded as a mere coincidence. In conjunction with the mysterious taxi passenger, it was, on the contrary, full o.f significence. Though I tried to hold hope in check, I could not regard as fortuitous two such happenings. That the two men should be seen in tho neighbourhood, and that ono of them should openly visit Rossi's arch, provided tho necessity for further investigation. 1

did not doubt that Albert had recognised the ex-valet. He had a gift for remembering faces and figures that amounted almost to genius. Those sharp eyes of his noted every peculiarity of face and gesture. He could even tell you on which foot a pedestrian walked the heavier by looking at the heels of his shoes.

Big Ben was thunderously striking a quarter to nino as I began to cross Westminster Bridge. The sky was heavy and murky; a light rain began to fall, with every promise of more to come. The river looked black and forbidding. Pedestrians turned up coat collars and hurried along with bent heads. Trams rattled by; taxis purred. Not a bad night for tho enterprise: for loiterers not so good. I reckoned there would be fe,w of them about. Onco tho bridge, •was crossed these hurrying people would scatter to their respective warrens like bo maily rabbits.

The street of arches looked extremely forlorn in the fast-fading light. Not so much as a stray cat was to be seen in it. Shutters were up on the one side, blinds down on the other. Trains rumbled'somewhere in the glooifi overhead.

In answer to my knock the door was presently opened by a stout woman of middle-age, who, I thought, scanned me with a surly look of suspicion, though this may have been my fancy, for when I mentioned " Mr. Albertson" she answered pleasantly enough, " That's all right; he' said you might come. Straight up, first door on the right. Think you can find your way?" I said I thought I could. She smiled almost apologetically. " These stairs just kill mo," she explained.

Albert must have been listening, for as soon as I reached the landing I saw him nodding to me through the partlyopen door. There was nothing thrilling to report. The greengrocer had performed the customary routine. First the lad had been sent off, the door closed, presently to be reopened again. The locking-up followed, and the man's departure.

Albert's room had a small bed in one corner, a washstand in another, and a well-worn dressing table of sorts with a much tarnished mirror. This was placed by the window, and on it he had spread out a couple of hairbrushes and a comb. I noticed that the one chair of the room was placed in such a position as to command a clear view of the arches opposite. Ever thoughtful, lie had laid in somo bottled beer and sandwiches. " Two hours," lie said, " if the copon time. I think you'll find the bed more comfortable, sir. Shall I open a bottle?" " Not yet." We sat and smoked and talked. 1 took the bed, he the chair. Even as we talked always in a low guarded tone, he scarcely for a moment took his eves from the window. Of choice, as well as necessity, we sat in darkness with the blind up, or in a sort of half-light which eame from without. At ten o'clock we sampled the beer and sandwiches, an agreeable break in the monotony of waiting. Then wc lit our pipes and smoked, he watching, always watching, 1 sprawling on the bed not freo of a tumnlt of thought. Would anything come of it? Was Wally over there? Soniehow, I could not convince myself that this was possible. Luck may carry a man far at times, but I could not conceive it carrying him as far as this. Of course, it was absurd. Even if we succeeded in entering the shop we should probably discover nothing but Mr. Rossi's superfluous wares, smelling vilely. As eleven drew near I began to grow restless. Albert's chair was creaking. He too was beginning to fidget. Nearer and nearer dreAv the hour —tho zero hour! Intently I was watching the luminous hands of my watch, it reminded me of other times, of other places. At exactly five minutes to the hour his voice came to me in a quick sharp whisper: "There ho is!" * Springing from tho bed, I crossed to the window and looked over his shoulder. Distinctly, for a steady soft rain had now set in, I saw the policeman's cape shining in the lamplight. On he came, methodically testing each lock. Now he had reached Rossi's place. " Pity, in a way, ho doesn't know you're here, Bir, with Mr. Mayford's authority in your pocket." " Mr. Mayford's authority," I reminded him " i& to call on any officer to help, not to burgle." He chuckled in his throat. I believe the reprobate liked burgling, under certain conditions, and was not a little proud of his skill in attacking locks and windows. Wo watched tho constable retrace his steps and disappear. Albert rose. " That's that," he said. " We'll give him another five minutes to find a nice dry spot where ho can dream of home an' mother." "Do you never dream of your mother?" I asked. " Often, sir. She used to spank me proper when I was a nipper." 1 could well believe it. Ho must have Leon a' handful. When we were ready he opened the door, looked out, took a peep down the stairs and beckoned for me to advance. No one was encountered on the way, and presently we were in tho street. A moment's pause to look round and we were over against tho arches. From there not a light was to be seen opposite. Respectability had retired to roost. A few steps brought us to Rossi's arch. ' " Tip us the office, sir," he whispered, M it anyone comes round the corner." 1 kept watch while lie worked, very softly, very expertly, and in an incredibly short space of time I heard him utter a low note of satisfaction. Got it?" I asked. " Pie, J ' ho answered. Entering the arch, lie puller! the door to after him. "If that policeman should return?" ' I questioned. " But he won't, sir, take my word for it. I wouldn't if 1 was him. Anyway, 1 we've got to take a chance." Then began a flashing of torches and a swift examination of the place, to the : accompaniment of an almost continual rumbling overhead from passing trains. 1 Fruit, vegetables, empty crates ranged . . one on top of tho other we saw in abundance, but no sign of what wo were t searching for. i It was a fairly deep arch, and as we penetrated to its farthest recesses we i came up against a blank wall. i " Double arch," he muttered, flash- < ing his torch to and fro. " Boarded up, pir j look I" i

By CARLTON DAWE Author of " Leathermouth,* " The Desirable Woman,' 1 * Fifteen Kcyi» €tC«

(COPYRIGHT)

Against this hoarding were piled more sacks of potatoes, and on top of these more empty crates. " Huh!" I heard him grunt. " Better look what's behind them," I suggested. Ho handed me his torch and set to work. Down came the crates, and after tliem lie scattered the sacks. Presently was laid bare a small bolted door. Again he grunted as ho pushed back the bolts. Darkness met the view, and a stale noisomo smell the nostrils. Flashing my torch before me, I crept in, he following. The place opened into what looked like a little cell, and in a far corner, •stretching out on some sacking, 1 saw the iiguro of a man. As I flashed the light on his face ho blinked and closed his eyes. But 1 recognised him on the instant, pallid, unshaven, dishevelled as he was. It was Wally! Ho was bound and gagged, and as if to add to the incongruity of the situation, was still in his evening clothes.

" Wally, Wally, it's Poter —your old pard!' I cried to him, almost childish in my excitement, as with fingers that shook I undid the gag. Slipping an arm round his shoulders, I held him close to me. " Quick, Albert, my flask! It's in my loft pocket." It contained brandy, with a little water added. This L pressed to Wally's lips. Ho swallowed and coughed. I hold his head in my arm. Ho was bound hand and foot. Albert, performing swiftly, soon freed him.

" Better get him out in tho shop, sir," ho whispered. This was soon done. I sat on tho floor my back against a stack of crates, my arm round him. Albert flashed the light on him whilo I administered another dose of brandy and water. His eyes were closed; for tho moment I feared that ho was dead. But again he coughed as the liquor trickled down his throat. Then his eyes opened, watering. But he seemed to recognise me. A wan smile Hickered across his pallid face; his head pressed closer to mo.

" I knew you'd come, pard," he whispered, and fainted. "Not gone, sir?" Albert asked anxiously. "No! Quick, go out and find a cab. We must take him home."

He sprang up, for he was kneeling beside me, and was about to obey when there came a distinct rattling at the door. Somebody was coming. Who could it be ?

I rose and together we waited, listening, apprehensive. Then the door was opened and swiftly closed again. An ominous silence followed. Evidently the intruders were a little nonplussed. But presently a torch was flashed, which would have discovered us had we not taken cover.

" No one here," a gruff voice said. " Sure the lock was picked? " " Dunno; but something's wrong. Rossi may have forgotten." Again the torch flashed. " What's that? " " Where? " The answer to this was: "Don't like the look o' things." "Garn! " replied the. first voice roughly. " What about switching on the light? " " Shut up!"

Preceded by the beam of light from the torch the men slowly advanced, throwing the ray all round the place. Albert and I crouched waiting for them. As the foremost advanced within a foot or two of us I touched Albert on the arm, and felt it stiffen. The next moment the beam flashed full in his face, and with its flashing his arm shot out. There was a clatter as the torch fell to the floor and was extinguished. And then I knew that at least ono of' the men had taken flight, for there was a noiso of hurrying feet and the entrance door was slammed loudly. I could not follow as I was holding Wally, and Albert was otherwise engaged with the man lie had knocked down. Flashing my torch on them I caught hurried glimpses of a fierce struggle. Then there was a Budden heavy thud as though some object had been brought in vicious contact with an object still harder. Albert rose. " That'll keep him quiet," he said. " Where's the other bloke? " At that moment came the sound of a departing car. It told its tale. " Mr. Wally? " he asked. " I think he's coming round." He flashed his torch on the face of the man he had laid out. It was a heavy, clean-shaven face with a sullen ugly mouth which was gaping wide. Blood was trickling from it. The eyes were closed. He was lying very still; a huge spreading mass of a man. " Banged his head, sir; he can't come round inside five minutes. If he does fetch him one." " Recognise him? " " No, sir. Shall I get a cab, or had we better get Mr. Wally across to my room? " " Better see if you can get a cab. But first switch on the light. I'll keep an eye on this fellow." (To be continued daily)