INSPECTOR HIGGINS HURRIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21791, 4 May 1934, Page 16

INSPECTOR HIGGINS HURRIES

By CECIL FREEMAN GREGG Author of "The Murdered Manservant," "The inr« " The Brazen Confession

A GRIPPING MYSTERY SERIAL

CHAPTER XXlX.—(Continued)

" So you've found your voice at last, eh? Look here, Higgins"—the inspector gave a start; so this man know him — "this is your last chance. Where's Stanmore?" "Find out!" It was a mental effort to fling his defiance at the other, but Higgins felt the better for 'it. " Obstinate, eh? Well, had I the time I don't doubt but what I could make you talk. Just my luck'to pick on you of all'people coming from the station. Believe me, Higgins, but I'm sorry. £ shall read your obituary notices to-mor-row morning with just a faint tinga of regret." As he spoke, the man took from his pocket a handkerchief and a small phial. The nauseating reek of ether filled cellar. Tho man advanced. Higgins held his breath. The handkerchief was held to his nose, and he felt a pricking of his eyelids and a tear ran down his cheek. Ho expanded his chest twice without filling his lungs, and then slumped realistically into the chair. The handkerchief was removed and the inspector had a physical struggle to prevent himself automatically taking a deep breath. He tried to breathe easily, knowing he must be scrutinised by shrewd eyes. Then he could hardly, believe his senses—the straps were being removed. Had his time arrived? Was he physically capable of making a fight of it forthwith? He dared not open his eyes; he must take a chance, just as soon as the opportunity offered Now the man was behind him. He felt strong hands beneath his armpits as his huge weight was lifted from the chair, which was kicked away. Could he turn in time? He opened his eyesit didn't matter with the man behind him. Before his eyes could focus on any particular object he received a violent push from behind. He staggered, then pitched headlong through a trap-door in the flooring before he was even conscious of the yawning danger. XXX 4.50 p.M. The force of the impact as Inspector Higgins struck the water some thirty feet below that open trapdoor nearly crushed him into insensibility, though the icy plunge helped to counteract its effects. Down and down this seemingly bottomless pool, a brief second of suspended animation as the impetus eased and ceased, then a gradual, lingering, scarcely perceptible move to- the surface. ' t Higgins trod water while he gazed apprehensively into the surrounding blackness. Dense fog, though for a few indies above tbe water level for'some inexplicable reason the air was comparatively clear. If only he_could divest himself of some of his clothing he would stand a good fhance of winning clear, but this was an impossibility. A convulsive wriggle and he did manage to get rid of his coat. He would have to swim out for a bit and then endeavour to land on the foreshore, where .there should be many police available to render him assistance. Once ashore he could easily give directions as to where; that cellar (if such a term was now permissible) was situated,' and this chief would be dragged into the police net before he knew what was happening. A cheering thought. Higgins struck out manfully, with renewed vigour.

The sound of oars a short distance away—rescue was at hand. Higgins turned in that direction and, using the powerful American crawl, forged toward his objective. Th 6 next moment he was seized by willing hands and hauled aboard, then he was flung downward in the well of the boa£ and someone sat on his chest. " Give us a light here," a voice, again faintly reminiscent, demanded. The ray of a torch illuminated for one brief instant the inspector's bedraggled countenance, then it was turned away and the man sitting on his chest emitted a gasp of surprise. " Holy Hades! If it ain't Higgins! " The man eased himself off Higgins' chest and the inspector esisayed to rise. " Take it easy, sir," counselled his rescuer, " it's all right." The inspector peered at the man, then cursed with a fluency which Heftv and Baker while up i.va lamp-post might well have envied. It was the officer in charge of the river police. Inspector Higgins suddenly stopped his harangue, coughed apologetically and smiled. After all, he had been rescued and his lurid language was a pretty poor return for service rendered. " What's the trig idea ? " he demanded after a short period during which the two police officers adjusted their mental outlooks. " We were looking for the launch, inspector, and mistook you for that swine Stanmore. Sorry, an' all that, but--how did you get into the ditch? " " Make for the shore, will you, please? There's an abutting jetty or wharf or something close by an' I'm anxious to interview the occupant." " I know the place. Belongs to Wily Wentworth, I believe. But it's empty now." " Got any spare clobber? " "As a matter of fact, there does happen to be a spare suit of overalls in the bottom of the bgat, but they're in a pretty foul condition —oily and what not. But —" The keel of the boat crunched on the river bed and the men shipped oars. The man in the bow jumped out and hauled at the painter. " Now what? " y-. " Get after that overhanging room and arrest any occupant. . Hind, lie's armed, so look out! I'll look after this .boat and change into this overall. At least it's dry! While you're there you might borrow any surplus gear from, your men —I could do with it. Cheerio." As the men faded into the mist the inspector eyed the greasy suit of overalls with distaste. Better than nothing, certainly, but only just! He shivered as he disrobed. . Clothed and in his right mind, Higgins felt better. Dim figures were maturing out or the mist. If this were more trouble, he — But it was the river police officer returning with his men. , " Empty,, sir. Not a sign of anyone. Got a valuable clue, though. Look at this." Inspector Higgins was handed a hat. One look was sufficient. With a mighty sweep of his arm he hurled the hat from him—it swirled away into the mist and was lost to view. Immediately the inspector regretted his impulsive action.. He would have to pay for that hat, for it had once belonged to the first lieutenant of the Throstle, and the last man to have worn it was Higgins himself. The chief must have picked it up after he had crooned the inspector with that sack of sand and taken it with him to. that overhanging room. Ah, well! , , . ~ , And then, out in the river, the slow clanking of a chain.

(COPYRIGHT)

(To be continued daily)

CHAPTER XXXI 5.30 p.M. All eyes were turned towards the sound though nothing but a wall of blackness could be discerned. " What the deuce was that?" queried Inspector Higgins fretfully and somewhat foolishly. " Someone trying to up-anchor, replied the officer in Asking for trouble in this fog, and—" " Come 011! That's Rufus Reilly trying to sneak off!" The two officers and two men clambered one© more into the boat, leaving one man ashore. . He screwed up his eyes in a futile effort to pierce the gloom. Although the sound of the raised anchor had ceased, the gentle threshing of the screw of the vessel provided guidance. Then, out of the mist, a huge shadowy form materialised, and Higgins gave a grunt of satisfaction. Prepared for a hostile reception, the inspector was astounded to hear a rough voice exclaim: " Here they are, sir, at last." The threshing of the screw ceased forthwith and a rope was thrown from the ship. Eager hands wielding boathooks gripped the rowing boat fore and aft, and the four police officers clambered aboard. A powerful figure strode towards them. "So you managed it, eh? You re lucky, and —" The man broke off and peered at his visitors beneath the rim of his sou'wester. " Oh, so it's you again, is it? I thought—" " You thought your pals had returned. Sorry to disappoint you. Where's Stanmore?" queried Higgins. " Who?" . , „„ " Don't hedge, Reilly. Where is he?" Rufus Reilly folded his arms and glared at his interlocutor. " And they call you a smart cop,' he remarked derisively, nodding his head wisely up and down. He pursed his lips, then continued: " Do you think I should have welcomed the f9ur of you—four, mark you—just now, if one of tho four I assumed you. to be was already hiding aboard my ship?" . " Yes," responded Higgins disarmingly. " You see —they call you a smart crook! That's why!" " You—you —" spluttered Reilly. " Don't say it," advised the inspector. "It might annoy me." Why was it, he reflected, that he derived such pleasure from baiting Rufus Reilly? The man, once he lost his temper, and ran berserk, could be a very ugly customer, and Higgins, besides being unarmed, was slightly below par as a result of his recent activities. Anyhow, he was wasting time on purely private pleasures. "You may be right about Stanmore." he said placatingly,"" but it's up to me to make sure with or without your permission. I want neither help nor hindrance from you, Reilly—see that I don't get it." Inspector Higgins turned to the others. " I'm sick o' searching this ship, but let's get at it." Higgins scratched his head speculatively. He remembered his own idea that the flukes of the anchor might make a most effective hiding-place. H'm. Yet the anchor had only just been raised. Still, there had been plenty of time for Stanmore to clamber over tho bows. Well, well, well. JBiggins grinned to himself and beckoned with crooked forefinger the officer in charge of the River Police. " Come alonga me," he invited. "I've had a brainwave." : With an air of profound mystery he led the officer forrard, but chagrined to note that Reilly followed in his wake. Arrived at the bow, he gazed through the hawsepipe, but could see nothing. He then stepped to the edge and peered over. He could make out the shape of the anchor itself—but what was that clinging to the stock of the anchor ?_ As though in answer to his question, there was the merest suggestion of a breeze and the mist began to roll away. Higgins stared with unbelieving eyes. ' Attached to the anchor by a steel hawser were three tin boxes! No wonder the anchor had been weighed so slowly and with such apparent care! No wonder their previous search (whilst the ship had bepn riding at anchor) had been so unsuccessful. Higgins grinned delightedly. This might prove better than Foxy-face. He turned to Rufus Reilly and surprised a look of malignant hate on the man's face.

"Do you think a couple of your crew could give me a hand with these boxes?" he inquired. " I thought you wanted neither help nor hindrance?" countered Reilly.. " I've changed me mind." Reilly snapped his fingers and beckoned to two interested spectators.

" Take great care," suggested Higgins. " I should hate to lose them nos." And he, himself, took great care. He half expected an attempt would be made to dump the boxes to the bottom of the river, but within, five minutes the three boxes were safely on deck.

"I think," he suggested after a short pause, "that now we've found them we may as well learn what's in them." "