THE WHITE ANGEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE WHITE ANGEL

By JAMES CORBETT Author of "Murder at Red Ctaagt," "The Wlnterton Hotel My.tery," " The Merrlvale Myatery." "The Dwtn uiamond.." etc

(COPYRIGHT)

A SENSATIONAL MYSTERY STORY

CHAPTER XIV A WABNTNQ FOR DAVIDSON When Davidson delivered his letter to Sir Henry "Lowestoft, he stood awaiting further instructions. He had hurried to the Quai D'Orsay after leaving the Premier, and was lucky to find the Ambassador at home. Lowestoft perused tho missive. Whatever news it contained he made no comment. After reading it he regarded Davidson with a steady eye. " My dear Oscar," he drawled. " I am glad you brought this along. You see, I tad a phone message this afternoon, and it may interest you. It concerns Gaumont and L'Estrange. They are after your blood."

just meant to tell you I have given that- matter consideration, and I have come to the decision I cannot act in that capacity—even at the cost of doing without that information."

• what made you chango your mind? " he demanded.

Vera was ready for that query. " 1 forgot something most important. I am not independent. I am in the service of my employer, and it would be terrible to betray him. . . . No, please, you must forget the compact we made. I can never be guilty of gross treachery, and you ought to realise that! " McGrath was thinking deeply.

" Has it occurred to you," he asked, " that I am not personally interested in the Auckland crime? To me it is a matter of indifferenco whether the murderer is caught or not. In other words, if no clue is forthcoming, or if that clue is deliberately hidden, tho crime does not concern me in tho least. You were the first to approach ine about the problem. Seeing you are the daughter of the murdered man, I should like to keep faith with you. If any information comes to hand—anything concrete, I mean—you must have it."

" 1 am rather glad to hear it," ho said.

" Why?"

Davidson glanced round the room. " Getting rathe* fed up," ho muttered.

" You bored?" Lowestoft could hardly believe his ears. Why, he had always looked on Oscar as a man who loved adventure, as the bravest fellow he had ever met. He glanced at him keenly. Why the shadow on that goodlooking face? Why such curiously bright eyes? Was it possible Davidson had fallen a victim to sex influence? That might be the explanation.

"Apart from my share of the compact? " "Absolutely."

Vera allowed a pause. "If you really mean that," Bhe declared, "it is exceedingly kind on your part. Don't you think, however, that my employer should be tho intermediary? "

Lowestoft went to tho sideboard " Have a cigar?"

"No, thanks, I prefer this cigarette."

Vera hoard a hoarse laugh. " Hardly," he said slowly. " I happen to know, you see, that Gregory is not much concerned. As I hinted to you this evening, he is working for Downing Street, and that makes matters more complex. No, Miss Auckland, we shall have to leave him out of it. If I obtain that big clue, then you will hear from me at once. That is all I promise. That is the best I can do." " You are disappointed in me? " He coughed discreetly. "A trifle," he said in a forced voice. " Yet I think I understand. You are in love with your employer, Miss Auckland, and so you could never betray him. That seems quite on the cards." Vera gasped. How had he jumped to that?

" Then join me in a drink?" " Don't mind if I do. Mako it a small brandy, Lowestoft." The Ambassador took up a decanter and poured out a drink. He passed it across. Filling a second glass, ho held it up. " To your good sense, Oscar." Davidson drank in silence. "You are right," ho said absently. " I have lost my head over a girl, and ' probably you have guessed who it is. . Never mind, Lowestoft, a man falls in love only once —and Vera Auckland is the loveliest girl in the world. Anyone would be forgiven for loving her." Lowestoft touched him on the shoulder. His sympathy was keen. He understood everything. " 1 had a dim suspicion it might be • her," he answered. "So Sir John Auckland's daughter has caught you bending? Well, Oscar, T Bhould never have dreamt it. That explains the tired feeling, eh ? My dear man, it will pass off in three months. Have that holiday I suggested, and take it from me that no woman is worth getting morbid over. More fish in the sea—" "Damn your fish!" Davidson shouted. " Lowestoft, it's a good job I know you, otherwise those words would be rammed down your throat. You don't know Vera Auckland or you would never talk like that. Do you realise that Gregory has fallen as well?" A dead silence. Lowestoft was nonplussed. The: news bowled him over. "And the Premier I"-he exclaimed. , "I have told him everything," Davidson answered. "As you are aware, we do not know who has the document. Most of us believe we have only dummies, but if the real one has been: assigned to Gregory, and if a big blunder occurs, 1 cannot bo blamed, can I?"

"I am afraid," she said, "we cannot discuss that aspect. But, au revoir, Mr. McGrath, and do not forget your promise, will youP " " I never forget," he answered sternly. Half an hour later Vera met Gregory at supper.

She had just seated herself at the little table downstairs, and ho joined her without restraint. He was doing his utmost to save her from embarrassment.

" I had a half-notion you would bo in the supper room," he confided, "and I thought you might be lonely. I have been looking for Davidson. Have you seen him at all? I have been watching every taxi that drove up. Wonder what has delayed him? " Vera gave him one of her sweetest smiles.

The happiness returned to her eyes. "Am rather glad we are alone," she said softly. " You see, I want to apologise for my mad conduct this evening. I seemed to have gone out of my senses. Will you try, please, and forgive me? " He looked across for the first time, aad there was something wonderful in that glance. It was so sympathetic and understanding, so all-enveloping and tender.

Lowestoft gave a negative shako. " Glad you told Lawson," he muttered. "It is best he should know—everything. What did he say about the affair! He was furious, I imagine?" Davidson grinned. " Never saw the Chief more put out in my life," he groaned. "Ho promised to see Gregory before midnight, so if he has paid a visit in my absence to the hotel, 1 shall not be surprised. But you see the mess we are in, Lowestoft. If Gregory had an ounce of sense, he would get rid of that girl, or send her back to London, but one might as well persuade a Benedictine monk to stop praying 1" Lowestoft lit a cigar. " i see your meaning, Oscar," he replied. " How would it do if we detained the girl ill Paris?" 'f What do you • propose ?" " We can arrange for the girl's detention."

My dear girl," he answered, " there is not the slightest reason for you to say that. I happen to know what made you act in that fashion, and believe me, the incident has passed from my mind. I am just glad you came to your senses in time." Vera felt trembling. She leaned slightly across. " I know you will forget it," she said in a low voice, " but I want to convince you that I am penitent. May I tell you what I have done? " "Please do!"

" I have just rung McGrath up on the 'phone. I have made it plain 1 cannot carry out that compact." Gregory smiled. In the dayß ahead she wCuld never forget that simle. "And what did he say? " he asked quietly. " He .behaved rather nicely," Vera rejoined. " He led me to think that he was indifferent to my share of the work. He promised to pass on any information about the Auckland crime —irrespective of my bargain to holp about the document." /

" You mean—abduct her unknown to Gregory?" " Precisely, but why put it so crudely? We can arrange that without difficulty. I have one or two friends—• lady friends—who will help me out. It's not the first time a similar matter has been arranged. No harm will come to the girl. She will have every comfort, and, incidentally, will not suffer financially." Davidson coughed. It- was certainly an idea. He knew Gregory would never get rid of Vera. Yet the girl would remain a menace in his path. She was bound to hamper their movements, and if she mastered the code that Gregory possessed, then good-bye to all security. But was it fair to Vera? He thought of her blue eyes, that lovely trusting face " Blazes, 1 object 1" he said stubbornly. " 1 won't be any party to this, Lowestoft. If you start tricks of this kind, then I will get in touch with Lawson and have you fired. . . . Lawson/ will never 6tand for this!" " There is just a chanco he may, Lowestoft reminded him. " Listen, Davidson. Gregory was not selected by the Prime Minister as a mere red herring. You may think otherwise, but I am convinced there is something behind it all. We don't know who holds the real document, but Gregory is a potential eleme \ in the business, and Lawson never misjudges a man. If he has selected Gregory for his purpose, it will behove him to have no scruples about sentiment. If the girl threatens to be a menace, to be an obstruction in the path, then we must arrange for her detention in Paris. There will bo no harm done." Davidson sighed. There was logic in what Lowestoft said.

Gregory glanced at the orchestra. It was playing a haunting love tune from a Viennese opera. He half recognised the air. The room was filling rapidly. " I should not care to trust McGrath," he said slowly. " I agree," she answered. " But why do you say that? " "He is just the type who would lead you into a trap. I strongly advise you to steer dear of him. . . . Can't you put your trust in meP " "I am going to try ever so hard." As if in affirmation, her hand stole across the table. Ho held her fingers a few seconds, then she withdrew them hurriedly. Tho orimson tide mounted to her forehead. Hor blue eyes grow soft and luminous, " Let us talk about something else," he suggested. " Do you know that I have had a visit from the Primo Minister? Yes, he came here in a clever disguise. I had strolled out on the terrace for a smoke. M. Silvani was my first visitor. He camo to ask the usual senseless questions, and after he went the Promier made his dramatic appearance. He gave me quite a start. . . . I may as well tell you frankly he is very angry. He has heard about the McGrath incident. Not from myself, I assure you. He wants me to Bend you back to London."

Vera gasped. The more possibility of that sent hor bloodless.

Davidson gripped his hand. " Any further instructions?" he demanded hoarsely. The ambassador passed him a sealed letter.

" Does ho hato mo so much? " she inquired. Gregory smiled. "It is not hate," he said. " It's more a matter of diplomacy. Lawson is carrying out rather a difficult scheme. He would call it strategy. He does not feel inclined to trust any woman. He half imagines you will let us down." Vera's brain worked swiftly.

When Vera retired to her room, after her momentous interview with Gregory, which saw her completely vanquished, it would be difficult to describe the emotional storm through which she passed.

Something seemed to go wrong with her brain. All her reasoning powers fell to a low ebb. She had experienced the greatest ordeal of her life. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined a ny man would have such power over her, but now 6he was confident she loved Gregory more than anything on earth.

She knew that Gregory was in constant danger. She wanted to be near him, to see what happened, to be some security for him. And she did believe he was still interested in the Auckland crime. She must be near at hand when that arrest was made. She must see the murderer with her own eyes. " Davidson must have told him," she said feverishly. " Where did the famous Oscar meet him? " " Not the faintest." Gregory anewered. " But meet they must have done. I took your part, of course. I explained the reason of your visit to McGrath, but Lawson would listen to no excuse. He has given me three days. By that date, if you have not returned to London, I am to bo counted out. He will relieve me of my mission. I shall have to return the document." "And your answer? " Vera asked in something like ft whisper*

A telephone was on the table. She took off the receiver and asked the hotel operator to connect her with " La Metro pole." In two minutes she was speaking to McGrath.

" Yes," he drawled, "I recognise the voice. Something important, Miss Auckland? "

Hi's tone was one of polite expectation. Behind it a vast eagerness difficult to control. Vera detected that instantly. " 1 rang up, Mr. McGrath, for a definite purpose," she said quietly. " I

(To be continued daily)

" Need you ask? " Gregory queried. " I think you know already. I have an idea, however, that Lawson spoke in temper. He may change his mind. I fancy he is greatly harassed at present, and it is difficult to gauge his mood. Apart from that, my hunt for your father's* murderer will continue. I may remain in Paris a few more days. On the other hand, L may be retained by the Prime Minister, which means I may go to Berlin and from thence to Washington. Everything will depend on events." "And if you go to Berlin?" Vera queried in the same low voice. " You will certainly come with me," Gregory assured her. CHAPTER XV When Davidson returned to consciousness, it was with a numbing sense of pain, and that pain came from his head. He put his hand up in stupid fashion, but no blood was on his head. No, he had not been knocked out in that way. It must have been some other plan. Ah, he remembered. That stifling smell at his nostrils, that suffocating cloth over mouth and nose just as he turned the Rue St. Martin corner, ten minutes after leaving the Quai D'Orsay. Lowestoft was right. Danger lurked in tho air. Ho looked at his watch. It was closo on midnight. Where the devil was he?

He gazed round carefully, and found himself in au attic of some sort, with a lamp burning in a, far corjier, but thero was no ono else in the room.

Ho was alone—a prisoner! Ho rose from the chair stiffly and staggered across to the door. It was carefully locked. Had he been searched?

Ho felt his pockets. He turned everything out. No. it hardly seemed like it, lor everything seemed quite the samo, and nothing was missing. He was just on the point of confirming if something else was safe, when he paused and smiled. No, ho would not do caught in that fashion.

If they were watching him, and for all he knew, a pair of eyes were glued on him at that instant, then ho would not betray that document by a single gesture. Perhaps that was their game! They may have searched him and found nothing. Then, retiring to a secret spot, with spyholes carefully drilled, would await his recovery, knowing his first act would confirm the safety of the document.

He turned his attention to one pocket. Ah, his revolver was missing. Perhaps that was taken from him at the start. Well, they had saved him from self-destruction at least, for if the document was discovered, Davidson would have no compunction about suicide.

Ho wondered what was their game. He heard the twelve strokes of midnight. Fifteen minutes later he sat up with a start.

The 6ound of approaching feet. Patiently he waited. Those footsteps sounded interminable. At last they reached the ty>p flight, and there came the sound of a key in the lock.

McGrath was the first to enter, but Gaumont and L'Estrange remained in the doorway, and their revolvers were quite significant. Each gun pointed at Davidson. McGrath did not appear to be armed, yet of course ho would bo ready for any emergency, and he was as strong as a lion.

" Good evening, gentlemen," Davidson chirped, "thought you might bo paying me a visit. What's tho big idea, oh? "

McGrath folded his arms, and something like a grin overspread his face. He was still in evening dress, and as spruce as ever.

" Glad they did not do you any bodily harm," he observed pleasantly. " It would never do to hurt poor Oscar, would it? Well, Davidson, you and I understand each other, so I havo just come along for a little chat, and I regret our interview must bo brief. 1 am making hurried preparations to leave Paris."

What a pity," Davidson purred. " I should have thought you would prefer a French cemetery?" McGrath eyed him carefully. " You always were a cynical individual," he remarked. " Well, my dear Oscar, we have made a careful search, ana have to report that the document is not hidden anywhero about you. You soon to have eluded us in that respect. Your detention will depend on your own stubborn will. May I ask how long you propose keeping us waiting for tho document, or information about it? " Davidson laughed brutally.

"So you have made a search and found nothing?" ho grunted. " I thought as much. Now you want mo to spill the beans and tell you exactlv where I have hidden it. Then you will opeu tho door of my prison and pay my taxi fare to tho hotel. McGrath, you havo mado a profound mistake. I prefer to see*you in hell first.'* McGrath stroked his moustache. "So I presumed," he answered. " Well, the sooner you understand mo tho better, Oscar. I am not deceived by the red herring which Lawson brought across tho trail in the shape of Gregory tho criminologist. That was clever, but it did not dim my intelligence one instant. I am inclined to believo you are tho man selected for the purpose. At any rate, I am going to make certain on tho point, and if you aro not the man, then I am going to get some concreto information from you about tho document and tho name of the individual who has been entrusted with it? " Davidson whistled.

" So that's tho little gamo, eh? " ho queried. " Well, supposing I refuse to accommodate you, my dear fellow? Supposing I defy you to do your worst? What then? "

McGrath gave a slight cough. "It all depends," he said, " what kind of death you* like to die." Davidson throw a contemptuous glance at the levelled revolvers. Ho knew if ho moved one inch it meant the end. L'Estrange was a noted shot, and had a long military training. Gaumont was in the same category. They both knew how to handle a revolver. "I suggest you make it clean," Davidson replied. " A single bullet through the head, McGrath, and then —peace." The Leader of the Opposition lifted his eyebrows. What had happened to Davidson? There was a fatalistic note he could not explain. " You talk," he said, " as if death would be a pleasant thing." "I long for it," Davidson said earnestly. "This hunted animal game has played me up, McGrath. If you and your group have decided on blowing out the candle, then it's O.K. with me." Both men regarded each other.

" You place me in an awkward position," McGrath said quietly. " You must realise I have not the slightest wish to end your charming existence. So far, I have not included murder in my list of crimes—if they can be Called crimes— and I should not like to begin at this stage."