THE BLUE DAFFODIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 19

THE BLUE DAFFODIL

By FRED M. WHITE Author of "Tho Secret of the River." "On the Night Exprusa," "Blackmail," eta

(COPYRIGHT)

QUICKLY-MOVING LOVE AND MYSTERY NARRATIVE

CHAPTER XVll.—(Continued) " Very good of you to put it that way, sir," Medway said gratefully. " But there is no getting away from tho fact the man who killed Levi Lefton knew that I had arranged a meeting with him last night. Now how on earth—" " Levi Lofton must have told somebody," Sir Giles said. "Ho 'must. Where wns he last night?" Medway couldn't say, but ho would try to find out. It was at that moment that he recollected what Ben Lefton had said as to his father's habit of thinking aloud. At any rate, some possible explanation might come that way. He would iend for Ben and interview him at the Yard. Perhaps tho awesome atmosphere of the placo might lmvo a salutary effect. Tho morning papers had contained brief reports of the crime and the evening publications had elicited further facts. Thus the Planet: MURDER IN WHITECHAPEL. " A well-known Whitochapol resident, Mr. Levi Lefton, was found dead in his house last night with every evidence that he was tho victim of murder. He was discovered with a wound that had penetrated the heart, producing instant death. Oddly enough, deceased was discovered by a prominent member of the C.1.D., who had an appointment with him. So far no sort of clue has been discovered beyond the sheath of a knife ori which possibly fincer-prints may be found." Medway tossed tho paper aside in disgust. it was pretty plain that Ben Lefton had been talking not only to the policeman left in charge, but to tho press fraternity, who had scented the tragedy from afar off after tho manner of their kind. The very last thing Medway wanted was for the detail of the knife sheath to become public property. He sat down and wrote a command to Ben Lefton to come and see him at half-past ten the following morning, and this being done did his best to put tho matter out of his mind for the moment. Perhaps Brentford mirlit have some more to say regarding his brain wave. But Ronnie was not available, having taken Vera out to dinner. CHAPTER XVIII. Where, Medway asked Brentford's landlord over the telephone, was the latter dining? The Regal Palace, was the answer. Captain Brentford had made that plain in case anyone wanted to see him in the course of the evening. It was a habit of that gentleman to do so. " And a very good habit, too," Medway told himself. " A pity all men are not so business-like." There were two or three reasons why Medway wanted a few words with Brentford. To begin with, had that astute young man gone any further with his attempt to solve tho problem as to how the murderer had made his way into Garnstone's fortress? If that riddle could be solved, then the rest would bo something like plain sailing. But that was not the only thing. There was the queer case or sheath in which was placed the weapon by which Levi Lefton had been murdered. The blade of this was little more than half an inch wide as the autopsy had proved and some nine inches in length; moreover. it had been driven home, as the bloodstains on tho haft showed. Round the top of the sheath ran a gold band about as brond as an ordinary match, and on it a series of tiny tool chasings, with a series of three seed sapphires set in pyramid fashion. Ancient workmanship beyond the shadow of a doubt, with, at the point of the sheath, a gold mounting with some strange lettering thereon. It seemed to Medwav that ho had noticed something like this ori the gold cup, but on this point he was uncertain. Nor could he make any comparison for the moment, seeing that the gold cup was locked away in.tho official safe. However, all in good time. Meanwhile no harm could come from a visit to the Regal Palace. In the interim, however, Brentford had been passing what he would describe as a busy day. Most of this had been spent in probing around the ruins of the fire which had happened so near to Garnstone's flat. There was not much difficulty as to that, because, once inside tl»e hoarding with its flamboyant posters depicting the vagaries of film stars, it was quite easy to avoid anything in the way of lookers-on. Tt was by no means a pleasant job. However, Brentford had come prepared for it. In tn old grey suit of very shabby plus fours and hobnailed shoes, to say nothing of a cap of sorts, he dived in and out under the friendly cover of the flaming posters, but so far all in vain. There was some twenty yards either way of huddled desolation, piled up rubbish, most of it reduced to flinders by the duple:: action of fire and water.

But Brentford knew only too well that the thing he was looking for was there, and he was going to find it if he had to turn over every inch of the terrain. The missing part of the jig-saw puzzle must be there, otherwise why was part of it rescued more or less from the ruins? Brentford could not visualise the owner of the second part, so to speak, leaving it behind and going away with the other.piece. There would be no sense in that at all. Unless, perhaps, ho had been scared off at the last moment, which did not seem likely. In hiu mind's eye, Brentford could visualise every action on the criminal's part from the moment he had set out on his murderous errand until the minute when ho had made good his escape, leaving as he thought no kind of evidence behind him. Just the one act of carelessness that the clever criminal almost inevitably commits, believing himself perfectly beyond the law. With a fork ho had found among the ruins Brentford turned over the debris until the sweat poured down his face. But no sign of what he wanted showed itself. By the time he had made his final exit for the day it was time to dress for dinner. However, with nothing else to do and many davs before him, he did not despair. If the needle was in the rick of hay, then he was going to find it if it took him a month.

Ho picked up Vera outside her lodgings and a taxi took them speedily to the Regal Palace. Already ho had ordered a table there in a secluded corner of the room where they conkl sco without hcing Keen by other diners with whom the dining room was fairly full. Vera's spirits rose as sho looked about her. She loved the subdued lights and the flowers on the tables, tho"exquisito dresses and the murmur of conversation. It was such a lovely change after the drudgery of the daily round. Yet she knew that this sort of thing could not last. Ere long she would have to find something to do by way of earning a living as would Ronnie also, because his funds did not permit of the marriage he was urging upon hor. Wo must not come here again, Ronnie darling," she sighed. " I am getting too fond of this sort of life. Wo should never bo able to afford it." " Havo you forgotten the old man's will, sweetheart?'' " My dear, we dare not count on it. Nor would you bo happy on money earned by the worst kind of dishonesty. You seem to have forgotten that side of Mr. Garnstone's life." " Upon my word, I had," Ronnie confessed. " .Of course th&t makes all

the difference, though ho must have made a big fortune in his legitimate business." Dinner was almost over before Medway made hi., appearance. He came in quietly and unrecognised as he made his way to the table where the lovers were seated. " So sorry to disturb you," he said. " But there is something I want to show you." " Pull up a chair," Brentford said. " Mean to say that you have made an important discovery?" " I wish I had," Medway sighed. " But Miss Goff may be able to help in a way. I have here in my pocket a grim piece of evidence concerning the death of that man, Levi Lofton. It is a horrible time to come barging in like this, but my time is so occupied that really—" " Oh, please don't apologise," Vera paid quietly, though a cloud seemed to pass over her happiness. "If I can help you in any way, I will. But what connection can there bo between our mystery and that case?" " Because," Medway said, " unless I am altogether mistaken, both crimes were committed by the same man. However, will you bo so good as to look at this?" With that ho produced the shagreen case from his pocket and handed it over for Vera's inspection. There was a puzzled frown on her face as she turned it over in her hands. Then suddenly her face cleared and her eyes grew bright. " Why, of course," she said. " This once belonged to my family. It was the centre of an arms trophy and stood against a wall in the lounge. Those tiny designs are the stalks of flowers and the sapphires form the bloom. The Bluo Daffodil which is incorporated in the family arms." "No getting away from the Blue Daffodil," Bonnie said. "It seems to crop up everywhere. First the bulb, belonging to the old gentleman, which was stolen by Gunter, then the gold cup purchased by Lord Glenday and claimed by Tanberg, and now this sheath, from which I presume came the knife that killed Lefton."

" Perfectly correct," Medway agreed. " It was taken from Lefton's fingers. As to the knife, I can say nothing. The murderer probably took that with him. But—" Medway paused suddenly, with his eyes turned in the direction of the door. There was Tanberg looking for a table, and with him the same pretty and alluring girl who had been his companion when, on a former occasion, Brentford and Vera were in the same room. From where they were seated the watchers could see without being seen, so that every movement on thQ part of the newcomers was perfectly plain. Tanberg found a table presently, and motioned his friend to a chair, into which she sank gracefully and began to look about her. She wore no jewels save a sort of sunburst of diamonds in the centre of her corsage. Almost at the same moment another woman entered the dining room and glanced about her. She was quite alone. A woman, tall and dark, with flashing, fearless eyes that denoted a proud and independent spirit—in fact, a woman quite capable of taking care of herself the' world over. Superbly handsome, though a little past her first youth. Very slowly, like a yacht in full sail, she sauntered up the room until she reached the table where Tanberg and the girl were seated. Then, without a word or change of expression, she bent down and literally tore the flashing ornament from the girl's breast, and dropped it into the bag she was carrying. The girl fell back in her chair white to the lips, far too astonished to utter a sound. With a murderous expression on his face, Tanberg looked up at the handsome stranger.

" Pretty bold, nren't you?" he asked in a hoarse whisper that carried to the ears of the listeners, though nobody else seemed to realise what was going on. " Put that back unless you want me to hand you over to the police."

" Police!" the woman sneered. "Audacious as you are, you dare not. Those diamonds are as much mine as anybody's. Given and taken back as tho mood strikes you. How many women have you dazzled with them. I wonder!"

With that she turned on her heel and sailed out of the room, much as if the place belonged to her. Before she had reached the entrance, Medway was on his feet.

" I'll follow her," he said. " There is nobody else to do so. Keep your eye on the other two, Brentford, and don't lose sight of them. Put Miss Goff into a cab and let her go home. I must seo what becomes of that girl. Wo are on the verge of a great discovery unless I am entirely mistaken." CHAPTER XIX " Every time I see that man or even hear his name mentioned, a cold chill runs down my spine," said Vera, with a shudder as she looked away from Tanberg. " Whoever that pretty girl with him is, I am sorry for her." And she was a pretty girl, as Ronnie was more than prepared to admit. Young and fair, with regular features lit up by a pair of dark blue eyes. Tho mouth was a little petulant and weak, suggesting lack of character and resolution, in short tho typo of womanhood that would bo wax in hands like those of a rascal such as Tanberg. The two were talking earnestly together now, the girl with a face alternately red and white with a suggestion of angry tears in her eyes. It was. quite evident that Tanberg was trying to soothe her wounded vanity, for ho was exerting all his powers of fascination to explain away the strange events of tho past few minutes. A few words reached Brentford's ears. "But why did you let her?" the girl said. " My dearest child, what would you have mo do?" Tanberg replied in his most honied tones. 'Make a scene here? The very last thing I want." " But sho said that tho diamonds were hers." " Well, in a manner of speaking, they were. There was a time when we fancied that wo were in lovo with each other, but that was beforo I found her out. A selfish and grasping creature only out to got what sho could without giving anything in return. Playing one man off against another. And I strongly objected to bo that other. There was the most unpleasant scene between us. Sho flung that diamond ornament at my feet as if it had boon glass. Do you blaino mo for picking it up?" The girl shrugged her shoulders sulkily. "Then why como and steal it backP" she asked. " Why? Who can fathom the feminine breast? Jealousy. Ono of your poets has said that hell knows no fury like a woman scorned. Sho must have seen us and hated you becauso sho recognised a beauty beyond her own. Sho must have seen you wearing my diamonds, and inspired by wild passion followed us hero and behaved as sho did to-night. But what does it matter? I havo other gems that shall bo yours if you liko." Tho girl rose and resumed her wrap. " I am going home," she said. " I couldn't stay here after this. Order me a taxi." (To b» continued daily)