THE HOUSE IN THE WAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22261, 8 November 1935, Page 20

THE HOUSE IN THE WAY

<COPYRIGHT)

By COLIN HOPE

Author of the " Phantom Killer"

CHAPTER Vl.—(Continued) "Do you think anybody is going to part with their money before they have handled the goods?" he asked. "If it wasn't for me, perhaps we shouldn't see it even when we had done our share. If anybody did try to doublecross us we couldn't shout about it. It is only my careful organisation that makes our game worth while. Anybody can do a little strong arm work," he was looking meaningly at Chick as he spoke, "but it takes somebody with brains, I might say it takes a genius, to get the money after the job is done." There was a general chorus of approval, and Churchill gave no sign that lie know that Singster's remarks were directed against him. Singster again took up the lead. "Tho idea is this," ho bogan, "and mind you get this all carefully. We don't want any mistakes. You, George, and Chick. . . Guy, hardly crediting his luck, was straining every nerve to hear all that was said. This time he was really going to catch the gang red-handed. Then Singster was interrupted by tho sudden jangling of the telephone. Ho stopped at once and picked up tho instrument. "Hullo," ho said. "Yes, sneaking." "What! Did not come by the train? Are you sure?" "All right, cut that out. I didn't ask you to he funny. That's enough. If you are sure. . . . Why didn't you let us know before?" He banged down the receiver, and turned to the others. "Chichester never went to London," he announced dramatically. "He has spoofed us. He's got some deep game on, perhaps he did it to throw us off our guard and then doubled back "here. He may be about this house or grounds now." With one accord the men rose, and Chichester drew back and hurried silently to the back door. As he gained it he usard tho mutterings of the men who -were pouring out of the room in search of him, and he heard Chick Churchill say: "I am going to put that fellow out of harm's way if it brings all the policemen in England on our front doorstep." CHAPTER VII A VISIT TO SCOTLAND YARD Guy Chichester's careful preparations for a hurried escape were valuable when the necessity for flight arose. The men swarmed out of the house, but ho was half-way across the open grounds before any of them noticed him. He knew that it was urgent that he should gain the shadow of the hedge, and he was quite prepared for a bullet if Chick Churchill sighted him. The others he did not really fear, although he had no wish to bo captured and quite probably held a prisoner in the house. He reached the hedge and scrambled over. In doing so he stood out for a moment against the sky, which was lightening with the rising of the moon, and made an excellent target for Churchill. As Guy dropped to the ground on the other side, a bullet whistled overhead, and he decided that for the time escape in tho direction of the road was too dangerous, and so he hurried, as silently as possible, into the cover of the woods at the back of the house. He did not think it probable that the men would follow him far from the grounds of the house, but he was taking no risks, and when he considered he had travelled far enough to escape immediate danger, he climbed a high tree and settled down to await developments. His action was dictated by two considerations. Firstly, the tree offered good cover, and it was unlikely that the gang would think to look aloft for him, and secondly his perch gave him a wide range of vision. He could watch any development at The Wychets and also keep an eye cocked in the direction of Netta's house. He did not consider it improbable that Singster's gang would search for him at The Oaks. For a long time there was evidence that the men were searching in the vicinity of The Wychets. Guy was able to follow their movements by the glowing ends of cigarettes and by voices which came clearly in the still night. Later, with lanterns, they examined the grounds of the house, and Guy guessed that they were trying to find out what had happened to the dog. Long after all signs of activity had ceased, Chichester remained in the tree. The night was mild and he had much to think about. He realised that although he had learned more than he had hoped by his little incursion into the realms of burglary, only sheer bad luck had prevented him from learning something of vital importance. He recognised, too, that his chances of repeating his exploit of that night were very small. The Wychets would be well guarded in future—Singster would see to that. He wondered if he dare return to The Whip that night. His ruse had been discovered, so his absence until the morning would not impress Harry, the barman. On the other hand ho was sure that the landlord knew nothing of the gang's activities and it was not wise to give him reason for asking questions. There was, too, work for Guy to do in London, work which tho conversation ho had overheard at Tho Wychets told him was becoming urgent. He looked towards Netta's house. He would like to have seen her on the following day and there were investigations that demanded his attention at The Oaks. At last he decided that it would bo wiser for him to go to London without returning to The "Whip. He could telephone telling the landlord that he was detained in London and return to Wostbury in the evening. His mind made up, ho left his. porch, and set out to walk across country to a village beyond Westbury or, if time permitted, on to Forest Row, to catch an early train from there to London. His decision to walk on to Forest Row if time permitted was not carried out. At the first village beyond Westbury he began to feel tho effects of his adventures and particularly the loss of sleep. A friendly barn offered shelter and ho was glad to crawl inside and rnako, himself comfortable until daylight. , s He avoided notice as much as possible at the station and as soon as tho train was on its way, ho settled himself comfortably in the corner seat and at once fell into a blissful sleep. When ho reached town, a shave and wash were the first essentials and ho sighed regretfully that the doors of his former clubs were no longer open to him. A cheap hotel supplied all his needs, however, and by tho time London was really awake he had bathed, shaved, breakfasted, and was on his way to one of London's most prosaic-looking buildings, but which for all its cold exterior housed the service about which millions of words of romance have been written —Scotland Yard. In view of tho fnct tn«it h© lino so lately been released from prison, it was surprising that he was not kept waiting for moro than a few minutes when he asked to see one of the most exalted personages in the building. The attitude of Detective-Superin-tendent Massing, too, was strange, considering, again, his caller's record. " Guy Chichester," he mused, studying the card in his hand. " I see you have kept your Christian name. Where did you get the Chichester from ?

A GRIPPING STORY OF INTRIGUE, LOVE AND ADVENTURE

" I have always had a great admiration for the cathedral in that city, Guy answered, " and I thought of using the name one miserable Sunday morning while the rest of the congregation were dozing through the chaplain's sermon in my last place of —er —detention. It s quite «i good name, isn't it?" "Oh, it's a good enough name —but not such a proud one as Playdon. Why did you drop that?" "Aren't you aware that Guy Playdon has a past to live down? A man convicted of blackmail, the worst crime in the criminal calendar, has something to live down, I might tell you. I find no profit in, letting my former acquaintances know that I am still taking up a little room in their very select world.'' Massing loaned forward and gazed straight at Guy. " I would like to know exactly what your game is, Playdon," lie said. " I know a little, and I can guess a little more." " There is no game, superintendent. I can tell you that much. If you, like me, had heard a bullet whistle over your head in the early hours of this morning, you would be inclined to agree with mo that thero certainly is no game." " I might add that although I had not previously met the gentleman who held the gun, I have reason to believe that ho is not in the habit of missing." Massing's interest grew. " How much more of this story are you going to tell me? It seems to mo that you are either running with or running against something that is of great interest to us. Which side are you on?" " Is it of any use an ex-criminal claiming to be on the side of law and order?" "In your case it is. I am not a believer in the reformation of old lags." —Massing was on his hobby horse —" I have read very touching stories of wicked men who, after having spent the greater part of their lives in gaol, mended their ways and becomo heroes and model citizens; but I happen to be a nasty, sophisticated policeman and I have still to meet a real case of reformation. "A leopard cannot change his spots and an old hand at one of the many branches of roguery cannot suddenly turn into an honest man. It can't be done. "As I said, you are an exception. There is a very strange story behind your case, and I would give a lot to know a little more about it than I do. Policemen are naturally inquisitive, I suppose." Chichester did not reply for a long time, but sat drawing slowly on the cigar that the policeman had passed to him. At last he said: " I can understand your curiosity. You are not the only one who is interested in me. Your interest is less harmful than is that of some of the others, but I am afraid I have to disappoint you for a little while longer. I don't doubt for a moment that anything I told you in confidence would be safe, but that isn't everything. "You are a policeman, and whatever you might think of the results of my activities, I am positive that you would not approve of some of my methods. There are two main reasons why I cannot share my secrets. One is that I might easily tell the wrong person and the other is that somebody's well-mean-ing efforts might cramp my style and hinder me instead of helping. " No, I will stick to my original plan. I work alone." " Well, then, why have you come to see me? You have not told me your business as yet, you know." " Right. I will come to the point at once," Chichester answered. " I can't let you in on the great secret, but I want your help dll the same. " Firstly, I must admit that I am badly scared. I told you about the bullet last night. Weil, there have been other similar affairs, and some day I may not be lucky. Somebody may not miss next timfe —and when that next time comes, I want you to give an eye to two young ladies 1 am interested in." "Two, eh? Surely that isn't your great secret?" The superintendent's banter was an effort to put Guy into a happier frame of mind, and Chichester smiled when he replied. " One," he said deliberately, " is my niece, for whom i have a ' certain amount of responsibility—her parents are at the other end of the world —and the other is one in whom I am —well — interested. " I am also going to leave you a letter, which I ask you to open if it should come to your knowledge that I am dead, or if I do not communicate with you at any time for a complete week. But I am going to ask you to promise that you will not open the letter except in the circumstance I have mentioned." Ho took the letter from his pocket and handed it to the superintendent. As the latter accepted it he weighed it thoughtfully in his hand and gazed at it speculatively. " More of a parcel than a letter," he said. " Yes, it is bulky. There is quite an interesting story there. It took me nearly a complete day to write. " You said you would like to know my story; well, it is all in there. There is one man besides myself who knows it nearly all and I have always been content to think that if I went under there was somebody left behind to do something toward putting things right. Recently I have begun to get nervous and have cast about for a third person, one I could rely on and trust. I am not trying to flatter you, Massing, but I do trust you and I know you are white man enough to try and help when I am past helping myself. " You will find in there a list of names. If lam killed or disappear, they are the crowd who will bo responsible. I am not worrying much about the police effort to bring them to book for putting me out of the way, but that letter should help you to prevent them working their devilry on others—and especially watch those two girls." Chichester took up his hat and prepared to leave. " I should like you to come out and have lunch with me, Massing," he said, " but I don't think it will bo wiso for me to risk being seen with you—and it is not considered to be an honour to be seen with mo these days." The superintendent rose and thrust out his hand. "I am not ashamed to say that I still think you are a fine fellow, Playdon, in spite of everything. Count mo on j'our side. You probably know best about koeping your business to yourself—but if you want a hand, please give me the first opportunity to volunteer. Good-bye, and good luck." Guy was half out of the room tohen ho turned: "Sorry, old boy," he said,. " but there is something rather important I had forgotten. " Do you know of any engineer or inventor who is working on a now engine or' fuel ?" " Probably thousands of them. Everybody wants a petrol engine about a tenth of the present weight—or else wants to find a fuel that is half as expensive as petrol. But 1 know of anybody who is anywhere near to the realisation of their hopes, if that is what you mean. I don't meet many inventors in my department—except inventors of new methods of separating fools and their money." Chichester did not stop to explain the reason for his question. He had other business to see to and it was obvious that the policeman could not give him the information he desired. If he found it necessary he would ask Massing to make inquiries, but for the fu-esent. there were other sources of inormation at his disposal. (To be continued daily)