THE FLAMING CAVERN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 15

THE FLAMING CAVERN

By ANGUS MacVICAR Author of " The Screaming Gull," etc.

CHAPTER V.—(Continued) All he had to go upon in this respect was the spinsterish gossip of that ' spinsterish peer. And there was a possi- ) bility that Nona's friendship with the - politician was merely a business partnorj ship in the affair which he had heard discussed by John Ralston and Peter j M'Gomba. No! By the Lord Harry, lie wouldn't i leave London I He would get to the > heart of this mystery as lie had previ--1 ously determined. And then—then he 1 would discover exactly the relations , between Bona and Sir William. - He began to review matters in a ■ calmer spirit. It was clear, he now 5 believed, that Sir William Dumlonnld was the stranger for whom he had been i seeking. The man's association with - Bona, he thought, put the question beyond doubt. It was his plan, therefore, to try and engage the interest of- • the politician, so that hp t might bo ; allowed to enter even the fringes of the ' mystery. And as September the seven- , teen til was still a month distant, he might discover in that timo a clue to I the deeply-hidden secret. Just as a mild August dawn broke , over the housetops of London, David . arrived at a final decision. He would • make a personal visit to Sir Williain ' Dundonald first thing in the morning. A cold bath and a solid English break- ! fast of grape fruit, ham and eggs and • coffee brought David freshness and zest for his task. After glancing at the daily papers without finding in them any reference to Sir William, he set out for , j ;i7 Crown Street. The walk in the sun, j the cheerful hurrying crowds in Piccadilly and the morning tang of the atmosphere helped considerably to bolster up his resolution. Number 37, was small and compact, and the cream-curtained windows glinted in the sun. A twinge of pain visited David as his imagination conjured up a vision of Bona as mistress of that house; but with a mighty effort he crushed down his jealousy and concentrated grimly on the business in hand. A middle-aged butler with a pleasant, clean-shaven face and none of the portentous gravity of the typical male servant, ushered him into a comfortable room lined with books. There could be no denying that this was an apartment untouched by feminine influence. It was a bachelor s den with the severe luxury of a bachelor's tastes everywhere in evidence. Sporting prints hung on tho plain walls. Fpon a little stand by the window there gleamed an exquisite silver model of a steam yacht, and David wondered if this could lie a miniature of the vessel. The Silver Gull, referred to by the gossip-monger in the evening paper. Pipes and newspapers were scattered in some profusion on oaken tables, and dark brown upholstered chairs. A' black spaniel nosed David s hand in welcome. "Sir William is just finishing breakfast," said the butler, as he withdrew. "Ho will be downstairs in five minutes, sir." Hut David scarcely heard him; and while he waited for the coming of the politician, he stared and stared at a large framed portrait of Bona which he "had just noticed, standing on a little desk in the corner. "Good morning, Mr. MacNeill. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. David dragged his mind back out of the depths as the cpiiet, firm voice sounded at his elbow. ; "ft r —good morning, Sir William," • he answered. "I have come to ask of you a very great favour." Broad shoulders setting off to great 1 advantage his immaculate morning clothes, the politician was almost as tall as David, and an observer would have been interested to note the quick measuring glances which at that moment. passed between them. But almost immediately, Sir William turned and took a chair between his visitor and the window. "Won't you smoke?" he asked, proffering a silver case. "I can always talk better with a cigarette." As he helped his host to a light, David spoke with deliberation. "It was 1," ' ie explained, "who made the attempt to rescue John Ralston in I the Bed Sea." There was a quick tightening of the muscles in the hard lean jaw of Sir William Dundonald. "Ah'" lie said quietly. "Miss Ralston has told me about you. It seems that you have discovered some facts which it is highly dangerous for you to know. It seems also, however, that Miss Ralston trusts implicit}' in your discretion." , David's heart leaped. By jove, now! That wasn't so bad. Bona trusted him —trusted him implicitly, in lact. He smiled a little as lie continued to talk; and he had forgotten about Bona's picture on the desk in the corner. "Miss Ralston, however, in spite of her faith in my ability to keep a secret, refuses utterly to allow me any inkling as to the mystery." David paused, and glanced straightly at the politician. "And it is in this connection that 1 wish to ask your assistance. I have an idea that there is something rather big behind this affair. Won't you allow me to share the fun by giving me a job in your viu'ht, Jho Silver Gull, which) I have iearned, sails for Scotland at the week-end." David almost gasped at his own temerity, but the inscrutable face oi his host gave no sign of surprise. Sir William was not unused to situations of this kind, and he was trying hard to gauge the character of this tall, quietly dressed and rather determined young man who confronted him. Ronn had told him David's history as far as she knew it; and he had an idea that his visitor was less of an unscrupulous adventurer, than one who longed lor a scrap for its own sake. From Bona s description of his actions, and from his own observation of the clean-cut browy face, the big, mobile mouth, and the sensitive nostrils. Sir William came at last to the conclusion that David MacNeill was steadfast and courageous, albeit rather impulsive, and that he would make an excellent and faithful friend. On the other hand, judging from the eridence of the dour brown eves and the jutting chin, he might also be a bad enemy. Sir William pondered. He had picked his men already for the adventure before him; and it was against the rules of the game to employ an outsider, of whose antecedents he had no personal knowledge. As against these facts, however, tllere was Nona's confidence in MacNeill's honesty and uprightness, and the fact that the young farmer had more or less brought himself within the ambit of the affair, by his attempted rescue of John Balston in the Ned Sea.

(COPYRIGHT)

A STORY OF INTRIGUE, ADVENTURE AND SECRET SERVICE

There was the consideration too, that if MacNeill's request was turned down lie might publish the truth concerning .John Kalston's plan of feigned suicide. Nona had maintained that he would do nothing of the sort, and that it would be unfair to involve a private individual in the dangerous business of the Flaming Cavern; but then, Bona was kind-hearted, and had certainly been attracted by this young man. She had, indeed, much to Sir William's secret dismay and annoyance, almost broken down when she had told of her parting with him. Obviously Bona was a prejudiced observer; and, equally obviously, he thought this fellow was about to bargain with him concerning the job he had requested. Would it not be safer, therefore, to give him a position on board The Silver Gull, so that lie might be prevented from doing mischief? Though the thing was extremely unlikely, since the secret of John Balston's "suicide" bad not yet, to his certain knowledge, been divulged to the enemy, there was the possibility that MacNeill might be a spy; and in this eurcuinstancc it would be definitely more statisfactorv to have him within striking distance throughout the voyage to the Scottish Isles. Sir Williain resolved to force the hand of his guest. "And if 1 say that you cannot have such a job," he said, his blue eyes intent, "what then?" David's broad brows became furrowed. "In such case," he answered, "I shall feel it my duty to inform certain persons of the peculiar event which occurred some time ago in the Bed Sea." "I could have you clapped into prison for that, you know, on a charge of treason." Sir William grinned; and the grin was used not only to soften the sting of his words, but also to convince himself that he would not subsequently feel jealous of the man's proximity to Nona. "That would keep you quiet until after September 17, But I prefer to play a more manly game. 1 grant, your request. Please*report for duty on Saturday morning in The Silver Gull. She is lying at Bristol, you know. Number five "wharf. Ostensibly you will be one of my guests.'' David sighed. His bluff had succeeded. He would not, of course, after his promise to Nona, have divulged John Nalston's secret, even though the politician had ordered him from the house. But, by good luck, Sir William had not guessed the truth. A slight trembling possessed him as a reaction to his tense effort in securing that which he desired. "Thank you," he said quietly at last. "I don't tiiink you will regret your decision, Sir William. You can rely upon me in anv emergency. ' "I'm glad of that assurance, MacNeill." murmured the politician, "for we shall almost certainly meet many emergencies on board I lie Silver Gull. 1 have to warn you, further, that the yacht is heavily armed, and that I shall expect you to carry a loaded revolver and reserve ammunition." David felt the skin of his back prickle and tingle; but he endeavoured to appear as calm and cool as his host. "1 shall make a note of your warning, Sir William," he said. "I am staying, 1 may say, at the Calton. I have a very serviceable weapon in my room there." A Webley. 1 once held up a score of native strikers with it in Southern Rhodesia." "Good." The Member of Parliament rose; and, to signify the end of the interview, he held out his hand. As David took it their eves met —the dark brown and the light blue—for one short moment. And the reason for the quick, wary glances, though neither of them was fully aware of the truth, was Miss Nona Balston. David emerged from the unpretentious front entrance of 37, Crown Street with a bright gleam in his eyes, and the air of "Loch Lomond" in his heart. He would prove to Nona exactly how much lie loved her. He would show her that he could be courageous and selfsacrificing as well as prideful and vain of his own righteousness. To-day was Thursday. On Saturday, when he was due to join The Silver Gull at Bristol, he would see her again. The idea sent a thrill of anticipation through his body. He thought of her bewitching face, of the blue eyes which could light up with glow of happiness and of the trim, strong little figure which he longed to gather in his arms. He wanted to shout in his exhilaration. From what Sir William Dundonald had said be understood now why she had held him from her and why she had been reluctant to take bint into her confidence: she had been afraid to put him into danger. The thought was like wine to the young farmer, and so joyful were his spirits as lie swung into Eaton Square that he failed entirely to observe the peculiar individual who had dogged bis footsteps from the door of the politician's house. The strange man was small and slight and bad the curious quality of slinkiness often found in the yellow races. He threaded bis way among the pedestrians with sinuous ease that was in striking contrast to David's barging progress. Dressed after the prevailing fashion in a thin lounge suit and dark cloth cap, he had the appearance of an Oriental student, one of the great horde of yellow men sent to Britain yearly to absorb western ideas and ideals. Hut a close observer of his longj rather weak face would have seen there nothing of the learned calm of the student, but, instead, a craftily cruel expression and a lust for worldly pleasures. Carefully and doggedly this man kept David in sight, until the young farmer, intent upon bis thoughts, had walked perhaps for half an hour in an aimless round of the di trict in the vicinity of Oxford Street. At last, when his quarry had returned to the Calton and had remained within for some ten minutes, the Oriental slipped quietly into the vestibule of the hotel; and in the smoke-room, David, eager in his love to accommodate the most worthless person. was confronted by the stranger. The yellow man was quick in coming to the subject of his visit. "Mr. MacNeill," he said, "Sir William Dundonald wishes you to make a visit on his behalf this afternoon. You are to go to Storn House in Mavfair to receive there certain instructions. In the meantime you arc to make no effort to get in touch with Sir William. You are being carefully watched by the enemy."

"Mat—hut," stammered David, " where nro your credentials, my friend ?" "1 was to say," returned the other smootiil.v and with an expression blank and secret, "that Miss Rona Ralston will probably he at Storn House. 1 have no other credentials. In this affair, you must understand, we do not carry our names and business upon our sleeves." Thinking over the matter on a subsequent occasion, the young farmer realised how beautifully vague the speeches of his visitor had been; and it struck him that no one but a fool like himself would have been deceived by them. But at tho moment he was so intrigued by tho Oriental's reference to Rona and so convinced of the man's good faith by his glib talk of Sir William Dundonald that liis suspicions, though they had leaped into life, were quickly put at rest." "Very well," he agreed. "I shall do as Sir William commands. Can 1 offer you a drink, ofj,l man." "No, thank you. 1 am a teetotaller. Good morning." Like a wraith the yellow man disappeared from tho room. (To be continued daily)