DEAD MEN'S SHOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23178, 26 October 1938, Page 7

DEAD MEN'S SHOES

By JOHN GOODWIN

BYNOPBIS Brian Chalmers, Just arrived after a business visit to Capetown, is talkinar with his rousin, Bannister Coote, wealthy diamond merchant and owner of a (treat property, at the tatter's home, King's Elm House. Iho Coote fortune aiid King's Elm were willed to Hannister. If he died without issue, the next heir was Brian. Brian, at Bannisters request. live« at King's Elm and receives ±.J a week. Bannister is apparently delighted at a suggestion that Brian ( wishes to (fet married. Brian, however, states that thei gi . Sonia Neil, whom ho met on the \ojage, is going to marry another man and was on the way to England to 410 so. He, Brian, had n means and no prospects and had '° ' any matrimonial intentions Bannister who has just received a letter from Afrit ft proposes to Hend Brian off thcreaKainnnd offers allnring financial terms After Brian s departure to pack Bannister * benevolence changes to one of, f l £ letter is from Soma eil wh °;,li U^ian d nnnr has agreed to marry him. Hrian no parti in his car with a letter of and £'-200 in his pocket, and on the way bumps into a man he recognises as having been on the voyage from r S T, Barber, a somewhat suspicions £haracter. . tinnthamrton Brian called at Sonia s hotel. <She had left, and the clerk obligingly gave him her address. It was care of nn ."J s,,, r Coote. The Tantallon Castle sailed withont Brian: he was then 40 miles on his to King's Elm, black rage in his heart. Meanwhile Sam Barber had gained stealthy entrance to Coote's grounds, but was by two bull-mastiffs. CHAPTER Vlll.—(Continued) Sam Barber hoisted himself snfel? into the fork of a tree, grinning. What good's Bannister think this is goin to do him?" ht- chuckled, loosing his oilHe gasped and blinked. A blinding rav of light shot from behind a big tree-trunk in front, directed upward full in Sam's eyes, the ray of an electric torch. A large dim form loomed up at the back of it, A voice said com"Hup!" and then, with a note of surprise, "What's this? Good Lord, SAM!" At the first, gkam of the torch Barber's hand twitched instinctively back to his hip, but he was hindered by the cumbering oilskin ho was wearing. And now he was covered by a revolver, gripped in a big white fist within the rav of the light. "Up!" snarled the voice, and as Sam hesitated there was a crack and a flash, and a bullet zipped warninglv through the flap of the seaman's sou'wester. "The next one through your heart, Up with them both!" said the voice. Barber slowly raised his hands aloft, blinking into the glare of the light. "Funny," he said coolly, "that don't sound like Bannister. Sounds more like an old pal. Know me, do you?" The big, blurred form behind the gun was Selby—trim and correct in butler's evening dress. "Quiet, you!" he said to the baying hound, whose voice dropped to a throaty growl. "Know you? I'd know you from here j to hell. Sam Slade, illicit diamondbuyer, crook, and renter. Two years on Simonstown Breakwater, five at Parkhurst —blackmail. One of the old gang —the old push, eh? Must be mighty hard driven to come poachin' on this bent, Slade." "Barber. Sam Barber, if you don't mind. I don't just place you, but that pretty little voice ought to be Searle's. Eh ?" "Mr. Selby to you," »aid the man with the gun quietly. Snm's eyes roved over the butler and his costume, and lie chuckled aloud. "Swell outfit! Ain't many jobs you can't fill. What are you, Jim—Bannister Coove's head flunkey?" "I'm looking after Mr. Coote," said Selby acidly. "Now what?" "Tell him his old friend Sam is here, and wants a little private talk with him in a little private room. Nice and cosy, He'll fall for it. Get to him. quick'" Selbv did not move. "Now hear me," he said coollv, "and cut out this crosstalk turn. I'm taking no message to Mr. Coote. He's away. If he was in he wouldn't see you. We're havin' no truck with you here —you're turned down. Try any monkey tricks with me." he added with sudc)en venom, "and I'll turn you down feet first an' thank you for the chance. Keep you hands up! D'you see these pups?" "I see 'em," said Sam. "You hold both bowers, but the joker is with me." Barber kept his hands in sight. But he leaned forward menacingly from his perch, his eyes undaunted. "Listen, you big stiff," lie snarled, "an' quit this kidding! Take those dogs of yours away. Go up to Bannister Coote, give him word from me. He figures on gettin' married —does he know what that's coin' to. cost him? But that ain't all I've got on him—not by a mile! Not by 50 miles! If you think you can get away with this stuff you've a bigger jolt comin' to you than Coote." CHAPTER IX. A XARROW BHAYE Selby retired a little way, almost out of sight in the gloom, and, calling the dogs to him. mado them sit. They obeyed instantly. "Watch him!" he said. "Now, Slade, von can quit, while the quitting'* good, and I'll hold 'em in. Or you can stay there till morning. If you come down meantime vou may get one of 'cm with luck—the other will pull the strings out of your throat You won't ever see Mr. Coote, either way. So long!'" He moved off. Sam, glancing at the dim forms of the dogs, called after him. "Here!" "Well?" said Selby, halting. "Is that right—he's away?" "I've told you. Till to-morrow evening." "Very well. He's going to hear from me, and if he doesn't come right 011 the jump I'll put him where he belongs — you, too. I don't want to sppiid the iiight here; I've a job on hand. Check those hounds in, and don't try any games, or I'll stiffen all three of you. I'm pullin' out of this." "That's all we want," said Selby. "Beat it." He crooked his hands into tho collars of the two dogs and held them fast. Barber, after a moment's hesitation, dropped lightly out of the tree. There was an evil glint in his eye as he turned and walked rapidly toward the. wall, fading out of sight in the gloom. A misgiving seized him, and lie began to run. Selby waited a minute, his lips twisted in a cunning grin,. t ' ie two mastiffs growling and straining to bo free. "Get him!" 110 said quietly, and loosed them. Tho two brutes streaked away like a pair of shadows. Sam Barber heard them and ran faster. Considering that lie was hampered bv a fluttering oilskin, his speed was marvellous. A slower man would have been dog's meat. He enrscd himself for the slip he had made in giving Selbv such a chance. He reached tho silver beech in the nick of time, and, leaping for the branch, swung hiniselt sprawling 011 to the crest of the wall. A pair of jaws snapped 011 the skirt of his oilskin, and tore a piece out, nearly pulling him back. He clung tight, deliberately pulling out a small black pistol, which spat, flame. One of the dog fell back with a cfioking howl, and at the same moment Sam slithered over the wall, dropping with a thud into safety. "There's one of your pups for you!" he snarled. "And as sure as little apples, if Coote doesn't come across

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Author of "Sealed Orders," "Paid In Full," '.'The Shadow Man, etc. A story of a crime that was beyond solution until a loving girl followed her intuition.

there'll be another dog dead to-mor-row night." Sam the Sailor limped away into the gloom. CHAPTER X. "leave it to rs!" Selby camo to the foot of the wall, to find* the mull-mastiff dog lying {lead. The bitch stood over him, lier eyes red and her fangs bared, every hair on her hugo neck standing erect. Selby looked for a moment thoughtfully, and shrugged his shoulders. Then ho turned away and walked up to the house. Ho found Bannister Coote in his library in the south wing, oblivious, serene, and undisturbed. Selby closed the door quietly. There was no trace of the butler's manner left now as he approached his master; the mask of the servants' hall had faded la way from his face completely. "Come in!" said Mr. Coote. "I've something to say to you." "Have you," said Selby, "anything to say to Sam Slade?" Bannister looked up "Slade!" His face went a curious grey tint, then flushed. "What do you mean, man! Are you crazy? What's doing?" Selby told him of his encounter in the park, detailing everything that had happened. Not a word did Coote say till he had heard him out. Bannister was an abstemious man, as a rule, but he filled a glass with whisky and slowly gulped it down. Then he turned to his man, and he looked tho more dangerous of the two. "You did right, Jim," he said. "You didn't ask him what he wanted —told him nothing—got rid of him. He's got to be kept out of here. No truck with him! T thought tho brute was dead and done with I" Selby drew nearer, and dropped hi.l voice. "See here, boss! 1 don't know just what that stiff has on you now —but I can guess. Ho has only one game—blackmail. If you let him start bleeding you, there'll be no end to it. "Turn him across to me, sir—let me handle him. I know what to do with that sort of caitle. If he comes —" "Don't talk like a fool!" said Bannister. He stared straight before him, thinking rapidly. Moment by moment his face cleared. "No," he said. "You'll keep out ot it. There won't be any difficulty with Sam. If he gives trouble he'll have to be kept quiet, of course. I'll deal with him myself." "Now, Selby, I've some order for you. Get along to your wife. Tell her to have the best guest-room, the pink room, got ready for a lady, who is arriving to-morrow night. Miss Neil. The pink room, mind. Don't leave it to tho women. Look after the .iTangements yourself—understand? See to it that everything is exactly as it should be Got that?" Selby stared at his master; his eyes narrowed to two small slits. "is that all the orders?" "All, at present. Get to it." Selby left the room without a word. Ho seemed to like his instructions vprylittle; as soon as ho was outside hj« swore under his breath. But ho knew better than to disobey Bannister. He found his wife in the morningroom. Mrs. Selby, housekeeper of King's Elm, was a large, stout woman, with a pathetic flat, white face. Like her husband, she fitted her role perfectly. Her dress was of rustling black silk; at the voluminous waist was a belt from which hung a bunch of keys, that swung and jangled as she moved. A silent woman, with watchful eyes. At the moment she was less silent than usual, talking earnestly to her daughter Deborah, a girl with jet-black hair and a trim figure, in smart, par-lour-maid's uniform. A dark, piquant little face. full-lipped. and oliveskinned, with an insolent prettiness. Selby closed tho door quietly and beckoned to his wife, who, with one glance at his face, sensed something wrong, and came across to him. "What was that row in the park just now," she said. "No row. Nothing that matters to you," said Selby briefly. "Listen—guv'nor's orders. You're to get the best room ready for a lady arriviu' to-morrow night—Miss Neil. C'omin' here to stay. (Jot it?" .Airs. Selby looked at him in consternation.

"Coming here!" she said under her breath. "Lacljf—best room—coming to stay? But what is—" "Somebody else lookin' for trouble," said Selby grimly, "and hoping to find it." "Jim, what's ho thinking about?" "Do 1 know what's in Bannister's mindr"' said Selby. "Yes, I'll bet 1 do. after what I've heard to-night, Sarah. He's thinkin' about gettin' married." Mrs. Selby stared at him. The girl, who had been listening intently, came up to him. "What's this?" she said, a catch in her breath. "What about me? What am I going to do?" Selby looked at his< daughter. "You?" he said. "You'll keep your head shut, Deb, my girl. Leave it to your mother—and mo "

CHAPTER XI. 80X1A AT KING'S F.T.M A shimmer oF summer lightning lit up the Derbyshire hills as Sonia Neil looked out of the window of a thirdclass carriage. The air was amazingly close and oppressive. Sonia felt as listless as she ever allowed herself to feel. There was something ominous in the gathering storm; she did not guess what the lightning was to reveal to her before the night was out. Ahead of her was the unknown. She was approaching the great adventure; the greatest in life. Wealth, position, everything that could lie wished for. Security. Marriage. Only ono thing was lacking—that might come, too. Did it all seem as attractive and marvellous as it had a week ago? Did she wish that the wheels of the train would reverse and run her back to Southampton and the sea? She laughed, gave herself a little shake, and rose. "Whatever's ahead of me, I'm going through with it," she said. Sonia stepped across and glanced at herself in the little strip of mirror below the baggage-rack, straightening her hat and the neat waves of dark bronzed hair over her ears with a deft touch. She was alone in the corridor compartment, and it was a marvellous face that looked back at her from the glass. A perfect oval—nothing classic about it, but modern and vivid. An adorable nose that tilted back ever so lightly from a firm, passionate mouth, and a delicately rounded chin. Dark hazel eyes, with little gold flecks like those in rare Venetian glass; eyes that looked at whatever was before them with humour and an unshakable courage. It was not surprising that Bannister Coote had fallen in love with her. Ho was ono of many; it happened that all of them had been poor. She was poor herself; she knew men as only a girl thrown on her own resources can know them, and no man had ever stirred her deeply—until just a short week ago.

That was finished—to bo thrust bohind and forgotten. The train slowed with a grinding of brakes. "King's Elm I" (To be continued dally.)