“THE DAY; OR, The Passing of a Throne.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 68

“THE DAY; OR, The Passing of a Throne.”

By FRED M. WHITE

THE MOinSIeIBT. [Pdblishkd bi Special ARnANQKMKNT.]

(Copyright.)

CHAPTER XXXI.—THE MYSTERY SHIP.

VEN Lady Loxton, hard and greedy as she was, felt a passing pang of regret as she saw the fire engine plunging down the street. It was all a matter of business with her, she held no brief for the German nation, and if she could have commanded a higher price from England, she would liave turned her back upon her old employers without the slightest hesitation. But she was a woman after all, and had a heart somewhere. Any great outburst of fire might mean the loss of many thousands of innocent lives, and there was no getting rid of the feeling that she was responsible.

But, of course, something like this had been foreseen and provided for. It was comforting, therefore, late in the evening to hear from the lips of Stuart Hallett that no precautions had been neglected. Ladv Loxton dropped into the adjoining flat to a friend to condole with her upon this terrible misfortune, and it so happened that Stuart Hallett was snatching a hasty supper there. He wondei’ed what the fair visitor would have said had she known his precis© opinion of her. For Stuart Hallett had been making some searching inquiries which had led him a great deal further than he had expected; He had just come back from Inchcliffe Castle, where he had had an adventure or two which had not found their way into the papers. He had discovered an interesting document or two when the premises of the man called Blair Allison were raided, and he would know how to use these when the time came. Meanwhile he shook hands with Lady Loxton and appeared genially glad to see her. “You are always so sanguine and cheerful,” he said. “Upon my word you are as good as a tonic. ’

“I don’t always feel so,” Lady Loxton said. “Of course, I try to appear happy, but this last dreadful business really has tried my nerves. I don't mind confessing to you that I am horribly afraid of tire. Fancy being caught at the top of a great big block of buildings like mine. Tou may call me a coward if you like, bat 1 sball really have to get away for a few days. Now, what are the authorities doing to cope with the situation?” Hallett explained that they had not been idle. A big corps of engineers had been called into concentration and already they had ascertained where they could put their hands upon every private water supply within the Metropolitan area. It was quite gratifying to find how large the supply was. For instance, there were hundreds of great establishments dotted about all over London that possessed their own wells. It was hoped in a day or two to connect all these up with miles of hose-pipes and establish hundreds of sentinels in the streets, where the public could collect enough water for cooking and the like, but, of course, there could be no waste, and for the time being London would have to do without baths or anything in the way of laundry work. For other purposes there was the Thames to fall back upon, and London would soon get used to the sight of its leading citizens fetching their water as in the poorer districts folk fetched their, supper beer. “You see it’s an object-lesson,” Hallett smiled. “These little misfortunes bind rich and poor in one common bond and make for the welfare of the Empire. You remember at he beginning of the war how our Tommies and their womenkind sneered at what they called the toffs and wanted to know if England expected them to do all the work on a shilling a day; but later on, when Algy was lying alongside Tommy sharing the same blanket and the same food, ah! that was quite another thing. You have only got to read the letters from our rank and file at the front. But I am getting away from the point.”

Hallett proceeded to explain that already a vast organisation to deal with the fire peril .had been formed. Volunteers had been asked for in every street to undertake sentry duty for four hours, so that constant watch could bo kept in every London thoroughfare against a possible outbreak. This meant that both by day and night even the meanest buildings would not escape attention. And already the local authorities had had more offers than they needed. The Salvage Corps had been strengthened, and, if necessary, would not hesitate to use dynamite. “It all sounds very comforting,” Lady Loxton sighed. “I shall sleep more comfortably after what you have said, Mr Hallett. By the way, has anything been heard of Mr Rosslyn? Such a sad thing, wasn’t it? Such a promising young man. He was telling me something last time I saw him about a new invention of his— I think it had something to do with an aeroplane. But lam so stupid about those hind of things. I never could understand mechanics.”

Hallett listened gravely enough. But all the same he was amused at the efforts this woman was making to draw him out. No one was better aware of the fact than he that Rosslyn was the last man in the world to discuss business secrets with anyone, much less a woman. In those apparently simple questions Lady Loxton had given away her case entirely, and Hallett was not slow to see it. The strange disappearance of Rosslyn still worried him, and it was rather startling to find that Lady Loxton knew so much with regard to the aeroplane. Perhaps she could tell him a good defal more; at any rate he decided to risk it. “Yes,” he said. “I don’t mind confessing to you that bur friend Rosslyn had invented something entirely new in the way of a flying machine, f can’t go into details, of course. I don’t mind saying that I have reason to believe that my friend Rosslyn is still alive, and that he is putting his machine to a useful test.”

“You have heard from him?” Lady Loxton asked eagerly. “Indeed I have not,” Hallett raid. “But I infer it from a most interesting letter published in an evening paper tonight, from a special correspondent somewhere in Germany. It was so interesting that I cut it out; indeed, I have it in my pocket now. Perhaps you would like -to read it for yourself.” Indeed. Lady Loxton would. Anything to do with that dear clever boy was of the deepest interest to her. Hallett took the slip of paper from his pocket, and handed it across the table. He watched Lady Loxton keenly as she read as follows : BIG BLOW FOR GERMANY. SEVEN MILLION BARRELS OF PETROL DESTROYED. “I am just in possession of some remarkable information, which I can personally vouch for. I am somewhere in Germany, not n long way from Wilhelmshaven, and in close contact with the Indian troops. We are in the nature of an advanced guard, and the thrilling and daring things T have seen lately would fill a book. I am not in a position to say what strength wo are in and precisely what we are doing, bub within a league of where I am writing is a strong force of the finest cavalry the world has even seen. We have also on this flying expedition a body of infantry, and we are under the command of an officer who was at one time the greatest cover point of his day. “A night or two ago I was lying under cover with some friends of mine who belonged to the signalling corps. There had been a certain amount of desultory fighting, but it died out somewhere about 3 o’clock in the morning, and we were about to snug down under the blankets when one of us declared that he could see a light in the sky. Wo all turned out to look, and sure enough in the east a blaze twinkled far overhead like a great star on a frosty night. But the star was not stationary; it wheeled round in big circles, then it began to zigzag to and fro ann up and down, as if signalling. My

friend in command was slightly puzzled. It was obvious to him that here was no airship, for the craft, whatever it was, moved too swiftly and easily for that. On the other hand, there was not the slightest sound, though the scream of an aeroplane propeller at that distance should easily have been heard in the stillness. “Just for a moment we had no idea as to whether this noiseless craft was signalling to us or to the foe, who lay in front of us on the open ground a mile or two away. But at any rate, if the signal was intended for us, it was not a difficult matter to decide. We immediately turned on a small electric flare lamp from behind the shadow of a hedge, and challenged the stranger. Almost directly the strange craft overhead responded, and the message began to come slowly. We could see by the look in the eyes of the signaller that he was getting something of importance, and when he shut off he turned to us almost breathlesslv excited.

“He did not know who had been calling him, and he did not care. All he did know was that the man up there in the darkness was British, and that he had a message both startling and unexpected. Not more than two miles ahead of us, and none too strongly guarded,' was practically the whole of the enemy’s supply of petrol. They were being hard pressed on their left flank, and they had, almost denuded their right to meet the attack. “Here is a chance! Millions of gallons of petrol which was ours for the asking. If we could not capture it, at any rate we could destroy it. We looked up again, but by this time the mysterious craft had disappeared. Ten minutes later and our were dashing forward in force. It seemed hours before they reached their destination, but in reality it was only a matter of minutes.

“And then it came. 1 would describe it if I could. It was as if the whole world had burst into flame, as if the gates of light had been opened and the universe was flooded with it. But more of this in the next letter.”

CHAPTER XXXII.—ON THE TRACK. Lady Loxton sighed as she laid down the cutting. <» ‘‘That was a great exploit,” she said. ‘‘What a blow for Germany! But do you really think that the mysterious man in the strange airship was Paul Rosslyn?” “Well, I can’t be sure, of course,” Hallett said. “I would not mind making a small bet that lam right. If lam wrong, then there are two men who have invented entirely noiseless aeroplanes at the same time, and two Englishmen at that. _ Now, in my particular position such a thing so far as this country is concorned would be impossible to pass unnoticed. Besides, I like to try and feel that Rosslyn is alive.” Lady Loxton murmured something to the effect that she hoped that Hallett was right. In her heart of hearts she knew that he was. It was not, of course, for her to say so, and she did not know whether to be pleased or annoyed now that the proof was before her. She bad got over her disappointment with regard to the aeroplane, and she could afford to forget her chagrin now. She was about to ask further questions, but Hallett glanced at his watch, and declared that he had not a moment to spare.

As a matter of fact, he was going no distance. He merely dropped down to the floor below in the lift, and knocked at the door of Leroux’s flat. It was Vera herself who appeared and bade her visitor to enter. Hallett was struck at once by the change in the girl’s appearance. She had lost all her listlessness, her colour had come back into her cheeks, and her eyes were sparkling. “You have had good news from somewhere?” Hallett asked.

Vera laughed as she pushed a chair in front of the fire and bade Hallett bo seated. She was sorry he had supped, but she placed a whisky and soda and cigarettes on the table, and bade him help himself. Her father was still away, and she did not expect him back for some days. She was not in the least frightened or alarmed by recent startling events in London-; in fact, it seemed to Hallett as if Vera were another girl. “I am sure you have had qrood news,” he persisted. “When a girl looks as bright and happy as you do, then I am sure that the heart has something to do with it. Now confess.”

“You are a wonderful man,” Vera said demurely. “After all there is no reason why I should not tell you, though you were abominably rude to me the last time you were here.”

“I thought you bad forgiven that long ago,” Hallett laughed. “My dear young lady, I am almost as deeply interested in Paul Rosslyn as you are. That is why I am here to-night. I have got on the track of our friend ” “Do you really mean that?” Vera gasped. “Oh, I don’t wish to pry into your secrets. I got on the track through one of to-day’s papers. Directly I read it I knew that Rosslyn was alive. I knew that he and his aeroplane were doing good work. And yon have heard from him. Even if you denied it that happy light in your eyes would betray you.” “Well, I have heard from him,” Yera confessed. “I had a telegram this afternoon from Paris. He knows everything now, and has quite forgiven me ” She broke off abruptly, conscious of Hallett’s keen eyes upon her face. The blood flamed into her cheeks. “Well, go on,” Hallett said coolly. “You are as exasperating as a newspaper serial story. Why do you break off just in the most interesting part?” “Because I very nearly said something foolish,” Vera confessed. “I was on the verge of betraying a tremendous seci-et. I know you don't altogether trust me, and for a short time I think you were a bit suspicious of Paul. But you must know that he couldn’t do anything wrong, and you must know that he could never care for a girl who tried to tempt him from the path of duty. Anyway, I am nob going to discuss it any further. Paul

is quite safe, and so is that wonderful machine of his. Now I have finished.” Hallett had no further questions to ask. Ha was quite easy in Ids mind now, though he knew that he had still a lot to learn. And he had to approach another subject. ‘■(.hi that point I am dumb,” he said, ‘d assure you that you enjoy all my confidence. 1 am going to ask you to help me. Is not Lady Loxton a friend of yours?” ‘‘Oh, yes,” Vera said. ‘‘We are very friendly. Since my father has been awav I have seen a great deal of her. She is always so bright and lively, you know. Some people say she is empty-headed and frivolous; but she can be quite sexdous if she likes.” “So I should have imagined,” Hallett said. ‘‘Do you ever discuss serious matters—politics and all that?” Very rarely. But why do you ask these questions? Is there any reason why you should suspect Lady Loxton?” Hallett pondered over his cigarette for a moment. Yes, there is,” he said. “I have reason to believe that Lady Loxton-'.is a clever spy in the pay of Germany. There is no doubt that she is married to an English nobleman • but all the same I can find no trace of that Irish father of hers; indeed, I decline to believe that she is Irish at all. Now, I want you to try and remember. Has she ever tried to draw you out on the subject of Rosslyn?” It was on the tip of Vera’s tongue to say no. Then she suddenly remembered that day when she lunched with Lady Loxton, and how suddenly the latter had brought in Paul’s name, and spoken of him as one dead, and she remembered, too, how near she had come to betraying Paul as to a knowledge of his whereabouts. The little incident of the broken wineglass came back to her mind now with vivid force. No doubt that had been done to change the conversation rapidly, and cause Vera to forget how perilously near her tongue had been to betraying her. Hallett listened to this significant little incident attentively. There was no doubt in his mind. “Unquestionably she was trying to pump you,” he said. “I am afraid she got what she wanted; not that it matters much now. That woman is mixed up with a dangerous gang, a fact that I shall have no difficulty in proving-in a court of law;. But it would be bad policy to arrest her and that picturesque fiddler friend of hers just now. Oh, yes, they are both in it. ~ I am going to give them all the rope they need, and at the same time keep a careful eye upon them. Now, I want to know if you wouldn’t mind helping me. You would be doing the country of your adoption a great service if you will. lam not asking you to undertake anything dangerous or to place yourself in an unpleasant position. But you have the run of Lady Loxton’s flat, and if you keep your eyes open you are sure to find out something before long. Now, what do you say?” Vera was only too eager to be of service. She,.wanted to strike a blow for England, and at the same time retrieve the error which she had made. Her pride was touched now, she was angry at her own stupidity, and eager to do everything to get even with the plausible spy who had posed as her friend. “Anything I can do I will do gladly,” she said. “I feel quite proud to think that you have confided in me. Besides, I have a little score of my own to wipe off.” Hallett smiled grimly. He had counted on that when he had broached the subject to Vera.

“That’s good,” he said. “After all, it might have been a great deal worse. That clever little woman might have betrayed you into all sorts of indiscretions. And now I really must go. With all deference, I have stayed here too long already.” “But not wasted your time,” Vera said sweetly. “Good-night.” The girl had not long to wait for her opportunity. In the middle of the morning two days later Lady Loxton burst with her accustomed vivacity into the flat. She was lively and detached, beautifully dressed as always, and evidently arrayed for travel. She looked her very best clad to the throat in luxurious furs. Down below in the street Vera could hear the purr of a motor. “Are you going for a run?” she asked. “Perhaps I am going to run so far that I shall never get back,” Lady Loxton laughed. “This London is a wonderful place to live in, and if I had any young grandchildren I would stay here as a sort of insurance against becoming a bore in my old age. I should always have so much to tell them that they would never regard me as a nuisance. But, my dear, the pL.ce is getting on my nerves. I am the most zealous of patriots, but at the same time I am getting so tired of being told there is no water in the house. And my servants are getting rebellious. They have letters from friends pointing out to them what a paradise Brighton is just now. So to keep my treasured maids with me I have decided to retire to the south coast. I have secured _my rooms at the Metropole, and I am going at once. Why not come along?” “I wish I could,” Vera sighed. “But my father may be back at any moment. Are you going to close your flat altogether? If there is anything that I can do for you ” “Oh, yes,” Lady Loxton said. “I’m in trouble about the post—they are so lax about re-directing letters. Now if you w'Ouldn’t mind collecting my correspondence and sending it on I shall be so grateful. Behold, here is the key.” Vera’s eyes gleamed ns she took the Yale key In her hand. Here was a glorious opportunity to act. (To be continued.)