THE DAZZLE PLOT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3508, 7 June 1921, Page 66

THE DAZZLE PLOT.

[All Rights Reserved.]

By

C. N. and A. M. Williamson

(Alitor of “The Car of Destiny/’ etc., etc.). “The Dazzle Club ! That- name’s going to stick/’ said I with the evening paper in my hand. “I wonder if it'il do us harm, or good ?” “Remains to be seen,” said Tremayne. “Anyhow, it’s our own fault. We might have known what effect our decorations would have on the journalist chaps.” We were partners. The rather jolly little house in St. Peter’s place was mine, also the idea of turning it into a smart Night Club with Futurist decorations. The capital was Jim Tremayne’s. We'd served together in the army, at first as lieutenants, then as captains. We didn’t care to take anyone else in with us in the scheme; and as Jim thought his brains and heart too soft to fit a club secretary, I had accepted the post. This was the opening night of what we’d intended to call the Lytton-Tremayne Club, and the unanimous christening given by the journalists had somewhat upset our minds. “The Dazzle Club!” Would it attract or repel the set to whom we wanted to appeal ? Little did we dream in our wonderings, pro and con, what that name was to mean for us! Yet even at that moment the Future was knocking at the door; or rather, she was pressing the electric bell. “A lady wishes to see the secretary, Sir Patrick,” announced a butler who had been my father’s before me. (He didn’t go well with the “dazzle.” but not the wildest night bird of a club could get a be (Deputation with a Panton at the door!) “She wouldn’t give her name.” We were to open at ten, and it was now nine-twenty. A lady who wouldn’t give her name had no business to come alone and ask for the secretary at such an hour. Still—“ls she young, Panton?” 7 inquired. “Yes, sir.” “Pretty ?” “She’s beautiful, sir. The most beautiful young woman I ever laid eyes on.” “Show her in,” I said. Jim and I were in the room off the entrance hall, which was to be used for secretarial business. Naturally, having heard such a startling account of my visitor from the conventional Panton, Jim staved. She was shown in. and—well, the old boy hadn’t exaggerated. Speaking of dazzle! Not that she was Futurist in effect. Her style was no later than the Helen ot Troy period • and she wore no diamonds or other jewels. It was her beauty that dazzled. She was in evening dress, and her head was uncovered. She had red gold hair, flowing back in gleaming ripples from a broad, low forehead. Her immense eyes were either dark hazel or brown. Her complexion was white as lilies, and she was so young that it must have been natural. Her lips were rosered. and she had the kind of dimples that don’t wait for a smile, but come and go with a breath. She wore a frock of flamecoloured tulle or something, and a. cloak of gold tissue. “which of you is Sir Patrick Lytion?” the Vision inquired in a delicious voice—Irish, perhaps; which my own is—though not so delicious. I answered to the name—on my feet, of course, with Jim by my side. “I am Miss Tynan,” the girl introduced herself. “Miss live Tynan.” (I knew sho was live, before she mentioned it I) “And I want to become a member of this club.” I don t think I gasped. But I did stammer. The Dream was a lady, and looked like a fairy princess. Still, rules are rules, and conventions conventions. I was spluttering out a question or two: Might I ask who proposed her, etc., etc., when she quietly broke in. “I know a man s supposed to propose women members,” she said. “But I’ve no friends in London. I’m a new-comer. I can t give yon credentials. I don’t want to tell you things about myself. All I can say is this : I vo no dreadful past. I m quite, quite a respectable person! IV on’t one of you propose me?” Heavens, what a girl ! She took our breath away, though not so much that each of us didn’t try to rush out a “Yes 1” before the other could speak. I defy any man with blood in his veins to have done differently. Jim got in his “Yes” first. “I propose Miss Tynan as a member of the Lytton-Tremayne Club,” he exclaimed. “No, the Dazzle,” she amended, almost putting our hearts out of action with her sudden dimples. “It’s the ‘Dazzle’ that draws me. I think it will bring me luck. And speaking of dazzles, is Miss Gina Dalziel a member of your club 9 For a second I was nonplussed. Then I realised why the South African heiress

should connect herself in Aliss Tynan’s mind with the word “dazzle.” Of course, the girl’s father had left to her the celebrated “Dazzle” Diamond, as it was called, one of the finest stones ever found in a South African mine. I replied that so far, though we had already a considerable membership, no one had proposed Aliss Dalziel, and we’d heard nothing of a desire on her part to join. “I should love to see her, and the Dazzle Diamond,” said Miss Tynan. “Someone told me she always wears it. A girl like that would I Do either of you know anyone who knows Aliss Dalziel?” The adorable look of appeal she turned first upon one then the other of us was enough to drive a man to lies. But, fortunately, I was slightly, vaguely acquainted, with a man who’d once mentioned Aliss Dalziel as if she were his friend. “I’ll make Willie Townshend bring her round her one night,” I promised. “Oh, do ! And let me know when, so I can surely be here. Aliss Dalziel is certain to wear her ‘dazzle,” to dance at the Dazzle Club. It would be tempting the god of luck not to!” Jim and I began to think that the name the journalists had fastened on us was likely to prove a stroke of fortune. Hadn’t it- already drawn to us a dazzling Dream, beautiful enough to make any Night Club by her presence alone? So that is the way the Great Affair began. Our first night was an immense success, largely due, wc felt, to Eve Tynan. “Who is she?” everyone asked. And it- went round that Aliss Tynan was a distant relative of Captain Tremayne’s, a girl who’d lived mostly “in France or somewhere !”

Her dancing was as wonderful as her looks, her voice, her clothes, and everything else about her. Even women admired the girl—those who hadn’t flirting husbands or susceptible sons. A delightful aunt of mine, with plenty of money and “go,” who didn't mind calling herself an old maid, took an immense fancy to Aliss lynan—found out that she was -staying at the Savoy; refrained from asking further questions, and proceeded to “make friends.” If there’d been any particular reason why a dazzling girl should wish to attract a, middle aged spinster, I might almost have thought Eve Tynan angled for my aunt Constance Brett. But—why should she angle? Hie great interest of that first evening centred upon Eve. Without her, I suppose that our opening would have been much like the opening of am? other new dancing and supper club ; but'the wonderful Aliss Tynan made all the difference to us that Cinderella must have made to the Prince’s' ball. We knew that men would come back in the hope of seeing her again if for nothing else! And so it proved. If Miss Tynan didn't turn up at the club,_ there was disappointment ; something missing, as if ozone were left out of the atmosphere, the bubble out of the champagne. Jim and I thoroughly realised that she was our mascotte. But there was nothing mercenary in our feelings for her. AYe were both head over ears in love. I knew it of Jim. He knew it of me. Of course she was a- mystery. That, however, only heightened the charm. For all we could' tell, she might be a witch, who’d laid aside her broomstick because she liked staying at the Savoy and dancing at a smart London Club, better than careering through the night skv on a broomstick. lor a- month the course of our infatuation “ran smooth.” Aliss Tynan came nearly every night to the Club, and sometimes we saw her by day, generally with my aunt, Aliss Brett, or some other woman of position whom she’d fascinated. She was charming t-o the met she met, but showed no sign of liking one better than another—unless it were Jim or me. But suddenly she vanished. She did not come to the Club. It appeared that she had left- the Savoy with her maid chaperon. She had not mentioned whether she would return, nor had she given an address. That was the longest week of my life—of -Tim s too, I think—that week of her absence. Then, on the eighth evening, just at the hour when she had first walked in upon ns, the telephone bell rang in my voice. I picked up the receiver and heard Eve Tynan’s voice. “Where are you?” I asked. Jim was, near, and by my tone, my expression, he guessed who spoke. 'Tm not ready tG tell you where I am,” she answered. “Besides, judging by the way you and Captain Jim Tremayne have treated me, I can’t think you caie. AA hat have you -done? You often told me I was your ‘mascotte,’ and you both owed a lot to me, yet the one little favour I asked and you promised to grant, you forgot all about. . . , Why’ to get Alise Dalziel to the Club, wearing the Dazzle. AA hat you tried, but didn't bring it off? Well, you ought to have tried till you did bring it off. And I’m not coming back to the -Club till you do. Oh, not that I. care, except as a tost. I hat s it. It is a test, of your friend-ship—gratitude-—what you like' How are you to let me know, 'did you say?. Oh I’ll ring you up again to-morrow at this time. _ If you haven’t succeeded then, I’ll ring once more. After that, it will be too late. I shall simply be gone out of your lives.” If our brains hadn’t been veiled down by our hearts, we might have said to ourselves that Eve Tynan was acting in this dramatic way to prove her power over us, to make us feel we would do anythino* to have her back. But—it really wasn't swell a difficult feat after all to get hold of Aliss Dalziel for one of our evenings. I in not fond of touting, but I did tout ior that South African heiress; an when true to her promise—Eve rang up at 9.30 next evening, I was able °to say “Townshend has been out of town, but he’s bringing Aliss Dalziel to-morrow night after the theatre. He says she does always wear the'‘Dazzle diamond.’

“Very well,” Eve replied. “I’ll be with you at eleven, and bring a guest. So that was that. And Jim and I were able to tell everyone who asked about her, tnat Aliss Tynan had ’phoned she was coming back to-morrow night. That would insure us a big crowd. AVe didn’t mention that she was bringing a guest. seemed a fact of small importance. AVe could trust her, we thought, to introduce only suitable people. She had already brought in several guests—charming women whom she had got to know at Aunt Constance’s house. AATat was our surprise, therefore, when Eve sailed in with a man—a man whose looks gave our hearts a jolt—Jim’s and mine. Aoot that the said looks were repulsive. On the contrary ! Which was the cause of the jolt. The fellow was almost as handsome a human being in his way a 3 Eve was iiq hers. In fact, they were a gorgeous pair, an el 1 Jim. and. X felt» as if we had large, cold, boiled beets under our 1e ft hr east pock e ts. Miss Tynan introduced this big, blackhaired, blue-eyed creature as Air John Wensleydale. AVhat did the name remind i 1 vi ° k ' vvon^. ere d. AVhat, I mean, be sides Yorkshire scenery and cream cheeses? Vaguely, in the back of my brain, hovered some sensational memory. Alen who generally turned up late at the Club were early that night, in order to secure dances with Eve; but Jim and I being in a way, her hosts, were on the inside track. AVe thought we might have our choice of dances. AA T e were disappointed there, however. She had promised several to Wensleydale. He wouldn’t let himself be introduced to other girls until Miss Dalziel appeared, inen, by the flash in his eyes, one would have said that instantly he forgot Eve for her. ° This pleased us (for we’d begun to worry) yet at the same time roused our indignation. That a man should look in that r-aj at a, Gina Dalziel when an Eve Tynan was in the room, showed that lie was'“on the make! Neither Jim Tremavne nor had met Aliss Dalziel, or did we particu-lail-y pm-e for the honour of knowing her p t Ive S ot ourselves introduced, to please N ve ' ohe > it seemed, didn’t want to meet the owner of the Dazzle Diamond. She mere.y wished to gaze from afar, and satisfy her curiosity. But she did want nn . introduction for Wensleydale ! After all, Eve can’t be in love with the I t i tokl r- ySdf ’ “ or psle wouldn’t iieacL” 7 t UOW hlm at that -Honey Bag's

Money jjag m question was a- plump, ,dtk f rl wdh fine eyes, who might have been handesome if her nose hadn’t been too long and her neck too short. She was like a full-blown poppy in her dress V SCai ; l , et t F lie> « ln d she would positively vvut b l aZe l CVen without the diamond. With it, she scintillated! Alost women would have worn a thing like that as a pendant, displayed against Lnf \ feeaSt '- • But Miss Dalziel was bent on being original. She had the “dazzle slung on her forehead which it practicaLy covered, for the forehead was low and a silver star five shilling piece. It was bke plastering between the year, a star tions and blinded jeaJons glances. Aly first dance with Eve came just at the that Wensleydale was 'hav ing his nrst wito Miss Dalziel, and I hurried to do what I was afraid someone else— Jim among others—would do before me d I jet my chance slide. I told Eve that d been in love with her since the first night she came to the Club, and that mv n.uery during her absence had been beme 1 ! ’ X‘begged. *' D ° y ° U ’ JI mari 7 wL. r “ “ “ rrj ! 1 ■>» ‘ my ym c ”'-

No no. You mustn’t ask me'” pers?stil Some < O T e e]B ® ? ” 1 help peismtin Jim iremayne, perhaps.” oho shook her head, as we danced ■l know lie’s proposed, because he’s had a dance with you.” If he did I—l’ve forgotten.” As you ]1 forget me.” I cant forget either of vou,” said Eve m nor soltest voice. “You’ve both been •-piend.d to mo. L -I’d be proud to marry ‘‘Hid you say this to Jim?” “Much the same.” “AVhv don’t you toss up for us, then?” Eve laubhed, but quite faintly She seemed to be in a grave and rather wistful mood. I couldn’t- possibly marry one of vou. Soon—very soon—you’ll understand why you two, though almost the nicest men in the world, are the last two I could dare to think of >J her YOU ' re V6ry n D’ sterious! ” I reproached I always was. You acepted me on — iace value. ’ “Oh Eve,” I groaned. “I know I’ve no right to ask, but are you engaged to this Wensleydale? “No—o,” she said with an odd note of hesitation. “But you will be?” an y thln£ f caa happen in this world ! she exclaimed, beginning to show impatience—which I deserved. ‘ “If I d 0 get, engaged to Jack Wensleydale, I’ll write and tell you.” by not by word of mouth ? Wouldn’t you have courage?” “I'll write,” she repeated. And at that instant our dance—everyone’s dance—was violently interrupted by something—somewhere—that sounded like an explosion. “Fire 1” yelled a man’s voice. And then, like a shot, the lights in the dancing room went out. There was a smell of smoke. The music had stopped. One or two women screamed. There was a crash of breaking glass. Aly first thought was for Eve—to see that she didn’t fall, or get caught in a stamede. But she wrenched herself from my arms almost with violence. “I’m not afraid—don’t worry about me. Go and get a door open, so we shall have lights!” she gave me orders in a firm voice.

“AH right. Stay where you are—clos* against the wall,” I said, and went groping for the nearest door. Other forms were groping too, and we collided with disastrous consequences. In a moment, however (it couldn’t have been more) my Ulmers found a door knob. I turned it, and opened the door, only to come upon blackness beyond. Evidently the electricity had failed all over the house • but it was good to see no flames, and the smoke was no thicker than before. I called the names of two or three men servants —shouted again and again—- “ Bring candles !” And there had been no more than time for a few stumblers to follow me into the dark supper room where they brought tables smashing down, when a couple of footmen appeared like ghosts, with candles in tall silver sticks. They had ‘phoned the nearest fire station, and before we’d found the cause of the smoke and failure of light, an engine had come tearing up. Then it was promptly discovered that there was no fire! And t-he electricity hadn’t failed. It had simply been, switched off in tlio dancing room and adjoining supper room. It needed only to be turned on again. “You’ve been spoofed, sir,” said the fireman who seemed to boss the show. “Someone's played a practical joke on you. Detonating powder in a paper bag! Hr—have any ladies lost their jewels ? And is anybody missing who ought to be here?” “Aly diamond!” shrieked Aliss Dalziel. Its gone—it's gone! It’s stolen!” Also there was somebody missing; three somebodies; Eve Tynan,' John AA'ensleydale, and a singularly intelligent footman who had been engaged about a week before. Still, there wasn’t much it that—it would seem. A good many people were eager to go as soon as they could. But on consultation it was decided that t-ho police must be sent for, and everyone volunteered to be searched for the Dazzle Diamond. Needless to say, it wasn’t found. It never has been found. Nor were Eve Tynan, John Wensleydale, and trie intelligent footman ever seen acrain by us, or by anyone else in London; though 1 must admit they were looked for by the police and an expensive private detective engaged bv Aliss Dalziel. Eight weeks after that night—the climax of the “Dazzle plot”—a letter came from Eye. She had addressed it to us both—. Tim and me —and began : “Aly two dear Friends.” “Now you know,” she went on, “why you were the two last men I could think of marrying. I deceived you. But you will forgive me when T explain—if you haven’t already. Jack and I didn’t ‘steal’ that diamond. It was rightfully ours. Alv father and a«Jek’s put all their money and much killing hard work into a diamond mine in South Africa. They had no great success, but they’d reason to suspect that the Kaffirs were selling stones to a man named Jake Dalziel. They could prove nothing, even when ne went back to England and swaggered about with the so-called “Dazzle Diamond,” which father and John Wensleydaye senior were sure came from their mine.

_ “Then one of the Kaffirs was nearly killed in a native row, and before he died confessed selling an immense stone to Dalziel. He could not sign his statement, however, and Dalziel simply defied Wensleydale, who followed him to England and claimed the diamond as his property and his partner's. “Jack was a boy of seventeen at school in Johannesburg, and I was only ten. You two were boys of Jack’s age"; but perhaps you remember the Wens ley dale-Dalziel shooting affair. Jack's father tried to shoot Dalziel, and Dalziel shot him dead instead—self-defence ! “Alv father was a delicate man. He'd gone to South Africa for his health, after my mother died, and had taken me with him. The tragedy of his friend and the. loss of the great diamond that would have meant fortune, broke his heart. Child as I was, i understod everything, and I vowed that some day I’d get the diamond back. I was quite alone in the world when father went, and there was very little money. But an actress who was m Johannesburg just then, put me on the stage as a child actress. Jack left school, and went to work in various wavs. AVe met sometimes—drawn together by our common fate—and we wove a hundred plans how to get the diamond. AA 7 e saved up our money and made a joint fund. Jack tok lessons from an expert retired thief. But years passed before we were old enough, or rich enough, to go to England and set about our mission in a practical way. Aleanwhile, Dalziel had died and left the diamond to his daughter. “No sooner were we in England than the war broke out. Of course, Jack enlisted ! I went over to France and nursed in a French hospital, where they take you without training. You know what happened next! “AYe had only one brought in at the last ; a- pal who’d been in Jack’s regiment. He made a nice footman. I promised I’d be engaged to Jack from the moment he got the diamond; but he hadn’t got it when you asked me; so I didn’t tell a fib. “Thank you both for all you did for me, consciously and unconsciously. Do you regret it?' I don’t believe you do! I shall think of you often in our South American home, where there’s no extradition for (alleged!) theft, and we shall be rich on the proceeds from three diamonds which once were one. “Yours gratefully, Eve AA T ensley dale.” Do we regret what we did for her? No! AVe still remain dazzled. Wc always shall.