A BIT OF THE SWAG.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 76

A BIT OF THE SWAG.

By

J. SACKVILLE MARTIN.

(Copyright.—Fob the Otago Witness.) The sun shone hotly on the Plage, on the strip of sand, the giant umbrellas, each sheltering its two chairs, and the. blue-and-white villas behind them on the landward side of the dusty road. It sparkled in a million points of light on the blue waters of the Mediterranean. A few bathers were in the water, but for the most part they lay prone or supine on the sands, grilling to fine reds and browns beneath the scorching rays. Across the bay, about a mile away, the litle town clustered about its big church, and the masts of shipping rose from the harbour walls. A long sweep of hills encircled all, save to the south, where they gave way to the horizon line of the sea.

Mr Eddlestone lay over on his right side upon the sand and allowed some grains of it to run through his fingers. He was enjoying himself immensely. His short, and rather* stout, figure was already baked to a brick-red. His face, with its rather twinkling blue eyes’ rather snub nose, and cherub-like mouth, was shaded by a linen hat. His bathing costume, of an unobtrusive dark blue, was as. good in its material as any on. the beach. His enjoyment was not without cause. A. man of 30j a clerk in a bank, without much prospect of rising, he had suddenly inherited sufficient money, through the death of an uncle, to render him independent for life. He had promptly resigned his post, and had made his way to the Riviera, a place of which he had always dreamed. And behold ! his dreams were realised. It was very good ! '

As he lay on his side, his eyq travelled to the people nearest to bin; —two young women. He judged then; to be sisters. The elder was about 25 years of age, the younger 21. They were dark-haired, and of dark conv plexion, but something told him that they were English. They had not quite that solidity of figure, nor the extreme mahogany polish of the skin, that marked the daughters of the South, They were both well made, the elder in particular being tall above the common height of women, and with the superb proportions of a Greek goddess. But it was the younger, rather slighter in build, and, to his thinking, more graceful, who attracted Mr Eddlestone. Her closely-fitting red costume outlined her figure. Her features were regular, her expression singularly charming. Mr Eddlestone strongly desired to speak to her; but ruefully admitted to himself that to one of his lack of enterprise and experience it was impossible. He supposed that one of these Frenchmen wouldn’t have taken two minutes over it. All the afternoon he watched the girls, until at length they showed signs of . departure. They rose, gathered their possessions, and sought their bathing tents. Mr Eddlestone did likewise and dressed in haste. He was clothed first, and took a seat on the Plage awaiting their appearance. In due time, they appeared, dressed in simple-looking but obviously expensive cream-coloured frocks, with silk stockings of the same tint. Mr Eddlestone began to reflect how leisure afforded a man time to consider these things. He could not remember having paid much attention to stockings across the counter of his bank. He watched them go off in the direction of the town, and followed them. They went through it and out upon the promenade upon’the other side. Unconsciously, they led him , past the hotel at which he was stayin'*. Here there was no bathing beach. Tim sea ran to the edge of the promenade, over rocks covered with bright green weed. At length, at a point where the promenade stopped and the road led in-

land, they entered the gate of a little villa, set in a garden gay with roses, and hydrangeas, and shaded with palms. The main entrace was from the road. But Mi* Eddlestone was able to observe that from it a wall stretched to the sea; and from this corner, a door led to a flight of steps passing down to a cove in the rocks in which a boat was inoored. The two girls had disappeared. But Mr Eddlestone was so interested in his observations of the villa that he failed to notice that he was being observed from the main gate in his turn jjy a powerfully built man with a red face, bull neck, and prominent eyes. “ Well ? ” said this individual, causing Mr Eddlestone to start. “ Quite sure you’ll know the place again ? ” “ I think so,” stammered Mr Eddlestone, taken aback. “ It’s a lovely place, isn’t it ? ” J “ Confound your impudence,” said the man angrily. “ You’ve been following two ladies here. They have complained to me. I’ll thank you to clear pff, and not to inflict yourself on them again.” “I—I —really!—” began Mr Eddlestone. “That’ll do,” said the owner of the house. “ I know your sort. You peedn’t explain. Clear off! ” In the face of this truculence, Mr Eddlestone cleared off, feeling bitterly hurt. Behind him, the angry voice still discoursed. “You’re not the only one! ” he heard. “ There’s a gang of you. But if I get my hands on you ” Mr Eddlestone passed out of hearing. So angry was he that he failed to potice a man who stood at a corner not far off, until he - cannoned into him. He stammered an apology. The stranger nodded sourly. “ Don’t apologise,” he said, “ I saw the whole thing.” Mr Eddlestone looked embarrassed. “ I saw and I heard,” went on thepjan. “That fellow’s a brute! And what’s more, he’s a blackguard! I know all about him.” Mr Eddlestone, only too ready to agree, looked at the speaker. He saw a sallow man, will deeply-set eyes, and straight dark hair. He stooped a little with rounded shoulders. His hands were long and nervous. He had an untidy black moustache, which he tugged at a good deal when he was speaking. He wore' a brown linen suit and a hat pf the same material. “ He’s a very surly man,” said Mr Eddlestone. “ He—-he seemed to think I was following two ladies. And a 8 a matter of fact, I was,” he continued, his eyes twinkling. “ But for no harm, I assure you. I merely thought they were awfully . pretty girls. I’ve never peen prettier girls. And I suppose I thought I might, get to know them. But = —T meant no harm.” The stranger paused a moment. “I might manage it for you,” he said. ‘‘ It might be done.” He paused again. 1 ‘ They’re my sisters,” he said. “ Your sisters! ” cried Mr Eddlestone hopefully. “ Oh, but then, you could introduce ” “ I’m not sure,” said the stranger bitterly, “and I’m not sure that I ought to, even if I could. You seeni to me to be a respectable man.” “Well, of course,” began Mr Eddleptone. “ But why— ?” “ Because,” said the stranger slowly, and with his eyes fixed upon Mr Eddlestone, “ they’re not respectable women. At least, one of them ain’t—the elder! IShe’s broken her mother’s heart. And the younger takes her part and goes along with her.” “ Dear me,” said Mr Eddlestone, greatly disturbed. “ And is that very unpleasant man your sister’s husband—your elder sister’s husband ? ” “ No, he isn’t,” replied the stranger, still slowly. “ But he ought to be. She’s Jiving with him. I’ve followed them down here from England, and I’ve been waiting for a chance to see her, to talk to her. I’ve been here a week, and I haven’t got it yet.” “ But why not ? ” asked Mr Eddlestone. “ Because that man would break my neck,” replied the stranger bitterly. “ You’ve seen the sort of man he is. He is strong, violent. I’m not. I’ll just have to w*ait my opportunity.” “ You might have done it this afternoon,” said Mr Eddlestone; “ They were bathing at the Plage.” “ That’s no use,” said the stranger. “ Too many folk about. I want to see her alone. I want to appeal to her, to tell her about our poor old mother. Look here, you say.you’d like to meet them? Is it the elder or the younger you want to meet? Be frank.”

“ The ydunger,” said Mr Eddlestone, blushing. “ Well, that’s all right,” said the stranger, with an air of relief. “ She’s a good girl. It seems to me we can help each other. You help me to get a word with the elder one, and I’ll do what I can with you for —for Edith.”

Mr Eddlestone made a mental note o: that name.

“ But how can I help you,” he said, “ I’d like to do what I can.”

' “ That man goes down to the English club on some nights,” said the stranger. “ Sometimes he comes back early, and sometimes he doesn’t get in until after midnight. He doesn’t walk. . He comes and goes across the bay by the little boat that is moored at the bottom of the garden. It saves time. , I want you to help me. We must watch some evening until we see him go. Then I’ll slip into the house and find my sister. And you’ll watch inside the little gdte near the rocks, and let me know if there’s any chance of his coming back.”

Mr Eddlestone paused. “It seems funny ” he began.

“ The whole business would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic,” said the stranger bitterly, “ when I think of those two girls, and of their poor old mother ” “I’ll help you,” said Mr Eddlestone suddenly, his best feelings stirred. “ A scoundrel like that wants showing up.” The stranger nodded towards a cafe not far off. “ Come along with me, then, and we’ll arrange it,” he said. “ I shouldnt wonder if to-night wouldn’t suit. It’s Tuesday, and he generally goes to the club on Tuesday. We’ll be on the watch at any rate.”

It was quite dark when Mr Eddlestone and the stranger, who had given his name as Briggs, set out on their enterprise. An hour earlier they had seen the red-faced' man enter the boat and pull across in the direction of the town. Mr Eddlestone had urged immediate action, but Mr Briggs preferred to wait for darkness. There was no moon. The stars winked at Mr Eddlestone. And away to seaward the lighthouse sent out alternate flashes of crimson and gold—winking in two colours ! He wished it wouldn’t! The little waves, too, were chuckling among the rocks. He felt furtive. But the cause was undeniably good, and it was too late to retreat.

They found the small door by the rocks and entered. Mr Briggs spoke in whispers.

“ All you have to do is to wait here,” he said, “ I shan’t want more than a quarter of an hour. Then I’ll be back here. If you hear anyone coming, come up to the house and whistle softly three times. I’ll join you. And if my sister will come with me, I’ll bring her; both of them, if I can; the younger one at any rate. Now mind! Stay where you are and keep a good look out.” He glided away up the garden, leaving Mr Eddlestone a prey to very mixed feelings. For a full 10 minutes he had leisure to savour his very equivocal position. The leaves of a eucalyptus tree near him rustled in a ghostly fashion. A bat startled him. The church clock boomed 11. Then things began to happen. Footsteps! A woman’s footsteps came softly down the garden path. A dark and slender shadow crept into view. He judged by her height and slimness that it was the younger of the two girls. She, too, became aware of his shadow, and came forward quickly. “ Oh, Arthur, is that you ? ” she cried. “Do come quickly! There’s a burglaj in the house! ” He caught her by the shoulders to steady her. “ Don’t be alarmed,” he said softly. “It isn’t Arthur, but there’s nothing to be frightened of.” She started and suppressed a scream. “ Who are you ? ” she cried.

“ A friend,” he said urgently. “ It’s all right. I am a friend.” “ I tell you there’s a burglar in there,” she said, pointing towards the house. “ And Arthur—that’s my sister’s husband—has a lot of money in the safe. But what are you doing here?” she went on, with a sudden change of tone. “Why,, you must be one of the gang! ” And Mr Eddlestone saw her open her mouth to scream in earnest.

He clapped his hand ’ over it. “ For heaven’s sake don’t make a noise! ” he said. “ I tell you it’s all right. The man in the house isn’t a burglar at all. Your sister will be pleased to see him, end so will you when you know who he

‘Well, but who is he?” she splu' tered, freeing her mouth from his hand.

" You’ll never guess,” he answered !t Your brother! ”

“My ! ” she began. Suddenly her ears caught the sound of oars, and the grating of the little boat against the rocks at the foot of the garden. - She heard a man spring out. “Arthur! ” she cried. “ Help! Help! Thieves! ” The man bounded up the steps and into the garden. Mr Eddlestone found himself seized by a pair of powerful hands. “That you, said the voice of the newcomer, “is this the rascal ? well, I’ve got him. Go before me and light up. I’ll bring him along and we’ll have a look at him. And you’d better come quietly, my lad,” he added, shaking Mr Eddlestone furiously. “It will be the better for you.” “He was watching,” gasped the girl. “ There’s another man in the house.”

Arthur growled; the growling of a strong man, rejoicing in his strength. “Is there ?” he said. “ Well, I daresay I can manage the pair of them. Come along, Minnie. We’ll look into this.”

He jerked Mr Eddlestone in the direction of the house. That worthy would have protested, but he had little time. And, moreover, a word of Arthur’s had given him cause for perplexity. He had heard the girl referred to as “ Minnie,” and surely her- name was Edith ! ”

Another jerk scattered his thoughts on the winds of indignation. “ Here ! ” he said, “What are you doing ? You’ll be sorry for this, I can tell you.” “ Not half as sorry as you’ll be,”-re-plied his captor. " You low thief I ”

“ I’m not a thief,” said Mr Eddlestone indignantly, “ and if I was you’re a nice man to take a high tone. There’ll be a surprise for you at the house, I tell you.” “ Come on, and we’ll get it,” replied Arthur. . The girl had gone on ahead, and the lights were up in the hall.’ -Mr Eddlestone found himself at the door;

found himself pitched inside. He cast a hasty glance around him. At the head of the stairs stood the elder sister, clad in a crimson dressing-gown. The younger one stood by the door, her fingers on the light switch. There was no sign of Mr Briggs. But on the inner side of the hall a substantial-look-ing safe was open, and papers were lying about the floor. “ Well, we’ve got one of them,” said Arthur, turning uporf the dismayed Mr Eddlestone. “And, by gad! it’s the fellow who was following you this afternoon. I’m afraid he was more practical and less romantic than you thought him. Now, you scoundrel, let’s know the name of your confederate, and maybe you’ll get off With a light sentence.”

“ Scoundrel yourself,” retorted Mr Eddlestone valiantly. “ I’ve told you already I’m not a thief. And I didn’t come here with one either. Whoever did this, it wasn’t the man I came with. He was your brother,” he went on,- addressing the elder of the two women, who had now descended the stairs. “ He told me he wanted to see you, to appeal to you to give up your course of life, in the name of your poor old mother. It was that that made me help him.” “ My course of life ! ” she gasped. “ Yes, with that man ! ” said Mr Eddlestone, pointing at Arthur. “He said you weren’t married to him, and that you ought to be. And he has followed you from England to appeal to you. And I helped him because of that, and because I think your sister’s the prettiest and sweetest girl in the World. And I couldn’t help following you this afternoon. I wanted to know her. And your brother promised to help me. And whoever has done this burglary I don’t think your brother had anything to do with it.” “ I’m quite certain he hadn’t,” she replied. In spite of herself a smile twitched . the corners of her mouth. “ Because I haven’t got a brother.” “No brother,” stammered Mr Eddlestone.

“No brother,” she echoed. “My husband will tell you.” -

“Your husband?” he echoed in his turn.

“ Yes,” she answered, her smile broadening in the face of his ludicrous dismay. “ You seem to think I have a brother and no husband. I tell you that I have a husband and no brother. And my version is the correct one.” “Mr Eddlestone looked about him wildly. “ I’ve been the damnedest kind of fool,” he said. “ But I give you my word, I’m not a knave. You can search me. I've no need to be. I—l ” he gaped.

His astonished horror was too genuine to be misinterpreted. First the elder girl broke out laughing, then the younger. A moment later the man joined them.

“ I think -we’ll have to acquit you,” said Arthur, when he had regained his self-control. “ This chap’s been too smart for you. But you can tell us about him anyhow*. There’s a good bit of money gone. Come on to the gendarmerie and describe him.” “You bet!” said Mr Eddlestone viciously. “ I’ll go further than that for him, if necessary. Bound the world, if I have to!”

But there was no need for such extreme measures. They had barely readied the gate when they found themselves confronted by Mr Briggs, escorted by two gendarmes. They had followed and questioned him. And as the result of their inquiries they had brought him back to the scene of his misdeeds. The money was found upon him. After which his captors hauled him away again. Mr Eddlestone, relieved at the turn things had taken, but desperately selfconscious of the part h e had played, prepared to depart in his turn. But Arthur would not hear of it.

“ Not before you’ve had a drink,” he said. “I want to hear your yarn again. I want to know more about my wife’s course of life, and her poor old mother, and all that, you know*. I don’t know what your mother will say about it when she hears, my dear.” “ She’s not going to hear about it,” replied his wife promptly; “ She’s too old to appreciate jokes”of that kind. But I don’t mind Hearing it again myself. So if you’ll wait a minute, I’ll bring the whisky.” Mr Eddlestone was forced to tell his tale again, and more amply. He did it with such ruefulness that once again he earned a somewhat undeserved reputation as a humorist. .When at length he was dismissed he was invited to call again. He did so more than once. Eventually he called and took the younger sister with him. She occasionally tells her friends that, when she met her husband first he was a burglar, but that he has reformed.

“ I admit I am reformed,” he agrees. “ But I’m not repentant. After all, my pal had to give up his share of the swag. But I got away with the only bit worth having.”