The Little Grey Woman.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 25, 25 October 1929, Page 3

The Little Grey Woman.

CHAPTER XI. (Continued.) “Well?” The barrister turned, curiously, as the artist paused, “I’m guessing that Gilbert Quart-i ly is a .real person and that he has some connection with the Little Grey Woman. That’s mot difficult in this , country, where there are plenty of persons with the loosest of identic No, this matter wasn’t pre-; parec( in a night—or a day and aj 'night, either. There’s a real Gilbert Quartly behind the scenes, but what his relations with the Little Grey Woman are I can't even guess at. Got any 1 other idea?” , “Nod” Denys hesitated. Bill, who is the Little Grey Woman? What is she interested in this for? She told Doris last night not to .worry oter my arrest; promising that I should lunch with her to-day. Then, this morning she picks me out *of the hands of the police—like picking aia applO from a tree in an orchard. Why, she must have had i quite a crowd of helpers, to get me I out of ■ prison and into that trotor car, George Street. And, she was doing that she wa»

•working tfith you, preparing this disguise for me. Who is she, and ■what is she doing all this for?” “Ask me mother.” Loames grinned broadly. “All I know is that I’m douhlecrpssing Boh Knox, one of the whitest and squarest men in. Sydney. Yet« I’m not sorry—he ■was rather a beast last night. I’ve > often, wanted to see him at work-j character study, y’know. I’ve seen him, and I’m not fascinated. Too much of the. human bloodhound about him. Total disregard for other people’s feelings. On the trail—the scent, if you like to name It that—and nothing else matters. % Ugh!” V ft

A knock came at tie' door. The artist crossed the room and opened the door. Doris came swiftly to, tothe room, closing the door behind her. As- she caught sight o£ Denys she exclaimed. J j "Oh, I thought ” i f “Miss L'yaUi” Loames bowed mock seriously. ; "May I present your cousin ' from Melbourne, Mr[ Gilbert Quartly. ; I hope you will not forget" the name. That might be awkward. Remember, you have not seen him for quite a time. Yes, you may kiss him, if you want to— I believe it is quite correct for cousins to kiss—and the stuff won't . ' come off.” ; ! 'The girl, with a little exclamation, rah to her lover. Over het head looked at his chum. I the ,pQitqt, Bill. How long la this stuff guaranteed to last. I , don’t want to find myself pieballed ' one. morning- ; Then, there’s another thing. I may be old-fashioned, but I do like a wash occasionally.” ‘‘That’s all right, old man.” The artist laughed. “I’ll look after all that When we get to your hotel I'll give you some lessons on the make-up. You’ll pick it up easily, | and I shan’t be far from you at any time.” f “Denys.” ' The girl was leaning hack on her, lover’s arm, keenly studying the make-up. “Jsoljel Kllgour is downstairs. She call- ■ ed shortly after you and Bill came ; Up here. How are you going to get out the house without see--Ing you? I don’t think she will carry tales—last night she was awfully nice about you—but ”

“Go downstairs, Doris, aqd keep her talking.” The artist took command of tie situation. “Denys and I are coming to see you, as ordinary visitors. Remember, there’s nothing ’ unnatural in your cousin; from Melbourne, coming to call oo; you. Dan/t forget hia name —Gilbert Quartly,” “But, Bill,” .the girl turned swiftly. “The risk.” “tess ; risk than bolting immediately after lunch. By the way; old dear, what about those maids of yours. One of them saw Denvs at lunch. . Can you trust her to hold her tongue?” “Martb!' Yes, Marie won’t say anything, If I tell her not to. Beshe admires Denys.’’ The girl laughed. “She was awfully indignant over hl9 arrest this mroning.” “No necessity to tell her anything The artist was thinking, quicfw* “You'll have to get rid of that suitcase with Denys’ things in It —the one with your initials on. The others we’ll get out of the house later. Now, go down to the hall see It is vacant. Denys will go with you. Keep the maid out of the way, and trust me.” He w?nt quickly and silently from the roorh. Doris and Denys slowly descended to . .the -hall. As they reached the foot of the stairs the door bell rang. Doris went forward .and opened the door. The

artjlst entered. j ! cousin Doris.” He spoke Ip an assumed tolco. “Haven’t f * '

■ : 'i By Aidan de Brune.

up from Melbourne.” j He beckoned Dcqys to come to j where he stood; then stepped softily to the foot of the stairs. He * turned and strolled to the hall door. “Hullo, Gilbert, old man!” Loames spoke in his natural tones. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Denys, can you get something like the tones I spoke in. just now? Try. Doris, the maid! ” The girl turned quickly. “All right, Marie.” She spoke to the girl who had just come through the baise door. “I let Mr Fahney out. Gilbert,” she turned to her supposed coirsiq. “Are you stayj ing with me? If so I will tell I Marie to have a room prepared.” | j “Staying at the Majestic, (Old dear.” Denys imitated the tone Loames had used. “Don’t want to disturb you. Doris. Why, Bill! Haven’t seen you for quite a time. You promised to take a run down to Melbourne, but you never came.” i “Too busy, old man.” Loames turnied to the girl. “I’ll just run up and finish mcqding that lock for you, I came down to meet Gilbert. Recognised,- him' from the; window as he walked up the drive; though he’s altered quite a bit since I last saw him.” “New Guinea suns!” Denys laughed, playing his part remarkably well. “We’ll have a yarn together, if you’re not engaged to-night, Bill?”

I I The artist sped the stairs to Doris' room. There he spent some time carefully re-f storing the room to order. He finished pack,il),g the suitcases. Two of them he .carried secretly to the* I hall. The other he locked and r jthrust under the bed. The keys of the case he slipped into hisj pocket. Just as well Doris should, not be able, to open it, if it was! discovered and anyone was curi-j ous. She could say she had lost the key. But he hoped that with-; in a short time she would be able, to secret it. He strolled carelessly down thej stairs, pausing in the hall for moment. The mad rush of the past few hours had told on his nerves. For some time he strode feverish-, i y HP and down the wide space, turned to the door of the lounge, i As his hand found the handle of the door a ring came at the bell. A maid passed him on her way to the door. He waited, list-, enaig to the voice of a woman ask-< tig for Doris. A moment and she came within his vision. He smileda:i,d stepped forward to meet her, “Margaret!” He held the wo-f man’s hand, looking down into her eyes. “Didn’t think to see you* to-, day. Come to pay Doris a call | I’ve been mending a lock in her, room. Come in, I’ll escort you to i the young heiress’ presence.” He linked his arm in the i woman’s, talking quickly as they strolled to. the door of the loungej, He flung open the door with aj theatrical air. j “Doris! Here is Margaret Vennel I found her on th e doorstep. Gil-} i belt! Mrs Veune, I don’t think youl have met Gilbert Quartly, Doris’j cousin, from Melbourne, May I pr e -i sent him? An old chum of mine.” Agaio, he looked down into the, woman’s eyes. A queer look of ■mtimate understanding passed be-, tween them. i

CHAPTER XII. j 3SB} 9 Jim Burle was well satisfied 'when, he ran down the steps from Cen-, tral Police Court to Liverpool ■Street, He had seen Uenys Fahney leave the Court under arrest, remanded for seven days. Unless something he had not foreseen happened when next the Barrister ap-, peared in Court he would be committed for trial. Yet, in the drug master’s mind , was a growing uneasiness. Carl Gerlach was acting in a strange manner. Burle had gone that morning to the hospital to escort the ganster to the police court. Gerlach had been silent and morose i Only during the few minutes he had been in the witness box had he shown any animation. When he concluded his evidence he had refrained from returning to his for>mer seat beside Burle. During the t remainder of the proceedings he had glowered angrily across the court. A twinge of conscience caused. Burle to shrug his shoulders, angmy. What did the man know? The selleme had worked without a hitch. Gerlach had played his part cor" | rectly. it was only during the final ' seco »ds before the shot was fired hat he, Burle. had departed from the set plan. / (To be continued to-morrow.)