The Shadow of a Dream

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 6

The Shadow of a Dream

Byy

Charles Procter .

Mithor oi ' A Splendid Butterfly.* “The Woman Pay».‘ -The KocKwer Combine " 'An Innocent Adventuress ** 6c. 6c

CHAPTER XXVI. —THE RESCUE The colour had faded out of Monica’s winsome face as she listened; and for a few moments she stood quite rigid, staring at Lady Valentine’s pale face, which was still twisted into a mirthless, mocking smile. “You fiend”! she said at last, in a low voice, vibrating with suppressed passion. “You have fooled me, lied to me, trapped me, and now' you are trying to make out that I am mad. You think you can keep me here until Geoffrey comes back, and that I shall be glad to marry him to gain my freedom; you think you will break my spirit, or drive me mad, but I will show you that you have made a mistake.” The colour flamed into her cheeks, her hands clenched, and she took a quick step toward Lady Valentine, who recoiled at once and screamed. “Aitken!—Aitken!”’ she shrieked. “Come quickly!” Mrs. Aitken had been w'aiting and listening just outside the door, and before Monica could turn the woman rushed into the room and threw her arms around her. ' “She has one of her bad fits, Aitken,” explained Lady Valentine, as Monica struggled violently to free herself. “Take her up to her room and lock her in. I’ll help you.” She pounced on Monica, who suddenly laughed hysterically, and ceased to struggle, realising that resistance would be futile. Together Lady Valentine and Aitken carried the girl up to her bedroom and locked her in. “My dear sir, it isn’t any use vour coming here day after day and badgering me with questions. I tell you we can do nothing.” The speaker was a portly, dignified inspector at Scotland Yard, and he frowned at Jervis as he spoke, for the young- American was becoming tire bane of his life. He regarded Jervis in fact, as a crank of the worst order in spite of the fact that he had discovered the American was the son of a millionaire, and the accredited English representative of a great American house, which was supplying the British Government with a variety of needful things for the Army. Indeed, had he not made that discovery, the inspector would not have wasted any time in talking to one he considered to be a crank and a bore. "We can do nothing,” he repeated decisively. "Don’t mention it,” responded Jervis ironically, "I’ve made that discovery

myself. I didn’t think it was possible . for any police force to do so little as you’ve done, and I reckon that being a criminal in England must be the • safest job on earth. What do you keep this office for, anyhow?” . On the day of Monica’s disappearance he had presented himself at Scotland Yard, explained that his sweetheart had been kidnapped by her aunt, Lady Valentine, and that he wanted both Lady Valentine and her son, SecondLieutenant Valentine, arrested and lodged in gaol forthwith. Much to his indignation he had at first been laughed at, and he did not succeed in stirring the police into taking any action whatever until he grew angry, gave them the rough side of his tongue, and threatened to make a big stir about the matter. Then they condescended to inquire into the affair, discovered that Monica was of age; that she had apparently gone away of her own free-will with her aunt, and that according to Jervis’s own admission she had hinted that she intended to marry her cousin. Therefore they had naturally declined to take any action in the matter, and were disposed to regard Jervis as a jilted lover who wanted to make a fuss. As for Jervis’s demand that a warrant should immediately be issued for the arrest of Geoffrey and Lady Valentine on a charge of stealing, or attempting to steal, Miss Monica Moncrief’s portion—well, again they smiled. In the first place they could not. take action without a complaint from the person who had been robbed, they explained. And in the second place Jervis had no evidence to produce in support of his charge, except a cablegram which he said was from a lawyer in South America, and which asserted that Geoffrey Valentine had been handed securities belonging to Miss Moncrief. Then, again, they had ascertained that Second-Lieutenant Valentine had left for the front, and therefore could not be interrogated. In vain Jervis had tried to force or persuade the authorities to take some action; plainly it was not a case for the police, and it was useless to persist in his efforts to drive them into taking action, yet he persisted in calling every day in the vain hope that he would compel them to do something. •A-t first he had imagined that it would be an easy matter to discover the whereabouts of Lady Valentine and Monica. And before even visiting the police headquarters he found Lady vaientine s London address and called there. He found the flat in charge of

an elderly woman, who asserted, «*s ■ aftbr accepting a sovereign tip, ft* B her ladyship was out of town, and ■&* | did not know her address. Ai fj would say was that her ladysfaio **■' ■&. “travelling.” After this first rebuff from the peir 4 j| Jervis engaged a private detective, - | whom he paid live guineas as an into a*, fee, and who visited him every dlf *Hr tell him fresh facts about Lady jr tine —everything, indeed, except ftLady Valentine was at the mo®«- gr The private detective seemed to WF |- a genius for discovering everyts® j| except what he had been aksed to p-: cover, and a genius also for ini*** if 2 new methods of claiming money *■ “expenses.” Over a fortnight had Jervis had last seen his s - ***?”*.. f He had had many sleepless mgfats,** j| was inclined to be ironic at too ' jkpense of all British institution* g| particularly the English police. f. “You call yourself the Cnmin^J-.; vestigation Department,” he commw& bitterly, “and you pride yoursejV" ; & being smart; yet in two fit can’t find the address of a worn** title who has run off with an he-j- | “Pardon me, Mr. O'Neill,” I inspector, haughtily, “this is n« | inquiry bureau. Lady \ alenuiw. |k far as I can ascertain—end as 1 you repeatedly—has committoo| offence against the law, and yon } use the resources of the C.LD. to your private spite, or to get the of a young lady who has jnw As a matteh of fact, you are my time and your own in coming day after day and worrying I°®* z you again, sir, we can do notnns the matter.” u “And I tell you that this old crook that you seem to have great respect for, because she • . r may have murdered Miss t stolen her fortune —and still y nothing!” snapped J er yjf* I’ll have to cable for a pin^ myc to come across and teach y® business. Apparently, you re cerned with preventing crime. Monica had not been niurd she was in grave danger driven mad. For over two had been treated as a lunatic, felt as if her reason were -fine®* She had been left in close con for some days, until she r «a£her raging and indignation of energy. g, She had argued with botfi *****! ken and the doctor, only to \g- i protests and her arguments i tened to as the ravings 0 * ® nro Aac4 J I would be listened to, ana P f effect. The doctor was | difficult and exasperating. | Monica almost frantic. gj listen gravely and in SIICB hea £ If®' had to say, then shake h ] pathetically and common• _ pi“Dinna bother your hea.a a*g ■ You’re bothering about fjfT ■ account, my dear young about it and get well. wd** 1 As for Mrs. Aitken, j ' time and again to convmi . ! that she was sane; sne . t • pleaded and explained, V purpose. In fact, *t th I • that Jervis was making w- , [ marks regarding the cnm 1 . gation Department r ing a final attempt to ™ . 1 to Mrs. Aitken. . ;