THE JADE TOKEN

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1930, Page 4

THE JADE TOKEN

(By

RALPH TREVOR)

. SYNOPSIS. ~'T< \£LEmi: '■ J. ' murder is committed in the ’W. <Bsgfery of Dr. WaP"ce Langley, he Ibehig decoyed from the place at the ? ni - time. The police find the murdered '»man, named Conrad Ricks, has come 7 from South America, and had recently asked Jules Conn, an antique dealer, to value a piece of jade set with a valuable ruby and inscribed with ■' hierglyphics. This jade token is now missing. Scotland Yard have been persc. plexed by a scries of daring jewel robberies. Curtis Burke, a brilliant young detective, who is given control of the case, robberies • ’ with the murder of Conrad Ricks. In'Sspector Ames, an elderly detective, assists Burke. Ames is hostile to Di. ’ Langley, and feeling that he is under * suspicion, Langley consults Sir "Garvice Watkin, a great criminal lawyer. Langley is engaged to Sonia Cranston, a niece of Sir Garvice. Sir Garvice tells the young doctor that there is something suspicious about Inspector Ames.-Sir Garvice Watkin . invites Burke to his country house for the week-end, and there he jpeets Ann Marvin, a friend of Sonia Cranston. There is an atmosphere of mys- .. tery about Ann Marvin and Burke, although attracted to her, suspects her ... of being -a criminal. j CHAPTER lll.—(Continued). ‘What would you advise me to do, sir? Is there any action I could take to prevent-his apprehending me—on sus- . - pieion?” . Sir Garvice shook his head. J- m t afraid not, Wallace. You see, the pol-■'---’'ice -are/ all-powerful when it comes to investigating a case of this description. ’ Obviously, they have not the remotest ■ idea who the murderer can be, and Ames, with that creditable zeal which, has always • been one of his characteristics, is - • perfectly entitled to his suspicions. But •don’t forget that he must substantiate ‘ them before he can obtain a warrant for • your arrest —unless circumstantial eviidcnco against you is overwhelming. But ■ '-for the life of me I'can’t see how that can be. You were conveniently removed’ from the area of the crime at the time it is alleged to have been comr mitted—that is, of course, if your story

/is true.” ■ “If my story is true?” echoed Dr. Lan'dey in bewilderment. ‘‘But surely, ' sir, 1 ! am to be believed? Does Ames imagine that I—l’m fabricating.' “I haven’t the pleasure of knowing v'hat Ames’ thoughts are,” smiled the lawyer. “I am merely suggesting a reason for the man’s extraordinary attitude. But look here, Wallace old . /man, you mustn’t allow your imagina/tion to run away with you. I should advise you to do nothing at .the moment. There is nothing you can do. We /don’t make a practice of hanging inno- ./. cent men in this country. There has v to be a dashed good case against them —nr a good lawyer. Take my' tip and • ,write to Sonia and tell her you’re prepared to marry her as soon as pos- . .. sible.” ... A sudden change camo over Dr. >r. Langley’s face. He wondered whether L. he had heard aright, and it he had, — was it just one of Sir Garvice s little • jokes. 'lf it was, the young medical / man considered it rather misplaced. , '-• Sonia Cranston was Sir Garvice s -./niece and Dr. Langley’s ambition. At present she was studying art in V/ns, fr-and though they had been engaged to be married for several months, Sir Gar- - ' vice had resolutely refused to allow the marriage to bo hurried. This sudden change of front was rather breathless. “You men that, sir? You, actually . ■mean that Sonia and I can be married

whenever we like?” • , : “Well, it would take your mind on / the present unpleasantness, wouldn’t .it?” smiled the lawyer, secretly amus/ed at his visitors surprise. “But scriously, Wallace, I’m worried about Sonia. /Ever since -she has been in Paris Ive — been worried. She’s head-strong- takes ' ■'after her mother—and a headstrong wog/man living a Bohemian existence in Montmartre might do anything. I seri- , ously think she needs a husband to look /after, her. Promise me you’ll write her ■' to-night.” . „ , . “I’ll do more than that, sir,’ exclaimed Langley, .“I’ll wire'her immediately.” '< ' CHAPTER IV. 'ANN MARVIN. Curtis Blake was utterly at a loss ts know for what reason Ames persisted in suggesting that Dr. Langley knew more about the murder m his surgery than he cared to admit, and ' it was while they were discussing the '“ ease at Scotland Yard together that Burke challenged the older man. “Look here, Ames old man,” began Burke, “I think it was understood at the outset that we were working together on this case, and yet, ijow I -"come to think of it, you haven’t so much as advanced?, a single theory. Don’t tell me that you’ve come to a dead end the same as I myself. I won’t have that. Remember, we’ve got to do something. Now, what’s this all about Dr. Langley? The poor chap’s quite upset about it. He tells me that you’ve been questioning him to such an extent that -you’ve more than hinted that you actually suspect him. I’m afraid you ve given me that idea, too.” Ames grunted as his eyes watched the keen face, of Curtis . Burke from beneath his heavy grey eyebrows that ■ seemed almost .to meet above the bridge s of the nose in one straight line. “Experience has taught me, Mr. -Bur’-e,” he began, “never to attempt to disclose a theory that is but half formed. To do so would be to destroy its purpose utterly and completely. My idea of a theory is to build something where nothing apparently exists. It is like building in the desert—on e sand. If the location doesn’t suit, then move on to another more favourable and 'begin building again. It is true I have formed theories on the case we have under investigation, but they are only so many fantasies —children of my imagination. I. like to watch them gio.v. It is fascinating. As regards Dr. Langlev, he is the corner stone .of one of my buildings. He seems to fit so perfectly /that'.he is very necessary. That, is why ::'i- aspect him. People do not mortice j into this plot that we call life without reason. Neither do they become part of a scheme for murder without justification, and I have found a justification for Dr. Langley. Ames, paused to light his pipe while Burke could not repress an ejaculation of surprise at his colleague’s words "What justification can you haie found?” asked Burke eagerly. “You will remember,” went on Ames, ■..oxhaling clouds of blue tobacco snme, . “that the murdered man is said to h-ue -had in his possession a peculiar jade

ornament, as far as we can gather from Conn’s description of it. That jade token was a rarity. Its rightful place Was among any good collection of ancient stones and ornaments —relics of ancient civilisations about which we. know comparatively little. That little ornament has not been traced. We have not found it, anywhere in his belongings at the Bloomsbury boarding-house where he had ‘been staying. .. I ask -., you, Mr. Burke, where, is that ornament? When we find that, we shall have found, the man—or the woman —who committed the crime.” ‘•'But what has all this got to do with Dr. Langley?” protested Burke. “I was coming to that,” said Ames, unruffled by the trace of annoyance in the other’s tone. “I figure it out . that whoever wanted that piece of jade wanted it to add to .a collection. For any other purpose, I gather, it was absolutely valueless. Now, I happen to know that Dr. Langley is himself something of a connoisseur of precious metals, antique ornaments and chippings, of precious stones.,- In one of his Harley Street rooms you will find a small museum of such things. Many of them, I have no doubt, possess a considerable value. Now, collectors of almost anything have peculiar kinks in their mental make-ups that are- different from other men. I have known otherwise perfectly respectable men and women never hesitate to stoop even to crime when it came to their possession of something of which they were passionately fond. This type of collector is utterly devoid of morals. I wont say that they are intentional, but in our profession, Mr. Burke, intent is not always of primary consideration. What miuht be more natural than that Dr. Langley, discovering that his patient was in possession of this valuable relic, was suddenly seized with a desire to possess it himself. Perhaps the man even showed it to him, little. reahsing that the medical man was himself a collector. He probably arose from nis chair, crossed over to the cupboard on. the opposite wall, extracted a knife, and his expert knowledge of anatomy would mean that one blow would be fatal. Burke had been listening fascinated by Ames’ theory. He had to admit that it sounded all right. In fact, it was altogether too right. • ‘Til think it over,”,-Burke agieed, “though I can’t quite see, if your theory is correct, the necessity for Dr. Langley leaving his surgery shortly before eix o’clock. If he knew that this man was coming that night, why should he do that?” ’ . , _,, “That’s just where he’s rather clever, smiled Ames. “But I’ll get to the bottom of this yet.” . . The* following "day Curtis Burke was surprised to receive a telephone call from Sir Garvice Watkin at Rio Comit. “Could you manage to spend the weekend out here, Mr. Burke, that is if you are not too busy? Langley will be out, too, so you won’t be entirely hmong strangers. He has told me about Inspector Ames’ suspicions, went on Sir Garvice, “and on that point Id like to have a chat with'you. , By the way, you’ll also be able to meet my niece, Senia. She’s' just home from Pans. Burke decided that a week-ends respite would probably clear his brain somC'-hat after the past few days of the present case and a six months investigation of the mysterious robberies in various parts of the country.. He found Rio Court bathed in sunshine as he arrived by taxi from the station, and Dr. Langley greeted him in the hall. , , “I’m jolly glad, you were, able to come, Curtis old man,” exclaimed the doctor, grasping his hand. “My n«rv«® will be in shreds if that, fellow Ames trails me around like he is doing. You have no idea, Curtis. He s making mv life.-a nightmare. I cant go .to bed at night without thinking that an invisible pair of eyes is watching my everv movement. It’s nerve destroying/aud Sir Garvice here advises me not to do .anything.” .. Sir Garvice evame up at that moment. He and Burke had met several times before, though not recently. ‘TH have a chat with you later, lie whispered to Burke. “You'll find me in the study.” ■ . . , “Hello!” exclaimed Dr. Langley brightly. Here’s Sonia! You’ve never, met Curtis Burke, the famous criminologist, have you, Sonia?” Sonia Cranston smiled. . She was decidedly attractive girl, slim , and rather fair. Her blue eyes danced with excitement like a child as the introduction was effected. .. , “Criminologist, certainly,” smiled Burke, “‘but the is an extravagance, Miss Cranston.” He had scarcely finished speaking when through the open French window at the far end of the room came another girl. Burke felt his. eyes being drawn to her. compellingly. She was of an altogether different type fiom Sonia Cranston— -boldly courageous, more athletic and with a deeper beauty. Her beauty was not so much in her complexion or the colour of her ha,ir. Rather was it suggested in the poise of her head, her clear-cut features in fact,, her whole bearing. suggested a certain nobility and distinction, (To be Continued).