THE FREEDOM COMPANY

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1932, Page 14

THE FREEDOM COMPANY

!By

CHAPTER VII. Epld. looked very white, when she appeared at lunch the day following Lady Rees’At'Home. ;• Mr Clive looked at her and shook his, head. “You don't look as if dissipation'.agreed with you, Childie.”

: "No. I have, come to the Conclusion that dissipation does not agree with me. Mother, need ,we go out tonight? .. It’s only Mrs Carlisle’s At Home. Can't you ring her up and say I .have -- a bad headache ? It’s quite true;-I have, r want to go to bed early to-night and have a good-rest,” Enid spoke very earnestly. .‘."My dear, of course you need not go to thte At Home. Your father and I •willgo, and I will make your excuses. I’m so. sorry youH head is so bad. You z had better rest after, lunch and Janet ’ shall, bring up your tea.” “You’ve made a very small lunch, poor child,” Mr Clive patted her hand in sympathy; ■ ',' ' ‘Enid’s eyes' filled with tears'. “You <re good .to me, you dears, .1 think I’ll • < go- : and’ : Tes't at' once,” her'voice was not steady, and her lips trembled; she rbie,’and kissing them both, went to her room. • . ' .

• •' r Mr. ’Clive whistled. “The kiddie’s .upset. What’.s the. matter.?” j . i ;-'.‘l tliink she’s only overtired. I hope she didn’t quarrel, with Hylton iast’ night, She was .very silent as we ■drovejo the'dance,” Mrs Clive looked" 'worried. 1 “Rest is the best thing fqr her." ‘

j ... Enid lay down on a- couch in her room, but there was no sleep'for her though was resting. She did not. go over and over her plans for that night, for those were; settled. She lay. and. thought, of Walter Hanson. She took her: fences,, and realised that She had fallen-.suddenly and deeply in love with him. Why should this thing have come to'her?' She had been 'heart whole up to now. She remembered what a sheltered Ijfe she had had. She had seen passion and loya in Walter Hanson's :eyes when they ,had. met hers. And' now there was the tragedy of his profession. She was firmly convinced that he was Ignorant of the Company’s real work. That was what she had to warn him about. She had never been out alone at night before; but she must take tiiat risk.for him. The day wore on: the hours seemed to have leaden feet. Never had a day been so interminable.

Janet brought her tea to hep room; she felt better after the stimulant and had a slight colour when'she went down to dinner, but could only eat very-little.- ■' '.... ( • “We shall not be late: to-night, Epld,” ’Mrs ; Clive said when Enid was seeing them off. “But I shall not disturb you by coming in on oup return, because I want you to get all the sleep ypy can; It’s the best tonic you can take.' Good-night—and go to bed as early as possible.” , . Enid hugged them both, while wondering, what she would feel like when sh'e"saw them the next day. She went to bed soon after her parent’s, bad-gone, telling Janet that she ehpuld not need her that night. “I will brush my hair myself to-night, J|n§t; it will give me something to 'del ’Xou'.can have a holiday; and go -to bed early, like'me. If you will get my. bath ready .that’s, all. .you need flihuVvY- ••'•■' - '." '

■ “Very well,-Miss Enid. • I will come and. tell you when your bath is ready.” ■ : Enid had’her bath,- and then partially dressed.again and got into bed. She heard-her parents come in about eleven, -and. come to their rooms soon after, and at twelve the 'house was quiet? Enid- rose, dresspd in. dark clothes, stole downstairs to’ the hall, undid-, the .chain on. the ; front door noiselessly, put her latch-key into the door, opened‘it. without a sound, and closed it in the same, way. She found a late cab prowling about, ■ hailed it and gave the. taxi driver the address in Regent Street. She meant to be early, arid reached there at half-past twelve.; • ' ’ '?'

/When ■: Walter Hanson .reached his flat, the night of Lady: Rees’ At Home, he’wrote a brief note, to the. Qhief of The'Freedom Company: ■ ”I.have, done, my job successfully, >' Faithfully.yours, <•. ■ • Walter Hanson,” and posted it so that it should reach the office the next morning.-... : .He did not'"go io bed at, once, he •wanted to think: and he sat there with a pipe and thought and.puzzled Enid Clive. How was it/possible that she could begone of The Freedom Company? And yet she/had given the correct answer to the password—so .she must be one of them, r It was must unravel.’ - . - - ’. There was- not ■ much sleep for Walter that night when he’at length turned in. , His thoughts and dreams were all' of Enid. He.had never fallen in love before; now it was a/fever in his blood- One fact-stood out clearly —he. must see her again- soon; he decided to..go> -to the meeting- .of the shareholders the' following night, though the Chie'f had said that he need not. He 'did not relish the . idea ‘of Enid being amonst that set. . He must be there to protect .her. against undue familiarity. He could imagine Bryant being obnoxious to a girl like Enid Clive.. • -■ ’ ’. How could.he ever.have thought of Denise Cotterell? He-owned to himself that she was pretty(ahd attractive; a good comrade,, amusing, goahead.' But he. realised now ‘that, in ■ his ignorance, he had been skating on 'thindee, and only when it was crackingl under his feet did he sense the danger. God’he had been saved from that abyss! But it was a near thing—his Erat temptation. He must see Enid aagjn first, at the meeting of the shareholders that night, and . then write to Denise and break with her entirely. , . . He. turned and tossed, ah, night and rose unrefreshed in the niorning. He walked restlessly about Hyde Park in tlxe morning to =' wile away the time, prolonging the walk through Kensington Gardens. He lunched at the Kensington Palace Hotel, and walked back again to hi’s flat through the Gardens and Park. He purposely avoided going to the office, for he did not relish being given another job. He meant to be Tree for the meeting. Luckily tie saw hope of the Company that day. ' The hours lagged all through the afternoon. He dined about eight o’clock at the Brice Restaurant in Soho —went to a cinema where he would be unlikely, to. meet anyone he knew ,and then went to a coffee-stail near Regent Street.- He was having? tup of, coffee and a sandwich when •omeope touched’ hts-arm. - He looked down to see Mollie O’Shea. For a minute he couldn’t place her, then he rejnembered . her -as- the, girl he had rescued from the youths. He also remembered she had been hungry, but ■he had forgotten her name. Luckily •he. spoke it first. .“An*, it’s Mollie O’Shea'l am. Ye don’t remember me at all?” i‘l know your face, but had forgotten your name,”. Walter said with his usual frankness. ‘‘You must join me, Mollie, and have some coffee and a

CARMINE GRACE

sandwich which. she accepted gratefully. ... ‘ , “Are ye going to a dance to-night ?’ she asked. '

“No, not a dance. I’m going to a meeting presently; a business meeting.” ■ • “A meetin’ ? An’ at this toime o' night Sure, I wish ye needn’t go—” “Why, Mollie?' What do you think will happen?” Walter-was amused. “Oh, ye’re as innocent as a babe I tell ye, a business meetin’ at this toime o’ noight can be no good,” she spoke earnestly. Walter looked serious for a moment. “I niust go to. the meeting, Mollie, because a young lady I know is going to be there, and I must mount guard over her. But I shall get her away as soon as I .can. It’s time- I went.' Good-night. Finish your coffea, and then go home,” he raised his hat and went towards Hegent Street. He never looked round, or he would, have seen a small figure that followed him at a distance. '' > •

• He reached the meeting place of the Company in Regent Street before half-past twelve. • ‘ “ .? ■He rang and knocked at the door, which was opened, quickly by a- man named Grant, whom he knew slightly, ■having seen him with Bryant. “Why the deuce did you knock, you young - fool? DO you want to rouse the .neighbourhood? Where’s your latch-key?” .. . “I haven’t got one; I am expecting one of the ladies. I’ll wait for her before I come-- up.” “AH right. -They’ve got their keys. I’m wanted : upstairs—they’ve begun work,” and he turned and ran swiftly up the stairs. Walter waited in the hall—he was surprised and puzzled. It was evidentlyan empty house, and .he could ■hear "stealthy sounds above. There was no light anywhere that he could see. He liked the idea less and less of -Enid Clive in that set. . Presently he heard a taii -drive up. He. quickly opened the door and saw Enid 'Clive get out of the cab.' She told, the man to wait further on., and came quickly towards him where he stood on the pavement'' outside the door.- “■ “ • ' •' ; “You mustn’t wait heie —you must go /away .at - once,” she said, breathlessjy. ■- ** Waiter was so amazed that he was silent. • . “Do you know who. these people are, what they are here for? Oh, I’m sure you don’t I” she said earnestly. ‘“They are the Freedom Company, and it’s, a private meeting of the shareholders, as I'told you last night, Walter was unable to account for her earnestness, but he began to feel lincssy * Enid; moved closer, to him and spoke hurriedly. “Listen-; I' was so puz?|ea a-t-your' conversation .4t - Lady Rees house, that I .told ,m : y cousin .what you had said. He is Sir Hylton Clive, a specialist' at Scotland Yard. He told me the' Freedom Company' are jewel’ thieves—that is how they make their . money. / 'Creme Trefle is- their password.. My cousin w waiting to find out that, and now he knows it he will act promptly. They are raiding '•the- jewellers next door: to' this .house, I think—l came to warn you. • Yon •mustn’t be here-rthey will be. arrested to-night. My cousin will be here. Oh, do' go quickly!”. She put a hand on his ; arm, and • her eyes< filled with tears.. ■.;■"• ■-.. ■ . Walter’s:.face grew-:.white.- .rui don’t you belong to the Company? he stammered. ' " •‘■No’ of course, I don t- • xou. nustook me for '.another girl;.. Didn’t you know about, the • Company?’ Walter winced. “No, I khOW .no-., ■thing. . I’ve .tfe.eh a-fool. But I begin to wake..aqd .understand. They told me I need-hot come to the meeting to-night. . 1 see why now—t Hey didn’t want me to know too soon; Thank God I did not cornel. But why are you here? You must go at once, before anyone sees you—don’t lose a moment.- — go I” He almost pushed her towards, the taxi. . •“I can’t leave you here to be—arrested,” her voice • broke. ' He put his arm round her shoulder. “I only came to-night because I felt J must sec you—l fell in love with you last night. Tell me—was II love at first sight for both of us? ■She looked fparlessly at -him. Yes, she breathed. : , .“When I am free from this galore and start, fresh, which shall be at once will you.-wait for me and marry me, Enid’?” : --’-—- ■-■•-.;"■/■- ■-"• -■ ' "“Yes,''.l. will.” j , Walter stooped.his head, and their lips met.' “Now, go quickly. I shan’t breathe freely until I know you are ■home.” ... “Gome -with me! Oh, come with TH C P ' • • . • < “I can’t do that —it wouldn’t be right'. Not. until lam free from this mesh. Come!” He took to the waiting taxi, asked her the address, and gave the chauffeur instructions to drive quickly. , Walter turned again to the empty house,-but.did not enter. His brain was in a turmoil and he felt a nausea come over him at the thought of the Company, and an. intense anger to think how he had been duped. What a blind fool he had been! If only he had heeded Sir Hylton Clive s warning and then he -wondered why he had warned him If he-were shadowing the Company. It was inconsistent - At that moment a fair girl went hurriedly up to the door and began t o insert a latch-key, but found.it was open, Walter having omitted to shut it. In appearance she was like Enid Clive, but now that his eyes were open mentally he saw that she never could be Enid. (To tie continued.)