Our Short Story

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

Our Short Story

INTO THE TIGER’S LAIR

(By

George Stanley

’—Copyright)

The rain gusted against the windscreen, and only the continuous use of tire screen-wiper enabled DetectiveInspector Larrabee to see dimly the road in front. It was more by luck than judgment, that he,, and his assistant, Barton, arrived at Tententon, following ’up a clue to the League of Twelve—two return halves of tickets to Tententon, which had been taken from captured emissaries of the League. A sudden flicker of lights, and Larrabee drew up the car at the porch of an old country inn.

They hurried inside, booked a room, and within an houx - had retired for the night. It was white they were at breakfast the next morning, that fate threw the first clue to them. They had finished breakfast and Larrabee was standing at the window, filling his pipe when suddenly he called Barton to his side. . “Look at that!” he said.

Walking along'the ' quiet village street was a Chinaman, leading two Airedale dogs; He looked an incongruous figure in this retired Essex village. “Get downstairs, Barton, and pump the landlord. Find out where that Chink comes from, and how long he’s been here!”

Barton vanished. He. reappeared’, half-an-hour later. .1””

“Looks as if you’re right, chief,” he said. “Over at. the Tententon Woods—you can see them from here—is a private estate, consisting of twelve big houses, each in it’s own grounds. The owner of one is a Mr. Vandeleur, a Dutch gentleman, who has retired from busineesS. He has lived a ■ lot in the East, and employs Chinese servants to serve him. He had six, until recently, when one went away and has not returned, Mr. Vandeleur- is never seen in the village. He spends his time in the- grounds of his house. Occasionally some of his neighbours call in fox- a game of bridge. All the twelve residents are wealthy, have tlieir own cars and amusements, and are mostly bachelors.” “Um—looks peculiar—funny thing there are twelve of those houses,” remarked Larrabee. “Well—let. us pray for a fine night. In the meantime' we’ll take a run into Southend-On-Sea-, I want to'’phone up. about; these; Chinks of Mr. Van’s. I don’t want to .be seen knocking about here too much!” . They took out the car and drove into Southend, where Larrabee put through his enquiry call. He found’ all in order. Pie six Chinese servants of Mr. Vandeleur were duly on record. The two officers returned to the inn at Tententon, as dusk was falling. It was dark by the time they set out for their survey of the private estates in Tententon Woods.

They made their way, in silence, for sound carries a long way on a still hight. They had almost reached the entrance to the estate, when’ the’ sound of a car drove them to shelter in a hedge-bottom. Hie car drew near and passed, and from tbe light of the interior, Larrabee saw a sinister face peering into the darkness. On the driving seat of the car was one of Mr. Vandeleur’s Chinese- servants.

“It’s turned to the right down the first road,” commented Barton. " They climbed the bank' -and' watched. The headlights from- the car traced its passage ,to a big house nestling among the copse. As the car drew up, there came the deep-thoated bark of.. Airedales* . .. •. “We’ll have a job’ to get past the dogs.” whispered Barton. “We shan’t try?’ replied Larrabee, “We’ll get as near as we can and then shin up a tree. I’ve got some night glasses. They may not draw the cur-tains.-.with-.the dogs on guard.” - They approached as near to the house as they dare, and then, finding a con-

venient tree, Larrabee climbed aloft leaving Barton on guard below. Larrabee settled himself comfortably astride one of the stout branches of the tree, and trained his glasses on the house of the mysterious Mr. Vandeleur. He had judged. his observation post.micely. From where he sat he could look dbwn into a lighted library window.: : Revealed by his glasses,' so . isharply that he almost expected to hear their conversation; were three; figures. One, a tall powerful man in the. forties, had the yellow face, pendulous cheeks, and. the almond eyes of the Asiatic, He sat, evidently listening to an . explanation the other was giving; The speaker was a short, swarthy Italian, who was gesticulating, with his hands, and seemed by his furtive manner to be considerably scared. Behind the Italian, standing against the door of the room, was one of the Chinese servants, a stocky strongly-built man. As Larrabee watched, the foreigner brought from his pocket a long, black case, and drew from it a- string of diamonds which flashed occasionally in the light. He handed them to the big man much as a dog waiting for praise. The big man held out his hand as if' asking for more. ■

The Italian shook his head, waving his hands so violently, that the watchful Chinaman took a step forward as if ready to spring. Then ' the Italian shrugged his shoulders and grinned. His lips formed three words, “To-morrow night” The big man nodded, as if in agreement and the watching Larrabee saw him repeat the words “To-morrow night.” Then he waved his. hand,- as if in dismissal, and the • Chinaman,-, opening the door, followed the Italian o.ut, - The big man waited, a. few; .seconds. ■Moving to a table at a.' corner:- of the room, he pulled a wig ; from his-head, and removed from his mouth several rubber pads. As he burned ' again, Larrabee stared with astonishment. The man’s whole face had changed. From a yellow, gross-looking, ’middle-aged man, with greying hair, he had become a powerful man in the thirties, ■ with a thin face which looked more evil if anything, than if had before. His hair too, had changed. It was now black and smoothly brushed. He took off his coat, pressed a bell and a Chinese servant entered bringing a silken robe. As if sub-consciously aware of a hidden

watcher, the man clapped his hands and indicated the windows. The servant hurried 'to them and quickly drew the curtains. ■

Larrabee waited a few minutes. Then he closed the glasses and climbed down the. tree. “We’re on to something,” he whispered. “There’s going to be a meeting in that house to-morrow, and I’d like to be there. The dogs are the problem. We’ve done enough for to-night.” Larrabee, however - , was wx’ong. As they were walking silently along the mossy path a stick suddenly cracked in the woods, with a sharp report. Larrabee seized Barton by the arm and pulled him from the path. Together they crouched silently behind the roots of a fallen tree. Soon, in the faint .light,. there emerged from the path.the hurrying, slinking figure of a man carrying a sack. He moved silently and had just arrived abreast of the detectives when, from the undergrowth, there'sprang a silent shape. The man dropped his sack arid fought like a tiger, but he was no match for his assailant. Slowly he was forced back by a merciless clutch on his throat. A moment later his assailant had whipped from his sleeve a long, wicked blade, which gleamed- evilly in the light. He raised the knife for a blow, when Larrabee sprang forward and struck him behind the ear with the butt end of his automatic; The man pitched forward on his face and lay still. “Collar, that other chap!” Larrabee hissed, to Barton. Barton jumped for the other man, who ■was trying to scramble to his feet, and pinned him scientifically, white Larrabee took a torch from his pocket and, shielding the. ray with his hat, threw the light on the face of the man lying on the ground. It was one of Mr. Vandeleur’s Chinese servants.

“Who are you?” he demanded, of the man Barton held.

“Narrte of Dan Lee,” croaked the man holding his throat. “You just got ’ini in time, mister. That murderin’ heathen would have finished ole Dan—all for a few rabbits.” “Is that all he was after you for?” asked Larrabee.

“No,” answered Dan Lee softly, “I was prowlin’ around making for the spinney—’tis t’other side of the house when I heard two voices .... Someone was saying ‘I will bring the rest tomorrow night, at eleven.’ I ducked under a lighted window and made my way round the back. As I passed I saw a light coming from a cellar. I looked in. Two Chinks were working a machine, printing off bits of paper. One of them looked up and saw me. I ran .for for it but he followed me. You’ve saved ole Dan’s .... What might you be adoin’ in these woods?” He asked suddenly. “You come with us,” ordered Larrabee, “Lend a hand with this fellow.” They each seized hold of the Chinaman and without further incident gained the inn, unlocked the door, and carried the bound but unconscious man to their room'. ■ ■

“Now Lee,” said Larrabee softly, “You’re a poacher. You’re just the man I want. To-morrow night I want to get to that house'. The dogs are in the way. Can you put those dogs to sleep for a few hours?”

“You bet,” said Lee, grinning wickedly, “To-morrow night I’ll come along with my gun. Half-past-ten I’ll pick you up here. Before will be too early. That do?” ...

: “Fine,” said Larrabee, “And if everything'goes all right, you’re on a fiver!” Early, next. morning Larrabee and his assistant, took the now-conscious; Chinese and’ drove into Southend where the authorities had agreed to take him over.

They dumped the Chinaman in the police-station and returned to Tententon, in ample time to meet Dan Lee. Lee led them to the edge of the copse by the house, and vanished into the undergrowth. Several minutes passed before he reappeared. “Them’s settled,” he said tersely, “Now you follow me and don’t tread on no sticks.”

They crept 1 across a big lawn round the back of. the house, where a light shone from a cellar window. As they passed the window, Larrabee cautiously peered inside. With difficulty he checked an exclamation. Within, working as unconcernedly as could be, were two Chinese, manipulating a small, electric-ally-driven printing-press. They were printing Bank of England notes! He felt a warning pressure on his arm, and followed Dan Lee round the building.

“The library window’s before you. They ain’t lit up yet,” whispered Lee. Larrabee swung himself cautiously within the room, and by the shielded ray of his torch, discovered a curtained recess, which he had noticed through his glasses. Stealtag inside he heard the whine of a gear-change as the lights of a car appeared from the wood. The car drew up at the door, and presently the lights in the room blazed up.

The detective peered through the curtains, and saw the big man of the previous night accompanied by two companions. All three were wearing small masks. With them was the Italian Larrabee had seen before.

The big man began to speak. Larrabee felt his spine creep, for the voice was the same hissing voice he had heard once before—the voice of the President of The League of Twelve. It was ’charged, with ..menace. “Mattrizzi— you have brought the rest Of .the' things?.' It will be as well for you if you have. I do not allow disobedience twice!”.

The. Italian smiled greasily, and brought', from his pocket a pair of cases which he placed in the President’s outstretched hand. He took the cases, opened them— and then turned on the Italian, ' with a glare of such murder-•ous-jhate that Larrabee felt his hair rise. The' air seemed charged with death.

“Treacherous Italian dog!” hissed the President. “You would cheat me? .... Seize him! Lash him to that chair. He will confess or know the joy of

torture! Mattrizzi—you shall feel such pain as you have- never dreamed of. Gag him!” The two others lashed the Italian in a chair, and gagged him. Then the President seized the pinioned man’s hand, and drawing from his pocket a pocketlighter, he flicked on the flame and held it to the Italian’s finger-nails. They sizzled with a horrible sound, and the wretched man squirmed with the torture. “Number Eight,” said the President, “You see what a creature you proposed as a member of The League. I set a trap for him and he fell. You are strangely trusttag Number Eight! Do you know anything of the disappearing diamonds? Answer!” he hissed suddenly “or must I He stopped suddenly as the man addressed as Number Eight pulled a case from his pocket and threw it on the table. “There are the diamonds, Yu Fang! he snapped, “Taken from your trusted servant, Li Yang—as he was leaving for America. Li Yang will not rob the League any more,” he added softly, placing his hand in his pocket. Yu Fang, the President, sprang forward, his yellow’ hand outstretched, only to recoil from the automatic which suddenly appeared in the other’s hand. Suddenly the door burst open and into the room rushed one of the Chinese servants. He 'twittered -a burst of Chinese at Yu Fang who waved his hand. “There is no time for argument,’ he remarked, “The alarm light has flashed. Strangers are in the grounds. ’ The three rushed from the room, and Larrabee, watching his chance, crept from the recess and seized the diamonds left lying on the table. There came the patter of feet cutside. He dropped from the windoyz just in time, ran to the nearest point of the shrubbery and concealed himself. Then into the library he saw the three masked men drag Barton —his assistant. Death was the lightest penalty he could expect. ■, t. a They placed him in a chair and bound him. „ . . , “Who are you?” asked the President, Yu Fang, softly. “What do you do in my grounds, eh? You do not answer? . . . • So! Search him!”

The two men rapidly searched, the unfortunate Barton and flung the contents of his pockets on the table. Suddenly one of them gave an exclamation, and [held up the identity-card every police officer carries.