FOES OF JUSTICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14132, 11 February 1910, Page 5

FOES OF JUSTICE.

(Published by Special Arrangement.)

By HEADON HILL,

Author of “Unmasked at Last,” ‘‘The Hidden Victim,” ‘Tier Splendid Sin,” “A Traitor’s Wooing,” Etc., etc., CHAPTER I. —Continued. “That’s the billot that I’m after,” he said, admiring the trim head as it bent over the paper. “One that would suit mo down to the ground as far as qualifications go —oven if it moans the minding of a homicidal maniac. Those few lines seem charged with the promise of adventure, of something out of the common ruck, for the lucky chap that gets tho berth.” The girl scarcely read tho cutting through, and before ho had finished speaking she was looking up at him .gravely. “I have reason to know that you will bo offered this post,”- she said in a low, earnest undertone, almost as if she was repeating a lesson. “And I implore you, when it is offered, not to accept it, Doctor Pcnfold. There is danger in it —deadly danger which I cannot explain, which I do net really understand. But this is a message—l came hero to-night on purpose to bring it—from ono whose mandates it is unsafe to disregard. You will be guided by what I have said, won’t you, and refuse to have anything to do with tho person who inserted that advertisement when you hoar from him?”

Julian’s first impulse was towards righteous indignation. No ono likes to be approached under a pretext which is unblushingly discarded as soon as it has served its end. It was galling to have wasted pity, and then to have laid bare his own secrets to a fascinating stranger, when it transpired immediately afterwards that there was no pity, and consequently none for the reciprocal confidence into which ho had been tempted. For tho moment this sense of petty irritation prevented him from perceiving the larger issue—the mystery of his visitor’s knowledge_ of and intervention in his private affairs. “So the headaches are mythical, and you came to pump me with a view to delivering your precious warning if I should turn out to be the proper recipient?” he began angrily. But the pleading eyes tamed him in part, and, restraining himself, ho went on in milder tone; “Well, please go hack to tins formidable person, who seems to have so great an insight into my business, and very politely ask Jiim to mind his own. You might also add that a threat of personal danger is tho least likely way to induce Julian Pcnfold to abandon a course he has shaped for himself.”

The girl had dropped her head with real or pretended meekness before the rising storm, but at its rather weak termination sho looked up 'boldly. “You are right to blame mo, though if you know the details I do not think you would,” she said. “I can quite understand your despising and disregarding the threat. A brave man would do that. But you wore so kind to mo, Doctor Penfold, before you discovered that I was a fraud, that 1 am hoping that you will grant my request if I make it a persona! appeal, asking you to forget anything I have said about a third party whom I trust you will never meet. Come, to please, mo, tho girl you pitied and who is grateful for that pity, bo wise in time. Do anything rather than accept that post.” “You are a clever actress, but you won’t deceive me twice in the same evening,” replied Julian, half relenting.

“I am not deceiving you now—upon my word and honour I am not,” came tho eager protest. “I would do anything to deter you from incurring the peril you would rush into so lightly.” “I don’t doubt it,” rejoined Julian with sarcasm. “Because you want to carry out tho behest of the bogey-man who sent you. And to gain your purpose you are feigning a very pretty personal kindness towards myself. No, young lady; I must respectfully decline to lie cajoled, just ‘as I have" already declined to bo threatened. I shall certainly enlist under the bannqr of that amiable advertiser if he mines my way.”

It was tho girl’s turn to l» angry now. Tho rod lips poutod, thou opened to show two rows of pearly tooth, suggesting, Julian thought ludicrously, that sho was going to bite. But fcefrre she could steer her wrath into any defined channel of word or deed tho sound of footsteps was hoard on tho threshold of tho dispensary. Julian’s unsatisfactory patient shot a glance at him eloquent of mixed emotions—the unvoiced anger that had trembled on her tongue, a hint of supplication, a trace of coy approval—and then fled like a startled bare, brushing past in her flight to tho street a tall, somewhat stooping man who was entering. “The young lady seems in a hurry,” said the newcomer in cultured accents that tinkled sharp and. clear like a silver bell. As he spoke ho pushed back tho soft felt hat which ho had worn well down over hi.s dyes, disclosing features which Julian at once recognised from pictures in the public prints. The gentleman with the, fine brow and tho shrewd, ascetic face was no loss a personage than Sir William Gras-' mere, the celebrated “hanging judge.” A fair anonyma and a luminary of the bench formed a curious combination of visitors to a cheap dispensary on the eve of bankruptcy, Julian thought as he stood expectant. CHAPTER 11. SERVICE OF PERIL. “I see that you recognise me,” said tho judge, who while approaching tho •■ountcr had watched Julian’s, face keenly. “I, too,” he went on, “should have known you anywhere, Doctor Penfold, from your portraits in the newspapers and magazines. Strange, is it not. that wo who have never met should both in our way be celebrities and so need no introduction? Vet not wholly strange, for if your athletic career were not an open book to the world, and therefore to myself, I should not bo here to-night.” “Yes, Sir William Grasmere; your face is quite familiar to mo, thanks, to tho black-and-whito artists and snapshot fiends,” Julian replied. “My fame as a doctor being not on a par with ray fame in the arena, I presume that you do not wish to consult mo professionally?” Sir William, with a shade of appre- ■ Scnsion, glanced at tho still open street i door. “Would you mind if I ensured i our privacy?” he said with a courteous : ravo of his shapely hand. “Thanks, ! but pray do not como round. I will close, and, if you have no objection, bolt the door myself.” Julian, who already guessed that this was the mysterious advertiser, noticed that tho judge looked up and down tho pavement before he shut tho door and locked it, not forgetting also to put up tho chain. Having performed these operations with great care and

deliberation, tho visitor returned, throwing open tho heavy Inverness capo in which ho was swathed, and seating himself An the chair placed outside the counter for tho convenience of patients.

“No,” ho said in those bell-liko tones which had sent many a felon to his doom, “I am not hero to consult you medically. Doctor Pcnfold. I do not suppose that there is a sounder man in England of my years, nor yot ono whoso life is moro precarious. After presenting you with that paradox I should be underrating your intelligence if 1 was not sure that you identify me as tho author of the advertisement in yesterday’s Telegraph which you answered —as one ot three score other applicants.” Julian laughed the dccp-chestcd honest laugh which had gained him many friends. “I guessed it the moment I recognised you,” he replied. “Even if my medical fame were equal to my deserts you would hardly come down to tho Blaekfriars Road for advice and medicine at sixpence a time.” The distinguished judge paused, as he was always known to pause before embarking on that part of his charge which was to bond the jury to his view. “’Well, these are the circumstance;: under which I seek your assistance,” ho went on at length. “At the last sessions of the Central Criminal Court 1 had occasion to sentence to a long term of penal servitude a criminal of the most dangerous character. He was one of a gang of rogues possessing infinite cunning and resource, and he was the only one of tho association whom the poiico, after years of patient work, have been able to bring to justice. Since passing that sentence I have received a series of anonymous letters threatening mo with tho vengeance of the convict’s former colleagues.” Sir William paused again, his ever, habitually cold and hard, gleaming in a frosty smile at the contempt that was creeping into Julian’s face. “You third: that I am a coward ?” he demanded sharply. “It surely is not unusual for a judge to receive threatening letters?” said Julian, practically admitting tho question put to him, though quite unaware that he was doing so.

“Certainly it is a common experience, but mostly there is nothing in it but empty bluster,” Sir William replied. “In this case, however, I have been informed by the authorities at Scotland Yard that the threats aro to he regarded seriously, and that tho organisation have tho means to carry them out. But a straight answer to a straight question, Doctor Pcnfold, please. You are mentally accusing me of funking death?” “Some people are moro. averse than others from taking risks, constitutionally,” was the reply which Julian intended to be diplomatic, though its transparent casuistry made the judge smile. “That is an affirmative answer to the effect that you despise me for being afr.aid,” he said. “Well, a man with an antipathy to cowardice is the man I need, Doctor Penfold, and I shall presently endeavour to persuade you that I do not deserve your antipathy on that score. First, as lam now more than ever anxious to enlist your services, let me tell you what your duty would bo,. Broadly, it would bo to stand between mo and those criminals, to be always ready to pit yon.r physical strength against physical violence, to exercise a constant vigilance over tho persons with whom I am compelled .to come in contact, and to use your medical skill to protect mo from tho devices of the secret poisoner.” Julian raised his eyebrows. “Is it really so bad as that?” he said. This time he had succeeded in ruffling his visitor. Impatiently thrusting his hand into his pocket, Sir William drew out a letter. “Tho only way to deal with a sceptic is to convince him,” ho said. “Road that, please. It is fxoni my good friend tho Chief Commissioner of Police.” (To bo continued.)