FOES OF JUSTICE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14133, 12 February 1910, Page 5

FOES OF JUSTICE.

(Published by Special Arrangement.)

By HEADON HILL, Author of “Unmasked at Last,” “The Hidden Victim,” “Her Splendid Sin,” “A Traitor’s Wooing,” Etc., etc., CHAPTER ll.—(Continued). “Dear Grasmere,” the letter ran; “You would be wise to treat those threats as on a different plane from the customary bunkum of the kind. We at tho.. Yard have long boon aware of the existence of a powerful combination of highly educated and organised malefactors operating on the grand scale, though, so far, we have only been able to lay by the heels tho convict Joel Symons, whom you recently sentenced. In tho hope of impressing you . by a confession of failure may say that we aro absolutely ignorant of the controlling forces of the gang, though, judging bv the amount of their depredations, the loaders may well be living in luxury in Park Lane. Tho trail they leave is always cleverly covered, and those who have tried to aid us with information have invariably disappeared before they wore really useful. Tho body of one of them was fished out of the Thames a month ago, though of course wo did not make a song about it. My point is that the gang is a potent factor in the world of crime, and that tho assassination of a judge, merely as an act of policy, would be quite in accordance with their methods. PraV, therefore, take every precaution. If you like I will detail a special officer to look after you.” Julian handed the letter back with jircater deference than he hail yet shown. There was a gravity in the fJomraissioucr’s warning which went f.'O to justify Sir AVilliam’s apprehension. His expectation of violence and prison did not scorn so fantastic in the light of that . friendly semi-official communication.

“it sounds ugly.” Julian admitted. “You know best, air, of course, but would it not bo wise to accept the offer of police protection?” K “That is precisely what I wish to avoid,” the judge Replied. “It would terrify my wife and the rest of my household. Besides, every detective ",x Scotland Y'ard is sure to ho known ’ > criminals of such resource, and his value would bo discounted nccMoingly.” Julian bowed assent. There was no controverting that statement, hih reminded him that in some m';i ,vn unable manner Sir William’s authorship of the advertisement was known at least to the- mysterious girl who had quitted the dispensary so hurriedly on the entrance of the judge. There .vas no evidence to show whether she was a friend or f:? to Sir William. In 'his modesty Julian thought that she was probably a friend, or acting on behalf of a friend, who had no faith in the protective powers of rn “athletic medical man,” and who defin’d the employment of an official dt-tec-tivo-. So Julian refrained from mentioning his fair visitor, at any rate for the present. Ho had teen singularly attracted by her winsome perS’Oiuili’ty, and ho was loth to say anything that might get her into trouble. To put her down as the emissary of a pack of murderous scoundrels seemed to him preposterous. Ho >voudl wait and see if she intervened .’.gain. . “The terras should be liberal enough to tempt you,” said Sir ’William, noting his preoccupation. “] j •■osiimo that you would not have applied if yon had been prospering hero. Yl at do' you 'think of five hundred a year and'all found? You would live with us entirely as one of the family, and your Teal functions ivtmkl only, be known to me.” “On these terms I am your man, sir,” replied Julian, quickly. “L cannot afford to refuse them, for I’m to bo sold up to-morrow. Sir- William Grasmere rose with a ■sigh cf relief. “What are your liabilities?” he asked, producing a bulky pocket-book. “Sixty-seven pounds eight and eleven pence,” replied Julian, repealing .the sum that had , been buzzing in ids brain all day. “Then there are a hnsrJf’d pounds,” said the judge, laying the bank notes on the counter. “They will enable you to leave tho neighbourhood without the stigma of unpaid debts. It is fortunate that you will be Ireo tomorrow, as it is the last dav of g-ace allowed nie by my euemv* They were good enough to give mo till Pie fourteenth of the month in vie hope, that I would induce the Horae Secretary to remit their friend’s nteure on tho score of misdirection of the jurv.” Sir William added grmly. “You wouldn’t do that,” the involuntary comment drawn from Julian by tho stern linos of tho other’s month. ‘ You are changing your mind about the cowardice, then-?” came tho sharp interrogatory., “I said nothing about cowardice, Sir William.” “Not in words, but I haven’t been for forty years reading the faces of, witnesses for nothing. Como, Hoctor Tenfoldl promised to remove that notion of yours if 1 could, I want no man under my roof who tolerates me for a wage but in his lie,art despises me the while. The reason, why I am anxious to live a little longer is not that I dread tho common lot of all, hut that before mv time comes there are two tasks winch I. must fulfil. One is the atonement for a wrong which 1 committed in my private capacity many years ago—-a matter which has lain heavy on my soul over since I was a young man. Tho other, but there-! perhaps I may confide in you further when wo .are better acquainted.” Tho statement was made with such quiet dignity that Julian had no doubt cf its sincerity. The eagerness of the proud old man to free himself of a suspicion of cowardice, even at tho cost of confessing to a total stranger past wrong-doing, touched him on a weak -spot. Ho regretted that his demeanour should have made tho confession necessary,, and ho said as much, simply and frankly. Sir William promptly held out his hand. “That is all right,”, ho said as they joined in a cordial grasp. “I was, keen on engaging you on tho strength of your record in the running path and" in the boxing ring, but I was keener still when you failed to conceal that contempt for physical fear. • .Well, good-night, Penfold. I shall expect you to-morrow at 715, Hyde Park Gardens, in timo for dinner. Vacation begins at the end of ’ the week, and I daresay you won’t be, sorry to hear that I shall be going down to my country house in Buckinghamshire. It will give you the chance to keen your to the mark, for I live the open-air life so far as my ago will permit.” Julian came round the counter and accompanied his . new patron to the door, unbolting it and dropping tho chain. “Y r ou arc sure you have nothing to fear to-night?” lie asked bci foro opening,

,“I think that they will observe their compact, though very possibly they may be keeping themselves on rap.por't with my movements with a view to' commencing” the campaign the day after; to-morrow/' rejoined Sir William. “I cannot conceive any means by which they can have learned of my business with you unless they have followed mo from home.” Julian thought of the girl, but at a gesture from the judge he flung tho door open. A hansom was crawling by, close to the kerb. Sir William hailed it and got in, waving a friendly farewell as ho directed the cabman toward \ the bridge. Julian stood watching tho cab as it drew -into the stream of traffic and drove briskly away'; then, lingering a moment at the door of the dispensary, he paid attention to nearer surroundings. To the left of hini was a shop where they sold pig’s trotters, black pud-' dings, German sausages and iiimamcable horrors which had probably brought him many patients. The delicacies were displayed in tho open shop-front under the glare of two flaming naphtha lamps, aigl_ surveying them from the pavement with an abstracted air was a burly, thick-sot man of the seafaring type, clad in rusty blue serge. He had a ragged board' which at once arrested Julian’s notice by its peculiar bronze colour. He also observed something else about it. “Hungry, my man —” he said shortly.

” Tho fellow raised his eyes, the impudent stare in them provoked by the curtnoss of the question changing, to swift alarm at the stalwart young doctor’s attitude. For Julian was taking two quick steps forward. Then his hand shot cut, and clutching the bronze beard, he gently tweaked it from its place, revealing a shaven chin and biutal month. “TheYe, my friend!” said Julian, tossing the hirsute disguise back to its owner. “I should know your ugly mug again anywhere.” (To be continued.)