CHAPTER XXXVI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8706, 21 August 1906, Page 4

CHAPTER XXXVI.

HBB MAJESTY DECIDES. "This, 5 said the journalist genially,. as the ■ShTee young men gathered in conference, leaving the two girls to themselves fox a few minutes, "this- is the deuce of a mess. We have tumbled up against a brick wall, and I foresee tittle except a headache in. running our heads against it. Here we are left sale occupants of some moist desirable premises, and I must confess we bear a queer resemblance to a gang of burglare. It would puzßle us to give an intelligible reason for out presence here were the police to come along. The question is, are we likely to gain anything by remaining here?" • " They will very probably come back, I should cay," Ralph ventured. " Ay, some day, but when? _A week, fforee weeks, three months? Not while we ar© here, anyway, and if© none of u» want to spend the rest of our lives in Wybunbury. We came here, luckily for Kenwood, but it hasn't advanced out search for Mr Raittray. His disappearance is as mysterious as ever. We had better tell the police all we know, and leave it to them. I suppose these people do know something of Rattray's whereabouts?" " I doubt that," Rod put in a trifle, dubiously. "Do yod? Well, anyway, we've been hoodyinfeed all round. They have iron every trick." "You forget that we wounded CrusSton," Rod said with a smile. , " I am not a ghoul, neither am I in lore with. Miss Eleanor Rattray," retorted the journalist. "It's un-Christian, too, to rejoice over a. rival's downfall." • "It's the one flaw in my piety," rejoined Rod. "But how in the world came you here bo apropos? We've been bo busy I've forgotten to ask." "Thanks toßowmar. It was lucky you went to him first." "Very. I suppose he followed- us?". " Yes, and the deuce of a dance you led him. I joined him 'here. He traced you this far and then wired for me, keeping watch, and ward over tihe place to make sure you weren't carted away anew. What was the meaning and interpretation of that Idtfcle tour of youre?" ■" To get me out of the way in ordeT that they might entice Miss Rattray here. And also because they wanted to settle some old scores between us." "That settlement's held over. Did they think she would follow you?" "Good todl no, but they feared I might prevent her coming." " I did not come after you because I believed you to be in any danger, bat because I thought it would lead ' me to Mr Rattray, or to news of Shim," Ralph broke in a little ruefully. "Just so," responded' the pressman. •*' And now, Kenwood, let your story be brief, but don't mi® any points." As shortly as he could, but with a '. B === I,

Sing the song of the five^starred cross, J Hung low o'er Southern Seas.. . • 1 Them tell about our frightful loss J From' coughs and colds and sneeze; ] Again, again let voices ring < In on© great, grand bravura,- N To praise the magic healing king — i iWoods' Great Peppermint Cure. 21 <

fulness inspired by Mallabar's frequent questions, Rod repeated as much as he could remember of Roachley's autobiography. " That simplifies it, certainly," was ! the journalist's ouuunent wheii Rod's story wat finished. " Let me see — Rattray was a money-lender. Yes, j that's feasible. I have often wonder!ed how he made his cash. I put it down to successful speculation, but usury is jusfc as good, and a lot less variable. So our pious deacon was a sort of subterranean Shylock. What do you think of that, Bowmar?" " I can hardly credit it," RalpTi replied. " Why so?" " Well, Mr Rattray was so — so different." "Precisely. If he had not been able to gull you, he could not have kept his secret from the world at large."- j "It accounts for his frequent absences," Ralph remarked thoughtfully. " And a good many other things besides. But that isn't the question for us now. The problem is not what he was, but where he is. If we are to believe Roachley's story, he knows as little about it as we do." "But are we to believe it?" Rod asked. ' "Do you think Roaohley was lying?" "No— well, I don't know." "If it be true, there is nothing to be gained by staying here," Ralph suggested. "Nothing," agreed the Pressman. '-'But who shall say? There are two alternatives. We can hang about here ourselves and lie in wait. I can't — I haven't the time. Or Kenwood can' tell the polioo the story of his kidnapping, and " "No, thanks," interposed Rod. "I'm quite j content with having escaped. I harbour no unholy desires for revenge." "Just iso. Then the alternative to hanging about here is to get ba^k to : Craneboro' and tell Swayne the whole story. Then iwe can. leave him to da the rest. Let us appeal to her Gracious Majesty. Heads we go, tails we stop." He took a handful of coins from his pocket, and put them on" the table with a, loud bang. "Eleven heads to one woman," he a-ntsounced. « They carefully extinguished the ; lights, locked all the doors, and, hay- ; ing called the girls, set out, on foot, for : [Jrewe. . ■