NEW SERIAL, “CRAZY QUILT.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12758, 30 September 1919, Page 4

NEW SERIAL, “CRAZY QUILT.”

(By FERGUS HUME.)

to his sardonic humour ho laughed. “I am an Englishman, Rafo Henslv.iw, and t.bo people at the British Embassy know mo and wiU\ identify ms. I was sent here on a special mission connected with the aeroplane supplies.” “ Aud turned assassin for amusement- eh?” “I have already told you ” “ Then don’t tell the He over again.” he broke in. “ Now, listen to me. There arc two things you shall tell me. y what means you murdered Count voslov. and what part that woman p nyed in it, At ala- Ncvikoff. who was caught with you last night?’ “Jshe had nr. part at all in it.” I replied, dismayed by the reference to Avola. “No part in what?” he asked eagerly, thinking he had tripped me- “ In the death of Count Koslov, and neither had I.” This reply so aggravated his fury that for the moment he was unable to speak. “Von dare to -defy me, do you?” he spluttered at length. ‘‘l’ll give you one hour, and if you won’t answer me then, T'll have tho truth lashed out of you,” and with that threat he went out of the cell. That he was brute enough to make his words good there was no doubt whatever, and I am not, ashamed to own that I was literally terrified at the fate in store for me and spent, the hour in shivering dread. I wa,s faint for want of food, spent aud ill as the result of the previous terrible night, and so done and worn out lhat if tho means had been at hand I would gladly have taken my life.

'When ho came back 1 was trembling like an ague patient, so unnerved that if Avoir's name had not been brought into the affair. 1 should have been ready to confess to the murder of Koslov in order to escape the ordeal .1 dreaded worse than death itselflie brought ’two warders with him and, instead of questioning me again, he motioned to them, and they led me to an office where a man was, rummaging among the papers m a big safe. Hi a back was toward mo, and I could only see enough of him to mako out that ho was a civilian. “ I’vo brought the prisoner, sir,” said the Governor sullenly. “Leave him alone with me,” was tho curt reply, which sounded strangely muffled from the depths of the safe; and the readiness with which the order was obeyed was a. significant proof speaker’s high official position“So you want to go to the British Embassy,” be said in the same queer voice, without looking round. “Yes. sir." “ Then whv the devil didn’t you go there before?” he asked, and’ as he turned to mo I started 'path a cry of amazement. \ It was Count Koslov! ' ‘‘Good heavens, what n saate. vou’re m!” ho exclaimed. “Here, sit down,” and he pushed a chair to me. Tho reaction came near to unmanning me, and I couldn’t get a word out. “Don’t give way. boy. You’ll be all right now and wouldn’t have had any of this if I could only have found you,” ho declared; and while I pulled myself together he lold me much what had occurred since the night of tho “ assassination.” Soon after I had left him ho had received news about Mirski which bad caused him to alter his plans and be “mimdered” that night, instead of waiting for my second visit the following day. “ It never occurred to mo that you would not understand,” ho said; “and I took it for granted you would go straight to the Embassy. But the first 1 heard of you was your arrest; and knowing that Mirski was sure to set his people on to jou. 1 at once made arrangements for your safe keeping ana asked, your friend, Melsome. to see you and explain tho position.” “ I did intend to go to the Embassy and ’phoned Melsome the moment I heard of your death. He told mo it was true, sir.” He nodded with a grim smile. “ That

was in the morning Before he knew. Dr Saratov let him eso mo laid out. It was necessary that he should be deceived at- first so that your -Embassy people should believe in my death. Everyone had to believe it. It was after your arrest I told Ale!some; but ho was quite unexpectedly hurried off to t-uut evening. I dared not trust anyone else to see you, having to act with tie greatest caution." “ Ibere was the doctor,” 1 suggested. tie soot; his bead. "Ho know nothing except that it was necessary for me to disappear for the time; nothing whatever .about your part in the affairI expected Melsomo back in a. couple of days, and meanwhile knew that you would bo; safe in Colonel Prilu'kr? c.aargc. Then came the storming of the prison; and again 1 made sure you would go to the Embassy. When you oidn t I had the whole city ransacked to find you, and as a last step doubled the price on your head. I can’t tell you with what relief I heard of voiir arrest last night. And now, if you jeel equal to it, we'll get away to my nouse ’’ "There’s a question I should like 1o ask first, sir. Mademoiselle Xovikoif was arrested at the same time.’’ He looked curiously -it me and nodded. "I know; so was Mirski; we’ll talk about them finer on. I’ll be back in a moment"; and ho leit the room hurriedly. He. was away a few minutes and returned with a big overcoat, wrapped me up in it, and took me out to his car. When I asked again about Avoia, he pretended hot to hear me, and during the short run to ins house talked incessantly about the success of tho coup which had completely broken up Mirski’s conspiracy, and what a service I had rendered him. clothes were at his bouse, and alter a hath, a change of togs, and a hearty meal, I felt equal to tackling j mm , again about Avoia". I I asked you about Mademoiselle Aovinoff just now; sir." I said. | So you did, boy, and about Mir 3 ki, ! too. Tv ell, you’ll be gratified to know that, bo won't, trouble you any more. By some mischance a revolver was 'eft in his cell last night, Verv careless because it whs—loaded.’’ he”said with I a significant pause before the last word. And the result?’’ I queried. He hunched his shoulders and spread his hands. "Blew his brains out, uf course. He knew what was in stoic for him and preferred that wav put, very annoying; but these things will happen sometimes. Save a lot of trOiible, however, and perhaps chats tae best view to take of it.” " And Mademoiselle X'ovikoff?” There wa.s another name von mentioned'. a man, Gorlass” I hoard he had been arrested.’’ He nodded. ‘‘He’s quite .safe. He is anxious to leave tne country and settle m America; and I’‘think ue better go. What say you?” ‘ By all means. He helped me at a time when I seemed to be without a in end in the city, and I should like to help him in turn.” Teii me about that part of it ’ I told him very briefly and then repealed my question about Avoia. He frowned and tossed his head impatiently. "That’s the one point that perplexes and worries me. Do you know what there is against her? That she was the os-Empress’s favourite, close m her confidence, her spv m tact, and mixed up in all tbat“me*s or imperial intrigue?” I know that the was sahmelesdv betrayed by the ex-Em press, sir.” Again he gestured impatisntK Her story to .you. of course " h© snapped. The sneer roused me. "You her, yountv Such a sneer is as gross” ly unjust to her as it is iimrorthv of you. She did her utmost to warn me against Luring anything to do -with .Vursii! ; and T opened his eyes by deicnbing Avola’s attitude loward me turoughout. T spoke very warmly, but it appeared to have very little effect. he just shrugged and threw up hi? hands. " You don’t, seem to realise- the °f ib© position and it’ s no good shirking the truth. I can do nothinst?r Maclsmoiselle Xorikoff,” ho said” rising. ' I sprang up in disrna-v, " R u f y 01; -you pledged mo your'word, Countbetore I told you anything. It was condition of my speaking,” I protested indignantly. He began to pace the room. " I kno j-- 1 UOTr > but-—can’t you underL T t Dd i i She , 15 M paused, wheeled round suddenly, cud flashed a keen glance at me. "What- can such a. woman bo to you? M Eveiy thing, sir. Everything in the world. My one hops is to make her my tni*.’ 5 Tour wife!” he exclaimed, a.s if tte suggestion was sheer madness. You can’t be m earnest”; and he resumed Ins walk. ” I was never more in earnest about anything jn my hip.” Up went his hands • again. "What possible people 1 And she?” ‘7, haTe cvor - v reason to hope sho Vrould consent, sir. J> He burst into a laugh at this and was off again with his flourishing z*stures, ejaculating at- mt-e^ais; -imazing! Lnheard-of! Quixotic." °p- I g-n'e him time to work off his astonishment and then reminded him again of his promise. (To be continued.)