“THE SKELETON FINGER.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16412, 28 April 1921, Page 2

“THE SKELETON FINGER.”

By

HEADON HILL

(Author rf «Million* cf Mischief," '* The Crimson Honeymoon, 1 The Man from -Egypt.” Etc. Etc)

CHAPTER XXX slim': art-i. nv.pFNTS. | The clock of St Martin ? Church had , struck bul one heat of the hour of | when Alf Grin stead considered himsoil' free to no in search ofJiis master, C artitrill Norman Slater. ra-ptam tad not returned, to it was likely that. t>»o mischance to tad halt expected had befalien him. Lackirtr the outer drer of the Jormyn Street flat ang barging thereon the “ No On© at Home ” card, Alt went out imo the night. He had made preparations for picking up the trail hy the, same method which his master had adopted in starting on his own quest. A boy woe. waiting Tor him with a motor-cycle and ho was soon whizzing; along the groat high road ;>hat strikes northward out of Loudon. t’ioir.in Slater had told him that he would lie heard of at The Bull, ai, Beacons field, and for The Bull lie headed straight as a. homing pigeon. As v hen Norman had reached it tho day before the ancient inn was wrapped in sleepy calm The«-e was a. light in the glazed bail door and another in , the coffee-room window, hut. ns be- ] came his station. Alf avoided the part j of the house meant for his bettors and j wheeled hi? machine up a courlynrd j where a pointed hand pointed to “ the ! lop” A yeiiow-haircd barmaid. with a . chrysanthemum displayed c»n her ample chest, was busy washing glasses behind the counter. She hod the row den all ip herself, the freouenters not having yet gathered for their nightly 'vm. posit]m, and she welcomed the well-set up young ex-soldier with her “ best boy " smile. “Como to cheer poor little me up sonnv?” she smirked across the bar. “ What’s ii to be ?‘ ’ Alf ordered, a pint r <{ ale and sipped it slowly. Wise m hi? generation, he did not omit to make eye-ploy at tho dan sol over the rim of his pewter. Making o lung stay in the town?” she presently put fh» inevitable question for which he had been angling. It all depends on whether T can find my pol ” was the- reph "Tf he’s stopping by:© I shah stor) If not T shah* have to jog along till I catch him. He was to 1 arc colled in at this pub 30 me time yesterday afternoon or evening. I wonder if you can help m < - IF ho ya* half as nice as you I’m sure ho didn’f come into my tap. T oonldn’t possibly have forgo* him,” smirked the barmaid, adding fhat on the previous day no one but drovers and such common folk bad patronised her till the usual crowd of local “ regulars ’ ! had rolled up in the evening “ But of course,” she to dole out more sugar, “ your friend, ii he’s your class, might have gone into the front- --to lhe coffee-room.” Alf Grinsieod -vug positively certain that that was where Captain Norman Slater would have gone, but he didn’t want to make n song about it. “ He might have done, if lie hadn't chanced r n catch n glimpse of you, miss, up in the yard.” he replied gallantly. “ T wonder if there’s any way of finding out without depriving me of tho charm of your company?” With «, coquettish toes of her head the fair I lobe pressed a button at the hack of ihc. bar. saying that perhaps William the waiter, would be able to give fli<’ required information. A minutes passed and there shambled in lhe eld man who had attended upon Norman. “ Gin for mine. ' he wheezed throattlv, scarcely noticing Lhe customer at tlv.3 counter and taking the reason for hi? summons* us granted. ‘ e Gentleman wants to ask you someth i.]g,” said Hie barmaid, at a sign from Gi instead putting up the drink. “My respex, sir. Any think I can harnswer is at your service,” the old fellow* turned to Alf, raising his glass and gulping half the contents. Now. though William had evinced but little interest in the young man who was treating him. Alf had stiffened at the entrance of ’he apparition in the clingy dress-coat and the crumpled shirt-front. As in duty bound he flirted bis pewter in response to the pledge of his guest, hut at the same time he, claimed the latter’s eyes and he’d them with a stern lv compelling stare. “Slimy Bill!” he said quietly. “1 thought l couldn’t lie mis look iri those' cunning peepers set in that crinkly ring. iSo you're enjoying one of your tern p’ r v enlargements again. eh matov ? ” The waiter trembled like a leaf Then lie placed a finger 1o bis comical lips and edged out into the courtyard, beckoning. “You silly swab.” ho said when Alf had followed Jem out on t<» the cobblestones. '• You don’t want to l give mo away before that hussey?” “ Not if you act square.” replied Air severely. And he spoke truly enough, for lie l;ad no wish to ruin this human derelict with whose felonious career as an expert in minor fraud chance had made him familiar in pre-war days ns a fel-low-servant* for a short space in a. London hotel. Even at that far off date Slimy Bill had been notorious for his misdeamennours and their frequent expiation within prison walls. “You used to be a nice, kid when you were a hell-hov at the Colossus,” whimpered tho old man. “ I’m yours to command.' ’ •So Alf broached his inquiry and at the outset was met by an engaging frankness. Just such a gentleman us lie described had called at The Bull on the- previous evening and had asked about a voung lady who had lunched cbere earlier in the day. To a certain extent 'William had been able to satisfy his curiosity and the gent had gone on his way “ behaving m6st handsome.” In making his statement tho waiter looked everywhere .but in the honest face confronting him. He glanced down furtively at the stones of the courtyard, at the flickering gas-jet over the tap-room door, and out through the archway into the street. He had tc moisten his lips with his tongue several times during the narrative, which he was obviously abridging. At the conclusion Alfs lean brown fist shot out and clutched tho skinny throat, hopelessly spoiling the pathetic 1 white tie. , “You shifty old swine!” he growled. “Spit out the real. You’ve not told •vie half. By God. I’ve cot it! You’ve been son a red bv the other side. Your ugly chump is a picture-book to the “ "Don’t bit one :-s is old enough to be vour granddad,” the waiter sobbed, wriggling clear from the other’s grip. I’B own up fair and square to the whole bally thing, Alf. though there 'an’t have been any harm to what T -. << done.” “ Harm, you toad? You niav ba.vo been used by them as is seeking to do my master mortal hurt—tho best mas. ter a chap could serve. ” T believe you. He treated me that. *£* aced liypocrite^whin'od. “ Why, he gave me more then the other bloke, come to think of if Here’s for the truth and the Tvhole truth sVelp me Bob’’