“THE CLIFF – PATH MYSTERY."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16895, 21 November 1922, Page 11

“THE CLIFF - PATH MYSTERY ."

BY

HSANDON HILT

OUR SERIAL. 1

CHAPTER XXVl.—Continued. The light leapt again to Nasmyth* harassed eyes. “ A double bigamy! ” he cried “ .Motive, eh? ” “ Yes,'' Repton agreed ‘‘ If. as seems likely : Severin and his newly "ed consort mot Larramore on the cliff that night. 1 hey had a rvrj good reason for wanting to get rid o 1 1 ini.*' “Thank Cod! " exclaimed the Colonel. "Rut how selfish I am < be detaining you ail here when yov must be horning to go in search oi my brave young champion. J wil take you down to Mrs Larramore . at once.*’ The four men hft the house to get her, Repton explaining that the.' had not been wasting time w hie might have been better spent i: searching for Miss Raven. In the fir** 1 place he had a shrewd suspicion that she would be found at Mueklepat! harm, and he had taken steps tc secure the co-operation oi the J;.\< iv people at Exeter, who were sendiir. out a strong force for a raid an tin farm. J.n the second place notbiiu had been hoard oi John Thorpe sine* lie .jumped out oi the window in pur suit of Severin’s emissary. The pur suit v.ouJd almost ertainiy have lev the Indian police-officer to the loca headquarters of the gang, ami th young iady could not hare a more re sourceful protector. .Nasmyth squeezed the norelist atm. ■■ Its kind oi you. Raven, t» hare thought oi me in the midst o your distress. I believe M r Repton’. wish to call on Mrs Larramore w.n only a pretext tor relieving our minds E°r 1 am sure that she cannot furthei his case. She is under i lie hones' impression that, die ii Archibald La riimoro’- widow. ’* And the Colonel - surmise pr ov«; correct, for th? Inspector had nc searching questions to put to th* beautiful woman whom ho 4 found ar sad and left smiling through gla ’ tears. All he h».l to say at 1 Th. < ot.tage ' was a repetition of what h. had so recently -nid at ** The Peak. The In* ! interview over. Na myth re mained and the three others walkedown the lam-* to the main street. Lad. Mr Raven, that was a hnpp\ thought. of yours to lift the cloud fro.) those poor snub." said Repton. 11 Ai hour of enforced inactivity well spent Wo have saved them another day agony of mind.*' Its the way I should have worke; ii nut in a book.” the fiction-mojigei shamefacedly repudiated his part ii the kindly action. Like most me: prone to unselfish deeds he preferrev to hide them under a bushel. The fog. though pa tell v. had growth i-k er for the moment over Hie ton and they proceeded in single file,witi Hezekiah, as the most familiar wit! the ground, in front. Even under hi guidance progress was very slow am, more than once at an angle of th: lane he led them into the- hedge. Winn they- reached the main road th ■ going was a little hotter on the tar sprav. though (lie whole world wn = hloft-'l out in the damp white blanket V Imre i~ your ren lezv-.nis with the revenue chaps from Exeter? " He-zekiah inquired of Repton. The railway station.” was th. reply. •' At this rate it will lakt us all our time to get there, but I’v. 4 engaged the local char-a-banc to take them on to the farm.” “Don't you worry. *’ grunted Hessekiah. ■’ At least not about bein.: on time at the station. It's a to.-.-,, up whether the train v ill mute at ai! th it • ugh thi = . Probably they arc holding her at Exinouth till it lifts ’ Iho suggestion disturbed the In spec to r greatly, for hi, spoken confi dem-e that 'I horpe would be on hand to protect Enid had been uttered rather from a desire to allay ('land. Raven’s tears for his daughter than 1 i"m convict ion . Personally Repto . was extremely anxious- -not only aboul the in.-sing girl, but foi th.- safetv of Thorpe himself. Alter his own experience fit London, and hen ring .-f tho events at Bieton during his absence. he knew that they were up against a master of crime surrounded l>\ cunning and tuthless adherents. Ho had little doubt as /o where w a the danger spot, and any delay in an M ■ ■ ■ _ t mi gilt, spell disaster. The outlook was black enough without. that Ci roping their way. the three men at last rear hod the juration of the main street with the station road, where was the yard of the District Council. They v.«t- turning off tov arris the station when close at hand an explanation nearly split their ears and drew from Raven the cry ;- “Is it a bomb ? Xot as bad as that.. .-ir.” He/.eki?!i hastened to reassure the nervous novelist “ It’s a maroon in the 'oune.il yard here noiifving a fire. The engine i- kept there. That’s a call lor the firemen..” “It will have .• job in got anywhere in this fog.** said Repton. * Ir is to be hoped tin* lire isn't far awnv." Sounds «»f invisible feet were heard running from all directions. The floor ot the yard was* flung open and a hoarse voice shouted : V hero i - it. Matey? ” “ Mucklepath Farm.” was the equally hoarse reply. “Re hurried nut before we can ect there, f reckon." (To be Continued.)