“THE CLIFF – PATH MYSTER”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16908, 6 December 1922, Page 11

“THE CLIFF - PATH MYSTER”

OUR SERIAL.

BY

HBANDON HIIAL.

CHAPTER XXXII Continued. And over and above these per.sen a 1 tonsiderations Thorpe’s police instinct prompted him not to allow the archpuller ci all these criminal wires to escape. He had *' a “hunch, ’as the inpre literary ot the American authors are teaching us to cal} it. that Severin ■was on the run and that if he coull not bolt by sea he would by land. He must be stopped rill the official sleuh, Inspector lteptoc, had had a good sleep and picked up the threads of his job again. That resolve alone was strong tnoush to chain Thorpe to the spot, and let his j&oal as a man-hunter over ride the inclinations of a lover. He stepped across the room and opened the vloor which MncAdoo had closed before his flight through tli© window. From tlie distant kitchen came the burble of voices. showing that the conclave was still in progress. The intonation 6eemed to denote that the parties to it were not in agreeTi.cn So much the better, though! Thorpe. If divided counsels prevailed tht greater was his chance to defeat his opponents. Letting his eyes range round the homely faint-house parlour, he was at once struck by the telephone on the wall. He recollected how his suspicions had been awakened on the day o* old XVillum Rockers's mishap h\ the wires running into a dwelling o! that k?n4 His interest now was of a more selfish nature. If it was to he open battle this was the room in which he would join issue and, 1 necessary, stand siege At any rate, till lie was overpowered, the telephone would mean touch with the outer world He would see to it that he was not taken unawares and “ hands upped ” again. A* a precaution he locked the door of the parlour, and none too soon F.teps in the passage told that the con ference had broken up. and a moment later angry cries showed that MacAdoo brd been missed from his post in th'doorway. The door handle was tried and for a short time complete silence r< igned. Then the sharp order from Severin :

“ Go round to the window. Barney Roe what’s up.’’ - Thorpe had drawn his pistol and stood very still, listening. He heard the receding tread of the hii man on the stone flags, th© opening of the front door, and the immediate return of Mr Barnes to report: “The window’s fastened and the curtains drawn.’* “Then there must be some one in this room.” said Severin. ‘Mac!” h» shouted loudly. • MacAdoo has deserted you. I fear.’ Thorp*' called through the door. “He seemed to have urgent business on jour yacht. From what I gathered the captain sent an urgent message by a ypung Frenchman with a motor launch to bring you off, but MacAdoo has appropriated the invitation. Any- — how. he lias bolted for the shore with messenger after him. and consider iUK the start be had I should say that it’s odds on the Scotchman.” Again there was silence, and then: ‘•Barney.” said Severin. “go and fetch a few of the hands, and tell them to bring a crow-bar. XX e must have this door down. I want to use C the telephone. X suppose you don* ! foel inclined to unlock the door. Mr I Thorpe, and let me have peaceful acf cels to it?” Severin raised Ins voice ‘ On terms, I mean.” What terms?” Thorpe called through the panels. '■ If von will open the door, was tn« reply, “I will permit you to leave the farm unharmed on condition that you t\ f not interfere with our departure in mv car.” . . *• No. sir. T cannot enter into am such engagement,” Thorpe rejoined firmly. . , And then, as the passage echoed ■with the tramp of Mr Barnabas Barnes ( and bis reinforcements. Thorpe stepped to the telephone and quickly turner the leaves of the number register on „ the fclab beside the instrument. CHAPTER XXXTIT. THE WATCHER AT THE WINDOW. Pierre Leduc was a light-fingered rascal of the deepest dye. Befoie lie v, as sent to the galleys on a nve-year . sentence be had been one o nimblest pickpockets in the southern resorts of France. He was also lightfooted, but when he started to head off the long legged Scotchman from stealing the motor launch he was heavilv handicapped. He was no’, familiar with the way to the shore, and MacAdbo had a ten minutes’ start ot him. c . . Still, he had the advantage of being ten vears vounger and of possessing a better “wind.” Moreover, he bad ,he rat-I,he faculty of being able to see in the dark, and therefore he avoided mans' obstacles that might have proved his undoing. A. hundred sards from the shorn he heard a laboured breathing ahead, which told him that ho had nearly overtaken ins nuarrv. lie felt fairly confident now. for MacAdoo svould have to find the launch and. when found, get it going. l. was not likely that he was experienced in the management of petroldriven boats. , MacAdoo’s boots crunched the roctv foreshore in a direction which toll T educ that he had won the race. Slip ring across the strip of beach., he unhitched the rope with which he hail moored La Petroleuse to a boulder, jumped aboard and began to work tlie engine. Tn doing so a certain amount of noise was unavoidable, and instant]v ihe Scotchman’s steps were heard running towards the launch. Leduc made all haste to sheer off. guessing that his adversary would be „ rm rH. and cursing the luck that had ], f, bin, defenceless. As a prisoner during his later days on The Serpent Ik had heen deprived of his weapons, ami it was odds on MacAdoo carrying a nistol The next moment the surm. was confirmed. There was a spurt of fiarne and a bullet whizzed within an inch of Leduc’s ear ricochettin<r out to seft- . He thanked his stars that the Fog was thicker than ever, and realising that the shot had been guided by tlie thud of his engines, he shut Tint he reckoned without the luck that was MacAdoo’s that night. Another bullet ripped the white nail, plunged ir+o bis chest and sent him spinning rrainet the side of the launch. Ten seconds Inter strong arms hat him and flung him limp and on to the b^nch. MacAdoo, with onltf an elementsrv krrowledfise of driving a car. had ti f,„Y»hle p bit befov* be got the l»nncn roo»ving. hot ever? the, task last and tick- tacking seawards. 1. was blfwd work at beat, but out there somewhere in the fog be knew that. Severin’s yacht was prowling with that eauev wench aboard. With that inducement to sustain M-m bo would L-r*on ohtigglncr about till tlie wpath°r «|Mred and lie could sight the vessel, b* CoctiDued.f