THE GREEN SHADE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16984, 7 March 1923, Page 11

THE GREEN SHADE

CUR SERIAL.

By

HEADON HILL

Author or iVLilliouß of Mischief. ~ CRIPTKR XXXX.—Continued. ‘‘ So 1 have, sir, and I haven't doubled on you, ' replied the sergeant earnestly. “That’s what I’ve come to assure you. 1 aui the slave oi a bally system, and J shall lose my job n L kick over the . traces openly. You have gyt that Scotland' Yard joker on toast, and 1 beg of you as a gentleman not to lot me down. He will nave to release 3 T ou in a lew hours, so it can t make much difference. For the sake oi tin? missis and the kids. Mr Vincent —six o. # 'em —don’t try to do a bunk.” neither ot us will escape?”' “That’s it, sir. You don’t need to ruin me. You will come out on top without that. .1 was bound to lock you up at the inspector’s order, li i had refused i should have had to say who you really are, and 1 understand that wouldn't suit you.' That was perfectly true. Knyvett knew that he had only to refer Marske to Lady Faueoiut r or his client Adam, in order to walk out a free man. But that course would entail divulging his discoveries in his official rival, and to prevent that he would cheerfully en-

dure detention for a month or more. At it was, he would only have eo remain Sergeant Wolfram’s -guest for a day or so at the utmost and then reap all the credit of his own and Jawn’s ex- i ploits. The consideration which caused him J to waver was the uncertainty of what i had befallen Beryl Faucourt. To trace j than the solution of the murder case which, thanks to Jawn. ho knew no could solve directly he was free. 11 is theory was that she had for some feminine xeason absented herself voluntarily, but that the sinister usurper at the Rectory might have used her escapade for his own purposes—that he might have inveigled her into some danger- i ous corner where she was in dire need : of outside aid. “Look here, Wolfram.” he said, “ I 1 am going to put you- good w.JI to the test. Go up to the Hail and as 1 - j to see Lady Faucourt. taking care that ' Marske doesn’t sec you. Toll her what, has happened to mo and a seer tain if 1 1 3 ha* heard ,V jn j Mi*s : Beryl and is satisfied that her daughter is all right. Then oome back and report to me. ! will give you my word that you will find me and my j young accomplice here on your return, j I shall then he able to judge whether j I can extend my promise not to take ■ French leave.” “ Right, sir,” the sergeant saluted his prisoner briskly. * • I won’t be longer than I can help.” Knyvett spent the interval of waiting in getting from Jawn an amplified j story of the latter’s experience in the Bloomsbury house, making notes of the ! conversation ho had overheard between j his fellow captive in the partitioned coal-cellar and the man dressed like a clergyman. The first night spent by the boy in the den had been uneventful but for the periodical visits I of his deformed jailer and for the fact | that he was very hungry. The policy of starving him into disclosing his employer was continued all next day till late in the evening, when food had been brought by the girl who had trapped him on the previous day. The dwarf, whom she called Huiiniker, was with her, or Jawn would have made a bolt for it. Knyvett questioned him as to the girl’s appearance, and the description tallied with that which Tod Griusdale j had furnished of Maud Bates. Really, j the egregious Marske was more than | a. nuisance. It. was exasperating to j be put out of action just as the pieces of the puzzle were foiling together. And there would he worse than ex- ; asperation in it if no news from Beryl | had been received by Lady Faucourt. From what little ho had seen of her. . Knyvett was convinced that the girl j would not keep her mother in suspense j for a minute longer deemed I necessary to her purpose. Her silence j would mean that she had fallen a prey, j alive or dead, to that baneful mystery, j man with whom he had travelled in ' the same compartment from London j two days ago. I Ho shuddered even now, holder of J the bronze cross For Valour” as he was. at the remembrance of the fero- j cty in those hastily averted eyes, like j those of a crouching panther baulked j in its spring. Jawn. watching Ids | master with the intensity of hero-wor- i ship, caught the infection of his mood | and began again to peer about for fresh loopholes for escape. After a while the boy could contain himself no longer. “I have spotted two more ways out. sir,” he piped tentatively. “ That will he another score to you if we want to use ’em, sonny.” “ But we’ve got to get out. ain’t we. sir?” “ Some time or other. 1 suppose,” Knyvett answered shortly. The impatient note in his employer's voice grieved Jawn. “You seem down on your lurk.” he said. - Things going wrong?” There was ;< rattle at the. door and Wolfram's re-entry prevented an answer to the question. “ Her ladyship’s compliments. and she is very sorry to hear how you hare been treated, sir" said the sergeant. ‘‘She relies on your letting her know if there is anything she can do to put | the matter right.” • But Miss Bervl. man?” Kuweit checked the ponderous flow. “It is the voung ladv I am anxious about.” “ i was coming to that. sir. Her ladyship had a letter lroni her daughter' yesterday morning, postmark Holrhestor. saying that she was not to worry and assuring her that she was quite safe with friends. Miss Beryl stated that she was keeping out of the wav because she was afraid that • Mr Marske was' going to arrest her.” “The swine ! He is a glutton for people"’ was Knyvett’s' comment'' I But ha iyas really immensely in ! lieverl. Beryl's letter to her mother , enahled him to take his own detention calmlv. Ho would si- tight and score off Marske the more effectually when his inevitable release took place. There was no urgent reason why l.c* and lawn should crawl out through one of the many weak spots in the decrepit calaboose. And any flaw in this reasoning was provided for by the few word - he had managed to whisper, before he was locked up. to the serenely capable lady m the desk, at The Fnncourt. Arms Miss Clayton could be depended upon to perform faithful! •; the commission he had entrusted to her. ‘All right. Wolfram.' he said. “ Since Miss Faneourt lias reported herself as in no need of help we will swear on all we hold sacred- a fat lot. in the case of Jawn—that we will not attempt to break prison. You can holes’ m Ibis ' tinTov old "sieve. I hope that vou will repay our forbearante by remembering Hud wv have nut dined. Jaw n IS iust Off one compulsory hunger wvk, us you will hear one day, Mid

1 other. We are only staying out of ; | consideration lor vour missis and the i kids; vou know.” ••That has been attended to. <ii " Wolfram s,>iuttered eager assurance, j A nice steak with onions. 1 started 1 1 t| ie missis out to the butcher" before - • went up to the Hall.” (To l:o continued).