“THE BLACK OWL”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17832, 28 April 1926, Page 16

“THE BLACK OWL”

“STAR’S” NEW SERIAL

[By

William Le Queux.

CHAPTER XV.—(Continued.) Not such a very exorbitant sum after all, was Marsden's inward thought, for a gentleman of “ The Black Owl's ” antecedents. But of course "his reception of the demand was very cautious. “It is a big amount, Mr Attwood, to pay for what is really a pig in a poke. There may not be a single item in this information which will be of the slightest use to me in researches on which I am engaged.” The American spoke very earnestly. “ Of course, I can guess you are invest-i gating the mysterious disappearance of Miss Winterton, with all the suspicious circumstances that may be attaching to it. Upon that mystery itself, I tell you frankly I cannot promise to throw any direct light, as it is not in my power to do so. But w'hen you have heard my story I am convinced you will not find your money thrown away, for the clues it will give a man of your ability and resource.” Marsden w’as decidedly impressed with the seriousness of those words. If he had possessed full power he would have closed with the man at once. “The history of Mrs Winterton will involve her relations with certain other parties, notably those with Pearson who, I am given to understand, exercises a very extraordinary influence over her?” A peculiar smile flitted over the florid face which certainly bore no resemblance to the criminal type of countenance. “ Pearson will occupy a very considerable part in the story, that I can promise you.” Marsden rose from his chair. “ Well, we can get no further to-night. I shall see my chief to morrow. I will tell you frankly I shall urge acceptance of your offer. I will let you have a note at the club at the earliest opportunity to acquaint you with the decision.” Perceiving that the interview was terminated, Attwood rose also. Marsden escorted him to the street door, and before he said good-night, the American spoke in a rather shamefaced It goes terribly against the grain to have to ask you, but my necessity is very great. Can you lend me a few sovereigns to tide me over? Even if our deal doesn’t come off I have other money coming to me shortly out of which I can repay you.” Marsden felt pretty certain the man was telling a lie. If this transaction fell through it was a hundred chances to one he would be at his last gasp. But it might be wise to propitiate him if such a creature could be propitiated. He handed him five treasury notes which Attwood pocketed with profuse expressions of gratitude. As the young man watcher! the retreating form down the silent road, he reflected that there could be few bigger and more unscrupulous scoundrels outside His Majesty’s prisons than Walter James Attwood, pretended gentleman of leisure, and member of the Strollers’ Club. CHAPTER XVI. Crawshaw was a firm believer in his young lieutenant’s ability, he had a still firmer belief in his luck. lie remembered in recalling the history of previous investigations how marvellously he had been helped by a combination of fortunate circumstances which no amount of mere judgment could have brought about unaided. When, therefore, Marsden told hnn of his interview with Attwood and strongly recommended the acceptance of that unscrupulous person’s offer, he was quite prepared to use his influence with his principal to advance the necessary sum. ITc had definitely made up his mind now that there was a deep, possibly a sinister mystery connected with the disappearance of Iris Winterton, and that given a free hand there was nobody so likely to discover it as this enthusiastic voting man wjio took such an absorbing interest in his profession. When Crawshaw spoke of it to Fraser, maintaining his usual cautious attitude as to prospects of the actual results, the unhappy lover declared his willingness to be guided by his advice. And perhaps the detective’s manner was more encouraging than his actual words, and raised a slight gleam of hope which he hardly dared to express. Fraser’s capital was all very safely and comfortably invested, and he lived pretty well up to his income. He could not put his hand on anything like a thousand pounds in ready cash. But a man with plenty of security need find no difficulty in raising money. A brief interview with his bankers soon solved the problem. An order was given for certain stocks tc be sold, and the amount was put to his credit at once x transferred to Crawshaw who, in turn, handed it to Marsden.

“Considering the relations between them, that he was about to become a member of the family, Mrs Winterton’s conduct towards Fraser has been somewhat singular,” explained the elder man. "She left England without expressing any desire to see him, you would have thought in common decency she would have offered to say goodbye. She only wrote him a brief note from Clanstone, saying she was going straight to Floienee on the next day, and making no stay in London. She certainly did make a reference to what had happened, which might be sincere or not. She said that her sad memories had made England intolerable as a place of residence, that at present, a meeting between them would acutely revive those painful memories, but perhaps later on when time had exercised its healing influence, the}' might be able to see something of each other. He sent a very sympathetic and cordial reply to Florence. and has heard nothing more from her. It appears to me that she wishes to drop the connection altogether, so far as 1 can read between the lines.” Only two days had elapsed since the interview with Attwood at his rooms in West Kensington and the placing of the money in Bank of England notes in the hands of Marsden. There was no necessity to keep the American in suspense. At eleven o’clock in the morning he received the goodly amount from Crawshaw. At a few minutes to twelve he was in the smoking room of the Strollers’ Club, where he found Attwood as ho ex-

pected he would. That gentleman would be as desirous of not missing him, as he was desirous to hear the promised revelation. Marsden realised that it must be a very trying moment for the blackmailer who had so suddenly found his source of income dried up. He would be able doubtless to turn his hand to something later on, find some kind of nefarious employment. But his immediate peace of mind depended upon the Yes or No that fell from the other man’s lips. And accomplished dissembler as his life had made him, Attwood could not banish that anxious look from his eyes, as he ejaculated in a voice that shook just a little, the one word, “Well!” The room was empty, save for these two. rather a rare occurrence at that hour of the morning, when aperatifs were usually in full swing. There was no necessity for Marsden to speak softly. “It is all right,” he said briskly. “I was pretty sure it would be about this time yesterday, but my chief had to see his principal, and nothing could be actually certain till that interview took place. I have the money in my possession, it will be handed over to you as soon as you have delivered the goods, to speak in commercial phrase. When will it suit your convenience to deliver them?” j A remarkable change took place in- ■ stantly in the man. The anxious look, 1 the fidgety manner disappeared at once, lie was ail alacrity, rejuvenated by the prospect of speedily handling that snug little sum of a thousand pounds. A broad smile overspread his features at the delightful prospect. “Excuse my smiling at the rather humorous idea of consulting my convenience when a thousand pounds is waiting in your pocket to be transferred to mine. Your convenience, if you please, sir. I am ready to start now, in this room, but it would hardly be discreet. We shan’t have it to ourselves for long. Ah, as I speak, here is somebody coming in, the same tire- . some old bore who annoyed us the other night.” Marsden agreed that this was certain- ] ly not the place in which to listen to revelations of such a confidential and ! important character. “Quite impos- * sibie here. Come tip to my place in West Kensington about eight o’clock. , No chance of interruption there.” J Attwood looked a bit disappointed at the delay. No doubt his fingers were itching to clutch the money, and he had hoped that Marsden would propose an immediate adjournment, either to his own home or some other secluded spot. But he did not give vent to , his disappointment in words. “As you please, sir. I am entirely j at your disposal. I will be at your i place on the stroke of eight.” ! Marsden refused the offer of a drink and strolled out of the club, having ! no desire to accept the hospitality of ! this blackmailing crook. Besides, his 1 alert brain had just given birth to a i certain idea while he %vas talking to j him. { It was imposible to make sure of 1 a man of such sinister antecedents. He might be meditating a fairly square deal, but on the other hand he might not. lie might want to possess himself of that thousands pounds without carrying out his side of the bargain. He was the more powerful man of the two. Alone in those rooms at West Kensington he might suddenly take him at a disadvantage, stun him or chloroform him, decamp with the notes, and hide himself till he could get abroad with safety. lie did not actually anticipate such a disastrous ending to the interview, but his was the habit of mind that avoids anything in the shape of avoidable risks. lie must render such an occurrence impossible, so far as it was in the power of human precaution. He looked at his watch, it was just a little after twelve. A brisk walk would take him to a certain eatinghouse in the neighbourhood of Saint Martin's Lane in a few minutes. By the time he got there an old and useful friend of his, one Billy Saunders, would be finishing his usual midday meal. Billy Saunders was exactly the man for the job he had in mind. And as a matter of fact his usual luck attended him, the person he sought was there and almost on the point of finishing his meal. Mr Saunders was a man of immense build, and it must be confessed, not of a prepossessing appearance. Whatever fine qualities might have revealed themselves in his countenance at an earlier date had been battered out of recognition in countless encounters with brother pugilists. His nose was broken, and his relentless antagonists had not left a tooth in his head. All the same, in spite of these personal defects, he was a good honest fellow. lie had retired from active combat a few’ years ago. but he was still a formidable antagonist for anybody save a professional, and his leg-of-mutton fisw* looked capable of felling an ox. “Ah, Billy, I’ve got a job that will just suit you, if you are free from seven o’clock to-night onwards.” The pugilist w’as free. As soon as he had finished a very tough-looking steak and paid his reckoning, the big man was taken to an adjacent publichouse by Marsden. Providing him wii.h a big tankard of his favourite beverage. the young man proceeded to late what he required from him. “You came up to my rooms in West Kensington once before when I was interviewing a suspicious character. You didn’t have to intervene then, and I don’t expect you will have to in this case, but I’m going to take precautions. It’s precisely a similar job. A certain crook is coming to give some important information. As you wmII remember. the bedroom is shut off from the sitting-room by folding doors. As before I shall put you in the bedroom, where you will be on the alert while the gentleman and I are talking. I’ll arrange as before to give you from time to time a certain signal that everything is going on all right. The moment that signal stops rush in and secure the fellow.” I (To be continued.)