NEW “STAR” SERIAL. X ESQUIRE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18466, 18 May 1928, Page 16

NEW “STAR” SERIAL. X ESQUIRE

By

Leslie Charter

CHAPTER Vl. (Continued). “ We understand each other perfectly. Only that the deadlock is not so imminent as it might seem. I take it my own demise would hardly compensate you for any injuries which might be sustained by—the ladies." Ten\ raised his eyes coldly. “ Durin’ the last day or so." he replied contemptuously, “ I’ve been noticin’ a partiality on the part of your unsavoury gang for sneakin’ in by the back way. Very brave of them, I’m sure. I hope you never go out without your bodyguard. I mean, some ladies are pretty good scrappers. Still, half a dozen of you ought to be pretty safe." What I could see of the masked man's face flushed faintly under the lash of Terry's tongue. When the< quiet voice answered, however, I could detect no change in the even, well modulated tones. “ You misjudge me," said the mask. “ Recent events shaye shown me that you are not—you'll forgive me saying it— such a fool as you appear.” He waved a gloved hand in the direction of the row of armed men. “ Hence m)' escort." "One of whom," put in Terry, “I had to shoot in the stomach. It will take him some time to die, and I can assure you his future abode will seem like a little comic relief after it." "He exceeded his instructions,” said" the mask. He dismissed the matter with a shrug of broad shoulders. "How ever—we can ,talk over many things later. Will you come as you are or would you like to put on an overcoat? It's a cool night." There was a long silence. Then *

"As a comedian," Terry remarked, "we'd be appreciatin’ you better if you told us when to laugh. I mean, I don’t want to be spoilin’ it by guffawin’ in the wrong place." . “Don’t fool, Terry," Sir John’s voice came to me. He turned to the man in the window. "Who the devil are you, sir, and what are you doing in here with your gang of hooligans? You’re frightening the ladies.” "Sir John Mannering?” The masked head bowed. "I thought the face was familiar. And Lady Mannering?” he turned to the. old lady sitting bolt upright in her chair, regarding him scornfully. "I apologise. Believe me, as long as there is no—er —roughness, the in no danger.” Terry pitched away the stump of his cigarette and lit a second. Then he stood up. / ‘‘You’re right, Dad," he said quietly. "I’m the source of entertainment here. Therefore the sooner the sourft of entertainment moves, the sooner you’ll be able to get the men in with disinfectant and Keating’s Powder.” His eyes met the masked man’s levelly. “Do vou mind removin’ the waxworks, Raffles?” "I have your word then ?” the mask began politely. “Get on with it,” cut in Terry curtly. “And you needn’t worry about dramatic effect, Rudolph, because all our photographers are on holiday.” "The men will follow you out,” returned the other with equal brusqueness. For a fraction of second Terry’s eyes met Ann’s, and then she watched him stride over to the window without a word. I, who had not had the message of that look, started forward. Bill’s hand on my arm stayed me. "Stand still, you rabbit,” he hissed in my ear, and numbly I obeyed. Unhesitatingly Terry parted the curtains and stepped through the window, and one of the armed men followed him. Two of them pocketed their automatics and picked up their wounded companion and carried him after the first. The last to go, the masked man paused in the window, and looked back.

"I need hardly warn you,” he said, "that it will be better for the health of your friend to refrain from giving the alarm too precipitately. Good morning.” As he went Bill coolly lit a cigarette. And as he did so I heard a scufflle and an oath from outside, and sprang forward. As we flung the curtains aside the burly form of a constable showed up in the gap. He stepped into the room and looked around. 1 "Everything all right, Sir John?” he asked. "Nobody hurt?" "None of us hurt,” Sir John replied, and at that moment the local sergeant stepped into the room and touched his helmet to Sir John and BiH. His hand was bleeding. * “We lost the last one, I’m afraid, sir,” said the man. He was examining his hands as he spoke, and I saw they were both badly lacerated. "How was that?" Bill snapped* "Couldn’t hold him, sir,” replied the sergeant, selecting the most damaged hand and wrapping his handkerchief round it. "We grapped him same as the others, and we had to let go. Must have been covered with steel spikes under his coat, he must. Man I’ve got out there looking after the others—he's worse’n I am." Bill nodded. "Apache trick,” he explained to me. "And all the more annoying as he’s the only one that matters. By the way, where’s Terr^?” In the room a hum of conversation had broken out. Sir John and Lady Mannering and the girls were gathered round the constable, discussing the hold-up. And at that moment Terry returned, a trifle out of breath, but still smoking his cigarette. He and Ann came over and joined "For a life of peace and quiet,” he remarked cheerfully, "give me a coun-

try house. There’s no beatin’ it. What I’m try in’ to make out is what people go into monasteries and things for.”

“I may deserve the title of an appalling imbecile,” I ventured, "but how exactly did the young police force arrive on the scene?” Bill and Terry looked at one another, then at me. “And yet,” said Bill, “in the Temple he is not without honour.” "I’m just as much in the dark,” Ann put in. "Quite simple. che’ild,” explained Terry airily'-. “That is to say, to brains such as mine and Bill’s. As a matter of fact, it was Bill’s idea. After the recent charades and so forth he thought we might be doin' worse than takin' precautions and things. So we arranged for Beau to ring me up when we’d had time to get back. In order, little one,” he elaborated, for my benefit, “to ascertain whether we had arrived in due order.” “I thought that must be the reason,” I exclaimed sarcastically. “The legal brain,” Terry commended. "\\ ell. you may not have noticed it. but when Zorro and his pals sailed in, and the lights went out, mv revered parent deposited the receiver on the table—in order, brother”—again he turned to me—"to be able to see in the dark.” "Naturally,” I agreed. “Therefore,” concluded Terry, "voila —our little domestic theatricals relayin’ to all stations.” Bill laughed. "I don’t know whether it was Terry or I who noticed it first. Still, when it did dawn the general idea was simpb r to play for time. Then when Reed indicated his arrival by putting an eye through the curtains, Terry led the stampede.” "And the animals went out one by one,” murmured Terry, “and eke three by three in one instance.” "But I don’t understand,” Ami cried. “There was yesterday morning, too. What do they want you for—or me?” Terry enclosed one of her hands in his. “There are several knotty points,” he said soberly, “awaitin’ the aspirin’ Pinkerton in this affair. And they’ll all bear sleepin’ on—barrin’ the High Priest’s hedgehog vestments. So —we’ll have words in the mornin’.” "I shall hold >*ou to that,” she warned him from the door. "Right," he agreed. "But toddle along to bed now. It’s after four. You’ll be losin’ that schoolgirl complexion." But as she went he turned to us with a face in which there was no banter. "And,” he said, "I’m thinkin’ that’s not the first time that question’s goin’ to be asked me to-day. Damn that blighter,” he broke out savagely. “Why the devil must he drag in Ann? And why parade himself in front of this roomful of people? I’m only wonderin’ why the old man didn’t shout the question as soon as I came back.” "He’s coming now,” Bill said grimly. Terry shrugged his shoulders and turned to meet his father. With a brief nod to Bill and IS he turned to Terry. “Would you just come along to my study a moment?” he said evenly. “Tony will see that Sergeant Reed and the others have something before they go.” Without waiting for a reply he left the room. Terry followed him. As he went Bill and I looked at each other. “The problem remains,” 43i1l said, “to invent a sufficiently, convincing fable to account to the others for to-night’s happenings.” He went over and pressed the bell. As we waited for an answer—“lncidentally,” I said, “where’s Peters? Terry’s shot should have woken him.” ‘.‘Lord knows,” . Bill replied unconcernedly. "He sleeps like a dormouse. Probably never heard it.” And then Madeline came over to us, agog with excitement. “What was it all about, Bill?” she demanded. “What’s Terry done?" “Nobody can make out,” Bill answered swiftly, before I could register perplexity. “Terry doesn’t know. It was probably an attempt at modern brigandage—capture him and hold him to ransom. That’s the obvious answer.” And it was the answer \vith which Kathleen’s curiosity was appeased a moment later.

“Although," Bill said to me when the ladies had retired, "I doubt if that explanation will satisfy Sir John.” He went over to the bell again and pressed it vigorously. "Leave it to Terry,” I said. “As the man said just now, he’s anything but the fool he appears.” “Think he’ll hedge?” Bill queried. "Leave it to Terry,” I repeated. "He knows more than we do. The decision won’t take him long and anyway ” "Laddie!” shouted Bill suddenly. "What mugs we are! No wonder liarvev hasn’t answered the bell.” lie dashed from the room, and I followed him. In the servants hall we found the butler scientifically trussed to a chair, and securely gagged. Bill slashed through the ropes with a bread knife. “Thank you, sir,” Harvey said when he could speak. He stretched his cramped limbs painfully. "What happened?” Bill demanded. "I couldn't hardly tell, sir,” the man answered. "I’d just taken the coffee into the library, and came back and sat down here. Then two men jumped on me from behind, gagged me, and tied me up. I couldn’t defend myself —it was all done so sudden.” (To be Continued).