X ESQUIRE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18467, 19 May 1928, Page 27 (Supplement)

X ESQUIRE

NEW * STAR ” SERIAL

By

Leslie Charteris

CHAPTER VI.-—(Continued). “Where's the main, switch?” Bill “Just through there, sir, in the pantry.” “Well, don’t touch it until I tell you it’s all clear. Tell the other servants:” “Very” good, sir.’’ “And you might make some more coffee and sandwiches. I’ll be sending some police in to you in a minute. They came up here just in time to. catch the men who did it.” “Indeed, sir? And, pardon me, sir, but do you mind my asking what the report was?” “Mr Terry’s revolver- We were held up in the library.” “Nobody injured, I hope, sir?” “ Nobody of importance” Bill moved towards the door. “ Right; get on with that coffee now, will you? ” “ Very good, sir.” As we left the room, I asked Bill if he was going to try for finger-prints on the switch. “ Finger-prints, laddie? ” He'ttirned and-'-looked at me amusedly. ' “ Nd. Petexs’U take those—he’ll love it. It’s no use, of course, but Peters has afi orthodox mind.” “The general idea? ” I chaffed him. “ Precisely,” he returned, unperturbed. “ Why worry about the mere instruments? And incidentally, we might go up and look at Peters. See if he’s all right.” We climbed the stairs and proceeded along the passage to Peters’ room. Bill opened the door. The room was in darkness, and he switched on the light. I entered after, him. A peculiar sickly smell hung in the air, and Bill chuckled. _ , “Peters! ” he grinned. “And at his time of life! ” Peters was King in bed, apparently asleep. His stolid red face was peaceful, and his chest rose and fell evenly.

“ He’ll be wild when he comes to,” Bill said. "We might as well leave him to sleep it off." He turned off the lights and wc wen„ downstairs again. As we reached the library door it opened before us, and the form of Sergeant Reed appeared. As he saw us he gave a grunt of relief. “ Come and look at this, Mr Kennedy',” he said. , We followed him through the library and out into the garden “ Mind your step, sir, he said as mil reached the window. As I passed through it and out on to the terrace I nearly fell over the form of a constable. We brought him into the library, and Bill went to fetch water. When he returned we heard the story. “ Me and Austin —he indicated the second constable —“ were sitting in here after you’d gone out, and I thought I might as well have this man in out of the "cold. He was watching the prisoners, as you know. sir. When I went oiit to call him X found ’im like this.” He waved his hand at the policeman, now sitting up and massaging the back of his head dazedly. “ Laid out, neat as you please, and not a sound. “ They was aIL ’andcuffed together, said the constable, by now recovering under Bill’s expert ministrations. An all more or less laid out, but just recovering We didn’t knock ’em out too ’ard—just silly like, so’s they wouldn’t call out and warn the others. I was walking up and down, trying to get warm, and something ;t me be’uul. I never saw nothing more.” “ And the birds are all flown,” Bill said grimly. “ You know Tony, that’s what I call thorough. Hedgehog just fades out of tight and then comes back to release his pals. , “ I should have thought he d have been too busy putting ground between himself and the hue and cry,” I said. “ You would,” Bill retorted. “ The objection to that is that captured confederates have, turned King’s evidence before now. Therefore the safe wav is not to allow them to be captured.” He stood up and placed the remains of the glass of water on the tab!*:. “ If VOU three go along to the servants’ hall,” he said, “ there’s coffee and sandwiches waiting for you. Down the passage and the end door, facing you.” They' ,went, and Bill moved over to the table where the tantalus was, returning with drinks. " A merry morning, he remarked, setting down a glass in front of me. “ The man with the mask, now, would have been a catch. I wonder where he lives? There’s not so many places round here where one can wear fuil evening dress without attracting attention. Not one of the regular crim-

linal fraternity either, as far as I know. A mask’s no sort of disguise if you’re observant. I should have recognised him if I’d known him. I suppose he’s merely one of the merchants in the crowd Terry’s up against.” “Merely?” I echoed mildly. “ I’m not using the word in any sense of depreciation,” Bill said. “ Far from it. The man’s thorough—remarkably thorough. He didn’t even miss Peters.” He slapped his thigh. “ And I wouldn’t mind betting Gilley’s Iy'ing in a similar condition in his cottage. The man’s a gem—a gem, Tony'.” He broke off, and we both stiffened suddenly as the curtains parted. It was only “ Beau'” Verreker, however. We waved hands at him, and he came over and flung himself into a chair. The acquisition of his nickname was to most • people a^'m^stet:thing less' resembling the beau St would be difficult to conceive. Verreker was lean and brown, and his hobby was exploring unknown places in deadly climates. The, manner of his gaining the title dates back to the days at Cambridge when “ Verreker ” became abbreviated to “ Verrey,” and “ Verrey ” was translated into “ Beaucoup;” and “ Beaucoup ” was bisected itlto “Beau.” But vyith the fate of the criminal who performed the translation, the fastidious will not be unduly concerned. And, incidentally, he was the son of Sir Martin Verreker, of the Manor, at whose house we had been dancing. *“ Too late, naturally,” Beau said in disgust. “ Got as far as the crossroads when a tyre blew out. Started as soon as I'd rung up the Roberts. Had to leave the bus out there on the road. Fine night, anyway. Chauffeur can fetch it in the morning” “You’ve missed some entertainment,” Bill said dryly, and proceeded to recount what had happened while I poured the newcomer a drink. “ Thanks, Tony,” Beau said as I handed him the glass. “ All the fun of the fair, by Jove I And Terry pipped one of ’em? Good shooting that, in the dark.” “ It’s lucky we arranged for you to ring us up,” Bill observed. “Otherwise we’d probably be without Terry by now. Even an Assistant Commissioner can’t prevent an abduction with ten automatics in the way.” “Assistant Commissioner?” Beau cried, setting down his glass. “ You don’t say?”

Bill nodded. “You’ve been out in the wilderness, laddie.” He stopped short as Terry came in He was a little pale, but he waved cheerfully to Verreker. “ You’ll have ; to amuse y-ourself a bit, Beau,” he said. “ We’re palaverin’ in the old man’s study. I’ve just come to summon Bill and Tony to the fray. Fur flyin’ right and left. Hold your socks up, my bonnies, and breathe through the nose.” “Told him?” Beau shot out. “ Like the tramp’s trousers,” Terry replied. “ Patches. You’re not supposed to know anything, though. Come on, you two specimens.” Reluctantly we deserted our drinks and followed him. We found Sir John seated in one of the deep armchairs which were the major part of the study furniture. At his elbow stood a table which bore a tantalus, a siphon, and glasses. Fie was smoking a cigar, and his face as he waved us to chairs was inscrutable. It struck me more than ever at that moment that he was. a living retort to the argument that Terry was a harmless and amiable imbecile. For Terry’s face was the face of his father—not yet lined, but stamped with the same unmistakable marks of character: the same dominant mouth, the same idealist’s jaw, the same humorous blue eyes which could on occasion harden into the semblance of tempered steel. And this was an occasion when the usual mockery' was absent from both. “ I’m sorry to have dragged vou away from your drinks,” Sir John said as we sat down. “ You can remedy that now. And as you’re both tired we’ll be as quick as possible.” He. stopped, and for a time there was silence, while Terry lit a cigarette carefully'. (To be Con tin ued).