The Jade Token

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 12

The Jade Token

Serial Story

(By

Ralph Trevor)

(Author of “Under Suspicion,’ etc.) (All Rights Reserved)

SYNOPSIS

A murder Is committed in the ! surgery of Dr. Wallace Langley, he ! being decoyed from the place at the I time. The police find the murdered ! man. named Conrad Ricks, has come’ i from South America, and had recently | asked Jules Conn, an antique dealer, ! to value a piece of Jade set with a valuable ruby and inscribed with ! hieroglyphics. This jade token is now missing.

Scotland Yard have been perplexed by a series of daring jewel robberies. Curtis Burke, a brilliant young detective who is given control of the case, connects these robberies with the murder of Conrad Ricks.

Inspector Ames, an elderly detective, assists Burke. Ames is hostile to Dr. Langley, and feeling that he is under suspicion, Langley consults Sir Garvice XVatkin, a great criminal lawyer. Langley is engaged to Sonia Cranston, a niece of Sir Garvice. Sir Garvice tells the young doctor that there is something suspicious about Inspector Ames. Sir Garvice Watkin invites Burke to his country house for the week-end. and there he meets Ann Marvin, a friend of Sonia Cranston.

There is an atmosphere of mystery about Ann Marvin and Burke, although attracted to her, suspects her

of being a criminal. A gold crucifix belonging to Sir Garvice is stolen during the night. Looking for clues Burke finds a biack bone button of an unusual type. There was only one man he knew who wore buttons like that, and that was Detective Inspector Ames, of Scotland Yard. Burke visits Professor Browning to try and learn something of the history j of the ancient Jade token which was i stolen from the murdered man. ■ Another murder is commit Led, and j jewels stolen. Finger-prints lead to the arrest of one Joe Denver. ! Sir Garvice \\ atkiu oilers his services in the defence of the accused. At the trial it transpires that Denver has been a member of “The Long Ann.’’ a criminal association with an unknown head who directs all its operations. CHAPTER X XI.-- (Continued.; I ! ■ J m glad you arc so considerate for our personal well-being, Mr Burke,” said Ames. "1 think it is always so much nicer to meet a charge on‘a full stomach. Hid yon say you would breakfast with us?” lie added, solicitously. "Yes, please dot" chimed tn Ann Marvin.’ before Burke could find suit- | able words for a reply. ”11 M' on I lake I a minute for the eggs.” j ■Thanks but I'll wait I” said Burke, addressing Ann. "But please remember that I'm perfectly serious. This is no moment for foolery.” Ann Marvin dimpled prettily and sat down to the table. "Oh please don't go.” site smiled a, Burke moved towards the door. ■We don't reallv mind people watching us eal. do we'.’" and she turned lo the Inspector for contirmation. "It will be warmer here, too, chuckled Ames, munching his toast. Willi a frown Burke turned. I "Perhaps 1 had better keep an eye I on you, " lie grumbled. 1 The lone of his vohe seemed In I hurl, the girl and pushing aside he:' plate she leaned a little way I Hie table to where he sal. ■ • not really serious, are you. i jii-ii-. she asked, gravely. "-prions!” Curtis Burke laughed. What next would this ingenuous young woman ask him. Serious indeed: Good Lord! Dili she honestly think he was ; enjoying himself. “1 wish 1 weren t ! serious. ’’ he owned. “I wish this had I never happened.” ] “But there's your duly, Mr Burke.” admonished Ames, in the same genial manner. "You must not allow sentiment. In intrude upon duty. “Please!” Ann turned to the elder man at the head of the little table with a suggestion in tier manner which said: “You leave him to me.” “Good!” exclaimed Ames, in 8 re-j lleved voice. I’m 100 hungry to talk ; —just yet.” , | “Now Curtis, what's the trouble?” i began Ann. seriously. “You don't [ really-think we* look like criminals, do. you ?“ Burke was taken completely off his : guard for the moment. He had not expected the conversation to swing j round quite so suddenly and he met ■ the girl's eyes challenging him. j “If criminals were convicted on ap- ! pearances." he told her. “it is just I possible, that our gaols would be nearly < empty.” “Thank you!” smiled Ann. “That’s j the first compliment you have ever j paid me. But I’m serious. 1 want i lo know from what have xou got Hie I nee that seems lo be adorning your ' bonnet. You’ve been talking a inf. of ; nonsense about taking—lnspector Ames and myself down to Scotland | Yard lo have us charged with some j fantastic crime. But you're wrong—quite wrong, and If you'll promise to hold your hand for perhaps three or four days you'll not be sorry that you’ve listened to me. - ’ Burke heard her in amazement. There was something oddly convincing about her words. They rang strangely true and made him feel just the least bit uneasy. He looked along the table lo where Arnes sal. apparently oblivious In everything except his breakfast which he was obviously enjoying. “T have not forgotten last night.’; said Burke, slowly. “Innocent people | don’t make it their business In dupe j officers of the law quite so flagrantly.” “Bui you will forget about it,” went on Ann, “before -very tong you’ll be laughing about it. You'll he telling yourself that Ann Marvin was a damn smart woman to trick Mr Curtis Burke so easily. Promise me you won’t do anything silly, Curtis.” The young man felt awkward. He did not like the familiar way she addressed him in front of. Ames and hi began to wonder what her motive could be. But he told himself also that he wasn't going to let either of them fool him a second time. He was de.Lerininsd to- do wk<d he had sut-

g'sted take them to Scotland Yard and risk the consequences. After all, even If he had blundered, the Assistant Commissioner was bound to agree against them. H wasn't, his place to prove anything. They had both acted suspiciously and he was justified in taking a perfeclly normal course. “I'm afraid It's no use your talking like that.” he announced. “I’m in a desperately difficult position and if I am to believe the evidence of my own eyes w’hen I saw you hand the Fanshawe ruby to Ames. I cannot do anything else except arrest you both on suspicion. 'Phen it will be up to you to clear yourselves—if you can. he added, significantly.

Burke noticed a flash of pain dart into the girl's eyes. He knew that his words had hurl her more than she might have liked to admit, but they had hurt, him. also: hurl, him Just as badly as they had hurt her. “I say you will do nothing of the kind. Burke!” Curtis Burke turned his head abruptly at the sound of Ames's voice and the lone of command in which he had uttered the words. Inspector Ames had crumpled his fable napkin and flung it on to the table in front, of him. “And why not?” challenged Burke. “Because I object tn you interfering wilh mp in Hip course of my chily as a police officer. Isn't that good enough?" Arnes demanded. “No!” flashed Burke, determined not. to he talked out of his expressed intentions. “1 have only your word for that and I'm not convinced that I'd be doing the right thing in withholding my power Lo arrest.” inspector Robert Ames's face hardened and Burke, never remembered having seen the expression on it before. “I think it is lime. Mr Burke, for you to listen io me. Throughout the conduct of this case you 'nave occasionally been rather troublesome to me. I don't say that you have been so intentionally, but at the time 1 didn’t, feel disposed to enter into what would have been somewhat lengthy explanation, added to which 1 expect you would have misbelieved me. Even at this stage I doubt whether I am wise in showing you my hand. Had you been more experienced I might have done so earlier, but now 1 realise that your stubbornness makes me take a course contrary to my convictions. If you were lo carry out your intention now; if you marched me down to Scotland Yard and preferred a charge against inc, you would not only bring down upon your head the anger of your superiors and lay yourself open lo instant dismissal, but yon would prohibit me from bringing to Justice one of the greatest criminals who has ever walked across the stage of crim—Hie criminal who murdered Gonra<: Ricks and who stole the jade token.' Ames paused lo allow the import o. is words tn sink into the young man' mind, ami during the pause he sludie Curtis Burke's face intently. He no Heed that he had gone a trifle pale. He noted the nervous twitching of hi colleague's hands. All these symptoms told him that he had shaker Burke's confidence. “Before 1 roll my sleeve aiic show you the cards I have concealed there," pursued tm inspector, ’I flhould like to introduce you lo m> daughter, Ann Ames, alias Ann MarI \:n amt a dozen others. CHAPTER X.XH. Ames States His Case. Curtis Burke was staggered. In that critical moment he fell as if the world had fallen away from beneath him. Ann Manin was the daughter of Inspector Robert Ames! It took several minutes for the significance of the statement to sink into the disordered condition of the young man’s mind. Of course the relationship accounted for much that he had hitherto been utterly unable tu comprehend, but it did not account for her being in possession of the Fanshawe ruby; neither did it satisfy his instinctive suspicion •against Ames himself. He now realised that Ames was remarkably clever most crooks had lo be, for that matter —and Burke himself had no doubt. Inspector Arnes might think himself clever enough to throw dust into his eyes by the concoction of some extremely plausible story which would serve to make him stay his hand. Ann Marvin was smiling at Burke's obvious embarrassment. She seemed lo be enjoying a rather good joke against him, and lie thought she would have interpolated a remark had she not caught her father’s waiming glance. "I am wailing to hear Hie remainder of the fable," announced Burke cynically. “I can sec you are going lo be difficult lo convince,. Mr Burke,” went on Arnes, with no sign of annoyance al Burke's impolite expression of doubt. “Of course, 1 don't, blame you. I admit it does sound rather romantic, hut in actual fact tin's is one of the most serious moments in the lives of the three of us. It is serious for me because it may mean the undoing of years of hard and difficult work; for you it may mean disaster so far as your progressive ambitions in the profession you have chosen; for Ann ”

here the inspector paused to glance at her. “For- Ann it may mean all the difference between happiness and misery. I think you will understand what f mean by that, Mr Burke. Though 1 have been a police officer tor as long as 1 care to remember. 1 am not altogether insensible lo the little charming and romantic graces of life. I have suspected my daughter of being in love, and I know that you arc in lovp, and I don’t, want to be the

means nf destroying something which is nine* Import ant than mundane duty. However, with regard tn Ann. I suppose, Mr Burke, you have ’heard of Pringle's, that world-wide detective organisation ? Of course you have! Well. Ann is,, an esteemed member of that famous firm. She has been ever since we returned from America five years ago. Not only that—she is also a crook—a very skilled crook, if I may pay her au expert compliment. .(To be Continued.)