“The Shadow Of The Verneside.”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 12

“The Shadow Of The Verneside.”

NEW SERIAL STORY . .

By

FENTON YORKE.

Trees and hedgerows blurred past The car sped on with a steady iniK’c.ihum of engines and a swift panting " her exhaust. They had covered anoth' ten miles when they spied hi the \ ; ley before them another village. As they entered the. main street Hi received a warning signal from a ■'.>! stable. "Verne slowed down, meanii to pass through the village at. a noi <uhl speed. A quarter of a mile, fur llier on, as they were gathering speed again for the rush into open countr}. ' his eye caught sight of a cordon ol stout cable stretched across the road In front of them. “We re caught !” muttered Jerry angrily. “Stop her. for God’s sake!’ Verne's face was while and sei. as he turned-the car up a steep little lane al the side of (he road and c«ame tn a standstill fifty yards ahead. Thp two men looked al each other In desI peration. At that moment the con- ' stable, big and bovine, came pantlnc I up to them. ! Verne swore under his breath. i ■ Keep a hold on yourself.’ whisj pered Jerry. “ Lot me do the talk--1 Ina:.'' ■ “ Well, sir.” said the man. grinning 1 stupidly, “ I’ve got your number all right. You two gents can spend the ( day in the lock-up.” i Look hpre,” said Jerry in an injured tone. “ you’re making some beastly mistake. What car are you : looking for anyway and what do you mean by trying to commit murder with that damned cable there?” ” I've got the car I'm looking for," I said the constable. ” You’re the gents ! what scorched through West Tollington ten minutes ago. Anyway you ! was scorching through this village I and 1 arrest you both.” He moved nearer. j “ Hands off,” pul in Verne. ” We’ll ! have you arrested for blocking traffic lif you're not careful. You nearly ! wrecked my car with that confounded rope. Yon've made a big mistake somewhere and you'd beiler get out of this and let us go on.” ” 'Taint no use talking. You and j your friend had better come, along of me to the station.” He laid a heavy hand on Jerry's arm. At that instant Jerry’s prf caught » I Hip sound of another motor, j The car wag evidently approaching at a terrific rate. The next moment, I he saw it whirr past the pnd of the 'ane. He looked at the constable who >vas gazing with open mouth down the 1 .me. j ” You silly fool.” oried Jerry, j that s the oar you should have I -lopped. I told you you had the I wrong one. You'll have to pay for ielaying m» like this my line fellow. J :o!h men ran towards the end of the •me, just in time to see the chauffeur I > f the other car culling the cable. He lumped back Into the driver's seat and he car bounded forward again. "Quick, you idiot, take Iho number, ou'll miss it yol.” The constable • lood dazed, hesitaling between the -ird in the hand and the one that was low disappearing up the road in a ■loud of dusl. Verne was already backing the • urpip car out of Hip lane. There .\as no mistaking the Identity of the nn In the oilier car. Tlu* m »nmnlry stop had shown them Sir Philip t the. wheel, his face dust grimed and 'iis inoulli grimly spl. Already he vas some miles ahead of them! . . . , hi Hie way to his bride! CHAPTER LWI. Sir Philip Leads. 1 iIK " r * blank dismay came • \er tlu id as Hie oHmr car disappeared i’i-iii sight. "That's Hip car that broke the •peed limit in West Tolling Lon,” said ■••rry angrily, you'll get into rouble over lliis bit of work.” He' imped into Hie car beside Verne. The • nslable, still looking decidedly perb xed began Io demur. " Here take lliis,'’ said Jerry, 'trusting some money into Ihe man's :md. " and be. more careful next w.0." The car bounded forward and • ■rry took out his watch. Gel Hie best mil of her you can. •Id man, ’ he said. ’’ There's no time low for prccautlonll. was 12.36 md they had Mill thirty miles to ll’ v** don'l go* io Verne.side by ■U l ’. there II be lillle rlianre of seeing I'hey were speeding down a long hill ■ ' a good sixty miles an hour as I \ 1 lup spoke. At Hie foot lay another :amlel. " Burse these villages,” growled J'-rr). "."low up, old man.” Again iliey wen* on the open road. Verne's ,ip> were sei in a straight line. Jerry ••ml inued Io encourage and restrain .urn though inwardly he was full • I doubts as Io their chance of sucpms. He gi.tnced a! his friend s stern ace. What would Maurice do, tie Aondered, if he arrived just 100 late? \s t hough in answer to his thoughts . erne burst mil .... "God! Murison, if I should lose her low! After all we/ve been through ” "Hut you won't'’ said Jerry. “In llern minutes we'll be Ihere.” Fiilern minutes!" "11 Dale suspects who has taken i" car lie ina\ have Hie wedding ushed slill more . . . ' groaned \Trne A e nia\ be 100 late . . . after all.” Al. that moment they reached tin ■rest, of the hill. An exclamation ■roke from Jerry. 'Tliri-P he is!”' No|. far ahead, Hying along Hip roau dial wound through the valley was .iip oilier car. Jerry lay back in his sea! and laughed. "We’ll overtake him, if you aiim'l, careful. Isn't Ihere some short cut. you could lake and head him off?' "Not nil we get nearer. Tlmn 1 can run Hie car through the West "How far is that from (lie house?’’ "A few hundred yards.” They were nearing Middle Garlelon ami Jerry laid his hand on Verne's arm. ■ "Everything depends on caution now, lie said. "He's turning! lie's turning 1” cried | Verm*. ‘My God! lie's making for 1 Hie W'psl galPs! We're lost ! That lane loads to Hie Wpsl. gales. They are I quite near the Hall.”

! As they passed the end of the lane they saw Sir Philip jump from the ear and rush for the gales like a madiian, followed by 'Captain Cartwright. "Good I.ord! He’s on the scent'.” ried Jerry. \ erne brought the car to a grindig standstill and make to jump out. "Where are you going?’’ asked ierry, seizing his arm. "After that blackguard!” retorted Verne, white with anger. ”1 11 show him which is the better men!” You idiot!” cried Jerry. Leaning * over he restarted the car. As it bounded forward he pushed Verne back into his seat. Go to the other gates,” he ordered, “It's your only ’ chance.” ' Verne placed his hands mechanically ’ on the wheel. ' ! "Damn you. Murison! After all you'' ■ ! fine work you are losing me the girl now!' CHAPTER LXVII. Suspense. I Verne jumped from the car at the , ; east gates and tore the goggles from I I his eyes. , I "We've lost! We've lost!” he kept ! saying. Lisle's at the Hall by now and. . . oh, my God! . . . Joy, what s I going Lo become of her?” • Jerry had his watch out. “There's still a good hour till the : wedding. Don’t stand there hlitherI Ing. The girl's dressing now, you 1 idiot. She's not married yet. They ; lake a good hour to dress before a wedding. We'll waylay her on I her way to the church. Will she I come this way?” | "No, no,” groaned Verne. Sud- , : denly he shook off Jerry's restraining ' hand. I "1 have it!” lip shouted excitedly. I "Nancy!” He sei off at a run, Jerry • followed. | Nancy Hubbard was just selling mil 1 I for the Hall with Joy's wedding veil. I Suddenly she heard her name called. "Nancy, Nancy!” The young master's voice! Il ■ 100 much for the Irishwoman. She ! through up her hands with a cry ol , fear. The next instant, she felt herself encircled by a pair nf strong arms. “Och, Is your old Nannie seeing a i ghost?” “No, no, Nannie. I’m no ghost.' j Verne spoke In an agony of haste. « 1 "Brace up, Nancy, and listen lo me. ! ( Where's Miss Hartington?” < "Miss Hartington? Why, at the Mali ! of course, waiting for me to put hei veil on.” She looked at Verne again and seemed to realise for the first time what his coming meant. A lillb cry escaped her. < “Maurie!” she cried, "She loved you. Only yesterday she told b* ! she would always love you. Am now you've come, too late. Merc; me, what will you do at all?" “Listen, Nancy. You must go ' her. At once'. See her alone am ( get her to come here with you. Onl bring her. I'll be waiting here.” "Rut they'll never let her leave th Hall,” cried Nancy. "They don’t b the poor little thing out. of the sight. . . .” "You must manage it somehow Nancy. Whisper lo her lhal 1 an here, wailing for her. Say anything anything, only bring her. . . .” "But slip thinks you're dead. MauriHow can I tell her. . . .” "My God, Nancy! Doesn’t she know I Then pretend it’s for some olln I reason you are taking her. There - 1 not a moment tn lose. Go. for m sake. Nancy. ...” 1 Without another word the worn., started off at a run. “It, the last, chance.” Verne said ;■ they went into the cottage. "You wail, here, old man,” sai t Jerry, “and 111 go and see what petro j we've got. I don't, think we've (juit j finished with old Dale’s car yet!” ( Left alone Verne paced to and fro. e _. his ears strained to catch the sound j of footsteps. His heart was pound- ] ing heavily with anxiety yet there was nothing he could do but wail. j The minutes dragged on and no one j came. Verne glanced from the win- j dow a hundred lime's but. there was j no one In sight. He could hear the j soft purring of the. Mercedes on the j olher side of the coppice. Suddenly < he gave a cry and rushed out of Hie c collage. j. CHAPTER LNVIIL Flight. 2 1 Joy waved to Nancy from the win- } dow as she saw her hurrying towards j the Hall. A minute later the Irish- t woman had entered Joy's room. She 1 closed and locked the door behind her. r "What. Is it?” asked Joy apprehensively, -is anything wrong, Nancy?” Nancy's breath came in short gasps after her run through the park, but her face was determined. I “Nothing's wrong, darling.” Her eyes had caught sight of the motoring garb that lay on the bed. She' picked it up. I "My veil. Nancy, quick,” said Joy. “I mustn't, be late amt keep Sir Philip n wailing. Lady Julia has gone to speak lo the vicar and will be back a for me any moment. You'll jus! have Sl lime lo arrange il nicely for me.” e Nancy was bringing the silver grey S' motor coal, over lo where Joy stood h by the long mirror. c "Darling.” she said tenderly, "trust r your old Nancy now. There's been a little accident, darling. . . nothing serious, but you must, come quickly L with me through Hie park. She slip- S ped Hie coal on Joy as she spoke and L began to lie the mauve motor-veil over V tier shining hair. E “What is il. Nancy? I will not go E till you tell me. Is Philip hurt? is h he 111?" V “Yes." went on Nancy, as if speak- E ing to herself, ‘'There’s been a lillle p accident lo Sir Philip. . . nothing I serious. .. . he'll be all right. I pro--1 mlsed to spirit, you away without Lady | Julia knowing. He doesn't want a fuss. You’ll be back in fifteen min- V ules. Gome, darling. ...” z! Very gently she Jed Hie mystifed girl through the far door of lhe room J into lhe dressing room beyond. 4To be continued;.