"The Other John Smith,"

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 141001, 20 April 1920, Page 7

"The Other John Smith, "

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.,

(By LEWIS EAMSDEN). Author of “Prisoners of the Council,” “My Lady of the Car,’-'- “The Golden Casket,” “The Word of a Somerleigh,” etc., etc.

(COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTE R XIX. —Continued. As soon as the maid had gone 1 turned mp attention to the Other John j Smith’s overcoat, which was hanging behind the door. It was a light motoring coat, which he had probably worn on his visit to Bromsgrove House that morning. I found nothing in the pockets. Of course, 1 did not really expect to find anything of importance; but thought it incumbent on me to search on the chance of discovering something which would bear upon the fateful document copy. Having performed this duty, I turned out the smoky lain]), and sat down to wait patiently. In something less than half an hour I heard a ring at the front door boll. Whoever had come had done so very quietly, for I had heard no sound of footsteps, though 1 had heard a motor car about a minute before, but as l it had stopped somewhere a few doors away, it was nothing of which to take notice. The inner door of the hall was opened. There was a slight murmur of voices; then again there was silence. I had stepped behind the door of my room in readiness, but was beginning to think the newcomer was not the man I expected, when, without any warning sound, the door was opened, and, noi the Other John Smith, but two men, silently and. quickly entered. Instantly 1 knew L was again in danger, and the trap 1 had prepared for another was likely to close upon myself. 1 only gave one look at the men from behind the door which had opened back upon me, but that look was sufficient to assure me that I had seen them in company with the man Schmidt. I remained perfectly still, for one of them was holding the door handle. Doubtless it took the pair this time to get used do the semi-darluiess to which my own eyes had become accustomed. “Donuer and Teufel!” exclaimed the mail holding the door. "He is not here.” i “Look about you. He must be,” growled the other angrily. Naturally the man near me commenced by looking behind the door. Excepting under the table or the couch it was about the only place in the room where anybody could have been concealed. Directly lie saw me, he made a grab at me, but, being prepared, I met his attempt with a blow that sent him reeling back against the table, and upon his comrade, who was looking carefully under it. ' Then I dashed out upon the landing, but here my flight came to an end as ignominious as it was unexpected. CHAPTER XX. ANOTHER SURPRISE. The landing was considerably darker than the room, and somehow 1 had not thought of the possibility of anyone being stationed outside the door. Probably there were two men, but I never saw, and never afterwards knew. They must have been most alert and adroit, too, for without the slightest warning I found myself struggling blindly, completely enfolded in a cloth which had been thrown about me. Before I had completely realised what had happened, I was on the door, reduced to the extreme of helplessness by the tying of a cord about my arms and feet. I heard no sound of voices, and i although the cloth over my head may have largely prevented me from hearing, I think the whole thing was done very quietly, the most noise having been made when I had knocked the man over and bolted from the room.

As I was thus down I felt the pressure of two heavy bodies upon me. Even the futile movements I might have made were being prevented by the simple expedient of sitting upon me. Then, through the stout cloth I could see the glow of a light, probably thrown upon my face from an electric lamp. Again I tried to call out, for something damp was being held over that part of the cloth which covered my nose and mouth, and the next moment I held my breath, for I had inhaled the fumes,'sickly, pungent and choking, of some anaesthetic. The anaesthetic must have been very rapid in its action, for after that deep draught I remember only a few spasmodic struggles ere 1 relapsed into a dreamlike state, in which I seemed to hear the* buzz and whirr of a rapidly revolving wheel, the sound alternately advancing until it roared through my head, and receding until it appeared to come from a great distance. When I awoke it was to find myself, s! ill fully drgssed, lying upon a bed in a strange room, which was fully pervaded by the light of morning. A horrible nausea, however, prevented me for a time from showing any interest in my surroundings, though after a while I struggled into a sitting posture, then by a further effort rolled off the bed, and on frightfully shaky legs made for the indow, which was partly open, and through which came an unmistakable sea breeze. When I had lurched across I found there were some iron bars on the outside of the window, though there was room between for me to put out my head. I appeared to.be in some upper chamber of a fairly modern building, though constructed in imitation of a mediaeval castle. This part of the house was situated near the edge of a cliff of great height, at .the foot of which the tide broke over partly submerged rocks. Away from these rocks the waters heaved peacefully; but there was no sign of life upon them, and a silvery mist prevented any ex tensive view. I remembered almost from the first moment of waking how 1 had been drugged and carried off, and I now looked at my watch, which had not yet run down, to find that it was past the hour of noon. I was beginning to feel a little less oppressed by the disgusting sickness, and I "again staggered across

the room, this time to the door, which I found locked. I then discovered a bell, and pressed upon the button. After only a. brief delay a strong, cap-able-looking manservant opened the door, and I saw there was another standing behind him. “What place is this V’ 1 demanded. “We are allowed, for the present, to supply any reasonable wants, sir,” the jn:.n answered quietly in German, “but we are not permitted to answer any questions of that kind. Ho you require breakfast 1C "Breakfast be hanged! ”, T exclaimed, the very thought of food being just then nauseous. “If you have anything that is good for this confounded sickness, though, you may bring it.” Directly the door was closed I sat down again p'erforce, for my legs proved quite unequal to the task of supporting my body, let alone my aching head, which seemed the heaviest part of me. In a short time the men rein mod, one of them bearing a tray, on which was a. glass of liquid and some fruit. He asked if anything further was required, but 1 only shook my head, not feeling equal to a verbal reply. The liquid T then swallowed at a draught. It was tasteless,, and after a few minutes I certainly did begin to feel much relief from the intolerable sensation of sickness which had oppressed me; so much relief, in fact, that I was inclined to eat some of the fruit, and was thereby further refreshed. Thus partially strengthened I saw, by the glass on the dressing table, there was considerable room for improvement in my personal appearance, and this I attempted by having a , wash and general brush-up. The result was that, although I still looked decidedly off colour, I appeared a little more like my usual self. In divesting myself of part of my clothes I found that.my pockets had been ran sacked'during the time I was under the influence of the anaesthetic. The automatic pislol I had carried was gone, and so was every penny of my money. A gold cigarette case, on which my arms were .engraved, with one or two other things of value had disappeared. My signet ring remained (possibly because it was very difficult to get off my finger), and my watch ■ and chain. But at .one end of the chain I had fastened a few trilling trinkets, keepsakes, and with tliese had attached the bijou pencil case which I had picked up in Hyde Park, after it had, as I believed, fallen out of the car in which the Other John Smith had been carried off. These things had also been taken. The robbery of pistol and money was no doubt with intent to render me helpless to escape by either means, and the other things had probably been taken by way of perquisites by the searchers. (To be continued?