“The Other Man’s Crime,”

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 January 1933, Page 7

“The Other Man’s Crime,”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.

BY T. C. BRIDGES. (Author of "The Stolen Masterpiece,” "The Gold Magnet,” ‘-The Price of Liberty,” etc).

COPYRIGHT.

CHAPTER XXlX.—Continued. "But they were all caught in the long run. ’ ’ "What do you expect ? The poor devils hadn’t any food or clothes or jnoney. Most of ’em were driven to give themselves up simply because they were so darned hungry they could not stick it out any longer.” "You mean —?” began Stella, but

your own. Pitch the agent a yarn about the doctor ordering you quiet.” "I can do that all right,” sa,id Stella.

"Then you’d best get to 'it right away. Go down to Exeter to-morrow and snuff around. Meantime 111 try and hx some way of getting a letter ‘to Allies. There’s always a certain amount of trafficking in a big prison.” "What’s trafficking?”

he, cult her short. "I mean that, if a chap had someone waiting for him with a fast car he’d be away before they began to look for him. You see they take all the working parties back to the prison before they start the warders out searching.” Stella was listening eagerly. "But ithey might shoot him before he got away at all,” she objected. "I wouldn’t worry too much about that, Stella. Miles is a right good runner, and those old carbines only shoot buck shot. They’re not a mite of good at any range over fifty yards.” "You know a great deal about it,” said Stella wonderingly, "Have y-ou been reading it up?” , "Sure thing. Ever since I knew Miles was in the jug. ’ > "Then you knew about that before I did?” "I saw it in the Xew York Times. But I got over here too late to be any use to him.” He turned the car as lie spoke. "I reckon it’s time to get back,” ho said. Stella did not answer and he saw that she was deep in thought. At last she spoke. "Could you get me a. car, Jay —the right sort of car I mean?” "Ain’t this one good enough?” asked Seorson. "But I can’t take your ear.’’ "'What’s the matter with me taking it?” SHlia stared

"Bringing in tobacco and other forbidden luxuries by warders to prisoners who can afford to pay. ’ ’ "But even if you can manage that, how is Miles to know when to run?” Stella asked.

"The first chance he gets. We’ve simply got- to hang round and wait for a fog.” "But if they sec the same car there every day, won’t they get suspicious?

"I can fix that. I can get a permit io shoot. I know one of the big bugs in the Duchy.” • ‘You think of everything, Jay,” said Stella admiringly. "I could never have done anything without you. But the risk! Jay, you have no business to be taking such chances.”

"It’s nothing to do with you, Jay.” "Stella,” he said reproachfully. "You ain’t going back on your old pal? Y r ou surely don’t want to hogall the fun for yourself?” "It’s not fun, -Jay. It’s deadly earnest. An d —a nd — ’ ’

"And we’re running plumb up against Itlie law. That’s what you were going to say.”

"Jt was. So you see it’s my business, and no one else’s, ” " You’re all wrong, Stella.” For once Seorson spoke without any of his usual banter. "It’s the business of all Miles’s friends, and, if you think you’re going to play a lone hand, I’ll say right now that you Won’t do it.” "But, Jay, supposing you were caught, they might put you in prison.” "Then you and I would be company for one another,” he smiled, but a moment later he turned serious again. "Don’t worry about getting caught. We’re going to plan this job out properly—make a regular campaign of it. Before you’re six months older I'm going to be the best man at your wedding—and here we are,” he added, as he drew up at the door of Stella’s hotel.

‘•'You’ll come in, Jay,” she "begged. “We’ve a. fteap more to talk about.” ‘ ‘ Xot now, my dear. It’s mighty late and time for all good little girls to be in bed. You sleep oil it, and we ’ll ha ye another yarn to-morrow. ”

“Will you lunch with me, Jay?” asked Stella. “You could come here. It’s very quiet and we could go on with our planning. ’ ’

“I’ll lunch with you if you’ll dine with me,” bargained Jay. So it was arranged, and Jay said good-night and drove off. Stella went straight to her room. The fresh air had made her sleepy and, in spite, of her excitement, she soon went off. But soon she began to dream, and these dreams were terrible. She saw again the great gaunt buildings of the prison rising on the bare hillside, and Miles seemed to be stretching out his hands to her from a cell window. Then a mist hid everything and in it men were running madly, hunted by mounted guards. And she herself was running and hunting for Miles. Then came a sudden rattle of shots and she woke shaking all over to hear her maid knocking at the door with her morning tea. All that morning, which was very wet, she could settle to nothing, and was most grateful when one o’clock brought Jay. The two lunched together in the dining-room, but, of course, did not speak of their plans. Afterwards, Sltella led the way to tho .writ-ing-room but, to her great annoyance, found it in possession of two elderly tabbies.

“We must go to the lounge,” she told Jay. “There’s a quiet corner where we can talk.”

. “I’d say take the car and go for a drive,” said Jay, “only the weather’s so rotten.”

. “We shall be all right in the lounge,” Stella, assured him, and, sure enough, the few people there were gathered round the tire, all except one grey-haired old man who sat near the window reading the “Times.” A waiter had just brought him coffee, and asked if he wanted anything else.

“Eh, what did you sav?” asked the old chap, cupping his hand behind his ear.

“It’s all right, Jay,” said Stella. “He’s deaf.” And they sat themselves .down at the back of ithe room, and began to talk in low voices. “The job will be to put Miles wise to what we’re doing,” said Jay, “but I guess I can work it. Your task will be to take a house in some quiet spot, not too far from the prison.” Stella's eyes widened. “‘What on earth for?”

“To take Miles there when we get him out. We can’t rush him out of the country, for every ship will lie watched. We’ve got to disguise him, so his own mother wouldn’t know him, before we start to get him away. We must alter the colour of bis skin and hair and make him a different man altogether. ’ ’ “I hadn’t 'thought of that,” said Stella in some dismay*. “We don’t want to forget anything,” said Jay gravely. “We’ve only one chance, and if we mess it up we won’t get another. Once a prisoner has tried to escape, they never let him outside the walls again till the day of liis release.” Stella looked very grave. She was only now beginning to realise the immense difficulty of their task. Jay went on.

“The house ought to be somewhere on the edge of the Moor, and you’ll have to take it in another name—not

"Risk,” Seorson laughed. "If you only knew how I’m enjoying it. Life's not worth living if you don’t take a few chances. Besides, it makes me feel I’m doing something worth while, better than messing round, and justmaking money.” They sat and talked for nearly an hour, ‘then Jay had to go. He promised to call for Stella at half-past seven. He had hardly left before Jack turned up with a large bunch of magnificent roses and a note for Stella. Both were from Maurice. The note was full of apologies and excuses for his behaviour the previous evening and a request that lie might be allowed to call and make his apologies in person.

Stella tore the note up and taking the roses into the office, asked, Miss Mason to send them fo the nearest hospital. CHAPTER XXX.—CULLEN AGAIN. Next afternoon Stella was again at .the Clarence. She spent the afternoon .visiting various house agents and heard of t.wo or three places Avhich, it seemed, might suit her purpose. She came in for tea, and afterwards sat down in the drawing-room to write to ■Seoi'Soil.

The tourist season IJC.Hig fiver,< the hotel was rather empty, and Stella looked round In some surprise as a. visitor came into the quiet room. To her amazement, it was Cullen, very smart as usual and with a confident expression in his hard eyes which did not. please Stella at all. He came straight .towards her and bowed. "Did you find whait you were looking for. Miss Drake?” he asked. A .pang of real alarm shot through Stella, hut she did not show it outwardly, and her voice was clear and cold as .she replied: ‘ “'May I ask what you are talking about, Mr Cullen?” Cullen smiled and Stella liked that smile less even than his words. Then he sat down, pulling up his well-creased trousers at the knees.

“Come now, Miss Drake. That’s not worthy of you,” he said. “You know well enough that I know exactly why you have Come down here, and what you have been doing this afternoon.” Stella was more frightened than ever. She could no't imagine how it was possible that this Mackmailing scoundrel had discovered her secret. Cullen seemed to read her .thoughts. “If you will talk over private matters in a public room you can’t blame* others for listening,” he said, with his odious smile.

“But you—you were not there,” said Stella sharply. “Oh, I was there all right, only it’s likely you didn’t recognise me. In my business we have to know a good deal about disguise. But- don’t be afraid. I’m no fonder of the prison authorities than the next man, and I'm here to help you.” Stella knew it all now. That deaf old man who had sat near them in the lounge at Anson’s. Oh, how foolish she had been. But the damage was done and the only* question was whether there was any way out of it. She looked at Cullen.

“How can you help me?” she asked. “I can get word to Mr Medley that you are going to get him out. I can get as many letters as you want sent in to him. And that’s a job that you can’t do, or Captain Seorson either.” “And what do you expect in return?” questioned Stella, and for her life she could not keep a touch of sarcasm out. of her voice. But Cullen did not seem to notice it.

“Of course, you’ve got to pay,” he said. “I'm not taking the risk for nothing. But I won’t be unreasonable. I shall only ask five hundred and expenses.”

“I have no such sum in England,” said Stella.

“There is no hurry,” Cullen assured her. “A business like this takes some time, and you can pay me anytime you like.” Stella looked at him.

“I take it that the payment includes your silence, Mr Cullen?” she said significantly*. Cullen’s 'tight-lipped smile showed for a moment.

“Xaturally. Silence in this matter is ns essential to me as to you—and to Captain Seorson.” “That is true,” agreed Stella. “Then perhaps you will give me an address where I can find you.” Cullen took a card from his pocket and gave it her. “That address will always find me,” he told her. “Then I maytake it, the matter is settled.”

“You may,” said Stella, and picking, up bis hat and gloves Cullen bowed himself out. (To be Continued).