The Gorgon

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18169, 6 November 1930, Page 4

The Gorgon

I (By J. Lindsay Hamilton.) | § (All Rights Reserved.) 8

1 Serial Story t , w |

SYNOPSIS,

Colonel Dainton Is concerned about the disappearance of his brother-in-law, Jim Rovvson, the vagabond mil- ; lionaire. He consults Dr] Farrer, an eminent nerve specialist, who describes how Rowson called on him six weeks ago in a state of nervous collapse, leaving in his care a remarkably hideous mummy. Colonel Dainton confides in his daughter Helen and her friend Peter Southwark, and tells them his fear that Rowson has met with foul play, as it is known that he drew from the bank £BOO,OOO prior to his disappearance. During the night the Colonel’s manservant, Jenkins, is found brutally murdered. Andrew Eden, of the Foreign Office, is secretly working to destroy a criminal organisation ruled by a mysterious being known as “The Gorgon.” He believes the latter to be responsible for Rowson’s disappearance and the murder of Jenkins. A cable advises the Colonel that Celia, Rowson’s daughter, is on her way from America. Eden insists on the importance of meeting her at Southampton. While waiting at the landing-stage, the Colonel’s attention is drawn to a nervous little man. CHAPTER V.—(Continued.) But Eden seemed quite unconscious of his change of manner. "Ah! I had almost forgotten Birdie,” ;he murmured. “Time to clear that up ■before we go." “-You won’t find anything there," reported the Colonel. ‘The police have already searched it thoroughly.” Eden laughed with irritating oom;'l)lac.en.cyv and proceeded alone to Jenkins’ room. . For a moment he stood, apparently interested in the furniture. Certainly, for a servant’s room, It was remarkably large and well furnished. The single large cupboard In one corner of the room drew his attention. Opening it, he regarded Its contents, clothes for the most part, without attempting to touch anything. .Suddenly he stooped'and picked up a magazine from a pile on the bottom of the cupboard. It was an old number of The Gymkana Review, an Indian magazine of sport. Glancing down the Index his eyes fell on some- ■ thing that caused him satisfaction. >. .’.‘'On tne Roof of the World,” by Col.' H. H. Dainton, D.S.O. Dropping the magazine, he went over to the bed. The body had been removed. He ran his hands quickly over the mattress, prodding here and there with his fingers. Then, turning it completely over, he began to repeat the process. Suddenly he stopped, and with a small knife, slit open the ticking and thrust in a hand. When he' withdrew . it is held a flat joilskin tobacco pouch. Satisfied with the' fruit of his search, he returned to. Colonel' Dainton and handed him the oilskin packet with a quizzical smile. “Your missing property I rather think,” he remarked. “You didn’t ■ tell me Jenkins had taken over your ; room.” ' J ' ■'* The Colonel looked at him with unfeigned surprise. t-h.-“That’s true enough," he said, “but how did you know?" “I suspected something of the sort and looked for some evidence of it. You see, a man could hardly occupy a room without leaving some traces behind.” He paqsed and regarded Colonel Dainton steadily. “A very fortunate thing for you, Colonel. You "owe your life to the change,” he said with unusual gravity. “It was an attempt on your life. The murderer evidently had clear instructions as to the room. He did his work blindly. I think I know why.” • “But, good Lord! why should anyone want to kill me? It’s preposter--o,us.” “You were becoming a nuisance,” said Eden with a shrug. “But I don’t think you need fear a further attempt. Nothing to be gained now by putting you out of the way. However, I have taken precautions against that." It spoke well for Colonel Dainton that he expressed no further surprise nor alarm. His manner, however, underwent a slight change. His late antagonism vanished and he spoke with a new respect to this man who seemed to hold the threads of the whole tangled business in his capable hands. “Was Birdie one of them?" he asked. This is the missing letter all right." He handed it to Eden who scanned it ■ quickly. The writer claimed to know of James Rowson’s whereabouts and stated in no ambiguous terms that the latter was in deadly peril. He offered to sell his information, but to her alone, i Secrecy was enjoined as his own life would be in danger if his treachery were known. She would be informed on arrival In .London as toi how she might meet him.

Eden' folded the note and put it in his pocket-book. “For the moment Jim Rowson can wait,” he said. “You asked about Birdie. He may have been a very insignificant member, but I think he was planted on you in the ordinary course of a blackmailer’s business to rout out the family skeleton. There is one in almost everyone’s cupboard. Quite a business is made of that sort of thing." "I’d had him six months," said the Colonel musingly.'i .“His references were excellent." “Forged,” said Eden. “But I followed them up.’ Eden laughed. “Telephoned his late employer, I suppose? That trick nearly always comes off. One hardly expects a fake telephone number over the Hon. Somebody’s signature.” He glanced at the clock and rose. ‘And now, Colonel, if you have a recent photograph of Celia Rowson, HI borrow it, and be off. We may meet at Southampton, but, in any case, I’ll be there.

CHAPTER VI.

The Apologetic Stranger.

The great , liner lay alongside the landing stage, its deck abustle with activity. Where Colonel Dainton stood anxiously scanning the., faces of the disembarking passengers, was quite a little crowd. Many, like himself, were eagerly aw-aiting friends. A few, he judged, were sightseers with the usual sprinkling of loafers. Always a keen student, of humanity, there was much here to appeal to him. There, fidgetting nervously on the outskirts of the crowd was the man he had particularly noticed on the train. Evidently he, too, was here to meet a friend. Poor fellow-, he was so desperately anxious. The Colonel’s innate scorn for all that was weak and vacillating,

was yet tinged with pity for the man’s hopoiess futility. tils eyes, from behind a pair of powerful spectacles were popping out of his head, It reminded one of a scared rabbit. A mournful drooping moustache .suggested a weak mouth. The bowler he was wearing was at least a size too big for him and tended to make his ears stick out ludicrously. Probably he had bought the first one he was offered from sheer nervousness. His whole manner was apologetic lest his very presence among others of his kind should give offence. Tho more feverishly he sought to eradicate himself the more he was noticed and his embarrassment grew tenfold. He had walked the whole length of the train' at Victoria, evidently torn between the fear that it would start without him fed the feverish desiro to find an unoccupied compartmeht. Now he was flitting about anxiously from one spot to another, on tenterhooks lest he should miss the friend he had come to meet. Cheery greetings came to Colonel Dainton’s ear on all sides and eagerly chattering little groups passed him. But there was no sign of Celia as yet. That, however, did not surprise him. ’ it was impossible to imagine Celia bustling—calm, imperturbable Celia. She would be the last off the boat he told himself with a smile, half amused, half irritated. Of Eden he had seen nothing. He had said he would be there. Possibly, wtih his way of getting what he wanted, he was already on the boat. He moved aside to allow a little procession to pass. Two stewards were bearing a stretcher, and beside it walked a stout, motherly person, whose eyes were red-rimmed with weeping. They passed him amid the, sympathetic murmurs of the onlookers and made their way to an ambulance drawn up waiting. Just at that moment the fidgety man with the rabbity eyes must needs dash across excitedly. He had h* 3 e >' es fixed eagerly across the • scattered crowd. No doubt he had seen his friend and feared to lose him. An angry shout from one of the stewards was too late. The man tried to 1 stop, but stumbled awkwardly and threw out an arm over the covered figure on the stretcher to save himself from falling.

His abject humiliation then was pitiable to see and he slunk away dejectedly and was lost in the crowd. Still no sign of Celia, and the Colonel’s patience was evaporating. Suddenly he felt a sharp tug at his sleeve. He swung round quickly and found himself looking into a pair of timid, watery eyes.

Colonel Dainton regarded the stranger with unconcealed irritation. I-Ie was the man whose nervous excitement. had already drawn his attention, first on the train and now here among the crowd on the landing stage.. Confound the man 1 What did he want making a general nuisance of himself. He needed someone to look after him. Why couldn’t he speak now instead of. mouthing awkwardly. He would stutter and apologise and end.... by asking some infantile - question, no doubt —perhaps about trains or a man he was looking for, a man with a bowler hat and an umbrella. But Colonel Dainton was too concerned over Celia’s non-appearance to pay attention to the helplessness of strangers. “Well, what is it?" he snapped coldly. The timid little man seemed to shrink visibly. “I b-eg your pardon," he stammered, “I wouldn’t trouble you if it weren't so ———. The fact is,” he plunged on desperately, “I came • Colonel Dainton interrupted him impatiently. “Had you not better take your troubles to that police officer over there. That's what he is there for,” he added more kindly. “But,” wailed the little man, “You d-d-don’t understand. It.’s your niece." He stopped suddenly. “You are Colonel Dainton, aren’t you?” he asked in some alarm. “My niece? What do you know of my niece?” The Colonel’s voice held amazement, suspicion and a measure of anxiety. “Speak man. I am Colonel Dainton. Who are you? What do you want to tell me?” “She was on that stretcher,” he blurted out, “And they’re taking her away. Look 1” He pointed with extreme agitation at the Ambulance which was now rapldily moving away. Colonel Dainton leapt into unhesitating action. “You -come with me,” he commanded, “I want to know more about you." And seizing his informant firmly by the arm, he began to run. Ah! There was a taxi, thank heaven.

The queer stranger, with surprising agility sprang forward and swung operi the door, and panting out an urgent order to the driver, Colonel Dainton stepped inside. (To be continued.)