THE DEPUTY AVENGER

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18258, 20 February 1931, Page 4

THE DEPUTY AVENGER

Serial Story t

(By Ralph Trevor.)

SYNOPSIS. Dudley Varwell loses £SOO at rou- ' iette, after promising his father to | give up gambling altogether, i Richard Strange comes to his assistj nnce, and promises to take the debt on to his own shoulders, and to give it out that Dudley had been acting for him at the roulette table. Richard is engaged to Rita Varwell, but lately has had money losses. Ho believes that Rita wiil wait for him. She is a mercenary, however, and breaks off the engagement, at the same time blaming him for encouraging her brother to gamble. Strange is sick at heart, and bitter towards all women. How to get the £SOO by the end of the month is now his problem. He inserts the following advertisement in “The Times”:— “Young man will enter into agreement to perform any special service in consideration of the sum of £500.” Mr Stephen Anwell answers Strange’s advertisement. Anwell has lived at Hampstead for two years, the previous twenty being spent in South Africa. He tells Strange that his half-brother, Charles Braynton, had years before earned Stephen’s undying hatred. Anwell now wants his revenge on Charles through the daughter, whom Charles idolises. He wants Strange to win Mary’s heart, and then break it. Strange accepts, remembering how a woman has treated him. At the Braynton’s he meets Nadya Darracq, who is out "to become the second Mrs Braynton; also Carl Leeming, whose intention is to marry Mary Braynton. He also makes me acquaintance of Olga Brent, a friend of the Braynton’s. Then Strange finds that he loves Mary Braynton as he has never loved before. At the Braynton’s he meets Nadya Darracq, who is out to become the second Mrs Braynton; also Carl Deeming, whose intention is to marry Mary Braynton. He also makes the acquaintance of Olga Brent, a friend of the Braynton’s. Strange finds himself amid a circle of dark intrigue. He discovers that Leeming is in league with Nadya. Then Strange finds that he loves Mary Braynton as lie has never loved before, At the Braynton’s iie meets Nadya Darracq, who is out to become the second Mrs Braynton; also Carl Leeming, whose intention is to marry Mary Braynton. lie also makes the acquaintance of Olga Brent, a friend of the Braynton’s. Strange finds himself amid a circle of dark intrigue. He discovers that Leeming is in league with Nadya, and he sees danger ahead for both Alary and her father. Then Strange finds that he loves Mary Braynton as he has never loved before, and lie learns that Mary is deeply in Jove with himself. Can lie break with Stephen Anwell? He go'es to his house to plead, hut Anwell is adamant —relentless. A few hours after Strange has been at Anwell’s house, the old man is found murdered.

■CHAPTER XIV.—-(Continued.) Bissett’s face did not move (a muscle. He was fingering his pencil that lay beside the large square pad of paper on his desk. Nadya Darracq was cleverer than he had thought, yet he felt pleased that he had taken such great pains over her just recently. She certainly deserved the utmost respect. “You were a friend of the late Mr Anwell, I take It?" Bissett asked brisk, official manner. The reply was unexpected and startling. “A very dear friend,” she replied, sadly. “Then this tragic affair must have come as a great shock to you, Miss Darradq?” She nodded and took out her small handkerchief.

“You have my sympathy, Miss Darracq,” went on Bissett. “From what I have been able to 'gather, Stephen Anwell was a charming old fellow—the kind of man who would never for one moment think ill of others."

Nadya Darracq looked across at Bissett quickly. “I’m afraid that’s where you’re wrong,” she told him. “I think it was because he nursed an enmity against another that he has paid the penalty.” “You surprise me,” exclaimed Bissett, leaning forward eagerly, as if not to miss the smallest word she uttered. “Please tell me what you know about this unpleasant affair.” Nadya Darracq was silent for a few moments. 'Bissett told himself that either she was collecting her thoughts or she was consummate actress, and that this little pause was nothing more than an emotional trick, which, when played at the right time, Is infinitely more effective than words.

“As I have said," she began, •Anwell was one of my best friends. It is true that I had not known him very long—about three months I think. We mot on a bus bound for Hampstead from the City. In the rush to board the bus, Id lost my 'bag, and he Insisted on paying my fare. We got talking, and I found him so interesting that I asked him for his address, and next day I called to see him. He struck me as being a very lonely man —a man who lacked the companionship of someone in whom he could confide. He told me a great deal about himself, and I gathered that he nursed an enmity against a certain Charles Braynton. Never have I met a man who could hate another more I There was a quality of fierceness in the woman’s voice that caused Bissett, seasoned though lie was, to doubt the evidence of his own ears. This woman was actually persuading him that she knew Stephen Anwell, while, of course .... “He told me,” she continued, after another slight pause, “that he had engaged a young man named Strange— Richard Strange, I think he said—to make love to Mary Braynton, Charles Braynton’s daughter and then to jilt her." “But that, would hardly he hurting the father,” protested Bissett. “You don’t know Charles Braynton,” went on Nadya. “He simply worships that girl, and the fact that she had ben jilted would have been a greater blow to him than anything else in the world. The thought of Mary suffering would have driven him almost insa no.” “What n cunningly diabolical plot,” exclaimed Bissett, heatedly. “And you say that all this was born in the brain of a man like Stephen Anwell? Candidly, Miss Dan-ear;, I can’t 'believe it.” / “It’s true,” she flashed, indignantly.

Author of “The Jade Token,” "Under Suspicion,” oto., ®to.

“Do you suppose I’d come down here with a story I couldn’t substantiate?” “Then the sooner I have that substantiation the better,” he told her, I decisively. | “You see,” she answered him, quietly, “I happen to know Charles Braynton. I have a cottage not very l'ar from Carr's Lodge. lie helped me when my car broke down and he sent Mary Braynton to call on me. I’m often up at Carr’s Lodge and I’ve met this young man, 'Strange, there. He’& already in love with the girl, and she ■ with him.” I “It is always the prettiest women ! who receive the favour from we old men,” mused Bissett, half to himself, i “What do you mean, Superintend- . ent?” I Bissett smiled. “I was merely philosophising,” he told her. “But how do you connect Anwell’s death with this absurdity about the man Strange jilting the girl. It hardly seems to fit.” “It fits like a glove,” exclaimed IS'adya. "Strange has fallen head over heels in love with the girl and lie doesn’t intend to jilt her. Now assuming that Stephen Anwell wanted to hold him to his compact or tell Mary Braynton the truth, no one could have a better reason for wishing Stephen Anwell dead than Richard Strange. Surely you agree with me, Inspector?” “Of course I agree with you. l'ou have presented a very logical case against this young man and I am greatly obliged to you, Miss Darracq, for all the trouble you have taken. Really, I had no idea that the affair was so complicated. You are quite sure of these facts, I suppose.” “As I said before, Superintendent, I should not have troubled to come down to Scotland Yard unless I was sure.” “Do you happen to 1 know the address of Mr Strange?” Bissett asked the question casually 'but he was watching the woman’s face more closely perhaps than she suspected. “Number seventeen, Grenton Street, Knightsbridge,” she answered promptly, and then as if realising that Bissett had caught her off her guard, added. “At least I believe that was the address on a letter which Miss Braynton asked me to post for her.” Bissett jotted the address down; then he touched a bell under his desk. The next moment the same -plain clothes constable entered. “Oh, Waterson,” exclaimed Bissett, briskly. “You might go along to 17. Grenton Street, and pull in a young fellow named Richard Strange. If he wants to know what the charge is, mention that I want to talk to him about the Anwell affair.”

“Very good, sir.” The door closed again. 'Bissett, while lie had been giving his subordinate instructions, had still been watching Nadya Darracq'-s face

covertly and he was satisfied that the move he was about to take was the right one. “I'm very much obliged to you, Miss Darracq. I suppose I can find you down at your charming cottage any time should I want to clear up any point that I’ve overlooked.” “Well I expect to be going abroad shortly,” she smiled, prettily. “Winter in England is so deadly. I like the sunshine, superintendent. Most women look better in the sunshine,” she added.

"I am sure you would look charming anywhere, Miss Darracq,” he told her, gallantly. “I suppose you’ll go to the Riviera?”

“I haven’t made up my mind, yet.” “Ah well,” mused Bissett, rising from his chair. “1 always think life is rather like a game of cards. No two players would play the same hand in quite tire same way, and very, few know when to use the ace to take the queen.” Nadya Darracq followed him to the door, smiling. “Philosophy seems to be your long suit, Superintendent.” He laughed, but as he closed the door behind her he said to himself: “Quite so, my dear, and my favourite suit is still Diamonds —same as yours.”

(Continued to-morrow.)