Vampire of the Skies

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18930, 27 April 1933, Page 4

Vampire of the Skies

By JAMES CORBETT.

CIIAPTEn XV.— (Continued.)

Dacre returned to the smokeroom, and found a cable awaiting him from Paris. It was a reply to the communication lie had sent, and the contents gave him food for thought. He put that cablegram in his pocket, lit a cheroot, and flung himself into an armchair. He reflected for an instant on M. Cambon. The erratic Frenchman had left the hotel before breakfast, sending Dacre ju3t the briefest message he was going to London, but promised to get back again in a few hours. He had reserved his room at the hotel, taken no luggage, and so apparently it was just a rush visit to Town. That was the Impression the Surete member created.

Yet Dacre shrugged his shoulders! M. Cambon was an odd fish. But was it a sign of .genius or lunacy?

“Well, Big 8., are you still dreaming about me? I suppose you thought I had gone for good,leaving Sootland Yard to pay my hotel bill? No, I don't do things like that!” Dacre wheeled round to meet the radiant vision of Lena Somerton. He would never forget her loviness at that moment. It was terrible to think that temptation in the form of suoh beauty existed. It also amazed him to realise that this, girl, so far, had escaped. Why, she would have graced the table of any duke! She had just returned from Portland, where he had sent her on a special mission. “Good eggl" he exclaimed. "Glad to see you, Lena. You have Just got back in time for lunch. But come and sit down a moment. I am just as ravenous as you are, but I am trying to control my Impatience. I have it on good authority that a special chicken is being roasted in my honour, which means I am going to add a bottle of real French wine. But tell me what happened at Portland? What is the cousin’s version of the affair? How was she affected by the murder of Louise Anderson? She knew nothing about the airplane, of course 1” “Heavens, how you talk,” Lena said breathlessly. “ Give me a cigarette, and I will love you for ever and a day!"

Dacre complied with the request. She slipped into the nearest chair. Her blue eyes were a trifle tired. “ Well, get on with It,” he said peremptorily. “ Who did you see in Portland?”

“ I saw the cousin," Lena murmured 'softly. “ Her full name is Lydia Montrose Campbell, and she lives with her parents in a villa close to the mainland. It is rather a big house, for they are notable people socially, and Louise paid them a visit twice a year. When I arrived, Miss Campbell heard the news an hour previously, and she had partly recovered from the shock. But she was in a terrible state of distress, and there was little information gained. Louise left Portland flr3t thing on Sunday morning, merely hinting she had an appointment with a friend in Weymouth, but promising to return the following week-e-nd. Her cousin accepted that promise in good faith, and that is all she knew about it." “ No hint of a mystery woman this time?” “ None whatever,” ' , “ And an airplane vvas never mentioned?” “ Louise never manifested any interesting flying. That is, no special Interest, but like other girls of her age, she promised herself a flight one day. As for air-pilots, Miss Campbell is confident on that part. Neither she nor her cousin were acquainted with airmen. That means, my dear Dacre. so far as the Campbells are concerned, this second murder is an impenetrable mystery." . The expert gave a comprehensive nod. “ I had an idea nothing would materialise,” lie said quickly. “ Not from the direction of Portland at least. Well, better come along and have some lunch. If you want to hear some exciting news I have just had a ’phone message to say that Hardy has presented himself with a new, ’plane, and may fly off in it any moment. Now isn’t that most impolite? But I have sent a special message to that rascal Holmes, with Instructions to watch Hardy with the eyes of an eagle, and to make a special report about his movements. I believe Holmes won’t let me down." Lena leaned across_the table. They had just moved into the lun-cheon-room. Only a few diners had as yet arrived. " You think there may be some suddbn development?"

(Author of “The White Angel,” “Murder at Red Grange,” eto.)

“ Yes,” he said guardedly, “ I rather Imagine there will be a thunderstorm I But meanwhile there is no reason why we should starve, Waiter, 1 want your earnest attention for a few seconds. You may not .believe it, but this luncheon is. really a matter of life and death, for those who eat to-day may die to-morrow, and the two people you see before you are on the point of starvation. Now the hand holding the menu is shaking visibly. Does that mean, my dear fellow, that you cannot recommend a single item with confidence, or does it mean the chicken has neither been caught nor killed?” He broke off .to consider the suggestions on the card, and Lena watched him with smiling lips. She leaned across when the waiter had gone.

‘ “ Did you know that Trevor Holmes rang me up?" she asked. "I did not,” Dacre answered promptly’. “ What the devil does he want? He can’t borrow any money, and he knows I am employing you as confidential secretary—or so you think at least —so what is worrying him to-day? This young man, I fear, wants cooling medicine. He has smashed one' Government ’plane already, and now ho wants to flirt with you. Is that it?" “ Well, something to that effect,” Lena replied with a wicked grin. “He thinks I am wasting my time in Weymouth. ..."

“ Oh, he does, does he?" “ And he suggests I go with him for a flip in that new ’plane. He is perfectly certain you could not have any objection.” The Yard man swore under his breath. Lena wished he had said It aloud. What was the good of cursing sotto voce? .

" Well, it Is the most asinine blunder Holmes has made,” Daore retorted. “ I have given him special Instructions about that ’plane, and by the lord Harry, If he disobeys them he Is going to find himself In the soup. If he wants to make you a proposal of marriage, young lady, he had better come and consult me about It. I am acting as your legal and lawful guardian at the moment, and as this case 1b approaching an anti-climax, you had better stick to me like a limpet If you want a stupendous eooop for your paper.” Lena leaned back and laughed. “ You are under the spell of the green eye,’ she groaned. “ You simply yon’t let me out of your sight. You are growing morbid with jealousy, Big Boy!"

Dacre regarded her sternly. “ Look here, there is one thing you must do,” he said gravely. ‘ I have no objection to you messing about with Holmes when It is convenient, but you must on no account go near Mountdale. Perhaps I am harbouring a truly unjust suspicion—which is not a habit of mine, by the way—but •I did not relish the way Hardy glanced at you yesterday, so I do not want you to get into any trouble. That is the mildest way of putting it. . . ” The lovely face blanched a trifle. “ You really think that Hardy. .?" • "My dear young lady-journalist, I am not going to embark on any definite statement. I merely remark that the owner of Mountdale is a very interesting personage, and if you chance to meet him about Weymouth or elsewhere, I give you a solemn warning that you must not go near his place or enter his airplane. If you understand plain English, you cannot fall to interpret those words 1 But If you do insist on disregarding my advice, it will be at your own peril.” Lena pushed aside the soup plate. “Very well, Mr. Cave-Man, I am listening,” she beamed, ‘hut that is not to say I am taking your advice. I promise to give it my earnest and careful consideration. Remember, please, that I have to consider the interests of my paper first, and if it occurs to me that I can pull off a scoop for the Sentinel, either by interviewing Hardy at Mountdale or going up in his new machine, I may forget all your warning and think only of my duty. I am a free-lance first and a desperate little flirt after-s wards I" Dacre muttered something under his breath afresh. It had a distinct reference to some foreign country. Lena gave an Instinctive shudder. "There are some people who ought to he spanked and put to bed,” be said severley. “You are one of them I" “Will wou do the spanking?” “ That all depends ” As the luncheon proceeded, Dacre found himself gazing into these Mediterranean blue eyes. He wondered why they held such a magnetic Influence 1 Was he merely studying the girl from a detached angle, or did it mean he was becoming Interested in her as a human being? Strangely enough, his hatred of the opposite sex seemed an impersonal thing. He felt that one decent girl might exist In the whole crowd, but the only fault with Lena Somerton was her incurable pigheadedness I But that might not be a fault! Perhaps it was one of the new virtues ? “When are you going to make an arrest ?" “What do you mean?" lie counterasked. “When are you going to arrest Major Frank Hardy for the murder of those two girls?" "Who told you Major Frank Hardy murdered those two girls?” Lena stared at him blankly. This man always surprised her. Was that why he was so attractive ?” “No one, hut what object had he in disguising himself as a woman?” Dacre lit a cigarette with his coffee. “.My dear girl," he protested, “why should I arrest a man on a capital chary,a simply because lie commits an j act of folly? What judge or jury I would convict Hardy on such slender I evidence? Have 1 not pointed out, that we want, eonerele proof of guilt, and even assuming that llardv Is llie niinsler of the skies—| have never conceded I hat he was, remember-—you forget that lie has hurnl liis plane, lie, has destroyed all tangible evidence for u Criminal Court.” "So you are wailing to catch him red-handed?"

It(icro shrugged his shoulders. "I never answer a quelslon of Iha l kind.”

•'Hut wlial nbonl. I lie handling. 1 lie handkerchief, and the powder-puff (To be continued.)