Red for Danger

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19353, 5 September 1934, Page 4

Red for Danger

CHAPTER XXIII. Pursued. There was no doubt in Timothy’s mind, but lie went over to the guard and forced himself to ask: “ Lord Medway, is he. ... ? " “ Him in the ear? Can't say, ’’ said the guard. “ There’s a doctor with him. They're putting them on the train. I’m just going to telephone for an ambulance to meet 'us at Cambridge.” “ I’ll come, too, ” said Timothy, anxious to postpone knowledge of the worst if only for a few moments. The guard looked ashy pale and his eyes glittered unnaturally. He burst out suddenly into an uncontrolled volley of oaths, finishing up with:

“ Where’s that crossing man? What the hell’s he doing? ” That point was one that was settled as soon as they entered the lodge. The man, whose duty it was to open and close the gates, lay sprawled across the table, apparently asleep. ft was too much for the guard in his overwrought condition. He got the man by the hair and shook him savagely.

“Sleep,” he bawled at him. “Go on, sleep, you lousy idle scum. God, if 1 had my way I'd tear the heart out of you. Go on, take another nap while some other poor devils get cut to mincemeat.”

The man gave a feeble petulant groan and slept on. “Steady,” said Timothy quietly. “He’s either ill or ” lie took a cigarette slump from the man’s inert lingers. “I’ll take it. It may be the means of clearing him.” When the guard had finished Ins telephoning, a woman came in. It proved to be the lodge-keeper’s wife who had returned earlier than she had expected from shopping. They left her in charge and returned to the train. And then Timothy learnt that Lord Medway, however seriously injured he might be, was at all events not dead. It was bad enough, but Ihe news might have been infinitely worse. if he lived then he would owe his life to one of those strange freaks of chance that sometimes happen. The whole front of the car had 'been sheared clean away, and the rear portion, with Lord Medway in it, had been hurled bodily down the embankment into the ditch.

At 'Cambridge there was an ambulance waiting. Timothy took a taxi and accompanied it to Addenbrook’s •Hospital, where he waited in suspense for Hie 'best part of an hour. By good luck one of the young medicos attached to the hospital turned out to be an old rugger acquaintance. Timothy buttonholed him at once, and besought him to get him authentic information as soon as ever it was' possible. In the meantime he telephoned to Sylvia Medway. Then he got on to Colonel Clinker in the hope of hearing news of Jill. But Colonel Clinker had nothing to tell. lie was watching the clock ready to put Jill’s instructions into effect the moment the allotted time was up. That was bad; about as bad as it could be.

Bellamy, the young medico, return-

“It might have been worse,” he observed cheerfully. " He’s badly cut and a couple of ribs broken. There doesn’t seem to be any internal injury.” Timothy was mightily relieved. " He’ll pull through, you think?” “ Can’t say. It’s the shock that does it ’in these cases. He’s not young." There was nothing now .to hold Timothy back. He went to the window and looked out. Yes, they were out there —be had half expected it—the same big saloon was standing’in the road, waiting—for what? News of their success, or for him? Timothy decided on an impulse to take Bellamy partly into his confldene. He called him over and pointed down. “ You see that saloon out there. . . the same crowd who tried to do Lord Medway In. I’m not romancing, man; it was cold-blooded murder. They’re laying for me. I can’t tell you why; you've got to take my word for it. So long as you do something useful It doesn’t matter two hoots what you think afterwards. Only do it, that’s all. I vvant a car, a fast one, and I want your help to get out of here with a clear start for London. Can you do it?. . . .What’s the roadster dowrn in the drive? Looks like Lagonda Sports to me. Whose is it?" Bellamy was a young man of zest and enthusiasm. If there was any chance of excitemnt he was not going to miss it. “That belongs to Rake. Fast? I should say it is.” His eyes glistened. “ I’ll tell you what. Suppose I ask Rake if I can use it—he won’t be wanting it for hours yet—and I'll hop old Bateson and run you up.” “ Stout fellow,” applauded Timothy. “ If ho says no, I’ll have to pinch it.” But there was no need, for Bellamy returned with a satisfactory answer. If the truth were told Rake was under the impression that Bellamy had an urgent local -call to make. Bellamy then conducted Timothy to the rear of the hospital, and through the grounds to a door which opened on to a narrow street. “ They may be keeping a look-out," said Timothy. “I'll wait on this side till I hear you come along with the car. See that there's, enough petrol, by tho way.”

“ Leave it all to papa,” answered 'Bellamy. "I’ll hoot O.K. as I come along. You know your Morse', I suppose." Five minutes passed before the purr of the car and six blasts on the horn announced that Bellamy had arrived.

Tlie ear was there certainly, and Bellamy in it, hut he was looking very glum. “ Foul luck,” lie exclaimed bitterly. “ I can’t come. 1 ran into old Bateson.”

“ Out you come, then,” Timothy ordered unceremoniously. “ Tell your friend Rake I’ve pinched his car. Sorry and all that., hut —’’ He was already in Ihc driver’s seat. “ I’ll send a man back with it as soon as I reach town. Cheerio 1 You’re a sportsman, Bellamy.” He let in the clutch and slid away.

llis quickest route would lake him into the main London road within sight of Ihe wailing saloon, but lie decided lo risk it. There was quite a good chance of gelling away unrecognised. That hope was soon dashed, however. They had a man posted al Ihe corner, and already he was signalling hack lo his companions.

Timothy swung Ihe Lagonda into Hie London road, and stepped hard on Ihe aeceieraior. Bellamy had not exaggerated. The ear was all that Ue

By LINDSAY HAMILTON (Author of “The Gorgon,” “The Black Asp,” Etc.)

A THRILLING STORY OF A FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.

could have wished. He grinned contentedly. If there was to he a race •he could at least hold his own and set a killing pace. Possibly that powerful saloon could 'do eighty on the straight. He could hardly expect more from the Lagonda. Suppose they got near enough to shoot his tyres to ribbons? The only sensible plan, he decided, was to try and throw his pursuers off the track. If, Instead of driving straight on from Trumpington, he branched to Royst.on, the ruse might work —provided he kept his present lead. But that was a well-known alternative route. It would be far better to slow down, let them see him choose the main London road at the fork. They would take it for granted that he had no other thought but to keep ahead In the race. Six miles further on there was a by-road cutting across at rightangles'that would suit his purpose very well. But to succeed, he would have to increase his lead to nearly half-a-mile, by no means a light undertaking. As he had surmised the big saloon was capable of a speed at least equal to that of the Lagonda. It crept up ■to within two hundred yards as Timothy shot through Trumpington. Then he stepped on the accelerator and for that six miles lie drove like a man possessed. Fortunately the road was clear. Luck was with him. Twice lie skidded badly round corners, and only by a miracle of luck regained control. One long sweeping corner lie took at such a pace that it was almost more than he could do to hold the car to the road. The front mudguard scraped a buttress which stood out from .the wall. When he turned off the main road two miles past Sawston the saloon was nowhere in sight. The by-road brought him out oil the main Royston to London route.

He slacked off now to a more moderate speed. When ten minutes had passed and there was still no sign of the big saloon, Timothy was satisfied that he had shaken his pursuers off the track.

CHAPTER XXIV. Hennessey Lays Traoks. Mr Carter of "The Planet" had made it a rule of his daily life that between the hours of four and fourthirty "The Planet" must get on as best it could without him.

In a nearby tea-shop he would partake of strong tea, buttered toast and oatmeal biscuits. A table in the one corner was his by right of custom. But this afternoon a 'Stranger was in occupation. A thoroughly unpleas-ant-looking customer, thought Carter irritably. Hennessey—for it was lie—would not have been battered, for at the moment he was doing his best to twist his" saturnine features into the semblance of a genial smile. "Mr Carter of ‘The Planet’?’’ he inquired, rising. “I am,” said Carter stonily. "You’ve got my table.” “Miss Tempest said I should catch you here. My name is Clinker, by the way, Colonel Clinker.” That altered the situation. Carter liked the man no better, but at all events he had a legitimate reason for being here. “Sit down,” he Invited, and himself took a seat. “How Is she?"

“I haven’t seen her since morning,” said Hennessey, and dropped his voice to a confidential whisper. “She gave me to understand that she was setting out on a very dangerous mission. If she didn’t return or get word through to me I was to carry out certain detailed instructions.”

“Oh! and hasn’t she turned up?" said Carter sharply. “If she had I shouldn’t be here. What she told me to do was this: to find you personally and accompany you back to your office. And there we are to open a sealed packet she left with you three days ago, and read it. I carry with me a second document connecting and enlarging upon the first. We read that too, and then decide what course of action to take. I may be exaggerating the importance of the whole thing, but I don’t think so. Anyhow, we shall soon see." The suggestion was unusual, but Carter could see no reason for refusing to carry it out. “Well, I want my tea first," he said coldly. “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait.”

Nothing short of an earthquake would have driven Carter from his tea and toast. But he cut his usual half-an-hour down to twenty minutes. If Jill had known this concession was made only out of concern for her, she would have felt highly flattered.

(To be continued.)