“THE HOUSE IN THE WAY”

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19598, 10 June 1935, Page 4

“THE HOUSE IN THE WAY”

By COLIN HOPE (Author of “ The Phantom Killer.”)

A Fascinating Love Story w:

SYNOPSIS. I Guy Chichester walclies a card game at I The Whip, a village inn, and is puzzled because three expert card sharps are robbing a local youth or a rew pounds Latoi he meets the youth’s sister and the tvo go to the inn to break up the partyThere is a scene, but eventually the girl and her brother go home togethei and Chichester goes lo bed. In the early hours of the morning he sets out to investigate a nouse. ine Wychets, which, with the girl s house. The Oaks, stands some way out oi me village in a particularly lonely spot. The Wychets Is occupied by a n r Singster, a retired chemist, and Guy is unable to get inside the grounds because or a dog which he rears will give the alarm. , Ho decides to postpone the explanation and is about to return 1 when he hears a window being raised and then a scream. Both sounds come from the girl s house and he rushes to investigate, but he receives a heavy blow on the head and loses consciousness. IS'etta I’anshaw and her brother are orphans who are endeavouring to make a living from a small poultry farm, and they receive many tempting offers to sell tneir house. The girl is attacked during the night and this is regarded as an attempt to frighten the two out or the house. Chichester persuades Netta to stay, but artenvards arouses her anger by admitting that he allowed Frank to be robbed without troubling to interfere. Later, Frank, who dislikes Guy, shows his sister an old newspaper in'which there is a photograpn of Chichester. As Wing-Commandei PI ay don he had been sentenced to imprisonment for blackmail. At a second attempt, Chichester succeeds in entering the house occupied by Singster, whom he discovers is the leader or the gang he is lighting. Unfortunately he is discovered and all but caught us lie runs from the house. CHAPTER VII. — (Conlinued.) The attitude of. Detective Superintendent Massing, too, was strange, considering, again, his caller’s record. “Guy Chichester,’’ he mused, studying the card in his hand, “I see you have kept your Christian name. Where did you get the Chichester from?"

“I have always had a great admiration for the cathedral in that city," Guy answered "and I thought of using the name one miserable Sunday morning while the rest of the congregation were dozing through the chaplain’s sermon in my last place of—er—detention. It’s quite a good name, Isn’t It?"

"Oh, it’s a good enough name; but not such a proud one as Playdon. Why did you drop that?" “Aren’t you aware that Guy Playdon has a past to live down? A man convicted of blackmail, the worst crime in tho criminal calendar, has something to live down, I might tell you. I find no profit in letting my former acquaintances knoxv that I am. still taking up a ilttle room In their very select world.” Massing leaned forward and gazed straight at Guy. "I would like lo know exactly what your game is, Playdon,” he said- "I know a little and I can guess a little more.” "There Is no game, superintendent. I can tell you that much. If you, like me, had heard a bullet whistle over your head in the early hours of this morning you would be inclined to agree that there certainly Is no game “I might add that although I had not previously met the gentleman who held the giun I have reason to believe that he is not in the habit of missing-" Massing’s Interest grew. "How much more of this story are you going to tell me? It seems to me that you are either running with or running against something that is of great interest to us. Which side are you on?" , "Is it of any use an ex-criminal claiming to be on the side of law and order?" “In your case it is. I am not a t>eliever in 'the reformation of old lags." -—-Massing was on his hobby horse — “ i have read very touching stories of wvicked men who, after having spent the greater part of their lives in gaol, mended their ways and became heroes and model'Citizens; but I happen to he a nasty, sophisticated policeman and 1 have still to meet a real case of reformation. “ A-leopard cannot change his spots and an old hand at one of the many branches of roguery cannot suddenly turn into an honest man. It can’t be done.

“As I said, you are an exception. There is a very strange story behind your case, and I would give a lot to know a little more about it than I do. (Policemen are naturally inquisitive, I suppose.” Chichester did not reply for a long time, but sat drawing slowly on the cigar that the policeman had passed ■to him. At last he said: “ I can understand your curiosity. You are not the only one who Is interested in me. Your interest is less harmful than is that of some of the others, but I am afraid I have to disappoint you for a little while longer. I don't doubt for a moment that anything I told you in confidence would be safe, but that isn’t everything. “ You are a policeman, and whatever you might think of the results of my activities, 1 am positive that you would not approve of some of my methods. There are two main reasons why I cannot -share my secrets. One is that I might easily tell the wrong person and the other is that somebody's well-meaning efforts might cramp my style and hinder me instead of helping. “ No, I will stick to my original plan. I work alone.” “ Well, then, why have you come to see me? You have not told me your business as yet, you know.’ “ Right, 1 will come to the point at once,” Chichester answered. “ 1 can’t let you in on the great secret, hut 1 want your help all the same." “ Firstly, 1 must admit that I am badly scared. 1 told you about the bullet last night. Well, there have been other similar affairs, and some day I may nol lie lucky. 'Somebody may not miss next time—and when that next time comes, 1 want you to give an eye to two young ladies 1 am interested in.” “Two. oil? Surely that isn’t your great secret?” The superintendent's hauler was an effort to pul. Ouy into n happier frame of mind, and Chichester smiled when he replied. | “ One,’ lie said deliberately, “is my ( niece, for whom 1 have a certain I amount of responsibility—her parents are at the other end of the world—and the other is one in whom i am—well — interested. “ I am also going to leave you a letter, which I ask you to open if it should come to your knowledge that 1 am dead, or if I do not. communicate with you at any time for a complete week. But fam going to ask you to i promise that you will not open the ' ; letter except in the circumstances 1 . Aave mentioned.'’

th a Sinister Background

lie look the letter from his pocket and handed i't to the superintendent. As the latter accepted it he weighed It. thoughtfully in his hand and gazed at it 'speculatively. n “More of a parcel 'than - a letter, he said. Tl Yes, it is bulky. There is quite an interesting story in there, it took me nearly a complete day to write. “ You said you would like to know my .story; well, it is. all in there. There is one man besides myself avlio knows it nearly all and I have always been content to think that if I went under there was somebody left behind to do something towards putting things right. 'Recently I have begun to get nervous and have 'cast about for a third person, one I could rely on and trust. , I am not trying to flatter you, Massing, but 1 do trust you and I know you are white man enough, to try and help when I am past 'helping myself.

“ You will find there a list of names If I am killed or disappear they are the crowd who will be responsible. I am not worrying much about the police effort to bring them to book for putting me out of the way, but that letter should help you to prevent them working their devilry on others —and especially watch those two girls.” •Chichester took up his hat and prepared to leave.

“ I should like you to come out and have lunch with me, Massing?’ he said, “ but I don’t think it Will he wise for me to risk being seen with you—and It is not considered to be an honour to be seen with me these days.”

The superintendent rose and thrust out his hand.

” I am not ashamed to say that 1 still think you are a fine fellow, Playdon, in spite of everything. Count me on you’r side. You probably know best about keeping your business to yourself—but if you want a hand, please give me the first opportunity to volunteer. Good-bye, and good luck.'”

Guy was half out of the room when he turned: "Sorry, old boy,” he said, "but there is something rather important I had forgotten. “Do you know of any engineer or inventor who is working on a new engine or fuel?" “Probably thousands of them. Everyone wants a petrol engine about a tenth of the present weight—or • else wants to find a fuel that is half as expensive as petrol. But ! don’t know' of anybody who Is anywhere near to the. realisation of their hopes, if that is what you mean. I don’t meet many inventors in my department—except inventors of new methods of separating fools and their money.”

Chichester did not stop to explain the reason for his question, lie had other business to see to and it w : as obvious that the policeman could not give him the information he desired. If he found it necessary he would ask Massing to make enquiries, but for the present there'were other sources of information at this disposal, t ! - As Chichester left the building and strolled Into Whitehall, a man who had been waiting unobstruslvely on the pavement looked up and then began to follow him. From Scotland Yard came yet another. He noted Chlohester and the first shadow, then he took up the trail. Of the three who walked towards the Houses of Parliament, only the last took the trouble to see if he, too, was being followed.

CHAPTER VIII. The Locked Room.

About an hour later Chichester descended from a ’bus In the outskirts of Croydon and strolled to a delightfully rural oottage at the end of the lane that might easily have been deep in the heart of the country. Ho knocked, but did not await a reply, letting himself in with his latchkey. The girl who met him in the hall, too, might easily have been a product of the countryside. Young—hardly twenty, in fact —attractive without being actually good-looking, and full of that indelinable quality that we call virility, she made a picture that would cheer the heart of a misanthrope.

“Why, it’s Unelc Guy,” she exclaimed with pleasure. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? There’s nothing in the house, and I am all alone."

“All alone!’’ Chichester echoed. “Where is Asher?” This although he had written to Asher, the girl’s man-of-all-work, and instructed him to find an excuse to absent himself for the day. “Oh, he has gone up to London. A sister of his is seeing about a new baby or something, and he begged the day off.” “I never knew the old reprobate had a sister —or any relatives for that matter.”

“I don’t think he has, but he was so insistent that he must go, and as you know, he is an impossible person to argue with." •Chichester agreed and after he had shed .his coat, the girl led the way into the cosy sitting-room which faced out on to a beautifully-kept garden at the front of the cottage. Being a woman, the girl was a Utile perturbed because her uncle had chosen to visit her at a time when, being alone, she had prepared no proper meal and could, only offer cold food. This did not worry Guy, and a f(er ho had made a good meal lie got down to the main purpose of his visit. Diana Thornton shared many of her uncle’s secrets. Her parents had been abroad for years—her fattier was a tea-planter —and because the girl's health had been delicate, iL was found necessary that she .should return to l’.nglanet,'.and Guy luid accepted the responsibility of keeping ail eye on her.

(Tp he continued.)