“THE HOUSE IN THE WAY”

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19599, 11 June 1935, Page 8

“THE HOUSE IN THE WAY”

SYNOPSIS. Guy Chichester watches a card game at The Whip, a village inn, and is puzzled because three expert card sharps are robbing a local youth or a few pounds. Later he meets the youth’s sister and the two go to the Inn to break up the party. There is a scene, but eventually the girl and her brother go home together and Chichester goes to bed. In the early hours or the morning he sets out to investigate a house. The . Wychets, which, with the girl’s house, The Oaks, stands some way out of the village in a particularly lonely spot. The Wychets Is occupied by a Mr Singster, a retired chemist, and Guy is unable to get Inside the grounds because or a dog which he fears will give the alarm. He decides to postpone the exploration and is about to return 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. Nelta Fanshaw and her brother are orphans who are endeavouring to make a living from a small poultry farm, and they receive many tempting oilers to sell their 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 ISetta to stay, but afterwards, arouses her anger by admitting that lie 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 photograph or Chichester. As Wing-Commander. Playdon he had been sentenced to imprisonment ror blackmail. At a second attempt, Chichester succeeds in entering the house occupied by Singster, whom be discovers is the leader of the gang lie is lighting. ‘ Unfortunately, he • is discovered and all but caught as he runs from the house. CHAPTER VIII. (Conlinucd.) , He had found for her an ideal major domo in 'the person of old ” Asher (if ho ever had a Christian name it had been, lost years before) and this ■old soldier, assisted by a woman who, was miscalled a cook, looked alter Diana and both thoroughly loved their job. The two of them had long ceased ■lo regard themselves as hired servants; Diana was as their own child and to her they were almost parents. Guy had done his voluntary job very welt indeed. His imprisonment had made things difficult, but Diana had strenuously refused to accept 'the judgment of twelve good men and .true, and when he was released from prison he had taken up his guardianship as if nothing had happened, and, fry common oonsent northing of the 'affair was mentioned toy either of them. “You have got to give up this cottage, Diana," Guy said when the meal was clewed away. “ Not altogether, of course, but for the present. You have ■got to disappear-" This strange order did not unduly startle the girl. “Doesn’t sound very attractive,” she answered. "I don’t want to leave the cottage, and old Asher'will not hear of It. lie has just planted the potatoes and sown the onions. You .won’t persuade him to leave liis garden. But why do you want me to go?" “Asher need not leave the garden, lie can stay and Mrs Bing can do her best to ruin his digestion. It is only you who must go.” “But why? And where can I go?"

“ Let us take one question at a time,

The reason you must go is because I ’ fear that if you stay here some harm may come to you- . . "But why? What have I done?” The 'girl was really startled. “It isn’t what you have done,” •’ Chichester was serious. “ I am the cause of ail the bother. “I have told you something of my troubles; some day I may be able 'to tell you more: but for the present 1

•can only tell you that I am working against a pretty stiff combination —a gang..

"I know 'that -sounds melodramatic, 'but it is none the less true. Without going into details, I can say that there are half-a-dozen men who would dance with joy over my grave and they have almost unlimited resources, so •my chance of survival isn’t rosy.

"They are not 100 keen on murder. They , know it attracts too much attention and 'they are not likely 'to kill me unless they think it is perfectly safe to do so.” “But where do I come in?” Diana asked. “Do you 'think they might 'try to get at you through me?” "That’s just it. I think they know all about you and how much attached to you I am- It is cjuite likely that •they might see possibilities in you, either to lure me out of their way while they carry on with their business, or else hold you‘as a hostage." "You mean—kidnap me?” “Quite possibly.” It was typical of the girl that she accepted the position without a tremor. Certainly she was affected, but it was bard to say that she was afraid. Bather, she seemed thrilled. "I don't think I need run away, Uncle Guy. I have Asher and Mrs Bing lo look after me. All you need to do is to get me a small revolver and a license, and leave me to look after myself. 1 am not afraid of any gang."

"I expected you would lake it like llial,” Chichester said, admiringly, “but there is another point of view—mine. “I have accepted responsibility for you, and your parcnls rely on me for your safe keeping. This lilllc war in which I am engaged involves a certain amount of danger, and it is my ■duty to see that no harm comes to you. Besides, all lire time you stay here, inadequately guarded, I am worried about you, and my attention is not all on my main job of work.” When it was put that she would be helping Chichester by moving to a place of greater safety. Diana immediately fell in with 'the suggestion. “Very good, uncle, I would do anything to help you, but first of all I want you to meet Jack. He may have some suggestions to make." "Jack. Who is Jack?” It was Chichester’s turn to ask questions. "Of course, you don’t know yet. If you had not had such an exciting story to tell you would have learned all about him by now.' Jack Osborne is—well —almost my llancc." Chichester was not anxious to share his secret with one who was—well—almost Diana’s llancc, and he did not hesitate to say so. There was no pretence between him and his niece. “Oh, but you don’t know Jack,” Diana laughed. "He is dreadfully serious. A’one of your ‘bright young things’ about Jack. lie spends every minute of his spare lime trying to invent a motor (hat. . . .” The girl stopped when she saw the keen interest in Guy’s face. “Oh, well, I may ns well tell you now I have got so far,” she continued. “Ho has succeeded. His motor is !o lie •demonstralcd next week!” "Just the man l am looking for,” Chichester cried. . “Where does iie live? Take rue to him at once.”

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

A Fascinating Love Story with a Sinister Background.

Jack Osborne lived but half-a-mile from Diana’s cottage, -and soon the pair, followed by Chichester’s two ■shadows, arrived at 3G, Naylor-road, the young inventor’s home. Osborne's landlady looked very worried when she ■admitted the pair. “Oil, I am so glad you have come, Miss Thornton," she said, “I am worried about Mr Osborne.”

"Worried? Why?” “Well, perhaps I shouldn’t worry. He often shuts himself up in his room for hours when he is busy, but what worries me is that I haven’t heard him ■move all day I don’t know what to ■do.”

She was obviously a very highlystrung woman who would never think of doing the obvious thing, and Hie girl, followed by Guy, pushed past her and went to the young man’s room'. Repeated calling produced no results, and Guy asked Ihe landlady if she was, certain that Osborne was in Hie room. Receiving an ' affirmative answer, lie bent to the keyhole, hut be could see nothing out of place. Diana was getting worried.

“Break Hie door down, uncle,” she urged. “I will pay for the. damage.”

Easier said than done. The door was stout and the locks held. At last Guy gave up 'the hopeless task. He went down -on his hands and knees and tried to see under the door. Then it was that he saw something that caused him to get up and hurry the women downstairs. Under the door he had seen the faintest trickle of blood.

The Stolen Invention. The landlady was inclined to be hysterical, and Guy looked for no assistance from her, but cast about for a weapon to attack the door and soon found a hefty axe in 'the coal shed. A few shrewd blows smashed the lock and he entered the room. He was surprised that 'there was not any great disorder. There was no sign of a struggle, but -the man stretched unconscious on 'the floor was evidence enough that there had been foul-work in the room,’ The blood that Guy had seen from outside the door flowed in a thin stream from a wound at the back of Osborne’s head. The man was ‘ still breathing regularly and Chichester was relieved- when an 'examination of his head showed that no great damage had been done.

He looked up from his task and gazed into the horror-stricken eyes of his niece.

“It is all right, Diana,” he said gently. “He has had a nasty crack, but he will socn come round. I am ■afraid that I am not doctor enough to say 'definitely that there is no concussion, but I don’t think tjiere i 9. Just ask the landlady for some hot water, so that we can bathe the wound and see what damage has been done.

•‘'‘Tilings 'usually ‘look ipifctty ‘bad when there is a lot of blood about, but alter the mess is cleared away, one is surprised how small the actual wound really is.”

Although lie did not think Jack was badly hur.t, he was not at all convinced that 'the damage was as -slight as he would have the girl believe. 'He was making light of the occurrence for her heneilt, hut he soon realised that his efforts were of no avail. The girl returned with the water and knelt down to attend to the wound.

“You are trying to make things easy for me, Uncle Ouy,” she said “but you are not deceiving me. I know lie has had a very bad knock, but there is not 'the slightest risk of my giving way to hysterics. I know that won’t help a bit. “Don’t you think wo had better call a doctor or an ambulance? Surely we should 'get Jack to hospital.”

Guy did not answer directly. When he did, his tone was grave. “Honestly, I don’t know what to do," he said. “The logical and obvious thing to do is to get him somewhere where he can receive proper attention, but in the oircumslanccs, is it wise? Would he desire it himself

“I don’t know all about this Invention of his, of course. In fact I don’t know anything about it, except that it has something to do with motors. i can guess, a little, however, and 1 don’t think I am far wrong when I guess 'that Jack is very anxious to keep this thing secret. Isn’t that so ?"

Diana nodded. “Yes, you are right. But his life is more important lhan the motor.”

“.More important, yes. hut supposing his life is not really in danger, is it to liis interests that we let. Ibis business lie broadcast Just imagine flic headlines in all flic morning newspapers 'to-morrow: Young Inventor Attacked. Mysterious 'Crime in 'Croydon! The police are investigating ' a mysterious crime that was commit- , ted at Croydon in the early hours of yesterday morning. . . etc etc “And, of course, the local newspaper will give columns lo the case. You will And yourself famous as the fiancee of the wounded man. Your photograph will appear with Jack’s in all the popular newspapers and a picture of the room where the crime was committed will be on the same page—probably immediately below a picture of Hollywood’s latest, divorcee. “Both you and Jack will be notorious. You will be overwhelmed with publicity—but with litiic else. After it is all over and no trace lias been found of the missing model, or plans, you will become your ordinary self once again and .Tack will return to his everyday job as . . .” “An invoice clerk,” Diana supplemented. “An invoice clerk. Yes, that’s all j I am now." ! (To he continued.) j