THE GAY ADVENTURERS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19637, 25 July 1935, Page 4

THE GAY ADVENTURERS

CHAPTER VIII.— (Continued.)

S By Capt. E. C. Cox > 5

E (Author of ‘‘Achievements of John Carruthers," etc., etc.) ~ = A Thrilling Story of Mystery and Adventure, 5

“By all means. The afternoon would be the most convenient time for me. I oan, of course, promise nothing, but I shall be happy to see it.” Sally thanked him profusely, and wenl home to give her news to Bingo. Bingo was quite excited. “And now I come on,” he said. “Enter Bingo left centre 1”

“As I have pointed out, Sir John,” said the Commissioner, “we deserve all that you have said, and more. But we have really not been idlers. The public are naturally rather sick of the blessed word ‘oliie,’ and we don't like using it, 'But the thing is this: Pickering and his lady accomplice stole an exceedingly valuable diaipond necklace in Antwerp, a very okj, and probably historical one. They must try to dispose of it before long. Tho moment they do their game's up. Every jeweller in the country is on the lookout for that necklace, or for its stones. We must wait with what patience we oan, but I am confident it will be only a question of time for this misoreant to be caught and returned to Porchester, where he will be under your paternal care. lam not surprised at your agitation.’' Sir John was to some extent mollified. "I am glad that you put it like that,” he conceded, "though I can’t say that I share your confidence This damnable convict has more hrams than—-" he was going 'to say “than the’ whole lot of you," but for once in a way he managed, to 'control his ferocity. After a while he took his leave; he had come in like the pi overhlal lion, and he went out, like the proverbial lamb. . „ “By Jove, sir, that was a fine show, said Stopford when he had departed. “My sides are aching from it.” : “But the worst of it is,” said his Chief, “that every word of it is true. “Bingo," said Sally one evening in October, “there’s a thing that’s rather on my mind. I don’t like keeping the. Antwerp necklace in the flat. I think it’s high time wo disposed of it. Now [■ want you to let me get at it on my lonesome. There are always adverlisements’in the papers of people who offer ■ good prices for gems. D° oK > nere are 'two close together. Tiptop prices paid for jewellery, large or small quantities. Jones and Davison, Bond Street.’ And here’s a long one: •Sell your grandmother’s old-fashioned jewellery. Really high prices paid. I might see how the land lies in these directions. I shall be terribly careful When I find the right' man the call-boy will warn you for your part. “Your will is law, old thing. But It’ll be frightfully rough on me to be left alone." v The next morning Sally set opt on her voyage of discovery. She took with her several articles of jewellery which she did not much care for. She went straight to Jones aijd Davison. “I have seen your advertisement that you pay tip-top prices for jewellery,” she said, “and I am anxious to dispose of some of mine. Now what would you give for this diamond brooch?” The jeweller scrutinised the brooch with a magnifying glass. “May I ask, madam, if you are requiring any article that we can show you? A brooch with more up-to-date setting, shall we say, or a* bracelet, or earrings? If so, we might allow you something on this.”

“I think you’d better not, boy. You see, I said I was the princess’ Qnly friend, and if you put in an appearance it would rather take the edge off my story." Bingo reluctantly acquiesced, and Sally, on the following afternoon, once more repaired alone to the shop of Henry Derbyshire. She took the neoklace from its wrappings, and handed it. to the jeweller. He gazed at it in the profoundest admiration- “I don’.t wonder,” he said, “that the .unfortunate lacly was reluctant to part with such an heirloom. It will look admirable . between my Antoinette and my Pompadour. You see, I look on these gems as my children, and the very idea of selling them upsets me. And what does the princess ask for her treasure? There is a wealthy customer that I know. Would the lady accept, ten thpusand pounds?” “I think she would," Sally managed to say. Speech almost failed at the mention of this amazing sum. Derbyshire walked up and down the room, tenderly fingering the necklaoe. He halted beside, a safe built into the wall 1 . A “I must let'you see something that Is too precious to display, and I only, show it to the favoured few.” He unlocked the safe; which had a letter combination, opened., the door', placed Sally’ necklace inside, and very deliberately relocked the safe. “What are you doing, Mr Derbyshire?” asked the astonished Sally.

“That’s a very pretty story you told me about the Princess Sophia ‘Elizabeth and her escape from Ekaterinhorg. But, my dear lady, it won’t wash. This is the necklace that the police over all Europe are after, stolen from one Jacob Golder at Antwerp. It will be quite safe in my keeping until I communicate with Scotland Yard." *

“This is an outrage,” exclaimed Sally indignantly. "Or perhaps you are joking. Give me baok the necklaoe at once." Derbyshire leaned over the counter and smiled Indulgently. “You will have to apply to Scotland Yard," he said, “and I fancy you will think twice before you do that.” Sally seldom used strong language. But upon sufficient provocation she. was able to do so. Then she walked straight out of 'the shop, and took the first axi she could find back to the flat. '

Derbyshire laughed unpleasantly. He was exceedingly pleased with himself. “She apply to Scotland Yard I She’s as likely to go to Scotland Yard as I am. The Princess Sophia Elizabeth i" he chuckled, “A very ingenious idea. Do for a short story; or for a long one! What a scoop for me I" / “Bingo, Bingo,” cried Sally as she returned to the flat, “get me a Martini, boy, and you’ll want one for yourself when you’ve listened to my tale of woe,” She looked unutterably distressed as she sank into a chair. “Never mind the tale of woe, old dear,” and he kissed her 1 tenderly. “It’s a tale of joy for me to get you back. I’ll get the life-restorer in half a mo. That’s better,” he said soothingly when she had sipped the Martini. “Miles better, Laddie, and now I’ll tell you all about it. It serves me right for going on my own." “■Sally," said Bingo, when she had ended her recital, “don’t you worry. This is absolutely joyful. We'll have a great adventure. We’ll get the necklace back, and a bit over too. You see, he means to keep it. He thinks we’d be afraid to split on him, and he’s not •so wrong there. But if he intended to buzz off to Scotland Yard have ’phoned to the nearest police station to send someone to arrest you. No. he'thinks he’s seen the last of you, But he hasn’t seen the first or the last of me. Where is this slimy toad’s shop?” “In Essex Street. It’s a turning off Oxford Street, not far from the Marble Arch.”

Sally smiled'sweetly. “That wasn’t the idea,” she said. “Don’t you pay cash down, without any purchasing?” “We do, madam. We pay the highest price that the market justifies. But the market at present is extremely dull. The world orisis you know. No one seems able to buy anything.” "Will you make me an offer for the brooch?" The jeweller considered for a minute or so. "I can offer you five pounds, madam, but it may take me years to And a purchaser for it." Sally knew that the offer was perfectly absurd, but her object was to acquire information, so she accepted the ridiculous sum, muoh to the jeweller’s gratification, and then had a longish conversation with him. The result was not encouraging. .Never had there been such a slump in the jewellery trade. Nothing of value had been sold for months, and he could hold out no prospect of being able to take any real article of vertu off her hands. She went to a number of other dealers with similar results, and it was rather a crestfallen Sally who returned to Bingo in the afternoon, and threw herself into an easy chair. “Be an angel, old dear," she said, “and make me some tea. I’m a bit done. And it just occurs to me that I didn’t have any lunch.” “Oh, you poor thing, darling," and he hastened to make the tea, and boll a couple of eggs. “'Here you are, Sal,” he said in a few minutes as'lie brought in the tea and eggs, and slices of bread and butter on a tray. “Don’t talk till you feel revived.” “That’s better,” she said, when she had finished her little meal. “A thousand thanks, laddie. I’ve had no luck. Nothing doing. But I’ll try again tomorrow. I don’t give up so easily." Next day she again set out on her quest, and after some unsuccessful ventures she found herself looking into the window of a comparatively unpretentious shop where there were displayed several historical necklaces of enormous value. One had belonged to Catherine of Russia, one to Marie Antoinette, and another to Madame de Pompadour. Her heart gave a leap as she gazed on these wonderful things. “This is the place for me,” she said to herself, and she walked away and ate a light lunch in a reslurant while she deliberated how she might best approach the jeweller. “I have it,” said at last, and went back to the shop, and after a few preliminary words! of admiration for the art treasures in the window, she introduced her subject. The jeweller, Henry Derbyshire by name, was a tall and pleasant-looking man of about forty. His hair was slightly flecked with grey. . lie spoke vory politely, and lie was evidently what Sally called knowledgeable. But his restless eyes suggested suspicion and cunning. He listened attentively. “Would you care to add to your historical works of art?” she asked smilingly. “There is a diamond necklace that I am commissioned to dispose of. When the Russian royal family were murdered in the revolution Ihe Princess Sophia Elizabeth, daughter of the grand-duke Sergius Alexis, contrived to escape from Ekaterinburg. After many months’ wandering on the ■Continent, and countless adventures she at length found herevny to England. She is living tinder an assumed name in the depths of poverty in a London suburb. She possesses a valuable necklace which lias been in her family for generations. She is most reluctant to part with it, but her poverty compels her to do so. ' I am her only friend, and I undertook lo sec if I could negotiate its sale." “This is exceedingly interesting madam. May 1 ask if you have the necklace'with you?" “No," smiled Sally, “but.-1 could arrange to bring it to-morrow. Would that suit youi"

“That’s all right. Not too near here. Well, old dear, we must put our heads together. I feel a scheme beginning to bubble in my brain already. But It may take two or three days to work it out. I don’t think that matters.” “What’s the idea, Bingo boy?” “I want to think. Go and play me something while I collect my thoughts. Something not too lively. That’ll send my wits flying. I tell you what, Chopin’s , Raindrop Prelude. Wo haven’t had that for a long time." She went to the piano. “It’s a curious prescription, Bingo, but you know best." “That’s cleared my mind," he said, as she finished. It’s a marvellous piece of music. It always appeals to me. Now, I can give you a sketch of my great scheme. What’s the very last thing that this wily bird would desire?” “Givo it up,” said Sally. “There’s so many things—battle, murder and sudden death, for instance." "That’s a hit stiff.” “I think a visit from the police would do to go on with. And lie shall jolly well havo it, “Bingo, dear," said the startled Sally, ‘what are you driving at?" “I’ll be the' police, and I’ll have a warrant from tne Home Office for his arrest, and for taking the necklace. You seo if I won’t. I shall want a hobby’s uniform, of course. That’s easy. And a warrant. That’s not so easy. We might work It through your shady pal, but I don’t want to get him into trouble. 1 think I can square it myself. Our friend Derbyshire wouldn’t know if it wAs quite the usual tiling or not. Sally, old dear, this’ll ho no end of a kick-up, A really frolicsome knockout." ' “Bingo, you are developing. What things you think of I This is great.” “I’ll get at it now, Sally. Here’s for a warrant. You’ll laugh when its’s done."

(To he Continued.)