THE GAY ADVENTURERS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19638, 26 July 1935, Page 10

THE GAY ADVENTURERS

j§ By Capt. E. C. Cox E (Author of ‘‘Achievements of John Carruthers,” eto., etc.) E, ■ ,

1 • A Thrilling Story of Mystery and Adventure,

CHAPTER VIII. (Continued.) Bingo took a writing-pad, and with Ws fountain pen composed this document. “ Office of the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Whitehall. To William Jenkins, Sergeant of the special Police attached to the Home Offline. You are hereby directed to proceed to 25, Essex Street, W.I, and apprehend Henry 'Derbyshire, alias Joseph Pickering, alias Fortescue, on a charge of conspiracy against His Majesty's Government in collusion with certain emissaries from Moscow. Further of having unlawfully in his possession a diamond necklace, the properly of Princess Sophia Elizabeth of the Russian Royal family, now resident in England, and to produce the above Henry Derbyshire and the above diamond necklace at Vine Street, Police Station without delay.

Repton, Secretary of State 'for Home Affairs." Bingo stood up and waved the papers triumphantly in the air. " That’ll do i the trick, won't it, Sal? Quite a work , of art: I put in Joseph Pickering to make the villain’s flesh creep ” And Bingo roared with laughter. “ It’s magnificent, Bingo. I congratulate you. laddie." “I’d like to get this done to-rnor-mow, if I"can. We’ll see.” “Where do I come in. Bingo? Don’t leave me out of the show.” “ I’m afraid it can’t be a star part. But will you get up as a woman j policeman, ’ and drive tbc car? Make | It quite the real thing, you know.” j “ Righto, boy, but I may get a look In, after all. You never know your j luck. I’d like to arrest the beast my- j self. And what’ll you do with the J creature?” “I think we’ll deposit-him In the middle of Hampstead Heath. And look here, Sally, we must have our owd clothes on underneath .-the police rig out, and leave the uniform with the blighter.” Bingo wrote out his warrant again In his best copper-plate, leaving blank spaces 'for the names. After an early breakfast the next day be took this to an office bearing a sign “Typewriting and printing,” *and asked If they could let him have the document printed by the afternoon, on very stiff paper. He explained that it was wanted for private Iheatnicals. Ho difficulty was raised. After that, he and Sally went together to a fancy dress agency, wihere they .were soon provided with the police uniforms. Later on Bingo obtained the printed warrant, and filled in the names. “By Jove, that’s , some warrant, isn’t it, old dear? The royal; arms at 'the top, too!” lie said when 'he looked with satisfaction at the result of his labours. “He won’t dare dispute that. And the Home Secretary would look pleased if he saw his signature 1” That evening Derbyshire was -'about to close his shop. It was half past six, and quite dark except for the street lamps, which in his locality were not too brilliaht. He was in the act of shutting the door when it was pushed open from without, and there entered a massive police sergeant holding in his hand a formidable looking document. “Henry Derbyshire, alias Joseph Pickering, alias Fortescue,” said the officer in a stentorian voice, “I arrest you in the name of the law for conspiracy against His Majesty’s Government, and for having unlawfully in your possession a diamond necklace, the property of Princess Sophia Elizabeth of the Russian Royal family. I warn you that anything you say may he used as evidence against you. Held out yo’ur hands," and the handcuffs were instantly on his wrists. Derbyshire felt as if the world had come -lo an end. The charge of conspiracy was Greek to him; but the necklace? The story about the Russian Princess; which he had derided witli scorn; was after all true. Here was a warrant signed by no less a person than Hie Home Secretary himself charging him with unlawfully 'possessing it! This woman had done the very last, thing he anticipated, and had gone to the highest authority in the land! Fool that lie was, the necklace was still in his safe! Why had he not had the sense to dispose of it elsewhere? And if it was not the Antwerp necklace it was its own twin brother. 11 exactly tallied with the description 'that had- been circulated. He oould not make it- out. And they would put him in prison! And why lump him

up with the notorious Joseph Pickering? He felt shattered, crushed, ruined. «, All these thoughts flashed through his -mind like lightning. “Produce the necklace,” commanded tho Sergeant. What could the wretched man do? Then an idea seized him. A strange idea indeed! He would tell the truth. That would lose him the necklace, hut it might save him from anything worse. "Officer,” he said, “yesterday a woman •came with a necklace, and spun a story about a Russian Princess. But I at once realised that this was the Antwerp necklace. -I locked it up in my safe, and told her she could inquire for it at Scotland Yard, where I intended fo lake it. I have not yet had an ■opportunity of doing so.” ' “You take it to Scotland Yard! I don't think! You can tell that tale to Hie magistrate, or to the horse-mar-ines. Give me the key of your safe. If not, 1 shall force it open. That would not take me long,” and the sergeant drew various delicate implements from his pocket and showed them lo tlie jeweller. “The law takes no risks,” he added. “The keys are in my trousers pocket,” said the helpless Derbyshire. Tho sergeant took them out, and followed the jeweller’s directions to open the safe. There was the necklace, and a number of neatly tied up bundles of currency notes. He put tho necklace and the notes 'in his capacious pocket. “Money from Moscow,” ho observed, “I thought I should And this.” Derbyshire’s soul revolted at this last blow. 8 His precious notes, the savings of years. "They are not from Moscow,” he shouted in fury at the top of his voice. “Put them hack.” “ What’s all this noise about?" asked a 'beat policeman as he entered the shop. To his amazement he saw a sergeant of police standing over a hand-cuffed prisoner. “Sergeant,” he said, “I heard a shout so I walked in. Looks like a cop. Can I help you?” “No thanks, mate. I can manage ail right. I should think it was a cop. I’ve got Joseph Pickering.'" Look at this warrant. Won’t the Yard and the whole force feel as if they had won the Irish sweep?” “ A dozen times over, Sergeant. So this is the much wanted Pickering I Well I’m blowed! Rather a rum sort of warrant this; never seen'one quite like it before.”

“ No, it’s the special form they keep for the Home Office. Lord Repton’s own signature, you see.” “I wonder how the Home Office got on the track?" “ There’s more in it than meets the eye. I expect this diamond necklace had a good deal to do with it,” and | the sergeant displayed it to the constable. “Bolshevist spoil. But I must get along. You can report all this to your station office when you go off your heat. Just see if my car’s outside. There’s a woman police driver.” The constable stepped out, and the sergeant, deliberately leaving the warrant behind him, extinguished the light, and followed with his prisoner. The car was at the kerb. “Vine Street Police Station," said the sergeant in a voice that could he heard the length of the street. I-Ie gave a cheery goodnight to the constable, and the car whirled away. ' “That was a near thing, wasn’t it, old dear? Quite a hit of a squeak,” said Bingo, as they drove along! “You saw the josser go in?” “I did indeed. I admit I shivered; but I felt sure you’d come out all right.” “Isn’t it joyful? Scotland Yard all cock-a-hoop to-night. And to-morrow; oil, think of it! But our friend here’s getting restive. Look here, you miserable 'beast, if you make the slightest noise you’ll he shot,” and the jeweller found himself gazing at the muzzle 1 end of an automatic. “This is the ! lady who went to you with tha necklace. and I am Joseph Pickering." i Dismay, terror, confusion, amaze- j ment raged together in Derbyshire’s | breast. Ilis captor was the notQrious ! Joseph Pickering -who - 'pursued his, nefarious outrages, and kept the whole \ * police force at bay. Not to an officer of the law had he surrendered tho necklace, hut to a bloodthirsty bandit wild would not hesitate to murder him. It seemed like an evil dream or frightful nightmare; not a thing that 'could actually .happen in England. Would they really take him to Vino j Street, and there continue to play this [ lamenlabio comedy? lie was reduced Ito a state of gibbering. His" fears I well nigh deprived him of reason. | “ Where arc you taking me?” he at length managed lo gasp. He realised that whatever destination was contemplated. the car was not on the way to Vine Street. “ Where arc wc taking you?” laughed Bingo. “You wait and see.” That was the cold satisfaction that he gained from liis question. Across Hampstead Heath '[hero runs a rather rough I rack seldom used by motorists. Along this Sally guided Ihe car; ami about the centre'of tho heath Bingo called a halt. The moon had now risen, and there was sufficient light for them lo sec what they were doing, “there’s nothing to he afraid of exj ccpt th/it you will he left here to rej fleet on your past life.” The three • walked a hundred yards or so froiii Hie track. “Now, my dear friend,’’ said Bingo, “I am so solicitous for . your welfare that I don’t want you |to catch cold. I am going lo take oIT your 'hand-cuffs and you will don this uniform that now graces my person. But if you try to do a holt you will he shot.’’ Ho handed the automatic lo Sally, took off his sergeant’s uniform,- transpiring the necklace and notes to liis inner-pocket, and removed the handcuffs. “On with this rig-out ns quickly as you know how.” Derbyshire complied as though he were in a dream. "Now the belt and helmet suits you down io (he ground. You look a credit lo the force. Your hands behind your back now." 'flic wretched man obeyed, and Bingo snapped on I lie handcuffs. “That’ll do. Goodbye, old pal. Mother may be fretting about you, I’ll let her know you’re all right." “Where am 1?” murmured Derbyshire. "In The garden of Eden. Look out for Hie serpent.. Isn’t ibis a royal spree?" said Bingo,, as they reached Ihe ear. “What a gorgeous sell for all concerned except for you and me.” And lie laughed lill tears formed in his ryes. i f , . .(To he continued.).