THE HALF GOD

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19785, 16 January 1936, Page 4

THE HALF GOD

SYNOPSLS. Professor Caleret, financed by Fabian j Kromer, millionaire, lias produced a speck of Zeu, an extract or radium. ] A Japanese doctor, llammcrsho, who knew Bernice, Kromer’s wire, years ajjo in the East, lias come to England, by the aid of Bernice’s first husband, Maurice Engleheart (reported drowned at sea six years before) whom he has discovered to be__still living. Circumstances had been too strong Tor Bernice, and she had been Torced to leave her baby son, Irmy, In the care or Englehoart’s sister in Calcutta. On her marriage to Fabian she had told him all about her first husband, but some dread instinct had warned her against admitting her child’s existence. Bernice goes to visit Hammersho. Bernice goes to visit Hammersho, and finds Englelieart and her little son Imry living with him. Engleheart is a confirmed opium smoker, and is In a terribly degraded state. Hammersho does not demand money from Bernice, as she expects, but coerces her into introducing him to Caleret. The afternoon she does this the speck of Zeu disappears from Caleret’s laboratory, and by evening the papers report that Caleret has been shot, and the Zeu formula stolen. Hamersho allows Bernice to take lmry away and place him in a kindergarten. The Japanese doctor used a bee to get the speck of Zeu from Caleret’s laboratory, but on its return this bee enters Engiehoarts room and Engleheart determines to outwit Hammersho. CHAPTER IX—(Continued.) “ Four pounds, eighteen and some coppers, Bernyl ” He regarded her askance. She drew a couple of bank notes from a pocket in the purse and thrust them into his hand. “I think you had better leave your tobacco pouch with me until . . .” “Until jyhen?" He buttoned up his coat with the air of one about to depart. “ Until the police cease to shadow you. You have nearly fifty pounds now. It ought to last a long time. To-morrow I will send you a cheque for five hundred pounds. . . . Only you must leave that horrible phosphorous stuff with me!” Her eagerness betrayed her. “I only asked for fifty,” he retored. “That will 'settle our obligations until I’ve sold this horrible phosphorous stuff you seem so anxious to mind for me. You will hear from me to-mor-row. Good-bye Berny.” i He passed from the conservatory, slowly, while Bernice remained spellbound, afraid to move or cry after him. She had said too much already. It was possible that Maurice Engleheart would find a buyer, for his grain of Zeu, among the scores of unscrupulous medical specialists ,or wealthy scientists in the city. And then . . what of Fabian? Rochwarne had promised him a chance of life if only an infinitesimal quantity of Zeu could be used in the operation. Surely no woman had ever been faced with so awkward a problem. The red danger signals flashed from her heart to brain, filling her with unmentionable terror. Fabian must be given a chance. His life was worth something to humanity. Engleheart was merely an opium shattered wreck, a useless derelict drifting aimlessly from vice to vice . . . Fabian must be given a chance! Her feet carried her across the raindrenched lawn and down the avenue where the figure of the slow-moving Engleheart was plainly visible. “Maurice!” Her voice thrilled with its almost frantic appeal. He turned slowly, the rain blowing full in his gaunt face, his fist fhut tight over his inner pocket. chapter x. r Bernice ran some distance before she overtook Engleheart. The spirit of the gambler was on her. She was playing for ’Fabian’s life and there were to be no more false deals, no losing hazards. Her nimble brain was surely a match for his besotted faculties. She betrayed scarcely a sign of breathlessness or haste as she draw alongside his shambling figure. •He halted and regarded her in suspicious wonder. * It’s a long time since anyone ran after me!” he declared hoarsely. “What sent you?” Bernice viewed his ragged clothes and rain-soaked appearance with something of compassion. “ You are taking a‘risk in carrying that radium extract, Maurice. Few medical men know how to handle it properly. When mis-used,” she went on gravely, “it becomes a deadly irritant. Your tobacco pouch may not protect you against its poison-rays!” A malicious grin stayed on his lips. “ I’ll chance the poisoning, Bernice. Good-night!" He slouched forward down the avenue, but she was not to be lightly shaken from her purpose. Without fear she caught his sleeve and held him In the path. “ You have no right to Professor Caleret’s property! You will leave It in my keeping or I shall telephone for the police!”

"'l‘lmt mlflht nffer‘t us both," he anmveredsleadily. “Your owfx character doesn't, stand very well In the affair." he nrlded with a snoor. “You are the person who took Dortor llammm‘shn inh) I]:llm’et‘.~. house!"

'l‘ho mnnier ihrt‘ai- sioailicd Bernice. Noihing was in he {mined by harsh words. It occurred to her in a fraciion nf iimo that ihnre might he :1 inndpr side in his nalure. if she ap—hcaiori in hhn ii innsi be by way {if ihn iruih. And in spiic of his; apparent. hrusmmnr‘ss he appeared willing in listen in her slairincnis. “You knrmz“ sho wrui on in a changed \'nir‘r‘. “ihni Fabian Krmnnr ns—sislwl I’rnl'l'ssni‘ tizllorei in prmiurinfl lhn grain of snpcrwmlimh. Only his bunkurs know in \thi (‘xionif‘ ”i\ thing like lhnl nulens ma.“ Eur—'iohmiri \'ninnlt‘m‘f‘d \\'ii‘h a smile. “ilmniing I]lliii!')' inio a crnoihh‘ in N‘— iurn for :1 hlumcd spcrlruni of light !" ih'rniri‘ caught her hrL‘nlh sharply as nnv innim' iho surgt‘nn‘s kilil'i‘. “I“:ihinn has Inrnhzihiy six works in livo. chiuriiny a Swiss snerinlist Inlii him that his inn“ hone iny in [he usv of Calm-Mix XML \\‘iihnni it his ruse is iin’int‘rnhir." Munrii-u i'lnriuimurl laughed nut—riphL "I iiiu' )nnr way of puiiingv thing's, Burma 1 l'inn-ivd lhis Zi‘n slnl‘l‘ was a in}'~‘if‘i‘,\' in ihr‘ medical profus—sinn. Haw nn mirih (‘IJUIiI any «im‘inr ii‘il win-lin'r ii \Vnnlii ha (if [lsl‘ in Fillliixll‘s raw!“ in- iii-niuinlmi. "liumnsi- ihis iim-inr Imrlnvurni\\.l\ linivri-i‘s :i>.~m-i:iiv unii I'niiililuliL ’i‘hn |ii'«ii‘i‘>sui' lunu' ”3.10 lii‘vilirii‘il Hlui his Ilihi'l)\i‘|"\' \umhi :innihiiniv :i ror~ izlill :‘rulili nl‘ iliinl inniniiii‘s whirll :ii nrrwni Imi'l‘lv lin' ill-HIV‘I‘H >lll‘jJi‘liH. H was inra'i‘i)‘ for [his i‘I‘HKUII tinii Fabian iinunuml ilin «‘uwrinn'niw'y Munrivv sv‘r‘nn'il inkf‘n nhm’h :Ii hm“ :innunnr'i‘nwni. I|i> iii-mi :wi nynsi shifii‘d unmsil) as nnL‘ in rmii'iri “iih‘ a soul-si‘amiuur Nam-L. Hernia-E]

By ALBERT DORRINGTON.

E (Author of “The Radium Terrors," “A South Sea. E E Buccaneer," etc- 5 E.lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIllllllllllllllIllllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllIlllllfi?

face was a mere shadow in the dark avenue. Yet in that moment. of self introspection he saw how for she was above him. Even now with the sickly taste of opium in his brain he could feel his long dead passion surging to new life. His starved soul cried out for a woman’s life and sympathy. Of his wretchedness she cared nothing, felt less. Her one aim was the rescuing of Fabian Kramer from the grave, Fabian with his millions and his preposterous claims to her love- Through the mad tumult of ideas and passions he heard her voice pleading steadily—for the millionaire‘s life; and each word uttered on Fabian‘s behalf struck like poison into his drug-shattered nerves.

“You see how his life depends on that crystal of Zen! What use can you make it. Maurice Engleheart7 Its very presence is a danger to you and your friends. It may give Fabian life, health, the power i 0 benefit his fellow creatures. I do not ihink,” she went on passionately, "there is a man or woman in the world who bears him malice. .All his life has been dedi—cated in the. advancement of srienr‘e, medicine 'and art. Last winter he clothed and fed halt‘ the starving people of Twyford and ‘Fendoni"

She stretched out her hand beseech—--111313'. sought to stay his restless move;ments as he turned sullenly towards the lodge gates. “I‘ll hand it to The police!“ he devclared fiercely. “You have no more right to it than I!"

“I know, I knowi" she almost sobbed. “But can't you understand,‘ Maurice, that Professor Caleret lil‘, tended the Zen for Fabien. If you hand it to the police our opportunity is gone!" "You are prepared to give your soul for this American husband! What of me '3" he asked bitterly. “Have you forgotten the old pledges. the prom: ises we made to each other?" It was as though he had flung some wine dress in her face—this effort to recall the past. She maintained her composures with dimculty, for she already detected symptoms of mental degeneration in his manner. “I give you my word, Maurice, that your future will be cared for. Give me the Zen and you shall have a settled income. Five hundred a year shall we say?" He stamped on the gravel path. ”I am not bargaining!“ he almost shoutedl “You have no right to cling to this Fabian Kromer. l-iis dollars attracted you .’ . . wait, Berny Engiehearti My time is comingi" He was gone from the path and was out of the gates before she realised her dilemma. For a breath-giving space she waited, scarce daring to follow until he had reached the road. Dressed only in light evening costume she ran to the lodge and knocked loudly at the door. It was opened' quickly by Baxter. who appeared to have been an interested observer of the scene in the avenue. Bernice signed frantically ‘0 him. "A man left the grounds a moment ago, Baxter. I want you to follow him at once . . . It- is very important And 1 shall not overlook your assistance in the matter." she pauted. Baxter had not been a. lodge keeper for thirty years” without comprehending something of the situation. His mistress was in difficulties, and it was his good fortune to be ready at. the call. He left the lodge with the stealth or an old samelaeeper. and, following the direction given by Ber—nice, was soon in the wake of the nervously striding Engleheart. Bernice returned to the house half despairingly, her clothes dripping with rain. Her one hope now was to keep Engieheart in view, and, if possible, to make another effort for the lifeziving grain of super—radium. Changing her clothes swiftly she inquired of her maid whether Fabian had retired. The girl informed her that Mr Coombes, the family solicitor, was with Fabian in this study. Bernice sat by the bedroom fire and listened duiiy to the wind—driven rain as it beat against the wide casement. Down the drive she saw the lodge lamp grow white and dull through the sheeted mists. The beauty of ‘l-tolmwood interested her no longer. Yesterday she had breathed the scent of its flower-edged lawns, had viewed with a certain joy the ownership the priceless works of art contained in each room and corridor. Now she could only think of Imry and Fabian and count the slowmoving hours which separated her from the tragic end. Her maid had gone from the room carrying Bernice's rain-drenched clothes to the housekeeper‘s care. She did not return hurriedly to her mistress, but lingered in the hall to whiS~ per a few words to one of the under maids. The hall porter approached, card tray in hand. “A lady to see Madame Kromer," he stated hurriedly. “You'd bettcr take the card." The. maid hurried upstairs, and, a moment or two later, Bernice was staring white tipped at the card which linro .\iiss Altintrhnm's name and art—tlrcss. She hint rome to tell her some—ihing‘ cnnccri'iin; lnu‘y. Anti at so into an hour! it was after ten o'clock' Fun found the, mistress of the tliiiiZ innhurst ninth-marten in a State borilCi'iilE nu nervous ‘prosiraiion. ‘ “ What is the mniicr " Bernice in—fillll'i‘tl, “ls lmt‘y iil‘.’ " 1 Miss Allinsziuun was not given to‘ othibitinns of emotional hysteria: Beymm“ sif‘l‘mlt‘>\' or manner Sl(‘litlll‘il hcr smncwhat. and brought her to the point. llcr “”13" “'BS 500“ told. lmrv had noun in his room ihrce Illitit'g harm-0‘ iii chm-go oi" a servant, who had placcd him ill :1 col. opposite a window with a south aspect. .\i ninn, Miss Mpmfl hint. :iccnmpnmpl] by hci‘ 5,5]1e itiitl guilt" ”IO l'Dltntis of the csialilisiuncnt (is IISII-‘ll. to assure lict'scli' iimr licr iiiiie lillliils were comrm'iahin ['ol- Hit} night. :\ glance inio lilli')“_< cot mount it cmpiy! ills clothes had g'nni' “in. hiiln. I.\ htn'ricti search [hi‘tittu'h inn Scioo and grounds Suva n “- . thtl child‘s whereabouts, Diiulmnfili simply vanished without a Sign! llct'nlcc listened and frozu at Uni-l] wurit Miss \iiinximm sat siii’t' in iicr chair as one to whom an unkind “out would mean suffering and pain. "'l‘liis-rrAltis sudden disappearance th living; ihc poiicn into my school,i Matisunr‘ Kramer," she went on with; \‘ini'cssr‘li that‘s. "it will .ruin me‘ (“Hi IH." sisim: .\ll my pupils will he initcu away when H 13; known that a Cam“ of child \tcaiing ind occurred ill m} lxllillt‘i‘l'lil‘it?“ 1" ch: in: CfllilliiUL‘d." l