THE SHADOW OF VERNESIDE

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19985, 8 September 1936, Page 4

THE SHADOW OF VERNESIDE

by FENTON YORKE.

SYNOPSIS. Maurice Verne lives with his brother, Sir Elfrie Verne, at Verneside, Somerset. The brothers are totally unlike In disposition, Maurice is a student, Sir Elfrie a gambler with a shady reputation. Sir Elfric has a gambling- partner, Lady Julia Furnival.

Maurice quarrels with his brother over the gambling at Verneside, and leaves for London, where he takes the name or Maurice Holland. On his journey up to town he makes the acquaintance or Joy Hartlngton. He gets the impression that she is connected in some way with drug taking Joy is employed at an antique shop in bond Street: and their acquaintance ripens into love. Sir EJTric sees them together one day and for some unexplained reason is greatly perturbed. Joy receives a telegram and immediately sets olf on a mysterious Journey without giving Maurice any explanation. in® words or tbe telegram are: “ Come at once, I need you to-night. Bertram Lang. Sir Elfrie and Lady Julia desire the death qr Maurice Tor an unexplained reason. They are alarmed at his acquaintance with Joy. or whom they have . ® V1 * dentiy some knowledge. They employ a foreigner, Kerring, to watch Maurice, and. if possible, assassinate him. Joy and Maurice are taking tea together one arternouu when they are interrupted by Virginia Ware, who is P“ v sionately in love with Maurice. Joy’s repeated unexplained journeys out of town and her evident association witn “ Bertram Lang ” leads to an estrange ment between he- and Maurice. Maurice decides to leave London ana seek refuge in some distant place in P»orin Wales, where he is unknown, * oul on Herring’s part leads to Maurice being seriously hurt by falling over a clitT. Berore leaving he writes to Joy, but the letter is stolen by Virginia Ware berore Joy receives it. CHAPTER LXIV.— (Continued.) “ Don’t speed her up too much till we get clear of the town,” he cautioned as Verne directed the car at a reckless speed through the traffic. It was months since Verne had driven to Somerset, yet this morning he tock the turnings as though by instinct and never missed a short cut. The baronet was deep in a eulogy of his bride’s incomparable charms. “ I say Dale,” drawled Captain 'Cartwright,“lsn’t it about time we were off? Allowing for accidents we shall only just get there in time as it is. It will not do for you to keep the sirl waiting, especially if she is as elusive as you say.” The 'baronet’s man helped him into a light dust coat and followed his master down the steps. “Where’s the car?” thundered Sir Philip, turning to the man. “ I left it here only a moment ago,” lied the chauffeur glibly,'as he met his master's infuriated gaze. “ Nonsense, man, you’ve been drinking. 'Go and see if it is at the main entrance.” Sir Philip began to pace up and down in extreme agitation. “ Lord, Dale, what a stew you are in! Supposing you do keep the girl waiting five minutes, she won’t run away!” “ Don’t joke. -Cartwright,’ snapped the other. “ You clont realise what this delay may mean . . .1. . there may be foul play here. God! What’s keeping that fool?” A siring of -abuse left his lips as he hurried round to the front of the club. There was no car to be seen. The chauffeur too had disappeared. Sir Philip cursed him roundly. “ lie’s got some sense, that fellow. He’s funked meeting you after losing the car and has cleared out,” said Cartwright. “Well, what’s to -be done?” spluttered the baronet, his usual dignified self-control gone. He had staked much on this girl. If he should lose her now! “ Another car, I must have another car!” He gave a frenzied signal to a passing taxi. "To the nearest garage,” he cried to the -driver as he got in. -Cartwright followed, apparently immensely enjoying the spectacle of the immaculate Sir Philip Dale in the role of the baffled bridegroom. CHAPTER LXV. A Race For Love. Maurice Verne never forgot the drive out of London on that fateful Wednesday morning. The thought of .Toy being thrust into a baleful marriage while be was held up by every dug, -bicycle and water cart that crossed his path was iorture to him. It took all Jerry’s coolness and tact to hold down Verne's suddenly developed speed mania. “There is only one thing can ruin us now.” -aid Jerry. “if you hold her down we'll just get there in time; if you don’t we'll be stopped by the police and never get there at all.” Vernes driving became 'more and “ if you don’t drive more carefully you'll attract attention. Dale is sure to have given the alarm by now and every station along the route may have a description of the car. Are you quite sure you know the way, old man?” They were passing a school and the children were just •arriving. Veine clapped his foot down on the brake ferociously as two little boys joined hands and ran across the road in front of tlie grinding car. The hind wheels swerved to the curb and rebounded, jolting Verne's hand from the wheel. “Well done!” cried Jerry as Verne quickly regained control of the car. “Little devils!” ejaculated Verne. “ There seems to be a conspiracy on to prevent my making speed.” The streets and turnings seemed in- “ Lucky the car was in such good shape,” remarked Jerry. “We can thank old Dale for that, anyway.” “ Yes,” said Verne, “ She’s running perfectly.” He was driving now with the exhaust out. and the accelerator to the limit. “ Anyone who tries to slop me now will have his hands full,” he said grimly. * After a hundred harassing little delavs they gained the open country. Verne lay buck and let her out. What was -Dale doing now, ho wondered. Was lie following madly in another ear. or had he telephoned to Verneside. to have the bride locked up till lie arrived. All sorts of mad ideas tilled Verne’s mind as the big car | Hew along Hie white road which Authored before them like a never-ending | ribbon, winding up inclines and diving j again into valleys. Little villages kept l' ••V’ur heaven’s sake/Verne, he careful of these villages,” Jerry warned. “They give me a most uncomfortable feeling. Above all things wc must keep out of the hands of a country constable. They are noted for their stupidity, and once they get a motorist fairly in their clutches. . . ” There was a grunt from Verne. They were approaching another hamlet but so far had not slackened speed. A policeman stood holding up his hand. Suddenly a look of dogged determination crossed Verne’s face. He let up the brake. “ He's not going to get me alive,” ho muttered. The clutch went in

with a raucous sound. The policeman had barely time to jump aside when the car whizzed past him and shot out into the country road beyond the group of cottages. " Damn that number,” said Jerry “ That little slow-down was fatal, I’d: afraid.” “ Well, we’re still going,” chuckled

Trees and hedgerows blurred past The car sped on with a steady musical hum of engines and a swift panting of her exhaust. They had covered another ten miles when they spied in the valley before them another village. As they entered the main street they received a warning signal from a constable. Verne slowed down, meaning to pass through the village at a normal speed. A quarter of a mile further on. -as they were gathering speed again for the rush into open country, his eye caught sight of a cordon of stout cable stretched across the road in front of them. “We’re caught,!” muttered Jerry angrily. “Stop her, for God’s sake!” Verne’s face was white and set as he turned the car up a steep little lane at the side of the road and came to a standstill fifty yards ahead. The two men looked at each other in desperation. At that moment the constable, big and bovine, came panting up to them. Verne swore under his breath. “ Keep a hold on yourself,’ whispered Jerry. “ 'Let me do the talking.” “ Well, sir.” said the man, grinning stupidly. “ I’ve got your number all right. You two gents can spend the day in the lock-up.” “ Look here,” said Jerry in an injured tone, “ you’re making some beastly mistake. What car are you looking for anyway and what do you mean by trying to commit murder with that damned cable there?” “ I’ve got the car I’m looking for,” said the constable. “ You’re the gents what scorched through West Tollington ten minutes ago. Anyway you was scorching through this village and I arrest you both.” He moved nearer. “Hands off,” put in Verne. /‘We’ll have you arrested for blocking traffic if you’re not careful. You nearly ! wrecked my car with that confounded rope. You’ve made a big mistake somewhere and you’d better get out of this and let us go on.” “ ’Taint, no use talking. You and your friend had better come along of me to the station.” He laid a heavy hand on Jerry’s arm. At that instant Jerry’s ear caught the sound of another motor. The car was evidently approaching ; at a terrific rate. The . next moment he saw it whirr past-the end of the lane. He looked at the constable who was gazing with open mouth down the lane. “ You silly fool,” cried Jerry, “that’s the car you should have stopped. I told you you had the wrong one. You'll have to pay for delaying- us like this my fine fellow. Both men ran towards the end of the lane, just in time to see the chauffeur of the other car cutting the cable. He jumped back into the driver's seat and the car bounded forward again. “Quick, you idiot, take the number, you'll miss it yet.” The constable stood dazed, hesitating between the bird ill the hand and the one that was now disappearing up the road in a cloud of dust. Verne was already backing the purple car out of the lane. There was no mistaking the Identity of the man in the other car. The momentary stop had shown them Sir Philip at the wheel, his face dust grimed and his mouth grimly set. Already he was some miles ahead of them! . . . on the way to his bride I CHAPTER LXVI. Sir Philip Leads. A feeling of blank dismay came 1 over them as the other car disappeared | “ That’s the car that broke the j speed limit in West Tollinglon,” said j Jerry angrily, “ you’ll get into trouble over this bit of work.” lie jumped into the car beside Verne. The constable, still looking decidedly perplexed begun to demur. hand. “ and be more careful next lime.” The car bounded forward and Jerry took out his watch. <’>et the best out of her you can, old man,” lie said. “ There’s no time now for precaution.” it was 12.30 and they had still thirty miles to “ If we don’t get to Verneside by one, there'll be little chance of seeing Joy before she goes to the church.” They were speeding down a long hill at a good sixty miles an hour as \ erne spoke. At the foot lay another hamlet. " Curse these villages,” growled 1 Jerry. “Slow up, old man.” Again I they were on the open road. Verne’s ' lips were set in a straight line. Jerry ! continued to encourage and restrain ! him though inwardly lie was full ! oi doubts as to their chance of sue- j cess, lie glanced at his friend’s stern lace. What would 'Maurice do, he | wondered, if he arrived just too late? ; As though in answer to his thoughts Verne burst out "God! Alurison, if I should lose her > now! After all we’ve been through!” j “But you won’t” said Jerry. “in fifteen minutes we’ll be there.” j “Fifteen minutes!” “If Dale suspects who has taken liis car he may have the wedding rushed still more . . .” groaned Verne, "We may be too late ... after all.” At that moment they reached the crest oi the hill. An exclamation broke from Jerry. “There he is!” Not far ahead, Hying along the road that wound through the valley was the otlie'r car. Jerry lay back in his seat and laughed. “We’ll overtake him, if you aren't careful. Isn't there some short cut you could take and head him off?” “Not fill we get nearer. Then t can run tlie car through the" West gates.” “How far is that from the house?” • A few hundred yards.” They wore nearing Middle Carlelon and Jerry laid his hand on Verne's "Everything depends on caution now. he said. “He’s turning! he’s turning!” cried Verne. “My God! he’s making for the West gates! We’re lost! That lane leads to the West gates. They are quite near the Hall.” As they passed the end of the lane j they saw Sir Philip jump from the j car and rush for the gates like a mad- I man. followed by Captain Cartwright. I “Good Lord! He’s on the scent!" I cried Jerry. Verne brought the car to a grind- }

ing standstill and make to jump out. "Where are you going?” asked Jerry, seizing his arm. "After that blackguard!” retorted Verne, white, with anger. “I’ll show him which is the belter man!" “You idiot!” cried Jerry. Leaning over he restarted the car. As it •bounded forward lie pushed Verne back into his seat. Go to tbe other gates.” he ordered, “It’s your only chance.” Verne placed his hands mechanically on tbe wheel. “Damn you. Murison! After all your fine work you are losing me the girl now l”