Sinister Secret

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20387, 30 December 1937, Page 4

Sinister Secret

By ARTHUR NETT LET ON (Author of “The Mystery of Moorthwaite Manor,” etc.)

SYNOPSIS INSPECTOR BRIAR, or Scotland Yard Is invest!grating- the thert of a valuabi relic, the Ramaraoh Vase, from the Mu seuin of Ancient Arts and Crafts, Londoi lie enlists the aid of PROFESSOR DAK KKI.I. a 111 1 iii' 1 1 .u i v 11 ! 11 r, ,11 N E DARtil M who are Egyptologists. AN rilON HARDY. M.P., June’s llance, disappear: June herself is captured. She recover consciousness in a house at Kingstoi Her captor is a man called “ DOCTOR HERN STEIN. Tony Hardy is also in Hern stein’s power, aboard a vessel moored i: the Thames off Wapping. June contrive to attract the attention of two telepnon linesmen, who are working on the roo of the Kingston house. Her ruse fall: but she is befriended by a woman ac quaintance of Ilernstein’s, DELILAH HAR TOP. CHAPTER XV. —(Continued). At the end, another idea came ti her. No chances of recapture mus be taken. She did not know the 11 of her surroundings, for she had neve approached Ilernstein’s house fron this side. If the gang were well ac quaintea with these surroundin' streets, they would probably try t head her off. And they would an ticipate that she would make immedi ately toward the main roacl. Thu she smiled as she crossed the thor oughfare in which she found 'herself and vanished down another narrov opening, as dark as the one fron which she had just emerged.

Ju- ! Yard

The need for extreme haste was now no longer present, and a new line of thought presented itself. Wha move ought she to make next? Hei decision to go to the police was unaltered, hut the way she ought tc tackle the job was a problem.

To accost the first policeman she met and pour out her story hardly seemed wise. Delilah had had considerable experience of conversation j with men on the beat, and she told \ herself that the present matter was j hardly one that they would take up I without considerable questioning. She I coulqi clearly see the outcome. No or- j dinary constable would accept her statements uncorroborated, or act on his own initiative. She could foresee the result: “You’ll have to come to the station, miss, and make a statement.”

What maddening waste of time, when every second counted!

The alternative was to go to the high authorities direct. But would they credit her tale? If they didn’t, she'd have to make them see. But, even if they were incredulous at first, they could act immediately they realised her sincerity.

Her decision to go to Scotland Yard was supplanted by a 'better idea, as she again came out into a wide road. At least half-a-mile now, separated her from the sinister house occupied by Hernstein's gang, and she felt that there was little risk of further pursuit. And there, immediately facing her was a telephone kiosk. She slipped inside and began to skim through the directory for the ’phone number she required. Her eyes alighted with sharp intensity on a name on the first page she opened. It produced a plan so excellent that she wondered why she had never thought of it befere. Haif-a-minute later she was speaking into the mouthpiece in jerky, excited tones. The pause that followed seemed like

Then: “Is that Inspector Briar’s residence?”

“You remember me, Inspector?” Delilah went on, when the voice at ti-o other end of the wire told her that' Briar himself was speaking. “I’m; Delilah Hartop—you’ll recall he better! if I remind you of Queenie, late of the j Cuckoo Club.”

“Yes, I remember you all right, Queenie, but we raided that dive three months ago. Why your sudden interest in the Yard? This is a late hour to ’phone up a bachelor, anyway, even if he is a member of the C.1.D.”

“Look here, Inspector. This is] serious. I’ve some news for you. " And it ain’t Boloney.” “That’ll be for us to find out. You' must admit, Queenie, that you’ve been 1 mixed up with one or two queer i crowds. It doesn’t quite inspire con- ; fldence in your—cr—news 1”

He heard her inhale sharply, as though in anger. “Quit wasting time, will you!” she retorted. “You must believe me. I promise you I’m j getting nothing out of this, unless it’s! a ride to the river with ropes round my limbs and my pockets full of stones. You’d like to know something about a kid called June Darrell, wouldn’t you?” “What’s that your saying?” The tone of Briar’s words seemed to electrify the earpiece. “I thought that would stab youl] She’s in a house at Kingston. The i Cedars they call it. It’s in Meadows i Avenue, but don’t let on I said so.”j Briar followed up the startling in-1 formation with a string of further] questions. Delilah’s only reply, how-] ever, was to emphasise the need for haste. Briar cursed in an undertone as she hurriedly liung up on him, but! the conversation set him acting swift-' ly. Whether Delilah’s words were, to be trusted or not, they had to be investigated without any delay. # * * * “You think we’re getting somewhere, Inspector?” ’’Well, tilings are moving, Professor.! This is the most promising news we’ve 1 had in the case. Matters iooke like com-; ins to a head, though there’ll still be! a lot to explain.” “Explanations can wait. All I’m! concerned about is that we know, Jun e’ s whereabouts.” Briar and Professor Darrell were] leaving the Professor’s Hamstead, home. Their movements were J quick and purposeful. Barely three; minutes had elapsed since Briar, alter speeding to the house in a taxi-, cab, had performed a shrill summons; on the doorbell and had stepped inside the house without ceremony.! Professor Darrell had opened his eyes; in astonishment, hut he read urgency in Briar’s unexpected arrival. “i was just, about to retire.” the Professor stated, “though sleep is unlikely, as You’ll guess.” “You’ll want no sleep when 1 tell ih'" reply. "Del your ha! and* coat. I'nless fin mistaken, you'll he seeing your daughter again within a short time.” Briar had refused to explain furl her until ho and the Professor were being ,a cried swiftly wasl ward across Ilf city. 11 is sole object appeared b* bo |o ever, hr poured oul the explain.lions which were awaited. “You know this woman— Delilah! Hal*top 7 ’ Professor Damn asked ul length.

Briar smiled. Yes, I know her all right—and so do most of us at the Yard. Not that- she’s a wrong ’tin, you understand,’' lie added hastily. “At any rate, if she can help us to solve the present mystery, she'll earn the gratitude of everyone. She ; ’phoned me fifteen minutes ago with : the news that we might do worse than ! go to a certain house at Kingston. I Generally speaking, I wouldn’t trust ; her kind very far, Professor, but if ; I’m any iudge of sincerity at all, I’ll ' stake my career that there’s something behind what she’s told me. I’ve a hunch that luck has come over to our side.” “You’ve considered the possibility of a trap, or a trick to put you off the real trail?” “Yes, I’ve thought about that. But j from whichever angle you look at j it, it’s impossible to tell exactly what :is behind it. And you’ll be tlie first I to agree that we ought not to leave j the opportunity untested.” you to do, as I’ve mentioned before. Every possible clue must be follow- “ That’s the very last thing 1 want ed.” “In any case, the possibility of a trap is being taken care of. We’ll meet the Flying Squad before we reach Kingston. I gave instructions as soon as this latest news reached me. Then I thought that you’d like to be in on it, and that’s why I made it in j rny way to pick you up.” “If your intuition is reliable, you’ll have my everlasting gratitude.” The conversation was cut short by a command which Briar suddenly gave to the taxicab driver. A Flying Squad motor-cyclist was coming up at the rear. The taxicab drew 7 to a standstill at the kerb, and Briar hailed the motor-cyclist. He learned that a j large patrol of police were converging j on Kingston.

“We’ve placed men in every street surrounding the house, sir. Nobody can have got away during the last half-hour.”

“Good! As soon as we arrive, fessor, I’ll give the word to strike!”

Owing to the lateness of the hour, Kingston was almost deserted. It was a feature in favour of Briar and his men, for lie recognised that escape would thus be made still more difficult. 'He instructed the driver of the taxicab to draw in behind a line of police cars a short distance from the house, so that the quarry would receive no warning. At his command the net began to close, silently and almost invisibly.

Professor Darrell insisted on being in the forefront. As he and the Inspector crept towards the house they saw with satisfaction that lights remained in several of the rooms. The gate leading to the front of the house was opened noiselessly. Tiptoeing forwards, with a trio of hefty supporters in the rear, Briar tried the door.

It swung back as he pushed it, revealing the entrance hall, still brightly lighted by a shimmering chandelier. Briar whipped out a gun, and pressed

it into Professor Darerll’s hand without a word. A second automatic he kept for his own use.

To right and left of the entrance hall, two doors were to be seen. One was open, the other closed. With a glance at the men behind him, the Inspector indicated the open door as their objective. lie and the Professor slid towards the door.

Briar could not disguise the strange feeling that was creeping over him. The house, though fully furnished and obviously tenanted only a short time ago. was as silent as a tomb. He had the uneasy feeling that eyes were watching him; yet no sign of the quarry was visible. Had he been cheated at the last moment? He Hung the closed door open and then darted back to a position which afforded shelter from any shots that might come from within. His next move was to send a couple of bullets crashing through the door, a foot above its bottom edge. He was taking no chances of a hidden antagonist. “I guess that’ll waken ’em!” he snapped. “No need for silence now, you men. Yoti’ve instructions to rout ’em out without mercy—they’ll have none for you, if you let them shoot first.” lie began to search himself by stepping into the room which he had just opened. CHAPTER XVI Down River June followed Ilernstein from the room that had been her latest prison, and was led down the stairs to the front hall. There a group of Hernstein’s confederates awaited his orders. He gave his instructions in a level voice which seemed to calm the air of alarm that unmistakably pervaded the gang. “Go down to the basement, all of you,” he commanded. Then he turned to June. “This young lady will accompany me, and she must come to no harm. 1 will join you in a: moment.” j lie stood until his orders were being obeyed. June, .glancing at him over her shoulder as she was escorted below, saw him light another cheroot. Her last glimpse showed him suddenly galvanised into activity and striding towards his own private room. After closing 1 lie door carefully, he made towards the safe beneath Hie pedestal statue. it swivelled round as he touched it. revealing the small safe beneath. tic swung open the door and a sheaf of papers and a small notebook were quickly transferred to his pocki V. He gave another glance! round the room before continuing his J His next movement was to dive his arms within the safe and produce a package from its dark interior. Jle let out an oath as the object accidentally knocked against the side of the safe. lie now handled the parcel with extreme care, putting it gingerly an a chair while lie closed the sale again. A iinal swift examination of the room, and a slight shrug ! of iiis broad shoulders, preceded liisj .Meanwhile June had been eomlmled down further stairs into the lowest] part, of the house. Here a dampness j and muslincss assailed her nostrils. The basement was uiiliglih-d. save by electrical torches carried by three members of Hie gang, and fho shadows scone. Talking in whispers, the gang wailed for Ilernstein to join them. (To he continued.) Paper windows in Chinese homes admit, more ultra-violet light than »r----window glass.