Salute Toff

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21160, 9 July 1940, Page 9

S alute Toff

OUR SERIAL STORY

BY JOHN CREASEY

CHAPTER X. “Can Do Nothing 3lore” Chief Inspector McNab thoughtfully poured a finger of brandy from the decanter the Commissioner alj ways kept on the desk. Wellward drank it down, without sacouring it. Warrender spoke while the good effect lasted. “Have you heard from Rollison, Wellward?” “Nothing since he left the conferennce this morning, nothing at all. Good. God, can no one do anything? No one? I'll have to sign that outrageous paper—Tysart was killed, it’s a last straw. I must sign it!” Warrender’s jaws clamped together. “Wellward, we shall surround you with police and if you catch as much as a glimpse of the woman Cardew, my men will arrest her. If the paper reaches you by any other route, advise us at once. But sign nothing.” Wellward looked pugnacious and scared. “It's easy to talk, but I don’t want to end like Tysart!” “The police will look after you. Wellward, surely you’ understand this is essential?” Wellward’s eyes met Warrender’s, faltered and fell. “I suppose so. All right. But for God's sake put good men round me, Warrender. I’ve been scared for weeks, I’ll admit I'm frightened to death now.” “It's damnably worrying,” Warrender said. He turned to Meldrum and told himself that Sir Basil had a far better control of himself than Wellward. “You will have all the protection necessary, Meldrum, I assure you.” “I don’t need it,” Meldrum said, and his smile seemed almost derisive. McNab started. Warrender snapped- “ What?” “I thought Rollison would have told you,” said Meldrum suavely “I signed the paper yesterday. I’ve no desire to take chances.” “Good Lord!” said Warrender, and it was McNab who jumped to the obvious question. “Pardon me, sir, ye’ll have had orrders how tae pay the ten pair cent.” "I haven't,” Meldrum said. He glanced almost approvingly at MdNab. “When I get the instructions, and if I can safely do so, I'll advise you. But frankly, Warrender—” he eyed the Commissioner without batting an eye—“l shall do nothing to put myself in danger. Nothing! 1 wants this business cleared up as soon as possible, but Tysart’s death proves conclusively that these people can’t be played with.” In its way, Warrender admitted, it was reasonable, but McNab called the wrath of Scotland on to Meldrum’s head when the two cinema magnates were gone . Meldrum’s eyes held a lurking mockery when he saw the three men who followed Wellward,, and then walked off in the opposite direction from Scotland Yard. He noticed that despite his immunity a detective was on his trail, but he was not noticeably perturbed. Wellward was. He insisted that one man should ride with him in the cab to his Regents Park home, that two should wait outside the house and another inside. Sir Bruce Wellward obviously had, the jitters, and they did not improve when no message came from the Toff. He said, loudly enough for the plainclothes man to hear, that he was disgusted with the Toff, with the Yard, with everything. The plainclothes man grinned but felt uneasy. If this gang would blow a baronet and a chauffeur to bits, they wouldn’t worry much about a detective-sergeant, and although he managed, to hide it he was every bit as jittery as Sir Bruce Wellward. A Mysterious Call Mr Gabriel Selsom’s home was in Hampstead, and in its way it was luxurious. He liked thick Indian carpets and fancied Eastern methods of furnishing. Being rich enougn to pamper his tastes, he had a study that looked like a page from the Forty Thieves. He was sitting bad:, slippers on h's feet and a cigar jutting from his square mouth when the telephone bell rang. He stretched out ms left hand. “Hampstead 88312.” “Mr Selsom?” It was a slow, languorous feminine voice, a voice Selsom recognised well. His body stiffened. “Yes. What is it?” “We needn’t worry about names, Mr Selsom. But did you have a man named Delray employed at your office?” “Delray—Delray—yes.” Selsom frowned, genuinely puzzled by that request, and not a little relieved. “My junior secretary. I dismissed him for pilfering a day or two ago. Why?” “That’s all,” said the woman at the other end of the wire, and there was a click as the receiver went down. Selscm picked up his cigar, scowled, hoisted himself from his chair and helped himself liberally to whisky. His fingers did not tremble, but his relaxation for the evening was spoiled. That woman had the nerve of the devil, but after Tysart’s end ” Selsom shuddered. From a settee in a flat above a shop in the Mile End Road, Irma j Cardew laughed as she looked at Sir i Basil Meldrum, standing in front of | an electric fire. | “Yes, Delray was with Selsom. ~he story’s true.” “We’ll use him,” said Meldrum. He bent down, slid his palm across Irma’s cheek, and then lifted the telephone. He gave sharp insliuctions to Mr Benny Duvanto in his Hat at Bethnal Green, telling Benny to report at the shop. “Nov. what about Rollison?” Irma said when he had finished. Meldrum scowled: he did not look handsome or suave, for something : .ad happened that went contrary ro his wishes, and that was always a -ore point with Sir Basil Meldrum. “I've had orders to keep him. •Orders!” For the first time Irma Cardew knew there was anyone else .i tms racket besides herself, Meldrum and their hirelings. For a moment she was staggered. “Orders!” “Yes. and they’ll be obeyed!” Meldrum said shortly. “Who in the name of hell is it?” j Meldrum spoke slowly, coldly. | (To be continued)