A SINGULAR GUEST.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIV, Issue VII, 16 February 1895, Page 160

A SINGULAR GUEST.

HENRY APPS, of Hoxton, completed the D fixing of tbe wires on the lawn of Hasleigh A v/n rk Court. He looked up at the dim light in the H Awll $ dressing room, and chuckled softly as he bent ”jn? y t * le * ast yard of wire. j. ri p Ba j4 Mr Apps, ‘ sives nine.* He threw the rope ladder gently in the air, and at the first effort it caught the projecting nail. ‘ “ Once on board the lugger,” ’ quoted Mr Apps facetiously, as he mounted the rope ladder, ‘"and the gnrl is mine.’” He opened the window very gently and let himself in the dressing-room. Near the table in the corner of the room was an iron safe. ‘ Well, I’m jiggered !’ exclaimed Mr Apps. He loosened the flaps of his fur cap and mopped his brow with the back of his hand. • Well, I’m jiggered ! If they ’aven't been and left the key in for me. I might have sived myself a lot of trouble if I’d a knowed.* Mr Apps swung open the heavy door of the safe and listened to the music downstairs. Young Lady Staplehurst was giving (as Mr Apps very well knew) a dance, a fancydress dance, on her return from the Continent, after her term of widowhood. ‘ I’ll jest see, first of all,’ he said, ‘ that the coast is abslootly clear, and then—then for a bagful.’ Mr Henry Apps stepped out into the bioad passage. He slouched, with bis jemmy sticking out of his capacious sidepocket, a few steps towards the stairs. Suddenly a girlish figure turned the corner.

‘ Goramity !’ cried Mr Apps. • Why how do you do,’ said the young lady, stepping forward. She gave a soft laugh that was very pleasant. ‘ This is really delightful. Do you know I recognized you at once, in spite of tbe costume.’ She held the hand of Mr Apps for a moment, causing that gentleman to gasp for breatb, and called one of tbe maids. ‘Just bring me a pencil and a card,’ she said. • I must arrange for a carriage to take Captain Norman back to his hotel in the morning. I wasn’t sure that he would come.’ ‘ I can walk,’ remarked Mr Apps, with restored selfpossession. ‘ I won’t hear of it. When shall we say, now ?’ ‘ Say in an hour’s time,’ said Mr Apps. ‘ I can go upstairs again alone, choynge, and do all I want to.’ • And you can’t stay longer ?’ She gave the card to the maid and ordered it to be despatched at once. • I’ve got a busy night before me,’ urged Mr Apps excnsingly. He thought of his dog waiting on the lawn, and feared it might give an inopportune bark. Besides, the safe was still open and the diamonds were waiting for him. He had noticed with satisfaction Lady Staplehurst was wearing none. ‘ You were always an active man, Captain.’ ‘ Always a doing something,’ agreed Mr Apps. *lf it isn’t one thing it’s another.’ He shook his head reflectively. ‘ I of’en wonder I don’t write a book about it all.* ‘ I don’t believe you will know anybody here, Captain Norman,’ she said, as they walked downstairs; • but I couldn’t help sending you a card seeing how friendly we were on the Peshawar. Do you remember those evenings on deck in the Red Sea ?’ She was really a very fine young woman, and in her costume she. looked extremely well. ‘Do I not ?’ said Mr Apps with much fervour. ‘ Shall I ever forget ’em ?’ ‘ Aud then the journey from Brindisi, you know, and that funny little German—yon remember him V ‘ He was a knock-out that German was.’

‘ And the girl who played the banjo and the ’ ‘lt was great,’ agreed Mr Apps—• great.* The large ballroom was very full. A small covey of brightly dressed young people flew towards the young hostess to complain of her temporary absence from the room, and a broad-shouldered Gondolier shook hands with her and took up her card with something of an air of proprietorship. ‘I thought I had left the key in the , excuse me.’ The young hostess took back her card from the Gondolier. ‘I am engaged to Captain Norman. You don’t know him ? Allow me.’

‘ Pleased to meet yon,’ said Mr Henry Apps. ‘ ’Ow’s the world using you ?’ ‘ That’s an original costume of yours, Captain Norman,’ remarked the Gondolier. ‘ I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything so daringly real before.’ ‘ Well, wot of it ?’ demanded Mr Apps, with sudden aggressiveness—* wot’s the odds to you wot I like to wear ? You needn’t think you’re ’ ‘ Captain Norman,’ interposed the young hostess, laughingly, ‘ you mustn’t overdo the part. ‘ Look here, I’ve put your name down for this waltz, but if you like we’ll sit it out. That is if you promise to keep up that diverting East

End talk. I like it. Do yon think you can manage to do sof * Ra-tAer /’ said Mr Apps. * And it if a capital make-up, Captain Norman,’ she went on. *Do yon know that at first, just for one moment, I thought you were a real burglar.’ * Fancy that now !’ said Mr Apps. He was relieved at seeing an obvious way out of his difficulty. * There’s nothing like doing the thing in a proper striteforward wy.’ * And,’ said Lady Staplehurst with her fan on bis arm as they walked across the room, * you have got the East End accent capitally.’ * ’Taint so dnsty, is it’’ She beckoned to the Gondolier. * Captain Norman and I are great friends,’ she said in an explanatory way.’ He has not been long home from abroad, and he knows scarcely any one * * Not a blesehd soul,’ echoed Mr Apps. * You must let me show you round a bit. Captain Norman,’ said the Gondolier with determined geniality. * Can you corn** round to my clnb one night this week ?’ * Whaffor ?’ demanded Mr Apps suspiciously. * Why. to dine 1 Say Thursday.’ * Gaud knows where I shall be on Faraday,’ said Mr Apps. I don’t.’ * You must consider me at your disposal if you require any introductions. I know a good lot of people and any friend of Lady Staplehurst’s ” — * Oh, come off the roof,’ said Mr Apps with much discontent; * wot’s the nse of forking.’ * Isn’t it capital ’’ asked Lady Staplehurst of the Gondolier delightedly. • How mnch more interesting it wonld be if everyone wonld only talk to me in their character.’ Lady Staplehurst rose with something of hurry in her manner and spoke to Henry the Eighth. * What regiment do you belong to, Captain Norman ’’ asked the Gondolier. * Find out,’ said Mr Anps. *Am I too cnrious ’ I know very little of the army, I’m afraid.’ The Gondolier was resolved to be agreeable to Lady Staplehurst’s friend. * I always dodge the army nights in the House. I suppose you know several of the service members !’ * J know as many as I want to know,’ said Mr Apps evasively. * A man in my position of life has to be a bit careful who he mixes up with.’ The hostess returned from Henry the Eighth. * I can make nothing of this man,’ whispered the Gondolier to her as he rose. * I think he’s silly.’ * If you knew bis qualities yoc wouldn’t speak of him like that.’ She resumed her seat by the side of Mr Henry Apps. * Well, blow me,’ said Lady Staplehurst, screwing her pretty mouth in her effort to imitate the Cockney’s accent, * blow me if this ain’t a fair take—l mean tike dahn.’ She laughed. * It’s of no use, Captain Norman. I can’t talk as you can.’

* It’s a Kitt.’ said Mr Apps, * that’s what it is.* * You don’t want to be introduced to anybody here, I suppose ?’ * Not me.’ * You have heard of ’ She pointed in the direction of the Gondolier. * All I want to.’ * He’s really making a big name in the House, you know. I watch his career with great interest.* * Thinks a jolly lot of hisself.' * Oh, I think a lot of him too,’ remarked Lady Staplehurst pleasantly. * And is that a jemmy sticking out of your jacket pocket? This is indeed realism. You don't know how it works, I suppose V * Well, I’ve got a kind of a idea,’ said Mr Apps. * Look ’ere, You put this end in and ’ Mr Apps found himself getting quite excited in the explanations that he gave. It was a new sensation to meet one who showed an intelligent interest in hie profession, and he could not help feeling flattered. Looking up, he saw the Gondolier gazing at him. * He don’t look ’appy, that chap,’ said Mr Apps. * Will you excuse me for one moment!’ * Wot are you going up to, miss ’’ he said apprehensively. *1 want to speak to him.* * Oh 1 (with relief) I don’t mind that.’ Whilst Lady Staplehurst was making the Gondolier resume hisordinary expression. Mr Apps thought and thought. The couples promenading after the waltz looked curiously at him. * It’s the rummiest show you was ever in, ’Enery,’ said Mr Apps ; * you’re a ’aving ’em on toast, you are ; but you’ll be glad to get upstairs agen. You want them dimonds, that’s wot you want. Time means money to you, ’Enery.’ Lady Staplehurst hurried towards the doorway. A murmur of amusement went through the room as the guests saw a new arrival in the costume of a police constable, accompanied by a man in plain clothes. Mr Apps, thinking over his exploit and gazing abstractedly at his boots and regretting their want of polish, did not see them nntil the plain clothes man tapped him on the shoulder. * What, Apps, again !’ exclaimed the man. * Yus,’ said the burglar discontentedly ; * yus, it is Apps agine, Mr Walker. And vurry glad you are to see him, I’ve no daht.’ ‘Always a pleasure to meet a gentleman like you,’said Mr Walker cheerfully, as he conducted him to the doorway. * I’ve wanted to run up against you before.’ Much commotion in the ballroom at the diverting little scene. General agreement that Lady Staplehurst was a perfect genius at entertaining. * But, loveliest girl,’ said the Gondolier confidentially to Lady Staplehurst, * isn’t this carrying a joke rather too far ’ That’s a real detective.’

• I know,' said Loveliest Girl, trembling now a little. * That’s a real burglar, too.' ‘ A real ’ * Yes, ves. Don't make a fuss. I don’t want the dance spoilt. Take me down to supper, like a good fellow.' WS.