[All Rights Reserved.] The Chase of the Ruby.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 983

[All Rights Reserved.] The Chase of the Ruby.

By

RICHARD MARSH.

Author of “The Beetle: A Mystery,” “In Full Cry,” “Frivolities,” Etc.

CHAPTER XVl.—Continued. Cox appeared at the entrance. “Burton, you said that all we wanted was the ruby; that the rest of her things should go untouched.” “Well?” “The Flyman’s pocketing her jewels.” Mr Burton crossed the floor. “That won’t do, Flyman. We’re here in an expedition of right. We’re not thieves.” "You said yourself we might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.” . “I did; and you are aware that that is not the kind of sheep I meant. On this occasion I really must ask you to be honest.” “But I never saw such shiners. Who could resist them, guvnor? She’s got enough to stock a shop. Why, if we take ’em away with us, we shan’t be far out even if we don’t get that blessed ruby.” “It’s the ruby or nothing; also, and nothing. Put those things back.” “I’ve only nobbled one or two. I’ve got to look after myself.” “I, too, have to look after you. You know what was agreed; keep to the terms of the agreement, or, though you “nobble” every “shiner” the lady owns, you’ll be a loser. Put those things back.” There was something about Mr Burton just then whieh compelled respect, of a kind, which fact the Flyman recognised. His face darkened, and, in audible tones, be grumbled. But he produced the trinkets, as requested, and replaced them one by one, on their velvet beds. “Is that all?” “Every blooming one.” “Cox, is that all?” “Yes, I believe it is.” He glanced at the open jewel-case. “No, there’s a ring still missing.” The Flyman cursed. “Can’t a bloke have one?” “Not unless he wishes to pay for it more than it’s worth. Come, man, look pleasant.” The Flyman did not “look pleasant;” but he restored the ring. Mr Burton expressed approval. “That’s better. Now show yourself as keen in the right direction. Give us a proof of the ‘handiness’ you talked about, ami find that ruby. It’ll be worth to you more than all those other things.” On this point the Flyman, horn his manner, seemed to have his doubts; but F« c. ntinued his researches. Mr Cox < bs'u ved that they were strictly confined to what Mr Burton had called the “right direction.” Mr Burton, returning to the locked door, pursued his meditations as he listened at the panel. “It’s odd that they’re so quiet, and suggests mischief. In such a ease, surely women are not quiet. Unless—unless what? That’s what I should like to know.” “Burton is this the ruby?” The words came sharply from Mi' Cox, with a sudden interposition from the Fl; man. You giv me that! Don’t you lay your finge'.s on the thing!” “I’m only looking at it.” “You give it to me, I say.” “Burton!” The cry was almost an appeal for help. Mr Burton arrived to find something very like a tussle taking place. The Flyman was endeavouring to obtain possession of something which Mr Cox was holding, and whieh that gentleman was doing his best to keep. “I found it!” he cried. “Hand it over! ” “Burton! Quick! Catch!” Mr Cox tossed something through the air which Mr Burton caught. He had just time to see that it was a ring,

set with a gleaming red stone, when the Flyman was upon him with an emphatic repetition of the demand he had made on Mr Cox. “You hand it over before I down you.” Mr Cox explained. “I found it; he didn’t. I opened the box, and it was the first thing I saw. It had nothing to do with him.” The Flyman paid no attention to the statement. He merely reiterated his request. “Now, Mr Burton, I don’t want no patter. You fork up before there’s trouble.” The young gentleman, holding his hand behind his back, was smiling in the other’s face. “Gently, Flyman. Let’s know exactly where we are before we come to business.” The Flyman Hung himself upon him without another word. Mr Burton never fcr a moment seemed to lose his self-possession. “You ass! what do you suppose you’re going to gain by this?” While they struggled, the bedroom door was suddenly slammed to. There was a clicking sound. The continuation cf the argument was instantly deferred, Mr Burton hurried to the door. “They’ve caught us napping; it’s locked. Well, Flyman, I hope you’re satisfied. Owing to your ‘handiness,’ of which we have heard so much, in our turn we are trapped.” CHAPTER XVH. THE FIGURES ON THE BED. “At any rate,” remarked Miss Bewicke, as, turning the key in the lock, she shut herself and Miss Broad inside the dining-room, “you can’t get at us for a time.” The two girls stood and listened. They heard the handle tried; the rapping at the panel. “You may knock and knock, but it won’t be opened. He’s gone. That was Horace, dear. How beautifully you knocked him down!”

“What does he want?” “It’s pretty plain. Uncle George’s ruby has the attractiveness of the Holy Grail. This is another quest for it.” “But they’ll find it if we stop here.” “And if we don’t stop here, what do you propose to do? Fight them to the death? Nothing elsfe will be efficacious. They’re not the persons, and they’re not in the mood, to stick at trifles.” “What a wretch he is! I’ve heard Guy speak of him, but I’d no idea he was as bad as this.” “My dear Betty, when a bad man is in a bad hole, you’ve no notion how bad that man can be. The question now is, can we get out through the kitchen door, or can they get through the kitchen door to us?” “Where does that door lead to?” “Into Louise Casata’s bedroom. The beauty of the average flat is that you can always pass from any one room into any other, which, sometimes, is convenient and sometimes isn’t. I’m wondering whether Louise is responsible for Horace Burton’s presence here, and also where she is. I’ve reasons for believing that it was not her intention to go out to-night.” “I shouldn’t keep such a woman about my place, if I were you.” “I don’t intend to any longer. All the same, you’ve no idea how useful she has been. There have been times when 1 don’t know what I should have done without her. Still, I fancy, that henceforth she and I part company.” She opened the door which led into Miss Casata’s room, then gave utterance to a startled exclamation. “Why,, what is the matter? Lettv, keep back!” Returning to the dining-room, she leaned against the door, which she had pulled to after her, as if she needed its support. For one who was, as a rule, so completely mistress of herself, she showed strange emotion. Miss Broad stared at her askance. “What has happend now? What’s in there?”

"I don’t know. Don’t ask me. Let me get my breath and think, and I’ll tell you all about it.” She pressed her hand against her side, as if to still the beating of her heart. She seemed unhinged, thrown, in a second, completely off her balance. Her agitation was infectious. Probably, without her knowing it. Miss Broad’s voice trembled and sank. “Tell me—what is it.” “Wait a minute, and I'll tell you - all.” She made an evident effort to get the better of her infirmity. Bracing herself up against the door, the little woman looked Miss Broad straight in the face. “Letty, something terrible has happened.” “What is it?” “I don’t quite know myself; I didn’t stop to look.” “Let me go and see.” “It’s Miss Casata and—a man.” “A man? What man?” “I can’t say; I only saw it was a man. They’re lying on the bed—so still. Oh, Letty!” “May!” Miss Broad was probably wholly unaware that she had called her companion by her Christian name. The unknown horror in the other room had 1 id its grip on her. She was overcome by frightful imaginings, not knowing why. She gasped out an unfinished question. “You don’t mean ” “I don’t, know what 1 mean. I only I now that there’s something I ere." The two girls had been spea! ing in whispers, as if they stood in a presence which compelled hushed voices. Now. suddenly, Miss Bewicke raised her tones, extending her small palm towards the door through which they had entered. "Oh! you wretches; wretches!’ She broke into a passion of tears. "May, for goodness’ sake, don’t cry'!” "I’m not going to. I don’t know why I am so silly, but, for the moment, I couldn’t help it.” Her sobs ceased almost as rapidly as they came. She dried her eyes. "Letty, let’s go and see what’s happened. I’m afraid Miss Casata’s—dead.” "Dead?” “Yes; and — the man.” "The man?” “They’re so still. Let’s go and see. (live me your hand.” Miss Broad yielded her hand. .Miss Bewicke opened the door. The two peeped through. The room was not a large one. On one side was an ordinary French bedstead. A brass railing was on the head and foot. On this railing were hung feminine odds and ends. These made it difficult for anyone standing at the door to see clearly what was on the

bed. Miss Broad perceived that on the outer edge there lay a woman. •‘Who’s that’” “That’s Louise Casata.” “Perhaps she’s sleeping.” “She wouldn’t sleep through ail the noise.” “She may be ill; I’ll go and look at her.” “Don’t you see—that there’s a man?” Miss Broad moved further into the room. She saw what the other alluded to. As she did so, she gave utterance to that cry which Mr Horace Burton heard, listening in the servant’s room beyond—the cry in which there was such a mingling of emotions as they welled up to the lips from the woman’s heart. Miss Casata lay almost on the extreme edge of the bed fully clothed. She was on her back. One arm dangled over the side; her head was a little aslant upon the pillow, so that from a little distance it looked as if her neck was broken. The whole pose was almost as uncomfortable a one as a human being could choose; indeed, the conviction was irresistibly borne in on the beholders that it was not self-chosen unless she hail sunk on the bed in a drunken stupor ; but Miss Bewicke knew that she was no drinker. However, it was not Miss Casata’s plight which had drawn from Miss Broad that involuntary cry. Beside her, outlined beneath the bedclothes, was a figure, stiff and rigid. With the exception of one place, it was completely covered. Some one, curious, perhaps, to learn what the thing might mean, had drawn aside sufficient of the bedclothes to disclose a portion of the head and face. As a matter of fact, the curious person was Mr Horace Burton. When relieving himself of the burden of the

lady who was once the object of his heart’s affection, he had been struck by the outlined form which lay so curiously still, and had wondered what it was, and had seen; and because of what he had seen, had gone back to his companions with the fashion of his countenance so changed. Now Miss Broad saw. The man beside Miss t's sata on the bed was Mr Holland —Guy Holland—her Guy. It was when she perceived that it was he that her heart cried out. Miss Bewick?, who had only realised that it was a man, without recognising what man it was, came to her side trembling, wondering. When she also knew, she also cried aloud; but there was a material difference between the quality of her exclamation and Miss Broad’s. Hers signified honor and amazement -— perhaps something of concern; Miss Broad’s betokened so many other things beside. The two young women went running to the bed; but when Miss Broad showed an inclination to lean over and touch the silent man, the other, as if fearful of what actual contact might involve, caught her by the dress. “No, no, take care!” Even Miss Broad shrank a little back; for Miss Casata lay between. “Move the bed!” The suggestion was Miss Bewicke’s. In a moment it had been put into force. The bed was wheeled more into the centre of the room, so as to permit of passage between it ana the wall, and presently the girl was at her lover’s side. She knelt ami looked, but still she did not touch him. No tears were in her eyes; she seemed very calm; but her face was white, and she was speechless. On her face there was a look which -was past wonder, past pain, past fear, as if she did

not understand what it was which was in front of her. Miss Bev.'icke stood at her side, also looking; her dominant expression seemed sheer bewilderment. He also lay on his back. The bed clothes were withdrawn, so that his face was seen down to the chin. No marks of violence were visible. His expression was one of .-omplete quiescence. His eyes were closed, as if he slept; but if he did, it was very soundly, for there was nothing to show that he breathed. Suddenly Miss Broad found her voice, or the ghost of it. Her lips did not move, and the words came thinly from her throat. “Is he dead?” “The other did not answer; but, leaning over, she drew the bedclothes more from off inm, and she whispered: “Guy!” They waited, but he did not answer. She called again, “Guy!” Yet no response. In that land of sleep in which he was, it was plain that he heard no voices. The further withdrawal of the bedclothes had revealed the fact that he was fully dressed for dinner, as he was when Miss Bewicke had seen him last, the night before. His black bow had come untied; the ends strayed over his shirt-front, which was soiled and crumpled. His w'hole attire was in disarray. There were stains of dirt upon his coat. Now that they were so close, they perceived that traces of dry mud were on his face, as if it had been in close contact with the ground. About his whole appearance there was much which was ominous. The fact that this was so seemed to make a fresh appeal to Miss Broad’s understanding; probably to something else in her as well. “Guv!” she cried.

Her tone was penetrating, poignant. If it did not reach the consciousness of him to whom she called, in another direction it had a curious and unlooked-for effect. As if in response to an appeal which had been made directly to herself, Miss Casata, on the opposite side of the bed, sat up. The girls clung to each other in startled tenor. To them, for the moment, it was as if she had risen from the dead. Although she had sat up, Miss Casata herself did not seem to know exactly why. She seemed not only stupid, but a little stupefied, and gasped for breath, her respirations resembling convulsions as she struggled with the after-effects of the narcotic. The two girls observed her with amazement, she, on her part, evidently not realising their preesnee in the least. It was Miss Bewicke who first attained to some dim comprehension of the meaning of the lady’s antics. “She’s been drugged! that’s what it is. Louise!” Miss Casata heard, although she did not turn her head, but continued to open and shut her mouth in very ugly fashion as she fought for breath. “Yes; I’m coming. Who’s calling?” “I! Look at me! -Do you hear? Louise?” This time, if she heard Mi s Casata gave no sign, but, sinking back on the bed, clutched at the counterpane, making a noise, as she gasped for breath, as if the walls of her chest would burst. “Letty, let me go! I must do something. She’ll relapse, or worse, if we don’t take care.” Miss Bewicke hastened to th? washhandstand. Emptying a jug of water into a basin, she took the basin in her hands and dashed the contents, with

what, force she could, into the lady s faee. The salutation was effectual. Mias Casata floundered, spluttering, on to the floor, more like herself. Miss Bewieke confronted her, the basin still in her hands. . j “Who did that’” -f “I did. Louise, wake up!” Miss Casata seemed to be endeavour* iug her utmost to obey the other’s command. “What’s the matter?” “That’s what I want to know. In particular, I want to know what is the meaning of Mr Guy Holland’s presence in your room?” “Holland?” She put her hand up to her head in an effort to collect her thoughts. She spoke as if with an imperfect apprehension of what it was she was saying. “He was in the street —lying—on his face —so I brought him hero •—before the policeman came.” “Before the policeman eame? What do you jnean? How did you know that he was lying in the street ?” “I saw-—the Flyman—from the window —knock him down—he took the ruby.” ■ .... ‘ “The Flyman! Who is he?” - “A man—Horace knows —I knew— Horace has set him on. I didn’t want, him to get into trouble, so I brought him here. It was all t could do to carry him up the stairs —he was so heavy.” “And do you mean to say you’ve, had Mr Holland hidden in your room all day and night?” “All day—and night. He’s dead. The Flyman killed him. Horace will get into trouble —when it’s known.” Miss Casata, in her condition of semiconsciousness,* sam more than she had warrant for. Mr Holland was not dead. Even as she asserted that he was, he showed that her assertion was an error. While the still partly-stupified woman struggled to get out of the darkness into the light, there came a cry from the white-faced girl on the other side of the bed. “May, he moves!” Startled into forgetfulness of what it was she held, Miss Bewieke dropped the slippery basin from her hands. It broke into fragments with a clatter. The noise of the shattered ware seemed actually to penetrate to Mr Holland’s consciousness. Miss Bewieke would always have it that it was her breaking- the basin which really brought him back to life. In an instant Miss Broad was half beside herself in a frenzy of excitement. “May! May! he lives! Guy! Guy!” Miss Bewieke, turning, saw' that he was alive, but that, apparently, when that was said, one had said all. (To be concluded.)