THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 1, 1940.
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2
The Man In The Green Mask
drawled. "Why did you not sum- mon help? You don't mean pinched anything?"
he
man in the green mask. You have bis-voice. You seem the same person-your manner-everything -but, of course, it is absurd, isn't "Yes, he took my diamond it, and I am really quite mad?"
bracelet!"
Carleton shrugged. He still ap-
"Heavens! Did you let him' get peared to regard it as a joke. away with it?"
"You are pulling my leg, aren't
"Yes, I had no option. He might you?" he queried. This adventure have strangled me!"
"The brute! Well, proceed. What developed; why have you kept quiet about the incident? Why, it would have made a front headline for the papers!"
"There was no one in the house but a caretaker, and he is more than slightly deaf. He sleeps at the top of the building, and I don't think he would have heard. But that is not the exciting part. The real mystery is that the bur- glar knew my name, and he only wanted that bracelet nothing cise!"
"Good lord! What a funny chap! Were you not frightened?"
"No, I was thrilled. You see, it was my first adventure, Mr. Car- leton, and the man attracted me a good deal. I felt sorry for him. He did not seem the ordinary type; indeed, he was a gentleman, and he could not have been more polite. He had hunted everywhere for that bracelet, then, when he saw he had woke me up, he just told me what he wanted, and I gave it to him-the bracelet, I mean:"
"Were you wearing it??
never happened, did it? If it did, and you think I possess the same voice as your burglar, well — you are hardly paying me a complf- ment, are you?"
"No, of course not. I humbly apologise!"
"There is no need to be sorry "I am about it," he continued. just intrigued over one part. You say the chap came for that dia- mond bracelet, that he wanted nothing else? Are you certain on that point?"
Mildreth flushed. She was trembling: it seemed beyond her strength to continue.
Low.
A picturesque view as East Coast evacuee children walk in the spacious, grounds of ther Castle, where they are billeted. Lowther Castle at Penrith, Cumberland, was, until recent. ly, the home of Lord Lonsdale. (Copyright, Fox.)
Į
"Quite certain," she affirmed. “I offered him money; he declined bracelet was obtained. You took Money shortage; gambling. debts; ped away in the first taxi she with thanks. He just wanted that it last night when a guest at 4, to keep young wastrels from do- could find, back to the security of bracelet--and he went away when Albion-square, Mayfair, and it ing honest work-but I did not her flat. She would procure the he got it. I think it was worth belonged. to Miss Adele Vicary, calculate that you would be con- cash for that bracelet the follow- £300. It was a gift from my the young American heiress, You cerned. I was given your ad- ing day; her brother would be mother."
were suspected by your hostess, dress, and I got to work. It was relieved of financial pressure, and Carleton shook his head. He did Mrs. Darlington, and I was in- a method of my own, and the dia- no one would be the wiser for her not seem impressed.
structed to act in the matter." · mond bracelet has been returned. escapade.
"Now you hate me as the vilest "There you drift to phantasy," Mildreth gave a gasp. She felt At my request,, there will be no he corrected. "The chap could sick with horror. At any instant publicity, but I want an explana- thing in London," she concluded not have missed such an oppor- she might be arrested.
tion. Why the hell did you pinch tearfully. "You gave a wonder-. tunity.. I am inclined to wager
ful performance, Mr. Carleton, "Then you are a detective?" that bracelet?". he kissed you. Indeed, if you
Again Carleton shook his head. Mildreth shivered. The tears but you spoilt everything at the should never have will forgive me, I am certain you He sat with arms folded, his eyes would not come, but she sat there end-you permitted him to kiss you, that full of compassion, that wonder- with a white face, and the man-made the blunder of kissing-me!!!
the saw
Gethsemane through He rose to his feet, then took you made not the slightest pro- ful voice firm.
"That is not correct," he con- which she was passing. He wait her slowly in his arms. test, that you lay in his arms for
"Listen, Mildreth," he said tinued: "I was a private detec- ed patiently. Then she told him two or three divine moments!"
She sprang to
days-before her feet, then dive in the old
I her story. The sudden tempta- gently, "I have been checking up on your brother and went to Africa-and when I made tion to get money for her broth on you, slipped back on her seat.
"Then it was you!" she ex- good out in the mines I saw no er; her moment of weakness when everything else, and you will find claimed. "I was right, after all, in reason to copy the methods of she saw the bracelet lying on he will get that African trip. I "Oh, but I don't wish him my intuition. You are the man Scotland Yard. I have been back the table, with it's owner tem- have spoken a word for him. You caught. I still feel tremendously in the green mask!"
in London a month, and since porarily absent at the telephone. see, he knew Mrs. Darlington, Carleton. nodded. sorry for him. I asked for an ex-
He leaned that date Mrs. Darlington has She knew other Mayfair guests and it was my suggestion that re- planation. I wanted to know why forward, and his voice dropped a been putting me wise about May- were at the same racket; that arti- sulted in you getting this invita-
Several fair Society,
articles cles were being annexed, that tion. We have been arranging he took up that profession, but half-tone,
"There is no need he did not answer my question.
to make a have been missing; they have there was no publicity, no pro- things between us and now. I Now, since I met you this after- scene about it," he drawled, "but heen annexed by the guests and secution, that the whole business must return that kiss I took so
prosecution. was simple-and she succumbed, shamefully!" noon, I have been in a quandry. you are under a misapprehension. there has been
into dreaded That bracelet passed
her She lay passive in. his You see, Mr. Carleton, I don't. I am not a burglar, Miss Harring- Mayfair hostesses have think the voice of that cat-burglar ton. I merely paid that visit to scandal. The articles have been possession, and, under the plea of but at that instant she knew she has a duplicate, and I am won- rescue some stolen property. You taken by Mayfair guests, and a headache she had excused her- had fallen, fallen completely for dering if you could have been the see, I know where that diamond there is always a definite reason. self from the reception had slip the man in the green mask!
"Yes, how did you guess?" "Just a bunch of mine. But I am still in the dark, Miss Harrington. Why have you not notified the police? There must have been -finger-prints; any number of clues, and that chap may easily be caught!"
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