THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, NOVEMBER 1, 1940,
Page
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2.
The Man In The Green Mask
drawled. "Why did you not:sum- mon help? You don't mean he pinched anything?",
man in the green mask. You have his 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 madi" 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- clar knew my name, and he only wanted that bracelet nothing clse!"
;
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 compli- ment, are you?"
"No, of course not.. I humbly apologise!"
"There is no need to be sorry about it," he continued, "I am 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 continuc..
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.)
...
"Good lord! What a funny chap! Were you not frightened?"
"Quite certain," she affirmed. "I "No, I was thrilled. You see, it offered him money; he declined bracelet was obtained. You took Money shortage, gambling debts; ped away in the first taxi she was my first adventure, Mr. Car 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 leton, and the man attracted me, a bracelet and he went away when Albion-square, Mayfair, and it ing honest work but I did not her flat. She would procure the good deal. I felt sorry for him. 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- He did not seem the ordinary £300. It was a gift from my the young American heiress. You cerned. I was given your ad- ing day; her brother would be type; indeed, he was a gentleman, mother."
were suspected by your hostess, dress, and I got to work. It was relieved of financial pressure, and and he could not have been more
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 polite. He had hunted everywhere, not seem impressed.
structed to act in the matter.” ⠀⠀ mond bracelet has been returned, escapade. for, that bracelet, then, when he "There you drift to phantasy,
"Now you hate me as the vilest ...Mildreth gave a gasp. She felt At any request, there will be no saw. he had woke me up, he just, he corrected, "The chap could sick with horror.. At any instant publicity, but I want an explana-thing in London," she concluded tion Why the hell did you pinch tearfully. "You gave a wonder- told me what he wanted, and I not have missed such an oppor- she might be. arrested.
ful performance, gave it to him—the bracelet, Itunity. I am inclined to wager
that bracelets
Mr. Carleton, "Then you are a detective?" mean."....*
he kissed you. Indeed, if you Again Carleton shook his head. Mildreth shivered. The tears but you spoilt everything at the "Were you wearing. it?".
will forgive me, I am certain you He sat with arms folded, his eyes would not come, but she sat there end you should never have "Yes, how did you guess?" permitted him to kiss you, that full of compassion, that wonder with a white face, and the man made the blunder of kissing me!!! saw the Gethsemane through He rose to his feet, then took "Just a hunch of mine. But I am you made not the slightest pro-. ful voice firm.
That is not correct," he con- which she was passing. He walt- her slowly in his arms. still in the dark, Miss Harrington.test, that you lay in his arms for Why have you not notified the two or three divine moments!"" tinued. "I was a private detec-ed patiently. Then she told him "Listen, Mildreth," he said police? There must have been She sprang to her feet; then, tive in the old days before her story. The sudden tempta gently, "I have been checking up and went to Africa-and when I made tion to get money for her broth on you, on your brother finger-prints; any number of slipped back on her seat... clues, and that chap may easily be
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 caught!"
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, sorry for him, I asked for an ex- Carleton nodded. 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
fair. Society. Several
articles cles were being annexed, that tion, We have
arranging he took up that profession, but half-tone. he did not answer my question. "There is no need to make a have been missing; they have there was no publicity, no pro- things between us-and Now, since I met you this after- scene about it," he drawled, "but been annexed by the guests and secution, that the whole business must return that kiss I took so
no prosecution, was simple and she succumbed, shamefully!" noon, I have been in a quandry. you are under a misapprehension. there has been
She lay passive in his arms, You see, Mr. Carleton, I don't I am not a burglar, Miss Harring- Mayfair hostesses have dreaded That bracelet passed into 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 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 sec, I know where that diamond there is always a definite, reason. self from the reception had slip- the man in the green mask!
her
been
now I
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