THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1927.
11
IN A. D. C. PRODUCTION.
The
12
|
CHAPTER XXVI,
The rounding off came a few weeks later. Lady Merafield had left the district for a time! Miss Newland had gone across to join her father in Brittany. Quance had put off the character of chauffeur and returned to Gower Street and his algebra and his
"atinka."
Then I received a letter from Overbury, asking if could spare
n week to join a party in Brittany,
best thing, I could do was to bury Franks the blundering amateur detective, and revive Franks the efficient official" But before I did so, there were one or two things I should like to know from Quance and Overbury.
"Am I right in supposing that when Overbury and Mernfield went averboard from the lugger," they jumped to escape a shot from the Belle Rose?"
"Yes," said Overbury. "It was No and bring Mrs. Franka with me, the first warning we had. "As Mary Newland won't hear of doubt poor Vinson, when he saw the reunion without Mrs. Franks." Marafield's red cap go over the
"
"When Quance met you in the morning on your arrival, you were surprised to see him; and he had to explain why he was there. that put you op to the danger?"
And
It appeared that Professor New-side, thought he had done the land had been rather badly of trick." colour since, the trying experl- ence of the trip across the Chanael with the dying Vinson and the horror of his death. He was now recovered, but before he left for home he wanted to have all the people with him who had taken any part at all in the affair. "Also," wrote Overbury. "I think there's going to he some sort of celebration of the engagement of Quance and Mary Newland, and that's why the girl wants Mrs. Franks so specially"
"Yes, but up to then nobody had kunven that Vinson had identified Merafeld as the jan he wanted!
kill. It was the first intimation. and it was 'jolly close call."
"And then Vinson found out somehow that he, had missed his cormorant ....
"Cormorant?" said with a puzzled air.
Overbury,
you
Mrs. E. W. Morris, who is appearing as Irma in the forthcoining A.D.C. production.
I got through, and said what I had sidea, ns Quance said, Vinson was been told to say.".
in a dreadful state. He would. "It's a long way from Chittle-want carefully watching. hampstead to Merafield," said I. Quance couldn't do it. If we had "ow did he do it?"
known of the boat then we might
and
He must have driven hell-forhave tried it. But we didn't until leather to Westport. He got there Vinson was well enough to tell about one o'clock and returned the us about it. So we decided to risk car. Then he must have sweated taking Mason into our confidence. his inside out walking out to He was a great sport. He bam Merafield Tower. He was in an boozled you and the detective
I' elee." awful state when we found him from Scotland Yard and everyone I had been uneasy all night.
"You must have had a trying didn't undress, thinking there
overlooked the said I.
bedroom.
"Not so very amusing." he re- library windows. The light was plied. "It wasn't so bad while on all night, and I knew Mera-Quance was about, but when they was up and field had not gone to bed. Then took Quanee I was in a rotten he. about half-past two I thought position. Vinson heard a telephone bell. I stole down every day. Sometimes down to hear what the message would be almost raving mad. was, and was going right into Once he had a perfectly maniacal sce Mary Newland. Merafeld's room when I heard desire to
f
So, during long and golden day in October, and my wife, I had forgotten that nobody travelled from Cherbourg by a knew of my interview with Lilli- slow and jerky train through crap. I told that story.. Normandy and Brittany to the
"But," said I. "I have always terminus at Brest, and then took been in the dark about what a ferry bout across the wonderful seared you and Merafield at the harbour, and an omnibus at la golf links on the Tuesday." Fret, and late at night reached
"Oh," said Quance, "that was the curious little town of Crozoning stunt. 1 had been keeping a Overbury met us in the cobbled sharp lookout during the day, and square by the church, and took us in the afternoon I saw Vinson on on in a car towards the sea. Heighcliff, going towards Long- had just gripped my hand and stone. You know, he WAS said, "Good old Papa Franks!" dangerous, and I did not want to .That was all.
get shot myself. so I telephoned In a short drive we descended to the links, told Merafield to keep to the seashore and so along under cover till I came with the might be a message from Mary. two or three weeks, Overbury," sandy road to where a big hotel big ear, then he could come home My faced the Atlantic on the edge of the short way. It was lucky.quadrangle, and I could see the the fishing village of Morgat. Vinson missed him altogether. The season was over, and the He would have shot him in his vast place was almost empty but tracks. I met him while I was for Newland's party. Nobody had driving the two-seater back by the walted up for us. "Bed's the main road,"
"Did Quance paused. order to-night," said Overbury. "We thought you would bespeak to him?" I asked. exhausted with your journey."
A curious thing he spoke to Both of us were grateful for the me. He saw me and reconised a little noise in the passage be- That was the very day Quance was pirched. Quance thought he hind the green door." and yelled out, consideration. My wife told me me,
'Hello,
"But how did he get into the might risk it in the big ear, and I stopped, of course. the next morning that she had Quance."
house?" I asked.
we smuggled him out with the slept well. I could not rid my You know. 1 don't believe he ever
"Easily enough-through a help of Mason. He was quieter slumber of dreams. I was in the realised that I was in chauffeur house where the tragic Vinson had clothes, or thought it strange that window in the servants' block, I after that. Greene and Newland the coup of the Terpsichore. died. No doubt in the title har-I should be there, poor chap. It found it afterwards. You simply had been fixing up with Quance Fortunately, all the arrangements bour below lay the vessel in which was most extraordinary; he seem- had to pull it open.'
"And then?" he had made that last voyage of ed otherwise quite normal and
"When I heard the noise, I drew had been made before they ar- which I had seen the start.
Then I thought of
aaway, I don't know that we could We all met at breakfast-Lady soraething. Vinson was very fondback into the alcove under the rested Quance. But with him Merafield, Miss Newland (making of Mary-Miss Newlan-1. I said, staircase and waited. It was much of my wife), Quance, suddenly, Mary Newland is at blood-ourdling wait. All of a have brought it off without you,
I waved compliments away! Greene, Overbury, and our host, Chittlehampstead, sir, and would sudden I heard three sounds in Franks.".
"No, my dear fellow," the Professor. As always on un like to see you very much. occasion of ceremony, it was a don't you go and look her up while long time before we got at the you're in these parts? Of course,
bury persisted, "but for you and There was a don't know what netion he had a door opening in the gallery. Mrs. Franks it could not have topic of the day. certain strain. I came down last. at the back of his poor mind, but which diverted me for a moment, heen done. It was Mrs. Franks
"And Overbury introduced me to New he seemed to jump at the proposal. and then Overbury coming down." who made it possible to get Vin- Overbury son away early by taking him land, who shook hands and said, I said I could drive him there at
through the wood to her house. al- "Ah, well! all the lawbreakers are once if he liked. He said 'No, he spoke--"
"A few words. 1 just told him Mason told me that she was here at last."
was tired; but he would be glad Newland was not a bit like my if I would take him back to West- that Vinson had gone into the most carrying him. And if you ile part. He would go and see Mary library. We went forward in-had not worked out the idea of conception of a professor. looked more like a well-preserve! next day. So I drove him to the stantly together. We had a mo- the two butlers, I'm certain I prize fighter. refined by ten years hotel where he was staying at mentary Vision of Vinson pointing could never have got through
Westport. The porter anid, Miss-nt Merafield, who was cowering. Rossiter's cordon." asceticism.
"Anyhow," said Newland, get- Dodging the subject in all oured you inat night, sir. But even half out of his chair. Then he thoughts, he and Overbury got to then I didn't guess the boat and heard-us, turned, saw us coming,
not, Mr. Franks has got to take discussing the ethics of chemical Highliff Creek. He had stolen in and immediately shot Merafcldting up, "whether he likes it
We were all very still as Quance the honours. And now. I vote war. Newland was interesting there at night and hidden her up.
told this story.
we wash out the past, and go and because of the inconsistency of his found her afterwards."
Ile
"I think you'd better go on now, have a stroll before lunch, when views and his proceedings. detested the very notion of making war in the laboratory.
Overbury," said he. I glanced at shall have the pleasure of ask. Overbury, sitting beside Ladying you to drink to the health Merafield, who had covered her of Mr. and Mrs. Quance." "Dirty scoundrelism," he called
"Oh. Dad!" cried his daughter, the
sense of drama. it, "Inhuman brutality ... ruin of civilisation. The morals
more to You've given it away In the first
like
act
of the tiger and, the methods of the civet-cat ...
dear
Overbury, that's
funeral."
reasonable.
Why succession-first, Vinson running from the baize door to the library and, as I was about to follow him,
"And did he go to Chittlehamp- stead on the Wednesday?""
"Oh, yes: Ile hired a car, went out and stayed all day."
dead."
you
and
I looked towards Miss Newland.face with her hands.
"Yes," she nodded, "Bertram "It's pretty gruesome," said he, "you've telephoned to me that he might and there isn't much turn up, and what to do-to try tell. Vinson collapsed
Ho
no
Over-
or.
"Married? we all exclaimed.' "This morning, while you were
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(Continued from Page 7.)
.
You can persuade them to register or check
through. The
Care Over. Visas
the same China car which was morning, and at 9 p.m. 'Dalny was waiting for them at another sta- reached where the steamer for. tion, so that the luggage problem Shanghai was taken, was solved without ado, Moscow appeared a dismal place, without the fine shops or well-dressed
It will be seen from this descrip- I saw my wife nodding her to talk him into reason. We went pricked balloon when he had fired
Regarding luggage, the Shang. for a walk in the afternoon, and approval
the pistol dropped out of his "But science," said Newland, he talked about Aba quite rátion-the shot. He fell to the floor, and "must discover all, invent all. If ally. He stayed to dinner, and hand locked it up without any fall asleep, Quance said he didn't hat lady found it better to carry people remembered from the old tion that visas are required, for a lot of women fussing several large and small pieces of days. It was not possible to en-China, Japan, Soviet Russia, Po Lenin appeared deserted when the tal countries traversed, but even men use inventions and, dis- afterwards I played to him.
At Moscow a fellow-traveller; for those nationalities having to coveries for the misery and was very good. I tried to induce particular notion why. It would want damnation of the race-well, my him to take a room at the hotel have been much better to have around and making him feel an band-luggage than to attempt to ter the Kremlin and the Tomb of land, Germany and other continen-
left it there, as it happened, then ass. their and stay another day, but he coulddy Merafield would never have have another ceremony in Eng compartments of the train permit Shanghai lady visited these places. counting the expense of those
not make up, his mind. Towards It was not till we had gathered midnight he got very excited and taken. it from me, and we might land if you dare try. But they're ted the stowing away. of 11 pieces an American girl-journalist, who pay for visas the expense of the The same points were brought with pipes and cigarettes in the left all of a hurry. I had pro- have been saved a part of the married safe enough, and this by this lady and. her travelling had travelled from Berlin reached trans-Siberian trip is far less than scandal. However, Quance's brain little baggage being off my hands companion, four being the steamer
quire opening on the journey and woman, who was preparing to glazed balcony in front of the mised Bertram lo send a telephone must have been working much I breathe freely for the first time trunk variety which, did not re-her final destination. This young the prolonged Spez passagó.
I thought my wife kissed the the others smaller pieces... The spend six months' writing articles hotel that the Merañeld affair was message if there was anything better. He told me he knew how in twenty-one years."
who returned on the same train, considerable
with difficulty suspicious about his movements."
to get Vinson away, and that I mentioned,
"Overbury and I had agreed I saw a large motor-boat lying
are not in uniform, but at moorings under the hill beyond that this would be the best thing was to go back and prevent any-girl in a charmingly motherly appearance of the officials is any-for an American paper, had had cut by a Shanghai business man
advised also beria. He the village of Morgat. I pointed to do," Quance put in. "We coal body from coming into the room way, and I thought Mrs. Quance thing but pre-possessing, as they officials over her typewriter which End who declared that seven rou- Newland took my wife in tow courtesy is meted out if friendl-aroused much distrust. Whether, bles a day should be sufficient for
talding whatever her out to Overbury, with a quea watch all right by day, but after for a minute or two. I did, as was of the same opinion.
dark was the danger. Merafield you know."
I looked to Quance again. to show her the caverns of Mor-ness on the part of the traveller or not however, she was able to travelling first-class across SI- tion in my eyen.
"Old Mason," he said, "had gat. I walked along the sands is observed the lady stated far persuade the official of the inno "Yes," said he, that's Terp- had had a shock, and was pretty
way of opening bags, etc., for palia was never found out by our key, and so on could not be obtain field.
ed in the train. The only drinks sichore-We had a good passage bad on the Wednesday. Overbury
Leaving Moscow at 10 am. on were Crimean wine and vodka "and" twelve hours. Only a little Inte therefore left a note for him. We had told me as a great secret aid, Overbury and Lady in be required as good brands, while for lunch. Newland is a demon went scouting around in the car about the tower staircase-even "I'm not going to try to thank them, serves to help matters along,
all day while he was supposed to
Moscow a Dismal Place. Saturday the trans-Siberian train, a fairly good beer. It was his at motor-boats."
the first thing I thought of when said.
"I don't want Lady Merafėld
The trip started at 7 p.m. on a which was filled with China people experience that loss dificulties "Ah, Mr. Franks," said New-" be fishing. But the mischief of it taken me up there. That was you, my friend," Lady Merafield the traveller will find. land, "I've heard from Mary of was that the telephone message puzzling what to do with Vinson,
You, came too late."
I just shouldered the man and to thank me now, but if Mr.Thursday, from Berlin, and the returning from leave, arrived la were encountered than before the your exploits that night.
Overbury should feel like saying
at 9 p.m., this portion of the have passports visaed, and papers deserve to be in the dock with the "I tried hard to get through as went up."
was reached where it was neces- Still, soon as he went," said: Miss New-
"And what made Overbury con- a ward of acknowledgment later following night the Polish border Manchulf the following Saturday war and the only essential was to rest of us, only more so.
berfaed on that score. A there WAR some ceal himself there as well?" I on...." many thanks. We could not save land; "but
"I'll see to that, Franks," said sary to change trains. On Satur- journey being the trans-Siberian filled out so that no question could I think asked.
day at 2 pm Moscow was reach section. arm poor Vinson, but we all did our obstruction on the line.
It was a fault between Chittle- "It was Lady Merafield's idea. Overbury, collecting
ed, and travellers were able to From Manchull to Changchung camera, put down on the pass- best."
have five hours there returning to required until 7 o'clock Monday port, could also be used. The End.) I'deprecated any allusion to my hampstead and Exeter. Anyhow, We were dead sure that the Fern- under his part in the affair. I said that the it was some time after two when side woman meant mischief Be-
Н
her
to dis
informant.
the