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Romance, and Mystery.. -
Zora, the Invisible
By J. R. WILMOT.
(Author of "The Moorcroft Manor Mystory.")
SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS
CHAPTERS, Montgomery Gaynor, a wealthy diamond merchant, is found dead in his office. Inspector Webster, noting that the body appears per- fectly lifelike telephones for Doctor Peter Blayne, a brilliant young criminalogist and a medito, who. has frequently assisted Scotland Yard in a specialised capacity. Blayne performs a blood test, and also finds a quantity of peculiarly congealed ash beneath the fire-grate together with a scrap of paper bearing the word "Zora."
The blood test does not give any of the recognised reactions and Blayne is puzzled over the analysis of the ash. He is convinced that Gaynor did not die a natural death Blayne is secretly in love with Sonia Gaynor.
CHAPTER VII (Cont.)
Mrs. Gayhor's face drained of colour and her eyes opened wider. Sunta experienced a quiver; noi no much of disappointment as amazement.
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1928.
SEX EQUALITY.
MRS. PETHICK-LAWRENCE'S SUGGESTIONS.
know quite how to act......She than either the eyes or the lips, reminded herself that he had not and when he had mentioned the yet told her who he was.
mysterious visitor he had noticed "Certainly," she smiled, her mind her hands which were resting on. working rapidly. "If you will the small octagonal table that come down to the bottom of the stood between them, clench slightly. garden, I think I could spare a This momentary inflexion had been
Mrs. Pothick-Lawrenco, in her little timo."
sufficient to inform him that his words had disturbed her assumed prosidential address to the twenty first annual conference of the Wo equanimity.
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She motioned him to follow her neross the lawn, down a few rustic steps until they reached, the clois- tered cool of the summer-bouSc.
Peter wasted no time. As soon as Sonia was seated he introduced himself. "My name's Blayne,
"I can quite understand that," men's Freedom League at Caxton Hall, Westminster, said that now Blayne pursued his injufry levelly. woman
I thought that perhaps you might
woro. to have the vole on at some time or other have heard and immediate effect must be the tho anmo terima na men the first 1 Mrs. Gaynor had been watching
Mr. Gaynor mention a young gen enforcement, of obedience to the her daughter closely, admiring the ho bogan. "I'm acting for Intleman who certainly appears to enterprising qualities she had most ejector Webster at Scotland Yard." have been on a footing of familiar-letter and spirit of the Statute
Keonly he watched the effect of Ity. As, however, you cannot help
If necessary, an amending Bill certainly inherited from her father. Then she noticed the girl's sudden his words, and he thought sheme, I must leave it at that. Per-ust be brought forward, making hap3 Mrs. Gaynor may have some any public or privato employer recollection," he added, as though who dismissed a woman purely on it were an afterthought.
ground of marrings liable to "It is possible that I could have called upon to defend his action in 1a few words with her?"
pallor, and leaned forward, quickly. "Sonia, darling, whatever's the matter?
The girl took a quick grip on her
emotions.
"Nothing," she tried to smile I just felt the Nothing at all! least bit dizzy, I think it must be the excitement."
child."
"But you look positively ill, please don't worry, mother, there's a dear, I'm quite better now. I think I'll go and lie down for a few minutes until lunch."
paled a little, but his face did not betray the surprise he felt.
For one fleeting moment ho read fear in her deep, blue eyes, and he wondered vaguely why.
"You don't think, then, that father's death was altogether natural one?"
my own
a
The girl had obviously not ex- pected this sudden turn in the conversation.
.
There was no doubt as to her an-
There is some doubt, then?" He nodded.
a court of law.
nro
LETTER GOLF "SOLUTION.
bo
At the present time many fin- ancial disabilities against which there was no legal redrons were she lind Sonia Gaynor asked the question
"I'm afraid mother's not well inflicted on the wife. If with curious caim. To Blayne, enough to see anyone else to-day allowed, as other citizens were, n a small income aho wee not however, the words contained she was quick to reply. "She had hint of challenge, at the same time an interview with father's lawyer rebate of her income-tax, and if intending to convey the impression this morning and she's been rather her, Inusband died and willed the that she had, for some reason or upset. If you like," she suggested whole of his property away from other; already made, up her mind brightly, I'll ask her to-night and her shr ind no legal redress. Sonia went up to her room, tak on the point.
"Cases where the wife is left let you know what she says, but ing The Times with her. She felt
"I want to be perfectly frank what interest all this can have for penniles
not infrequent,' better now. The first shock had with you, Miss Gayzor." said you, I can't imagine. You don't said Mrs Pethick-Lawrence. "No passed from her, but an unaccount-Blayne. As you are well aware suggest that this unknown young publicity is given to these hard- able fear gripped with icy fingers there is a certain conflict of medical man was responsible for father's ships because they are known to at her heart. Sented on the edge opinion and while even the llome death?"
be incapable of redroan. I ente of her bed she read the notice, over | Office pathologist who was called.
Blayne looked straight into the cross a case rocently. The hus "I am afraid I um 'the bearer of again. The announcement which in to make an impartial examines cloudless eyes of the beautiful girl band died extremely rich. There were no children, the wife had nows which will surprise you," the had caused her such alarm was in- tion can form ho positive opinion as lawyer began, conventionally dip denied in the column to give it to the cause of your father's death, on the other side of the table. been married to him from hor Jomatic. must say that we have greater prominence:
I may say that I am quite certain xiety regarding his reply, and he youth, he had willed away many Will the young man wa called he did not die a natural death."
thousands of pounds and had loft hade a thornsgir examination of Mr. Gayhor's alfairs and we find upon the inte Mr. Montgomery Blayne, uttered the last few paused unnecessarily before speaker a beggar through no fault of
ing. What her object was in that, though he bequeathed every- | Gaynor at his offices, Zenith Build- words slowly and, with emphasis. thing to you, Madam, under the ings, Hatton Garden, or the after- "Then I suppose, as a detective, fencing, with him so skilfully, puzz-hers, but heenuse in his old age he had taken a whim for another terms of a will dated only so re-noon of April 23rd, please com- you scorn the opinion of those more led him considerably.
"Scotland Yard is not at all sure woman. cently a March 14 of the present municate immediately with Inspec-qualified to know than yourself?**
he said, slowly. "The inequalition of marriage year, his estate amounts to little for Webster, Special Branch, Scot- Blayne coloured under the lush about that," more than a modest two thousand and Yard, or at any police station. of her words, and realised for the "That is why we should like to must be adjusted before marringe give him the opportunity for clear-can be regarded be an honourable This was followed almost im- first time that this girl had As- pounds."
and voluntary deed of partnership mediately beneath by another no mumed an antagonism towards him ing himself if he could."
and not a penalising condition for which was inexplicable, tice, which ran:
the fulfilment of the women's in- Information is wanted concern- "That, of course," he answered
"Mr. Blayne, do you really think stinct for love and motherhood no trace of annoyance, ofing a young man about 27 years of her with
age, height about five feet nine in-is entirely a matter of opinion this unknown person is a-mur-enforced upon her as a lesser evil
than that of unlegalised union." derer?" "But how can that be?" asked ches, pale complexion, dark hair, I am surely entitled to
Blayne was not altogether sur- Mrs. Gaynor, with pathetic help named either "Tryor" or "Viner" views, Miss Gaynor."
prised at her question, Sonia something resembling these lessness. "Monty never once men-or
shrugged her pretty
Candidly-no! But I'm only tioned anything to me about his names, phonetically, who was last shoulders. She was, he told him-speaking for myself, remember. being in financial difficultion! And seen in the vicinity of Hatton Garself, not convinced. She regarded Inspector Webster hus other we had no secrets from one an-der on the afternoon of April 23 him in the light of an unnecessary theories." other," she added with matronly | A reward of 25 will be paid to any meddler.
one furnishing information which pride.
"I appreciate your distress, Mrs. Gaynor pursued the lawyer, "and
Sonia started at the announce- Inny add that the disclosure oc- casioned us considerable surprise ment for several minutes. Once also. We have dieted for Mr. again that strangely fantastic fear
"I am afraid, I have been what Gaynor now for close upon tivelve swept down upon her just as it had
"I did not come down with the you call an unsatisfactory witnesa, years and as far as we were can-done when she was driving home cerned there was nothing that after the inquest, She realised intention of discussing that aspect Mr. Blayne," she smiled suddenly qufckly. On of the case at all," Blayne told her,recovering her composure. "But if would lead us to suppose he was not that she must act
"What I really wanted you have any news I hope you'll in a sound financial position, some pretext or another she must quietly.
try, to discover who the let me know how things are going. "Does this mean, then, that my Ko up to London immediately. She was to
young man was who called to see don't want mother to be worried must learn the truth. father had been losing money in
| your father, ** the afternoon of his any more, you underatung," bustness Sonia Gaynor's voice
death."
As Peter Blayne tramped back shook a little as she asked the
"And how should I know that? to the station there were several question, but she felt that she must
Father was not in the habit of in- things perplexing him. Why had gel a grip on this new and utterly
Outside in the garden the wall-roducing us to all his acquain-Sonia Gaynor taken such pains to
iances." unexpected situatión..
prevent
interviewing the still air. The sunlight spread
unquestionably clever. Her fen know about the young man who in waves of gold over the close- cropped lawn, and the first insects,res were well under her control. visited her father on the afternoon more than she had admitted. Peter But Blayne was must too experi-of the murder? That was the Blayne was at least satisfied about their winter's awakened from
enced in his art to be deluded on main problem, and it disturbed that." hibernating, winged up and down that count. It was not her face him. He tried hard to detach her invisible Indders under the trees.
It was one of those perfect after he had been watching so much as from any complicity in the crime, nons that occur occasionally at the ber hands which are more certain and yet a haunting doubt troubled may discover a clue to the matury end of April to tempt humanity in- that surrounds Mr. Gaynor's un-lo garden chairi. fortunate death."
Sonia did not want her mother "Then you can tell us nothing to know that she intended going up more than that, Mr. Mitchell I sup-to town-she did not want anyone pose we nutst, be patient and wait, to know that. So she had casually but I am afraid if what you say is announced her intention of taking true we shall have to slip away out the small, maroon-coloured car somewhere out of the world we her father had given her for her have known for so long and begin last birthday on the pretext of life over again on a new level.”
going for an afternoon's run on her. own.
Mr. Crowther Mitchell regarded the girl's white features across the table before he replied.
hat is a very diflicult question for me to answer at the moment. father's You see all your late books are at present in the hands of Scotland Yard wao, I may add,
are hopeful that from them they
Mrs. Gaynor spoke enimly. She seemed to have accepted the in- evitable cast of the dice and was prepared to make the best of what the hand of Fate had lung.
will lead to his apprehension, ply the nearest pollice station.
CHAPTER VII
The First Encounter.
He saw the shadow cloud har eyes "What reasons have you for again, noticed her small hands thinking contrary to medical evi-inch. But she made no further dence?". She flashed the question reference to the matter. Instend at him with cold eyes. "Has some she arose and terminated the inter- evidence come to light of which view. mother und 1 are not awnre?"
hin
her
flowers and the dulfodils perfumed Sonia Gaynor, Blayne noted, was mother? And how much did she
Mrs. Gaynor, relieved to find Sonia looking much better than she and done before lunch, assented to her daughter's proposal without question.
When the lawyer had taken his doparture, mother and daughter It was nearly three o'clock when faced one another. There was Sonia, in a straight black coat and strange bond of understanding be-small black hat, left the house and tween these twn. The Tealisation made her way round to the garage that they were now comparatively at the side. poor people had caused no panic, for there is an enviable philosophy which accepts the twists and turns
At the angle of. the house she paused, hearing voices from the direction of the garge. One she
of Fortune as part of the game of recognised as that of Williams, the
life.
chauffeur, but the pleasantly
"There's one thing, mother," musical intonations of the other Bald Sonia, quietly. "I'm not al- were strange to her.
together useless. I dare
say I
could earn my own living as well
Filled with curiosity for it was
as anyone else. I've had a better unlike Williams to entertain his education than most; I can speak friends so near
both French and German fluently,
to the house-- Sonia walked unconcernedly open doore of the and I'm sure it would not take me through the very long to learn shorthand and garage. On the threshold she
paused. Williams
leaning typewriting, Let's look nut for a little cottage somewhere and settle over the bonnet of the seven-senter down together. I'm sure we'll saloon he had used that morning, both be very happy,"
Mrs. Gaynor looked thoughtful. "We shall have to wait a while yet," she said, slowly. "Perhaps some, mistake has been made, and we'll find that things are not quite so bad after all."
"I can't share your optimism, rother," observed Sonia, reaching out her hand for the morning news paper which lay unopened on the tablo. "I just see if anyone' wants to employ me. There's no
WAS
talking to a young man in a plus- four sult and a tweed cap that matched as near as made no matter, who was standing by the running board.
At the girl's entrance the chauf- feur glanced up guiltly. The young man removed his cap,
"Gentleman here asking for you, Miss. I was just telling him I heard you were unwell this morn-. ing."
Peter Blayne glanced sharply at Williams. The fellow was certain-
explanations.
thing like making a quick start." ly smart in providing extempore
to
Not knowing just where
look.
for the Persons "I'm sorry for this intrusion," Wanted" column -in The smiled Blayne, advancing towards Times, Sonia began with the the girl, "but I was hoping to front page and ran her eyes down meet you. I saw you at the the first two columns. At the top Coroner's inquiry the other day, of the third she paused. As she but you probably didn't potico me. read, her face blanched and the fin- I hope I may be privileged to In- gers that held the newspaper trem-dulge a few moments of your time." hled,
For the moment Sonia did not
barometers of the human emotions him."
Here is the solution to the puzzle on another page.
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Sonia Gaynor knew something
(To be Continued.) (The characters in this story are
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