1939-01-20 — Page 31

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, JANUARY 20, 1999

NOBODY'S BUSINESS

(Continued from Page 1) Shanleigh Chambers. It's located off Piccadilly. Easy place to find him."

"I made a mistake,” Anson told Kirby, when they descended the stairs. "I should have told that cabman to wait. We'll get a little wet walking over there."

"Rain's good for the com- plexion," Kirby said. "Are you paying Simmonds a visit?"

"I expect to."` "What's the idea?"

"Curiosity-principally.

Boyd left the table,

When

Simmonds

made a date with Libby Chandler. It's an even money bet she'll go to his rooms. We'll drop down

and take a look. No harm; it won't cost anything." He whistled shrilly for a cab. "Still live at asked Kirby.

the Melbourne?" he

"Yes, but }”

told

"The Melbourne," Anson the taxi-driver. "I want you to get one of your plays. Bring it along," he said to Kirby.

"What's the idea?"

"Do what I ask and let it go at that."

The Melbourne was a bachelor apartment near Fitzroy Square. Kirby went to his rooms. He got a copy of one of his plays. When he returned to the cab he found Anson missing.

"He's in that telephone box on the corner," the taxi-driver said.. Anson came back after a few minutes.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. I had to make a phone call. Got the play?"

"Right here."

"Roll it up and put it in your pocket. The Shanleigh Cham- bers, driver. Know where it is?" "Like the smile on my mother's face."

Kirby leaned back against the worn upholstery.

"Didn't you come from

North?"

A

up

"I used to operate there, "Anson said. "Manchester. For a couple of years, I had a half- interest in the Oasis, a night club. Did nice business. Had a pretty.. good cabaret: One morning a chap named Lyndheim got himself erased in one of the private rooms. I sold my fifty per cent for what

I could get, and came South to London. I like it here."

The taxi, continued in the direc tion of Shanleigh Chambers by a devious route.

"What are you going to do if Boyd's wife isn't at Sim- monds?"

"I never cross my bridges until I see my dentist," Anson smiled.

They drew up in front of Shan- leigh Chambers. The building

a new specimen of London archi- tecture-rose in high, narrowing tiers. Anson told, the taxi man to wait. Kirby went inside with him. A uniformed hall atten- dant confronted them.

"Simmonds," Anson said. · "Who shall I say is calling?" "Don't say anyone. This is a surprise party. We'll go straight

up.

29.

The man hesitated, "It's against the rules, sir. Everyone has to be announced."

Anson dropped two halfcrowns in his hand and walked toward the lift.

"Break 'em for once," he said, "and see how it feels. Nobody's going to get you in trouble. If We want a surprise party for Simmonds whose business is it. What floor did you say?” ·

""Fifth."

Kirby noticed that Anson's thin, shrewd face was shadowed when they stopped at Simmond's door. The corridor was quiet. Anson pressed a thumb over the pearl circle of the bell. A minute or two passed before the door opened. A manservant with a pockmarked face looked sleepily out.

"Is Mr. Simmonds at home?” Anson asked. "don't bother, we'll go straight in.".

He gave Kirby a slight, forward. nod.

They brushed by the man. The hall was wide and strewn with rugs. At the far end a room was shut off from it by velvet por- tieres. They parted. Harry Sim- monds came out.

"What is it Sam?" he inquired - sharply.

"Just a couple of late callers,” Anson said.

Simmonds stepped back. "Who"

"Mrs. Boyd here yet?" Anson passed Simmonds. In the small lounge on the other side of the draperies, he looked at the girl who had got up quickly from the chair where she had been sitting. "Good evening, Mrs. Boyd. I had an idea you'd be here." -

She said nothing. There was wonder in her pretty face.

She stared at Anson with parted lips. Kirby saw that at close

range Libby Chandler was more attrac- tive than he had at first imagined. The shaded lamplight softened her expression. Her skin was like damask, glowing warm. Her eyes an intense blue, were clear and bright. Her mouth was a delicate, red curve.

"What is this?" Harry Sim- monds demanded.

"That," Anson said, "is what we came to find out. Suppose you tell us Mrs. Boyd? It's nobody's business, of course, but we'd like to know. What are you doing. here? What sort of a proposi tion is Simmonds making to you?”.

The

blue eyes moved over Anson. The girl glanced briefly in Kirby's direction. She seemed to relax. She drew a little breath and sat down.

Simmonds walked over to & mahogany bureau. He opened the top drawer. Kirby, watching him, saw him reach in.

"I wouldn't bring out any àrtil- lery," Anson said mildly.

Simmonds shoved the door

shut.

"Come on, what's it about?" he said belligerently.

"Suppose I take a guess and tell you." Anson slipped off his overcoat and draped it over a chair. He gave Kirby a nod. He pulled down his cuffs and took a cigarette from a silver case. “My guess,'

," he continued, "is that you've got Libby down here to give you some cash. Boyd's do- ing pretty well these days, what with picture rights and his pér-. centage at the Rialto Theatre. How much is he asking?" he asked the girl.

"A thousand," she answered slowly.

Anson struck a deliberate match, for his cigarette.

Can you raise it?" She shook her head.

Not without Scott my: hus- band-knowing."

"And if you don't come across,' Anson went on, "he'll

reveal past history?”

"Yes," she said.

Kirby noticed a muscle twitch- ing in Simmonds' hard, inscrut- able face.

"Then Boyd doesn't know

about your one year visit to to a ladies' prison?"

"No."

Anson dropped the ash from his cigarette into an onyx” tray.

"How did you slip him to keep this appointment?"

"I told a lie. I said I-I had to see a girl who worked in a show with me once. I said I'd be back in an hour."

Anson looked at his watch. He turned to Harry Simmonds.

"You're a rat.

If I had my way about it I'd telephone for a couple of nice Cockney police- men to step around and take you for a walk. If I do you'll open that big mouth

and of yours talk. If I don't you'll be per- manently muzzled. So I won't."

Simmonds eyes narrowed. "Much obliged," he said short- ly. "That's certainly nice of Anson turned back to the girl. "Don't ever pay him a penny Mrs. Boyd. And don't let him frighten you. His threats aren't worth a penny a dozen."

She gave him a strained xious look.

"You mean -"

an-

to spilling

"When it comes past history," Anson smiled," I can tip a couple of buckets my- self. Simmonds knows what I mean. I don't think he'll both- er you again. In fact, I'm sure of it."

:

The girl's slim, white hands moved unsteadily.

"You don't know how much this means—-”

"I think I do. That hour's al-

•

most up," Anson smiled. “I think we'll start back. I've got a taxi waiting. We'll drop you off any where you want."

They left her at a hotel near Hyde Park.

"We'd better stop at Guide's for a drink," Anson suggested.

"You knew Mrs. Boyd in Man- chester."

"She used to work for me at the Oasis. She sang and danced. I took her on after her period inside. She was in prison for to pennyweighting; shoplifting you. She claimed she was fram- ed. I think she was."

"And you've got something on Simmonds strong enough to keep him quiet?"

Anson pushed out his long legs.

"No," he said. "But Sim- It's monds doesn't know that. only a hunch. I've always had an idea he was the man with the gun that morning at my place. There was a kind of feud between Lyndheim and the gamblers. Simmonds left the town hurried- ly. He hasn't been back since." Kirby dropped a hand to the bulge in his pocket.

"What about this play?"

"That was a stand-by in case Boyd followed Libby to Sim- monds' apartment. I thought it would be nice if he found you reading it to all three of us. Sort of home-y. Perhaps it's just as well he didn't.

"Why?"

Anson laughed.

"It might be a rotten play."

"I can tell

WHITE HORSE

blindfold

it's equal to a fine liqueur'

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