1940-11-01 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT; NOVEMBER 1, 1940.

SHORT STORY O

!

The Man In The Green Mask By JamesCorbett

"Why?"

•

"How?" he enquired gently. "I would remember it any- where even after the. lapse of years!" she continued. "It has a peculiar inflexion; a Southern note that strikes forcibly, and I have heard it before!"

"When?" he enquired, with ex-

us both. fterwards; he sought her out, and- ILDRETH HARRINGTON half- "You must have a wonderful sudden movement, and caught her to perdition, and those night clubs difference, yet,afteen minutes the she found herself dancing with opened her eyes. She was source of information," she an up in his arms. Without a word; have been the ruin of conscious of a movement in nounced, her tone resentful. That he pressed his mouth close against Mayfair has dragged us to her bedroom, of someone peering bracelet was a special gift from her lips. It was the most wonder- depths, and I don't intend to sink." him. Now, she was certain the ful kiss she had experienced, and Tony turned white to, the lips; miracle had occurred, that, b* into corners. Then she closed her mother on my last birthday!”.

she had met the one man who "What a pity to deprive you, of she lay back exhausted. He move he wished he could have ordered some strange stroke of destiny,

, a brandy. eyes again, but before they were

"I must see Saunderson,” he could matter, irrespective of hos shut she had seen something. It it," he answered cynically moving ed to the window. was the figure of a man, wearing to the half-open window. "Well, you should not look so glamor a green mask, and in his right I'm sorry I can't give you a re-ous," he apologised. However, I said thickly. "He talked yester midnight profession or anything hand was a pin-point light. It ceipt, but I've forfotten my foun- am giving away no secrets, and day about clearing out to Cape- else! She decided to challenge flickered slightly, across her table, tain pen, and I'm a clumsy writer until we meet again-au revoir!" town, and there is a chance him, or to test ner suspicion, and tensibly÷for a smoke, she gazed then it swept towards her, and at In case you think of, pressing thut She did not spealt. She lay back could go with him. Do you when he led her to an alcove, os- that instant her eyelids closed. bell, or making the slightest move against the pillow, breathing hea- mind?";

"Where have I met you?" "she It was to give her time to think, for help. I advise you to think vily, her eyes closed; yet knowing I only wish I could go with, into his eyes. **: to wake from her troubled, sleep, twice. It would be easy to silence he had vanished, that he had de you!" .

smoke cloud, and wond ing why for she guessed it was three in you-and. I could still get away. parted as stealthily, as he had "Why don't you marry?" he asked, looking at him through o the morning, and she knew this She sat up and folded her arms come. She made no effort to blazed again.. man' was a burglar. There was behind her head. A faint moon-sound an alarm, ever to press the That's another idea, Mildreth his voice thrilled so "strangely. no need to scream out, but her light was shining into the room. bell that might have brought the replied, "buti judging from the Surely she could not be mistaken, hand slipped under the pillow. It She knew it was useless to make: caretaker or summoned the police, Mayfair, specimens you have pre- surely this must be the man with gripped that little French revolver, a fuss, that a balustrade was out- Those thoughts never entered her sented my wedding will have to the green mask? and she withdrew it quietly. side the window. of her London mind. She had a deeper motive for walt. Take that African appoint-He gave a shrug, then his lips "I should leave: that alone!" flat, that this marauder' would her silence, and it caused her to ment, Tony, take anything for the relaxed; and he glanced out at the If my memory does not deceive make good his escape. Apart bury her head in the bedclothes. present; but get out of the May- swaying dancers, came a mocking voice. "You are. from that, she did not want him. She sobbed piteously, and not for fair district not the type, Mildreth Harrington, to leave. Not yet at least. She two hours did she drift into a He nodded. Since their parents me," he answered, "you had tea died Mildreth had mothered him, this afternoon.at Crichton's Cafe? to shoot straight, and your nerve wanted to find out something heavy sleep. is unsteady. You forgot one thing about him, to hear again that - In the morning she preserved an but he had sponged on her shame-She saw he was teasing her, and When you moved in bed

you. voice.

odd composure, and not to a soul fully, and now she would have to she made a movement of protest.'' knocked that other pillow. on. the

"You seem to be in a dreadful did she mention her midnight visi- leave that flat at Cambrian-ter-"Do not joke, please!" she beg- floor, and I knew you were dis- turbed. I want your help." hurry," she exclaimed in that low for. Apparently he was. an ex- race. He would have to pull him-ged. "Of course, we met at Crich- The voice was charming, and it tone. "Won't you give some expert.cat burglar, and that balus self together, and, accept that off-ton's Cafe, but it was then I was spoke in level tones. Mildreth planation?. I mean--you are not trade. gave him an advantage, er in Capetown. That would be a positive you were not a stranger: cat- What mystified her was something good excuse to leave Londen. to If I am wrong you must have a double, but. It was not your fea- the opened her eyes.. Again she saw the type, not the common that tiny torch, that

here. Mildreth, I'm tures; your voice makes ali flash-lamp burglar. You have the University else. Who was her visitor, how forget those cursed debts. with the pin-point lens, and be- voice; you speak as if this act was did he know her name, and how "Look"

he. spluttered. "I have been going hind it her midnight intruder. He distasteful, as if you were not used could he be aware she had a día- damned sorry about everything." difference!" it mond bracelet? was wearing a brown suit; was to it. Won't you tell me how

That afternoon, when she met the pace we have both been exceedingly tall, but his face was happened, how you have come to

her brother Anthony at Crichton's stepping out-but, I have been hidden behind the green mask, be in this position?"

Cate, off New Oxford-street, she worse than you, and it's all my She was certain he was handsome, with a virile personality, and she "Perhaps I might be able to seemed a different. woman... He fault about the gambling. I have felt strangely thrilled.

help," she faltered. "There is such noted the alteration, and when he n't found a winner for weeks, and a thing as reinstatement, and we found a secluded, table he remark the bills have been mounting up ed on her altered demeanour. An- I'll see Saunderson this evening, all make mistakes. If it is money thony Harrington was the Mayfair and go out with him by the next asperating coolness, never remov- He had reached the window. But type, fashionably dressed, Bohe- boat. I will repay you somehow ing his gaze. He wanted to tell that she, too, bad caught him in have he stood there waiting, that grin mian in appearance, good looking, in some fashion-but I won't let her how entrancing she looked;

with features that spoke of dissi- you down!" His flash-lämp round his lips.

They gripped hands, and. Mil- a spell. pation. His.brown eyes were far was still levelled,

"No, I don't want money!" he from steady, the pallor of his dreth knew he meant it. Perhaps Mildreth wondered if she would He glanced it was a case of self-preservation, take the plunge? Could she have snarled: "just this trinket-noth- cheeks significant. "The electric light might attract ing else. Thanks for your sym- at the blue costume worn by his At any rate, Tony was speaking the courage to tell him every- attention," he protested. "I have no pathy-but I'm afraid it is wast- sister; at the modest hat, at the like his real self, Capetown:might thing, or should she dissemble?

pale face stressing a restless night, prove his salvation, and Saunder- "Listen, please," she announced, intention of molesting you, but I ed."

"You look as if you had been con was a steady sort. A mining "you may think me mad-perhaps have come on a definite mission, "Is this your profession?". she.

would on the tiles," he grinned, after giv- speculator, but he had brains and overstrung but I am going to tell She could trust her you something I have mentioned and time is an important factor. begged again, wishing he

you brother with him.

to no one--not even to my broth In your possession is a diamond try to kiss her, or give her some ing an order to the waitress. "You resource.

Later, when rising to leave sheer and that was the individual worth £250 at a excuse for tearing..off that mask. have lost that saucy look; low figure. I have searched those "It is for to-night," he grinned. seem almost human. Don't say

gave an involuntary start, and you saw me with this afternoon. I. two drawers, also your chatelaine "But what a good job I disturbed you have fallen in love!"..

Mildreth gave a start, made an almost stumbled in a kind of panic, dare not tell him because he would bag. You must solve the mys- you. Do you usually sleep with a

effort to speak, then waited until Two men had entered, and the want to notify the police. I can

smote diamond bracelet on your, arm?" teru!"

her ears. trust you implicitly He stared at her quietly, noted "No, but that was a special gift, the tea came. The place was pack- voice of one the rush of colour, to the lovely and I was afraid of losing it, ed with people, and the orchestra Perhaps she was dreaming, but it: "Beyond the shadow of doubt!” had already commenced. She seemed the same voice, the voice he said, lighting a cigarette, and face, then the pallor, that buickFrom your mother?? indrawn breath. He gazed into

"Yes. Do you doubt my word?", glanced at her brother with disap- of the man with the green mask: watching the crimson mount to her dark eyes, held them re-

"Not in the least. But it does proval; why did he seem so hide. That was absurd, yet she stared: that lovely forehead. He

ous at the instant? She knew his at the speaker with an intent never seen a more graceful figure, lentlessly, then smiled.

seem funny!”

record; his gay life, his reckless gaze. Only for an instant, then-a-more desirable creature, and, he "What's funny about. it?". "Never mind. You can think expenditure.It was time to be passed onward, and hardly knew. seemed to understand her better firm.. This afternoon she would how she reached the door. She than she did herself: "If you had that one out, Mildreth Harrington

would remember that face again, an adventure of some kind, what but don't make me laugh too talk to him plainly.

"Tony, you and I must come to those grave blue eyes. Could it had the police to do with it, and much!"

understanding." she began, have been the person she imagin- why should they be notified?"

ed. Her midnight marauder, theThat is the point," she affirm- man who kissed her so fiercely: ed, speaking more coherently. "I She had no means of telling, but ought to notify the Yard, or Vine- his height was the same, and sure street Station, or a police-sergeant.. ly there could not be two voices You see, Mr. Carleton, it happen- like that? She was aware he met ed last night-in my bedroom her gaze, that he had given a súd- and it was the most sensational den smile but was it. one of re- thing in my life. A burglar en- tognition, or just the glance a tered my flat!" man gives a good-looking girl? if "Indeed!" He never moved he watched her.. to the door she not an eyelid. Indeed his sang did not know about it. She never froid maddened her. glanced back, and when Tony lett "Yes, a cat-burglar," she pro- her on the pavement she returned, ceeded. "He must have climbed with all speed to her flat.

my balustrade and about three in

me

"Please switch on the light" she begged. "I am not going to call for help, or do anything nonsen- you want--"

made sical. But you have dreadfully curious. Why you paid me this visit?

He took the French revolver, and placed it in a drawer of her table.

bracelet. It's

"Is that all you want?" she ask- ed. "I mean, how did you know I have that bracelet?"

"That interests my profession," he responded.. "There is nothing else I want nothing but the She bit her lip, and again the an bracelet-and make it snappy!" crimson rushed to her forehead, pouring out the tea. "The finan- She held up her left hand, and Now she felt she hated him, and cial position has changed, and you

must find a job." removed the bracelet from her he had such a charming voice. wrist. With a frown, she placed it in his palm. She sighed at her

Joss.

IN THE

"How did you discover my name?" she asked. tearfully.; .

He re-crossed the room, made

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"What do you infer?" he blazed out, lowering his voice, yet speak a ing with concentrated anger. "Do you mean you have brought no cash, that you have not negotiat "ed a cheque?” - “

Mildreth helped herself to a French scone and added sugar to her China tea. She never referr ed to her adventure; that was something her brother should never know,

"It means your Mayfair career has come to an end," she announc ed, and her voice was different. "I have coddled you since mother dled, being my kid brother, but you have never played the game Tony, and now the racket must stop. I have no further money. What are you going to do about it?"

had

She had to pack, to make ar-the morning he made his appear- rangements to leave, but her mind ance in my room. I heard a seemed a blank, and, at the end movement, and when I opened my of half an hour she was smoking eyes I saw a man wearing a green

mask! cigarettes.

An hour later the telephone. rang, and she was surprised at the message. It was an invitation from Mrs. Brookland, of 4, Cado- gan Mansions, to attend a recep- "But the overdraft- he splut- tion that evening. She had only tered, half-dazed with the shock. met the lady twice, and Mrs. "The bank will not advance an- Brookland seemed a different type other farthing, "she replied, "and I quite different from the others. have to find work as a manne-

Apparently she remembered her,! quin, or even take up film work. and wished to see her again. Her Anything to keep floating. Even voice was friendly, and, neting on my flat must go.. I will have to impulse, Mildreth promised to at get cheap rooms, and you will tend. Besides, Mrs. Brookland have to clear out of Mayfair: The would not invite the usual-gang: Bank: manager is adamant; I can, it would be a select affair, for sho find no further security!"

was notably exclusive, also ex- ceedingly wealthy, and it was "But this. is ridiculous!!! Tony. protested, half-rising-to: his feet lucky to receive an invitation "Lowe £200money that must. from her personally. be found in 24 hours and I was She dressed quietly and made depending on you to the last no effort to appear glamorous, trench!".Y

When hur: taxi drove, up to: 34%).

I have reached it!! his sister Cadogan Mansions, she had a answered, You have spent every strange intuition that something penny, Tony, and youn specula-would happen, She could not de tions have been ruinatis, Gümble Ane it, but it occurred an hour ing is in your blood, but your luck later, during the middle of the re- has deserted you, and there is ception, and she felt herself, from nothing ahead but prisorty.I ad that moment in the hands of Fate. vise you to pull up in time." Th mun to whom she was intro * "Your mean you can't get hold: duccd-Ricne'd Carleton-was.nu. other than the individual she had of £507

"Not fivel"

met at Crichton's Café, the man "Good lord! Then I must find a who smiled at her, the man wno jjobl

possessed the duplicate voice. to "Yes, it's an idea, and when you the one owned by her midnight. do get one, Tony, wipe thase man, visitor. He passed off the intra Doubos of your list. They have let you duction formally, almost with lu

THE HONG KONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD.

"How

interesting!" Carleton (Continued on Page 3)

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