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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1930-03-13, Page 3THE EXETER T1MES-ADV0CATE siillllllllliiiiillllllllllllllllllllilllilllllllll THE STORY SO FAR Hugh Drummond and Peter Darrell lmve become interested in Drum­ mond’s nearest neighbor, Mr, Granger, -who lives in a house with strong fortifications all around. One night as Drummond was sitt- ing at the window, (smoking a last , cigarette before retiring, he saw a series of red and blue flashes - - coming from the direction of Spragge’s Farm in the middle of . The next day Gran- these excit- Peter house llllllllllllllllllllUr; before he is let a cross between time tp get in, being,” Romney Marsh.w , Drummond happens to meet ger, who upon hearing of - flashes he becomes greatly ed. Later Drummond and take a walk past Granger’s and a small roadster stops outside the gates occupied by a youhg man . and a girl. The girl, Miss Vern- ey, has accepted a position as prl- vate secretary to Granger, much agairi-st the wishes of Tom Scott, fiance, she is going to see the job through.' After much deliberation she is *' allowed to enter U\e gate immed­ iately clanks after her. Tlxe young man, Tom Scott (Freckles) went to stay with Hugh for a time. They go to the Dolphin Inn at Rye where they meet Hugh’s old friend Sir John Jameson. Sir John’s father used to own Temple Tower which at one time was- a convent and Hugh gets some in­ formation from Six' John about an underground passage. NOW GO ON,. WITH THE STORY “Hullo! Johix5,^Janies,” said Hugh. ’ *“How’s yourself?2'.’“You know, Dar- y-fill, don’t you?” ' “I met you once in the pavilion at Lard’s,” cried the newcomer, and then I placed liini. He was whiskey er beer or something, and rolled in money. Siy John Jameson, Bart., was his name, and he recently come into the title.’ s Moreover 'he had a 3xlg jjlace someiviiere in Kent. “This is Scott,” went on Hugh. *tSii' John Jameson.” •“This undoubtedly calls for a drop of the old and bold,” said John . ’ James. “By the way, this is Piggy Heytlirqp, who . suffers from the delusion that hd can beat me at golf? Waiter—five martinis, old lad—-What axjte you doing . , Here?” ‘ ’ '“I’ve rented a house for the sum- aney 'called Bay Trees. Principally because th^re isn’t one.” “The ‘devil you have,” cried the •other. “Why, man, that house used io belong to’xny governor. And-the next door as well. Look here, Hugh we’ve got back to Laidley Towers: you and your wife must coxne ovei' and stop.” , “Hold hard a momexxt, John,” said ■Hugh. “You say the next-door 3iouse used to belong, to you. Which one ,do you mean?” “‘Temple Tower. Used to be a ■convent. The old' man sold ’em both about twenty years ago. Personal­ ly I was rather sorry about Temple Tower. It's* got a v©ry interesting (history. I .wonder who has It now.” “A very eccentric individual,” .Hu-gh. “By name of Granger. He’s barricaded the place like a prison: _t).ut two-foot spikes round the top of fixe wall, and bars on evei'y window. He’s got a menagerie in the garden, and any caller is examined through Well, down Dyspepsia The Remorse of A Guilty Stomach A dyspeptic must be very careful of what he eats, but how often something tempting is placed before him that he should not eat, well knowing that if 3ie does he will suffer for it after, yet 310 does not hesita.to to partake freely «f it and tortures hiniself. v The quickest way to get rid of this -terrible ailment is to take 1 I Iw which regulates the bowels, promotes ^perfect digestion, tones up the Btomach, anakes pure blood, and restores perfect health and strength to th© debilitated system. Mrs. Oscar Goetz, Kenilworth, Ont., writes:—"For a year I was bothered with dyspepsia, arid tried all kinds of medicine. *'X was so bad X was afraid to eat, but after taking tVro bottles of Burdock TBlood Bitters I Orin eat anything I like, I now feel fine rind have had no snore attacks,H Put Up only by The T. Milbum, Co,, Ltd., Toronto, Ont. a hole in tlxe gate in. It would take , a mongoose all its let alone’ a human John James stared at him thought- fully. “What an extraordinary bloke,” ; he remarked^ “Doesn’t sound as if he was all there. Still J bet I’d - penetrate tlxe fastness: once, that is, ; I’d negotiated the wall.” ; “What, do you mean?" said Hugh sitting up with a jerk, “I told you the place had belong- to us,” said the other, “Well—it used to be a convent.” “I know that,” .said Hugh. “Just , seen it on the map,” “And the buns, bless ’em, though foxbidden to receive, male visitors through the front dooi’ got away with the goods through the back. There’s an underground passage leading from an old crypt in the garden which runs into one of the cellars.” “Are you certain?” cried Hugh. “Of course I tun, old boy. Mr. Monk, having said his little piece in the crypt, toddled along the passage to pay his respects to tlie lady of his. choice in the house. Why, we’ve got an old plan of lit hanging up in the hall at Laidley Towers.” “Have you ever been along this passage, John?” demanded Hugh. “Can’t say I have,” admitted the other. “As a master of fact, it’s not quite as plain sailing as it sounds. You see . . /’ “How much did you beat him by?’ said Hugh suddenly. “We must have a game one 'day, John.” “What’s that?” stammered the bewildered baronet. “I-—er , “How are t-lxe links playing, John? Must be a bit And It was that someone room. It was had been sitting by the 'girl in the ear, Hugh went on calmly talking golf: John James, though still look­ ing dazed, followed his lead,, until Heytlxrop, happening to look at his watch, gave a startled exclamation. “Good Lord! John—it’s nearly half-past seven.” “The devil it is,” cried the other. “We must go, Hugh. Got the most ghastly collection of county bores dining. Look here—I’ll come over and see you to-morrow sometime.” “Splendid,” said Hugh. “We might have a four ball.” He followed them into the hall, and under coyer of some desultory conversation with young Scott I took stock of the bearded gentleman. He was a good-looking man of his type, but the type was not one that ap­ pealed to me. His features were ■aquiline: his -mouth full and red un­ der the carefully trimmed beard. His clothes were perfect—too per­ fect, and though they carried the unmistakable stamp of .an English tailor, in some way they served to accentuate tlxe fact that the man who wore them was not tan English­ man. His ha$ds were beautifully kept:his pearl tie-pin was- a little too ostentatious. In fact, the man was overdressed: he didn’t fit into the picture. He gave the impres­ sion of the exquisite here in musical comedy. He looked up suddenly, and found my eyes were fixed on him. “A very interesting part of country,” he said siauvely. “Most,” I answered shortly, ing a little annoyed at having discovered staring at him. “And this inn certainly belies the terrible reputation enjoyed by your country Hotels abroad,” he went on politely. “A reputation which I fear is thor­ oughly deserved,” I answered as -af­ fably as “I could. After all, there was no good showing my feelings, though I found myself disliking his voice even more, than his appear, ance.' It was oily and sleek—if a voice can be sleek: and underlying it was lanother quality which for the moment I could’not spot. Then I got it—it was cruelty: I could ima­ gine the man opening his flat gold cigarette case, and extracting one with the. utmost deliberation, just in order to keep his victim on the rack a little longer so that he might gloat over him. We talked on casually, and all the time I was wondering what na­ tionality he was. Italian possibly* though his English was faultless. The girl, in’the two quick glances I had had of her might well hav< Italian tionship to one • another? I that he was* studying me also, al­ though ouT conversation was con­ fined to banalities: studying young Scott too with his heavy lidded eyes, “Golf,” he ivas saying, “is a game which I unfortunately have never had the opportunity to master, “Master!" broke In Freckles a laugh. “You’re in the same as a good many other people?' “So‘ I believe,” he .said politely, 'And yet it seems to the outsider that it should riot be hard to hit a siatioxlary ball with some degree of a dry, I suppose.” then I became aware else had entered the the bearded man who youx’ .feel- been e been And what was their rela- knew with boat precision,. Dear me—wftat’a that?” From outside had come a sudden crash, .followed by a loud “Damna­ tion,” in Hugh’s voice. I rose at once, followed by iScott,, and went into the hall. iS tanking outside the door was- Hugh staring, upwards; at his feet, smashed to pieces on the cobble, was a very heavy chimney­ pot. “‘Confound it,” he exploded when he saw me, “this cursed thing only missed jne by about a fopt/' Attracted by the noise the hoots had appeared, and two or three of the guests were staring out of th® window. “Very sorry, sir, I’m sure,” said Boots scratching his head. “Such a thing ain’t never happened -before, not to my knowledge.” “And if it happens again some­ body is going to get a thick par,” said Hugh grimly, He was still up­ wards and his mouth was set in a hard line. Then with a little shrug of his shoulders he entered the hotel. “I must apologize for my lang­ uage,” he said with a smile to the clergyman. “My deal* sir,” said the cleric be­ nignly, “a mild expletive is surely permissible under the circumstances, Why, it that heavy thing had hit you on the head it might have stunned you.” Hugh gave a short laugh. “As- you say, it might have stunn­ ed me,” he agreed. “But it didn’t. I am going to wash, Peter, and then we might have some dinner.”'* We followed him to the lavatory, and he carefully closed the door. of a chimney-pot fall­ calm day?” he re,” said “Ever heard . ing on a dead suddenly. “What do Freckles looking startled. J‘I strolled down to the bottom of the Jiill to see John off,” went on Hugh. “And also to put him wise to a few things. Then I icajme back, and was standing outside the door lighting a cigarette. A sitting tar­ get, though I must say it never dawn­ ed on me that anything was likely to happen, the blighter missed.” “You think someone thing ovex- deliberately?” cried -Scott. “I don’t think: I know. I saw his shadow move.” “Then why not go and have a look-see,” said the boy,- “Because the shadow will have moved a considerable distance by now,” anwsered I-Iuyh d-rily. “In other words we’d find nothing, and merely make ourselves look fools. But don’t be under any delusions, you fellows: that was a 'deliberate attempt by someone to lay me out.” “It can’t have been the bearded gentleman,” I said. “He’s been talking to us ever since you left.” “I don’t know who. it was,” said Hugh drying his hands. “But if he, or they, are ’ prepared to go to the length of attempted murder it proves;, one thing at any rate. We’re against a pretty Cough lot. It’s right, young fellow,” he went on Scott’s face fell. “This bunch outside the garden wall: your girl is inside,” But to me- privately as we went out leaving Freckles to the basin, he was not so optimistic. “We were fools, Peter,”..he said. "We ought never to have allowed that girl to go inside that house. I’m not frightened of anything happen­ ing to her now: what I am afraid of is what is going to take place if* this lot, whoever they are. do get inside.” “You think that’s the game?” I asked. “Grangei' is the game,” he said. “And if'the mountain won’t go to to iMahommed, Mahommed must go to the mountain. Granger has gone to ground in his house, and nothing short of an earthquake is going to get him out. Therefore to get him, they’ve got to get into the house. Voila tout.” “We might send hex’ a letter ing her to leave,” I suggested. He shrugged his shoulders. “From what I saw of the girl,” liaughted, “I think she would tell to go to blazes.” Young Scott joined us and we went in to dinner. And though Hugh de­ liberately kept the conversation on outside topics, I couldn’t keep my mind off the problem that confront­ ed us. The whole thing seemed so utterly disconnected: that was the trouble. What linki bound the bearded stranger and his companions with the snorer of -Spragge’s Farm? What -was thk signification of the rod and blue lights? A-bove all, it Hugh was right, and he was not a man who made mistakes on matters of that sort, who was it who had de­ liberately tried to liay him out- with the chimney-pot? And Why’ 'The 'beared man was eliminated, which left of those we knew the girl and the chauffeur, But even grant­ ed it was one of them the second question remained unanswered. Why? Even if we had picions by in the -oar. ed a little Another mind: supposing it was’nt all? -Supposing we had stuck some completely new factor in the sltua* tion? Again -Cante the same uitaus- Avertible question. JWhy? What had we done—or rather what had Hugh done—to give ahy possible reason for trying to kill him? The only person who could legitimately1 feel, that way was Spragge, and il seemed well nigh incredible that that worthy sliouil have secreted you mean?” said said of that sort But luckily .pushed the up all ELS is tell- he us roused their su»- going back on our tracks their return for drastic, alternative came it seem- into my them at hijpseH on the roof on the bare chance of laying him out. From Sprags© my thoughts turn­ ed to the snorer. He was a possi­ bility. True he hadn’^seen us as we 'knew, but Hugh -was an easy man to describe. Supposing Spraggo had told him what had happened in the afternoon: supposing the man was a criminal and thought detectives were aftei' him, mid had determin­ed tq try to get rid of them? , . . And then I gave It up: it was ob­ vious that that solution wouldn't hold water. Genuine detectives don’t go about the country in racing . Bentleys slogging people over the jaw. And further he had no pos­ sible means of knowing that we were going to be at the Dolphin. We were halfway through dinner when the bearded man and the girl enterd, She swept past us- as if the whole of Rye belonged to her, but her companion paused by our table and nodded to me. “I must congratulate you, sir,” he said turning to Hugh, “on your narrow escape. I was talking to your friends at the time, and the crash was terrific.” “Thank you very much,” said Hugh gravely. “It’s the worst of these old houses, anything might happen.” “Precisely: anything might hap­ pen,” agreed the other, and ’with a bow he passed on to his table. “Unless I am much mistaken,” said Hugh thoughtfully, “the time is coming in the very noai’ future when that gentleman’s face will disappeai* through the back of his skull. He is the type of mess I like not: more­ over he is undoubtedly one of the players. -So here's hoping.” We finished our dinner in silence, and it was not until the coffee came that any .further allusion was made to the subject. was trying to puzzle things out in his own mind as I had done, -and Freckles—the scoundrel—-couldn’t keep off the girl. “What's the plan of campaign, Hugh, for to-night?” I asked, after the waiter had left qs. “I’ve been thinking it over, Peter’ he answered, “and I’ve come to the conclusion that the safest way of tackling it if we want to find out anything, will be to approach ,the house from the other side—that is from the sea. I figure it out this way. We are obviously under sus­ picion: it is known that we are tak­ ing an interest in iSpragge’s Farm, in that swab over there -all covered with hair, in Granger’s house—in fact, in the whole outfit. If, as is more than likely, we are all three seen leaving Rye in the Bentley and taking the road towards .Spragge’s Farm, the betting is a fiver to a dried pea that we shall be followed. We’ll have to leave the car in the road, 'and that gives us away com­ pletely. So my suggestion is this There's is a road—it’s pretty bad. but it will’serve—that runs past the golf links and goes down to the sea. True we still have to leave Rye in the di­ rection of the Farm, but as long as they don’t find the cai' in the road it doesn’t matter. In fact’s- it’s rathex' to the good; it may help to put ’em off the scent if they think we’ve gone on towards Folkstone, road, which incidentally peters out into- .notning, strike inland oil foot,, and approach Spragge’s Farm fro’m So we’ll leave the cax' on the the rear. And aftex* that, it’s on lap of the gods. Ever done night work, young Scott?” “What sort of night work?” manded Freckles. “Moving about country at night, of course.” “Can’t say I have,” admitted the youngster. “Well, keep close to me, and do exactly as you’re told,” “And pay attention to’ put your clumsy feet, silence, .and don’t forget ■ “Do you think there is a chance of a scrap?” he asked eagerly, “I haven’t the slightest idea,” said Hugh. “But I want to avoid one if possible. We want to find out all we can, and not be discover­ ed doing so.” “What time do you suggest start- ting?” I asked him, “Let’s see,” he calculated, “It will be a good hour’s walk—per­ haps more. Allowing for the car journey—say an hour and a half. So if we leave here as soon as we’ve finished dinner, we' ought t-o sti'ike the farip about eleven-thirty.” He finished his coffee and got up. And fox' the first time to my know­ ledge the girl showed herself aware of our existence. Her glance rest­ ed oix Hugh-coolly and thoughtfully: then I was honored -and aftei’ that young Scott. Then she returned to her dinner as if we had been summ­ ed up and dismissed, for all the world like a man 'turning down three horses that had .been brought Out for his inspection. I said as much to Hugh as we left the coffee- room, and he smiled slightly. “Bless her heart,” he laughed. ‘I wonder if it was she who tfied to anoint my head with tile chimney­ pot. Incidentally, their names are. are staying here changed for dinner We opened the hotel registex*, and looked at the last three entries, Piiul Vandal! Ma d a m e Va h dali Jean Picot “H’m,” grunted Hugh. “If the names ate genuine, they mark th* chauffeur down as French, and 'the other two as Boutherners of sorts, possibly Italian, However, we shall doubtless find out in time. Mow you fellows, smoke if you want to, be­ cause once we start walking it be a case of no lights/* (To be continued.) trursday, marc h is, w '•**'*. .............. will REPORT 8. 8. NO, IQ, STEPHEN Sr. IV—Lillian Webb 81.4, Rubie Brown 76,7, Qlive English 74.9, Crystal Hay ter 73.7, Gerald Carruth­ ers 70.4, Ross Brown 70.3, Jr, IV—Edith Love 79.3, Nora Webb 63.9, Edison Pollock 60.2, El­ len Hicks 56,6, Stanley Sr. ill—Mervyn Pearl Carruthers Jr. Ill—Cecil Gardner 65.3, Sr. II—Doris Carruthers 63.4. Jr. 1st Love Lovie Sr. Jr, Number on roll 25; average at­ tendance 23.3. • O. R, Corbett, teacher 74. Hartle Hicks Hugh, I .could tell, confounded young his eyes sea the any de- said Hugh, where you We’ll want it.” I wonder what Presumably they since she lias i < Hartle 54.2. Love 82,7, 57.7, 64.5, Bruce Ruth II—Ross MacGregor 564. Class—Ruby Hick's 87, Ruth 81, Elda Brown 74, Emerson 53, Earl Gardner 36, Pr.—Cameron MacGregor 43. 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