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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1933-10-26, Page 6THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1933 THE EXETER TIMES-AD VO CATE [Al 5il TINY CARTERET BY SAPPER i CHAPTER XI “Lady Mary Ridgeway, sir? Why, funnily enough—I did. I was stand­ ing outside, where you get and I saw her plain.” “Was anyone with her?" “Another lady, sir. They to a car and drove off." “What sort of car?” “A big private one, sir. the large Renaults.” “You didn’t hear where they went?” “No, sir: I didn’t. They just get in and the car went straight away.” The man hesitated a moment, and looked at Tiny curiously. “Seemed to me, sir, as if her ladyship was expecting someone. She kept looking round over her shoul­ der, and peering into Tiny thanked him his seat. Of course, looking for him. He met the train, not sat doing nothing in the hotel. And yet as things panned out he couldn’t have done much good. Following a Renault In somewhat beyond the powers of a Paris taxi. ' For all that he himself for not having been he would have stopped the thing then and there. In an overwhelming wave fears had come back to him. There was something -ominous aibout that big car driving straight away, with­ out a word to the driver. Just one more link in the skillfully construct- ; ed chain that seemed to be tighten- . ing round them. And there was a ruthless efficiency about it all made him feel helpless. If he could d-o something, and have to sit and wait. At length he went in to dinner. Either there would be a further de-1 velopment soon, ( to try and get him in the hotel: any-, way food was indicated. He had I had nothing to eat since breakfast, ; and hunger is a bad preparation for j a crisis. ----- — ---- ------ that one was approaching: would not delay an instant than necessary. He glanced the room wondering if any fellow diners were even shadowing him. Most of them were in even­ ing clothes, and it was at the othei’ that he principally directed his at­ tention. Butt after a while the fu­ tility of the proceeding struck him, and he concentrated on his meal. They could recognize him, and he couldn’t recognize them; at that it had to be left. Suddenly he became aware that a new-comer -had sat down at the next table He was a thin, sandy haired little man, and his clothes— although scrupulously clean—show­ ed signs of wear, lifted as he studied suspiciously in the shrewdly suspected his trousers would story. In short, not the type customer -one would expect at the Majestic, and for that reason Tiny studied him covertly. After a while he realized the man was shooting quick little bird-like glances at him, and instantly all his suspicions were aroused? He continued his dinner calmly, only moving his chair just sufficiently to enable him to watch the more easily. A feeling of had come aver him: anything was better than inaction. And he felt certain the new-comer was one of the players. It was ten minutes, however, be­ fore the game startec, and then the opening gambit was so unexpected that he almost decided he had been mistaken. “I suppose, sir, you can’t tell me what has happened in the Yorkshire and Middlesex match?” a taxi,I got in- One of the crowd.” and resumed she’d been should have cursed there: whole all his tli he said at “You are interested in cri- he added perfunctorily. for my bank here.” was he? And bank sir, in supposing My pal second had re- three on kilomet- coming answer- other. the papers, other- have ‘been able to you-re saying?” lllllliliillllllllllllillllllllllllliltllllllllliillku I decided to have a talk with him. Quite casually I turned the conver­ sation round to 'the big car. “It appeared that the chauffeur had been cursing like blazes at the breakdown, because he had such a long drive in front of him. had said .that there was a driver, and the chauffeur marked that they wanted such a trip. ‘Four hundred and fifty ers to the frontier,’ he had grumbled ‘and another two hundred on,’ “Well, that was all I could get out of him, so got on my bike again and went back to my rooms. Now it so happens that I’m a bit of a map fiend, and what with this curious message and the chauffeur’s remarks I got down some of my maps and had a look. And I can’t help think­ ing -I’ve solved it: in fact I’m I have.” “What do you make of it?” Tiny eagerly. “First of all, Mr. Carteret, sure said settled his Then he the other bill, and left the went to the bar joined him almost said, after a cau- “1’11 tell you I’d been on my bicycle friends outside Paris, lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Tiny stared at him blankly; so Lhe man was English. “I’m afraid I can’t,” length. cket?” “Very. I play A bank clerk, Majestic. “Am I right, that you are Mr. Carteret," the Rug­ by gulayer?” Getting down to it, reflected Tiny but what the deuce was next? “My name is Carterex,” he ed briefly. “I thought so,” said the “It was lucky I’d seen your photo­ graph so often in wise I might not help the lady.” “What’s that said Tiny tensely. “There’s danger, sir, danger. Fin­ ish your dinner quickly and come to the bar. I daren’t talk here.” “I’ve finished,” said Tiny. “I’ll wait for you there.” He room. where immediately. “Now, sir,’ he tious glance round. all I know. to see some and I came back through the Porte de la Gare. That would be about half-past six. Drawn up by the side of the road was one of the big Renaults, and inside it were two ladies. Something had evidently inly ' =one wrong’ because the chauffeur t ‘ and another man were bending over engine. Just as I got alongside, of the .ladles got out and went stood by the two i the one , and seemed to be talking to or they were going esi.ly> “Well, I don’t know happended to look at the other one who was still inside the car, and it r is a Dao preparation iur < . . , , ,, , , * i . .. . fairly gave me a shock. She wasAnd he felt instinctively x ,, . .staring at me fixedly, and suddenly she deliberately opened the window ! and dropped her vanity bag on the road. Deliberately, sir: no ques­ tion of an accident. Of course, that attracted my attention still more. I was pushing my machine at the time and I stopped at once back the bag. “She took it, and at stant, I felt a twisted ino my hand. " ‘Merci,’ she said, “ ‘Not at all,’ I answered. “[‘Thank God! you’re Eirgjlish,’ she muttered. ‘Give that Carteret—'Majestic Hotel, danger. It’s urgent.’ “ ‘The football player?’ ‘That the one,’ she then she gave a smile, so much for .picking it up.’ “For a moment I couldn’t under­ stand: then I 'saw the other lady was watching us. hat, and mounted “Have you got rupted Tiny. “Here it is, sir.” He handed the slip of1 paper to Tiny, who unrolled it eagerly. Inside in a hurried scrawl which, however, was obviously Mary’s was the one word, “Brig.” “What the devil does it mean.?” he muttered. “Well, Mr. Carteret,” said the other a little apologetically. “I have to admit that I took a liberty The whole thing was so strange that when I got out of sight I dismount­ ed and opened the note. ‘Brig’ I said to myself, ‘that’s a funny mes­ sage.’ And after a time I turned my machine and rode back again, to find that the machine had gone, Now I happen to know one of the men at that gate very well—I use it a lot—and acting on an impulse men. -She them earn- why, but I Zavier longer ; round of his and handed the same in­ note pushed to Mr. There’s NEW TIRES Size 30 x 3 1-2 Qtye Exeter QJimea-Ahtiocatr Established 1873 and 1887 Published every Thursday morning at Exeter, Ontario SUBSCRIPTION—$2.00 per year In advance. RATES—Farm or Real Estate tor sale 50c. each insertion tor fir»t four Insertions. 25c. each subse­ quent insertion. Miscellaneous ar­ ticles, To Rent, Wanted, Lost, or Found 10c. per line of six words. Reading notices 10c, per line. Card of Thanks 50c. Legal ad­ vertising 12 and 8c. per line. In Memoriam, with one verse 50c. extra verses 25c. each. Member of The Canadian Weekly Newspaper Association The elbow he the menu shone light, and Tiny that the seat of reveal the same ■of man relief tWWWl and you I said answered, ‘Thank So I took off my my bike.” the note?” inter- Could Not Sleep at Night Out During the Day N. W. Lukowey, Oakburn, Man., writes:— After an operation I was left in a very weak and run down condition. I could hot sleep at night, and would be all tired out during the day. I tried all kinds of medicine, but none of them helped me until I used Milburn’s H. & N. Pills. I took two boxes and I am very thankful for the help they gave me. I would strongly advise all those being m a run down condition to give these Pills a thorough trial.” and gcnGrnl BtorcB; put up only by Tho T. Milburn Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont7 * y J Tired k_ I WILL COST (fjA QQ parL YOU ONLY tdLli & and they*re GOOD^VlEAIl Think of the comfort—the freedom from delays and panger—when you ride on new Goodyear Tires! Goodyears with the Speed­ way tread are so thoroughly well made and priced so low that you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Size 29x4.40 Size 29x4.50 5.54 6.15 Size 30x4.50 6.21 Size X* AQ 28x4.75 ObWO Professional Cards GLADMAN & STANBURY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, Money to Loan, Investments Made Insurance Safe-deposit Vault for use of our Clients without charge EXETER and HENSALL Other sizes gate after Tiny little spell hand. “I’ll go the concierge’s time of the take the gate they were leaving by, the Porte de la Gare. That’s the you leave by for Dijon, and that Switzerland.” He paused* impressively while possessed his soul in patience. “Secondly,” went on the man, “the Swiss frontier is just four hundred and fifty kilometer^ from Paris.” “By Jove!” said Tiny, as Ronald’s words in Lausanne came back to him. “I believe you’re right.” “Well, if I’m right so far, sir, I have solved it. Brigue, which is the Swiss end of the Simplon tun­ nel, is another two hundred or so kilometers farther on. They it both ways, Brigue or Brig.” He glanced at his watch. “Just half-past eight, Mr. Carteret There’s a train at 9.IQ. If you hurry you can catch it.” For a moment Tiny hesitated. Was it genuine, or was it all part of some elaborate trap? And then with a shrug of his shoulders he made up his mind. Anything was better than staying on in the Ma­ jestic. “I’m much obliged to you,” he said, holding out his at once.” He hurried over to desk to confirm the train, and countermanded his room. A Frenchman with a small pointed, black beard was having an excited argument over something, but he politely stood on one side as Tiny approached. “9.10, Monsieur. That is correct. Shall I get you a taxi?” He gave an order to a chausseur. “Will you be wanting a .sleeper?” He paused as the Frenchman made some remark. „ “Because, if so, sir,” he went on, “this gentleman suggests that you might perhaps care to share one with him.” “Thank you,” said Tiny grimly. “I shall not require a sleeper.” No more sleepers for him, he re­ flected, unless he knew his fellow- traveller. And a Frenchman with a beard struck him quite definitely as being a suspicious character un­ der existing circumstances. Not that he could 'be, of course: he had been talking to the concierge before Tiny cam up. But the principle unknown man: certainly •known beavers. “The taxi is here, sir,” held. no said in proportion 9 months, guarantee "f?J|'g.^jnst‘ defects and road hazards W. 1. BEER CARLING & MORLEY BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS, LOANS, INVESTMENTS INSURANCE Office: Carling Block, Main Street. EXETER, ONT. At Lucan Monday and Thursday Phone 109,Exeter, Ont. unable to get a all there was to No un­ the cocierge, and the last words Tiny heard as he left the hotel were: “Un autre, pour Monsieur.” The train was not full, and he had. no difficulty in getting a first-class corner seat. On purpose he chose a compartment that was not empty: Though lie had no inteption of sleep- ; ing ho was not neglecting any pre- ' caution. And by no stretch of irn- I agination could anyone already seated in one particular carriage se- the be petrel at random, be involved in I matter: the coincidence would I too extraordinary. I Ho selected a corner next to I rerridor, and it was just as j train started that he got a Ibit of a | .shock. Standing in the door of the : next compartment was Black Beard, True, if looked at from one point of view there was nothing very sur­ prising in the fact, From what the concierge had said the mhn was go­ ing to travel by this train, and pro- the the I bably he had been sleeper. That was it, and yet . . . Zavier, when the had been raided, had worn a beard. Was it possible that this man was Zavier himself? As far as he re­ membered his eyes were not blue, but he had taken very little notice of him at the Majestic. Anyway, that was a point which could easily be settled. He went into the corrid­ or, and looked into the next com­ partment. The man had put on a pair of tinted glasses and was read­ ing a newspaper. Fifty-Nine Club Tiny returned to his seat and shut the door. Was it Zavier? could it be? If so, was he going to strike on the train? His jaw set grimly. Ass he might be, but at any rate on this And he proposed to give the man a run for his money, he was not in such an dition of uncertainty Came Laroche, and back to "the last time he had done this same journey. It was there, ac­ cording to Ronald, they had got the Russian, and instinctively he kept his eyes glued on the small expanse of open window opposite him. Would some strange mysterious thing come through that window and strike him? Then he happened to glance into the corridor: the bearded man was standing there watching him in­ tently. -For an instant he had a wild idea of tackling him then and there: but he dismissed it. So long as he kept the door shut nothing could get at him from that side at any rate, and his job was to get to Brigue. At last the train started again and Tny relaxed. Strong as hs nerve were the strain was beginning to tell on him, ..and he found himself longing for the daylight. And then, to keep his mind occupied he tried to work out a plan of campaign for what he should do when he arrived at Brigue. He remembered the place hazily, a small typical Swiss town at the east end of the Rhone valley. It seemed the last place in the world where one would expect to meet with adventure, and yet the little clerk’s solution appeared cor­ rect. Moreover, Ronald had said that the head quarters were some­ where in Switzerland. But what to do when he got there was the problem. Presumably there would be no difficulty in tracing | ed. such a conspicious car as a big Re­ nault if it already reached the place: and if the train got there first he could keep a look-out for that events would have themselves. Dawn came at length stretched himself wearily, bearded -man had not appeared again the halts at Dijon and the subse­ quent station had passed without in­ cident, At Lausanne his fellow- travellers alighted, and from then on ho had the carriage to himself. occasion he was forewarned gentle- If only agonizing con- over Mary . . his mind went it. to After shape and he The . An attendant announced breakfast, i and Tiny, after a moment’s hesita­ tion, rose and stepped into the cor- , ridor. After all, nothing much could happen in broad daylight. And i the next instant he laughed softly . to himself. The next compartment was empty: the bearded man was no , longer there. “Might have had an easier night, • if I’d known that,” he reflected. ‘The • wretched fellow was probably a • harmless commercial traveller.” At eleven o’clock ■ Brigue, and for undecided on the vaguely thought ' of some message ’ there was no one 1 least like a messenger. have to make for the town and ask there. The local gendarme, how­ ever, proved the first difficulty. Doubtless the worthy man did his best, but at the end of five minutes, all he could do was gravely to in­ dicate the church. Then, with a hoarse grunt of satisfaction at hav­ ing at last interpreted Tiny’s ques­ tion, he relased into his habitual stupor. It was an hotel proprietor who stepped into the breach. “Can I be of any assistance, sir?” he asked in perfect English Tiny heaved a sigh of relief. “I’m trying to find out,” he plained,' “if a big Renault car passed through here this morning? It would have come from Paris, with two ladies on board and two chauf­ feurs.” The other shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of, sir. But I will make inquiries, and if you would care to I can put you tion.” He led the garden fronting the main street. “Now, sir,” he said, “anyone com­ ing from Paris must pass you here. The road left, line the other ever pass they must come by here. “Splendid fellow,” cried “Send out a magnum of ale.” ’And even as he spoke his narrowed. A man had crossed the street some thirty yards' away, and lie could have sworn it was the bearded Frenchman of the Majestic. ‘ He half rose, then sank back again . in his chair: the man had disappear- | ed. It was useless to try and fol­ low him, it not dangerous, but it gave Tiny a jolt. Why had he changed his carriage in the train, and what was he doing in Brigue? (To be continued) Dr. G. S. Atkinson, L.D.S.,D.D.S, DENTAL SURGEON Office opposite the New Post Offlcs Main St., Exeter « Telephones Office 34w House 84j Closed Wednesday Afternoons Dr. G. F. Roulston, L.D.S..D.D.S. DENTIST Office: Carling Block EXETER, ONT. Closed Wednesday Afternoon they reached a while he stood platform. He had of the possibility awaiting him, but who looked in the He would ex- has come into the hotel, in an excellent posi- way to 2 small beer forks down there to the branch over the (Simplon, over the Furka. 'So they are going to ff which- tak'e, Tiny. eyes tramp paused outside the “Clear out,” shouted the lady house. “I ain’t There ain’t got no ‘wood nothing you The house of the to chop, could do around here.' “But madam, there the wayfarer with dignity, give you lessons in grammar. JOHN WARD CHIROPRACTIC, OSTEOPATHY, ELECTRO-THERAPY & ULTRA­ VIOLET TREATMENTS PHONE 70 MAIN ST., EXETER ARTHUR WEBER LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY PRICES REASONABLE SATISFACTION GUARANTEED Phone 57-18 Dashwood R. R. NO. 1, DASHWOOD FRANK TAYLOR LICENSED AUCTIONEER For Huron and Middlesex FARM SALES A SPECIALTY Prices Reasonable and Satisfactlo» Guaranteed EXETER P. O. or RING 138 OSCAR KLOPP LICENSED AUCTIONEER Honor Graduate Carey Jones’ Auc­ tion School. Special Course taken in Registered Live Stock (all breeds) Merchandise, Real Estate, Farm Sales, Etc. Rates in keeping with prevailing prices. Satisfaction as­ sured, jvrite Oscar Klopp, Zurich, or phone 18-93, Zurich, Ont. USBORNE & HIBBERT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY Head Office, Farquhar, Ont. President ANGUS SINCLAIR Vice-Pres. J. T. ALLISON DIRECTORS SAH’L NORRIS', SIMON DOW WM. H. COATES, FRANK McConnell AGENTS JOHN BSSERY, Centralia, Agent for Usborne and Biddulph ALVIN L. HARRIS, Munro, Agent for Fullarton and Logan THOMAS SCOTT, Cromarty, Agent for Hibbert W. A* TURNBULL Secretary-Treasurer Box 295, Exeter, Ontario GLADMAN & STANBURY Solicitors, Exeter “Jon0s expects 100 per cent, dis­ ability bn his accident insurance pol­ icy. He says he is, eocpletely la­ te,” retorted I by the loss of a thumb. I could'I I “What’s his vocation?” "He’s a professional hitch-hiker,