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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1931-01-01, Page 7THE EXETER TIMES-AU VOCATE BY EDGAR WALLACEcopyright Quo Vadis Ih’v. James Anthony, M* 4. FIRST INSTALMENT Chapter I - *‘But you are going to marry him, ■peggY?” There voice pf '^startled. was gn agitation, in, his Rex Leferro (ithat almost hjs sister, ‘What makes you say that?" asked. "Dopa it mean that I breaking off my engagement cause Luke is a bad host and Jkept u£ waiting ten minutes?" They were in the palm court of the Carlton, iSlie (stood apart with the youn man who was no stranger imagine -them ter, Rex was ned, a fretful young man with a nervous trick of adjusting his dress tie every few minutes. Margaret Leferre had the carriage, and! poise of a great lady. She was fair-skinned, faultless of feature, ^ray-eyed—a .model of cold dignity. "I don’t know." Rex was nibbling at his nails; lie could not be cured of this ugly habit. ®oodl fellow—in a Itlglitwad." "Have you been aigain?" she a&ked ‘imcomfortably. "No what rot! Only Danty and I bad a- scheme., She looked around at ’ that mo­ ment. Somehow she knew that the dark-eyed Danton Morell was watcli- them. ... Luke Maddison came tliroug the vestibule with long strides. He; paused to strip his overcoat and take off liis silk hat, which he almost threw at an attendant, and took one Step toward the door. As he did so liis foot slipped sideways -on the mar­ ble floor and* he would have fallen unpleasantly but for the hand that suddenly gripped hi? arm. | The man who held him must have been unusually strong, for he liter-] ally and. in the most effortless fash­ ion, Jifted Luke Maddison bodily and' placed him on -his feet. .Luke turned with a half smile of dismay ■ and found' himself looking into a hard, lined face, the colon? of teak; into fcwo unsmiling eyes expressionless. Thank you—awfully!" ■I’m glad-I was here. Fortunately, f always wait in the lobby when I am. expecting people to dinner. Good­ night.” Two lives touched at thei Carlton that'’’Mri'uary'' "night—touched’ '’arid went looping away one from the other, to touch again in a moment of crisis. Rough roads they were; a bitter, heart-aching road1 for one, a methodical hell for the’ -less favoured to’ be tramped with that cynical smile .with which "Gunner^., Haynes met every misfortune. Luke Maddison 'saw life like that- a bewildering mass of crossing and | paralleli paths. If he fell into error | it was in believing that his -own was ilie straght-as--a-ruler highway to which and from which all other paths inclined -or diverged. Gunner Haynes whose strong arm bad saved him from a fractured wrist or worse, had no collateral worth -speaking about. His principal assests Were an. immaculate dress suit, a cultured voice and perfect ‘manners which more than overcame Mie handicap represented by his lean adark. sinister face. He lived God bn-ew where,. but wa«s to be seen at' such of the best hotels as did not hn-o'w him for an expert jewel thief. They .called him “Gunner" because of certain happenings in New York City.’ It was said, but never proved lhat he was the man who .bumped - off Lew Selinskl, that notorious gang lender, and shot his way through Lew’s ’ gunmen to the safety repre­ sented by a cattle boat which sailed droni the Hudson river an hour^after the police reserves answered a riot call. Nobody had ever -seen him with a jpistol in England; but' the detectives who arrested him a year after his re­ turn to his native land fully expected jgun play and came armed. When he came up foif trial, nobody came near him; not his pretty wife •nr his best’ friend, Larry Vinman. Larry was a prince of confidence men young, good-looking plausible. There might have been excellent reason why Larry «1 raw attention to1 ing. in court; no ,'slibuld not write 'She had a thousand pounds in hard 'cash; a good lawyer could have berin briefed; but when the gunner seift for her, she had left the lodging they bad occupied'. He never saw her again. A few months before liis re­ lease from prison he heard that she bad'died in a workhouse, infirmary. The Gunner’s smile when he heard •this was a grim one. I-ie always smil­ ed when he was hurt—and as> he ‘Smiled now, his heart was one great thrabblng wound. So he came from prison, and in due course to the Carlton Hotel, .where Mr. Luke Maddison was cele­ brating his qngagment. Of Luke h® kerw nothing—what had brought him there was a, jewel box which a rich American lady kept in trie hotel safe she am ibe- has r© her only relation, and seeing them would to be brother and sIst. red-haired, weak-chin- "Only Luke is a way. Rather a borrowing money , and lie- wriggled should not wish to himself by appear- reason Why Millie or do something. nil day and In her bedroom between 9 p. m. and 1 al m, Gunner Haynes had taken a room on the same floor, "What was he like in, appearance? Panton asked puke Maddison, Danton’s voice sounded hoarse, as though he were from a dry throat, "Who the man who held And when, the other nodded Luke went on: "A dark good-looking chap —I thought he might be a German -—two scars across his right cheek —the1 sort of wound that duelling students love to aquire. I remember when I was at school in Bonn, . Danton was not listening now. Two scars across the right cheek! Then he had not been mistaken, The quest­ ion was, had the Gunner recognized him? It was .seven year's since they had met—panton had been clean­ shaven and- rather tow-headed in those day.?. Millie Haynes used tp call him “’■'the golcl-hair boy/ in the days of her fascination. He- had grown a mustache and darkened his hail’ down since then—he- no longer filled the police description of Larry Vinman. He made the change lpng after he had thrown over Millie and left her to drift to aworkhouse infir­ mary. It had been rendered' neces­ sary by the success of a trick which had left an Australian squatter poor­ er by eight thousand .pounds, -and tjie. subsequent activities of Scotland Yard's confidence men. Luke Maddison was cheery. The marriage ’was to be quiet, and only a few guests were fo be invited. He had only a few minutes before ar­ ranging- his. train reservations—no secretary should perform that sacred duty! That’ Aiglit Mr. Horace Bird, de­ tective/known as the Sparrow, was called to number 342?Brook1 Street. _ Assisted by the white-faced Mr. Dan­ ton-Morell, he burst open the door i of a». bedroom, and there he found, I Rex Leferre, dead on the floor. , Rex Leferre, dead by his own hand.) He lay on the floor, a revolver ‘by his-I side; the quick-eyed- Danty saw the note sqrilbbled in pencil -on small sheets of paper torn from a tele­ phone message block, and his hand closed .over the paper. An hour later Margaret Leferre, pale arid lovely in her silken negligee, read the message the deteevtive had not seen. >’ Margaret darling, I have lost’. (For months I have been gam­ bling. To-day I took a desparate step on the advice‘of Luke Mad- dispn. He has led me to. .ruin— money is- his god. I beg of you not»to trust him. He has led me •from one act' of folly to another. God bless yon. a little speaking me up? REX She read the pitiful message again and.again. Luke Maddison; the. man she was to marry in a week! For two days Margaret Leferre moved in a world of hideous unreal­ ity. Strange people interviewed her: a tall big-framed’, man, who was strangely sympathetic in Ills heavy way, a -bank manager who talked wildly and incomprehensibly until Danty appeared and whisked .him off One thunderous fact hanilmered night .and day at her weary brain—. Rex was dead by his own hand, and. the man she was to marry, the man, who, frantic with anxiety, was call­ ing three times -a. day and being re­ fused admission 'to her was the cause Money was his god! Luke had been at his office since eight o’clock.an hour before the 'ar­ rival of the staff and here his beard­ ed maager found, him sitting at. his table his head in his hands his per­ sonal letters unopened. . Maddison looked up with a start; as the manager entered. "Hullo", he. said awkwardly. "Is there anything wrong?" There were many things wrong from the point of view of -Mr. .Stiles, that shrewd man.'of affairs' He laid a small sheaf of papers on the desk and detailed the contents of the doc­ uments briefly, "Here are four or five transact­ ions that 'Ought to be closed to-day, Mr. Maddison. I am rather worried about them, The Gulanga Oil ac­ counts should be settled. We. made a very considerable loss 'there." Luke nodded impatiently . "Settle it," he said "No message from-—from Miss Leferre?" Gunner Haynes! He breathed a little faster., Do^vri his back fan a cold shiver of apprehnsion. Suppose he had recog'nized his old friend; suppose he had packed a gun, sup­ pose he was waiting out there in the lobby * * : * voice was harsh, "Tell the manager It is all right.’’ "I -told him yesterday, as a unatter of fact." Mr. Stiles was inclined to linger on. a subject which was hate­ ful to the other. In desperation Luke reverted to the question of the Gul- anga Oil Concesssion, and for once MA StllesAs father ‘interest in the business irritated him, * "Of course, sir, I know that Mad- dison’s, is as sound ns a bell of brass but there is no getting away from the fact that we have been making ra- ther heavy losses during the past six mo.nths, and I am afraid I shall have to call upon your reserves. Per­ sonally," he wept on, oblivious of Luke’s growing resentment, "I have always believed we made a mistake in not selling out,, to w a joint stock, concern. In private banking business the personal security plays too big a part' for my liking-—” Mercifully the house- phone rang at that moment. Luke snatched up the receiver and listened with a frown, "Yes show him in, please," And as he replaced the receiver; I am see­ ing. Mr. Morell and I do not wish to be iterrupted," he said. Mr, Stiles made a little grimace. He had- been all his life in. the firm of Maddison and Sons, and. he did not feel -called upon to disguise his like .of the caller. "There is something’ about fellow that I dislike yeryrinucli, Maddison. I hope we are not going to carry his acocunt?” Luke shook his head and nodded, toward the door. , Mr, Danton Morell came into an atmosphere whiclj he, sensitive in such .matters, realized was charged with, hostility. Nevertheless he was his smiling self, as he laid his care­ fully brushed hat upon the table,1 Luke did not fail to notice that he wore a mourning tie, and that for: some reason janged upon his nerves.: "Sit down will you?" His voice and manner were brusque. "You were a friend of Rex’s?” Danty fully. "Yes I fidence,” you the day ate—” Luke cut "Were you dis­ that Mr. inclined his head, sorrow- was completely in his con- he said. "I think I told folowing his unfortun- New Year’s Sunday turns put thoughts to the future. Christ­ mas Sunday turns our interpts tn the past, tp the Babe, of Bethlehem, to the choiring angels, the watching shepherds and the journeying Wise Mem Naturally, too, we think on Christmas Sunday of the folk at home and of the ones wa may help and hearten. But on New Year’s .Sunday we think of what the future has In store for us. Only too well do we realize that a veil through which no human vis­ ion may even hope to pierce hides that future from us, On this special Sunday wo reach out m the faith and hope that the old, with its enmities and' spite and petty failure, has gone from us forever and that the new year holds In Its hand better times, higher effort crowned with merited success. But as we gather in hh.ufch on New Year’s Sunday we are well aware that' the past tarries with us. There may be a va­ cancy beside us in our pew. A stranger may be just ahead of us where ,we have on Sundays such as these friendly faces. As we hear the confession, have left should have d’one what have done’1 memory write things against us. But the past is gone! It' holds for us neither, opportunity nor responsibilty But the future? It is here, at' our door, beckoning, persuad­ ing us to attempt and to win, to step forward, to live while we are alive, to venture our best our and the folk that our best moments re­ veal us to be. Difficulties, bitter separat­ ions in heartbreaks, disappoint­ ments in the new year? Surely! But there are our lot, because we. are men and not sticks and stones. But there is not the assurance that they who res­ olutely labour in faith and love walk under the guidance of Him without whose knowledge not even a sparrow falleth and- is this not sufficient. wmirn', ww as we see it, js its friendships, A Hogarth Hatchery Sincerely Tours, R. E. Pooley. „ .. . lives is also true of our business Wo like to feel thqt there is. a spirit of friendship underly- R. E. POOLEY •A General Winchelsea and Kirkton Season's Greetings Pear Friends:,- As. 1930 .draws to a close we pause (for a moment to think ser ipusly of life,- of what it means to us—-of its joy and of its sorrows One of the gredt joys of iife true friend is a .valued, possession. ■What is true of our personal lives. ? ......... ...................... ing each business transaction. We like to think of owF customers a$ our friends, p Nineteen Hundred and Thirty has been g’opd to us and you, through your friendship, your confidence have contributed* iio small part to its success. As an expression therefore, of our genuine appreciation, we wish you and1 those whom you love a Happy New Year brim full of ood things. We undone what wo done, and we have we ought not to ; conscience and many bittei’ effort to have done with shabby and mean solves to prove that we can be splendid and admirable We have in stock the following poultry needs and feeds: Lay Mash, Oyster Shell, Grit, Cod Liver Oil, Beef Meal, Meat Scrap, Bone Meal, Charcoal, Buttermilk Powder, Fish Meal, Alfalfa Leaf Meal, Worm Pills for intestinal worms in poul­ try; Leg Bands; Barred Rock Pullets; Breeding Cockerels in the following breeds, White Wyandottes, Barred Rocks, Black Minorcas and White Leghorns. Motor Oil, one quart 20c.; ten gallops for 65c. per gal­ lon; five gallons for 70c. per gallpn; Best Grade motor Oil 75c. per gallon. ALSO ANTI-FREEZE AT $1.25 PER GALLON WE ALSO HANDLE CELO GLASS GOLDEN WEDDING short the recollection, so much in his confid­ ence that you accompanied, him to the Northern -and Southern Bank three days ago when hecashed.-a, check 'for eighteen’ thousand five hundred pounds." . Danty opened his eyes- wide in­ well stimulated surprise. “Why of course," he said. "Rex has. jnade very heavy losses in the City, and I advised, him to see you. I understood, you gave,him a check for that amount—’’ “Did he tell you that?" Luke’s blue eyes did not ‘leave the man’s face. "Certainly. Why what was wrong? I .saw the check myself." There, wa^- an uncomfortable pause and then; ‘ "Did you see him sign, it?" asked Luke deliberately. Danty’s gaze did not 'falter. "I am afraid I do not'understand you,” he said evenly. "I saw him dorse it- Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Rice, who reside in the old family home in St Marys recently celebrated their gold­ en wedding anniversary. At the re­ ception many guests were present and scores called to honor the couple The guests were shown the very ap- propiate gift sent by Mr .and Mrs. Rice’s daughter, Miss Kathleen, C. S. Rice, a bottle of gold dust froxn her own claim in Northern Manitoba. This is a good time to fill up your coal bin with D. L. & W. Scranton Coal OR IVITH "OTTO" Coke PRICES RIGHT Continued next week ZURICH Mrs. Clarence Hoffman, of Galt, was releiving her father, Mr. W. L. Siebert at the local post office. Mr. Calvin Williams is spending the holidays at Toronto with his sis­ ter, Mrs. Whitesides' .Mr. Albert Henderick, of the blue Water Highway lost two valuable head of cattle the past week and others were ill from the effects of eating sweet clover silage. ,|M'r. and Mrs. I. Didels and daugh­ ter are ’ spending ’the holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Dat- ers. Miss Ruth Turkheim, of Stratford is holidaying at her home here. Miss- Victoria Deichert left last week for Stratford where she will spend the holidays. Mr. aild Mrs. Theo. Wagner, of Guelph, were week-end visitors with the former’s parents, Mr and Mrs Win. C. Wagner. Mi’’. Tlios. Snowden of the Blue ‘’Water Highway, recently purchased a car load of Western cattle. He had the. misfortune to lose eight out of the lot through some sickness they contracted in being shipped from the West. Mr.’ Harold Klopp, of Detroit, is Visting with his parents in town. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Siebert are spending the holidays in Detroit’, with their children. Miss Catherine Merner, of Elmira is spending the holidays at home here. ’. >!« Sf ft It was a Stupid question’to ask, for he had a private- phone and he knew that ahy message that came Margaret would be put through to him direct. ’The manage!’ shook his head gloomily. "A bad business, sir. I have not spoken to you .about it because i realize how badly you must be feel­ ing, The Northern and Southern have been on the phone again this morning about' that check—-you re­ member they queried the .signature-“Thresher Co. at Seaforth and was a yesterday?" • ’ ’’Valued member of the town council "Yes, yes." Luke’s usually gentle for years. Mayor R. G. Park, of .Seaforth, moved to Toronto whore he has. ceptcd a position as manager of Hay Bay Muskrat Company; which has a large muskrat farm at Naplnoe. For 28 years Mr. Park was connected With the ♦Robert Bell Engine and CROMARTY > The Christmas Tree and Concert :held in the school room of the church ’on Wednesday last, was well attend­ ed1, the basement being filled to its utmost capacity. A very generous Santa Claus distributed presents to all the children of the Sabbath school The tree being laden with presents Cor cliidren as well as grown folks. A fine program consisting of dialog­ ues, recitations, tableaus, etc. was given. The children all doing their parts very efficiently. Mr. John Telfer, of Brussels, is at present visiting with old friends and relatives in the village. Mrs. Cowell, of the village, is at present visiting with her daughter at'fit. Marys. Rev. Mr. Rogers and family,mo Cor­ ed to Tillsonburg and spent the Christmas holidays with his parents. IMr. Andy McLellan, who was quite ill is now able to be around again. One of the oldest land marks of Walton, five miles south of' Brussels the Birney General store was com­ pletely destroyed by fire together with all ofzthe*contents’’'t'he*d’&y^after Christmas. Nothing was saved, the! stock was valued at $20,000. | A. J. CLATWORTHY Phone 12 GRANTON. ONTARIO en- CAS'AOTAM’ NAtlOXAL rnototoAPns FELT TIRED OUT ALL DAY COULD NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT Mrs. Aldamond Lalonde, 2481 St. James St., Mon­ treal, Que., writes:—"After a spell of the grippe I was left very nervous, and felt drowsy and tired out all day, and could not sleep at night. I was also troubled with my heart and did not feel at all like working. "I was told about Milbum’s Heart and Nerve Pills, and after taking four boxes I was completely relieved of my trouble, and can recommend your Pills to everyone." Sold at all drug and general stores, or mailed direct on receipt of price by The T. Milburn Co., Ltd., Toronto, Ont. IN PICTURESQUE NOVA SCOTIA Nature has been lavish in distributing her charms throughout this most attractive province by the sea, and in the Bras d’Or Lakes district a scenic gem has been created. The lower illustration gives a typical view’ of this attractive section of the Maritime Provinces. Apart from its interesting ' beauty spots, Nova Scotia isalso noted for its salmon streams, and the picture at the top shows an exciting moment in this sport of kings, when one of the gamiest , of Canadian fish is netted after*a fight of sometimes more than half an hour’s duration. Sowell known are the salmon streams of Nova Scotia that anglers come from all over the continent to fish their waters. •C0! ' v X. c •>, .'ft • , i'a» ;; ■ 1' ■W-