..The Little.. Lady's Christmas Stocking.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 12

..The Little.. Lady's Christmas Stocking.

By WILLIAM LE QUEUX.

adopted the; profession of taxi- 6 cub driver in London two years ago I * have mot ivrith several, strango. adventures, '■ and have driven:niany curious;fares, but certainly no circumstances were- so re- t markablo ■ or so-curious aB-'those which happened to mo-last-Christmas. ■- 'Iho . twenty-second >■ of last • December « was terribly glooiuy ajid wet, you will . remember.; I had. had my daj. s rest on the Sunday, othcrjnso.l should not . driven ~out my;red . cab--from tho big garage of the Motor...Cab'.Company at Kennington,.and taken my stand, on the , Tank in IVafitlgar " v ' 1 The public, appear,•.'.to.-.benevo that-. wo, .j are tho.. quintessence; ofjndolenee .nnd, impudence, and that wo liyo ,upon the fat of the land. If; they - (Ifove. a .taxi tor a - week in.the,.streets of London they would r Koon alter their opinion. What with y petrol, insurance, uniform-inohey, con- a stant harassing by the police, imd . fre- , (juent fines,, our, Hv.es, I assuro you,, arc not cast in : very pleasant places. >-t { Anyono who "ivahts to got', iibout Lon- ( don quickly hails a-taxi.' *1 have-often, -j heard complaint that- wo look another ~ way when a lady' hails us. 'I admit tho , .-Ladies who' will'fling - away pounds upon luxuries usually bejjrudgo 0 us a threepenny: tip, therefore it is an .nnwritten'law; among.:us drivers (hatwo T do not.tako a Iddy unless we cannot" pos 1 -;. j eibly avoids it. When on '-va rankj- we - p can't help it, of course. But oh tho roail. it is so easy hot to notices lady's up- 'ji lifted umbrella. " l ' J " " 'V, i Well,'early 'on the afternoon of tho j twentv-seconil of December;' I' was'pass- j jcg ulong Porchestta- TerrnW towards tho J'ark when a pretty yoiing : lady 'about twenty, well-dressed in furs, aud holding ; n fair-haired little girl uf ten by tho. 1 hand, hailed mo in such a'hian'iicr that I" 1 was compelled to pull up. She wore a j line blue fos .-around: her neck,'- wliilo; tho » little girl,- hci";yo,tmgei":sister .most pro- ■ bably,rwas-ia sweet.child, with-her. hair , tied on; citheH.sido.:Svith;.white ribbons', f and wearing-u palo ,green hat and black ■ < - velvet coati..v - .; , "I witnt iito .'gp' ..to ;vßramley s. the -;toruliop, in- Kcgent Street/'- she said, and• ■ they both entered.' I -',- • •'-•• J They-struck; me as 'jlddies, for'ths' elder's-voice-was-soft and Tefincd, and -t '. noticed , half-coiicealed by tho laco at her j wrist a;.pretty diamondsbangle. •• I waited-'for-them,outsiao-tlio• crowded toy .-hop. for noarly. half: an hour. '' I could sco ;within; -that ■ tho 1 littlo lady was , busy choosing -toys,'-which -in- - ' eluded a huge Teddy .bear, dolls,'tea-sets, s everything, 'indeed, that she seemed to fancy, -6tm had:- --Truly the-" "-little lady t was'a spoilt'child!'.- j -" ' ' 1 I am particularly-fond of childrenj for •• I've, gotV.h'Vlittle: ; kidd,v of injr.'otti about • tho samo agb. ••'Therefore," r .watched''he'r ■, childish-. : up;.as she"chose one '( object afterJanothor, until at Inst her filial' choice:feU-upon a largo' Christmas-stoc- : ing filled-with/toys.:-. '- Presently,--.-.they ■ both emerged, and tho i nlany packages-were'.stowed' away within ' the cap, I "Come, Gertie, dear,-wo must-be get- t ting back.at-once,". I ,-heai ; d tho .elder ; girl- say,; afld .lhen:'she -gavo; me; ;an' 'address in Square,<Hydo Park, to ; '( which .... ~- -.1 A foreign l inanservant-i2ame T out; tff ob- '■ tain .'parcels, all but- the Christmas ! stocking. :Tho; little jlady,. pro.tid ;of.; her I new purchase, ■, took- that herself,- * ; As she.- wrs paying- mor-th'o elder girl, looked; into my ■ eyts for- a - scco'nd, and" ' then aslsed:("Qn(iWhat .xank are you generally to. b6, found?".:-j ,t- ' ! "At Trafalgar .Square, miss." • •- I "Thank,you,".she said, handing me a. substantial tip. "I : havo noted -vour number. Should I ..want, ypji, I-'.will-trjr-and l ,: find you on the rank. Good day, .and' she went,.in,, and, closed- the door. People" "often , ask-tho 'same question,-. / therefore .the' incident quickly passed . from my mind, for I. found another fare ' at the Itarble .Arch, and was busy all ■■ that evenin'"; . taking people to do 'their Christmas shopping. ... Early 'on Christmas evening I had taken two geaflemeii 'oyer, to-Blackheath,-. . nnd, - returning "flag up," had taken my -stand ' nt the^erid'.of'tjie rank'.opposite-.Morley's-Jlotel, where for haJf an hour I chatted with our" inspector—tho tall man withthe grey uniform. I had had a slight collision in tho Brompton Koad on-, tho day before, and bent my mudguard— result, a- 1 fine-!-; .. Gradually the cabs, in "front of me drovo uwny with' -fares, niostlj- min going to spend Christmas With friends, Until I . was tho-next", "for . hire." It wis . dark, ' find rain i had commenced to fall, when a female form in a long'travelling ulster camo along accompanied by a little girl i »'as' tho SAino pair, and tlie samo little kt l was; carefully carrying. ,her Christmas'stocking! ' I opened the door without a word and putting down her umbrella, she and the child entored. As she did to, her cazo fliuifal' a "'' ;al ? d ;l" sny ; .that she seemed mo the Hollies, West Heath Itoad, Child's Hill " tro-straight up the Tinchlev lioarl " M 1 all(1 tur " °n the right nnst iSlr'ath.-""! th !' ,lirc(:Uou;irampinl I Z" c ,M .S y 'Respectfully,.'and harn v w tlle 1 ? n S»ne and turned down mj «ag, turned up ,St. Jfartin's Lane. reQcctin?'iipon' the, great" personal beautv of inv inre, nnd wondering why she hall, nought me out. When her eyes had metnunc I had 'detected iu ; them, a,curious , look. Slip'seellibd.. very a'h.vious, and nsshe spoke 'she 'appeared Out' of breath , perhaps l>cc.aus« of her. hasto to get shelter trom the rain. Once,'in pretence of looknig at something I luu! passed, I ulauced around,. a-n(l; I saw her,,.seated, with, her pale rigid face resting upon her hands She was deep', in thought, and .did ,notuotice me. boon after tiliSsing. Swiss,''Cottage','-how-ever, 1 heard a ;lOud tapping; upon the window' aud she, hfoHoiied.. mo to .pull' up at the kerb. ' Then w;hcii I got down and opened "tin* door she said in a low voice of hesitation, as/though half-afraid to speak:".'.- 1 .' "I—l wijn.dei;' if you .would help ,me? 3'm in ' a very", great difficulty. If you. would <!o mo' a favour. I—well—l'd bo so much obliged, iind would repay,'yoii. as won as ever I can." ' , ■ I. was surprised at this, : ,'.She,evidently: , desired to borrow somo money.,frpin; me. "Well, miss." I sn.id. ."X'ni (inly a, taxidriver, but if I can assist yo.u I'd be quito. •williug..- What ,can'-i'.do?":.. ■ ■■,■. "All!". she. .pried,-..hit.';, splendid'-, eyes brightening.. "It .is. verv- gnod- of 'you".! You doii't kndw.,ine,'oi' little Gertie in the least. One...daj: 'yon will—and;:hen. perhaps,., you will fje.'-surprised,-.Don't stand out' there," <he added, putting down the seat in: front-ef~h«r.---"Come in. I want lo tell you exactly the servicn vou call- perform ,I'or "liie-'if'you will."" --- - f entered, wet as i iras',"'and then she inquired mv name. I told her it was Thomas Ellis,awhile she gave 'mo "hers," Elsie Tulloch. "Well, Jlr. Kllis," she said at last, "I'm going to Child's Kill, upon business—a verv serious business—a matter of life, or "'death tp. me.. Will you., promise to express no surprise, at anything you may H-e or hear., and to regard it all as confidEiitiai? You may witness some things which mav "appear st.rnmre to.you. but t.hev will be all in my intei'ests. Therefore, if you decide to help me out pt my difficulty, you will remain, quite, silent. Ttemenilier, the 'affair concerns only you and me." , . . - Her manner was mysterious, and my curiosity" became She. was very "raeeful :',lKi charming, refined, educated, and wilh a natural timidity. One glove v.-a> olf. aud. upon her white fingers sparkled some splendid rings. - _ "If I ean be of any assistance 1 certaiulv will.' miss," I replied., ' " , "Then after you have left r.s.at The ' Hollies, go. and deliver this note personally," she said, producing a letter which I saw was 'addressed--to.. Jienry Hviic Ksq., 127 St. Peter's Square. Ham-mersmith.'-'.'"Don't go there, befors ten o'clock, however, as he may not-be in.' You will bring a reply to mc, < she added. "For tho prevent, that ..is ail. But, remembei',' tho- strictest silencc. I was puzzled as I remounted at ttio

A Tasi-Drivcr's Adventure.

steering-wheel nnd ran swiftly up the t Nnchley Road; past the three stations in 3 succession, through Fortune Green, and 1 up 011 to Child's Mill, where T soon found West Heath Road. "The Hollies", proved , to 'be-a large, old-fashioned Georgian ( house standing back in its own grounds ( close to 'Jtlio border of Hamjistead Heath, j and not' far'from tho .Leg "of Mutton Pond. Hidden from .the road by a high ( wall of - time-mellowed red brick, and j surrounded 'by .high elms now- black and j leafless, it was evidently the residence of j somo wealthy City man, for the grounds t within looked well kept, and in some of £ the' windows lights were burning cheerily, j When I pullet} up at the gateway Miss j TuUicK' and. the "child got out, and whispering, "Go, now, back ,to Hammer- £ smith,", she. rang the clanging bell. -- , "' I waited for a moment to see her summons ailswered, : ,but no one emerged, ana ( was compelled to turn tho cab and speed J away to do her bidding. , \ ■ I had lots of .time to waste-nearly three hours—so I pulled up at the Tottenhani ICoiirt' Rbaa .stand, and had .juy j Christmas ...dinner at tho' Horse Shoe. There 1 met another drivel', a friend ot mine,.Jack Bourne, and told him.of my prettv fare, and how I had taken ner to Child's' Hill,, and ,we , laughed together 1 over.our steak.and lager. • 1 "I wonder what's in the windr Bourne , reniarked. "Some' love affair, I expect. Perhaps i.eho's'; going to elope with/him, "We'shall see," I said. Why I at that f moment disregarded Miss Tulloch's strict . injunction as to secrecy I dont exactly _ know. But perhaps it was as well that ' ldid '~ - . . . ' - My taxi-meter was ticking away stead- 1 ily all that;,evening. " " - " 1 'Perhaps - you• know St. Poters square, 0' wide jscjiiarb of' old-fashioned houses ou. the left going from. Hammersmith fo•wnrds Cliidwicki When at last I ! knock- 1 ed at the door of the house indicated,; a < girl of about fifteen answered, aiid I in- ] quired hit Mr. :Hyde."- 'J. ■ "Yes," 1 replied the girl. "He lodges. ( here, but he ain't come home yet."' "Then.l'll wait," I said,"' andthen, ~ seated inside -lby cab, I.reinained there ahout. ; half-an-hour until a short, stout,. ( lniddle-nged man ■ cauio along, and after glancing, quickly .up and down, ascended . the steps; to the front door,'-and was ( about, to knock, "Mr. Hvdef'l.inqnired. ' ; .'"Yes," "he answered, turning to me 'quickly. "I. have a note here—froni Misa ;Tujloch. I was to deliver it to you per- ■: seriallyi" - ■ . \ He started, glancing at me for a sec- ' ond,. and taking the note, read it by the : "light of, my side-lamp.' • His hard face changed; '■ "What time did she give you this?" he ; "asked.. quickly; .1 traced a foreign ac-ceht-'in his voice.' •' fTAbout.half-past five," I. replicd. "Siio ; said I was.not' to call upon you till ten." " "Till ten !'! lie' echoed, ' in undisguised '' alarm. "Don't you..know; : man, that ten' will be too late"? Good heavens! Even' now it mav b& too. late. Drive me ; up to 'The Hollies' a* fast as ever you can. I never -dreamt of this." \ 'Mora.puzzled'.than ever, t re-started 'the engine, and once more set out for '- the' Finchley Road and Child's Hill. ■ On the way he questioned me closely several times. ; But I. told him nothing, for had not my graceful ..little friend urged me to remain silent? . . At; last, at about eleven o'clock,sFdrew. • [ up befoi;o the; house.. , The lights 111 all, the' 'were ' now . I Onlv: a single glimmer showed in' tho fan- ! light. . Mr. .Hydo tugged violently at the bell, j which clanged loudlr, but brought no |,response,. ' At this .ho seemed to grow doubly, alarmed. "She fold you not to come for mo until ten, ,eh'? r She told you that!" he cried, "because' sho tnew that I should he too late !" Then he ' added—"How did you know the lady's name?" . "She told mo." "Did you know her before this evening ?" Hyda inquired, his accent being- the more marked;,'.,' ... . . ~ . .".Yes.' And I have promised to be,her - friend,"' was 'my answer,, which caused hijn to contract his brows; What cpuld it all mean? Tho big house looked gloomy and mysterious, and the heavy iron gates were locked.■ The man .Hyde took a key from his pocket, and tried it upon tho gate. But it did not fit. ■ • ■ • , ' . • " Again he rang the bell,- and again there • was no .Response. "I'm going over," he said, starting to . climb the gate. "Just give me a help up, will you?" ■_ ■ I did so, nnd with surprising nimbleness he got over the high ornamental ironw;ork. It was curious that, with a large house so' well kept, that no servants were about. The road was a quiet one, with but few houses. Therefore we were quite unobserved. ■ As Hyde hurried up the gravelled path I saw the front door slightly open, while behind it stood a nrnn, who beckoned him within, unci next moment the door was closcd again. Why had not the gate been opened? Wlierc was Miss Tulloch? I stood t peeriflg through the gates in wonder. • . "I suppose I must have remained there fully ten minutes, v;hen Hyde suddenly. Dpeiied the door, and coming down to,the gate, unlocked it, saying— "Excuse..this, strange '.conduct of. my friend,', bpt'.ho. apparently .did not recog- ' •"nise inei . Cdiim inside ,iuid have'a. drink." ' Thanking'him',' and more out. of curiosity than anything else, I. followed:, him 'into tlie" wide,' well-carpeted hall from off which run several rooms. One which wa-i well 'lit— though the light did not shino through the heavy , red plush cur'taiiis —was tlie .dining-room, where .noon the'bble were the remains of the dessert, with wine .decantcrS—-the Christmas ■ dinner. ' Hei'e 'also stood a tall, thin man with grey hair, pointed chin, and a pair of dark beady eyes. "Good ev'fiiinj;,' he said, in very, fair Tln'lish, and' he poured me out some whiskv-and-soda. "I want, you to do something for me, if vou vtill. I want • vou to allow, me to drive my friend .111 Vour taxi-eab down to Holland Park il6i»d, and if you do so 111—well,, 111 *ivi vou twenty pounds—elf?' ' •. \ - Tluokcd at the man, speechless^in amazement. , ' V "Oh! Don't think that theres ally, thing wrong," ho laughed. , "Wo merely wiihl: to .play a practical ]oke: upon a friend, that's nil. I drive my,own car, so I can manage quite well.'--Your over-i ctfat woiiltl'' lit me".Hell' across; the Shout-! : -I®rßul,".-I- said; hesitatingly;-"! might get into serious trouble!" "Twentv pounds wjll suTely. repay.you . 1 Here it is." and ho took four five pound notes from his pocket, and placed them ilpoa the tablecloth: ' ~' :v "11 brought two young ladies up here 1 from Trafalgar Square early.this even- ' iiiK." I said. "Where are they.* "Miss Tulloch is in the room through yonder. That door over there. You can ■ go in and keen her comnany while we're ' gone," Hvde said. "You promised you ' would assist her, didn't you? You've be- " come n friend of hcrs-eh?" And the men exchanged glances. 1 "Yes." I replied. Then,, recollecting ' her injunction of silence, T realised that ' this (.'inious reouest on the part of. her ' friends was one' of the mysterious events which >he had said I might witness. 1 The' biff marble clock on the mantel shelf chimed half-past eleven. ' ' "Come," Hyde said, "there's no time to ' l osc . He'll be in bed beforo we get there > if we're not sharp." . , , , 3 "Yes. Let me help you on with your 3 coat," said tho man who was evidently owner of the house. And, almost against ■ my will, he divested me of overooat and cai) and assumed them himself. e . "We 'shan't be long. Help yourself to - another drink if you want it," Hydo r snid cheerilv. "and go into tho drawing: y room and find Miss Tulloch. She _saijl - she wished to see you when you arrived. 111 You'll find the hours pas pleasantly 1. 1 enough—no doubt.." I. And both men smiled. T grinned, too, :, for it seamed so unusual for a lady to beoomc Iso suddenly the fricud of a mare a taxi-driver.

But 1 wished thorn both ft merry' Christmas, anil an escape from ihc jK»lic<s ami walked wilh I hem to tlio gate, whero Ihc hill man started Ihe en;;ino, mounted to the wheol, and drove down the roml with a. skill quito professional. Then I returned to the houj?e, closed the door, ami going into the drawing-room again , had a look round. It was a line handsome ! apartment, lum?? with choice paintings and with a quantity of old silver on the carved oak buffet/ J had had many queer adventures since I had driven a taxi, but none quite so extraordinary as this. Thus I was left alone in the house with the very pretty young lndv who had ; sought ine out as her friend. I much j wished to speak to her, yet hesitated to push myself into that room. It was surely | her place to come forth and invite me. So for stome time—how long I can scarcely tell—l sat besido the fire, and taking a cigarctto smoked and waited. I could hoar no sound. The whole house was still and silent as the gravy. A dozen times I glanced ,at the door which Hydo had indicated, nnd had coughod in order to attract the. attention of the occupant of the room beyond, but in vain. I rose and crossed the ball, entered, the comfortable morning-room •. where., -the. Christmas log was burning, and npon the tablo lay the little lady's . Christmas stocking. Why bad it been abandoned? A second room I opened—a library it seemed —was in darkness, and I could not find the electric switch. So again I returned to the dining-room. 'My jositiou was, to say the t least, curious. Assuredly I was spending a very unusual Christmas night! 1 smoked fully half a dozen cigarettes as, seated in a big armchair before the fire, I awaited the return of the practical jokers. Suddenly the telephono bell on the opposite side of the room caused mc to jump, and 1 rose and went lo the instrument. , , "Hello!" exclaimed a voico when- 1 answered. "Paris wants you. Hold on,: please." I "held on," and a few momouts later I heard a voico exclaim in broken English— "Listen, ltaoul! ' The worst has happened. AVe've boon given away by the girl! Hamard, of the Surcte, left the Garo du Nord to-night for London. Jell I'otin, and meet us as quickly as possible at the old spot in Brussels." I held my breath. , , "Who are you?" I fortunately asked. "Jules/* was tho reply, and the speaker uttered some rapid words in Irench, which I did not, understand. "Who are your" he repeated. Are you Itaoul Duchanelhe asked. I held mv tongue. That warning from across tho Channel was certainly curious Was I being tricked? If so, for what reason? , . ■ , , ~ I stood still v'oadenng what I should do. + • ■ With sudden resolve I made .. up. niv mind to find Miss Tulloch and inquire of her. With that object I rapped, at tho door opposite. There was no response.. Twice again I knocked. Then I opened tlie door, finding, to my surprise, a short dark passage. I listened. Ml I hoar was the loud 'solemn .ticking ox an old-fashioned clock. • I walked down the passage to explore, and opened the door, at the end of which I found a small square chamber, with stone floor, lit by a faint glimmering gasjet. A bench ran along the side, and there were tools there. I took a single step forward to examine them, when I secjried to suddenly tread into space. I felt, myself falling, and put out my hands frantically. They touched a damp, slimy wall. Yet down, ■down I went into the interminable depth of a dark abyss until my breath left my bodv, and with it my consciousness. The horror of these seconds, when I felt myself sinking into space, will assuredly never leave my memory. .

" I must have remained unconscious for many hours, nay days: '- - ' . I recollect the faces of a doctor and a nurse bending over me as I opened my eves to realise slowly that I was in bed in a hospital ward. I inquired where I was, and what had happened, but thoy refused to tell me for>a whole long day: I suppose my brain was a bit wrong. Then, at last, when I saw my friend 'the dHver, Jack Bourne, sitting beside me with two other men whom I did not know, I again demanded, an explanation. "Keep cool, old man," replied my friend. "You've had as narrow an escape as any man ever had in his life. These gentlemen here are detectives from Scotland Yard, and they are anxious to hear your story." . "Detectives!" I echoed, staring up at them. "Has my cab come back?" ■ "Just tell us oxactly what occurred, will you, Ellis?" asked the elder of the - men,' disregardingmy question, and producing a notebook. Thus invited, I related my. adventure, as I have recounted it in these pages. "Well,'you fell into their fiendish trap just as the poor girl awl her sister did,' explained the detective. "You didn't bring back your cab," Bourne said. "So next day -I reported What you had told me to the manager.The police subsequently went to the 'Hollies,' and one constable very nearly fell •down the old well-on top of you. They used the well as a trap' for any who tried to spy upon their illicit operations. It's nearly two hundred feet deep, and is in the back kitchen, which they had turned into a workshop." "And did Jfi'-s Ttilloch also fall into it? I asked horrified. v "Both were thrown down there and killed—without a doubt. They knew that the young lady was abont to give information against them on account of the manner in which they had treated her lover, Mr. Hyde." "Hyde," I cried. ""Why, that was the man who went away in my cab." ".The man you accosted as he was going to knock at the door in St. Peter's Square was not Hyde at all," ' said the detectivc. "He was Eaoul Duchahel, the notorious bank-note forger, for whoni-the Trench police have been searching for the past three years. His speciality is -the making of hundred-franc French noles. of which he and his friends havo put thousands into circulation; Duclia; ne). who had, no doubt, flung the girl and lier sister down the well, was about to call upon Hyde, whom it seems lie had got into his' clutches, and was using as his tool for putting the notes in circulation—wlieu you addressed him as Hyde, and gave him the dead girl's letter. He returned at or.ee to the 'Hollies' in your cab, and from what you told him he. suspected that she bad taken you into her confidence, and had revealed to you what was transpiring. Therefore he "and his unscrupulous assistant, Pierre Potin, while inducing you to. lend them, your taxi-cab. in which to escape, away, into the countrv, also left you 111 the house, well-knowing that when you began to explore the place you would fall into the death-trap, and thus share tho same fate as the unfortunate, girl and the child The real Hvde has made a statement at 'the Yard' which corroborates our theory. There is a warrant out for Ducliancl and Potin for murder, and now that you have told us of tho telephone messago we shall ftatch for their reappearance in Brussels, where the gang, uo doubt, have their headquarter?. "But why-did Miss Tu 1 loch go there alone—into that house:" "To beg of then!'to release her loyor 'froiu a terrible bondage," the detective, said. "Ho was cashier in a foreign bank in tho citv, and having once induced him to break the law, thoy put. -pressuro upon, him, compelling him to substitute, false notes and hand them genumo ones m exchange, declaring that if he retused they would inform the police. - The poor girl knew this, and went there on Christmas ni"ht, taking with hor her little sister as°protection, to beg hor lover's release. "And they tried to put me out of tho way because thoy believed slio had told mo who, and what they were! ' I exclaimed utterly amazed. "Yes," replied Bourne. When you ro well enough I'll take you up to seo tho place. It's a wonder yuu didn't break your neck!" On New Year s Day I stood at the dark opening of tho well, and looking down, shuddered. Around was all the paraphernalia of the expert forgor and his friends. Thou"h tlip Coroner's jury at tho inquest upon the pooT girl and little Gertie returned the verdict of "wilful murder against tho two Frenchmen, the police ] la ve not yet been successful in capturing them. * When thev do, f shall, T suppose, be compelled to relate at the Old Bailey my curious Yule-tide adventure, and explain that among other curious things, thirty spurious hundred-franc notes wei-c found in the little lady's Christinas stockingrotes which I-jlsie Tulloch had recovered from her lover, and was returning to i the ingenious foreigners who had fabricatedthan.