SERIAL STORY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 2

SERIAL STORY.

LOVmS THREE

(By Arthur Applin.)

(Author of "Robert Ailes' Wife,"

''The Stolen

Heiress," "The

Chorus Girl." etc.)

[all eights, reserved.]

CHAPTER VII. (Continued.) "No," Gate continued, almost as if unconsciously speaking his thoughts aloud, "it wasn't sentiment which made me take Mr Sin home with me last night and leave him, as 1 thought, safe and sound in my house." "You see, this Mr Aaron Ichbert disappeared into the wood outside your cottage with jour diamond pendant. You were the last person to see him alive. It's pretty obvious that he never came out of the wood. As far as I can discover no one else was in it, or entered it—only this madman, Sin. If anyone knows what happened to Ichbert, Sin must know. Miss Oarlyle, it's possible I've bungled. I ought never to have let Sin out of my sight. If we don't find him at Pinner " Phyllis caught her breath. "If we don't find him at Pinner! You don't imagine that he robbed, perhaps killed " Gate stopped her with a gesture. "I never imagine anything. Imagination is the greatest criminal unhung. I only say 'if.' If Sin has run away it means that he -is one of the pieces in the jig-saw puzzle which you have given me. It will simplify things in a way, because if we find him it won't be difficult to discover the exact corner into which he fits. Then it wijl be easy to fill up the other- blank spaces until we come to—Aaron Ichbert." Miss Oaj-lyle gave \a little laugh. "It really sounds rather fascinating— from, your point of view. But from mine——" Sl>» shuddered. Again she laid her hand'on his arm, and he drew back. He wished she would not. And then he felt angry and ashamed of himself. As if it mattered ! "Do you know, I positively hate Lord Richard now! When he motored up to town today I felt I wanted to shriek aloud whenever he touched me. I can't marry him ! You must save me, Mr Gate, and you must do so at once." "No man can force a woman to marry him against her will." Phyllis turned quicky, and looked straight into his eyes. "Fancy you saying that! That's just the whole trouble in; life. A woman is always forced to marry against her will. And IVe told j'ou I owe him everything. I'm in debt—up to my eyes in debt! It isn't as if I only owed him money.. 1 took that, thinking I could pay it back. I can repay him and nearly everyone else and start my work again when the diamond pendant is found. But it must be? found at once! Do you understand? At once!" Gate's face remained impassive. The clear-out, thin-lipped mouth closed a little more tightly, perhaps, that was all.. Suddenly the car slowed down. A man was standing in the middle of the road waving his arms. Gate leaned forward, and an exclamation left his lips. "It's Mr Sin," he said slowly.- "I think I recognise my clothes!" He signalled to the chauffeur and the car stopped. , Sin was breathless, but he took off his hat to Miss Carlyle with almost exaggerated politeness, while he gave Gate the curtost of nods. Clambering into the oar, he whispered in the latter s ears: "Tell the chauffeur to drive slowly." i | But Gate was in no mkx>d to receive orders, and especially from Sin. /'Get on," he growled to the chauffeur, and the engines hummed again. > Then he turned to Sin and looked him up and do&n. His thin lips tightened and his' eyes became flint-like. "What does this torn-1 foolery mean? Quick, answer me." Sin was looking into Phyllis's eyes, and she was smiling at him. Thevexpression. on his face was serious; for ! once his curious, heavily-fringed eyes I were wide open. His attitude and1 bearing irrigated Peter Gate. ,r-" Ha£ tM^l fallen in.love, with Miss Carlyfe?" he asked himself] savagely. It looked like il>-and there ! was something humorous in the theft. ! of Gate's suit of clothes, the butler's half-sovereign, and his sudden attempt | to be smart and clean. Sin was gaz- i ing at Miss Carlyle now as if he would read her soul—as if the world held -: only himself, and her. j Peter Gate lost control of his ! patience. He seized Sin by the arm ! "Why don't you speak? Have you : been drinking again, or what?" Sm turned his head and smiled at Gate without the least show of irritation. "Only one .little bottle of red ' wine—just to start me dreaming?" he replied. Peter Gate snorted. "Confound your dreams?" ■ ; "They come true sometimes." ! mP Jl\ Sm g^nced at Miss Carlyle. : 1 hen he leaned towards them both, and the expression on his face became serious. His eyes narrowed, the lips half closed. . "A gentleman from Scotland Yard is ■waiting at the cottage with MiHertford." Phyllis started, but instantly recovered hersolf. "How do you know this?" Gate rapped out, Sin explained. "I tried to give Hertford the tip—not to chatter I mean. Miss Carlyle's old servant told mo her mistress had motored' to town, but that she expected her back any moment, so I slipped away and sprint- , ed .along the road on the chance of meeting her. Didn't know I should £r. you ' Gate- Lucky I did." rhe detective was silent for a while. | ilis face was a mask. Presently ho ; |«»ied forward and said something to the chauffeur. Speed was reduced until the car was crawling along at a <w? n nnlm ajl llollr- <^ + V ,v the- man' s name—from Scotland Yard, I mean?" "Didn't ask. Obvious enough that lie was detective-inspector somebody. His hands and his face would have gr?> 6li r, aWfty» if ]"s boots hadn't " Peter Gate turned to Phyllis. "You haven't " She shrugged her the last thing I wanted. Perhaps he i b2fc'° my Jewel-or Aaron Ichothl f'' le'Su° UI1(1r c llfi's follnd tho 1 TJ3 ilt Spolv '° to the chauffeur '■ tIE Z thi° car stoppod. He opened the door and nodded to Sin. '"Get out You had better go back to the i station and wait there for me" * the cottage," S m said, slowly. Do as I tell you," Gate replied. 4 He spoke m a voice which brooked i no clomal. Win di7.»~,w.,i r .j. -» _..i

Hnto the road. "I shall he at hand if ! I'm wanted." ho said, looking at S Phyllis. She gave him a fleeting smile, but he saw that her beautiful face wore a worried expression. The car slid round, the bend of the road and left Sin standing still with folded arms and half-closed eyes. A few minutes later Gate and Miss Carlyle were walking up the garden path to her cottage. A servant met them at the front door, and told Phj'llis that Mr Hertford and! another gentleman were waiting in the drawingroom. "I'll see this fellow alone," Gate said. "I shall probably find that I know him." "What do you think his visit means?" Phyllis whispered. Gate shook his head. "It probably means that Scotland Yard has discovered Aaron Ichbert's disappearance. It may have discovered that he was last seen here, so a detective-in-spector has been sent down for information." ,He hesitated a moment at the foot of the staircase, and stood facing Phyllis. "There^s no little detail that you've forgotten to tell me, is there?" "I've told you everything, Mr Gate," she replied, and walked up stairs to her room. He watched her out of sight; his : face was still absolutely expressionless. No one could have read the thoughts which flitted through his brain, or the emotions, if any, which stirred his heart. He waited until the frou-frou of her skirts was silenced and the door closed. A faint illusive perfume still hovered in the air. Gate took a handkerchief from his pocket, waved it to and fro, then blew his nose. He. opened the -drawing-room door, and entered noiselessly. The detective from Scotland Yard was standing by the fireplacei Hertford was seated with his back to the window, his face in shadow. "Good afternoon, Bulmer," Gat© said, cheerfully. The detective started, then, advancing, held out his hand. "Glad to meet you, Mr Gate; very glad to meet you." Both men turned and looked at Hertford. '-'Do you mind leaving us for a little while? We have some business to discuss," Gate said. Hertford rose unwillingly and walked towards the door. "Miss Carlyle has returned?" he asked. Gate nodded. "Yes, she's changing. She'll be down directly." Bulmer and Peter Gate stood facing one another for a little while after Hertford had disappeared. Then the former crossed the room, and, opening the door, looked into the hall. "He doesn't look like a young man who would play eavesdropper," Gate said, laconically. "I think he does," Bulmer replied, stolidly. He was a thick-set, power-fully-built __ man, with a dogged, obstinate face, light blue eyes—not particularly intelligent, but absolutely i fearless. He rather represented the bravo, blundering type of Englishman which, unfortunately, is disappearing. "How did you know I was here?" he asked Gate. "Miss Carlyle has a servant." "Humph.! I suppose we're on the some job again?" Peter Gate stared at his neatlymanicured fingers. "What are you looking for, Bulmer?" Before Bulmer could reply Gate swung round suddenly, walked to the window, and stared into the garden, his fingers drumming on. the glass. j _ "Nothing to bo gained by fencing. ' You ye always worked with us and for ; us, Mr Gate. I suppose Miss Carlyle's ! your client; I suppose, too, you know • that & certain party, Aaron Ichbert jto wit, commission agent, of Soho, has been missing for' some weeks." As he spoke Bulmer joined Gate, at the window; the latter turned away j and walked to the other end of the ' room. ■ "Look here. Scotland Yard knows I never take up a shady case," Gate said, quietly. "Money doesn't tempt I me, now. I have a weakness for solving mysteries which baffle other people." . Bulmer nodded. "Of course. But Scotland Yard's in your debt, Mr | Gate. I was surprised when I saw you ! enter the room, and glad " j "Surprised ?' } j Bulmer folded his hands behind hia t back, and, going to the centre of the room, sat down. "I'll be frank, and ; tell you exactly our position. You'll be equally frank with me, eh?" j"I have my client's interest as well ias my own to consider. I've been e-n- ---! gaged by Miss Carlyle to solve a ocr- : tain little mystery, and if in doing so ■ I stumble across a crime I shall do all |in my power to help Scotland Yard to j hunt down the criminal." J Bulmer nodded. He ran his finger* : through his coarse, crisp hair. "On September the fourth Aaron Ichbert left his rooms in Soho, took a thirdclass ticket from Baker Street to Pinner. He was seen walking along the road in the direction of Muss Carlyle's cottage. On the evening of the fourth, half an hour after the train iMr Ichbert had travelled by had reached Pinner, a man answering to his description rang Miss Carlyle's front door bell and was shown into the drawing-room. At what hour he left die cottage I don't know; I don't thmk he ever left it at all. He hasn't been seen since." He spoke automatically, like a phonograph giving off a record, and stopped just as abruptly. Gate was staring at him with cold, steel-grey eyes. ;'Well?" "That's all at present. ' I see that you ye got the story as far as that." Peter Gate nodded. "As far as that. I thmk, Bulmer, you can go a little further." ''Can you?" "I can," Gate replied, after a moment's hesitation. "'And in the interests of my client I will. Ichbert left the house, and he left it richer than he entered it." Again Bulmer ran his fingers through his hair. "That's very interesting. Perhaps you know that ho was worth robbing when he arrived ! But before I say any more I i ,A ougllt to soe Miss Carlvle herself." "I know as much as she does, and perhaps a trifle more." Bulmer gave a knowing smile, and m?r f?T , y^'^y uneasy. Was Ihylhs Carlylo fooling him after all? PHYLLIS IS QUESTIONED. "See Miss Carlyle, by all means," (xate said to Bulmer. "I don't want to stand m the way of any inquiries you may think fit to make. You'll find Miss Carlyle as keen or keener than Scotland Yard to get at the bottom of the mystery. Of course, I've got her interests to consider, but in a sons© they seem identical with yours. Bulmer shook his head slowly "In that case I should have thought .fiho would have ,<mr>lWl ■afrnio-ti*- +~ .n,~ -

C.I.D. at Scotland Yard. You have admitted so frankly that she's deeply interested in. Ichbert's disappearance, that suspicion' against her almost evaporates. Is there any objection to your telling me why she's interested?"

Peter Gate shrugged, and moved towards the boll. "She can tell you herself."

"One moment," Bulmer said quickly. "It's only fair to warn you that in spite of what's passed between us it may bo necessary to search the house."

Peter Gate turned like a flash. His face was still impassive, only the eyes gleamed very brightly. "Search —this house? You've a warrant, Bulmer, to search Miss Carlyle's house!"

Ho gave a sharp laugh as Buimer nodded. "Well, I never had much respect for Scotland Yard's intelligence. I've been engaged in this case ever since Ichbert disappeared; if there had been any reason for me to suspect Miss Carlyle, well, I should have dropped it—you know that."

Bulmer nodded. "We're all liable to make mistakes, though," he said, stolidly. "You caught us tripping once; perhaps my turn's coming now to catch you. It's all in the day's work."

Peter Gate stood close to the fireplace, his hand on the bell. He. allowed the suspicion of a grim smile to loosen and tightly set his lips. "What are .tou going to search for, eh, Bulmer? Bo you think Miss Carlyle took a fancy to Ichbert and kidnapped him, or do you expect to find his dead body outside in the garden? I've a friend who used to bo rather good at thought reading—you know, someone hides a thimble or a five-pound note, another man's brought into the room blindfolded, and, holding the medium's hand, hunts for it."

Bulmer moved uncomfortably iii liis chair, and then rose ponderously to his feet. "Perhaps you'll ring for Miss Carlyle." ' Peter Gate pushed the bell. "I should like to see that young gentleman again before I go. Mr Hertford's his name, I think." j As soon as Gate had rung the bell he crossed the room and opened the door. He was just in time to see the figure of a man disappearing through the hall. And it was not Robert Hertford. He said nothing. Almost at the same moment Phyllis herself appeared from the dining-room. "Do you. want me?" she asked. Gate nodded. "Detective-Inspector Bulmer, from Scotland Yard/ he j said, introducing the detective. "The \ Criminal Investigation Department, 'having discovered Aaron Ichbert's disappearance, is prosecuting inquiries. Mr Bulmer knows I'm emI ployed by you for the same reason, jbut, of course, with a different objject. I haven't told him why we're ■5° anxious to find the missing man. [1 11 leave you to do that yourself. Of I course, you'll give him every possible 1 nel? ,y?u can- We're old opponents ? and friends."

j "Won't you stay?" Phyllis said, anxiously, as Gate retreated. . 'T ll !keep Mr Hertford company in the dming-room. Send for me if you want me."

(To % Continued.)