THE LOST WOR

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 254, 3 November 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LOST WOR

By LAWRENCE STOUT

Chapter H.—WHO KILLED TOGO?

The story so far : Dick Thorne, a 15-year-old boy at Paikapakapa School, is selected by a relieving teacher to return a book which she has read to the class to an- uncle of hers, who lives in the . neighbouring township. The uncle is a retired trader, whose house, an old vicarage, is a museum of trophies. The book was the story of a man who found a “ Lost World.” That man, the trader told Dick, was none other than himself, Albert Richards. Dick was greatly impressed by Captain Richards, who had led a life of adventure in strange places, and Mr. Richard’s young niece, Evie, whom he met at the same time, also interested Dick. It seemed that Mr. Richards had some interest in Dick, for he had asked him to call as soon as his holidays began. Intrigued also by hints thrown out by Evie, Dick lost no time in complying with the Captain’s request to call again. Read on from there:

D” - ‘-TICK THORNE mounted his old ramshackle bicycle and pedalled along the dusty loose metal road that ran from the McCullough farm down to the township, some five miles away. He whistled as he rode, and every little while would drive his powerful thighs down to send the machine racing ahead —just to show how pleased he was with life.

The old vicarage, where he had met the mysterious Captain Richards, was hidden from sight at the end of a blind road. Few visitors ever came that way, for the blind road ended in a disused quarry. As he approached the last turn that would reveal the dense foliage of pear and mulberry trees, which completely hid the house, Dick had to swerve violently to avoid a large touring car, which had raced out of the vicarage gates. There were four men in the car. As they flashed past Dick caught a fleeting glimpse of their faces. Fleeting as the glimpse was he did not fail to note the common expression on their faces —anger. There was no mistaking it—the savage fury of men whose passions had been aroused. Who were they he wondered, and what had angered them V

A few turns of the pedals brought him to the vicarage gate, which was open. Cautiously, remembering his previous experience with Togo, the Siberian wolf, Dick wheeled his machine to the door, and here he got his first surprise. The front door, as before, was open, revealing a dim passage, beyond which fruit trees were again vjsibly. There were dusty footprints in the hall leading to the hack room, into which Mr. Richards had led him on his last visit. Togo lay in the doorway, his head pointing down the passage. At Dick’s approach he made no move. Dickknocked on the door and called. “ Mr. Richards, Mr. Richards,” but there was no answer. From the prostrate form of Togo a large blow-fly rose and buzzed noisily round The head. That was unusual. Dick- looked more closely at the dog, and saw now that the attitude was not a natural one. Then he noticed a dark stain on the linoleum covering, and putting forward his hand felt it warm and sticky. He touched Togo, but the dog made no move—the leg Dick lifted was limp. Togo was dead—slain by a blow on the head with a sharp instrument.

“ Mr. Richards,” cried Dick, now thoroughly alarmed, “ Mr. Richards,” but the only sound was the buzzing of the flies he disturbed on the dead dog. The dark passage, with the room full of trophies beyond, looked forbidding. A chill of fear ran down his spine as Dick listened in vain for an answer. Summoning his courage, the boy at last stepped over the faithful Togo and made his way down the passage. At the old kitchen door he hesitated, fearful of what he might find within. The walls hung with strange heads, jaws,and weapons, were in themselves awesome—but what would he find within.' “ .fefr« Richards,’!, called Dick again, out there was no reply. Seizing the /handle boldly, Dick flung open 'the door and rushed in. The buffalo, tiger, and boar’s heads seemed to leap out of the shadows towards him. The room was in disorder. Books had been pulled from the shelves anjd thrown on the floor. Ornaments had been upset, and several hooks on the wall where weapons had been bung* were now ominously

hare. Bare ? No, for Dick’s eyes growing accustomed to the gloom had seen something else on the wall- —the handle of a knife, which had buried its blade in the wall.

Beyond the table his search was ended. Lying on his face, with one arm outstretched, was the massiye body of Captain Richards. For a moment Dick was too horrified to move. As long as he could remember there had been no deed of. violence in Paikapakapa. The stirring days of the pioneers seemed far removed from the quiet security of their time. Murders of which he had read were often thrilling, but the sight of a dead body, the disordered room, the slain dog, overwhelmed Dick with a feeling of revulsion. But perhaps the Captain was not dead after all. Dick nerved himself to touch the prostrate form. The outstretched hand was warm. With an effort Dick turned the body over. Richards had evidently been struck on the side of the head. Blood covered his face and neck. In trying to feel his heart, Dick’s hand brushed against the blood-stained shirt. It was difficult to tell whether the heart beat or not. At times Dick thought so, but then the blood was tingling in his fingers, so he could not be sure it was the prostrate man’s pulse he felt.

If Richards was alive there was no time to lose. Like a man in a dream Dick found himself pedalling furiously towards the township. There were people all round him, cars, and lorries, but he was not conscious of them. His whole mind was filled with one purpose—to reach Dr. Jamieson as quickly as possible. At the sight of the doctor’s car outside his house Dick spurred his senseless limbs to a final spurt. By a lucky chance the doctor had been looking out of the window at the time, and had seen the boy’s arrival. Mechanically he had seized his bag, and as Dick fell off his bike the young doctor stood by him.

“ It’s Mr, Richards* of the old vicarage,” gasped Dick. “ He has been hit on the head—l think lie’s still alive, but please, doctor, come quick.” “Hop in,” replied Dr. Jamieson, with his foot on the selfstarter. In a few minutes’ time they were back in the dim trophy room. “ He’s still alive,” said the doctor, looking up from the prostrate form. He’s had a severe blow—the skull may be fractured. . . some water quick—warm water if there is any.”

Dick’s next errand was to fetch the local constable. Constable Brierly was a fat man, and as the day was warm was already perspiring freely. “ ’Old on, my lad, ’old on,” he protested as Dick began to leave him behind. “If ’e’s dead ’urrying can’t do no good, and if ’e haint, then the doctor can look after him quite well without us.” “If you please,, sir, can I run on ahead, then,” pleaded Dick. “You stay ’ere with me,” replied the representative of the law severely, and taking out a big handkerchief began to mop his face. .

After many pauses they came at last to the' old vicarage, and stepped over the dead Togo into the dark passage. In Dick’s absence the doctor had cleaned the" wound and raised Richards’ head on a cushion.

“ A nasty blow, constable,” he said curtly. “ Seems to have been hit over the head from behind. I don’t think the skull is fractured. He seems a very powerful fellow ... he may survive.”

“ Regular strong man, sir,” agreed the constable. “ I wouldnot like a blow from one of them arms. Have you seen ’is ’ands, sir. Like a blinking gorilla’s. The policeman’s eye was taking in the scene of disorder. In one hand he held his little notebook. Namcf Albert Re Quarry Road,-Pai~ retired.” After noting the time and date, the worthy constable came to his next point. “Who did it?” he demanded, looking suspiciously at Dick. “ I don’t—” began the boy, when he was silenced by the indignant officer, with “I didn’t ask you.”

“ Young Thorne called me,” said the doctor. There was no

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one about when the boy said he s away as he came “ No idea as wh sued the law, lick a pencil. “ None whatevi doctor. He was blow with a blunt “ With a blunt the constable, wh sure of his spellin “ I-n-s-t-r-u-m----teered Dick. “ Now then,” keeper of the 1 “ Eli want a state What do you kno “But, sir,” saic “ I told you all were Walking her “ Wot you saic doesn’t count. It in this ’ere boc What’s your nam “ But constable name. You’ve 1 years.” “I said, Wot’ repeated the 1< determined to m; his opportunity, tempted murder every day occui kapakapa. At t doctor interrupte help in moving t bed. “ His relation? told,” said Dr. J you know who tl “ He has none plied Constable father used to 1 this was his horn many years a£ back here—about it was—to retire. “ If you please addressing the d< niece, who is a School, and anoi Evie.”

“ Evie,” “ Evie who?” “ I don’t ki Dick, blushing. This was not since their meet regretted his ne discovering Evie her address. He had seen her bef< was not 'a pupil Since their first kept a look out few occasions he township, but ha again. With patience his story to the -Dr. Jamieson nu for his departure to bring soineoi injured man in 1 his condition w i to risk moving 1 It was a rath' wildered boy wl lessly home th were the buo} "’energy that had over hill and d; joy of a beauti The day was ji but it might ha for all Dick car ous hand of fate of the blue to genial Captain, in* a whirl of surprise, the su calamity had sh grisly sight of 1 then the bloodrevolted him. questions fillet Who were the had seen driving age that morn ' they struck do from behind, as Why had the] trophy room? sought ? How come to be e wall? From tl turned to Evie. and would she Campbell, he h: left that morn] days, but the d< to her, so perh? turn.. Perhaps throw some Ij. mysteries. f Shocked and way in which happenings of 1 involved him ii Captain, and pe: would have be< tressed if he c< how this chain lead him intt adventures thal (To be