The Gold Magnet

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 16, 9 April 1927, Page 16

The Gold Magnet

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T.C. Bridge,

) Author of " The Whip Hand/* Price of Liberty/* " The Home Her Father*/* &c., &c.

SYNOPSIS OB’ PREVIOUS CHAPTERS CHAPTERS I. to in.— a reroeious face. Pi cased against che window of a train, frightens a mysterious passenger, Stuart Esertun, who is interested in Malayan tin mines, and just afterwards, the train is wrecked. Bruce Carey gets Egerton out of the wreck, but the man is dying He gets Bruce to promise that he will deliver a bag, which contains an invention, to his daughter, Silvia, who holds the key. A pitiless enemy, James Lurgau, who has ruined Bruce's half-brother, also wants tiie invention. Bruce finds an American friend. Randolph Colt. The motor in which they are travelling to Silvia's cottage is held up by armed men CHAPTERS 111. to V.—Having no alternative, Bruce hands over the bag containing the invention. After the inter ruption the two men reach Silvia’s home “When Bruce tells her of the robbery of the invention entrusted to him she says it is useless without the directions, which are in her possession. He vows to recover it from Lurgan. Bruce's halfbrother, Claude Bryston, goes to a gambling house near Hyde Park, and Bruce follows. After some sharp practice on the part of a man Crane and an accomplice Stroud, there are heated words and a fight. CHAPTERS VI. to VS II —A rough-and-tumble ot four men against two Claude wakes up suddenly and comes to the rescue of his brother's friend. The final victory is with Carey and Colt Bruce tells his brother about Egerton and Lurgan, and adds that Claude is to keep out of it. The next day Bruce travels down to Mortimer, where Silvia dwells, to attend Egerton’s funeral Afterwards he goes to Deeping Cottage He expresses his anxiety about Silvia's future, and she assures him that she has an independency. inherited from her mother. Bruce gives her Colt's idea as to ■what Lurgan is likely to do, then takes leave as he intends walking back to Reading. On the way Lurgan steps out of a wood and joins him He proposes a half share In the new Cold RecoverySyndicate. Bruce tells him that he would sooner go into partnership with the tleviL CH.VPTERS IX. to XIII.—A strategic step iS made by Claude, who cultivates the friendship of Duggan, one of Lurgan’e henchmen, and finds out where Lurgan lives. A raid on the villain's house is contemplated. At Silvia's invitation, Bruce goes to Reading to look through her father’s papers and he makes the discovery that his one desire is to "take her in his arms and never leave her.” Then he sets out to make the raid on Lurgaii’s place, single-handed; and in the dusk arrives at Friar’s Bank. The old mansion is forbidding, but ESruce forces iron bars apart and gets Egerton’s bag from the strong room. The burglary is discovered and Bruce is pursued and shot at. He trips on an obstacle and becomes unconscious. CHAPTERS XIV. to XVII.: Bruce wakes up to find himself trapped; they have been waiting for his attempt to rob the house. Lurgan renews his offer of a partnership and Bruce refuses until he is threatened with imprisonment not

only for burglary but for manslaughter, our hero having knocked down and killed a man who tried to stop him from escaping. Subjected to strong temptation. Bruce almost gives in and accepts me partnercan do his worst, and the villain immediship. But finally he tells Lurgan that he ately starts to do it. Meanwhile Claude Bryson calls in a lawyer friend of his. Newspapers broadcast the “robbery and murder” and the friends of Bruce, the lawyer Hammond, Colt and Bryson, are conferring on how they can get him out of the mess. CHAPTER XVIII.: The day of the inquest on the man who was killed by Bruce arrives. The friends of Bruce are pinning ther faith to the testimony of Silvia. At the last moment a report comes in that her car has met with an accident. Lurgan and others give evidence and the jury, without retiring, brings in a verdict of murder. The foreman looked a little startled. “We wouldn't go that far, sir. We’d rather say it was manslaughter.” The Coroner shook his head. "That is a verdict which you cannot give in a case of this kind. The evidence proves beyond a shadow of doubt that the prisoner was on the premises by night for the purpose of committing a felony. According to English law a man who, under such circumstances, kills another, must take the full consequences .of his act.” The foreman hesitated, and again whispered to him companions. Except for this whispering the crowded room was silent as a grave. At last, the foreman turned again to the coroner. "You knows best, sir. We stick to it as Mr. Denyer was killed by the prisoner, and if so be it’s murder, why, then, that’s how it stands.” "That is the verdict which must be registered,” replied the coroner. “Now all that remains for me to do is to thank you gentlemen for your services and to make out a warrant for the arrest and detention of the prisoner.” CHAPTER XIX.—A CALLER AT THE COTTAGE. "Say, can’t we get Bruce out on bail?” asked Randolph of Mark. Mark shook his head. "No, that is out of the question in a case of this kind, but don’t worry, Colt. A prisoner awaiting trial suffers no particular hardships. He can have his food sent in from outside, get books and newspapers, and see his friends. Also ” he stopped abruptly. "Here’s Claude,” he said. Claude pushed his way through the crowd that was moving towards the door. He was hot and rather breathless. "She’s all right.” were his first words as he reached the others. "But, by jove, it was a narrow squeak, a lorry banged right into her car and knocked one front wheel all to blazes. It was jolly lucky it did not upset.

Miss Egerton got a nasty bump on her head, but she is really not much the worse. I took her home in my car, and her housekeeper has put her to bed and is looking after her. What’s happened to Bruce?” When Mark told him Claude gasped. ‘‘Murder!” he repeated in a shocked voice. “Yes, but don’t be so upset, Claude. As I have told Colt, a coroner’s verdict doesn’t count for much. Bruce was bound to be held for trial anyhow'.” “How long will he be in prison," asked Claude. * "Till the next Assizes at Reading. That’s only about a month. It will give us time to get our evidence all ready and secure a good man for the defence.” “You’re a lawyer, ain’t you?” said Randolph. "Can't you defend him?” "I —I’m only a solicitor, not . a barrister. in this country solicitors don’t defend or prosecute in the criminal courts. 1 mean to get Crandon if I can. There’s no one better — at least among the younger lot.” “Can I see Bruce?” broke in Claude, abruptly. ‘l’ve got a message for him from Miss Egerton.” “Write it and I will give it him," said Mark. T shall see him for a few minutes before they take him back. There—Durham is beckoning to me now,” he added. Claude scribbled a few words on a sbee from his note book, folded it and gave it to Mark, who hurried away. Then Claude sat lown beside Randolph. “You are looking a bit shaky, old chap,” he said. ‘This has been a bit too much for you. You had better let me drive you back to town.” “I will be glad,” replied Randolph simpl>. and followed the oth« r out of the room. Claude got in and Colt took a seat beside him. “I am going round by Mortimer if you don’t mind,” said Claude as he pressed the self-starter “I have promised to tell Miss egerton what happened at the iinquest.” Randolph shook his head. “Ra.ner you Llv me,” he s. id wearily. - Claude did not see Silvia, for the good reason that Mrs Morris had already put her to bed. “You had better write i note, sir,” suggested the kindly woman, so

Claude went in and < so. “I have let her down as lightly as I could,’ he explained to Mrs Morris. “But I had to tell her that my brother is held for trial.” "It’s a bad job, sir,” said Mrs. Morris gravely, as sh took the note. "Tell her not to worry,” begged Claude. “Tell her that Mr. Hammond says it will be all right.” In spite, however, of these assurances, Silvia spent a wretched night. Her head ached dr * Ifully, partly from the blow but more from vorrv, for, in spite of the assumed cheerfulness of Claude’s note, she had read below the surface and realised how troubled he really was. She was grateful indeed when at seven o’clock Mrs. Morris came up with a cup of hot, freshly-brewed tea, and after that she did get a couple of hours’ sleep. It was naif-past, nine when she came down to find breakfast waiting for her. The omelette was light as a feather, the toast deliciously crisp, yet she could not eat. A letter lay be side her plate. She took it up listlessly, but when she saw the writing on the envelope her listlessness vanished. “From Bruce,” she said half aloud, and was in the act of tearing open the envelope when the door opened, and Mrs. Morris came hurriedly into the room. “A gentleman lo see you, miss.” Silvia jumped up. “Is it Mr. Bryson?” "No, miss, a stranger. He would not give his name He said his business had to do with Mr Carey.” "What does lie look like?” asked Silvia. "Tall and heavily built, miss. Very well dressed and got out of a beautiful “On!” gasped Silvia in sudden horror. “It must be Lurgan himself.” himself,” came a deep voice, and Silvia, turning quickly, saw Lurgan standing just inside the room. “You wUI forgive my forcing myself upon you like this,” he said with a bow. "but. it was necessary for me to see you and I knew that you would not admit me if J sent in my name.” "Yu are perfectly right,” replied Silvia recovering herself. "You are the very last person in the world whom I wouid willingly have in my house.”

Bitter as her words were Lurgan took no offence. "I knew that was what you would say, Miss Egerton,’ he replied. “And nothing but the urgency of the case would have induced me to act as I have done, but as I have said, it was absolutely essential that I should speak to you.” "But I refuse to speak to you,” returned Silvia. Her face had gone very white but her blue eyes flashed with anger. “Will you go or must I send my housekeeper for help to throw you out.” Lurgan dM not move nor did his expression change in the slightest. "If I go there goes with me the last chance of saving Bruce Carey,” he said deliberately. “His liberty, and perhaps his life, depends entirely upon me.” Silvia hesitated and he saw his advantage I ind went on. "I am telling you the absolute truth'. Your friends have told you that they can clea. Mr Carey, and no doubt they believe that they are right. I know better, and 1 solemnly assure you that it rests with you whether he is sentenced to many years in prison or goes entirely free. Now what have you to say?” CHAPTER XX - -THE BALANCE TREMBLES. There was something hypnotic about Lurgan. Even Bruce had felt that, and in spite of herself, Silvia was impressed. “I will give you five minutes,” she answered bravely. She turned to her housekeeper who had remained in the room and who was watching Lurgan with a curious mixture of horror and curiosity on her comely face. “Mrs. Morris,” said Silvia, “will you please go into the kitchen, but come at once if I ring.” There was a ghost of a smile in Lurgan’s hard eyes as he stepped aside to allow Mrs. Morris to pass “Now,” said Silvia uncompromisingly, as the door closed behind Mrs Morris. "What have you to say, Mr. Lurgan?” “Have you heard what happened the night before last?” asked Lurgan “Yes.” "And the verdict of the jury yesterday ?” "It is no use trying to frighten me, said . Silvia scornfully. "I know the verdict was against Mr Carey.”

"The verdict was murder,” said Lurgan impressively, and you are thinking that at the Assizes this verdict will be reversed. I can tell you that you are entirely mistaken, and that even if the jury bring it in manslaughter, Mr Carey will receive a minimum of ten years’ penal servitude.” Silvia faced him bravely. “I do not you,” she answered. “Then I must prove it. You will not deny that Mr. Carey was caught upon my premises with a bag containing my property, and that he killed a man in attempting to make his escape.” He paused, but Silvia did not speak. “Silence gives consent,” he continued. “You and his other friends expect to prove that the prisoner was engaged in an attempt to recover his, or rather your, property. If this could be proved to the satisfaction of the court the case, I admit, would bear a. very different complexion. But it can’t. There is absolutely nothing to connect me or any of my friends with the disappearance of the model of the gold magnet.” “There is the ba^.” "Nothing of the sort. In point of fact the bag belongs to a friend of mine, Captain Stanley East, and that I can bring full evidence to prove. Your side, on the other hand, can bring no evidence which is worth consideration, and their whole story will sound too fantastic for belief either by judge or jury.” Though Lurgan did not raise his voice in the slightest, he spoke with a cold certainty that made Silvia shiver. Pier knees trembled so that she could hardly stand, and she caught at the back' of a chair to steady herself. Lurgan stood silent, watching her, and his steely eyes seemed to bore into her very brain. It took an effort on her part to speak again. “What do you want me to do?” she asked faintly. “The only sensible thing. Take me into partnership with yourself and Mr. Carey.” Silvia drew herself up. “You!” was all she said, but the scorn and loathing in her voice would have crushed a lesser man.

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