The Gold Magnet

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 26, 22 April 1927, Page 14

The Gold Magnet

by

T.C Bridges.

) Author of " The Whip Hand," Price of Liberty/ 0 " The Home Her Father*/' frc., &c.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS CHAPTERS L to LLi. —a. rerocloua face, pressed against the window of a train, frightens a mysterious passenger, Stuart Egerton, 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. James Lurgan, who has ruined Bruce’s half-brother, also wants the 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 Vlll—Having no alternative, Bruce hands over the bag. After the interruption the two men reach Silvia’s home. When Bruce tells her of the robbery of the invention she says it is useless without the directions, which are in her possession. When Bruce is returning from a visit to Silvia Lurgan steps out. of a wood. He proposes a half share in the new Gold Recovery Syndicate. Bruce tells him that he would sooner go into partnership with the devil. CHAPTERS IX. to XIII.—A strategic step is made by Claude, who cultivates the friendship of Duggan, one of Lurgan’s henchmen. Bruce sets out to make the raid on Lurgan’s place single-handed. He 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 XX.—Bruce wakes up to find himself trapped. Lurgan renews his offer of a partnership and Bruce refuses though 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. At the inquest the jury brings in a verdict of murder. Silvia is in her bed when Lurgan calls. He says that the only chance of saving Bruce is to form a partnership of the three of them. Though Silvia feels the hypnotic power of Lurgan she refuses his offer.

CHAPTER XXI. to XXIV.: Bruce comes up for trial. Lurgan gives his damning evidence. Bruce’s barrister tells the whole story of the magnet. The weak points in the defence are attacked and the jury brings in a verdict of guilty and Bruce is sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude. Silvia bears up bravely and all Bruce's friends decide to do their utmost to get him released. If they could find the man who stole the bag they realise that he would be a great help. CHAPTERS XXV. to XXIX: The conference of Lurgan, Orme, Grane and stroud has just decided that Silvia will have to be held in order that they may get the papers, when the others discover that Stroud is a fake. With the aid of a smoke-bomb, the masquerader —Colt—gets away. Silvia visits Bruce in prison and the engagement is celebrated while the warder turns his back. Lurgan renews his offer of assistance, Silvia’s refusal wins her the villain's admiration. Afterwards she suggests that if he should find the witnesses of the robbery of the handbag, an arrangement might be come to. Lurgan says this is impossible. CHAPTERS XXX. and XXXl.—While motoring to Dartmoor, Silvia and Claude help to save the life of Jack Trant, a v.arder at the gaol, who had fallen into a torrent. Lurgan again turns up and

offers to arrange Bruce’s escape for a half share in the profits of the invention. Silvia consents but unfortunately Trant overhears Lurgan making the arrangements.

Jack drew a long breath. "I never heard tell of such doings,” he said slowly. But, Miss Silvia, be you wise to trust this here Lurgan? Seems to me like he’d soon double-cross you as anyone else.” "You have hit upon the weak spot at once,” said Silvia quickly, “but you have not answered my question, Jack. Do you feel that you must tell the Governor?” Jack’s eyes widened, “Me tell! Lord love you, miss, I wouldn’t say a word for anything that could be offered me. Why, I feel more like helping Mr. Carey to get out.” Siivia looked at him. “I very nearly asked you to do that, Jack,” she said slowly. “Why didn’t you?” "It would not have been fair, Jack, I think—to you or your mother arid sister.” Jack reddened. “I know what you mean, Miss Silvia. It’s just what a proper lady like you would think.” “That is the nicest compliment 1 ever had paid me,” said Silvia smiling. “Now, Jack, you must forget the whole thing and keep your eyes shut until it is over.” Jack looked serious.” “But suppose he don’t get away, miss. It ain’t easy, let me tell you.” “I know it is not easy, but this time I think it will be a success. What I am so sorry about is the trouble that will be caused to all the prison officers.” Jack nodded, then grinned. “Well, I shan’t hunt very hard, miss,” he remarked. He got up. “I’ll forget all you’ve told me like you said. Miss Silvia. All the same if there’s anything I can do to help you or Mr. Carey 1 will be sorry if you don’t ask me.”

“Very well, Jack, I will promise to ask you,” said Silvia then, as Jack walked off toward the house, she took out her letter again and read it through once more. “Next Thursday,” she said to herself, “four days to wait. How shall I ever bear it.”

But when she came to think things over Silvia soon found a way to make use of the time of waiting. Lurgan had told her in his letter that he had arranged a hiding place for Bruce in an old tin mine under Crooked Tor. “The place is so remote that the chances of discovery are practically nil,” he wrote. “There will be supplies there sufficient for a month, and he will be perfectly safe until the hue and cry has died down, and I shall be able to move him to Bristol, from which port he will sail for Buenos Aires. A hard little smile crossed Silvia’s face as she considered Lurgan’s information. “If he does mean to doublecross us. as Jack suggested, it will be just as well to take precautions, and 1 think I know just what precautions to take.” Accordingly on Monday morning she set off in the car and drove to Plymouth, where she made various purchases. On Tuesday she was off at daybreak on foot with a Rukhsack strapped on her back, the contents of which would have proved extremely in-

teresting to —say—the Governor of the prison. However, he was not there to see and, in point of fact Silvia met no one at all in the course of her long tramp across the heather-clad vales and hills. Next day she went off again with the second load, and that night was tired enough to sleep in spite of her intention, anxiety and suspense. She awoke at dawn, and the first thing she did was to hurry to the window, pull aside the curtains and look out. She gave a sigh of thankfulness for the rising sun glowed yellow through the thin ground mist, sure sign of heat. While the average convict who meditates escape prays for fog, dry weather was essential to the success of Lurgan’s plan. Almost before Silvia had finished dressing the mist had disappeared and the sun was blazing down. Mrs. Trant had breakfast ready, tea, toast, fresh eggs, a dish of cranberries, and a big bowl of clotted cream, and Silvia, though she felt that every mouthful would choke her, forced herself to eat. She knew that she might need all her strength before that great globe set behind the western Tors. CHAPTER XXXIII. —THE RETURN OF RANDOLPH. Silvia went out to see that the car was in perfect running order. Jack Trant knew what was afoot, but she had not told Mrs. Trant, for she had felt that it would not be fair to do so. Jack, however, was at his work at the prison, and Silvia had no one to help her or to talk to. As she got into the car and drove slowly up the rutty track towards the road, she found herself shaking all over.

“This will never do,” she told herself, and tried desperately to persuade herself that all was right and that before night Bruce would be safe. As she reached the road, a car came towards her from the direction of Two Bridges. It was a shabby, old Ford, but travelled at a rare pace. As she pulled out to avoid it, there was a shout, then, with a shriek of brakes, the car came to a sudden stop. “Say, I am mighty glad to see you again,” came a cheery voice, and Randolph Colt sprang out and ran towards Silvia.

Silvia’s first feeling was of intense relief. “Oh, Mr. Colt, I am so glad to see you,” she said fervently, as she gave him both her hands. Then, all of a sudden, it came to her that Randolph knew nothing of what she was about, that she would have to explain everything from the beginning, and that very likely he would declare her plan to be madness. Her whole ex-

pression changed. “But why—why did you not warn me that you were coming?” she almost wailed.

Randolph looked at her in sudden anxiety. “Say, what’s the matter?” he asked quickly. Silvia was silent for a moment. She glanced at her wrist-watch, and realised that, after all, she had plenty of time. “Tell your driver to leave your bag at the farm, there,” she said, pointing. “Powder Mills Farm, it is called. Then come with me.” Randolph made no objection or comment, but did exactly as she had said, then returned quickly to Silvia’s car. “I reckon you’ve got a lot to say,” he remarked briefly. “Better let me drive while you talk.” Silvia moved, and Randolph took the driving seat. “Straight up the road,” she told him, “and go quite slowly.” Then she began to talk in a quick, low voice. Randolph, keeping the car moving quietly up the empty road, did not say a single word as he listened to Silvia’s story. “And so—and so,” she said, “at last I made up my mind to let Lurgan manage to escape, and he is going to do it this morning.” She paused breathlessly, with her eyes on Randolph’s face. “Do you think I am crazy?” she asked. “I sometimes think I am myself,” she added with a bitterness unusual to her sweet nature. “Why, no, Miss Silvia,” replied Randolph. “I don’t think you are crazy. I’d say it was a right good plan.” “But letting Lurgan do it,” urged Silvia, “that’s what I am so afraid of. As Jack Trant says, that dreadful man will probably try some underhand trick, and my—my mind is so muddled that I feel quite lost.” Randolph smiled. “For a lady with a muddled mind I’d say you had acted with a heap of foresight. Hiding that stuff up at Brim Tor was a right good move.” “But that will not help us if Lurgan has made up his mind to give Bruce up again.” “Lurgan won’t give Bruce up until he’s got the papers, Miss Silvia. That’s as plain as paint. So until he gets the papers we are safe. Say now, did you arrange any date for handing them over?” “I could not, for I don’t even know where they are, but I promised in Bruce’s aam« that he should have them at one 6. Thmy can be given up by the Safe PegesSt Company on my signature.” Randolph looked thoughtful. “I reckon we’re all right—for the present, anyway. You can bet your bottom

dollar Lurgan will fix the escape all right, and I guess, now I am here, you and I can attend to the other end of it. I mean that once Bruce is out we will take darn good care he don’t go back again. But, see here, you have not told me just how the job is going to be managed. It don’t look to me quite the sort of weather for a prisoner to make a run, especially as these warder chaps all carry guns. A fog would be better to my way of thinking.”

“The fog will be there when the time comes,” Silvia told him. “The party he is with are digging a drain up in the Stonebrook newtake. All along the top of that field is thick gorse. Last night Lurgan’s men were to place some explosive stuff in the gorse connected to a wire which is to run under the wall to the plantation in the next enclosure. When the signal comes a man will fire the charges by means of a battery, and the whole gorse ought to flame up at once. It should make ‘some smoke,’ as you say.” “It sure will. Who gives the signal?” “Two of Lurgan’s men will come up the road from Princetown in a car, and their horn will give the signal. They slow down as they pass through the smoke, and Bruce, who has been warned, makes a dash through the smoke, jumps into the car, and hides in the back. They then drive off down the Tavistock Road.” “But, say, that’s no use,” objected Randolph. “They will sure 'phone Tavistock from the prison.” “They will not take him as far as Tavistock. There is a side road to the right beyond Cox Tor. They turn up that, then, as soon as the coast is clear, drop Bruce. A guide is to be waiting who will take Bruce right across the High Moor to the hidingplace at Crooked Tor.” Randolph nodded. “It sounds good to me, but where do Lurgan’s men go?” “They drive right on into Tavistock, and purposely allow themselves to be stopped and searched.” “Good again!” said Randolph. “That ought to puzzle the police.” He glanced at Silvia. “But where do you come in?” he asked. “I do not come in,” Silvia told him. “Lurgan thought it better that neither he nor I should risk appearing in the business of the escape.” “I guess he was right. Who’s driving his car?*’ “I don’t know—except that they are two of his men.” “Then I guess you are just going to look on and see that all’s well, so to

speak.” Silvia nodded, and Randolph realised that she could not trust herself to answer. He waited so as to give her a chance to recover herself before he asked another question. “What time is Lurgan’s car due to come along?” “About eleven,” Silvia told him. Randolph glanced at his watch. ‘We've got mighty near half-an-hour to wait,” he said, “and less than two miles to go. You don’t want to be hanging round up at the corner, or the warders might think something was up.” “They won’t,” said Silvia, “for I’ve been up there sketching every fine day since I came to the moor, and the warders are quite accustomed to seeing me.” “Gosh!—you’ve got brains!” said Randolph, admiringly. “We’ll go right ahead then.” A few minutes later they were at the top of the hill near Rundlestone. Silvia glanced across the field to their left where a long line of drab-clad men were digging. “Bruce is among those,” she said in a whisper. “I see,” said Randolph, “and there’s the gorse and the wood and the upper road. Now I’ve got all straight in my head. Say, shall I get out your easel?” “No need, for I always sit in the car while I paint. Drive up on the grass at the side of the road, please. That is my usual place.” Randolph did as she asked, and Silvia got out her sketch-block and paintbox.

“There’s one of those mounted chaps watching us over the wall,” whispered Randolph. “His name is Parton, and he knows me quite we 11,,” Silvia answered. “It is you he ‘is looking at.” Randolph calmly took out his cigar case, chose a cigar and lit it leisurely. He lay back in the seat puffing gently. With his hat tilted over his eyes he was the very picture of a busy man on holiday.

Silvia pretended to paint, but her eyes were on her watch, which was three minutes to eleven. The blood pounded in her veins and she had difficulty in breathing. A hoot down the road in the direction of Princetown set her quivering. “Steady’s the word,” said Randolph gently. “That’s not Lurgan’s car. It’s a little two-seater. Say,” he added with a smile, “those trippers in that car don’t know’ what they are missing.”

Randolph’s confidence helped Silvia immensely, and when two minutes later another horn sounded she hardly

even started. The hoots came twice in rapid succession, and Silvia clutched Randolph’s arm. “See the smoke,” she gasped. (To be Continued.)