Catching Up

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 244, 5 January 1928, Page 5

Catching Up

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Henry C. Rowland.

Author of The Dear Eccentric.” “ The Pedlic,* ” Dude," flrc., flic.

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS Chapters I and ll.—Grenfell owns to wife and daughter that he is worried over financial matters. He tells them that Jerry Heming has Just missed being a millionaire. A friend of his. named Hazard, hailing from Kansas, came of age a short time ago, and, being in the thick of the fighting, made his wilL His four beneficiaries were: Jerry Heming, a Lieutenant Steele, Raymond Wagner, his buddy, and a Salvation Army girl. Now he has got through the fighting, and on the day the armistice was signed, he refused four million dollars for his patch of prairie said to be floating on a sea of oil. Lieut. Calvert Steele, A.E.F., is now in Paris on furlough. He sees Isabel Orme and recollects. It was on the beach at St. Jean-de-Luz; he, a boy of twelve, rescued a little girl from death by drowning. That was Isabel. Chapters 111 and IV.—Steele has an appointment with his company commander, Captain Gerald Heming. They discuss the affairs of Hazard, the two of them being his co-heirs, along with Agnes, the Salvation Army girl, and Raymond Wagner. An officer requests their presence to report to the chief army intelligence officer. Hazard has been murdered in bed at his hotel. Answering the questions of the intelligence officer, Isabel provides a perfect alibi for Calvert Steele. Heming is unable to prove an alibi, and has been ordered back to camp. Agnes was companion to Lady Audrey Chatteris, and was in that lady’s villa at the time of the murder. Chapters V. to X.—The provost marshall tells Lieutenant Steele that Hazard’s case is purely an American affair. He asks Calvert whether Heming had ever shown any love interest in Agnes. Steele admits that they all flirted with her more or less. Jerry asks Lieutenant Steele to go to the station to meet his sister, Juanita, Just arriving from England. In looks 6he is a combination of Venus and Diana. Lieut. Steele decides to Interview the American lawyer, Mr. Douglas Harker. The lawyer owns that he thinks a woman Is at the bottom of it. Agnes explains that Wagner, Hazard, and she were together on the night of the murder. Both men were drinking. She saw Hazard to his hotel, and Raymond on the train back to camp. The lawyer warns her that if she talks of this she will be accused of the murder. Calvert meets Juanita who is beautiful and rich. Later Isabel asks him to meet her and she explains that Agnes is friendly with a horsey man, Tounley. Calvert tells Isabel that he intends to ask her father's consent. CHAPTER XI. Xita listened to Calvert’s report precisely as though it were she who had been given charge of the inquiry and Calvert a subordinate whom she had instructed to make a certain line of investigation. They were lunching at Armenonville, and Calvert had just finished his description of the man Howard Townley, to all of which Nita had listened with a lambent glow in her tawny eyes.

“That’s our man. Calvert. 1 know the type. I have been visiting some rich Australians at a big place in Kent, and there were two or three like that hanging about —gentlemen gone rank. We are on the right trail, buddy. One or two of those expressions you have just quoted as having heard him use to the grooms gives his number. He’s a wallaby. Once a wallaby always a wallaby, and an adventurer, and well almost anything that’s necessary to get him what he wants.’’ “It strikes me, Nita, you’re making an awful jump at conclusions,’’ Calvert protested.

“That’s what the complete policeman has to do, buddy; guess two-thirds, find out the rest, then prove the whole. All great discoveries have been foreseen bv hypotheses. I tell you, my little boy, we are on the right track. And let me tell you there is no time to l ose Jerry is in a beastly state. He frightens me. His very attitude has got all° the suggestion of surly, vicious, hangdog guilt, which only an innocent man would ever be fool enough to wear His best friend would be forced to admit that he was an assassin, and

Lpoor Jerry hasn’t got any very best I friends but his little sister and—you, you. darling boy.” “Well,” said Calvert. “What are you going to do now?” “I’m going to hotfoot it over to the Villa des Lilas and pipe this Agnes girl. I’m sorry, but I can’t altogether your and Mr. Harker’s and Jerry’s chivalrous conviction of her stainless innocence. I’ve got a low, base, sneaking suspicion that Jerry was out with her that night and is shielding her reputation. Well, I’d better be off.” “Where and when shall I meet you?” Calvert asked. “You go back to your hotel and stick round until I make a noise. Something tells me we are going to get action pretty soon.” Calvert frowned. “I’m getting fed up on this thing of sticking round waiting to hear something from somebody.” “But my dear chap,” Nita protested, “we can’t all be doing it all, all the time. A good agent is precisely what the term signifies—an individual whose function is to bring people and things together. This lone-worker stuff is all right in novels and movies, but doesnt’ happen in real life. Be good now and go back to the Cecilia and wait. If I don’t turn up anything we'll make another night of it.”

Calvert grumblingly agreed and they parted. He was engaged in writing a letter to his mother when summoned to the telephone. To his astonishment Nita’s voice requested that he meet her immediately inside the Madeleine by the entrance opposite Hediard’s fruit shop. This struck Calvert as a singular place of rendezvous for Nita to make, but he reflected that she was merely following a practice no doubt in vogue since temples had been built. So he went out and jumped into a taxi and drove to the church, where, on entering the little lectern door he came upon Nita in the act of placing a candle devoutly before the shrine of Saint Christopher. She finished her votive act and motioned him to follow her out. “Are you planning to take a voyage?” Calvert asked. “Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travellers in a general way, buddy dear,” said Nita. “But he looks after general casualties; runs what you might call the general accident-insur-ance agency of the calender—witness all the little medallions perched on the front of motor-cars —and I have a strong premonition there may be a casualty ahead for some of us. Now we must hurry over to Landolff’s in the Chausee d’Antin and see if we can’t back to the salon. I remembered then having seen in this morning’s ‘Herald’ that there was a jockey ball to be given under the auspices of the jockeys and trainers of the big racing stables.” “Yes,” said Calvert, “I heard them speaking about it at Bagatelle. It’s

rent a couple of costumes for a big masked ball that we are going to tonight.” “Why a masked ball?” “Because the scent leads in that direction, my little boy. It’s getting warmer every minute. I went up to the Villa des Lilas and found Agnes alone. She may have been a very nervy and devoted war worker, and fried delicious doughnuts and cheered the boys up no end, but with all these other attractions she is what I would call some chicken. I let her think that I had called to get * some information about Lady Audrey’s hospice. She was explaining to me in her demure Puritan way what a worthy charity it was when the telephone rang somewhere in the rear—the pantry, I think. Agnes excused herself, and went out closing the door behind her most discreetly. I opened it a crack and heard her say, ‘Yes. Howard. She’ll not be back until Monday, so the coast is clear. My Columbine costume has come and it’s simply dear. .I’ll meet you outside at eleven.’ Then she began to say goodbye, and I closed the door and slipped

to be a carouse to celebrate the reopening of turf activities, and I imagine it will be a real party. That bunch is about the toughest in the world. Where is it?” “At the Grand Rink de Montmartre.” “How about tickets?” “Oh, we can manage to bluff our way in by the window or skylight or something. That’s the least of our cares. If I can get the sort of costume that I want they’ll never have the nerve to keep me out.” “Any sane judge, especially a French one, would pay you to come in.” They came presently to the costumier's, where Nita explained her needs in a brief and succinct manner to an intelligent young man with two war medals and an artificial leg. “We'll stop now at Pinaud’s and get some make-up stuff, Vhen take these things and leave them and go somewhere for dinner.” “Leave them where?” “At Jerry’s apartment. That’s where clear him and that’s he’s a potential millionaire.” “Well, but so am I.” Nita shot him a mischievous look.

■ we’ll have to dress.” Her laugh rippled out afresh. “I told you that you’d be shocked before morning. But it can’t be helped. I imagine that Jerry’s concierge will not lose any sleep about us —and you would be positively frightened if you knew how little I cared for what Jerry’s concierge may think. Listen, my dear, you musn't be misled by my ill-timed levity. We are going ! to play a game of life and death tonight.” “Very well,” said Calvert. “Go just as far as you like. But I wish I could dope out just where Agnes sits in.” “She wouldn’t know herself,” said Nita. They stopped at the parfumerie, where Nita bought costly cosmetics with a disregard of price which dismayed Calvert a little. He commented on this as they got into the taxi. “Look here, Nita,” said he, “you’d better let me finance our investigation.” “Nonsense!” said she. “Jerry’s going to pay the lot, seeing that it’s all to

“I’ve not lost sight of that fact either,” said she. “Under the circumstances I think I can afford to dig into my capital a little. Money is at this moment the least of my considerations. I suppose you are wondering if I am in the habit of dashing about in this mad way. You may put your mind at rest. I am. “With whom?” “With almost anybody who has the dash—and appears able to stand the daylight test of gentlemen. You see, Calvert, Jerry and I have both done pretty well what we pleased since we came to years of indiscretion. Some of my experiences might surprise you a

little, but so far I have managed not to break anything. However” —she -shot him another mischievous 100k —“one can never tell when this may happen. I hope you are not answerable to anybody yourself.” “It wouldn’t make much difference, would it?” Calvert asked. “Not the slightest.” “If I happened to be your fiance,” said Calvert, “I should be rather wor- i ried about you.” “Well, I don’t happen to be your fiancee, and such self-nominated candidates for that office as exist are quite aware of its perils. For this adventure to work out right the true criminal must be discovered and take poison, and Jerry shall stand before the world vindicated and very rich, , and you discover a secret passion for Agnes, and I fade out rapidly, disappearing in the jungle or walking over an Alp or swimming out to sea or something. I am a sort of fairy summoned from the realms of light to relieve the distress of worthy hearts.”

“I think,” said Calvert, “that you could do almost anything brilliantly but fade.” “I don’t know*. I never tried. There might be a renunciatory embrace followed by a dissolving view of men wending towards the Seine. 1 say. there’s something you haven’t told me. What was your own alibi?” “I happened to be at the Opera Comique.” “With friends?” “No, but there were some people in the next box who remembered having seen me—the Grenfell Ormes.” “Oh, I've met them! Has Little Blue Byes grown up?” This time her slanting look was shot with quick suspicion. “Quite a lot. I heard their names, and went to their apartment next day with Major White.” “So you made an impression. Well, that’s not surprising. Has she asked you to call?” “Her mother did.”

“Have you called?* “Not yet.” “When do they get back to town?” “Most of them are coining back Monday from Romorantin with Lady Audrey,” Calvert answered. “Mr. and Mrs. Orms have not left Pais.” They drew up at Heming’s apartment, where Calvert left the bundles. “Now let’s go somewhere for dinner,” said he, “and take our time and make a good job of it, as we’ve got a long night’s work ahead. I imagine this ball is going to be a scrumptious affair. It's lucky w'e were able to get such good cosutmes, as we shall have to count on them and your physical charms and probably a few hundred francs to get us in. The tickets are no doubt limited and all subscribed for.”

“There will probably be a dozen Columbines,” said Nita, “but it’s your job to pick her out. She’ll probably be a little timid or hesitating. You may have to make yourself known to get her to dance with you, when it will be my detail to mix things with the man. Of course, if it can be managed without your giving yourself away, so much the better. I imagine it. will be pretty wild.” Calvert nodded. “I suppose Agnes knows as much about life and people and things in general as a South Sea Islander ” “Rather less, 1 _think. Just as i feel like an Eskimo in the midst of these bare arms and legs and throats and things. If I had known it was the fashion to go naked over here I might have saved myself a lot of luggage. My costume for to-night ought to be quite de rigueur. Hope you won’t be too shocked to keep vour eye on the ball.” “I’m getting broken in by degrees.” “Well, you’ll do with a bit of breaking. But don’t get me wrong, Calvert. I am baring my maidenly charms with a purpose which is neither vanit;. nor licence. I’ve made a clear mind picture of the sort of scoundrel Agnes is mixed up with. I want to take him oft his

guard—make him think that I’m a wild woman. He’s got to want me to show my face, and the price of that will be to show me his hand. Once I’ve got him well vamped, the rest will be easy.” “What do you think he is? A common blackleg?” “No, I’ve got a sort of hunch that he’s the very worst of all bad lots —a thorough wrong ’un—a well-bred Englishman gone absolutely to the devil. A racing man, perhaps.” “That sounds reasonable. The coldbloodedness of the crime would need an absolute moral paralytic—a sort of devil.” “Yes. You see, Calvert, Latin criminal nature is apt to be hot-blooded or deliberately stealthy, but this crime was swift and deadly and diabolic in its ruthlessness. Fancy stabbing a boy in a drunken sleep. Besides a Frenchman would not have felt so sure of Agnes consenting to marry him. I hate to say it, but the crime strikes me as distinctly Anglo-Saxon. This man was first attracted to Agnes by that pretty piquant face of hers, which is rather English. A Frenchman would scarcely ihave thought of marriage, but been i looking solely for a love affair. He ; approaches marriage with a formal deliberation. But the type of English i blackguard I’ve pictured does not care ! whom he marries or how often, pro- ! vided there’s a little money in it. And such a man could fool Agnes moro easily than the type of American she understands.” (To be continued)