Catching

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 5

Catching

Ay

Henry C. Rowland.

Author of ** Tho Dear Eaentric.** “ The Pedlar.* ** Dude.” &c., fcc. /

CHAPTER XV. And so the extravagant revei went cr for about an hour longer, when the floor was magically cleared. Then as if waiting the conclusion of the serious business of the evening, the tottering dam, which had been wobbling under some semblance of restraint, broke loose entirely. The attendants bad not even time to remove the green hedges. A crowd of cowboys and Indiana grabbed them and commenced to erect tepees facing the betting booths, and to these waiters wer© soon scurrying with frothing bottles. Occasionally one of these impromptu tents would collapse and its occupants be rescued by leg or arm or anything which came to hand. The dancing grew faster and more furious. Calvert drew Nita into a sheltered eddy behind the judges’ stand. “My word!” said he. “Bedlam has broken the bed and Babel is speaking one language.” ‘Listen, Calvert! I just saw Agnes So past with her viking. We had better get to work. Everybody is dancing with everybody else, so I don’t think you need bother to tell her who you are. He’s been watching K.e. Seems to have picked me out of all this crowd for some reason.” "I should say there were several JJJtty good reasons,” Calvert answered. "There they are now over by the bar. spin over and try to. pull it off somehow.” They made half the circle of the r ®k. to pause beside Agnes and her Partner. As they drew up Nita slipped °ut of Calvert’s arms. T say!’’ she cried. “I think I’d like a turn with Baldur,” and she piroutted giddily with bare, inviting arms in ‘hint of her quarry. It was an invitation scare© to be resisted. The viking turned to watch her, when Calvert as lf Piqued at the desertion made a bow to Agnes. “Will you dance with me?” he “We Americans ought to stick together in fearful moments like these.”

He could not be sure whether or not she recognised his voice. “How did you know I was American?” she asked. “Heard your lingo, Columbine, when we passed each other.” He glanced up at the viking, who, from watching Nita’s steps had turned suddenly, rather aggressively. “How about it, old top?” Calvert asked. “Want to change partners once round?” - “I’m on if the ladies don’t object, answered a pleasing, cultured voice. “Well, we’re all Anglo-Saxons here,” Calvert answered. “So there’s nothing to break.” , „ . . .. Nita drifted coquettishly into the willing arms of the Norseman. Calvert had not taken half a dozen steps before he discovered that something was amiss. Columbine was drooping. Her motions, though in accord, were automatic, and she seemed to rest against him heavily. Presently she said in a muffled voice: “I don’t think I can dance any more.” Tired?” he asked. “No, confused. My head s swimming. It must be the champagne. I’ll be all right in a minute or two, but I must sit down. I’m glad you’re American.” . , „ , . , “Come over here,” said Calvert, and led her to the tier of benches. “Your partner won’t mind. He’s got one of the best dancers in the place.” “Who is she?” “An Englishwoman who wants to see a bit of fun. I say, Columbine, your voice sounds awfully familiar. “So does yours. But then that s not surprising, considering the hundreds of American soldiers I’ve talked to. “Ah-hah! That’s a give away. You’re a nurse or C/W-C.A. Am i right?” .. „ "You mustn’t ask questions. "That's so; I forgot.” “You know your voice sounds more and more familiar. I’m sure I heard it not very long ago, but 1 can * the life of me remember where. My head s swimming , uke a top ” that "Drink a cup of coffee. No, that might make you sick. Just rest a bit and pull yourself together. There go OU "She’s l a r beauty—as much of her as I can see. You speak like an Englishman Where have I heard your voice. -IB hospital, maybe. Did you ever see such a sight? I wouldn't have missed ft for a year's pay, and the Lord knows I need the money.” “Hadn’t we better be getting hack. “No hurrv. They saw us when they passed. I fancy your partner knows you're in safe hands. "How about yours? r*fllvert gave a short laugn. "Trust an Englishwoman of the gay set to take care of herself. She worked hard during the war, and now shes out for a good time. How do you fe His’ voice was a little anxious for Agnes's head was bobbing unsteadily. "Awfully! I’m not used to drinking anvthins- I think I’d better get my partner to take me home. Ive got to ~et in before daylight somehoti. •• ’Fraid you’re too late,” said Calvert. "It must be that now. It gets light at half-past three in Paris at this seaSO "bh, dear!”— her voice was the pite-

ous wail of a child—“he promised to take me back before daylight!” Calvert found himself suddenly burdened with a fresh responsibility. It flashed across his mind that Agnes, inexperienced as she was, could not have had the slightest idea as to the sort of ball she had agreed to attend, and that the man had used it as a net for her entanglement. Deception was not his ob j ec t—far from it. His game was more sinister than that —to force her into a marriage which was to place within his hands the inheritance which he might already have done murder to No doubt he had represented the affair to Agnes as the mere gay frolic of members of the turf from which they could slip away in due time for her to enter the villa unobserved. Then going out into broad daylight, tired, enervated, and fogged with fumes of wine, she must prove an easy victim for whatever he had in store for her. And the subtlety of his stratagem lay in the fact that he would himself appear to be making all honourable restitution. He might say, “You can’t go back to Lady Audrey’s now. You must come with me, and just as soon as it can be managed we shall be married,” which promise he asked nothing better than to fulfil. As all of this flashed through Calvert’s mind the entire aspect of the situation underwent a sudden change of angle. Where up to this moment his motive had been to clear Heming and Raymond and bring to justice a cold-blooded assasin, it struck him suddenly as of infinitely more importance that this girl be saved from making a tragedy of her life. As the case stood, there was nothing positively incriminating against Heming and Raymond, but were he and Nita to succeed in fastening the crime upon the person they suspected, Agnes must certainly share in his conviction. No jury would ever be convinced that it was not a case of collusion; that she had not told her lover of the fortune to accrue her from Hazard’s death; and that she had not been an accessory before the fact. Agnes’s past was against her. The Salvation Army had rescued her destitute from the streets, on the verge of destruction —already past it for all she might be able to prove, and her meritorious service during the war could not save her when shown also —as it must be—that she had gone from the house of her employer during her absence to attend such a ball as this and had not returned at all. CHAPTER XVI. Calvert felt that he must have a few words immediately with Nita. This tragedy must be averted; this ignorant more than erring soul saved. He was positive that Nita would agree with him. He did not stop to think that Nita had never —like himself —seen Agnes frying doughnuts under fire and cheering on the fighting men at the Front. The opportunity came a moment later, when, having completed two rounds of the hall the pair stopped in front of them. Curiously enough, the enveloping tumult did not seem for the moment to affect these four people, so preoccupied was each with a definite objective—Nita’s to convict the unknown, the unknown’s to ensnare Agnes, Calvert’s to rescue Agnes, and that of Agnes merely to get back to her bed with her escapade undiscovered. “Topping dancer, Her Majesty Queen Titania,” said the viking. “Going to borrow her again directly if I may.” “Columbine’s tired,” said Calvert. “She wants you to take her home.” “Home? Dear me, we’re just at the top of our trajectory? Let’s have a drop of fizz. I’m host here—really, no spoofing. I’m a turf hound, and this is my night at bay.” Agnes shrank back, not against her escort but Calvert, and this roused even more his protective instinct and strong desire to shelter her. “Columbine thinks she’s had enough,” said he. “Oh. come,” said the viking, “a little fizz will clear her head.”

“I must really go,” said Agnes. “I’ve got to get in before the concierge is up.” “That won’t be for another two hours,” said Nita. “I’m dying of thirst.” ' Her escort tried to catch a waiter, for the jam in front of the long bar made access to it impossible. Calvert seized the opportunity for a word with x Nita. “We’ll dance once round and join you,” said Calvert. “Perhaps by that time you may be able to grab a garcon.” They spun off in the current like swimmers caught in a flood. “Find out anything?” asked Calvert. “No, but I’m going to. He doesn’t suspect anything. He’s just as I thought—a gentleman gone rank—the worst sort.” “His game is plain enough,” said Calvert. “He means to keep Agnes from getting back, then play bis cards so’s she’ll be glad to marry him as

soon as possible. In another two hours she’ll be a gone chicken.” “She’s probably that already,” said Nita indifferently. “No, I don’t think so. She’s a good girl at heart. We’ve got to get her home—and quick.” Nita stopped dancing and led him a little way out of the rush. “But, my dear Calvert,” said she, “we didn’t come here to rescue Agnes.” “I know it, but all the same I mean to if I can manage it. She’s innocent of all this, and it isn’t right that she should suffer. Don’t you see if he up and marries her and then we hail him it makes a pretty straight criminal case against her? No jury would believe that she was an innocent victim. The pale-amber eyes flashed him an eerie look through the slits of the black mask.

“I’m sure I don’t see how it can be helped at this stage. If you let sentiment interefere now you may spoil everything.” “But hang it all, Nita, “Calvert protested, “Agnes is a friend of mine—she’s a friend of your brother’s, too. He wouldn’t want to see her landed in Saint Lazare on a murder charge.” “Well,” said Nita, “I don’t quite see how we are going to collar one without the other now.” Something in the tone of her voice struck a little chill through Calvert. “All the same I’m going to try and save her,” said he. “I’m going to try to take her home.” “Has she guesed who you are?” “No.” “Then don’t take her home, even if her escort would let you. She’s got herself in this mess and she’s got to take the consequences. She’d be sure to find out who you were in the cab and tell him, and that might put him

on his guard and spoil everything. Don’t you see, Calvert, that in a case like this -we’ve got to profit by every inch gained? The Lord knows what I may have to risk with the brute before I get what I want! He seems to be pretty -wrell infatuated already.” “I don’t see what that’s got to do with it. Your theory may be right enough, but how are you going to get the proof?” “I don’t know yet. but if he marries Agnes that’s one more point in our favour.” “He’s not going to marry Agnes if I can help it.” The yellow gleam that came this time from her eyes shot Calvert with the chill feeling that he had suddenly to do with a hostile rather than an allied force. “Don’t forget, Calvert, that I am

fighting for my brother’s life and future. That’s worth more than this fool of a girl. Innocent or not, she’s the direct cause of the crime.” “But hang it, Nita, don’t you see that as the case stands she’s our best bit of evidence? If we can convince her that he’s a scoundrel and probably a thug she might furnish something to show him up. But once married to him her testimony would be no good, even if she could be prevailed upon to give it, which she wouldn’t.” “That’s so,” Nita said. “I hadn’t thought of that. Why didn't you say so at first.” “Well,* I thought first of Agnes. I couldn’t get away from what I’d seen her do. We’ve got to get her away from him to-night before it’s too late. Once married, she’d be quite capable of swearing an alibi.” “That wouldn’t do her much good.” “It might here in Paris, when you can buy up witnesses by the dozen. He’d be smart enough to see to that.” “You’re right, Calvert. Then listen! We’ll go back to them and you and I will have a dispute, you wanting to go and I wanting to stay. Agnes will side with you. Then as he doesn’t suspect anything and thinks you to be a harmless young American officer and me to be a fast and swell Englishwoman he may consent to let you take her home. . “I hate to leave you here.” said Calvert. Xita shrugged her round, creamy shoulders. “If I never was in more danger than that I’d consider my life very tame,” said she. “But you see, Calvert as I size this man up, he is probably one of those horrors absolutely devoid of ruth or scruple and is cold-blodedly selfish as a crocodile. His object is to marry Agnes and grab her inheritance. and it is no doubt even now in the back of his mind that once he gets her money she then becomes an

incumbrance to be rid of in some way or other.” “Just what does he pretend to be, or didn’t he tell you?” Calvert asked. “A captain in the quartermaster’s department in the British Army. He’s a horse expert, and during the war was in the remount service, selecting horses for the various corps—cavalry, artillery, transport—and passing on the crocked and disposing of them or getting them put back into shape to be used again. He’s not a common man. He talks like an Oxonian and he dances like Nijinsky; speaks perfect French and seems to be a man about town. Of course it’s always possible that we may be entirely wrong about him. I want to get better acquainted and then look up his record pretty carefully. I can easily do that through certain channels in London.” “If I take Agnes home,” Calvert asked, “shall I come back to get you?” “No; get dressed and go to your hotel. I’ll call you up later in the day. Just stick round and wait to hear from me.” They danced their way back to where Agnes and her partner were seated at a table. It was easy to see that there had been some difference between the pair. Agnes was leaning forward on her elbow, while the man sat up in a stiff and rather sulky attitude. The waiter came at that moment with a quart of champagne and four glasses. "Feeling better, Columbine?” Calvert asked. “No; I’m not used to this sort of thing. I’ve had enough of it.” “So have I,” said Calvert. “Besides it’s getting rowdy.” Xita drained her glass thirstily. “Well, then, why don’t you go?” she snapped, as though they, too, had disagreed. Calvert yawned. “Whenever you’re ready, Titania.” “Well, then, I won’t be ready till the show’s over. 1 like to see things through.” “Righto!” agreed the viking. “I say,

you two—it doesn’t happen every night you know. They’ve got to award the prizes yet. Titania ought to compete. I’d say she had a ripping good show.” “With all these nymphs and hourie?” Xita asked. “No bally fear. Your costume’s a winner—chic and elegant—and »o are you.” His hard blue eyes sta -ed at her admiringly through hie buff-col-oured mask. “Columbines are a drug on the market,” murmured Agnes drowsily, and sipped her wine. “Besides, you promised to take me back before daylight, Howard.” “What if we let Howard and Titanic stick on, since they are so keen about it?” Calvert proposed. “I can drop the Columbine anywhere she says on my way.” The viking seemed to hesitate. J'hcn he gave Nita a bold stare. “How about it, Titania? Will Your Majesty trust yourself to me?” “Until the ball is over. Baldur.” said she. “Then Her Majesty goes home alone. Her coach is waiting.” They finished their wine and Calvert ordered another bottle. “What do you say, Columbine?” he asked. “I’d like to go at once. It means a lot to me to get in without being seen.” “All right, come on then.” Calvert laid the money to pay for the bottle on the table and rose. “I’ll entrust the queen to you, Howard. Take good care of her.” “No fear, old top.” Agnes tried to rise, swayed, when Calvert steadier her. “Once in the air you’ll be all right.” he said. “Are you others sure you don’t mind?” “No,” Howard answered. “Only sorry you don’t feel like sticking it out.” (To be continued.)