The Shadow Crook

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 597, 25 February 1929, Page 5

The Shadow Crook

By

Aidan de Brune

(Author of “Dr Night,” “The Carson Loan Mystery, ” “ The j Dagger and the Cord,” etc.) ! (.COPYEIGHT.) _ . _ J

CHAPTER XXV. —Continued •'My dear friend!” The Jew turned quicklv, holding out his hand. “My dear fellow. I am delighted to see you again.” . "You dare to come here, after being in . . .?” Etheringham shook his fists at the Jew. “You dare to come to this house direct from gaol?” “Gaol, yes.” Mintos spoke sauvely, slightlv emphasising the words. “I, unfortunately, was so unlucky as to be arrested, while you ...” “Are you suggesting I am implicated in your frauds, you . . . you . . .” The squatter could not continue; rag* overpowering him. “Implicated?” The man laughed softly. “Really, my dear fellow, you amuse me. Implicated! Who sold the shares?”

“You told me they were at a premium. You gave me the price. You told me the company

“The company . . .” Again Mintos laughed, a cruel little laugh. I happen to be the company—all of it. So far as I know there isn’t even a hole in the ground In . . .” “You’re telling me there's no company —no gold?” “No company? Certainly there is—at least on paper.” The man advanced up a step. “Unfortunately .. .” "There are no mines—no gold.” The squatter staggered. “And I . . .” “You were so good as to sell the shares for me. dear fellow. Nearly ten thousand pounds, so far. More than I expected, really. I let you have them at par and took the money. You took the profits. Quite a nice little arrangement for me—and you. Let me see. You sold quite a lot at 30s and over, didn’t you?” “You damned scoundrel!”

“Words, words!” The broad shoulders shrugged slightly. “Come, let me get inside. If you really want to discuss unpleasant things, we’d best do that where we cannot be overheard." “You’ll not enter this house. Etheringham stood squarely before the

man. “As you’ve sent your taxi away, I suggest you can get a tram at the shed —but you’ll have to walk there. Good-day!” For the .moment the Jew seemed nonplussed. Then he burst into loud laughter. “So I’m kicked out, and without paying my respects to the fair Mrs. Etheringham. Tut, tut!” He ascended a couple of steps until he stood almost breast-to-breast with the squatter. “I’m sure the good Mrs. Etheringham will not be so inhospitable—when I have explained certain matters.” “My wife is not at home.” Etheringham spoke expressionlessly. “If she were here she would tell me to . . .” “So the good Stanley takes orders from the fair Nor . . .” “Keep my wife’s name out of this.” The squatter’s fists closed ominously.

“So! A reconciliation has been effected between the married couple." Again the grating laugh of the promoter rang out. “I suppose the fair dame has explained the flat in Innesfail Mansions and the . . .” “You lie!” The colour flooded Etheringham’s face. “My wife in that place! Damn you, what do you mean ?”

“Mean?” The Jew simulated surprise. “What does a man usually mean when he suggest’s his pal’s wife wants watching? You—you fool, Etheringham. I’ve tried to hint it to you, but you’re so dense that I’ll have to drive it into your head with a mallet. Your wife’s modern—damned

modern. She’s got a flat at Innesfail Mansions and likes her little bit of fun as well as any man, modern or old-fasliioned. You know what that means? She has her parties there and entertains her friends —sometimes one friend at a time. Does that tell you nothing?” “You . . .”

“Get inside, you fool, and I’ll make the talp plain. You blind ass. Why, there’s not a man in your crowd who don’t know of it. She . . . she . . .” “How do you know this?” The colour fled from the squatter’s face, leaving it deathly white. “Tell me!” “Know it?” The Jew laughed quietly. “Oh, I’ve known it for some time and kept the frail lady’s secret. Paid me to hold ruy tongue, y’know. She didn’t like me, at first. Tried to persuade you to kick me out and all that, so I watched, and waited. I found out her little secret, and . . .” “And?” “What more do you want?” The Jew’s temper was mounting. "I can prove what I say.” “How?” “Oh, if you want it. I’ve been there with her. Well, you asked for it. ...” Etheringham struck out blindly. The blow caught Mintos on the chest, and he toppled back on the gravel drive. The squatter jumped from the verandah, standing over the prostrate man. For a few seconds the Jew lay still, then painfully struggled to his feet, dazed and looking foolish. Again Etheringham struck, driving the man with short-arm, inefficient blows across the drive on to the grass. At first the promoter had attempted a half-hearted defence, but his arms were beaten down by the mad whirl wind attack. At length, a blow caught him under the heart, and he dropped beaten. For some moments the squatter stood over him, then with a contemptuous shrug of his shoulders re treated to the head of the steps. There he turned and watched Mintos. For some minutes the Jew lay motionless, queerly twisted, a huge black bulk against the verdant green. He stirred, and sat up, feeling himself al lover. Presently his brain became normal, and he struggled to his feet. For some time he stood brushing the signs of the conflict from his clothes. With a final tug of his collar and tie he strode to the foot of the steps again.

“So that’s your game, Stanley Etheringham?” The man’s suave manner had disappeared and he spoke with savage intentness. “You seem to forget the cards I hold.” “All the police haven’t taken from you.” Etheringham spoke quietly.

smiling grimly. “Haven't you heard of the raid on your flat? Well, get

the papers and read it up. It’s interesting. They’ve .got your papers and . . .”

‘Then they’ve got you.” There was a snarl in the man’s voice. “They’ve got you and when they get me I’ll see you .bear your full share.” “There’ll be nothing to support your word.” The squatter laughed confidently. “How she managed it I don’t know, but . . .” “She?”

“Norma, my wife.” The squatter seemed to he enjoying himself. “How she managed to get them I don’t understand, but this morning she showed me a bunch of letters —all you’ve got on me. You’re the loser, Mintos. Not I.”

“What have you gained by that?” The Jew laughed spitefully. “If I know anything, she’ll use them against you, you big, dumb stiff.” “Yes, she’ll hold them against me.” For the moment the joy of battle passed out of Etheringham’s face.

“She says I’ve got to agree to her terms. She’s going to leave me, and .. . Damn you! What are you standing there for, smirking like that? I want her! I love her!”

“In spite of the flat?” Mintos laughed. “Well, that finishes it. I’m

don with you. Let rue pass and get the tilings out of my room. Then you and that—that Norma Carr can go to the devil your own ways—and

I’ll lend you a kick to speed you on. Get out of my road, can’t you!” He moved slowly up the steps until he again stood breast-tobreast with the squatter. Etheringham did not give way. He appeared to be awaiting the opportunity to attack the man again. Something of this must have occurred to Mintos, for his hand stole slowly toward his hip-pocket. “I wouldn’t, Mintos. 1 really wouldn't.” The squatter spoke softly. IT know you carry a gun, but before you could get it round I’d blow hell out of you. I’m carrying mine in my jacket pocket, and my finger’s on the trigger.”

In a sudden access of fury he seized the promoter with his left hand, by the throat, and shook him violently. With an effort he lifted him from his feet and threw him to the gravel path. Immediately he turned and walked into the house, closing the door with a resounding slam. Mintos struggled to his feet, and shook his fist at the closed door. For some seconds he stood hesitant. Mason thought he would ascend the steps and try and force his way into the house. In that case he would have to interfere. The squatter would certainly shoot. Yet he waited. He did not want to come out into the open until his plans were fully matured Mintos had yet to lead him to the Shadow Crook and the jewels. Suddenly the Jew turned and strode down the drive, walking shakily at :irst. tut gathering strength prs he proceed within h few yards of the gate he stepped on to the grass on

the harbour side of the drive, and went in the direction of the water. Mason followed warily. Where was the man leading him to? Some little distance from the drive, at the bottom of a sharp slope, lay a little patch of bush, close to the boundary railings. Mintos made direct to this patch of bush, and entered it. For some moments Mason could hear his footsteps crashing on the twigs and dried leaves. Then came silence. What was Mintos’s object in seeking shelter in that belt of trees and bush. The detective found a clump of shrubs from which he could watch two sides of the bush. Had Mintos determined to get into the house by hook or by crook? Was he in hiding until darkness fell, resolving then to force some entry into the house and to the room where he had laid after the attack by the Shadow Crook? What had the man in mind? Mason lay under his shelter trying to fit some theory to the man’s actions W'hen he had followed Mintos from