The Shadow Crook

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 5

The Shadow Crook

jj By

Aidan de Brune

(Author of “Dr Night,* * “The Carson Doan Mystery/’ “The Dagger and the Cord,’* etc.) I __ (COPYRIGHT.)

CHAPTER XXXI (Continued) He sprang across the room, his face and hands working in insane fear. For the moment Etheringham shrank back; stepping forward struck the man heavily i n ttle £iice Mintos staggered hack, sweeping the blood from his eyes his left hand, his right hand Sloping vaguely behind him. For sotae moments lie swayed dizzily then, recovering himself with an effort, he ’aced the squatter boldly. His hand Jftoved with lightening speed and the sharp crack of a shot rang through the room.

‘God!’' The exclamation from the founded man was drowned by Norma’s !, r ' e k as she rushed to her husband. * or a time Etheringham stood, hold--S on to the edge of the desk; then " av ered and crumpled a shapeless **** on the floor. Silence! ” The voice of the master ■rook rang clearly. “Cranford go and e nd to Etheringham. Mason, take man. If youd handcuffed him . 1 advised this wouldn’t have ‘* a Ppened.” 'Damn you!” The inspector turned r ‘”°“sly on the crook. "I'll hand- “ him and you, before I’ve finished. then 1 " 6 Sa ? e ’ UQtil 1 set a drop 011 y ° U '

P is never.” The Shadow nn°S, k la hghed, harshly. He turned i'lt Dt ? s "'Do was standing with the *in° ,llla^c bis band. “Drop that y • Two murders to answer for. ’*• perhaps you’ll tell us who stacy Carr? ., Erh * The Jew pointed to where lay. -He came into the Ihr af an . e shop just as I had opened sate. We were quarrelling over the

jewels when Stacey Carr entered. When he saw tlie jewels he made a grab at them. Etheringham fended him off and he rushed to the door shouting •thieves’ and ‘murder.’ Ethel nigharn dragged him back into the workroom and tried to quiet him. but Carr fought tooth and nail. Etheringham lost his temper and picking up the file hit him with it The next thing I knew Stacey Carr was lying on the ground with the file in his breast. I got out of the place as quick as I could, taking Etheringham with me. I don t think he quite realised what he had done until we got to my flat and I tola him. He’s got a hell of a temper!

“Stanley killed my father! Norma sprang to her feeet, horror-stricken. •Oh God, have mercy! Have mercy. ‘•Yes. I killed Stacey Carr Etheringham spoke feebly. ‘T killed Carr, hut I didn't know it at the time. He struck me-and X struck him. I d.dnt Know I had the file in my hand. Norma! Wife! Forgive me. ••Telephone, Hughes!” Mason had crossed to the side of the dying man He turned savagely to the Shadow Crook. "Damn you! Are you -oing to let the man bleed to death. rVt a wav out of the window, if you wish DO what you like, but we’re going to have the doctor here, if you Soot the lot of us. Get out. I say, or stand aside!” "No good, inspector!” Etheringham ■‘‘trKS.i.t „r, ...

Stanley?” Mintos, his eyes lit with inordinate greed, strained under the hand of the inspector. “I didn’t mean to shoot you, Stanley, I . . . Where are the jewels?” “Hold your tongue!” Mason cl .p----ped a heavy hand over the man’s lips, “Hold your tongue, you damned brute!.. “The jewels.” The squatter turned his glazing eyes toward the girl. "Shelf . . . second . . . from . . . the top . . . behind . . . desk. Jewels behind . . . bo . . . books.” His head dropped back on the cushions, and a thin trickle of blood welled from his parted lips. A shudder ran through the big frame, and the limbs slowly relaxed. Cranford covered the greying face with his handkerchief and drew the weeping girt to her feet. He turned to lead her to the door. “The second shelf!” Mintos turned suddenly on Mason, striking him in the face with the handcuffs and throwing him violently against the wall. A single bound brought him to the shelf, clawing at the books with manacled hands. "The jewels! They’re mine! Mine! ”

Dazed and bleeding from the wound in the face, Mason leaned against the wall. He saw the Shadow Crook rush to where the stood. For a moment the two forms locked hazily', in a struggling blur. A sharp, terrible cry, and Mintos sank to the ground. The inspector sprang forward to meet the Shadow Crook running quickly toward the open window. Dimly he saw the automatic pointing at him; he ducked, instinctively and closed, striking the jewel boxes from the crook’s hand. The black-masked face, with the gleaming, laughing eyes, was close to his. He freed one hand and clawed at the mask, to be thrown to the ground, cutching the wisp of black silk. He rolled over and felt a hard lump against his chest. He groped for it and looked down. Again he had his automatic iu his hand. Someone sprang over him, to close with the Shadow Crook, just as he. reached the window. Mason sat up and dashed the blood from his eyes. The unmasked face of the master criminal came into view. With a shout

of amazement Mason struggled to his knees. “Alec Branston.” A supreme effort and the Shadow Crook freed himself from the barrister. He stood, leauiug against the lintel of the window, a whimsical, chag-

rined smile on his face. “Alec Branston, at your service, inspector.” The light, laughing voice held no hint of defeat. “No, drop that man. You couldn’t hit a haystack, just now. Drop it, I say!” “Alec Branston!” VVonderingly

Norma took a step forward. “You! Why . . .” “You have not forgotten . . . Thelma?” The crook’s voice was no hard and cold. “But, Thelma’s brother—the Shadow Crook? Alec, where is Thelma?” “Ask him.” The Shadow Crook pointed across the room to where Mintos lay, insensible, beside the desk. “No thank God, that is unnecessary! Thelma is dead; she is beyond his reach, now, Norma, she died in i y arms, ruined and broken by that man. Oh. my God!” “But you? Oh, Alec!” “He took her, a young girl leaving her school-days, and made her his

j toy. I was away from the State and f : did not know until too late. I came | back to learn she had disappeared j j When I found her . . .” He paused abruptly and took a ! step forward, raising his gun with deadly earnestness against the Jew. With a slight cry Norma flung her- ; self on the levelled weapon. ; “Alec. Alec! No, not that!” “He had thrown her aside and . . . * and I found her walking the streets 'of this city.” The passion had, gone ! from the hard voice. “I tried to get j at him, but he had become a big j man and my word would not have held against his. Besides, there is no i law to punish what he had done — yet ” • “1 went down to the underwoi Id and | became the Shadow Crook.” Rrani ston had paused, continuing in a

lighter tone. “There he and t .were on level terms. Slowly I traced him down, exposing his greeds and wickednesses. Norma, I’m sorry. I should have saved your father, but i was too late. I thought I had Mintos safe —until I could place the police on his tracks. But I did not hit hard enough. I did not suspect he held the secret of the safe. That’s all, dear —good-bye.” “Wait!” The girl went swift I }’ to where the fateful jewels lay on the floor. She scooped up the glittering mass and held them out to the man. “Take them, Alec. I never want to see them again.” “Nor T.” Mechanically the Shadow Crook accepted the jewels. For a few seconds he stood, tossing them in his hand, then separated the White Trinity from the mass and dropped it to the floor, grinding it to dust under his feet. J-Ie flung the sapphires ou the carpet.

“There’s the sapphires, Mason.” The light lilt had returned to Branston’s voice. “Mintos bought them with Etheringham’s money. They belong to Norma now. Destroy them—l know that’s her will. They’ve done enough mischief in this world.” He turned to Cranford: “Look after her. man. She’s had a rough spin. Give her the best in the future.” He stepped back, warily watching the Inspector, and passed through the window, into the night. As he disappeared the dazed police officer rose to his feet and took a step for-

ward. Norma quickly interposed, lay ing a restraining hand on his arm.

“Please! Oh, you can’t take him now. He’s suffered so much!” “But » . .” Mason’s perplexed eyes wandered from Norma’s face to the barrister.

“You couldn’t catch him. Mason.” Cranford spoke gravely, an enigmatic smile curving his lips. “In fact, I wouldn’t be justified in allowing you to leave the house with that cut on you face, undressed.” “But . . . Oh, damn it!” The inspector stood, undecided. “He is leaving the State.” Norma spoke pleadingly. “I don’t think you will ever see him again.”

The inspector slowly shook his head. With sudden decision he went to the desk and picked up the tele phone. While he waited for an answer to his call he turned to the barrister.

“Mr. Hughes! Will you please take Mrs. Etheringliam to her rooms and see that no one enters here? I’ve got work to do and you’re delaying me. Two o’clock! By jove, that’s late! L’ve a pile to do before morning! Perhaps then, we can start afresh, with a clean slate, all round. Goodnight!” Although the voice of the exchange operator answered his call, Mason remained silent, watching the girl ami the man pass from the room. He glanced toward tbe open windows and shrugged his shoulders. Again came the operator's voice over the wire and !he turned to the instrument, speak- ! ing sharply. “86941. Police Headquarters—aud ! quick! ” THE END.