THE GREEN SHADOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 24

THE GREEN SHADOW

By

HERMAN LANDON

Copyright by Publio Ledger

CHAPTER XIV. (Continued). Dale strolled out into the sunshine again. For a while he amused himself by making divers short turns, doubling back on his course occasionally, dipping into subway entrances and out again, and after an hour of such manoeuvres the lanky person in grey was no longer in sight. He laughed at his successful dodge, stopped at an exclusive shop window to inspect a display of neckwear, and in a moment he grew conscious of some one's furtive and deliberate scrutiny. “Another,” he mumbled. “Well, well!” He turned away and leisurely sauntered down the street, pausing shortly before another shop window. This one had mirrors at three sides, and in one of them he saw a tall, loose-jointed, stylishly garbed person who shortened his steps as Dale stopped. “Paul Ainsworth, alias Doctor Moffett,” he mused. Hq fingered his jaw and smiled wryly at a recollection. Then he swung round suddenly. “Oh, hello. Ainsworth!” he exclaimed. “This is luck. I was just longing for the sight of a familiar face. Shall we stroll along?” “As you please,” said Ainsworth with a shrug. His sneering, insolent manner concealed whatever disapappointment he might have felt at being thus openly accosted by the person he was shadowing. “Who is the lucky little charmer?” “The—what?" “You were looking at a display of sealskin coats in that window. When a man shows an interest in such things it generally means that he is contemplating a present for his lady love.” “Not -necessarily. He may only be wondering how such a coat would look in a green light.” Ainsworth chuckled unpleasantly. “I see the jaw looks natural again.” “Thanks to massage and cold applications,” said Dale good-naturedly, glancing at Ainsworth’s empty left sleeve. “Shall we turn this way?” They swung into a side street where the late afternoon traffic was not quite so thick. “By the way, Ainsworth, where did you learn the art of shadowing?” The other started uncomfortably. For the moment his supercilious manner was gone. His discomfiture did not last long, however. “Oh, one learns all sorts of things in the course of a busy life.” “Yes, hut it’s rarely one learns them thoroughly. Let me give you a tip, Ainsworth. When you are shadowing a man and he leads you into a quiet side street where there is little traffic and only an occasional taxicab. then look out. Your quarry is going to give you the merry ha-ha.” A lone taxicab came cruising along the curb, and Dale hailed it. With a wave to Ainsworth he jumped inside. The cab gilded away, turned the corner, and was soon lost among thousands of its kind. Dale leaned back comfortably and lighted a cigar. He had had nothing to fear from Ainsworth's surveillance, but the little episode pleased him. Soon, however, his face sobered. Ainsworth, with his dual role, was a greater problem than he had ever attacked. Somehow Miss Castle must be informed, but Dale did not relish the part of informer. If only there

could be some sort of automatic adjustment, if only Fate would straighten out her own stupid tangles! After half an hour’s aimless roving he dismissed the taxi and dined at a hotel. He lingered over his afterdinner cigar and coffee, then took a walk. At precisely half-past 8 o’clock a servant ushered him into the Castle drawing-room. Adele was there waiting' for him. She was in a simple evening gown that yet gave an individual charm to her dark beauty. She looked up at him with a vague smile and gave him her hand. “Are we alone?’* Dale asked, glancing about the stately room. “Yes, father is still at the office. I have left instructions that I am not at home to anyone, but am to be called if I should be wanted on the telephone. Oh, by the way, did you see that horrid editorial in the ‘Sentinnel?’ ” “No. What’s the yellow rag howling about now?” “About the mysterious Mrr. Graves. It says he must be exposed and punished in justice to the thousands of poor people he has swindled out of their pitiful savings.” Her face flushed. “It says the failure of the police to apprehend him amounts to a public disgrace. It isn’t fair! It’s cruel! Poor father! He is working day and night so he can make restitution.” 50,000 DOLLARS “There—there, it’s going to be all right. How did Dr. Moffett sound over the phone?” “He was very suave, but also very positive. He said certain circumstances had arisen which -would oblige him to resort to extreme measures unless his terms are fulfilled -within twenty-four hours.” “You haven’t told your father that?” “Oh, no. W T hat would be the use of worrying him? I know that at present he couldn’t possibly produce 100,000 dollars, or even a small part of it. Oh, what shall we do?” Dale smiled reassuringly, although his heart was heavy. Last night the problem had seemed as good as solved. Tonight it -was as difficult as ever. He glanced at his watch. “Where is the telephone?” “In the hall, just outside the door.” “Can you trust the servants?”’ “Oh, yes. They have been with us for years, and they are absolutely honest and reliable.” Dale went lightly across the floor. With a quick jerk he flung the door open. A portly manservant straightened up abruptly and shrank away with a startled and shamefaced air. “Hello,” said Dale, “what’s up?” The servant, thick, round-faced and portly, cringed -within his conventional black garb. “I—l only wished to see if Miss Castle was in the drawing-room, sir. She left orders she was to be called if wanted on the telephone, and I thought I would make sure where to find her.” “Oh, I see. Do you always peep through keyholes -when you are looking for your mistress?” “Keyholes, sir?” Why, I—l ”

“That will do,” said Dale, and closed the door. “You see. Miss Castle?” “That was Wambley,” the girl murmured perplexedly. “I never imagined he would do a thing like that. Do you suppose Doctor Moffett has bribed him?” “Doubtless. II so ”

He paused, but his brows went, up as it he had suddenly conceived an idea. He pursued it silently. If Wambley were in Doctor Moffett’s pay, then it might be possible to shake a few truths out of his portly hide. “It shows we must be careful,” he added. She looked at her watch. “Doctor Moffett will telephone in a few minutes. What shall I tell him?” “Tell him you are ready to deliver cue-lialf of the amount now and will give him the balance of the 100,000 dollars later.” “What?” she exclaimed. “I don’t think the doctor expects payment in one lump sum,” Dale explained. “One hundred thousand dollars is too bulky for easy handling. He will be satisfied with half for the present.” “But that’s fifty thousand! Where would 1 get all that money?” “Here,” said Dale, and handed her the packet he had received at the bank. She took it mechanically, looked at it, turned it over with a dazed air, and shook her head. “But I—l can’t accept —” “No arguments,” Dale interrupted. “We haven’t much time. When Doctor Moffett telephones, he will probably set a time and place for the delivery of the money. Tell him you have fifty thousand now and expect to have (he balance within a week.” “But I can’t accept fifty thousand from you, not even as a loan.” “Nonsense! I am only making you (he temporary custodian of two thousand forty-eight dollars, and 1 expect to get /every penny of it back.” She stared at him for a moment, then looked down at the money in her hand. Her spirits buoyed upward with a little laugh. “Oh, I see! I hand Doctor Moffett or his agent this packet, and in return he will hand me the evidence without suspecting the padded packet. But—” Her face fell. “Yes, there is a but,” said Dale. “Doctor Moffett will be suspicious. He knows we are not going to hand him so much money until we have tried everything else. On the other hand, we know that Doctor Moffett isn’t going to kill the goose he expects to lay the golden egg.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, I see that now. I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t here to reason things out for me. I've been too worried to think. This money—” “This is our first card in the game we are playing with Doctor Moffett. Tomorrow morning you will have the two larger bills marked in the presence of two reliable witnesses. A small cross or an initial will do. We are going to force Doctor Moffett to play one of his trumps.” She brightened again. “I am positively thrilled!” she declared. Wambley’s stately form appeared at the door. “There is a gentleman on the telephone,” he announced. The girl rose, a little tremor at the corner of her lips. Dale gave her an encouraging smile as she walked out. Wambley held the door open and stood bowing until she had passed through, then he started to follow. "Oh, Wambley,” said Dale evenly. The servant turned and regarded

him with respectful but uneasy attention. “Please close the door and come here,” Dale added. “I have something to say to you.” Passively the servant obeyed. His face, round and sleek as a swollen apple, showed no expression. He passed into the light where Dale stood leaning carelessly against an antique cabinet. “Don’t be bashful, Wambley. Closer, please.” Wambley advanced until the soft, clear light fell on his pudgy face. Dale, toying with his watch-chain, merely looked at him with his steady, faintly smiling gaze. Moments passed, and still he said nothing. Wambley was growing uneasy. He shifted his weight, swallowed and twisted his neck. His eyes fell beneath the level, humorous scrutiny of Dale’s grey eyes. And still Dale only looked and looked and said nothing. "Wambley,” he asked at length, when the silent inspection had proceeded to the limit of the servant’s endurance, “what is your price?” “Sir?” “I mean, what is the present market value of your honesty and loyalty?” Wambley jerked his head back for a moment. “I don’t understand, sir.” “Then I’ll speak more plainly. Howmuch do you receive for your services as a spy?” “Spy?” The portly form shook a little. A look of indignation came into the chubby face. “This is too much, sir!” “No indignation, please, Wambley. You can’t do it convincingly. What I want to know is,” and he paused and bent his head closer to the servant’s, “how much is Paul Ainsworth paying you?” Wambley jerked his head back with a gasp. His face turned pale. Dale laughed. “Thanks, Wambley. You have told me all I want to know. On second thought I won’t bid against Ainsworth. He is probably paying you all you are worth. You may go.” The servant stammered something, moistened his lips, and turned quickly away. At the same moment Miss Castle returned. A look of perplexity entered her anxious face as she glanced from Dale to Wambley. “What did you say to him?” she inquired when the door closed behind the servant. “I’m sure he looked flustered enough.” “I just asked him a few questions. He is Dr. Moffett’s spy, as we suspected. hut he isn’t clever enough to be really dangerous. What did you hear from the enemy?” Her head dropped a little. Her lips quivered. “He ' told me he has a friend on the District Attorney’s staff —a deputy or something. Tomorrow he intends to’ mail a transcript of the evidence to this friend, with instructions on the envelope that it is not to be opened until the following day. I am to give the money to his representative tomorrow night, at the Mummers’ Frolic.” Dale’s eyes widened. “So that’s it! At the Mummers’ Frolic? There will be hundreds of people at that giddy affair. How is Dr. agent to identify himself?” “By a password. He is to use the two words, ‘yellow’ and ‘blue,’ in a single sentence.” (To be Continued on Monday.)