THE GREEN SHADOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 965, 7 May 1930, Page 4

THE GREEN SHADOW

By

HERMAN LANDON

Copyright by Publio Ledgyr

CHAPTER XXVII. — (Continued.) She trembled again. She wondered what was the nature of the matter that required Dr. Moffett's attention. His tony had been unpleasantly suggestive. And then, while a growing trepidation was taking hold of her, she heard him coming toward her. She drew farther back in the big chair, giving a little jump as his hand touched her head and fumbled downward. She felt as if something loathsome was touching her. Soon he withdrew his hand, laughed a little, then moved away. She heard a door open and close. Instinctively her hand went into her pocket. The cheque was gone. Well, it didn't matter greatly now. Sooner or later it would have been taken from her. She moved about in the dark room, tormented by a suspense that demanded activity. Suddenly she stopped, the blood pounding violently in her head, her whole body trembling. What was it? A scream? She could not be positive, but that voice A wave of horror seemed to engulf her. She controlled herself with a desperate effort. Governed by a single horrible thought she flung the door open. On the other side was a smaller room illuminated • by an oil lamp. Could she have been mistaken? But no —the impression was clear and sharp. Quickly she crossed the floor and opened another door. In front of her stretched a dark hall, but toward the farther end there was a slim wedge of light. In a moment she was there, breathless and trembling. Directly in front of her was a door. Her hand shook as she turned the knob and pushed it open. There was a light in the room, but no one was in it at the moment. On the farther side, however, was another door that stood partly ajar, aud she could hear footsteps approaching Two men were talking. One of them was Axelson, and the other

Her heart seemed to stop beating of a sudden. Yes, she knew the other voice, too. It was Dr. Moffett’s, but for once the unnatural twang was goue. He was speaking naturally, and she recognised the voice. Her limbs shook with excitement so that she could not hardly stand, and she leaned against the wall. The two men were coming closer and closer. In a moment they would appear in the doorway across the room. Her nerves jumped tortuously at each approaching step. Her heart pounded chokingly. She felt as if something was clutching her throat in an icy, strangling grip. An instinct seemed to whisper in her ear, “Run!” Her muscles would not obey her will. She was all starts and quavers. A cry choked in her throat as a tall man entered the room, followed by Axelson. The servant’s grey face lengthened as he saw her. The other stopped, and her brain whirled giddily as she fixed her staring eyes on him. A maze of tangled threads seemed to dissolve in her mind with a loud burst. “Dr. Moffett!” she cried.

For a moment longer the other man stood as if transfixed. Then he smiled -—a faint, malevolent, deadly smile. “Yes, I am Dr. Moffett!” he said evenly. “You have found me out, and that’s a very unfortunate thing for you.”

crossed his fine, classical features. His fingers fumbled nervously at the carnation he always wore in his buttonhole. Until this moment he had seen no one in the room, and even now he saw only a shadowy figure seated about six paces away, and this dim shape appeared to have no head.

With a mutter of surprise he sprang to his feet. “Sit down.” said the voice. “I am Dr. Moffett.”

The visitor stared in stupefaction in the direction whence the voice came. He stroked his high forehead, surmounted by gay-sprinkled hair neatly parted on the side. The strange sight—a human figure whose torso tapered off into a greenish mist — seemed to unnerve him completely. As if to support himself, he gripped the side of the table.

“Sit down,” said Dr. Moffet again. His voice was a little gruff. “Tell me why you came here, Castle?” A hoarse exclamation trembled on the caller’s lips. The green light accentuated his pallor. He sank weakly into the chair.

“Extraordinary!” he mumbled. "Something seems to have happened to my eyes. I—l can't see your face.” “Nothing has happened to your eyes. I prefer that you shan’t see me. Compose yourself and tell me why you are here.”

The visitor shook himself, recovered the stick he had dropped, moistened his lips, and did his level best to conquer uneasiness he felt in these strange surroundings.

“It’s the green light, I suppose,” he reasoned aloud. “It isn’t as bright as an ordinary light. That’s why—” “Oh, no. not the light altogether. Castle,” the doctor interrupted. "1 can see you quite clearly—almost as clearly as in an ordinary light. But let’s not waste time over that. 1 am still waiting to hear what brought you here.”

The caller drew up his shoulders a little, as if striving for his characteristic poise. “Very well. One of your eccentricities, I take it. Dr. Moffett.” He paused for a moment. “I suppose it would be a waste of breath to express my opinion of you.” “An absolute waste.”

"Then”—he appeared to choose his words—“my daughter came here tonight.”

“How do you know that?” was the instantaneous rejoinder. “I learned it in a rather peculiar way. Tonight my telephone kept ringing incessantly. I —er —had determined to answer no telephone calls tonight, but the persistent ringing made me change my mind. At length I answered, and someone inquired if my daughter was at home.” “Who was the inquirer?” “I don’t know. He refused to give his name. He implored me in a veryexcited manner to ascertain whether my daughter was in her room. I went to her door and knocked. No answer came. I opened the door and looked in. Her bed was untouched. I went back to the telephone and my* mysterious informer told me I would probably find her here.”

“The Picaroon,” said Doctor Moffett grittily under his breath. Then to the visitor: “Did he tell you how to find my place?” “He gave me very elaborate directions.”

“I see.” The doctor's tone was faintly sarcastic. “And you came out here hotfoot on no stronger evidence

than an anonymous telephone me*. sage?” "My informant spoke very impreslvely. emphasising that it waa an»7 ter of life or death. I was worri#* about my daughter. In the ci rca r; stances l couldn't ignore what h, said.” -Curious!” mumbled Dr. Moffett “I don't see how the Picaroon learnej how to reach this place.” "Who?” exclaimed the visitor catching the subdued remark. - “It doesn’t matter. Well. Castle now that you are here, w hat do y o ,j intend to do?” “My daughter is here, isn't she?’ “Yes.” came the answer after » moment's hesitation. The visitor sat silent for a time His shoulders heaved a little. jjj’ voice, when he spoke, was thick with emotion. “Moffett,” he said, “I jL not going to waste time telling yon what I think of a blackguard wk o uses a young girl in his nefarious schemes. You are beneath my con> tempt.” “The mysterious Mr. Graves j. speaking iu a very lofty tone,” j), Moffett sneered. The other smiled wanly. “Your sneers can't hurt me. Moffett. I have passed that stage. I made a mistake —a grievous mistake. You can orush me and break me. But I can still hold my head high. When I com.' pare myself with you. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I don’t hare to hide my face as you are hiding vours. I never fought with dirty weapons | never stooped to the infamy of fighg ing women and children. I- •> “Very pretty, Castle,” the other in, terrupted. “You ought to carry a pulpit along with you on your travels But suppose we drop the oratorv and get down to business? What do yon want ?” The visitor, as was his occasional habit, tapped the table slowly with his knuckles. “I suppose it would be utterly useless to appeal to a spark of manhood and decency in you, to ask yon to confine your warfare to me and let my daughter alone?” “It would. I use whatever raethods I see fit to adopt.” "Then what are your terms?” “You kuow them—one hundred thousand dollars. You are getting double value for your money, Castle. In the beginning you were to receive only the Forrester papers. Now lam throwing in your daughter for good measure.” “I can't pay it,” the other declared flatly. "I couldn't even pay half of what you ask.” The doctor laughed contemptuously. “1 don’t believe you. The mysterious Mr. Graves can easily get his hands on a little extra money, especially when his lovely daughter's safety is concerned. Now, listen, Castle. 1 shan't argue this matter further. I hold Miss Castle’s cheque for ona hundred thousand and 1 ” “What?” Dr. Moffett elucidated. “Tomorrow,” he went on, “this house will ba deserted. The present occupants, Including the charming Miss Castle, wiU be gone. “In the morning you will go to you* bank and procure 100.000 dollars id cash or easily negotiable securities. About eleven o’clock you will receive a message from me directing yo* where to go to redeem the cheque and claim your daughter. These terms are final and unalterable. There is nothing further to be said.* The other’s jaw sagged a little. Hi peered irresolutely into the greea sheen, where only a vague blur indicated the speaker’s face. “Yes, one thing more,” he protested. “Even if I should be able to procure the money, what guarantee have I you will surrender my daughter and the papers?” “None. You will just have to trust me.” “Trust —you?” “You have no other choice.” The dim figure at the other end of the room got up to indicate that the interview was ended. The visitor had also risen. With head hung low he peered at the grotesque shape in the distance whose face was only a greenish blur in the emerald light. “Just one more word, Moffett There was a trace of doubt in hie voice. “As you remarked yourself, I came here on rather insubstantial information. I don't know who my informant was and ” “I can tell you where he is,” - till doctor interrupted. “He is in gacL That’s where your information cam! from.” The visitor appeared not to unde* stand. “Anyway, it was a rather dubious item of information. J O9 have confirmed it. You tell me ®Y daughter is here, but it may be only a bluff.” „ “Oh! Well, just to satisfy y°“ Dr. Moffett chuckled. There a blurred movement of a hand. » little pause ensued, and then a gaunt, old man entered. „ “Bring Miss Castle here, Axelson, Dr. Moffett directed. The old man nodded and withdrew. The visitor showed signs of nerroo» ness. He quickly began to mova about “Keep still,” the doctor snapped. The other stopped and lean ?“ slightly against the table. Restlesst, with his cane, he drew imaginary figures on the floor. Soon the doo opened again. Adele in, a behind her was Axqjson. She w* deathly white and she leaned weaxy against the door frame while s stared into the green illumination. “Dad!” she cried suddenly, ano then she sprang forward. 'ln a moment the visitor’s arms folded her. He whispered in her eland a quiver ran through her. “Convinced?” asked Dr. Moffett. The other, with one arm a r ° u “ her neck, caressed the girl s hair. He was mumbling endearments. (To be continued tomorrow)