THE GREEN SHADOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 968, 10 May 1930, Page 22

THE GREEN SHADOW

By

HERMAN LANDON

Copyright by Public Ledger

XXIX. (Continued) Doctor Moffett turned in tlie chair end gave him a baneful glance. “What are you doing?” he demanded. “It’s a chilly morning,” said Dale, l'eigning a shiver. “It will take a 100,000 dollar bonfire to thaw me out.” He struck at match. Doctor Moffett strained violently against the ropes that held his hands and feet. Dale laughed quietly as he touched the match to the papers and watched them flare up and curl into a black flake. “So much for your little game, Moffett. All that’s left is ashes.” Moffett twisted his lips into an ugly sneer and looked in the other direction. Dale glanced out the window and saw a man with a small black kit crossing the lawn. He went to the door and directed the physician to the room where Paul Ainsworth was. Then he went back and resumed his search of Dr. Moffett’s bag. Most of the remaining articles were of little interest, but a murmur of admiration escaped him as he drew out a rope of pearls. He held them at arm’s length and inspected them in the light of the candles. "Gorgeous!” he said softly. And then his lips twisted into a comical smile. “They are the same ones, of course. It was very cleverly arranged, Moffett. And it was one of the finest compliments I have ever received. You wouldn’t have gone to such lengths unless you had been very much afraid of me.” "I was,” Moffett grumbled, and there was a glint of genuine admiration in Iho hateful gaze he fixed on Dale. "I think I understand Summers was searching the house. You placed the pearls in the aperture in the wainscoting, knowing he would find them • here. Then, very deftly, you worked his mind around to the point where iie was ready to accept the idea that they had been left there by the murderer and that the murderer would come back for them. So you and -Summers went to work and baited the trap. You were in no danger of losing your pearls, for the house was being carefully watched. But tell me this, Moffett. The trap was set for me, of . ourse, but how did you know I was going to walk into it?” "You did,” said Moffett with a shrug. "But how did you know?” Dale insisted. Moffett grinned insolently. "Remember the talk we had in the library of my house? Vou came there to inquire Walk Easy Ointment for tired, tender feet Removes hard skin, callouses, etc. Works while you steep No ex—H W Hall. 117 Armagh Street, cuaa for limping. Tin posted for Is 6d Christchurch. S

for Dr. Moffett.” He chuckled contemptously. “I knew then that you were the Picaroon, but I didn’t let on that I knew.” “And how did you know?” "I had known it for a month.” There was a trace of malicious glee in the doctor’s voice. “You visited my house oue night—in your role of the Pica-' roon, of course. You didn’t find anything of particular value, and so you went away, thinking that your visit l'.ad passed unnoticed. It hadn’t, though. That night you were followed tc your residence. A simple process of putting two and two together made it evident that Martin Dale was the Picaroon.” “I see—a rather obvious deduction, but the obvious isn’t always true. Well, Bo on and explain about the trap.” “As I said, I knew you were the Picaroon the day you came to my house inquiring for Dr. Moffett. I caught you stealing a glance now and then at the point where there appeared to be a defect in the wainscoting. Something in your eyes told me you would come back and investigate.” Mot bad, ’ said Dale. “If the frameup had succeeded, you would not only have gotten rid of a bothersome meddler, but you would also have made doubly sure that no suspicion would attach to you in ’connection with Miss Conway’s death. Just one more question, Moffett—or Ferrvman, whichever you prefer. Did these pearls really belong to your wife?” “They did,” said Moffett shortly. “And your wife and Miss Conway were the same person?” With a shrug the doctor evinced his determination to answer no more questions. Dale laughed. “That’s oue time the Picaroon took the booby prize. He wouldn t keep the pearls because he discovered they were Ferryman’s property. It never occurred to him, bless his simple soul, that Ferryman and Dr. Moffett might be one and the same.” He laughed again, a little ruefully. “But it was a neat frame-up, Moffett—much cleverer than the second one. The second one didn’t do you justice. Joan of Arc imitated your wife’s voice fairly well—” “Who?” Dr. Moffett exclaimed, turning suddenly a little paler. “Joan of Arc—l believe you call her Annie. Great little actress! You persuaded her to Imitate your wife’s voice and pour those horrible cries and groans into the dictaphone. It was not badly done, but you forgot the thunder.” "It’s a lie!” Moffett shouted, straining violently against the ropes. “No, it’s the truth. Annie told me. I had a talk with her after I telephoned Summers. What’s more, she is willing to tell the police all she knows.”

Moffett stared at him in a horrified way. Axelson looked badly shaken. “It’s all your fault,” he bleated. “Annie and I only did what you told us.” “You rat!” Moffett remarked. Dale fixed his longing eyes on. the pearls again. One by one he let them slip gently through his fingers. “Where did you steal them, Moffett?” he asked softly. “Steal them? Haven’t I just told you they belonged to my wife?” “Yes, but you stole them for her, didn’t' you? Or, If you didn’t literally steal them, you got them by extortion. You’re clever at that. If they were your legitimate property, you would leave them in a safe-deposit vault instead of lugging them along .wherever you go. Where did you get them, Moffett?” The doctor merely gave him a malevolent glance. “There’s one thing you can tell me without incriminating yourself,” Dale suggested. “It’s worrying me a lot. Has Ainsworth ever seen you face to face?” Moffett continued to glare and said nothing. “I owe that chap a humble apology,” Dale murmured. “Can’t get the hang of it even now, i>ut I certainly got things twisted. You can generally trust a woman’s instincts, Moffett. They’re more reliable than our most brilliant deductions. -Ah, ” Adele came into the room and stepped up to Dale. “Aren’t they lovely!” she exclaimed, gazing at the pearls he was fondling. Her eyes shone. “How is the patient?” Dale asked. “Pie is sleeping now. The doctor says it isn’t at all serious, but that we mustn’t disturb him for a while." “Do you think he will ever forgive me?” “Forgive you for For disliking him?” “No, it wasn’t dislike. I simply got the wrong slant on him at the start. I believe you were right when you saich I would like him when I got to know him better. What I can’t forgive myself is getting the crazy notion into my head that he was Doctor Moffett.” “You actually thought that?” “I did,” was Dale’s shamefaced confession. “That’s what prejudiced me against him at the start. And he, seeing I ivas prejudiced against him, treated me as I deserved. I don’t understand it all-yet, but I understand just enough to- realise that I’ve been a fool.” “You have beeu a wonderful friend!” she exclaimed softly. Her big, shining eyes were full upon him. Her lips quivered a little with the depth Of her feelings. “How can I ever repay you ?” “I’ve been repaid,” said Dale. “You have paid me this moment—with that look. If you wish to pay me a little extra, break Ainsworth of his unpleasant habit of shadowing people on the streets. It's embarrassing sometimes.” “Did he shadow you?” "Ask him,” said Dale lightly, and in the same instant he slipped the rope of pearls around her neck. “That’s where they belong.”

I “How exquisite!” she exclaimed. 5 “You certainly are!” ! “Oh, but I meant the pearls.”

“The pearls,” said Dale, looking at her with soft, wistful eyes, “aren’t half so exquisite off you as on you.” Her warm, smiling eyes went from the pearls to his face, a little sigh of ecstasy she removed the ornament from her throat. “Where did you find them?” “In Moffett’s bag. He says they belonged to his wife. He will never have any use for them. They are not in fashion where he is going.” He looked at the pearls out of eves full of admiration and a trace of desire. “Mr. Picaroon,” she whispered, searching his face, “you are not tempted?” “No.” He dropped the pearls with a sigh. “This is one of the nights when the Picaroon is immune against temptation.” He glanced out of the window. “Ah, here comes Summers!” A stocky figure was coming across the lawn toward the house. Dale went to the door and held it open. Summers bustled in with a sour and determined air. “What’s this? A joke?” he grumbled. He bowed stiffly before Adele and gazed suspiciously at Dale. “No, Summers, this is the fulfillment of a promise.” “Is it?” asked Summers, doubtfully. “That was a neat get-away you made tonight, Dale —one of the neatest X ever saw. But I’m not through with you yet. You have a lot to explain. If you’ve called me out here on a wild-goose chase ” “Calm yourself, Summers.” Dale waved his hand airly toward the window. “I think you have met Mr. Ferryman, alias Dr. Moffett, the perpertator of the Bank Street murder.” “What?” asked Summers in a dull, hollow voice. He stared at Ferryman, noticed his bound hands and feet, fixed Axelson with a passing glance, and then stared at Dale. “Say that again.” CHAPTER XXX. THE END OF DR. MOFFETT. . Dale picked up the mask he had torn from Ferryman’s face nearly three hours ago. “You might begin by asking him why he uses this mask. Then ask him where he got these pearls. Ask him why he tried to kill a young fellow by the name of Ainsworth, and why he threatened to murder Miss Castle. Ask him why he murdered his wife. Ask him why he faked the dictaphone evidence. Ask him—but you could fire questions at him the rest of the night, and still you wouldn’t cover the ground.” “And I may not care to answer all those questions,” observed Moffett with a sneer. “That’s so,” said Dale thoughtfully. For a moment he gazed at Axelson’s grey, twitching face. Then he took Summers aside, and talked to him earnestly in an undertone. At the end of ten minutes the captain appeared less incredulous. He stepped up to Axelson and released his feet. “Come with me,” he directed gruffly.

He took the old man’s arm and led him from the room. Moffett watched their departure with a dark and uneasy glance. Dale turned to the girl and engaged her in light conversation. An hour passed, and then Summers and the old man returned. “Ferryman,” he said, slipping a pair of steel links over the prisoner’s wrists, “I arrest you for the murder of your wife.” The man’s face changed horribly. He sent Axelson a deadly glance. “He’s squealed—the fool!” he snarled. “He is the murderer, not I.” “You instigated the murder,” said Summers quietly. "It was true, as you told me, that your wife left you a number of years ago, but she came back last June, and became your accomplice. You did not live together, and she used the name of Conway. You thought you could work better if ■ you were not looked upon as man and wife. "Soon you began to suspect that your wife was double-crossing you. You were afraid of her, and decided she had to be disposed of. Axelson was to do the work, and a certain night was set for the deed. Your . wife had been out to a gay party that night—that’s why she wore all that finery. She did not go to her own apartment after the party, but to 262 Bank Street. “You had sent her word you wished to see her there, but it was Axelson who met her when she arrived at the house, and it was he who committed the actual murder.” “Of course he did!” Ferryman declared chokingly. “I didn’t know anything about it.” “You did, and I can prove it. The murder was easy, but it wasn’t so easy to dispose of the body. That’s j a ticklish thing to do in a big city. You ; hadn’t given that angle much thought beforehand. After talking it over with Axelson you decided to make it appear that the murder had been committed by an outsider. Axelson was to ‘find’ the body when he made his rounds next morning. And to make everything look straight and aboveboard, you came to my office and gave me a long rigmarole, part truth and part fiction. And I fell for itj,” Summers grunted disgustedly and looked sheepishly at Dale. “I should have tumbled,” he admitted. “It was a little too pat, you sitting there in my office and handing me a sob story about your missing wife and how you kept the old home ready for her return, and the news of the murder coming in just then. Weil, you’re a great actor, Ferryman—l’ve got to hand it to you. You fooled me good and hard.” "Console yourself,” said Dale comfortably. “He fooled us all.” Summers glared at the cause of his humiliation. “I know all the rest, too, Ferryman—how you tried to frame Mr. Dale with the pearls and the dictation machine. And the green light. Where is it, Axelson?” The old man, glumly resigned to the inevitable, trudged across the room and opened a little niche in the wall. They heard a click and again the magic green light flooded the room, obscuring the candles on the mantel and throwing a softening shimmer over tense faces. “It’s a kind of magic lantern with ! a special lens Ferryman had made | for him,” Axelson explained in a husky I ! voice. “Turn it off,” Summers grumbled j uneasily, with a hard look at Ferry- j man. The green light faded out, surrendering the field to the candles. “Ferryman has several of these thigumybobs, hasn’t he?” Dale suddenly inquired. The old man nodded dully. “Two. One in town and one here. Then there are several smaller ones that you can carry around in your pocket.” “Like a flashlight?” Dale asked, his thoughts going back' to the night when he had encountered an intruder in his apartment. “Yes, something like that.” “Nifty things,” Summers muttered, and then he asked abruptly: “Ferryman wears green stained glasses sometimes, doesn’t he?” “Yes,” said Axelson, “but you wouldn’t notice the green stain unless you looked at them carefully. An ordinary bright light hurts his eyes.” Summers was peering craftily at the old man. “Tell me this,” he said suspiciously. “If Ferryman wasn’t present when his wife was murdered, how do you explain that I found a piece of green-stained lens in the room where she died?” “Oh,” Said Axelson, a sickly smile hovering about his lips, “that happened afterward. We had an argument about what to do with the body. Ferryman struck me, and I struck back.” Summers nodded as if satisfied with the explanation. Dale smiled at an odd recollection. He recalled the little scene in the restaurant when he had caught Ferryman’s glasses as they fell. He had noticed the green stain, but the thought of associating Ferryman with the evil enterprises of Doctor Moffett had been too staggering, and in the stress and rush of subsequent events he had almost forgotten the episode. “Weil,” Summers grumbled, addressing Ferryman again, “there was one man you didn’t fool, and that was Ainsworth. He fooled you.” “Paul?” the girl exclaimed. “Ainswortfi?” Dale echoed. The captain scratched his sturdy chin. He looked quizzically at Miss Castle. “Ferryman was working some sort of scheme against your father, wasn’t he?” The girl started and turned white. “It was just a frame-up,” Dale hastened to say. “You know how he tried to frame me. He tried to work the same sort of stunt on Mr. Castle, except that his motive was different. He hoped to get money out of Mr. Castle.” Summers’s narrow gaze travelled from Dale to the girl. “Well, anyhow, Mr. Castle must have been worried. And you were worried, too. Miss Castle. Ainsworth noticed it, but you wouldn't tell him what the trouble was, and so he started out tc find out for himself. It seems his intentions were good. He was piqued because you wouldn't tell him. and he wanted to help you. He bribed one of your servants to keep his eyes open and report to him what was going on.” “Wambley!” Adele exclaimed. She looked quickly at Dale. “And we thought ” “An all-round comedy of errors,” Dale murmured with a rueful sort of smile. “And he also got around somebody in your father’s office,” Summers went on. “Ainsworth seems to be the sort that gets what he goes after.” “Oh, he is!” said Adele in a queer voice. | (To be concluded on Monday.)

KING COUNTRY JOTTINGS A very successful year has been completed by the Ohura sub-branch of the Plunket Society, the credit being: £42 15s 4d. A canvass of the Public "Works camps in the district resulted in increased support for the work. Officers for the next term were elected as follow: President, Mrs. H. Seerup (re-elected); vice-president, Mrs. J. L. Robinson; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. C. Nicholls; committee, Hesdames Turnbull, McKay, Mackay, Thompson, Howie, Parker, Friel, Wills and J. Seerup. A gratifying: feature of the yearly review by Nurse Scanlan was the reference to the increasing interest shown by mothers, and the rapidly growing confidence in the work of the society. SURPRISE PARTY Mr. and Mrs. N. A. Lyon had their home “raided” at Otunui by a merry crowd of young folk from all over the district, the party being organised as a tribute to Mr. Trevor Lyon, on the occasion of his 21st birthday. The •‘raiders” took complete charge of the residence, and with games and competitions, interspersed with other items, the evening passed pleasantly. KITCHEN EVENING At the Parish Hall, Taumarunui, a number of friends gave a “kitchen” evening to Miss Myrtle Robinson, who is to be married shortly. Lancing was indulged in, music being provided by Mrs. Martin’s Broadway Orchestra. Miss Z. Mattar gave a vocal solo, and Mr. B. Cullen a saxophone solo, and wireless items were also enjoyed. Miss Robinson received a very large number of gifts, Mr. Crane returning thanks on her behalf. * # * LODGE DANCE The members of the Mangaroa Lodge, 1.0.0. F., Ohura, gave a delightful little complimentary dance to the committee and other friends who assisted in the work of conducting the recent successful baby carnival. Speaking for the lodge, Mr. C. Speakman presented Mrs. Dawber with a cheque, and expressed the appreciation they felt at the workdone. Mr. W. Ward supplemented Mr. Speakman’s remarks, and mentioned that social life was one of the strong features of Oddfellowship. Music for the dancing was supplied by Mr. and Mrs. H. Thompson. COMING-OF-AGE PARTY Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Frank, of Taumarunui, were the hosts at a coming-of-age party given in the Theatre Royal Annexe in honour of their daughter, Miss Phyllis Frank. About 50 guests were present, and the spacious room had been beautifully decorated with ferns, chrysanthemums and autumn-tinted flowers. Tn a prominent place was a large and ornate latchkey. Miss Frank wore a dainty frock of white tiered georgette, anklelength at the back, and falling away at the sides, worn with a green and silver spray on the left shoulder. During the evening items were given by Miss Bessie Jefferson, Miss M. Davis and Mr. Frank. Dancing was continued till a late hour, the music being played by Mr. Frank. Miss Frank was the recipient of a great number of beautiful gifts. WOMEN’S INSTITUTE ! j SUCCESSFUL FIRST MEETING AT PUKEKOHE The membership of the Pukekohe. Women’s Institute was doubled at the first meeting held on Monday evening. The president, Mrs. F. A. Hosking, presided. Members of the Tuakau branch were present. Mrs. V. L. Harvey and Miss G. Gray were elected vice-presidents. The programme committee, Mesdames Gee and Harvey, had arranged a varied programme and songs were given by' Mesdames Harvey, Potter and Steer, and pianoforte solos by Mrs. Deed. Mrs. C. Cooper proved to be the winner of the “roadside signs” competition. The hostesses for the evening were Mesdames Hosking, Curd and O’Loughlen.