THE GREEN SHADOW

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 969, 12 May 1930, Page 5

THE GREEN SHADOW

By

HERMAN LANDON

Copyright by Publio Ledger

CHAPTER XXX. — (Continued.) “It seems he intercepted a letter,” Summers went on, still watching the girl narrowly. “It was signed Doctor Moffett, but it didn’t tell much. It was just a lot of mysterious hints. Well, to cut a long story short, Ainsworth got on Moffett’s trail. He did things his own way. He couldn’t learn much as an outsider, so he joined Dr. Moffett’s crew-. Just how he worked it I can’t tell you. Maybe he’ll explain later. Anyhow, he got on the inside of Dr. Moffett’s gang and pretended to work with it.” “Just like him!” Adele exclaimed. “And he never told me. But then,” and her face fell, “I shouldn’t expect “But even on the inside he couldn’t find out much,” Summers continued “He never saw Dr. Moffett face to face, but he hatl talks with him. That’s where the mask and the green light came in handy. Being a newcomer, he wasn't let into the secrets of the gang. They didn't quite trust him, and they threw dust in his eyes, it seems Dr. Moffett has a brother who is the ugliest man in the world.” “Oh!” Dale exclaimed. “That explains a little.” “The brother is straight, even if his face would stop a freight. Ferryman doesn’t like him. The brother knows something about his crooked work and has tried to stop him. Half jokingly. Ferryman has scattered hints now and then that his brother is Dr. Moffett.” "He told me the first time I saw him.” Adele remarked, “that one of the reasons why he didn’t want to show his face was that he was the ugliest man in the world.” "Yes. that seems to be one of his little jokes. He has several. Partly to tickle his own sense of humour and partly lo fool Ainsworth, he dropped a lot of discreet hints to the effect that the Picaroon and Dr. Moffett were the same person.” The captain turned to Dale with a guarded smile. “He also made Ainsworth believe that the Picaroon's other name is Martin Dale.” Dale laughed amusedly. “Nothing new in that. I have been misunderstood so often that it doesn’t worry me. Even you. Summers, have view-ed , me with suspicion now and then. But that explains why Ainsworth paid me a visit the other night.” He fingered his jaw reminiscently.

“Well, Ainsworth started to watch you,” the captain -told him. “And I guess he discovered several peculiar things about you, especially when he followed you in the dark hours of the night. The things he saw seemed to lend colour to what Dr. Moffett had hinted. Ainsworth wasn't to blame for being deceived. You do some queer things at night, Dale—looking at the moon when there's no moon, for instance.” “You’re too literal. Summers.” Dale eyed him with mock reproach. “Don’t you ever see things through the eyes of the soul?” “I don't,” Summers declared stoutly. “I can see plenty with my real eye 3. And one of these days ” "Now, Summers!” The captain’s reddish face relaxed in a grin. “Anyhow, you have made good on your promise.” He regarded Ferryman darkly. “I haven’t got the Picaroon yet, but you’ve helped me to make a good catch.” “And I’ll help you to make an even better one,” Ferryman declared in a tone that trembled with chagrin. Dale glanced quickly at the girl and saw a look of returning dread in her eyes. And then he glanced at the fireplace, where the evidence of Mr. Castle’s tragic mistake had been reduced to ashes. “There,” Moffett snarled, his face black with malice, his manacled hands raised and pointing in Adele’s direction, “stands the daughter of the mysterious Mr. Graves.” Adele shuddered. A faint gasp of dread fell from her lips. “Raving!” said Dale contemptuously. “The daughter of—who?” Summers exclaimed. “The mysterious Mr. Graves,” said Dr. Moffett in a voice that throbbed with spite and malice. He glared at Adele. Summers stared in amazement. And then he turned to Adele, noting her blanched cheeks and the horrified look in her eyes. "You mean to tell me that Virgil Ellsworth Castle is the mysterious Mr. Graves?” he exclaimed incredulously. “1 do,” Dr. Moffett declared, his face aglow with malicious glee. “Look at her. Doesn’t her face tell you enough?” Summers gazed again at Adele. Pier face told a tale of horror. “Ridiculous!” Dale murmured. He laughed as at something very preposterous. "Try to tell any sane person that Virgil Ellsworth Castle is the mysterious Mr. Graves, and you will draw the biggest laugh you ever heard.” Summers was not listening. His hard eyes were fixed on Ferryman. “Can you prove that?” he demanded. Ferryman gave a chuckle of malicious satisfaction. “You might ask Miss Castle to explain why she gave me a cheque for 100,000 dollars tonight.” “One hundred thousand ” The sum was too staggering for Summers, but again he looked into ; Adele's stricken face. She would ini deed have much to explain if it could be proved that she had given Ferry- [ man such a cheque. “Where is the i cheque?” he demanded, i “In my pocket. Get it. please. These | confounded handcuffs——” Summers came forward with a brisk and eager step. “No, the other pocket,” Ferryman gleefully directed. Summers thrust his hand into the other pocket. He brought out something. For a moment he stared at it blankly. “The Picaroon's card!” he exclaimed in a hollow voice. He searched the pocket again. “There is nothing else.” A heavy groan of frustration, edged with a beast-like snarl, broke from

| Ferryman’s lips. A long, trembling i sigh of relief escaped Adele. Her j brightening eyes fixed on Dale, and | Dale cast another glance at the black, l silent ashes in the fireplace, j “Queer about that card,” said Summers. j “Isn't it?” agreed Dale innocently. | “Wonder how it got into Ferryman’s pocket. Another frame-up maybe.” “Maybe.” Summers shrugged his sturdy shoulders. “Anyhow, it’s been a good night’s work.”

.Dale turned to Adele. He saw a warm, misty’, heavenly smile in her eyes. He smiled back and touched her hand lightly. “Thanks,” he said, softly. “Why? Why should you thank me?” “You will never know,” he whispered. Then he turned quickly and a little awkwardly toward the door. He was still smiling. Life held its compensations for the Picaroon. (The End.)