The Bantyre Fortune

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1004, 21 June 1930, Page 24

The Bantyre Fortune

COPYRIGHT PUBLISHED BY SPECIAC ARRANGEMENT

IV '

FRANK PRICE.

CHAPTER XVII. MARA WHITTON ‘‘You'll be all right here, but don’t show yourself if you hear anyone outside. We don't want them to know you are still on the premises." He nodded knowingly and went out. i A moment later Mark heard him enter i the dining room and. shut the door. 1 Alone in the room into which Grier- ; son had thrust him, Mark Seymour re- j viewed the position as it appeared to ] him. On the whole he was satisfied with the way things had gone. The unexpected complication of finding Garfield and Hector Cousins in the house when he arrived with Grierson, which at first seemed to threaten disaster, had proved a positive advantage. Grierson’s acceptance of his pose as a hostile stranger had obviated the necessity of explanations as to his motives for inducing Naomi to leave the Wimbledon house with him and the menace to their interests which Garfield and Hector Cousins saw in the intervention of an apparently independent and disinterested champion of her rights had, as Grierson phrased it, put them where they were wanted. They would be willing and anxious to strike a bargain for the suppression of the document proving Naomi’s legal claim, and that was the end to which Mark’s whole game of bluff had been directed. That document was the key to everything. Unless it could be produced there was no hope of seeing justice done and, though he was convinced of its existence, lie had no notion where it was and had been unable to devise any method of learning. The one thing he did know was that it was not in Grierson’s flat. If it had been the vanished servant, Bastow, would have found it iii the search presumably instigated by Garfield and Cousins in an endeavour to get rid of the evidence without having to pay through the nose for the relief. AU he had heard from Grierson had left him with the impression that, until now, neither Cousins nor Garfield had been satisfied that there was such a document. Grierson had been too cautious to risk having it on him during the only Interview which had taken place and the others were too sceptical to accept his bare word. They hid any alarm they felt under a blunt refusal to negotiate with professed blackmailers, and took such measures to protect themselves as their unscrupulousness suggested. But now these had failed. The attempt to find and steal the certificate was fruitless, and their projects with regard to Naomi had been brought to nothing by Mark’s disclosure of the plot and lxer withdrawal with him.

They had naturally assumed that Mark was working in conjunction with Grierson and his gang, and had acted that morning as an emissary of theirs. Hence their visit to the flat, when they were unable to get Grierson on the phone. But Mark’s ruse and Grierson’s quick acceptance of it had misled them. The situation -appeared to be even more dangerous than they feared. It behoved them to come to terms with all speed. They would “cough up,” iu Grierson's phrase, but they were too wily to pay good money without making sure that they were getting value for it. They would not only insist on seeing the certificate of Henry M. Bantyre’s marriage, and being satisfied as to its genuineness —that was the point on which Mark was relying—but they would require its destruction as part of their bargain. They would pay at once if there was no escape, but they were not the kind of men to leave incriminating evidence to be held over them as a perpetual threat to be bought off again and again.

It was his last thought -which caused Mark a pang of uneasiness. He fully expected that the bargain would be struck at once. Grierson had gone back to the dining-room, satisfied on that point, and he would have no difficulty in persuading Garfield and Cousins that there was no time to be lost. They believed Mark to have left the house, and the mere idea that he was at large with the knowledge he possessed would add to their alarm. They would be only too anxious to get everything settled up quickly, but they wpuld be no less anxious to make themselves perfectly secure. Mark glanced at his watch and tried to calculate possibilities. It was twenty minutes past one* He was surprised to find it still so early. So many things had happened since he got up that morning that he could hardly believe the day was not gone. How were matters likely to move now? The first tiling was for Grierson to come to terms with Garfield and Cousins. That should not take long, considering the mood In which they all were. The next step would be the important- one from Mark’s point of view——Garfield and Cousins would require the production of the marriage certificate before either handing over money or signing an agreement to do so. Being in haste, they would probably remain in the house while Grierson or one of his accomplices brought it from its hidingplace. Somehow or other, while it was iu transit, or after it was actually iu the house, Mark must obtain posession of it and get away with it to Naomi.

That was the programme, perfectly simple as it presented itself to his mind, but by no means easy to make sure of executing. It fairly bristled with the possibilities of danger. None of the gang was likely to give the document up to him in response to- a mere request. It was just on the cards that he might accomplish his purpose by art, but what he knew of those he had to deal with made it seem much more likely that he would be called upon to use force. Well, he was ready to do that, as he was ready to do ail things for Naomi’s sake, but common sense and prudence suggested the advisability of making the attempt before the paper reached the house, if that could be done.

Outside he would probably have only one person with whom to deal. He quite expected that one would be Grierson.. Big Dave was a formidable antagonist to tackle single-handed if it came to a fight, but he was not dismayed. He had more than held his own in the scrap with Cyprian Cousins, who was as big, and probably stronger and in better condition, and he had no doubt he could hoid his own -with Grierson, though he

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knew the latter would be armed. He must take advantage of that knowledge. Forewarned was forearmed, and he must take measures to prevent Grierson from using his pistol. Anyhow, it would be easier to deal with one man alone and perhaps in the open than to be caught by three of them in the house. He went to the door of the room and stood with his ear close to the panel, listening for the first sign that anyone was about tc go out. For some minutes there seemed to be no sound in the house; then that for which he was waiting came. The door of the dining-room was opened to give passage to someone, and immediately closed again. Mark strained his ears for footsteps and ether noises which would tell that the •messenger had left the flat; but what he picked up was the low hiss of a hurried conversation being carried on in whispers. It ceased presently, and there came the sound of the dining-room door being opened and shut again; then silence. He was coming to the conclusion that the hall was empty when he suddenly became aware ,of stealthy movements out there. Could Grierson have guessed his purpose and be trying to get out of the house without his knowledge? He must not be caught napping! He took hold of the handle of the door, intending to peep out cautiously; but. as he touched it, the knob was turned silently from outside, the door was pushed open and he found himself face to face with Mara Whitton.

Each was as surprised as the other, and Mark saw suspicion leap into the woman’s eyes; but she did not lose her presence of mind and, motioning him back into the room, she came in and softly shut the door. Then she faced him again. “What were you doing?” she demanded. “Grierson told me to wait here,” he replied. “1 know that.” Her manner was impatient. “What were you doing at the door just then? Eavesdropping? Spying?” “That depends on the point of view. I was certainly listening. I heard mysterious whisperings out there and then there were movements that sounded equally mysterious. So many queer things seem to happen in this house that I thought I had better find out what was going on if I could. If anything had been wrong I might have been able to make myself useful.” “Useful to whom?” she asked. He had spoken lightly, but her expression was uncompromising, and her eyes did not cease to study his face with open suspicion. “To the general good, of course,” he answered. “Our friend Grierson —” “Our friend Grierson is quite capable of taking care of himself!” she said curtly, adding Immediately with a curl of her lips; “Or at least he thinks he is! But he would not thank you for trying to make yourself useful to him in ways he has not authorised, You claim to have done that once and you have got away with it as far as he Is concerned; but it’s not the sort of thing you can repeat indefinitely.”

“1 got away with it because the facts speak for themselves,” said Mark. “I don't know what has been happening in the other room while I have been shut up here, but I'm willing to bet that Cousins and Garfield have come to terms and that their decision is a direct result of what I did.” She regarded him in silence for a while with darkening eyes. Her whole attitude proclaimed that she would have denied the truth of what he said if it had been possible, and the fact that she did not, convinced him that his description of what had been happening was correct. But though the result had been achieved she was not satisfied.

“Why did you do it?” she asked sharply. “Has Mr. Grierson sent you to find that, out?” lie countered. The question seemed to turn the current of her thoughts. “No,” she said. “I told you that you have satisfied him—for the present.” She opened the handbag she carried and thrust her hand into it, still eyeing him dubiously. Slowly she drew an envelope from the bag and held it out to him. “Here are some instructions for you." Mark took the envelope and glanced at it. His name was inscribed across the front in scrawling, unformed letters. He turned it over to tear the flap hut paused and shot a quick look at Mara. The frown on her forehead deepened and she caught her lower lip between her teeth as their eyes met. “I suppose it was in the hall he gave you this and teld you I was still here,” he said. “Cousins and Garfield think I have gone and he wouldn’t want to undeceive them. That would be the whispering I heard outside.” “Yes,” she said. “What of it?” “Nothing,’! he smiled. “Mere idle curiosity!” But he was recalling the comparatively long silence which had ensued after the whispered conversation finished and the sound of the dining room door being opened and shut indicated that Grierson had returned to Garfield and Cousins. Mara must have been alone in the hall then and, with the envelope in his hand, he knew what she had been doing as well as though he had watched her One side of the gummed flap was crumpled and there was a tiny tear iu the edge. Evidently she had tried lo open the envelope, probably relying on the fact that it was but newly closed and the gum would still be moist. But the fastening had held and, seeing that she could not effect her purpose there and then, she had repaired the damage caused by her attemept as well as she could, and had now delivered the letter hoping that he would notice nothing. So much for the honour that is supposed to exist among thieves, he thought, as he broke the envelope and took out the sheet of paper it contained.

There were not many words on it but, scrawled in the same straggling hand as the address, they nearly filled the page: “Go where the bearer takes you, wait while she does what she has to do and return with her here. She is to be back at 3 o’clock and it’s up to you to see that she is.—D.G.” CHAPTER XVIU. HONOUR AMONG THIEVES .. Mark looked at the heavy underscoring, doubled and trebled in places. Those hastily struck lines spoke more eloquently than the words they were

meant to emphasise. They told him that the writer doubted his messenger, just as surely as the tampering with the envelope showed that the doubts were well founded. “More honour among thieves!” he thought, replacing the note in its covering and putting it in his pocket. Glancing at his watch he said aloud: “We had better be starting if we have far to go.” Mara had watched him as though hoping to read the letter from the effect it had on his facial expression, but he had taken care to control his features while ignoring the half made gesture with which her hand went out towards it on its way to his pocket. Now, unable to repress her curiosity, she asked eagerly: “What did he say?” “Simply that I am to go wherever you take me and see that you are back here at three o’clock without fail. I gather that I am to act as your guard on whatever expedition you are undertaking—a gaurd of honour, of course!” He could not resist the jibe. “He doesn’t say where X am going nor why?” “Neither. He issues an order and leaves me to obey-. “Mine not to make re ply, mine not t reason why-.’ Ought we to be getting on?” "Come!” she said abruptly, turning to open the door which she had closed when she came into the room. "Quietly-! They don’t know you are in the house.” “Think 1 was thrown out with every circumstance of ignominy a quarter of an hour ago, I suppose! All right, I’ll be as silent as the grave! ” He tiptoed after her to the hall door, which she opened noiselessly, and they passed out. She shut the door without a sound and led the way to the lift. Mark’s spirits had bounded upward. He had not the slightest doubt tliat the object of this mission of Mara’s was the recovery of the all important document from its hiding place. It was to be brought back for production to Garfield and Cousius and the clenching of the bargain that would rob Naomi of her rights for ever. So far his anticipations had been confirmed, but it was an altogether unhoped for stroke of luck that Mara should have been deputed to bring it, and a master stroke of ironical fate that he had been delegated to see that she did not play false —for he could put no other interpretation than that on the underlined instruction.

Mara’s manner and her anxiety about the tenor of the note suggested that she had a shrewd suspicion as to Grierson’s motive in sending a guard with her and resented the precaution. Mark determined that it “was not for him to smooth her ruffled feelings. When rogues fall out honest men come by their own, and the more doubt and distrust there was between members of the gang the better it would be for the interests of Naomi. The lift took them down and they found Grierson’s big car waiting m the street. “Get in,” said Mara, and went to speak to the chauffeur. Mark lingered at the step in the hope of hearing the instructions she gave and of pickingup some information that might be useful; but she kept her voice down to a muffled whisper, and no words reached him. Apparently the order she gave was simple, for she rejoined him in a moment and they took their seats. The car was headed toward London and moved off in that direction, but presently it swung to the right, threaded a maze of side streets and crossed the river by Battersea Bridge. Mark was keeping an eye on the course with the feeling that any information might be useful, but his attention.was distracted by bis companion. She had sunk back into a corner on entering the car and sat there with her gaze fixed on Mark. Her dark eyes were cloudy, as though with the threat of coming storms, and her expression was one of sullen discontent; but he had no means of deciding if her displeasure was directed upon him or elsewhere. He would have given a great deal to Know and was casting round in his mind for some conversational opening that might lead her to disclose her feelings when she took the matter out of his hands by saying abruptly: “So you are doing all this for love!” “What do you mean?” He sat up with a startled expression. Had those velvet eyes, so world-weary in spite of their comparative youthfulness, been able to read the secret of his soul?

“Isn’t it true? Aren’t you only here because you are head over ears in love with Naomi Bantyre? Isn’t your one object to serve her, and wouldn’t you lay down your life for that end?” Her voice mocked him, and there was a faint contemptuous smile on her lips; yet beneath the mockery he seemed to sense something deeper and more elemental, as if, while outwardly jesting at the mere idea of such love as she spoke of being impossible, something in her nature forced her to believe in it and to envy the girl to whom it was given. This impression was so strong on Mark thathe was tempted to avow his love for Naomi and appeal to Mara’s better nature for help on her behalf. But common-sense restrained him. Nothing but an entire change of the heart on the part of this woman would avail on those terms, and he could not hope to accomplish that. It would be madness to trust her or even to acknowledge his love. “What has put that notion in your head?” he asked, curtly. “Do you think I am blind?” She leaned forward so that her face was near to his, and the pungent perfume of the scent she used was strong in his nostrils. “Do you think I haven’t noticed how the mere mention of her name stirs y-ou and sets the blood racing in your veins? DO y-ou think that, because I am what I am, anti y-ou find me driven by circumstances to consort with beasts and reptiles such as Grierson and Burke and Rosenbach, 1 don’t know what love ought to be and can’t recognise it when I see it? Do you think I have only the out-

ward shape of a woman and that what's in here lias never hungered for the only fulfilment that can satisfy a woman’s heart?” She struck herself fiercely on the breast, and then, as if exhausted by lier outburst, sank back into her corner again, reclining with closed eyes and panting bosom. Mark sat looking at her in perplexity-. AVas this tirade a genuine outpuoring of her sentiments, or was it only a trick by which she hoped o lead him on to betray himself? Unable to decide, he remained silent, waiting for the next move to come from her. After a while her lids flickered open, and, seeißg him staring at her, she sat up with a shrug of her shoulders. (To be continued on Monday.)

TO KEEP FIT YOU MUST KEEP YOUR WAISTLINE !

SIMPLE EXERCISES THAT HELP YOU TO DO IT WEAKENED MUSCLES BRING A STOOP That more than 50 per cent, of our bodily ailments are due directly or indirectly to digestive trouble is the opinion of a gymnast expert expressed in an overseas journal. In view of this fact it is surprising that so few people give the slightest though or consideration to the muscles which are the sole means of supporting ancl keeping in place their digestive organs. Weak abdominal organs are one of the chief causes of the many stooping shoulders seen today, and if the stoopers could see themselves they would not deday in putting matters right. Any-Time Exercise When the muscles are weak or relaxed the abdomen is thrust forward with a resulting stoop to counteract the defect. ' The following simple exercise, which can be performed at any time of the day, should soon begin to put matters right. Contract the muscles of the abdomen to their utmost extent as though you would press all *your organs against your spine. Hold them contracted for some live seconds and then relax. Repeat the exercise four or five times, each time contriving to hold the position for a little longer. It will be seen that while in the position the shoulders will be braced back in a normal attitude. If this exercise is rigorously carried out, a few weeks

should see the stooper well on the way to fitness. The many complaints of dyspepsia which one hears today are due to nothing more or less than abdominal muscles not sufficiently strong to bear the weight of the many organs. If the muscles are neglected, they soon grow slack, and as they expand throtigh lack of exercise lose their grip upon the digestive organs, which soon drop out of place. To Tighten the Muscles The first sign of this, fault in your system will be a softness and drooping of the abdomen, and steps should be immediately taken to put matters right if you do not want digestive trouble. The man or woman who finds discomfort in this respect should concentrate on one exercise, which if persevered with should soon tighten the muscles to their proper strength. Lie flat on the back, and without bending the knees raise the legs to the greatest possible height. This may not be great at first, but after a week or so you should be able to raise the legs well above the head. In doing this, the muscles will have tightened and drawn the organs back into the proper place, and once they are there do not neglect the exercise and let them fall back again. Continue it daily if you wish to keep fit. Abdominal Breathing

With the digestive organs in their correct position, first-class fitness can be assured, and with it the resuiting fresh complexion and clear skin of health. Many women who mourn their blotchiness of complexion have only themselves to thank, in that they have neglected the simple precaution of exercise. Abdominal breathing is among the finest forms of exercise for promoting blood circulation in the digestive organs. A deep breath should be taken and the abdomen pressed down at the same time. This not only brings a rush of blood to the vital organs but also taughtens the downward action of the muscles and Induces an upright carriage with every muscle in the body in its correct position. Exercise, then, but don’t- overexercise—this is even more harmful than neglect. Always -stop before you are tired, and, above all things, if you would enjoy health, exercise regularly.

The modern housewife serves her family, her guests and herself best when she serves A.M.C. quality meats. A.M.C. buyers select the choicest of prime young fat stock, it is slaughtered under ideal hygienic conditions in your own Municipal Abattoir, every carcase is subjected to the most rigid inspection before being passed for sale in the retail shops. That is why A.M.C. quality is always so delectable, tender and appetising—line in flavour and rich in food value. Leal at an A.M.C. branch.—3.