THE SOLUTIONS OF RADFORD SHONE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8991, 28 November 1907, Page 2

THE SOLUTIONS OF RADFORD SHONE.

BEING NARRATIVES 'BY OFFICERS OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, AND OF THE PROVINCIAL POLICE, IN RESPECT OF DEALINGS WITH THE EMINENT EXPERT, MR RADFORD SHONE.

CoIIMUNICATKI) TO AND K))lTl'.l> 11V

[Published By Special Arrangement.]

[All Eights Reserved.]

CHAPTER 111. —Continued

He went and sat on the bed, and it Was hard to realise that the slender, stooping figure of a man, with silver hair and a scholar's face, was plotting murder and robbery. He fumbled in the pocket of his dress trousers. I thought he would produce a pistol, but out came a bunch of keys, from which he selected two. "Open those portmanteaux," he commanded. "Lay out my pyjamas and shaving tackle, and put the other things away in that chest of drawers,'' His motive 1 could not guess, but I gutted the portmanteaux thoroughly, conscious all the while £hat those sardonic eyes were watching me from the bed. When I had completed my task, I took up the can aid made as though to retire, but he motioned me to stop. "Do you know why 1 made you do that?" he asked, regarding me intently. "It is my business—keep Sahib's tent tidy.W was the best answer I could- think of. If only I' knew whether he had recognised me, or was merely trying to satisfy himself that I w as what 1 seemed! "No, it was not because of your duty," he said, still fixing me with thoie remorseless eyes. "It was to show you that something you are curious about is not in my trunks, Manajee." "Money, Sahib!" I exclaimed, respectfully indignant.. "I am a highcaste man —no thief." Would he never take those scorching eyes off m'e —never cease caressing the breast pocket of his coat, in which, no doubt, a pistol lurked My own revolver was in my cummerbund, and the slightest movement on his par', would have, been the signal for me to try and draw first. But the electric moment passed without an explosion. Either I had deceived this pastmaster of deceit, or he was confident that he could treat me with contempt. He might easily have hatched an excuse for shooting me. but the formalities consequ3iit on the killing of a marauding servant might have upset his plans for the morrow. "Take the can," he said at last. "After that I shall want nothing more to-night." He had left the tent when I returned with the water, and peering out I saw that he had rejoined the pt.rty under the lanterns. Creeping us near as I dured, I flung myself on the ground to try and pick up crumbs of talk. The situation was growing desperate, for Nightingall was still in possession of the bomb, and shortly after dawn the Nizam, wearing "The Star of the South," wou<d pass the encampment. I gathered little from my a-nbush, except that Nightingall was again doing the - agreeable to the surly Mexican. Once or twice I thought thiat he drew the Doii's attention to Minna van Cortlandt and young Vanr neck —good friends again now, and flitting outrageously. Presently, amid laughter and lingering goodnights, the millionaire and his guests disappeared into their tents, and I, after the fashipn of Indian servants, stretched myself in front of Nightingall's tent. I had an idea that he communicate with other members of the garig, but no one came. His dispositions must have been made previously, or by subtler methods than receiving midnight visitors. As I lay under the stars, listening to his quiet breathing within, I strove to penetrate his deadly purpose. That he had concealed the bomb so cunningly as to defy search for it I had no doubt, but the manner in which he meant to use it puzzled me. It was inconceivable that he would stand on the roadway as one of van Cortlandt's guests and fling the deathdealing ball under the royal elephant as it passed. Even though in the confusion confederates might succeed in despoiling the mangled prince of the diamond, he himself could not hope .to escape. The first thought of the bystanders would betossize the thrower of the bomb. Turn it over which way I could, I saw no certainty of defeating him, and in my perplexity I fell sound asleep. When I awoke it was broad daylight and the camp was already astir. Springing to my feet, I boldly entered the tent, ostensibly to valet my master's guest; but to my chag rin lie had evidently been up and dressed some time. He wa3 bending over a basket of magnificent mangoes, arranging leaves among the succulent fruit with artistic effect. "Ah! Manajee," he said, all trace of his suspicion clean gone, "you are a heavy sleeper, it seems. Fine mangoes ain't they?" "Sahib been shopping in the market?" I schooled myself to say. "No," was the reply. "A fruitseller was here half an hour ago; he had to step over your carcase to get '•tome. I bought these to please the ladifs." IL took the basket and went out, goinj; . 'Wards the mess-tent, outside which oi . van Cortlandt and his sister, with Minna van Cortlandt and her two cavaliers, had posted themselves. Away at the Nizam's camp a burst of barbaric music signified the start of the procession, drawing cries ,of excited anticipation from the merry group, near which I posted myself, as ii am.iou3 to make myself useful. The cattle-king, catching sight of me, sent me into the messtent for a brandy-and soda. When I came out a cloud of dust heralded the approach of the procession, while Nightingall, with bows and smiles, distributed his mangoes. Light at last broke in on me. Instead of proffering the basket, he himself selected the fruit and handed it to each individual, coining last to

CHAPTER IV.

Don Ignacio, to whom he presented a particularly fine specimen. Two things I noticed—one, that he nodded significantly at the scowling Mexican ; the other, that while the rest began at once to eat the luscious fruit, the Don kept his in his hand. I Nightingall beckoned me, and bade me hold the basket, in whi(.-h there were a few mangoes left. J. had evidently ceased to interest him, for he spoke carelessly, with all his attention for the crowd of Europeans and natives lined up at* the roadside to see the Goojerati chieftain pass In that crowd, doubtless, were the birds of prey who were to pounce on the mangled heap and seize the priceless diamond under pretence of rendering assistance. Preceded by clashing cymbals and quaintly-garbed footmen,, the State elephant came on, the Nizam conspicuous in the howdah by reason of the stream of -fire that blazed from his turban. "The Star of the South" caught the rays of the Indian sun and flung them back on the gaping onlookers and on Nightingall's sternly expectant face. I edged close to Don Ignacio, who, just as the huge beast neared us, seemed to brace himself and start forward. I plucked the jealous dupe by the sleeve. ' "Here, Sahib; take this instead," I said, offering him another mango from the basket. "That one is not ripe. The elephant will not like it." In his haste he snatched the harmless mango, putting into my outstretched hand the one which Nightingalf had given him, and which my first clutch of it told me held the bomb. In a trice I had denuded the fruit of i!s deadly kernel, and, with the baleful glare of the defeated criminal on me, I stepped up to the howdah of the second elephant, from which Radford Shone, superciliously, complacent, was appropriating the homage of the spectators. "Morning, Shone," I said casually. "I'll call at.the hotel this evening for that hundred rnpees. Here is the bomb. If I hadn't watched things it would have been inside the mango which that idiot is offering your client's mount." At that instant Don Ignacio, felled by a blow from the State elephant's trunk, sprawled upon the ground amid roars of laughter. The procession came to a momentary halt, and under cover of the confusion the celebrated amateur leaned down to me from his howdah, his prominent eyeballs all agog at the perilous brass ball in my hand. "Who —what are you?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper. "Only a poor ignorant professional from the Yards," £ replied sweetly, "come across the sea to pull chestnuts out of the fire for my brilliant betters. Inspector Quilliam, at your service." From the motion of the great man's lips, i concluded that it was not a blessing that he was invoking on my head, and then, the Don having been hauled out of the way, the gorgeous pageant started on again, and that night the hospitable American was m : r.us a guest and a servant, both of whom had left without warning. Doctor Nightingall, alias "Deadly Smojth," aware now that his fust recognition of me had been right, gave up the game; while Radford Shone earned his enormous fee by looking mysteriously important during the Durbar festivities. But he changed his hotel, and did not return to England in the same ship with me.

THE LOST HEIRESS. I was fo dead .beat that 1 almost staggered through the doorway," above which a strip of white metal bearing the black-lettered words "County Police" proclaimed my calling to the world. It was nine o'clock at night, and from five in the morning I had been on my feet, controlling inquisitive sightseers, helping the men with drags, and generally superintending the search in the mill-stream for Miss Viola's body. Ours was only a little cot, with the front door opening straight into the living-room, from the path that split the cabbage-patch in two. My wife, dear soul, cried out when she saw how tired I was, and. jumping up from the table where she sat sewing, took my helmet and deftly unfastened my belt. "You're about played out, William," she purred at me. "I'll have supper on the table in a jift'ey. She ain't found, I suppose, or you'd have told?" "No," I replied, "she ain't found, Susan. And there's a longer head than mine on the job now that says she never will be found—leastways, not where we've been looking for her." (To be Continued.)