Was He the Man ?

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10208, 8 April 1911, Page 2

Was He the Man ?

OUR SERIAL.

BY F. L- DACRE, . —o— Author of "A Phantom of the Past," "Trouholme's Trust," "The Doctor's Secret? "A Loveless Marriage," "Sir John's Hen-ess," etc.

CHAPTER I .—Continued. "Isn't it rather foolhardy of him." 1 asked, "to giva us warning of his (.•nming ■'" _ ••to give mo warning—yes; out lie doesn't know ho is doing so. \ou must bear in mind that iio has no reason to that you are hostile to his m-u-..sU, sLill less that you are working in conjunction with myself. You see, he could have no stronger defence against his extradition, snould it he applied for at any future time, and he doesn't know that steps arc already 'being taken to obtain it, than his recognition hv yourself and others as Major Denver. if he can only persuade the magistrate to refuse his extradition on the ground that he is not the man wanted, who is dead, but Denver, then, for the future, Tie is safe in England even if you and others should afterwards disown him. But if he should set foot in France, well, our legal procedure moves on other lines. Recognition as the. man lie isn't is absolutely vital to his safety; accordingly he'takes every precaution to secure it. This cablegram is one of them —it goes to show his determination." we should assume that Fitzgerald ia actually at the Cape, aivd' will, start forthwith for England; in iact. there is little doubt that he did not send the despatch until the vessel wa-. on the point of starting, to avoid the risk of a cablegram for his arrest, and is now several hours on the journey. T wonder, by the way, how he found the money for the trip; whether he went in person, or employed a confederate? I was in hopes that he was short of coin, for it Is easier to track an impecunious criminal than one with funds at his disposal."

"It is never pleasant to confess that one has been a dupe, even when one hns not been to blame. The chance remark from Morel reminded me that I had been the victim of avery simple trick. s

"Perhaps I can throw some light up- ( on the subject," I replied. "Indeed," he, said, raising his eyebrows, "T needn't ask you whether you paid his fare?" "Well, not intentionally: but all' the same, T'm afraid I did. AVhon that rascally cripple called on me. about five, weeks ago. T was occupied at flie +ime i« goinjr tbronch my pass book. Tt. with my check stubs and a number of paid checks, was lying on iht writing table. Dining my interview with the man I went out of the room to instruct my servant to follow him when he left. You remember I told you of it. Well, a week ago I received a note from my bank informing me that my account was overdrawn. I knew ■tyiat this could not be. but an examination of my pass bonk and mv check book explained the matter. My signature had been forc-'-d. to a check for two hundred pounds, ! -ic last two blank',checks had been i.irn out. and one of the paid checks -a .is missing—taken, of course, as a samole of my signature, and I must say the forger made an exact copy of it. L should have sworn to it as mv >-\vn wn'tinrr birl J not know.i tint T bad not draw-" tb r < e^eck." "Ah, 'Jim Robsorrs i iv»o*t f-ni'is-taking penman," returned Morel serenely, "in fact, a finish el artist T am now more than ever c.:nvriMvl of the fact that your visitor w;i« be Wr\ needn't search any further to disrrver where the money came fror.i for Fitzgerald's voyage." At that moment an o:.r-spiuti»»<r <ornet N blast hroivO on our 'f came, from immel'.nvlv below our window, and. reinforcol by other init\-uments of torture, soon spread i+s<?l* int) a discordant tun?. '- "Sacre!" Morel brnk • out "that such monstrous ninstrehsy should be j permitted in a rivi'sod country!" F threw c.peT *lie wind-i»v and looked out. j "It is onlv a Gerrmn land-—six of them," I said, "and this is a free conntry, you know, \f. Mnr 1 One"* even free to be a nui-» <ce ir en 's neighbours!" I closed the window avid we icsumed our conversation "As I was saying." resumed Morel, "T think for our purposes that we should assume that Fitzgerald himself is on his way from the Cape, at the same time not closing our eyes to the possibility of his still being in England ' —Burton should make it his business to find out what steamships are expected from the Cape during the next few weeks, and the ports and the probable dates of their arrival. Then we wjll divide our forces, and post ourselves at the different ports to receive our man. and escort him to his destination. I am disposed to think that it will be wiser to arrest him on the spot, than to wait till he has made his claim to the setate of Major Denver. If he makes the first move, we shall have to overcome a prejudice in his favour. Of course, should he elude us, we will have to face it. What do you think?" I told Morel that I quite agreed with hmu and would instrust Burton according]}'. T thought I was conscious suddenly of a slight diminution in the volume of brazen discord beneath our window and, on turning my eyes outward and downward, found the cause. One of the music-murdering miscreants had detached himself from his fellows and was going around with the hat! Presently he went into the news agent's shop.

Just as Li-s form ivns disappearing through the doorway. Morel happened to look up. With a sudden start lie fixed his eyes on the man's retreating figure, and remained watching with the intentness of a terrier waiting for a rat. In a few minutes the man came out again, stuffing something into his pocket. In an instant, and without a word, Morel had sprung from his seat, seized his hat, thrown open the door, and nvas hounding down the stairs. Another two seconds he was in the street, hut now he ma do hi,s way mora deliberately, proceeding a few yards along his own side of the road, and then crossing to the other side. I was quite at a loss to account for his unexpected movements, hut <1 soon learned the cause. In the bandsman I recognised' James Robson : There was scarcely a doubt, therefore, that Morel had been right in his surmise that my visitor, William Smith, was the man he was in search of. With rapid steps, but without conspicuous haste, Morel made his way towards Robson, \vhose face was turned from him. He was within two yards of him, and in a second would have, clutched him by the shoulder, Avhen suddenly Robson faced „ about. Instantly lie recognised his* would-be captor' and as quickly he took to his heels, in his flight running full tilt into a group of children collected before the band, and sending several of them sprawling to the footpath. Without a moment's pause Morel started in pur- i suit, the scattered children somewhat checking him, and enabling Robson to put a few more, yards between them. But, once free, the Frenchman forged ahead. No policeman was in sight, so Robson's capture would depend upon the superior fleetness of his pursuer. My - suspense and excitement were intense, and I threw up the window, and leaned out to watch the chase. As 1 hoped, the detective was the nimbler-footed; with every step he gained upon Robson- —in a few seconds lie would overtake him. The chase- was practically over, when, just as Morel's forth reaching hand was almost touching him, Robson suddenly stopped, and stepped aside. Then, as his pursuer rushed past, lie dealt him a sudden savage blow on the head with his brass instruTrent, flung it away, and vanished up [ a narrow street. ! ilis impetus carried .Morel forward several feet, and then he fell senseless to the ground. At this disastrous termination of the chase, I rushed down the stairs, and along'the street to where the, det- ■ ective lav. The band had ceased to play, and even before I could reach I the prostrate man a little crowd nad j gathered avound him. I pushed my way 'to his side. i '>J S —j s no — he isn't killed?" I stammered. "Oh, no, sir," some one in the ■ crowd replied. "I think he's only stunned, but it was a regular knockout blow. Them trumpets ain't nice things to get a smash on the head' with'.'" ' I I explained that I was a friend of Morel's, and asked some of those about to assist me to g(ft him. to his' room. This done, I sent for the nearest doctor. In about ten minutes he arrived, but just before this, to my great relief, Morel began to show I signs of returning .consciousness. H 6 opened his eyes, and stared about him, presently murmuring: I . "What am I doing here?" "I'm glad to hear you speak, old | I chap," I'said. "You'll be all right I soon." j He made a movement to sit up, but I pressed him back. "Don't move, lie still," J said.. "You've had a little accident, a cut on the head. I've scut for a doctor ; to patch vou no." He had" a nasty cut on the temple, from which the'blood was flowing. He hadtbeeAi wearing a soft, felt hat, through which the edge of the instrument had penetrated .

Morel was now rapidly collecting his thoughts. "It was Robson, wasn't it? I saw him from the window, and ran after him. 1 thought I had him, yet somehow I missed him. How did he get away. I suppose* he escaped?" I explained what had happened. "Well," said Morel, "lie's scored this time, but my turn will come. How my head throbs. I had stanched the bleeding as well as I could, by binding a handkerchief around his head, and although he was a sorry spectacle to look at, f hoped his condition did not match his looks. The doctor made a careful examination, pronounced that there was n*> fracture, dressed , the wound, and ■said that, when that- had healed, he would be as well as ever. Probably' in a week or so he would be perfectly right. Morel took quite a philosophic view of his mishap. "We may congratulate ourselves it happened when it did," he said, "for ; I suppose it had to be. .Just fancy ' if Jim Robson had disabled me for a fortnight hence, just when we were hoping to give his friend a cordial welcome." "It would have disorganised our plans for tiertaiu," I rejoined, "and I am glad you can find any consolation in your accident." I did not want to tire Morel with talk, so after a few words more, I left him, with, a promise to call next day to see how he was getting on. (To be Continued).