The Swoop of the Vulture.
'OUP SERIAL.)
( CHAPTEKXV. ((kmtimicd.) Ho discussed it with Doctor Sanderson, who lie Id firmly to his original opinion, and then in an evil moment lie decided, with that obstinacy which sometimes characterizes the military officer in a civil position, to tost the truth or falshood of tlie storv himself. It so litij>]>ouo<l that Halkino suggested an excellent opportunity ior doing this. Autumn merges rapidly into winter on the bleak slopes of Xothermoor, and one day, when the first snows had fallen, he received from him a. request for an interview.
The next clay was the one on which ho was accustomed to hour report •. and complaints in his office, and when the other cases wore disposed of he ordered Halkino to bo brought before him. The request that he had to mako was a very simple and natural one, an<J ifc was, made so modestly and respectfully that Colonel Marshall did not find any difficulty in granting it.
I He had suffered for yearn from a j slight weakness of the bronchial tubes, declared No. 777, and as gardening and farming work was now afc a standstill , he asked that he moght bo given indoor employment, even if it were in solitude. Further, the constant action of the colored rays of his eyes, and the absence of natural light, were enfeebling his eyesight. Wherefore, if the governor still thought it necessary for Kim to wear the glasses in public, he would esteem it a great favor if ho could he allowed to work in solitude, and be relieved of them a certain number of hours a day. Now it chanced that the telephonic communication between the governor's house and the prison was out of order and needed repairing, and no one was better qualified to d° the work than the almost universally accomplished convict No. 777. So the governor, in spite of a somewhat strong protest from Doctor Saunderson, determined to have his own way, and give the job to him. The same afternoon he w«s taken to the house under the charge of a warder, as the regulations prescribed, and the goggles were removed. Re went about his work on the instrument quietly and deftly, keeping his eyes on what he was doing. Warder Plunkett, his guardian, was a good officer, and an excellent disciplinarian, but he was practically devoid of imagination, and therefore even more skeptical as to the supposed powers of No. 777 than Colonel Marshall him self. !
Tho first instrument to bo operated upon was the telephone in the governor's bedroom, by means of which he could be roused at any hour of the night in case of emergency arising in the prison. This was connected with the principle galleries and the infirmary , as well as with the house which Doctor Saunderson occupied, some little distance! away, onthe opposite side of the principal entrance gate. Halkine took tho framework down, examined it, an<J found a little fault in one of the wires, which was not properly insulated. "I think this is the fault with this instrument, sir," he said to the warder, as lie heated a bit of gutter perclra over the flanio of the spirit- lamp. He rolled it out between his fingers, applied it to the wire, and went on, as he replaced the instrument against tlio wall:
J "Now, will you kindly see if you can J ring up the doctor? I think this peg is his connection —yes. Now. if you please. And it would be better if you keep your eyes steadily fixed on this little circle, which is called the diaphragm. It is a, little sheet of, very thin iron, and it vibrates as you speak against it. That is how the electricity eonveys the sound of your voice to the receiver at the other end. Yes —that's it. Look very steadily at it please. ,so that, you can tell me if it moves. Allow me for a moment. That is not quite the right position, I see." Afe he isihifted the instrument a little, he passed his hand two or three times before the warder's eyes. When he saw that they were fixed on the diaphragm, he took out the connecting peg, looked keenly into his eyes for a few moments, made the connection with the governor's >offi,e.es in the. prison, and said with a snap of authority in his voice : "Now, ,«.ir, be good enough to ask the governor to come to tin's room as soon, as bo is at liberty." "T thought you said the doctor just now,"- said Plunkett, in a voice curiously unlike bis own. and trying, but unsuccessfully, to get bis eyes away from that little disk of black iron. "It doesn't matter which." replied Halkine, with yet a little more authority in his voice. "I only want to j try the connection. There, now you j
BY OWEN MASTERS.
Author of "His Heart's Desire," "One Impassioned Hour/' •'Captain Emlyn's Bride," "The Devereil Heritage," "The Ironmaster's Daughter," etc.
ought to bo connected, Ask the. governor if he can hoar you, but don't take your eye.s off the diaphragm. 1
want you to tell mo if it moves." The warder did as ho was told, wondering in a chill way what '.ins happening. The reply carao back that the governor was in his office.
' "Governor says he's there," sa:'ti Plunkett, in an expressionless tone, '■'-Very well," replied Halkir.o. "Now tell him that ho is wanted her* immediately—here, in this roam." "But ho isn't," said Plunkett sullenly, "f don't want him, and you have no right " "Never mind about, rights, Mr Plunkett," camo the vsharp reply. "Bo j Rood enough to do as Task you. Ha-, that diaphragm moved yet?" "No—sir—no—it hasn't, I've, not seen it." "No? Well, then, perhaps we 1 had better wait until it does before you call tho governor. Just say, 'AI! right ; we are trying connections. sir." The warder repeated the words a phonograph might have reproduced them, and without taking his eyes off the iron disk. Presently the words came over the wire, spoken in the governors voice: "All right; I can hear perfectly." "Governor says he can hear all right, sir," said the warder, wondering dimly how it was that their positions -were apparently reversed.
Halkine walked to the window and I looked out. He saw that it had begun to snow heavily. "That will do, Mr Pluukett," he, said. "It's getting near supper time. II think you had l>etter conduct ine back to the prison." Tke officer tried hard, but lie could neither get his eyes away from the fafcaj disk, nor move a muscle in his \ body. He' just stood there, leaning slightly forward, and staring with fix--1 p<l eyes at the instrument. Then Halkine went up to him, and measured him with his eye. Ho was almost exactly the same , s iy, e 41 , s himself, but he had already arranged for choosing the particular day when the man would bo on duty. He stepped to the door, and softly locked it. Then he commenced a rapid hunt through the ' room. He found the governor's raz- ' ors and shaving equipment, and shav- | ed himself clean. This done he went up to Pluukett, put a hand on each side of his temple, turned his head J round, and stared into his eyes fixedly for two or tbreo minutes. His eyelids fell half over his eyes, and stop-'' ped there. Then he passed his hands over his limbs, and thpy became srup•ple again. "Attention!" The warder, an old soldier, stolfen-e-d up, and Halkine went on. with a good imitation of the military tono of command: "Sergeant Pluukett, you have got the wrong uniform on. Take it off, and put this one on instead.. Quick now, boots and everything. I'm surprised thnt >'°" should appear on parado in such an extraordinary rig. Think yourself lucky it doesn't cost you your stripes." The officer obeyed in mechanical way, and at the samp time Halkine stripped off his convict garb, and threw the tilings toward him. l (To be Continued.)
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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 19 September 1912, Page 2
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1,353The Swoop of the Vulture. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 19 September 1912, Page 2
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