“MAN FROM THE AIRPORT”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1939, Page 10

“MAN FROM THE AIRPORT”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

LESLIE BERESFORD.

Author of “Mr Appleton Awakes,” “The Other Mr North,” etc.

CHAPTER XI. Continued. ■Crooked?” Geoffrey laughed cynically. “Why, good lord . . Who's going to be squeamish over a thing like this? If it comes to the pinch, what right had our grand-uncle to die, keeping a secret'marriage up his' coat sleeve? And just because he was that sort, were’s to sit back—like good little children—and let the money slip out of our hand's? Not likely, old girl. Not likely.”

“It does seem hard,” Paula admitted, moving restlessly about the room, still suffering under that tiny pinprick of conscience. “Sometimes Ive wondered,” she went on listlessly, "if the money matters so much. It hasn’t done you or me much good, you know. Before you walked in tonight, Geoff, I’d even thought of turning those two crooks down, and letting the other fellow in—”

“Paula, you're daft.” the other starer at her, amazed. “Give our good money to a rank outsider—and we don’t even know who he is?” ■Well, it isn’t really our money, Geoff,' is it? And—after all—this other fellow may need it badly—”

“What’s that to do with us?” He argued, his voice high-pitched and querulous now, and then laughed: “Look, Paula.' I can see you’ll have to leave this to me. We just can’t play about. That money's got to stay ours. It’s providential I’ve turned up, or you might have gone all soft. I can see. I’ll do what’s necessary, and earn my keep. You leave me to handle this business. All you need do is to put me in touch with those two smart Alicks and the rest’s done.” He was so decisive, so confident that she wondered then why she had suddenly begun to hesitate in this silly way, quibbling with her conscience. After all, now that Geoffrey was here, literally depending on her —for that was actually the fact—how could she possibly let him down?

At which moment, in Lea House, John Peters was reading the evening paper, more or less casually offered him' by Wallingford, who pointed to certain head lines, and suggested that he might be interested, remembering an earlier little talk between them. Peters was inwardly startled by this totally unexpected publicity given to a matter which, after his arrangement with the vicar of St Jude’s, he had hoped would be kept secret for the moment. How the business of that stolen entry could so soon have been rumoured abroad, he could not understand. There was little use in bothering about that, anyhow. He had to be satisfied at least that his name had fortunately not been mentioned. The Vicar's reported reticence about details indicated to Peters that his own interest in the -matter would remain undisclosed. On the other hand, this publicity was bound to alarm the German and his confederate, Tucker, who had doubtless imagined that their theft from the church would not be detected —at least for a long time.

Their illusion rudely shattered, they would still not know how it had been discovered, or how much was known. Their immediate reaction would be to press frantically forward with their attempts to make money out of Paula, and so be safe to destroy their ill-got-ten document.

From his knowledge of her, Peters had little doubt but that she would do everything she could to retain the Acrington fortune. He could ‘ scarcely blame her for that. But he did find himself wondering what would be her attitude now that she must know from the papers how the proof of that secret marriage had been obtained.

Peters, at this moment, was curiously aware in himself of a marked change in feeling towards Paula. It had grown stronger and stronger with every passing hour since he had left her after their talk at Sunnyside. He had, in fact, torn himself away from her that night only with difficulty. And all today it had been a severe strain upon him not to give way to inclination and accept her invitation to visit her there again. He had indeed made up his mind to call this evening, but Sir Oscar had detained him on business. And now Lawyer- Wallingford had shaken things up so considerably by walking in with this newspaper. He could not go now. He knew, in fact, that he must not see any more of her until this matter was settled. Equally, he must be the person to settle it, and at once. He had not been idle over the matter, anyhow. He had acquainted Pierre and Dan with the whole story up-to-date, and they were whole-hear-tedly in with him to help secure that, stolen document. Both of them, in fact, had left in the morning to try and locate Emil Luttner, possibly— Peters had suggested—at the roadhouse he was still probably running.

He wished now that he knew where they were, so that he could get in touch with them, but that was not possible. They had promised to phone him when they had any news, and it seemed as if he must wait for that to happen. However, as he contemplated impatiently the strain of inaction, the butler asked him if lie would answer a call in the library. Pierre spoke from the other end. "You were right, John." he said. "The German's at the road-house, and so are wo.- That little shrimp of a clerk’s here too. but Dan and I have kept well out of his sight. The place is practically empty, though they seem to live here. I don't think they’re likely to go away. Looks as if they've settled down for the night.”

“Listen. Pierre,” Peters responded. “You mustn’t let them out of your sight. The business has got into the papers tonight, so they’re pretty sure to make a move, tomorrow anyhow. I’m motoring right away to join you there, but it will be morning before 1 can arrive. Can you standby, more or less, till then?”

“There’s a little old inn just a short way up the road from this ‘One-Eyed Moon' place.” said the other. ‘We’ll get fixed up there, boy. I don’t think you need worry. They’re dug in for the night. But they’re certainly looking worried. The German was telephoning to Paula Accrington very urgently, not half an hour since. Dan found that out. but beyond hearing her name he got no further, for somebody shut the office door.”

“Well, I’ll be along, Pierre,” said Peters. “Those two are going to hand over that marriage certificate in the morning to your humble, and I don’t think we’ll have any trouble over that. They’ll get a shock when the real heir to the estate walks in on them.”

After another word or two, Peters hung up, and turned from the instrument. Then he too received a shock.

Wallingford had entered the room, surprise plainly marked on his usually placid face, “So you know already, John, that you’re the real heir to the Accrington estate!” Lawyer Wallingford was gasp- ■ ing in sheer amazement.

Peters realised that he could not conceal the fact any longer. “I’ve known it since I was a kid,” he said, “but I never intended to take any action about it. Even now, it's only force of circumstances that drags rne into the business.” “And all this time, when I confided to you what has been going on, you kept that card up your sleeve and didn’t return confidence. Why was that?" “It may sound queer,” Peters answered. 'But you see, Mr Wallingford, I didn't want the money. I never expected, when I came here, to be involved in all this trouble. And. when I found that happening, I still didn’t want anyone to know that I was concerned in it all.”

“Why not, John?” Mr Wallingford urged. Peters felt embarrassed. ‘Well, it's reasonable enough, isn’t it?” he asked, a trifle impatiently. “I’d. met the present owner of the Accrington estate, Paula. And when 1 did that,. it hadn’t been in my mind that she would ever come to know I was in a position to dispossess her. Although, I admit, I thought she didn’t deserve the money she was squandering. You remember that you, yourself, said she would be all the better if her money was taken from her." "And I still think so. I feel, John, that I ought, to tell you now why 1 made that remark to you. We may as well clear the decks, while he are about it. When I said that about Paula and the money, I knew that you were the rightful owner of it.” "You did?” It was the turn of Peters to look astonished.

"Well, I was pretty certain. Il happens that I'd heard verbally from my father about that secret marriage. He spoke of it to me, and mentioned also that the wife had gone abroad and taken the name of Peters. But, beyond my father’s word, I had no proof. The law works only on proof.” "Then, some months ago," he went on, “I turned up some old papers, which did seem to prove a good deal. Unfortunately, before I could act on these, they were not to be found. I never could make out what had happened to them. Now, I know. They must have been stolen by a clerk of mine, who suddenly loft me. though I did not suspect him at the time “The same blackmailing scamp who came out to Otterbridge and tried to make money out of those papers by offering to prove my cdse, only I turned him down flat ”

Peters laughed. “And the same blackmailing little clerk who is now engaged in trying much the same game with Paula,” said old Mr Wallingford. “However, to -go back to my story, I had a few pencil notes of what those papers contained, and decided to try and trace you myself. Hence my visit to Canada, where however I rather failed. I should have failed completely, if I had not met you on that liner, learnt your name, and instantly recognised the Accrington features.” “Seems to me,” Peters said, “it’s a pity I ever left Canada, for then I wouldn't have been mixed up in all this.”

“Well, I don’t know about that, my boy. I think it’s just as well you are here. You are the only person to straighten this matter out properly. H’s rather a pity you didn’t confide in me earlier. Of course. I hadn't the least idea you know. Tn fact, more than once I was half inclined to tell you."

“I came in here a few minutes ago," Mr Wallingford went on, “because I thought the time had come —in view of that newspaper story—when I should have a word with you. Only—to my surprise—to heard you arranging matters on your own ” "You see," Peters intervened, “it was through me that newspaper story started, though I hadn't anticipated the Press would get hold of anything so quickly.” He told Wallingford of his trip to Devon, and how it had been through him that the loss of the marriage entry had been discovered. He went on to explain how he. with the help of his two friends, proposed to corner the German and Tucker, compelling them to hand over the stolen document.

“It will be either that or goal for them,” he said, “and I don’t thing they’ll prefer gaol. I hope they won’t. You see ” He hesitated for a moment then explained: “I want to settle this without Paula knowin that I had anything to do with it. The last thing I want, is for her to know I’m the real owner of that money. I don’t need it, and she does “As a matter of fact, John,’ Mr Walingford interrupted, “Paula isn’t the only person interested now. ,1 told you before, I think, that she had a brother—a harum-scarum fellow who disappeared abroad some years ago? Well, he turned up this evening—and in a bad way, too.” “AU the more reason why 1 should leave that wretched money to them." said Peters. "And now—since we understand each other. Mr Wallingford—the sooner 1 made that road-house and come to grips with that couple of thugs, the better for everybody."

Mr Wallingford looked, for a moment as if to say something more. But he changed his mind, and accompanied Peters to the door, smiling a queer little smile. (To be Curitimii-il >