“ANNOUNCER’S HOLIDAY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 January 1941, Page 10

“ANNOUNCER’S HOLIDAY”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

VAL GIELGUD.

(Author of "Africa Flight." “Outpost in China." etc.)

CHAPTER XII. j (Continued). “It may be only a case of a moonlight ! flit from the rent, but it may not. Work ;in with me. Don't ask too many ques- ‘ lions, and for the Lord's sake don't try J butting into danger on private expedil lions. Then we'll get along fine." “Dam' nice of you." •Rubbish! Common sense. You may Ibe quite useful. I can tell you one or two things that may interest you. I've been here some hours.” "I was never punctual," sighed Charles. “Shut up!" said Geoffrey. "Go on, Sunerintendent." "Well, as I said. I didn't find any guns. But I did find evidence of very rapid departure. And I also found something very odd " "In the cellar!” broke in Charles affectedly. "Quite right. In the cellar.” "Good Lord—what? Corpses?" "No." "Don't keep us on hot bricks. Mores- j by!" "A very odd wall at one end. P'raps i you'd like to go down and look at it.” 1 He heaved his great bulk off the packing-case and led the way. "Well?" said the detective, when j they had descended two flights of dank ' echoing stone stairs, and stood at last; in a bare long cellar, with stone flags ' underfoot, that echoed weirdly to his j voice. "What do you bright young sleuths make of it?”

Charles and Geoffrey stared. There was a queer clinging smell that neither of them could quite put a name to. At the far end of the cellar the whitewashed wall was more curiously mutilated —almost as if a fireplace had been hacked out of it unscientifiically. "Go and lock at it close." said Mores*

’ i by. J But Geoffrey was only half way 11 down the length of the room when he stopped dead in his tracks. "A range!" he gasped. “You mean a stove, old boy," said Charles. “Don't be a fool! I mean a rifle- ( range, or something like it. "Come here.” He dragged Charles up to the wall, j There was no doubt of it. The wall had been chipped away in . a great semi-circular depression by i Itierally hundreds of bullets. The back of the depression was lined with splashed and splintered lead. “Thai reck—powder." muttered Charles. "Good for you.” said Moresby from the background. "Rut that proves what 1 was trying to put over on you," said Geoffrey ex1 citedly. Moresby, like the oyster, shook his heavy head. "No," he said. “It proves that at some time somebody fired a lot of shots into that wall. It means there hasbeen at some time a sub-machine gun in this cellar. But it might have been done years ago.” “With that smell still lingering?” “That's a point in your favour. 1 only say there's no proof.” Meanwhile Charles had been examining the battered wall.” "1 say. Moresby," he called, "did you . spot this?" 1 "What now?" Charles flashed his torch close up to the mutilated whitewash. "See anything?” Moresby frowned. "Bits of charcoal drawing—some kid’s nonsense —" i "No kid's nonsense!" said Clfarles i triumphantly, “The target!" ■ "What!" i "What I say—the target that they ' fired at. Can't you see? Most o f it’s i been shot away of course. But there's ! enough left for you to be able tj rei construct if you try. it's a man's’ head in profile, head and shoulders. No—l j think it's two heads." C harles nearly barked his nose peer- : in.i.; against the wall. "V i-s. Moresby, l‘m right'” “But why two heads like that, one! . half concealing the other'.'” i Charles laughed aloud, I m now going to tell you something i Superintendent. You don't deserve it but I will. How du celebrities look from the side of a street when thev are driving past in a procession—a I thanksgiving, a coronation, a victorv i march, or something of that elaborate! kind? They look like that two heads I in profile, one half-hiding the other!” ..!< i'<‘sby scratched liis jaw. "There may be something in it Mr ! Bland," 'Something' You unbelieving. hide- ■ bound, red-tape-ridden whatnot!" cried ! Charles. “Tft<- whole works is in u’.Don't y<.u remember, Ge 'l'.-.. ■. aft.-i ' the Marseille, murder of th< late Kmc i Alexander . f Serbia, and 1, Bar.'' thou'.' The mvestig.it;. m mto tlu m-. ■ molts “a-- a schooE' ;,t Ya! I t ' Pu.-.a m Ihmgtiry. ... her.- it v.-a ; : ed that <•<•!!;,■■; indl'. .dual- . i giv. n training in ,■■.!■.■. | : .; ; and Ihitnl) thrown--.; at :;s:,;i-t n emble the un:• a lui.a:<■ A le - -. imd'-r ' • la: at m.i>le >. | j, ■ , : j • > •<, . g Well here y.-u have ;,!<-c:‘<'ly ' same thmg." i ’ By Ge<-r:;.-. murmtn.-d Geoffrey,' 1 Y.<iiTe an mgem.ius bea>’! Rut it i ! takes a mt of belicvitig murde; * ei’.oo! :• ,sc if,mg lti the wilds . f Him- , l garv It's qmtv another in aS. ho rgl lar. and nothing like a- plausible mne ' Plam.ible < (r not," Charles.! f! IV. hty that 1«, prec: ely what u “ And hi- | !.m.I Su;.<: it,: : M- -by a if .Ict'vmg the Sc ■!;,. .1 Yard man m g;v.- him th.- h<i man to throw away the reality i-i.-nviclmn for the- c . f he vamty { ■ ;m i' itf tern I ;m ■■ ur ; -j ■Wha. ......mr iii jfit ~t g w b<- *ru<- ” h-- -aid ■!. ... t '.- ,n ~ K ■ . ■ ■■. : . :• A ■ '■" ' ;. ” . '- rea* n Pi

' for being in England. There may be a grain of reality about the Viennese dancer and the mysterious prince who loves hem-but it’s a bit like something out of a cheap novel, and it's damned small beer for a man with Kenski’s record. A course in practical murder sounds far more in his line." He broke «fT. and against scratched his jaw. "Go on," said Geoffrey. "I think,” said Moresby so sincerely and so quaintly that he quite failed to give offence, "I think that I shall have to trust you two boys.” Charles looked at Geoffrey and laughed. j "And it's no laughing matter," said

the detective sharply. "I’m putting reputation and my career as far as that gees, in your hands, if I give you information which is known in this country to six officers at the Yard, the Cabinet, and one other person." The grin died off Charles Bland’s lips.

"I say. Moresby." he said. "I believe you're being serious. And if you are, hadn't you belter think again? There's nothing against old Geoff, here —bar his being in the 8.8. C.. of course —but I'm rather an ass. as you know very well."

i "I don't think I can help it. at this I stage." said Moresby. "You two are so ' far in it. that you can't come out ■ without raising a number of most un- : desirable suspicions. Besides, you've i made contacts: with the girl Lucia, with Greta Mahler, and with Casimir Konski. which might prove invaluable. No—you'll find yourselves, temporarily athave to mention the matter to the i Chief Constable. And from tomorrow | you'll find yourselfs temporarily at- ’ tached to the Special Branch of the I C.1.D., to do exactly what you're told." ’Well," said Charles Bland, "I'll try any drink once!" Geoffrey Allardyce merely' nodded. Not for worlds would he have revealed the seething excitement which possessed him at that moment.

"Very well." said Moresby, "and from now on you’re under my orders. That’s understood, eh? Good." "Spill the Great Secret!" said Charles dramatically. "Just this. Mr. Bland. That five weeks from today a Conference is being held in London, to be opened by His Majesty in person, at which International Disarmament is to be seriously tackled once more.” "But hold on. Moresby!” expostulated Charles. “People don't plot to shoot at the King in this country. It's simply not done.” "I know. Mr. Bland. And His Majesty is not in danger this time. What is not know, and is a very secret piece of information indeed, is that two of the best known of European Dictators, who hitherto have never quitted their own countries, are on this occasion to make the journey—as a compliment to His Majesty, and as a proof of the sin- I eerily of the conferring Powers. Now. i do you see?”

"You mean that—" "Wo wont mention any names, please, Mr. Allardyce. If it's absolutely necessary, we'll call them A and B They are really coming. And it’s the business of the English Government, and more particularly my business, to see that they go away as safely as they come.” On a simultaneous impulse. Charles and Geoffrey's eyes swung back to the bullet-spattered wall. "We would seem." said Charles at last, "to have taken on something of a job of work." “Yes." said Geoffrey. "And this. I'd have you remember is officially my holiday— and that I won't have anothes like it for ten years." "You’ll probably have cause to remember this one.” said Superintendent Moresby, grimly. .And he led the way back up the stone stairs to the level of the street. CHAPTER XIII Three days passed before Get fi rry Allardyce eintld muster up stnficicn! courage to do what he had been longing to (io frum tile first moment whet hr had first caught sight <>f Greta .Mahler. And when at last be acted, he did so on impulse and without anv m '■ the pre;:>araiions dictated by common I sense. He asked for no advice from' Superintendent Moresby Hi- did not’ ring up Lucia to make his path smooth j And he took care to find out that Char- ; les Bland was well and truly engaged i elsewhere before confessing to him. that he. Geoffrey, was paying a second' visit to “Tlte Girl From Vienna," and) that Miss Mahler was supping with! him afterwards. “You’re a bit of a cad Geoffrey ' v.;r<; Charles's slightly sardonic comment. “Y-*u might have madi- it a f,-urr.>rne ;md giw.-, me a dmm-.- w.th fan ' ' rather U,<- dark 1 .ueia Gv iltry made no reply. Hr was ■ bu y t.'.iiig.ii white with all the carr 1 • • *• • ' ’ - • • * • r.*» • ' **• ♦ I *• j-. 1 ■’ • U A c'u.-r !■ '. : trying t. explain that' h’' W.iJiU.-4 to 5C«‘ ‘Ft" : little Viennese act!ess al-me Whi-ti at iir ' after what had ■••.•cn cii a.w.it !c n- in ■ ttn- hi.-.v cu te i md lie ; :<• <•! ted himself at the dress- ■ i■’ fie feit a in-r; ■ and is clumsy us a.-.y mulergraduate Hi.,i i, l . v> --.-- (1 ai* imy Hi-' voice was m-tcudy Anu it v.as only wm-n Greta - '• k h;-. arm. and latighi-d straight m. tis face with an abiolutr kick -..-If- ■- m.ci. tune titat l.«- c-uld h- pc f< : Le -.cease, n not L- turn < nt an • T-> lie C, intimied » LOOK OUT FOR JACKSON’S CLEAR VISION SERVICE STATION, A. T. JACKSON. Proprietor, South End - - MASTERTON Duug. Cameron's Gar age (opp. Skating Rink. Queen tree’). Ilr'it service given to all 1 sakes of Can. Trtick-i and Motor 'yclcs Warrants 1 ! Fit.-irss issued I lattery rharf'jrig. welding, lathe work -* .gent ft>r ‘ B S ,A " and “Jarr.'-s” M< tor /clc.-i Garage 'Phene 2I&1; Private I hcnc 254 Z I