“ANNOUNCER’S HOLIDAY”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1941, Page 10

“ANNOUNCER’S HOLIDAY”

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

VAL GIELGUD.

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

CHAPTER XXIII. “Quite frankly. I do." said Boughton. , “Have a night cap on it!" 1 “Thank you. sir, I don’t mind if I do." I The secret room behind the book- ! cases in Casimir Konski’s house was i not only secret from the outside. It i was also peculiar from the inside. It I was not very big. But it was not its i comparative smallness that made the ; individual who entered it for the first ! time catch his breath, and appreciate immediately the meaning of the word claustrophobia. It was not even that ■ the room had no windows —for cur- ! lained imitations of windows had been ; carefully included in the room’s design I It was due to a fact which Geoffrey Al- ; lardyce was uniquely capable of ap- ! preciating. And he realised it at once. I For the odd feeling of a certain breathlessness, of a slight humming in the ears, and a disagreeable sense of imprisonment. were just those symptoms experienced by the visitor to two of the special dramatic studios in Broadcasting House. It was indeed in one of those two specially treated studios that the actor Parsons had been strangled in the celebrated murder case. The symptoms were caused by a special “padding" treatment applied to the walls of the studios to make them absolutely , “dead"—to deprive them of any natural I quality of resonance. This treatment ; was used in the Broadcasting House ' studios for purposes of radio-dramatic ' technique necessitated by the peculari-; tics of the microphone. It had boon < presumably used in Casimir Konski’s, house to avoid the danger of movement and conversation in the secret room j becoming audible to persons moving about the normal parts of the dwelling.

But whatever the reason, it was an unpleasant addition to the circumstances of the case. Casimir, of course, remained profoundly unaffected, except that he did not smoke, and apologised for not offering tobacco to his guests. "The ventilation is not quite everything it should be. I fear." he explained.

But both Charles Bland and Geoffrey felt most frighteningly trapped, and if expression of feature meant anything Greta Master felt much the same. She I was sitting miserably enough on the 1 edge of a leather-covered sofa, and resolutely refused to meet Geoffrey's eye. In place of a fire the fireplace contained an electric stove. Xavier stood in front of it. his lips dangerously twisted, tapping his stick gently against the side of his right shoe. "I fancy I've had about enough of this. Casimir,” he said angrily. “I’ve other things to do with my time than waste it on young fools like your friends here! Besides—one of them has been annoying this lady with his—attentions. is the word they use in the suburbs, isn't. Mr. Allardyce?” “It regret. Highness, but this meeting is very necessary." said Casimir. There was nothing languid about his voice now. “You say this—to mo? I think you I are forgetting yourself. Casimir.” “I tun only asking your Highness to remember that there are other matters j in question beside your personal af-I fairs. It is my duty to remind you of : that fact. Must 1 add a reminder of! another?” "You're not my tutor. Casimir!" ■'No. Highness. At the moment I am i your elder and better, and engaged on considerable affairs. I must ask you. and Miss Mahler, and these two gentlemen, to give me close and exact attention." "Well. 1 You shall answer to me for this later." "With pleasure," and Casimir made I a little stiff bow "Now kindly attend ' to me. This matter of Miss Mahler; must end- now. here, in this room. And you, Mr. Allardyce, and you. Mir Bland, must give me your word not to mix yourselves up any further with any of my affairs, or the affairs of any of the other persons in this room at this moment." l-’or a moment no <>m spoke Then Xavier laughed, and Greta looked up at him with the tragic eyes of a cornered rabbit. "Suppore we refuse?" she asked. 1 "Suppose we tell you to go to hell!" ■ snarled Xavier. "I shall have to kill you!" said Casi-! mir quietly. Xavier laughed again, You're oldfashioned if you think you can frighten ' me with that sort of theatrical stuff." i he '.nd it date-, my good C;i--imir.' back to Sardon. It really won't cut' ice any more." "I am rjtutking the exact truth and j and nothing more," said Casimir, cold-' *> I have been a little rhmpy li -mi getting old, you sec. One thinks ■ le-s jirvci'ii ly as one age.. It 1: lire-i susne. So now I am pushed to a di.-:-'' tasteful extreme, which I mu t u-giu ' on general gioimd-; I can afford mJ more maigin <4 That w)lv , f ; you lefiic to be sensible. Will: h.,ve !<> be killed need i lO | worry It hall be done as s.mply and . nlcsCl !y as p055i1)],..... Oh, fur heaven 1 ' ai.r" bur•' >..-11" 1 GcojUtv ‘jn ;t mitmte you'll havi 1 proved conclusively to m. that li: ij :< .' immediate futon ue'll be bettu off | :i!id happier i> ; 4/Ur grave.-,"' ■ You Well may be ' :: ' ' graveiy • I a:)t;cip,a European ! v.;tr in that immediate future" Greta dropped hack hmidbl J} •-> :i w-rm-r of the ;.<>fa. v/hite th;i: ' ;ey P ared he must be going to fam: 1 he cr< e ecj the 1. towards her, and ! the mnvtniv!;: i, ; . u p lie- groupin;,! of the pariv pebble bi'-'M. the • n.. ..’.h -oirfae.- of a p. ,e J Die ml ..pen..,! ' ' sf to hl'kl ii t A < 1 ; H i..;( Vi'rjV-t., Vt'DippO’J ; Stic wir J'blade clear of : licksheath, Charles Bland ci :< <! at. and ' ‘ L’.in.’i.;;' 1 atighl hiti- bv [lie wi. t "This if!; I The TI.L- W !„<■'. ■ . ' . >r '• • .... f 7, - . 1.. ■ ;,. nud e./iiiv Y ■. ILghn ; c ■

! He broke off; and Xavier hurled the j weapon clattering into the fireplace. ’ j "This has gone far enough." he said. ’ ' "Miss Mahler and I leave at once." s' • 1 "And how will your Highness go? t; "As I camo —in my car. The chauf- : 1 feur had orders to wait." • "I see." ? j "Are you ready. Greta?" asked Xavi ' ier. picking up her fur-coat. t. "I’m afraid it’ll be a long drive." • ■ But Greta did not move. She was i gazing, almost as if hypnotised, at i Casimir Konski. "I am sorry. Highness,” said the lat- ■ i ter. "But your car is at the moment . in the hands of he police." "What in the name of all devils! The ' ' police can’t touch me!" "The police. Highness, in Great Bri- ; tain, are always interest in the crime ' : of wilful murder." "Murder’’’ stammered Geoffrey. ■ And Charles Bland flushed crimson Casimir, however, look no notice of them. "Your chauffeur, Highness, has been ! murdered —that is all. The police have | .discovered the body still in your car. j I doubt if they would be prepared to let you leave in it tonight. Even if 1| I were." he added softly. ' "Nonsense. Who should harm the j fellow" And how do you know, Casi- ' mir?" I "It is my business to know things j before other people do. It's my accomplishment. and my bread and butter. 1 i know I assure you." Xavier stooped and recovered his | sword-stick with a swift movement, j "What you really mean. Casimir, is that you. or one of your thugs, killed I him—isn’t it?" “I don't deny." said Casimir, contemptuously, "that it has occurred conveniently. But if I had killed the man. you can take it from me that the police would not have found the body. They will not, in certain eventualities, find your bodies." "You seriously threaten my safely?" "With regret, yes. Highness. I have no alternative." The conversational duel between Casimir and the prince had begun, for < Geoffrey, to take on something of the/ unreality of a play seen from the front ' j row of the stalls. All his genuine interest and feeling were for the girl, who still refused to look at him; the girl who sat there, white and drawn and silent, so that every nerve in his body ached with pity and longing for her; the girl whom he loved. But for Charles Bland tho- conversation was ] very real indeed. It seemed to Charles j that for the first time he was getting j a glimpse below the surface of a very ' 1 deep and dark business ... j [ Xavier made no attempt to conceal j any longer that he had lost control of his temper. '

"In short.” ho broke out. “they wore right, those friends of mine who warned me that your coming to put a spoke in the wheel of my private affairs, was to do with something very different!” “You are what I would never have believed a Polish gentleman could become: an organiser of assassination!"

: Casimir spread out his hands depre- , catingly. "My morals, if you will for--1 give me. Highness, are strictly my own ; affair." “You have ceased to interest me—in any capacity," retorted Xavier, rather superbly, thought Geoffrey. “What do you mean to force me to do —join your paid gangsters in the streets during the procession to St. Paul's',’" "You will bid this young lady a formal and final good-bye. You will then bo at liberty to leave the country. I can assure you that the English police will not stop you. " "You suggest that I cut and run. as they say in this country'.'" “You Highness has caught my meaning precisely." Xavier looked at Casimir, then at Greta Mahler. "11l sec you damned first!" he said at last. "1 can only express my very sincere regret." said Casimir. "And now, Mr. Allardyce, what about yourselves and Mr. Charles Bland'.'" ‘Charles,’ said Geoffrey hoarselv "can speak for himself. 1 don 1 ! somehow see myself leaving this lady alom\ in those surroundings." "Oil. please. Geoffroy g.j awa l . ! cried Greta. But Geoflrcy >h<i<>|: Ins h< ail. and Charles Bland thrust a hand through his arm Iliis is becoming tiresome/’ said; ( asimir "and frankly I have no more'; lime to waste. I have bigger fish to fry You anti your love affair havU served my turn. Highness ;<■ an adequate e. v.-t am! explanation (~<■ ns y ' ■. is:t to this country 1 had hoped to! fulfil both my mi-saus -amukantoush ■he lc <t with the ;;n ati r You will have it Very well. I ’old you ; the alternative. "As fi you. 'Jr Alklt :!yc<!. J e. jif.that tho great »<■ £;< <-’ in wh:< h 1 h.-ld Bought. and the P.mteli !.•■- Wlhgenco Sere has i v <-d aI vk ioti arc behaving -t nice vourigi gvntlvmim That .x - h e way which I ixpert a CDinpeii tti ■ py to b< - 'lp* r, jnd enn bolh/vp *iu<i I -j.c.ik frurn experience when I •<•!! y«.-u ’hnlff a y inil i n ?n th< ■ a < ; 'iil • J ’ j V •U * fil ’ • ! ; I » ! l4 ‘U > 1 > .. ibh Huit th* ■■'-■■- fth ; • . ■ ■. 1 hut <V< ral tee; ’!;;<■! I ,<■ '■ '• < that Y, in .0 n ~ , S! BUI lIaW. .. y i y;''7F He -D! •. ; Ljcl 'g.. . .•< . thrp ki ' f r d • n

"But I kiu>'.v :ib>> " -aid Xavier ’He. proposes to murder us here in tlust filthy i- -■■■■'■■ just as h< prop within fortyhours to murder two of thei HK.’M ; rrful rnvu in E'.u.|.e m tin ’■.tree's i f vmir capita' 1 ■M tr ler rt‘| eated O .(Tree -1 i don’t believe ithow? 11 ' Xavier liruryivtl hr -I;••uidvr-' l» •••. n.at'i r lie retorted. And th.-i, Jus body tit Tent il all over hkv that > f a pointing dog. ' he said and jerked Up It. chin. There v.a a litt'" ;auA’. while the four Ilttr. heard •.'•nwthmp; a thm j ibiia.'.’. ■ ii.’iii, j rnt-.:>K 'c.'ln thiil:' like t!:.’;’, < ' <- fl <;!!: a kct!l< I Wi.at d< ’... b< a:-: Charh 1 ’tik: :;’ ■ tWitcheil - 1 ; 1.1 rnpoßy and -s..- hand no ■ I c ::1; liiiidv h". ' < i■" he er i;<• ''Ut 'M< ••. th..:' pa ’ (T. be Ccntunied)