“AN EVIL ANGEL”

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20505, 23 May 1938, Page 12

“AN EVIL ANGEL”

CHAPTER XXVl—^Continued.) “An Indian I presume? Why the deuce can’t you speak out,” said Morley, who was growing a little testy at. Jacob's curtness. “Simply because I have nothing further to say," answered Jacob, still somewhat noisily knocking the balls about, for Philip was not' even handling a cue. “You must know something of the fellow, or you would not have mentioned him.” •‘Never saw him in my life, but he is, I believe, a man’who makes artistic jewellery of an Eastern type, and is not altogether very scrupulous about the effect it produces.” “You heard of him in India—Perhaps you are prejudiced, old chap— Every one knows how you hate blackies.” "I don't think he was ever in India in his life—nor is he a blackie, except in assumption. He used to be in Paris till it got too hot for him, now 1 believe he has gone somewhere in the Sultan's dominions, where people are not so scrupulous.”

“And you think the Comtesse's uncle had dealings with this man?” Jacob stopped his ball-practice, and looked keenly at his friend. “Anyone would think you were a greenhorn, Philip, when infatuation takes possession of you? You've been playing up a devil's game lately, and you will get the worst of it, if you don't look out ” “I wish you would speak out.”

“Well, to be plain, the sooner the lot of us are out of this house the better, that is what 1 have to say. I thought so the minute 1 entered it, and 1 think so still.” “1 wonder why the devil you stayed?”

’•Staunchness, my dear Philip, staunchness to my friends. A wide open eye might save a catastrophe—as in the matter of that ring. What have you done with it —let us look at it again.”

From his waistcoat pocket Morley produced it, and they both examined it carefully. Although by chance it had opened itself when first handled by Philip, it was now some little time before either of them could touch the spring. At last, however, it was 'happened on,' and the emerald green interior was revealed. “For God's sake, be careful,” said Jacob, thoroughly alert, but Morley, with I lie rashness ol' the incredulous, being wishful to inspect it closely, held the suspected gewgaw close to bis face. in a second a feeling of faintness came over him,, and lie gasped. Jacob promptly hit the ring out of his band. it lell on the floor, and the spring once more closed.

“Great God, my dear man—you will do for yourself if you are not careful.” Leaning against the sash of the open window, Philip was some rnin- | utes before lie had sufficiently re--1 covered even to speak, then he almost I inaudibly murmured. • “My poor little Marie.” “Av, poor little Marie,” said the other almost savagely. "Pull yourself together man, and lei us consider what is to be done. We must get all of us out ol' here, bag and baggage before we are much older.” “Browne is coming to-morrow. He Is clear-headed, and will help us.” "D—n Browne. lie only makes matters worse. He lias some devil's power over Nina, which 1 can t fathom. The whole place seems bewitched. Any way let us keep that ring out of the siiow, and get away ourselves before another takes its place.” “All right,” said Morley, who was recovering from Hie evil effects of his temerity, and Hie shock it had occasioned. “I ll lock it up in my Gladstone lfag. and take it up to Hervey who is an analytical chemist—he'll find out all about it." | “Just so—but no more tampering with the spring, mind—or you may be made to rue the consequences.” “By Jove, there is the second bell — we shall never he ready in time for dinner,” cried Philip, placing the ring once more in his waistcoat pocket. "It does not take long to shuffle into evening clothes," answered his off-hand lordship, but before any dressing—lock up that ring—and mind at dinner no allusion is made to anything personal—no suspicion allowed to hang about in the air.” "Right you are, my boy—You are becoming quite a qualified 'tec—friend Jacob.” So saying, in spite of danger signals Morley the light-hearted, ran off. His heart was too full of happiness about Marie to thoroughly realise trouble, as Jacob appeared to do. A certain amount of precaution was none the less latent and. acting in arordance with its monition, he locked the. ring carefully in his Gladstone bag, the key of which always hung on his watch chain—belore he proceeded to —what Jacob called —-shuffle into evening clothes. The process was certainly not a long one, and in a very few minutes Philip Morley, smart and alert, handsome as a young god, opened his door, and strode on to the long corridor, that lay between the various sloping apartments. Not many paces off, in the seeming occupation of arranging a ■shade over Hip electric light—the Gomtessc detested glare even in passages—was Emma Lane. “Good evening. Captain Morley,” she said turning round, and addressing him more as if she were an equal

An Exciting Mystery Story.

(By JOHN MIDDLEMASS.)

than his hostess' waiting maid

“Good day, Lane,” lie answered cheerily, and was about to pass on, believing himself to be rather lateLane, however, had not been waiting there for nothing, she intended to have a word with him. “May I congratulate you about your engagement to Miss Marie?” she said, thus forcing him to stop, which tlie mention of Marie's name would under any circumstances bring about.

Bhe did not, however, wait for him to thank her. but went on—- “ Such a mercy that she is recovering. sweet young lady that she is—but I would not let her stop on here, if I were you Captain Morley. Get her back lo her own house in town.” “Why?” he asked abruptly— thoroughly taken aback at this bit of advice, coming as it did so soon after Jacob's warning.

“It is damp, sir—very damp—all this part of the country is damp. I feel it. and I am a strong woman. You induce the young lady to go back to town.”

Morley stood looking at Lane in blank astonishment. “Damp,” he murmured, but before he had sufficiently collected himself to enquire for details of what she possibly couid mean, she was gone, and he was left with this fresh warning rankling in his mind; for that Lane really meant that the Grange was too damp to be a fitting residence for Marie, even Philip Morley, though he by no means possessed the detective proclivities of his friend Jacob, could not for a moment bring himself to imagine.

Such being the conclusion at which he forthwith arrived, the few words spoken by Emma Lane were somewhat startling. He managed, however, to pull himself thoroughly together, before he reached the drawingroom, where 'Comtesse Feodore, wreathed in smiles, was waiting to be conducted into dinner, according to etiquette, by the Earl of Vesey, but since, notwithstanding his assertion that dressing was quickly accomplished, he had not made his appearance, she therefore laughingly took Philip Morley's arm, and said with such a substitute she would wait for no laggard.

8 Profuse in apologies for his tardi--11 ness, Jacob speedily put in an appearance, and the dinner, which was d well server! and well cooked contrif» billed not a- little to lessen the strain, '» which probably every one felt—ex- ■'» cept Mrs Cooper, Who knew' nothing o of recent circumstances, but was ever f oppressed by » certain gloom the ate mospbere of (lie Grange had cast 8 upon her ever since her first arrival. •. Even she, however, did her best to chat and appear more light-hearted 11 Ilian she really was, while as for the - others their efforts were, heroic, and ably supplemented by those of the e Comtesse, who had never been more - charmingly conversationa l . On an allusion being made by Mrs t Cooper to Marie, stie said she was most thankful for Marie’s restoration to health. One only drawback was e there, that she supposed Mrs Cooper - would carry her daughter back to r (own, the pleasant little reunion would t be given up, and she herself, the e lonely Feo, would be compelled to return to her Paris quarters, e All this was very prettily expressed. but it read to Jacob as a conge, and s he had every intention that it should s be taken as such, meantime lie answeri. ed it with the aplomb of the man of i. world, by hoping Madame Ja Comtesse t would permit the same, coterie to meet s sometimes in her Paris Baton. As for Philip Morley, he did not s utter a. word. He scarcely felt ns if s lie. dared, the way was so tangled he - feared that he would fTnd himself v landed in a briar bush. Briars, y however, were avoided—the road II kept clear and bright, even Nina was gay and chatty, perhaps because e Hamilton Browne's eyes were not e watching her, as they were wont to do. When at length the ladies having r retired for the night, and the men were 2 once more en tete-a-tete in the billiard room, it was decided to keep to the 3 programme they had previously ars ranged. Morley was to go to town -in the morning, takp the ring to Hert vey the analytical chemist, and then ; call on the specialist who had been j attending Marie, and. without commitling himself more than was absolutely ; necessary, urge him to bring about ] his patient's prompt return to her own house. “Homme propose and Femme dis- . pose." is, however, the French sets ting of an old saying. ! These two plotting men were not going to play the game quite so evenly as they thought when, full of plans and arrangements, they at last wished each other good night. The clock on the staircase had just struck twelve, when a quaint figure opened Jacob's door and groped its way in, for the room was in darknpss. and its inmate was already sleeping. The electric light being. However, turned on suddenly woke him. and Ire jumped up with a start to see Philip in 1 pyjamas. “Hang it all man. what is the mat- ; ter! You look as if you had sec,, a ; ghost !” cried Jacob, not best pleased . at being thus ruthlessly awakened. “It's gone." said Philip in a low I “What's gone?" J “The ring. I locked it up in my j Gladstone, and had the key on my j watch chain.” “Holy Moses! It is impossible. You ! must be dreaming or drunk!" “See for yourself." In his hand Morley had brought the j bag. They both hunted and groped and shook the contents over and over ! again, the ring was not there. It ! had as surely disappeared as if it had never existed at all.