THE BLACK PILGRIM

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20731, 15 February 1939, Page 5

THE BLACK PILGRIM

STORY VIII.— (Continued). | The blue eyes of the red-haired man within stared curiously at him. "You are Mr McGorran, 1 believe?” isked the stranger. “I understand that you have just discovered a form of solidified fuel. If so, you would do well to let me come in and have a ! talk with you. If you don’t, you may lose your secret and your wife as well. I don’t want to stand here in case I have been followed." Mc-Gorran's blue eyes widened with astonishment as he opened the door and straightened to six feet of brawn and muscle, ready to deal with any emergency. "Come in," he said. ‘‘After what you have just said, I certainly want to talk to you.” He led the stranger into a back room and indicated a chair. Then, producing a pipe, he began to fill it. “Now,” he said, grimly, “let’s hear this story. Where did you get hold of this solidified fuel yarn?” The brown eyes of the stranger i smiled at the aggressive note in his ! companion's voice, but quickly rei lated the information in his possession. and repeated the conversation i which he had overheard. When he I had finished, McGorran muttered un- ! der his breath. i “How the dickens did this fellow’ I* Radkov come to be so interested in my affairs?” he asked. “Nobody knows anything about my experi- ■ ments.” I ‘‘Seeing that Radkov lives next door ! to you, it may account for his knowj ledge," replied the stranger. "What!” jerked McGorran. “The man next door to me is a journalist and his name is Richards—at least, so he says. How do you come to be mixed up in this business? Who are you? For all I know you may be one of the gang yourself!” “Quite a fair question,” agreed the stranger. “I am, as a matter of fact, a certain person w r ho has earned a lot of unfortunate publicity. I am The -Black Pilgrim. My object in interfering in your affairs is not personal. If you do not take precautions, your invention or discovery will be stolen. If it is what I gather it to be, that invention should be of vital importance to this country. I

By George Stanley

A story of a modern Robin Hood.

1 propose to make it my business to see that the nation gets it rather than our enemies !” ■ "I thoroughly agree with you,” answered McGorran. "So you are I The Black Pilgrim! I’ve often wondered what you were like.” "That is beside the point,” said the Black Pilgrim. “The thing is that you are in serious danger. If this man, Yorskiev, is telling the truth, and the fact that someone shot at him seems to bear it out, but only is he after your secret, but other people are as well. I know something of Yorskiev, and he will stick at nothing to gain his ends. Now, in order to convince you that I am no impostor, I shall hand you over the sum of five thousand pounds, which you will deposit in your najne in the bank. It will be on the understanding that the secret of this fuel is first offered to the British Government. If they refuse it, then the five thousand pounds can be used to assist you in forming a company to manufacture the fuel. You can give me some shares in the company if that will east your mind,” he added, as McGorran showed signs of disagreement. “Right!” jerked McGorran. “I’m agreeable to those terms. The stuff is undoubtedly right, I can assure you. What about drawing up some kind of agreement?” “That doesn't matter,” answered The Black Pilgrim. “1 think that we can trust each other. Now here is the money; bank it to-morrow. The next point is, what are you going to do about Vorskiev and his gang? This is what I suggest: You must remember that the threat to your wife is a serious one. If Yorskiev gets hold of your wife, he holds the trump card. I think that your best plan is to agree with them. See. this man Dimitri, and pose as an unbusinesslike inventor; agree with his suggestion that you should see his chief. Then he will go along and report that you are an easy victim. Y'ou will then go and see Vorskiev, take a portion of this fuel of yours with you. and the formula. You will give a demonstration of the fuel, sign the papers, and then you will see what will happen. This is what I intend to occur ” He continued to explain his scheme to McGorran, and when he had finished, the inventor's blue eyes twinkled. “It will serve them right, too. The filthy gang of robbers! I’d like to have a crack at this Yorskiev fellow myself, for trying to get his hands on my wife.” “You may get the chance yet,” answered The Black Pilgrim. “Now I must get away. Make a note of | this telephone number, and let me j know as soon as things start moving, i When you ring me up take care that I nobody overhears you. Is that clear? | Of course I don't expect you to run I along to the police and expose me!” He hurried away from the house I with McGorran’s expression of grati- ! tude still echoing in his ears, gained : his car, and sent it back to town. I Events occurred to McGorran as ! The Black Pilgrim had stated, and the | inventor carried out his part of the ! scheme, informing his benefactor as ! each step took place. | Meanwhile The Black Pilgrim had : been busy preparing the stage for the | final act. He had been keeping a | close watch upon Yorskiev, and had traced the persons who were spying upon him. By pretending to be a free-lance spy, he had got into touch with them, and had come to a monetary arrangement. On the Thursday morning McGorran telephoned giving the point where the meeting was to take place, at which he was to give his demonstration, hand over the formula, receive his agreement and the five hundred pounds deposit. As soon as he had received this information, The Black Pilgrim laid his final plans. The time and date had been fixed by the man Dimitri for ten-thirty in the evening on Friday. The meeting place was a big house standing almost desolate which Vorskiev had rented in the outer suburbs of Lee. On Thursday evening The Black Pilgrim penetrated into the enemy's camp. Shortly after eleven o’clock, he parked his car near Lee railway station, and set off on fooi through the dimly lighted streets. After a brisk walk he arrived at Vorskiev’s house. Skirting the front he made Ills way to the open ground which lay at the rear, upon which builders were preparing sites for houses. Within a few minutes he had entered the garden and, moving cautiously through the shrubs, gained the back of the premises. A little skilful manipulation of the latch at the french windows and he was within the house. He had anticipated that Vorskiev would have a rehearsal of the events which were to happen on the following night, and he proved correct. For, after quietly proceeding from the back room in which he found himself, he heard voices coming from the front part of the house. Creeping forward until he had gained the room from which the sounds came, he listened to the conversation which was proceeding within. “Then it is all arranged,” came the voice of Vorskiev. “He comes, gives us proof of the fuel. We hand him five hundred pounds and the documents. He hands us the formula. Then—we take everything back from him and he is removed to the ship. At elevenI thirty you, Radkov, call at his house | with the men. You get the woman, | and she joins her husband on the j ship! Don't forget that you must get 1 hei*. She must vanish as well, or j she will raise trouble. That is set- | tied then ” ■ “Arc vou sure that nobody has discovered this house?” asked Radkov. I "Of course. Am I a tool?" snapj ped Yorskiev. "Now, we will drink | to success, my Radkov.” j The Black Pilgrim waited no longer, i 'Stealing back the way ne ,iad come, he returned to his cat ■•’M sent it racing from the spo.. The next morning he made several visits, the results of which were to ! cause Yorskiev consiuerable annoyance. | On the Friday evening events began I to move in accordance with the plans | of everyone concerned. ! McGorran entered the ear which | was to take him to the meeting place, J accompanied by the suave Dimitri, i after waving farewell to his wife, i From a concealed point, one of | Yorskiev’s men' watched him go and saw the woman vanish into the house. | He did not. however, see her leave a I

few minutes later by the back garden gate and make her way cautiously across the field beyond. Nor did he see her enter a telephone kiosk a few minutes later where she telephoned ' the message, which The Black Pilgrim , dictated, to the local police-station. Arrived at the lonely house at Lee, the car containing McGorran ran up the drive, and Dimitri escorted his companion into the house, while the driver waited near the front door. The inventor entered the room upon the ground floor, where he was to give his demonstration, to find everything in readiness, and Yorskiev greeted him with a false smile. “Welcome, Mr McGorran." he said, “if you are agreeable we will hurry matters, as I have to make a journey to-night, to see my principals on this matter." McGorran produced several packets from thsuitcase which he carried, and proceeded with his experiments. It proved, as he had'stated, to be entirely satisfactory. The five bundled pounds had been handed over and the formula had changed hands, when Yorskiev signed to his companion. I'm afraid that we can't let yoq go yet, Mr McGorran, - ’ he said “You

are too valuable to lose! Your brains will be useful to my country!” •Put up your hands!” snapped a voice from behind him, and the bullet which thudded into the floor assisted the command. Vorskiev and his companion jerked their hands into the air, and the masked man who had entered the room from the open window, came closer. “Sit down in that chair, Vorskiev!” snapped the stranger. “McGorran, you lash him up! Keep still, Dimitri, I or 1 shall shoot!” i In a few minutes, under the masked I man's commands, the two had been ! lashed to their chairs. I “I leave you. my Vorskiev,” mockled the stranger. Your Italian friends I know where you are, they will be here I shortly. You can imagine how i pleased they will he to see you!” i Accompanied by the inventor, he i hurried from the room. They drag- ! ged the bound and gauged figure of S Dimitri's driver nto the house, and half closed the door. Then, mount- : ing the car, they ,-ent it speeding into j the night, while behind them Vorskiev sat- staring into the darkness —terror J mounting in hip mind he thought ,| of the approaching Italians and the

5 revenge which they would take. Radkov, also, was in no mood for i laughter, for failing to arouse McGorran's wife, he had burst into the - house. He was still busily engaged in searching the rooms when the j [ force of police, which had silently I > surrounded the house, surprised him. j J While Vorskiev sat in his chair, fear- j , fui with terror, Radkov sat in his seat j in the police car which was speeding J ’ for the local station, fearful of the | retribution which would overtake him j for his failure. Another Episode To-morrow 1 ;