Show W i j i Ld i t r ANI 4 SAX B Y SAX ROHMER ER COPYRIGHT By Dy SAX ROHMER SERVICE RV Cf CHAPTER 11 I 1 1 1 ec GOOD f- f BY BY Y then Eileen And take tako great care of ot yourself Ive I've probably missed the train and anel everything but everything but I dont don't give ghe a hoot ri j sure to write from Marseilles and cable when you get In And dont don't forget torget Im I'm coming out In March The girl clung desperately to her brother brollier her soft sort arms locked about him Matt Iatt Kearney could feel that she was trembling and the matter with Kid Sister Sis Sis- Sister ter ter he asked squeezing her Kid Sisters Sister's miserable 1 Because you dont don't want t to go goback back backi r V No 1 0 But nut because became c somehow Matt dear she whispered very close to tolls his ear e. I feel frightened about this Journey Dont Don't be mad with me I know Its It's silly and I ought to be used to traveling by now But Ive I've got a wobbly funny feel feel- lag Ing Kearney looked down at the tan tan- curls nestling upon his Vcr and In the light shining out from the cozy stateroom the they gleamed and shimmered like burnished bur bur- bronze He hugged her affectionately affectionately af af- and told himself that n chill suddenly experienced and resembling cold water trickling down own his spine wn was due physically t to the clammy quality of oC the night and mentally to the girls girl's overwrought overwrought overwrought over over- wrought condition Kid dear he said and stroked her ber hair play pIny fair Seeing little girls off ocr Is bad enough anyway anway without giving Ing a fellow the breeze up Im sorry Matt It was utterly Big DIg Pig of oC me No only To i D only Little Pig he said playfully I only wish I were coming with you you youIt It wasn't fair and I shouldn't have said It Its It's Just this beast- beast 1 Ak fog tog and having to let you go ashore In It It Give me a kiss Matt and well we'll go and hunt Jack Rattray although I really dont don't know how bow youre you're going to get home Wisps of or mist floated under the lights Not another soul was In sight on n that de deck k but there was activity t i n the deck below and a tremendous tremendous tremendous dous clamor on the docksIde The Jl n. M. M I. I S. S Wallaroo was going out In Inthe Inthe inthe the morning sixteen morning sixteen hours late Inte thanks to one of ot those fogs fos London Special which sometimes hold bold up Thames traffic for whole days One last lingering glance lance Kearney Kearney Kearney Kear Kear- ney cast Into the cozy stateroom which Eileen was to occupy to Colombo He lIe would cheerfully have resigned six months' months pay to tobe tobe tobe be going too The wardrobe trunk which he lIe had labelled himself a agreen agreen agreen green hat on the rack above o the bed bcd a camera hung on the back of or orn ofa n a chair a dressing case open on the table The box of or a hundred cigarettes cigarettes ciga which Dawson Halg Haig had brought down to the steamer that morning lay on the turned-back turned coverlet and a pile of at magazines on n top of or an unopened cabin trunk three novels noels which Matt had brought for Eileen In the rack be- be the green hatAb hat Ah Ab Yell well 1 he be sighed be ben bea n a comfortable Little Pig Winter the purser Is a star turn tarn Youre You're nt at his table and hell he'll see that everything's right Jack Rattray Is Isan Isan isan an old pal so that you OU wont won't lack company I shant lack Jack company said Eileen archly Her ner mood changed and she smiled mischievously But nut Kearney Kear Bear ney lies welcomed the tho change and You little devil 1 I he ho said Mid and squeezed her hard bard Dont forget torget theres there's a spy aboard I 1 might buy him over oven overl I said Mid Eileen tell I Til Billy Haig Oh Olt dont don't please do that I lit Eileen exclaimed In lIA mock hock horror He lIe might never neer run out to Colombo to have a cup of or tea with me as he ho promised I 1 But Dut really her ber heart was as very sad Because she didn't expect ever to see Dawson Halg Haig n again She made mode a n charming lJ ure In Inthe Inthe inthe the light tight streaming from from- the Ule cabin door simply dressed though she was In n a Jumper and tweed veed skirt And nd Matt Iatt Kearney Kearne felt affectionately affectionate I ly Iy proud of or his dainty sister Come on said he be Lets go cud dl dig old Rattray out I 1 must positively el beat It I e got ot at least leasta n a quarter of ot an hours hour's walk through and falling divine dl luck a n long von voyage e by motor bus Jack Jock I Rattray chief officer of oC the Wallaroo was exchanging a few pleasantries with the tho bo boss V stevedore by the hatch batch of or Number Three hold but he be broke off ocr this not too parliamentary debate when the charming passenger appeared him with Kearney Kearncy What about a final asked Rat nat tray No 1 final for tor me Kearney re re- re- re plied He grasped Rattray's hand night Good and all the best I know you'll look after her ber Rattrap Rattray tall taU leisurely taciturn smiled his slim smile Sure thing Bo BoI noI 1 said he Youre Your mocking me met I Eileen cried and punched the speaker forcibly forcibly forc fore In the tho ribs I dont don't have bave an accent like that I speak better En English Eng English lish Ush than you do anyway I You speak more English Rattray Rattray Rat nat tray drawled provokingly Very Big Jg Pig said Eileen But nut Kearney left the ship In a n happier mood and experienced no return of or that unpleasant chill Eileen EIleen Elleen Ei El- leen was In good company and the voyage would pass like three days He lie picked d his way through litter on the dockside Just under an arc I Lj a r t tl s l I I r Had Some One Passed Him Him Or Or Had He Imagined It he paused turned and looted looked back Jack Rattray and Eileen were standing on the deck by the gang gang- way He waved his hat bat and shouted Good by until March and good goodluck luck luckl i Good by Matt came the girls girl's voice and ho bo old boy That was Rattray The fascinating activity of those docks claimed Kearney Here East meets West produce of the Spice Islands tea of Ceylon the timbers of Burma Jostle Ironmongery from Birmingham lie cheek and Jowl with chemical products of Sliver Silver tows town At night especially under floodlights amid river noises and the hoarse voices of workers the mystery of the port of London type of a vast and overturning over ever turning wheel of empire touched the poetry which was part of him He gave up his card to the tho policeman policeman po po- on duty and ten paces beyond be- be yond looking back could see merely merely mere mere- ly a dim blur marking the site of the box which that official occupied If this d n d-n n fog continues he reflected my prospects are Indifferent ferent He De stood there for tor a moment lookIng looking lookIng look- look Ing about him and falling to notice a n aman man mon who ten paces away seemed to be watching the dock gates gates gates-a tes-a tes a tallish man wearing a white raincoat raincoat rain rain- coat collar turned up and a soft sott brown hat with the brim pulled down But nut the other man had seen Kearney Kearney and and the sight of or Kearney Kearney Kearney Kear Kear- ney had set him dreaming Colombo a year before A year I 1 It seemed only like a week I The mist dispersed dIspersed dispersed dis dIs- persed before the llie eyes of oC the dreamer dream dream- er by b- the gates ates He e saw Mount La La- vinla hotel and a petite slender girl In a blue frock crossing the deserted maho mahogany any dance floor She had been a n sort of oC revelation openIng opening open- open Ing his hits eyes to all aU that had been lacking He Be was among the stars again could see the winking lighthouse callously stabbing the tropical night hear the plaintive tremolo of at a Tamil love loe chant floating up from the tile village From these haunting memories he was abruptly Jerked back to reality He lIe withdrew Into shadow A man was coming out of at the gates gates so so muffled up In a heavy fur collared coat that his features were Indistinguishable This man turned sharply left lett passed Kearney Kear Rear ney and was swallowed up In the fog And as he vanished something something- an Instinct perhaps or was It a faint odor suggestive of or musk musk musk- suddenly brought Kearney an on unaccountable un un- unaccountable accountable return of ot that sensation sensa sensa- sensation tion as though cold water trickled down his spine He lIe stared Into the theto to fog Had nad some one ODe passed p. him himor him him- himor or had he Imagined It He nc hated this sensation sensation sensation-as as of or ah an an Indefinable dread which twice now no had oppressed him Ar A- hand rested on his shoulder Kearney twisted about with a acry cry The man In the white raincoat stood Just behind him And stock still sun peering Into the others other's face Good Lord I Kearney exclaimed Joyfully Its Dawson Davson Haig 1 Eileen watched from the rail until until un un- til fo fog banging hanging over the docksIde swallowed up Matts Matt's fi figure ure She turned and looked at Jack Rattray Seeing her e. e expression the matter Eileen said heOb he Oh Ob I dont don't know Jack I 1 she re re- plied She was angry with herself herselt Im behaving Jn like a perfect little tittle Idiot tonight And If JC you ask me why I cant can't tell teU you yon Its It's Just Jim Jim- I Jams jamss Except that I think It began with a horrible looking man wearIng wear wear- Ing lag a fur collared overcoat I IOhl Oh Ohl I 1 said Rattray conscious that duty called him but held against his will by the girls girl's unaccountable unaccountable unaccountable unac unac- countable mood When did you see this furr furry bird And was It his collar or his overcoat you didn't like His face I He lie looked Into the thc open open door of oC my stateroom while Matt Iatt was up In your cabin I saw S.-lW his reflection In my hand mirror When I turned he wasn't there Do IDo you mean he was actually In Inthe Inthe inthe the room room fur fur collar and nil all 1 No foolish foolish Idiot J I He was standIng standIng stand stand- Ing lag Just In the doorway and he lie was smiling the most horrible smile Ima Imaginable An Englishman 7 Oh Oil no he wasn't I r A China China- man A Chinaman I r In a fur coat I INo No wonder you were shaken shalen up t. t There was a queer musky smell too too too- Have you seen him since Yes r I saw him afterwards on the docksIde looking up at me I think that settles It t said Jack Rattray reassuringly There was a bunch of oC stuff shipped by a 0 Chinese agency down LImehouse way for tor a firm In S Sydney Some d n d-n n silly mistake hauling It out now now now-a a h h l 1 of oC a n Job job from from Number Three hold hod This oriental bird was probably the wit halt re re- re- re Its It's given me more trouble trouble trou trou- ble than the specie The lIThe specie Yes Were We're a Spanish galleon this trip Eileen I 1 Rattray smiled his slow smile Minted gold from the Bank of at England consigned to the Commonwealth Bank nank of or Aus Aus- Look I Its It's Just coming aboard Two millions I Well I must slip oft off now They've rushed this little lot aboard us at the last moment and Ive I've got to find a safe home borne for It Take my tip Turn In with a book and If It you like Ike Ill I'll have a nightcap sent along In about half halt an hour Leave It to me Youre a Kind Pig said Eileen and squeezed his arm affection affection- a tely She had known Jack Rattray for three years He lIe had Introduced her herto herto herto to Dawson Halg Haig In Colombo i only Colombo only a year ago As he went of off with his slow long ong strides es she turned and entered her cabin L Looking at tn the books on the rack and pulling a wry face ce she contemplated contemplated con con- contemplated unpacking yet to be done She had been on board since noon and knew she was desperately desperate desperate- ly lazy But nut then Dawson Halg Haig had sta stayed ed to lunch when It was announced that the ship couldn't sail sail and and Matt the good angel had bod clung on to the last possible min ute Oh bother I she said sold She was tired but excited Ile lIel mental menta condition puzzled her bee This was s-as not tho the first time she had tract traveled trav alone She was used to th the sea soa and had hod taken her maiden voyage voyage voyage voy voy- age at nt the age of oC twelve Yel The memory of or that strange yellow lemon face tace glimpsed between between between be be- tween upraised flaps of or an astrakhan astrakhan astrakhan han collar and the pulled down brim of or a soft black hat haunted her ridiculously Of ot course the them theman theman m man m was some Chinese shipping agent The apparent evil eril of ot his smile might have lIae been no more than a distorted reflection In the ml mirror She wondered If IC Dawson Halg would write Queer that odor like musk It seemed to hang about Yes she would turn In and read You see sec Kearney said Detective Detective Detec Detec- tive tivo Inspector Dawson Halg Haig starIng staring star star- Ing up at an old print which decorated decorated dec dec- orated the bar officially my hands are arc tied Its It's because Ive I've always made a point of oC finding the loopholes loopholes loop loop- holes In official regulations that Ive I've got as far as I have e The bar was sparsely populated Two firemen amiably drunk lolled In a corner lorner A solitary seedy look ing lag drinker sat against the wall waH smoking his pipe and taking sips from Crom a tankard A sleeved shirt barman made up the company Kearney smiled at the speaker He regarded William Dawson Halg Halgas as OS one of or the most remarkable men In London London London-a a man destined to wInan win winan winan an International reputation Halg Haig had been at with Kearney Rear Kear ney ney- ney ney Michael Kearney now United States consul at Colombo at that time having been stationed In Liverpool LIT Liv- Catastrophe came just as Halg went up to Oxford Endowed by his father with a load of or debts debt and a posthumous V V. V C. C he had enlisted enlisted en en- listed In the Metropolitan police force He was today the youngest youngest young young- est cst Inspector detective In the criminal criminal crim crIm- inal Ina Investigation department with witha a great future assured He had pleasantly Irregular features features fea tea tures and ond his smile was a grin which wrinkled up the corners of or hIs eyes Irresistibly When Halg Haig grinned everybody grinned Regulations weren't made for tor you ou said Kearney laughing But nut Im I'm still In the dark You leave the Wallaroo after aCter lunch with dramatic farewells and then bang me on the back at the dock gates at nt ten o'clock at night I Halg Haig raised his Ills tankard contemplating contemplating plating It with Interest and I III gave you yon a lift lUt as far as Limehouse Lime Lime- house he reminded Kearney You ou ought bt to be thankful for that And the beer Is good Kearney banged bonged the counter The barman replenished the tankards And when he had retired afoot Kearney asked In Ina a low voice I dont don't know v I I was Halg's surprising surprising sur sur- answer I can only think theres there's been a bad leakage of ot news Some time ago he be went on a ua cont consignment con of oC pottery was sent from China to a firm In Birmingham This consignment unopened was recon- recon sIgned to a Chinese firm In Sydney per King shipping agents of or LImehouse It was put on the Wallaroo I checked It m myself this morning Was that how you managed to get down to see Eileen 7 It was Halg Haig acknowledged and Iland I blessed the chance chancel 1 Now ow heres here's what I meant when I said my hands were tied neither K di division division division di- di vision nor Scotland Yard have had power to |