Show BY TALBOT MUNDY 0 0 0 0 TALBOT MUNDY SERVICE CHAPTER continued 16 norwood drew w rein beneath the baobab tendril il he even have to stand in the saddle to reach it the sais rode forward and took the reins norwood climbed the tendril hand over hand swung himself on to the wall and walked forward As he emerged out of 0 the shadow of the overhanging trees he saw oleary looking backward toward III him norwood extended both arms and moved them slightly up and down that was an order to oleary to patrol the road norwood wanted no witnesses lie he walked forward along the wall toward the kiosk where stood talking to lynn lynn saw him first she looked startled and faced about for a moment speechless you is it he said what the devil do you mean climbing walls at this hour of the night 1 I came looking lor for you no it my ghost they missed me did you hear the shooting arent you rather a duffer at choosing marksmen 1 I dont know and I 1 dont care what hot you mean by that remark said Rund hia get off the wall when im ready Bund Rund hla hia what have you been saying about me you flatter yourself I 1 dont care to talk about you what did you say to the resident he mentioned that you had bad called to see him did he be well my conversation with the resident was confidential so was mine Rund hia say to me what you said to him you may go to the devil run dh adhia la you glanced lanced backward at lynn then sneered at norwood people who pocket bribes are not entitled to it exactly a haymaker it was a right handed wallop without any ringside pedigree but with all the strength contempt and anger of a clean living man behind it that landed on Rund hias chin like a gun going oft off it brought a laugh from oleary who possibly have seen it reeled backward toward the garden as it if pole axed out tor for the count he did a forward knife bend on the edge of the wall and toppled backward into the darkness the crash of shrubbery announced that he had fallen soft norwood glanced at lynn then just a minute please he ran down the steps to take a look at and dragged him out of the shrubbery on to the path he made a rough estimate that no bones were broken and let him lie there he returned up the steps and confronted lynn 1 I 1 suppose youve killed him oh no they could see each other almost as distinctly as in full daylight lynns hair was a mass of spun gold her emotions revealed on her face her parted lips her startled questioning proud eyes drove out of No mind the few terse phrases that he had prepared he said suddenly because he think of anything else to say what are you doing I 1 in that makeup make up you should have hit me lynn answered that was a cowardly blow you gave him no warning are you sure you killed him im afraid hell live Is it true miss harding that you told about a packet of diamonds that you saw drop from my pocket this morning 1 yes norwood stared at her she flinch she continued speaking after a moment that is why I 1 wrote inviting you to come and see me I 1 wanted to tell you what I 1 had done and to ex 1 plain how I 1 came to do it and to apologize 1 I believe you had said it norwood answered 1 I came to lynn interrupted 1 I did say it it was my fault I 1 wish you had hit me instead of Rund hia I 1 would have preferred that to the humiliation of being despised and of being P moaned on the path in the darkness below captain norwood I 1 must go and help Rund hia hla will you please let me pass no said norwood 1 I will shout tor for servants presently to carry him to bed his nose may be bleeding S serve e ve him right I 1 came to tell 1 you 1 I cant bear to be to told id I 1 know youre ou re too late captain norwood I 1 have heard that what I 1 said has got you into serious trouble I 1 am ashamed of lt it if that Is what you want to know if you had read rny my norwood interrupted her what do you mean by too late if you had answered my letter lynns lynn Is lips were tre trembling bling she was choking Rund hia she continue she felt like lae crying suddenly she controlled herself and looked straight in his eyes captain norwood it if you please I 1 must 9 go 0 and look after Rund hia hla will you let me get by norwood move what did you say in your letter 11 he asked if you despised me too much to read it why ask that now I 1 know you got the letter it was sent by one of the Mahar anees messengers who came back and said he be had given it to you he said you tore it up he saw you do it did the messenger tell you that he told Rund hia oh said norwood oleary whistled in the distance somewhere between the kiosk and the palace front gate groaned again by the noise he appeared to be helping himself to his feet by holding on to the shrubbery norwood called to him are you all right Rund hia none of your business said Rund hias voice from the darkness im going to have you arrested Rund hias footsteps went staggering away in the direction of the palace norwood faced lynn again sorry im in a hurry would you like me to see you as far as the palace steps oh no thank you well look here I 1 wrote you a letter just in case I 1 find you af Z I 1 I 1 Q 1 I J lynn interrupted 1 I didday did say it I 1 brought it with me will you take it now and read it later its quite important perhaps give me an answer next time we meet it if we do meet lynn answered why should we goodby good by 11 so long dont forget my letter will you I 1 expect to find you alone so I 1 wrote what I 1 thought you care to have me say in other peoples presence 1 I said exactly what I 1 think lynn paused on her way to the head of the steps oleary whistled again twice this time so long norwood repeated see you as soon as I 1 can lynn spoke abruptly one moment captain norwood you say you have said what you think of me in this letter I 1 said what I 1 thought of myself and of you in my letter to you you tore mine up she tore up No letter she scattered its fragments into the darkness goodby good by careful down those steps said norwood see you later why lynn answered norwood swung himself down from the wall vall by the baobab tendril he swung himself on to his horse and was off at a gallop oleary had whistled three times that meant urgent CHAPTER the horses and their riders were invisible in the shadow where the high wall curved away from the moonlight oleary spoke hoarsely that must ha been a snort erl you could ha heard that punch halt half way to delhi who did you hit mind your own business why did you whistle stoddart sent a man from camp to overtake you he gave the message to me he said come a 13 sweeper running like hell bell from mrs harding in the guesthouse she says she has to see you in a hurry its important and wont you come quirk quick become of the sweeper ile he lit out he said alls quiet at the palace nothing else new no norwood thought a second you go to the residency ask to see the resident in person give your message to nobody else here heres my card send that in ask the resident to stand by the phone and expect a call from rom me at any minute do I 1 know any anything thin if he asks no look here decary OE occary OL cary I 1 know what im going to do but I 1 dont know what will happen you follow the resident to the palace slip in through the gate after him and watch tor for that bengali doctor hold him it if you catch him coming out or going in when you see sec me coming out ot of the palace it if I 1 hold up my right hand let him go it I 1 hold up both hands turn him over to the gate guard youve no police power remember so be careful norwood was off at full gallop with the sais hard after him before oleary could answer he drew rein at the palace gate and was delayed there tor for a moment or two by an argument between the commander of the gate guard and an indian contractor who had turned up with a motor truck tor for mrs hardings luggage and a car for mrs harding because norwood was in uniform the contractor appealed to him sir I 1 am refused admission sir I 1 have an order from the american lady mrs harding to collect her luggage and to convey her to the station it is a long way and a bad road she has already paid me I 1 fear we shall not catch the midnight train unless P the commander of the gate guard drew norwood aside it is his honor the residents wish he said quietly no business of mine said norwood may I 1 leave my horses inside the gate the great gate clanged behind him he walked to the guesthouse mrs harding was no longer recumbent on pillows on the chaise longue she seemed even to have partially recovered from her lameness she was seated bolt upright on oa one of her trunks on the garden path in front of the veranda door theres no understanding you english she remarked why dont you use your title 1 I one but your brother is an earl ear he so youre an honorable arent you that is not what you inferred at our last interview well I 1 know who you are how could I 1 I 1 have a letter for you from lynn but the envelope was addressed to me I 1 have thought it over and I 1 suppose she must have put it into the wrong envelope by mistake because I 1 have received no answer to my letter to her here it is norwood stepped on to the veranda to read it by the light from the window dear captain norwood 1 I am feeling ashamed and so sorry that I 1 hardly know what to write wont you please call as soon as you can and let me explain I 1 mentioned without thinking something that occurred this morning to my horror I 1 have now learned that what I 1 said has been repeated and that the result may be I 1 cant write it please captain norwood please believe that what I 1 said was merely thoughtless and that what I 1 have heard about you I 1 refuse to believe I 1 know you are an honorable i man please pleas e help me to undo my very bad mistake I 1 will be waiting for you at the palace wont you call as soon as possible lynn harding norwood returned to mrs harding how long have you had this dont try any ol of that hoity doity arrogance on me she retorted im a harding ill have you understand I 1 sent a messenger for you because norwood was gone before she could answer he dashed into the house seized the phone and gave the residency number then he lowered his voice that you sir norwood speaking from the guesthouse can you come to the palace yes I 1 know you told me to keep away but im a ghost im supposed to be dead you say heard it already my god they were quick no no I 1 hurt the point is this sir they are betting even money in the bazaar that the maharajah Mah arajah wont outlive the night I 1 suspect poison that well tor for one thing I 1 know for a tact fact that mrs harding has been given poisoned toast to make her vomit well sir obviously to keep her away from the niece yes yes I 1 have that letter ive just read it it if im not too late and I 1 dont think I 1 am im going in to upset so applecart he hung up thought for a couple ol of seconds and then returned to aunty aulty harding Hardt ng thanks he said good night im in a hurry stop come back captain norwood I 1 send tor for you to use my telephoned honel here are my trunks and I 1 cant get anyone to wait on me I 1 cant get away and I 1 cant go back in 1 I paid a contractor in advance and he turned up please do something were you running out on lynn norwood asked her captain norwood how dare you say that were you no I 1 was not I 1 was bluffing uh huh shall I 1 tell her you were bluffing dont you dare lt if you know where she is you bring her here was punch drunk all the physical fight had been knocked out of 0 him he knew his nose was bleeding he knew lynn was in No grasp that norwood had escaped death was a almost worse than the punch on the jaw for the moment he could think of nothing but norwood like a man in the ring who is almost out on his feet he be obeyed the instinct to deliver a foul blow he reeled and staggered gradually recovering along a short cut toward his own palace As his nerves and muscles recovered so did his brain he began to think a little clearly by the time he reached his palace and had sent for the bengali doctor his nose had ceased bleeding and he needed beede d nothing more than a bath and a change of clothing there were plenty of servants to lay out clean clothes he talked to the bengali doctor in the bathroom where the shower drowned the sound of their voices even so he spoke english lest one of the valets should overhear now listen dont answer me or ill have you hanged darrin damn you I 1 mean that im desperate thanks to your letting me down in a pinch and refusing to have anything to do with it the attack on norwood was bungled he is alive I 1 heard beard they killed him do I 1 look as it if killed him hes on the rampage im going to get him careful watch your own step if you tail fail to kill your man tonight up goes your number Is the old tool mulling over his stamp albums yes his highness is studying stamps ile he has with him that stamp salesman from lahore who can speak nothing but punjabi but can swindle without speaking at all TO BE CONTINUED |