The Girl at the Gables

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 256, 1 December 1930, Page 11

The Girl at the Gables

By HERBERT GALWAY and ANN NEVERN

CHAPETIt III.— (Continued.) Turning on to the landing before the flnal flight of uncarpet-ed stairs, Reuben unable to contain himself any longer, brohe away from the restraining arm of his friend and half ran along the corridor. There was a sudden crash and he tumbled headlong over some unseen ohstruetion, the sound of the fail reverherating through the sepulchral hush like 'the burst of an explosion. "When the echoes had died away a weird crowing c.achination made James Bantry feel sick with horror. He struck a match and'saw the pr'ostrate man cnuckling insanely as he disentangled himself from an overturnedtable. "Quick,",he whispered, dragging him to .his feet. "Pull yourself together, man. or we're lostl" With a murmured apology, Reuben Rreever sighed and gripped his friend's hand. "Sorry, old ehap," he began. "I simply couldn't help " The words froze on his lips as they hoth looked, spellbound, at the rays of an electrio torch eoming slowly round the eorner at the top of the staircase. Moved by a common impulse, both men crouched behlnd a large oak ■chest. IMartin Dreever, fully-dressed, oould he seen by the wavering light standing on the -highest step and holding a revolver which theatened every imoment to fall from his shaking "hand. "Who — who's there?" he quavered. There was no answer. "Who's there?" he repeated, and the tones were those of a person nearly dead with fright. Without further warning he discharged ihe pistol blindly in the direction of the overturned table. The bullets embedded themselves haryilesslv in the lloor. The next moment Reuben Dreever and James Bantry were dashing recklessly up the staircase. As the rays of the torch fell on the excited face of his young hrother, Martin flred aeain, with ihe same result. It was : his last effort. Like a tiger, Reuben sprang on his unnatural kinsman. The rankling hatred, bubhling so long under the surface, had at last found an outlet. He picked up the heavy revolver and crashed the butt on the head of the terror-stricken man. Martin Dreever went down like a felled ox and lay still. "Leave him there i" panted Bantry as he picked up the torch and examined the recumbent form. "He's all right till we can iook round." " He "put. pn lights 'where necessary; and whlle Reuben held the revolver they searched ihe rooms. . "No servantsi ' Good! That makes it easier I" . A brief survey resulted in the flnding of several pieces of strong cord in a lumber-room at the rear of the house, where a heterogeneous mass of odds and ends denoted the accumulation of years. Quickly returning to the unconsclous man, they bound him securely, put a gag in iiis mouth, carried him through a little used door up a hidden staircase to the fourth storey, which lay behind The Gables, and flung him on the floor of a bare and isolated room. Banging the door shut hehind them, the two friends went down the secret stair and out on the spacious landing, turning the key in the lock of the lower door as they did so. When, half an hour laler, full consciousness returned to Martin Dreever, he heard faintly through the doors of his prison the same uncanny crowing Iaugh that had disturbed 'him earlier in the night. Struggling to a sitting position, as well as his bonds would aliow, he leaned his aching head against ihe bare wall and wept. In a lower room James Bantry was bearing ' his share of "their voluntary burden. By sheer strength he was holding Reuben down on a couch while the unfortunate man raved and laughed and fought as though possessed of a devil, All through that awful night he restrained his insane friend, until worn out by his exertions, merciful sleep overtook the demented man and he became quiet. A few minutes later. weary and fatigued by his long vigil, Bantry lay baelc in a deep chair, sleeping the sleep of cornplete exhauslion. When the two men awoke the sunlight was sireaming through ihe uncurtained window and the morning was well advanced. All signs of the storm had vanished, both in the elements and in 'their brains, and with the return of sanity they hoth hecame aware of their own immediate needs. "Jove! I'm hungry!" exclaimed Rpuben. "And sore," he added as ■he ros'e to his feet. "I'm not surprised," said Bantry grimly; "so am I." "What! Was I so— " "You were. my boy. I'm going to buy some flat straps. AVe might want 'em. It'll save both of us a lot of trouble';" "I'm sorry. old man, but you know how'it is. That devil upslairs — " "I'd forgolten him. Have a hunt round to see what there is in the way of food, while I go and see the — er— patient." James Bantry went upstairs to the little room in which Martin Dreever lay trussed up. Without a word he removed the gag from the moneyr lender's mouth. The immediate result was a torrent of abusive- protest. Bantry stood quietly smiiing uotil the flood "had expended ilself, then he. gently explained who he was and why he was there. "Your much-wronged brother and I have taken possession of the house, and we are going to remain here until all your money is used up, and — - ' "Then what?" asked Dreever, with a face the colour of death. "Well, we haven't decided yet," laughed the other. "You have -quite a lot of money, haven't you?" "You devil! You won't get a penny of mine if I can help it. If there's any justice in the world you'll pay dearly for this outrage!" "It's .i t because there is justice in the world — fancy you talking of justice?" again Ihe mocking laugh — "it's just because there is justice in the world that we're going to have your money, and you're going to pay

dearly for your past deeds' Wfe should like to know first if you have any cash in the ■ house ..and where it is; secondly your cheque-hook — where is that?" "Find it — yOU thief!" A smack in the face with Bantry's open hand was his reply to the taunt. "Your cheque-hook, I said," he went on coolly. "Don't compel us to search you; I'm inclined to be rough." "Undo this cord and you'll find it in my inside pocket," groaned the unhappy man as the marks of his captor's fingers showed plainly on Ihe pale and stubbly cheek. "Now tliere's still another little thing I want you to do/' went on Bantry gently, as he. removed the hook. "I shall. want you to " He broke off and went to the head of the staircase. Are you there, oid man?" he called. "Bring up some notepaper and mk. Your brother wants to use W ondering greatly, Reuben came rapidly into the room after fmding the necessary articles. They released Martin's right arm and cave him a pen. "Now wrife as I dictate," said Ban- * try. "This^ is to the manager of your bank, explaining that your signature will he altered from this date and givin^ two specimens. 'Dear sir, — Kindly note that in.future my signature will be as below,' " But Dreever had not written a word. "Come along; don't 'waste time," urged Bantry with ominous cairn. "No! I'm damned ii I'll do it!" panted the usurer, moistening his dry lips. • Without another word,- Bantry drew the victim's own revolver from his pocket and touched tlxe prisoner's head with the cold barrel. "Make up your mind quicklv," he commanded. "Is it to be life and time to repent, or hell 'in two minutes?" " Martin Dreever wrote the note quickly and signed it. Then he collapsed into a shivering mass. Reuben also signed "Martin Dreever" below twice as specimen signatures. The moneylender's honds were later entirely removed during the day, but at night he was bound up again, although the gag was never replaced, his eaptors feeling confident that the remoteness of his prison prevented sounds reaching the ears of anyone passing ^along Jhe road. The door of the room however was kept loeked at all times, as also was the entrance to the narrow commupicating stair. The advent of the two' friends completely revolutionised the whole atmosphere of The Gables, and- to the eyes of the local world it seemed that Martin Dreever had at last decided to enjoy the wealth he had accumulated. James Bantry and Reuben Dreever had deemed it advisable to aliow their beards to grow, and during that period they did not go out much in the daytime, but gradually improved conditions inside the house. Then The Gables slowly awoke; a garage was built to accommodate a recently-ac-quired Rolls-Royce ; and when a middle-aged widow — Mrs. Jarrow was installed as housekeeper there was nothing to indicate that the transition from penury to prosperity was 'but a month old. The finishing touch to the metamorphosis was the insertion in the Morning Post of an advertisement for a lady chauffeur. (To be Continued.)