'NUMB. 
 
 PETER, LUCK,
 
 7 5
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER
 
 THE WRONG 
 NUMBER 
 
 BY 
 PETER LUCK 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 SMALL, MAYNARD & COMPANY 
 PUBLISHERS
 
 Printed in Oeat Britain at the Athenaeum Prlntirve Works, Kedl.ill.
 
 TO 
 
 ARTHUR COMPTON RICKETT 
 
 2136796
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I THE WRONG NUMBER . . . . 9 
 
 ii A WOMAN'S REASON 45 
 
 III THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE . . . . 8l 
 
 IV THE MODERN BILL SIKES . . . . 114 
 V THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE . . 145 
 
 VI A TEST OF LOVE 174 
 
 VII METHOD IN HIS MADNESS . . . . 2OO 
 
 VIII TWO WOMEN . . . . . . . . 226 
 
 IX BOLT VERSUS BAR 252 
 
 X MOLLY MAKES GOOD . . . 28l
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 JACK DENHAM flung his half-smoked 
 cigarette into the empty grate and his 
 book on to the floor, and got up from 
 his chair. He crossed to the window and 
 looked out. He considered that Lennox 
 Street, in which his rooms were situated, looked 
 particularly tame that evening ; there was an 
 atmosphere of dull stagnation about everything. 
 And he wanted movement, excitement, some- 
 thing doing. The book he had been reading 
 was brim full of amazing incidents, but it left 
 him cold and unimpressed. 
 
 " Tosh ! " he thought. " Nothing exciting 
 like that ever happens in real life. I wish it 
 did. I'd give half this blinking fortune I've 
 come into in exchange for a real adventure." 
 And so he would. He had groused away 
 to his friends, that being far too young he 
 had just missed the war, which was his infernal 
 luck, and when that was over what was there 
 for a man to do ? What should he do now ?
 
 io THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Ring up one of the girls and take her to a 
 play he supposed, and he had seen all the 
 plays that were then running in London. No, 
 too dull. Well, anyway he would have to 
 dine somewhere, and dress, and bore himself 
 stiff. He looked at his watch and saw that 
 it was twenty minutes to eight. 
 
 It was at that moment that the telephone 
 bell rang. 
 
 He crossed over to his desk and took up 
 the receiver. 
 
 " Is that you, Jack ? " came a feminine 
 voice from the other end. 
 
 He grinned. 
 
 " Yes, it's me," he said, ungrammatically. 
 Well, his name was Jack, so what did it 
 matter ? 
 
 " For God's sake come ! " said the voice, 
 unknown to him, and tremulous with fear. 
 " My husband has broken out again, and 
 swears he will kill me, for God's sake come ! " 
 
 " Good Lord ! " said Jack. " Kill you ! 
 Why, who are ? " 
 
 The voice cut in on his words. " He is 
 in the hall, waiting, I can't get out, the garden 
 door is open, come that way, to the dining- 
 room window. Oh ! say you'll come, say it, 
 quick quick ! " 
 
 The tone was that of agony. Jack Denham 
 felt a tingling of horror in his veins. 
 
 " Where ? " he said quickly, and then added : 
 "I've forgotten the address." 
 
 " Oh ! you know, Staveley Road, eighteen.
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER n 
 
 Come now, I shall die of terror. The servants 
 are out. Oh ! My God ! Jack, say you'll 
 come ..." 
 
 " Of course I will," he said. " This minute. 
 I'm starting now." 
 
 He rang off and then stood staring at the 
 instrument vacantly. What on earth did it 
 mean ? A woman in fear of being murdered 
 by her husband, and calling to him ! Who 
 was she ? He did not know Staveley Road 
 had never heard of it. But whoever she 
 was or whatever it might mean, in his code 
 of life there was only one thing for him to do. 
 A woman was crying for help in her hour of 
 need, and he was a man, therefore he must 
 go to her. Of course he could ring up the 
 police, but that did not seem the right thing 
 somehow ; she could have done that, and 
 had not ; she had called to a man she knew 
 instead. Therefore she had a reason. Of 
 course the explanation of the seeming mystery 
 was simple enough. Exchange had put her 
 on to the wrong number. She in her terror 
 had not noticed the strange voice ; that he 
 had answered to the name of Jack was enough 
 for her, and that she, a helpless woman had 
 called to Jack was enough for him. Here at 
 last was what he had craved, an adventure. 
 He picked up his hat and hurried downstairs. 
 He looked up and down the street, not a taxi 
 visible. He ran into Oxford Street at last, 
 commenting angrily on the scarcity of taxis. 
 A slight drizzle and the hour however accounted
 
 12 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 for it. At last a few yards further on he 
 saw and hailed an empty car. 
 
 " Where is Staveley Road ? ' he asked 
 the man. 
 
 " Somewhere out St. John's Wood way, 
 sir," was the reply. 
 
 " I want to get there," he said. " Drive 
 as fast as you know how." 
 ' What number, sir ? " 
 
 " Never mind the number," he replied, and 
 got in. 
 
 He reflected that it would be wiser perhaps 
 to get out when he reached Staveley Road, 
 and find the number himself. 
 
 The man drove with the utmost speed the 
 crowded streets permitted, and Jack seated 
 inside, fuming at the delays. What on earth 
 was he going into, and what did it mean ? 
 He pondered over the message " Broken out " 
 that implied drink, he supposed. He pictured 
 the brute sitting in the hall, and the terror- 
 stricken woman cowering in her drawing-room 
 waiting for a sound, a movement, and he 
 shuddered. 
 
 At length the traffic grew less congested 
 and they tore on. Black clouds overhead 
 made the streets unusually dark. Once more 
 he glanced at his watch. It was eight o'clock, 
 and he put his head out. 
 
 " Are we anywhere near ? " he asked. 
 
 " Just turning into Staveley Road now, 
 sir," said the man. 
 
 " All right, pull up." He got out and put
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 13 
 
 a ten shilling note into the man's hand. " Keep 
 the change," he said, " you've earned it." 
 
 " Much obliged, sir," said the driver, and 
 moved off down the road. 
 
 Jack Denham looked at the house where he 
 was standing. It was No. 80, and was 
 detached and standing in a garden, then came 
 a row of houses. He walked quickly on. At 
 No. 30, the row ceased, and the houses became 
 once more detached. These, he noticed, were 
 of good size, each with its own large garden. 
 He reached No. 18 at last, and found that it 
 boasted three doors a front entrance, a back, 
 and a garden gate, which stood unlatched. 
 He pushed it open and walked down the 
 path that led round the side of the house, 
 which was in complete darkness. Pre- 
 sently he found himself treading on grass, 
 then he paused and listened. There was 
 not a sound save the far distant rumble of 
 traffic. 
 
 He moved on and stumbled against a step. 
 There were three steps, up which he went, 
 and found himself standing on a stone terrace. 
 Close in front of him was a french window, 
 partly open. Then he heard a man's voice 
 inside 
 
 " What was that ? ' 
 
 It was a harsh voice, an unpleasant voice. 
 He pushed open the window, felt some heavy 
 curtains impeding his progress, and pushing 
 them aside stepped into the room. A blinding 
 glare of electric light dazzled him, and for
 
 14 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 the moment he saw nothing. Then once more 
 came the voice, harsh, insistent 
 
 " Draw the curtains, you blithering fool, 
 draw them quick." 
 
 He stopped, staring blankly at the scene 
 before him. It was a large room in the centre 
 of which was a table, and round this were 
 gathered six men and two women all in evening 
 dress, and every face was turned towards him. 
 Then with a quick movement the man who 
 had spoken sprang towards him, closed the 
 window and drew the curtains. 
 
 Jack took in the scene at once. Evidently 
 this was a gambling place, for they were playing 
 baccarat, and evidently also, he had come 
 to the wrong house. What he had taken for 
 eighteen, must in reality have been eighty. 
 Then the man beside him, a tall, strongly 
 built fellow with clean shaven face, large 
 heavy features and cold grey eyes, spoke 
 to him. 
 
 " The password," he said, shortly. 
 
 " I beg your pardon," said Jack. "I'm 
 afraid I have made a mistake." 
 
 "I'm afraid you have," was the reply, 
 followed by a short laugh, an ugly laugh, 
 seemingly full of menace. 
 
 There was a stir among the people seated 
 round the table, chairs were pushed back. 
 A middle-aged man with pointed beard and 
 the look of a foreigner, detached himself from 
 the others and came towards him. 
 
 " You have the password, hein ? " he asked,
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 15 
 
 abruptly. " The password, my friend, is it 
 not so ? " 
 
 " I don't know what you mean," said Jack, 
 drawing back involuntarily. 
 
 There was a murmur from the others. A 
 slight, pretty woman in the scantiest of garments 
 and blazing with imitation j ewellery called out : 
 
 " He is not one of us, Cast on. Is the 
 window shut ? " 
 
 With a quick movement the man who had 
 first spoken drew a wooden shutter over the 
 window and rammed down the bar across it 
 Then he turned to the young man, who now 
 realised fully what he was up against, and, 
 as was his way, with the advent of danger 
 came complete composure. 
 
 " You have no password," said the man, 
 " and yet you are here. How did you come ? " 
 
 ' Through the window," said Jack. 
 
 Someone tittered. 
 
 " An unusual proceeding for me, I admit," 
 
 he went on, with a smile. " As a rule I use 
 
 the door, but on this occasion I had a reason." 
 
 ' You are from Scotland Yard, I suppose," 
 
 said the tall man with a frown. 
 
 "God forbid," was the reply. "But let 
 me explain, it is imperative that I get out 
 of here at once." 
 
 ' You realise where you are, I suppose, and 
 that this is a gambling den ? " said the man. 
 
 " Not really, is it ? " retorted the other. 
 'Why, I thought it was a Mothers' Meeting." 
 
 Again there was a titter from one of the
 
 16 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 women by the table, and the foreigner, Gaston, 
 frowned. 
 
 ' This is no matter for joke," he said, angrily. 
 " So it seems," said Jack airily. " Since 
 you appear to be in dread of the police, it 
 strikes me that it might possibly be quite 
 serious. But I can assure you that I am 
 not connected with the Force in any way. 
 Now, I ask you," he went on, turning to the 
 rest of the company, " do I look like it ? " 
 
 Once more someone laughed, and the pretty 
 woman came nearer. 
 
 ' Who are you ? " she asked. 
 He bowed. " Madam," he said in mock 
 politeness, "is it not better that we both 
 remain incognito ? ' Then he turned to the 
 big man. ' Would you be so kind as to unbar 
 that shutter, and allow me to retrace my steps 
 the way I came. Rather a lot depends on my 
 going at once." 
 
 " I should imagine so," was the curt reply. 
 ' But not yet, my friend. There are certain 
 things to be gone into before we part." He 
 waved his hand towards the table, and a 
 young man went to the door at the further 
 end of the room and locked it, putting the 
 key in his pocket. 
 
 ' This begins to look distinctly interesting," 
 said Jack. " May I smoke ? ' 
 
 " My ! You've got a nerve," said the pretty 
 woman. 
 
 Jack offered her his cigarette case; she 
 took one.
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 17 
 
 " Anyone boast a match ? ' he asked, 
 looking round. 
 
 The young man who had locked the door, 
 laughed, and threw a box over to him, which 
 he caught. 
 
 ' Thanks awfully ; matches are the bane of 
 my existence. I never can find one when I 
 want it." 
 
 " Now," said the big man, who had been 
 waiting impatiently through this conversation, 
 " supposing we cut this foolery and get to 
 business ? ' 
 
 " Go ahead," said Jack. "I'm listening 
 intently." 
 
 " Before you go," went on the other, "you 
 will, of course, give your assurance that you 
 forget where you have been, what you have 
 seen, and other details such as the name of 
 the street, the number of this house ? ' 
 
 Jack Denham did not reply. He stood 
 there, thinking hard, and they were not pleasant 
 thoughts. In the first place, why should these 
 people be so desperately anxious for him to 
 hold his tongue ? This was certainly a gambling 
 hell, but to his knowledge and experience, a 
 good deal of gambling went on in London. 
 Was this something more ? Undoubtedly it 
 was, and that being so, he was in a pretty 
 tight corner. He glanced round at the 
 occupants of the room. There were six men 
 and two women. Of the latter one was young, 
 amazingly pretty, a very effective decoy no 
 doubt ; the other, middle-aged, homely,
 
 i8 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 eminently useful as a respectable caretaker 
 in the event of a sudden evacuation of the 
 premises. His quick eyes sought the faces 
 of the four men standing round the table. 
 The two beside him he had already docketed 
 in his mind as the leader and second in command. 
 For the rest, the young man who had thrown 
 him the match-box looked a gentleman, but 
 what of that ? The present day criminal was 
 no longer of the Bill Sikes type, this young 
 man looked what he aped, a gentleman, or 
 perhaps he was one, more's the pity. He 
 would know him again anywhere. Beside him 
 stood a tall man with drooping moustache ; 
 there was something peculiarly low and evil 
 about him, about the furtive look of the eyes, 
 the nervous twitching of the fingers as he took 
 up and dropped a card, then another. And 
 on the other side two more, one of medium 
 height, thin with a sallow complexion, clean 
 shaven and a mouth twisted on one side, 
 either a physical defect, or the result of a cut ; 
 this last more typical of his idea as to what 
 a clever crook should look like. Small, wiry, 
 cat-like in his movements. He had seen him 
 cross the room to the sideboard and pour out 
 a drink for himself. He had the face of a 
 weasel with little cunning eyes, and could see 
 as though in a vision those long sinewy fingers 
 manipulating deftly and effectively the tools 
 of his trade. Was this a gang of crooks 
 unknown to the police ? Was this the solution 
 to that hitherto unsolved problem of the
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 19 
 
 many clever robberies that had taken place 
 recently in London and in country houses ? 
 Was that young man a member of society as 
 well as a member of this gang, and he the 
 means of so many mysteriously unlocked doors 
 and opened windows, and the almost impossible 
 getaway of the thieves unless with inside help ? 
 If so, whether he gave his promise or not, 
 Jack Denham realised pretty clearly that his 
 number was up, unless they stuck at murder. 
 Well, he had to chance it. He was no fool, 
 and he had to get out of this place if that 
 woman was to be saved, if indeed, even now 
 he was not too late. He must give his 
 promise, and whether given under threat or 
 otherwise, to him a word once given must 
 be kept. 
 
 " Come," the harsh voice of the leader at 
 his side broke in upon his thoughts. " Are 
 you going to give your word to say nothing 
 to the police of what you have seen, or are 
 you not ? ' 
 
 " You seem to be terribly afraid of the 
 police, gentlemen," he retorted. " Why ? " 
 
 " What ' fools question ' ! " ejaculated the 
 Frenchman. " Can you not see ? V la." He 
 pointed to the table. 
 
 " Oh ! of course, yes," replied Jack care- 
 lessly, " I see. Well, if it will ease your minds, 
 I most certainly will give my promise. There's 
 no reason that I know of why I should want 
 to get you into trouble, and there's every 
 damned reason in the world why I should
 
 20 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 want to get out of here." For it had occurred 
 to him that in coming here he must have 
 actually passed the very house he wanted 
 to get to, it must have been 80, Staveley 
 Road, not 18, and there might be a chance 
 of saving her yet. 
 
 ' What ! Are you going to take his word 
 and let him go ? ' It was the little man with 
 the weasel face speaking, and there was un- 
 utterable scorn in his rather high-pitched 
 voice. " Take his grandmother. Don't you 
 be a fool, man Sullivan." He looked at the 
 big man angrily. 
 
 " Shut up on names, you blinking idiot," 
 growled the tall man with the moustache. 
 
 " What do names matter ? They ain't in 
 the police registers, are they ? But they will 
 be if you're such a cursed fool as to let that 
 chap go alive out of here. You can take my 
 word for that," said the little man sharply. 
 
 " Who is head of this show, Alf, you or I ? ' 
 asked Sullivan, quietly. 
 
 " There won't be no show to talk about if 
 you let that fool go," was the retort. 
 
 " C'est vrai 'e ees right," put in Gaston, 
 and then to Jack : " You give your promise, 
 hein ? It is easy, and hey presto ! when 
 you are out, you, what you say 'phone to 
 the police, and give us away. We are not 
 fools, no, it is you who are the fool." 
 
 " I assure you I won't," replied Jack, who, 
 under a bold front was beginning to feel his 
 heart quake within him. " And don't be
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 21 
 
 rude, my good fellow. I have given my word, 
 and my word once given, I never go back on 
 it. Why should I ? I want to know nothing 
 more about you. I came in by mistake. All 
 I ask is that you let me out now and I'll keep 
 my mouth shut. If you refuse, it will show 
 you have something to be afraid of. You 
 can take it from me I've been in a gambling 
 den before now, and thoroughly enjoyed it. 
 I'm not the man to give you away." 
 
 The pretty woman leant forward across 
 the table. 
 
 " I think you can trust him, old man," 
 she said. " Let him go." 
 
 " You shut up," growled Sullivan, and then 
 walked across to the table leaving the French- 
 man on guard. But Jack, even had he thought 
 of rushing them and trying to escape, knew 
 that it was useless. The door was locked 
 and the window shuttered and barred. He 
 recognised that his position was desperate. 
 
 " Look here," said Sullivan, " I'm inclined 
 to agree with Gaston, but mark you, I won't 
 be dictated to by anyone." There was a 
 murmur of assent. 
 
 " Right you are, gov'n'r," said the little 
 man. " We're here to obey orders of course, 
 but since we've all got something to lose if 
 things go wrong, it's only fair that we should 
 all have a say, ain't it, pals ? ' 
 
 " Most decidedly," said the young man, his 
 voice, Jack noticed, was refined and cultivated 
 
 " Very well then, let's put it to the vote/'
 
 22 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 said Sullivan. " Those who are in favour of 
 trusting him, put their hands up." At once 
 five arms, two of them were women's, were 
 raised. 
 
 " Women don't count/' snarled Alf sullenly. 
 
 " Quite so," assented Sullivan, and Jack's 
 heart sank. " This is a man's job. Now we 
 
 have Bob, Mike and Applet on for " Jack 
 
 Denham watching in dread fascination saw 
 the arms of the young man, the fellow with 
 the twisted mouth, and the tall man with the 
 moustache, held high in the air. ' Which 
 means that there are three against," went 
 on the big leader. " So that's a washout." 
 
 " Let's toss for it, guv'n'r," suggested Alf, 
 grinning. " Heads he goes, tails he stops and 
 gets what's coming to him." The others 
 nodded. Sullivan produced a coin and sent 
 it spinning. It fell with a clink on the table, 
 spun round for a second and lay flat. Jack 
 strained forward and felt a sudden grip upon 
 his arm. 
 
 The pretty girl flung up her hands and 
 cried out : 
 
 " No ! No ! Let him go ! " 
 
 ' Tails it is," said Sullivan, and put the 
 coin in his pocket. 
 
 "I'm sorry," he went on, turning to Jack, 
 " but I'm afraid we can't part with you." 
 
 Jack, his heart beating violently, laughed. 
 
 " Nonsense," he said. "I've got to go. I 
 must go, and at once, time is everything to 
 me."
 
 23 
 
 ' Time is of no consequence to us," replied 
 Sullivan, coldly. 
 
 " It will be when you are doing it," retorted 
 Jack, airily. There was a general titter. 
 
 ' I not understand this joke," said Gaston, 
 sourly. 
 
 ' You wouldn't," replied Jack. " But you'll 
 know all about it soon if you detain me here 
 against my will. I have given you my word, 
 and I'll not go back on it, and you're safe 
 whatever your game may be, I'm not given 
 to lying. But keep me here and you'll pay, 
 I promise you that." Some of the men laughed, 
 the pretty woman came towards him, regarding 
 him with admiration. 
 
 ' You are very brave, boy," she said. 
 
 " Not at all," was the reply. " I am not 
 frightened, if that's what you mean. You 
 can't hurt me." 
 
 " You are sure of that ? ' growled the 
 big man. 
 
 " Not quite so sure, certainly," was the 
 retort, " when I look at your face." 
 
 Someone laughed and Sullivan scowled. 
 
 " Enough of this," cried Gaston. " What 
 will be done now with him ? ' 
 
 ' To shoot him is the simplest way out 
 of it," said the big man. 
 
 " No, don't do that," said Jack pleasantly. 
 " Anyone, any fool can commit murder, but 
 it's not everyone who can get rid of the body. 
 Do, I beg of you, before you start in on a 
 shooting stunt, remember the body."
 
 24 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " You laugh at us ? " cried the foreigner, 
 shaking his fist suddenly in Jack's face. 
 
 " Of course," was the reply. " You didn't 
 expect me to cry, did you ? You're so funny, 
 you know, talking calmly about shooting a 
 fellow in the middle of London. It isn't done, 
 really. In my opinion, it's hardly what one 
 might call good form. Besides," he added 
 placidly, " my big brother returns to my rooms 
 at midnight, and if I am not there, he will 
 search London for me. He has a pal at the 
 Yard. You know where that is ? On the 
 Embankment. I er took a taxi here from 
 my house, they'll soon fish me out, dead or 
 not dead, and if not dead, so much the better 
 for all of you. Do I make myself quite clear, 
 or are there any details you would like to 
 have explained ? ' 
 
 " I suppose all this is true ? '" demanded 
 the big man. 
 
 " I have already told you that I do not 
 lie," said Jack, conscious of the fact that he 
 had done so pretty badly regarding the taxi. 
 As a matter of fact no one on earth could 
 trace him the way he had worked things. 
 Unconsciously, certainly, but nevertheless 
 desperately dangerously for him at the moment. 
 No one knew he had left his rooms, or even 
 that he had been there. He had picked up the 
 taxi in Oxford Street, and he had left it at 
 the end of Staveley Road. 
 
 " I believe the fellow is lying," said the 
 young man. " I heard no taxi draw up here."
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 25 
 
 " If you were a little nearer," said Jack, 
 " I would take infinite pleasure in knocking 
 you down for that." 
 
 " Come," said the big man. " What is to 
 be done ? You know the situation and what 
 it means to us." 
 
 " Shoot him and be done with it," said a 
 voice, Alf's. 
 
 "No, no ! '" cried the pretty woman, the 
 other close beside her screamed. " You must 
 not hurt him," she went on, " there are other 
 ways if you will only think." 
 
 She came over to Jack, who now felt his 
 arms gripped by the two men on either side 
 of him. She put her hands on his shoulders. 
 
 ' You do give your promise," she whispered, 
 " and you will keep it, won't you, boy ? I 
 don't want anything to happen. Swear it." 
 
 "I have given it," said Jack, "and I'll 
 add this to seal the bargain," and bending 
 forward he kissed her frankly on the mouth. 
 
 " Oh, please 1 " she cried. " Please ! " 
 and turned to Sullivan. 
 
 ' What, more ? " said Jack. " That's greedy, 
 but here's another," and he kissed her again. 
 ' WTiat scent do you use ? " he then asked, 
 sniffing the air. 
 
 " Heliotrope," was the reply. " But don't 
 be silly, this is serious." 
 
 " Then don't use so much," said he. " It 
 isn't done among the best people." 
 
 Again she turned to Sullivan. 
 
 " You'll let him go ? "
 
 26 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " It don't look like it," said Jack. " These 
 two prize-fighters of yours appear to have 
 taken a violent affection for me, and nothing 
 will induce them to part from me." 
 
 The woman regarded him for a moment, 
 honest admiration in her eyes. She had seen 
 Sullivan smile too. Perhaps there was a chance, 
 if she could play her cards well. 
 
 "I'm glad you kissed me," she said. " But 
 you owe me for them all the same, and now 
 you pay." 
 
 Then with a laugh she thrust her hand into 
 
 his breast pocket and pulled out his leather case. 
 
 ' Full and fat ! " said she, with a glance 
 
 inside. " I'll keep it for remembrance when 
 
 you've gone. You don't mind, boy ? ' 
 
 " A pleasure, of course," said he, airily. 
 " It's a pity it's not fuller. It will, at least, 
 pay your expenses to gaol." And he smiled 
 at her ; then after a pause : "I'm sorry you 
 took it, though," and turned his face away 
 from her. 
 
 " You have quite done with this badinage, 
 hein ? " asked Gaston, turning to the lady. 
 There was no relenting there, fear seized her 
 again. 
 
 " Can I do nothing ? " she said hopelessly. 
 "Oh, what are you going to do ? ' She 
 turned to the others, and clasped her hands. 
 
 " You must be quick, you know, for the 
 guests will soon be here, and they must not 
 know," put in Alf, and added a curse. 
 
 " No, poor beggars ! " said Jack. " It will
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 27 
 
 quench their ardent desire to be robbed, 
 won't it ? ' 
 
 " Silence," said the big man, angrily, and 
 pulled an automatic from his breast pocket. 
 The woman screamed and threw herself 
 upon him. 
 
 " Get out of my way, Molly, you infernal 
 fool," he growled. 
 
 " No ! " she cried. " You shall not. There 
 shall be no murder here. We may be thieves, 
 but we have never killed anyone yet." 
 
 " That's right, give the whole show away, 
 won't you ? " cried Sullivan, and struck her 
 violently across the face. 
 
 " You damned swine ! " cried Jack, and 
 struggled powerless in the grip of the two 
 men. " Let me go, curse you, you've knocked 
 her down." 
 
 " Ton my word, I'm with you there," said 
 the young man, crossing quickly to where 
 Molly lay sobbing. " I don't stick at much, 
 but I bar striking a woman." He raised the 
 girl and put her into a chair. 
 
 ' Then she should keep her tongue 
 
 quiet," retorted Sullivan. " And now you 
 stop that, you fool." 
 
 For Jack realised at last that they meant 
 to kill him. He had asked for adventure 
 and excitement and now he was having his 
 fill of it. This particular brand, however, was 
 hardly pleasant. Anger seized him, fear and 
 a desperate desire to live. With a sudden 
 violent movement he freed his arms from the
 
 28 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 restraining grip and struck out at the French- 
 man. The man went down under the blow 
 on his chin. 
 
 ' You damned cowardly brutes," he cried 
 furiously, turning to resist the onslaught of 
 three more. 
 
 It was hopeless from the first ; the women 
 cowered back as they watched the unequal 
 fight, and then he was down, panting and 
 breathless, with one man on his chest, his 
 arms held. 
 
 The Frenchman, dazed from the blow, picked 
 himself up slowly and staggered to his feet. 
 
 " For me the coup de grace," he said jerkily, 
 and held out his hand for Sullivan's weapon. 
 " I receive the knock out. I return him." 
 Sullivan drew back. 
 
 " No," he said. " Molly's right. There must 
 be no shooting here, we can't afford a noise. 
 We must think of something else." 
 
 " Why not give him a cyanide pillule, 
 guv 'nor," suggested Alf, " and prop 'im up 
 outside a doorway. Suicide whilst of unsound 
 mind." 
 
 " Dry up, you blinking little fool," snapped 
 the young man, called Bob, coming forward 
 quickly. " Look here, Sullivan, I stick at 
 cold-blooded murder. The fellow's a gentle- 
 man, and he gave his word, after all." 
 
 Then Molly, red-eyed, came forward and 
 put her arms round the big man's neck. 
 
 " You owe me something for that blow, my 
 dear," she said. " Give me his life."
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 29 
 
 " What's he to you ? ' snarled Sullivan, 
 turning on her. 
 
 " Nothing, Jim, only a brave man. You're 
 that too, you know. Let him live. We don't 
 want murder on our consciences, if we've got 
 any. Take him out into the country and 
 leave him there, and meanwhile we'll get out of 
 this. Not that he'll tell, for I know he won't." 
 
 ' That's a good idea, Moll," agreed Bob. 
 " Don't you think so, Appleton ? ' He turned 
 to the man with the moustache, who nodded. 
 
 " It's better than guns or poison," he said. 
 
 " Yes," agreed Mike. " I don't like the 
 idea of murder." 
 
 ' Well," said Sullivan, after a pause, " I 
 admit I owe Moll something, and as you three 
 are agreed, I'll do as you say. Go and get 
 the car, Appleton. We'll see to him." Then 
 he turned to Gaston : 
 
 " Strap him up and gag him," he said curtly. 
 " As you are a sufferer at his hands you shall 
 have that pleasure." The Frenchman grinned. 
 
 Sullivan touched Jack with his foot. 
 
 " Stand up," he said. 
 
 He obeyed without protest, for he knew 
 the game was up. He knew that whatever 
 they might say, these men would never let 
 him go alive. They meant to take him into 
 the country and kill him there. The poor 
 girl, Molly, didn't know this of course, but he 
 did. It was not likely or in reason to 
 suppose that Sullivan would change his mind 
 as rapidly as he had done without some motive.
 
 30 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 He had to keep the girl quiet, and he had to 
 take no risks. There would be less risk if 
 the thing were done out in the country, and 
 Molly herself had supplied him with the idea, 
 which he had seized upon. He looked round 
 and saw the Frenchman coming towards him, 
 an evil grin on his face, and presently he found 
 his wrists strapped tightly behind him. 
 
 " You're going to kill me of course," he said, 
 and looked Sullivan squarely in the face. The 
 big man laughed. 
 
 " Shut his mouth for him, Gaston," he said 
 sharply. Jack Denham jerked back his 
 head as the Frenchman's hands touched it, 
 but it was useless. A broad piece of thin 
 rubber was stretched tightly across his mouth 
 and fastened behind his head. 
 
 " If you open your mouth," said Sullivan, 
 " it will go inside, and rubber don't taste 
 particularly nice, I reckon. So you'd best 
 keep it shut." 
 
 Then a cord was lashed round his ankles, 
 and he swayed forward. The young man 
 named Bob caught him. 
 
 " Steady," he said, and held him firm. 
 
 " Jim." Molly touched Sullivan on the arm. 
 
 ' You gave me your word. You gave me his 
 
 life, remember." There was desperate anxiety 
 
 in her eyes. Jack watched her in a kind of 
 
 wonder. 
 
 "That's all right, old girl," said Sullivan, 
 pushing her aside. " Don't you worry. Bring 
 him along. Alf, take his legs, I'll carry the
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 31 
 
 shoulders. We'll go straight home, Gaston, 
 after we've got rid of him. It won't be safe 
 to come back here, his people may be looking 
 for him and get on to his tracks. The rest of 
 you clear up, leave Lizzie in charge, and come 
 along as best you can." 
 
 They carried Jack Denham through the door 
 into a dark passage and out of the house. A 
 big car stood at the gate and into this he was 
 placed hurriedly, Sullivan seated beside him, 
 Alf with the driver, Applet on in front. They 
 started. He lay back feeling suddenly sick 
 and faint, he had had nothing to eat since 
 luncheon and the smell of the rubber round 
 his mouth nauseated him. He was young and 
 life was very sweet. The bravest man, and 
 he did not lack courage, might have been 
 pardoned the sensation of fear and horror 
 that assailed him then. During that nightmare 
 drive his thoughts ran riot. That poor woman, 
 what of her ? He had failed. Would she ring 
 up the other Jack, and would he get to her 
 in time ? He thought of the elder brother 
 he was to have seen that night the brother 
 who had told him so often that his insane love 
 of adventure would one day carry him too far, 
 and how right he had been. Into what vile 
 den of thieves and criminals had he inadver- 
 tently gone ? Well, regrets were too late now, 
 he just had to face it. He always had faced 
 things and he would not turn coward now. 
 
 They drove fast, London was left behind, 
 and they were out in the country on a smooth
 
 32 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 road. Then they turned abruptly down a 
 rough lane with trees on either side, and the 
 car drew up. Sullivan bade him sit forward 
 while he tested the bonds at his wrists and 
 tightened the fastening behind his head. Once 
 more Alf took his legs, Sullivan his body and 
 he was lifted out. He shivered as a cold damp 
 air struck him and he realised that it was 
 raining. They carried him across a field and 
 laid him down and he waited for the bullet that 
 was to end his life. He saw Alf turn away 
 and peer through the darkness in the direction 
 from which they had come. He noticed that his 
 hand which held the electric torch shook 
 suddenly. 
 
 Sullivan stood over him holding the automatic 
 in his hand. 
 
 " Are you ready ? " he asked abruptly. 
 
 Jack Denham nodded his head in acquiescence, 
 his eyes staring unflinchingly into those of his 
 would-be assassin. For a moment, which 
 seemed to the helpless man like a year, there 
 was silence. 
 
 Then Alf turned quickly. 
 
 " Say, guv'nor," he said, his high-pitched 
 voice scarce above a whisper, " how about 
 the noise ? Wouldn't it be better to bash 
 in his brains with the butt end ? ' 
 
 Sullivan turned upon him. 
 
 " If you had ever known me to go back 
 upon my word, would you trust and obey me 
 as you do ? " His voice was low, but every 
 word cut like a knife. The little man cringed.
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 33 
 
 " No, guv 'nor, of course not." 
 
 " Very good. Then, as there's nothing more 
 for you to do, at present, you can get back 
 to the car." 
 
 Alf placed the torch on the grass and slunk 
 off without a word. Sullivan turned to Jack. 
 "I'll do you the justice to admit that you're 
 an uncommonly brave fellow," he said, slowly. 
 " And it's partly that, and partly a woman 
 you have to thank that I don't waste a bullet 
 on you. I gave her my word and I never go 
 back on that. You have given your promise 
 to keep your mouth shut. I'll trust you, not 
 because I'm given to trusting people. I'm not, 
 but because if you are set on living you'll 
 keep it shut. For I give you my solemn oath 
 that if the police get to know, or start in poking 
 round after us, your life won't be worth a 
 farthing to you or anyone else. You're the 
 only living soul who could give us away, and 
 if that happens I shall know who's done it. 
 Now, you lie here until someone finds you 
 if they do you'll take your chance of that and 
 it don't worry me any ; you'll get soaked 
 through and it's cursed cold. If they do find 
 you, the odds are you'll die from the exposure, 
 but there's a sporting chance that you don't, 
 and I'm ready to take it. I strongly advise 
 you to lie still and not try to move about, 
 there's a deep pool of water close by you, 
 and if you fell in you'd drown. By the time 
 anyone finds you, if they do, we shall be safe, 
 so don't worry about us. By the way," he
 
 34 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 went on in a change of voice, " you kissed 
 that girl twice if I remember rightly ; well, 
 she happens to be my woman, so I owe you 
 for those kisses." Then very deliberately he 
 raised his heavily shod foot and with all the 
 force he had kicked him twice in the ribs. 
 At the second kick Jack heard a crack, and a 
 violent pain forced a groan from him. 
 
 " Ah ! " said Sullivan with a laugh. " That 
 will take some mending. So long." He stooped 
 down, picked up the torch and strode off into 
 the darkness. 
 
 Jack Denham lay in agony. The first kick 
 had been bad enough, the second, he knew 
 had fractured a rib, if not two. The pain of 
 it shot through his body in fiery darts, to breathe 
 was torture, and the rain came down and beat 
 upon his helpless body, soaking him through 
 and through, numbing him with its pitiless 
 cold and wet. He could think of nothing 
 now but the merciless pain that racked him. 
 An intolerable thirst parched him. If he could 
 get his face to the ground and move that 
 horrible rubber band perhaps he could get 
 at the pool beside him. He moved, tried to 
 turn, and lost consciousness. 
 
 Tommy Baker, aged four, having finished 
 his breakfast, and seeing that the rain had 
 stopped, left off teasing the cat and betook 
 himself to his beloved fields, now in a condition 
 to ensure his becoming exquisitely dirty, and 
 made a bee line for a certain pool, which,
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 35 
 
 being particularly muddy, was calculated if 
 properly manipulated to cover him with more 
 mud than was to be obtained elsewhere with 
 such a minimum amount of trouble. Near 
 the end of his journey an aeroplane overhead, 
 attracted his attention, and, stumbling over 
 some object close by the pool he fell headlong. 
 He picked himself up and saw that the obstacle 
 was a man, lying full length, his eyes very 
 bright and shiny staring up into the sky, 
 with a funny brown thing over his mouth 
 from behind which more funny sounds were 
 coming. Then as he watched, open mouthed, 
 the sounds ceased, the eyes closed, and a grey 
 pallor came over the face. Tommy, suddenly 
 frightened, began to cry loudly and tore back 
 to his mother, who was cleaning the doorstep 
 of her cottage which stood on the high road. 
 
 ' Well, and what now ? " said she, stopping 
 in her work. 
 
 ' There's a man," said Tommy, pointing 
 across the field. " He's deaded. There's some- 
 fing on 'is face and 'is legs is all tied up and 
 I'm frightened." 
 
 Whereupon Mrs. Baker, being very busy, 
 threatened to smack her offspring if he told 
 any more of his lies. But Tommy insisted, 
 and was evidently so thoroughly frightened 
 that Mrs. Baker thought there must be some- 
 thing in it. If so here was a chance to be, 
 so to speak, in at the death, and the first to 
 broadcast the horrible news. So she started 
 off across the field at a run. She found the
 
 36 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 man, and going down on her knees in the sopping 
 grass saw that his eyes were open, but that 
 he appeared to be unaware of her presence. 
 Mrs. Baker had a kind heart, and moreover 
 was a woman of common sense. 
 
 " Lor lumme ! You pore thing," she cried. 
 " Whatever brute could 'a gone and done 
 this ? ' She unfastened the rubber band, 
 untied the ankles, and tried to turn the sodden 
 figure over. A cry of exquisite agony burst 
 from the parched lips, once more the eyes 
 closed and a leaden pallor dyed the face. 
 
 " My Gawd ! 'e's been 'urt." She sprang 
 to her feet and tore across the field to where 
 she knew her husband was working on the road. 
 Four excited men returned with her, the fifth 
 starting off at a run to the police station. 
 
 Ten minutes later Jack Denham, still un- 
 conscious, was in her cottage, wrapped in 
 blankets, a sergeant of police and a constable 
 bending over him. 
 
 " Do you know who he is, Mrs. Baker ? ' 
 asked the sergeant. 
 
 " That I don't. 'E's a gent by 'is clothes," 
 she said. " Better look in 'is pockets, sergeant." 
 
 A crumpled envelope was found, on which 
 some notes had been scrawled, and " Jack 
 Denham, Esq.," read the sergeant. "No. - 
 Lennox Street." 
 
 " As far as I can see there's a rib broken, 
 and the rest's caused by exposure." 
 
 " 'E's deaded," yelled Tommy. " 'E's 
 deaded and I'm frightened."
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 37 
 
 " Pore young feller," said Mrs. Baker, putting 
 her hand on the damp forehead, and then : 
 " 'Ere you, if you don't stop 'ollering, I'll 
 twist your neck for you." 
 
 John Baker grinned at the sergeant's face 
 of disgust. 
 
 " Never you mind 'er," he said. " She 
 don't mean it, a better 'earted woman don't 
 live than 'er, she wouldn't 'urt a fly." 
 
 " We'll take him as he is," said the sergeant 
 brusquely. " His friends will return you 
 the blankets, Mrs. Baker, and no doubt make 
 your trouble worth while." 
 
 " As if I ever thought abaht that," said she 
 indignantly, and to do her credit, she never had. 
 
 "I'll take these straps and rubber band 
 along to the station later," said the sergeant, 
 " they may help us find who did this." They 
 carried Jack Denham into the police car and 
 took him to his rooms. He was muttering in 
 delirium when the door opened and Edward 
 Denham bent over him. 
 
 " Good God ! Jack ! " he said. The sergeant 
 noticed the semblance between the two, though 
 he put this one down as ten years older. Briefly 
 he explained the situation, and Jack was taken 
 upstairs. 
 
 " Been saying something about Staveley 
 Road," said the sergeant, as he stood by while 
 Edward Denham rang up his doctor. " And 
 something about a woman being murdered, 
 couldn't make nothing of it." 
 
 " I'll find out if I can and ring up Harper
 
 38 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 at Scotland Yard," said Edward. " I know 
 him personally. Here's something for you, 
 sergeant, and will you take these blankets 
 back to Mrs. Baker and thank her for what 
 she has done ? If poor old Jack gets through 
 this, it will be her prompt action that has 
 saved him. Kindly give her this." He put 
 a five pound note in an envelope and gave it 
 to the sergeant. 
 
 " Thank you, sir, I will and I'll get back to 
 the station and report. Anything we hear 
 will be sent on to Inspector Harper. Good 
 morning, sir." 
 
 Dr. Watman, an old friend of the Denhams, 
 shook his head, as he came out of Jack's 
 room. 
 
 "I'll get a nurse at once, for day and another 
 for night. Stop by him until one is here ; 
 he must not move, and it's likely he'll try to 
 get up. There's something on his mind, try 
 and see what you can make of it." 
 
 Edward sat down by the bed, his heart as 
 heavy as lead. This brother, though he would 
 have died rather than own it, was the apple 
 of his eye, and his only living relative. 
 
 " She wants me " the husky voice beside 
 
 him made him start. " Jack ! come he will 
 murder me. He's killing her and I can't go 
 to her. It's number 80, not 18. Is she safe ? 
 Oh ! don't let him strike her he's knocked 
 her down and I can't I can't. They've 
 trapped me they'll kill me. Is she safe ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, old fellow, of course she is,"
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 39 
 
 said Edward, catching the clutching hand 
 and patting it. "No. 80, where, old fellow, 
 tell me where if you can." 
 
 Jack's head turned and bright eyes stared 
 vacantly at his brother. 
 
 " She rang me up," went on the husky voice. 
 " Staveley Road 80 80 and I went to 18 
 they trapped me he threw me a box of 
 matches " The voice trailed off into inarticu- 
 late muttering. Edward pulled out his note- 
 book and wrote the address rapidly. 
 
 " Oh ! you brutes, you've knocked her down." 
 The figure in the bed, stiff with bandages, 
 tried to sit up, and Edward, rage in his heart 
 for a glimmering of the truth began to dawn 
 upon him, laid strong and tender hands upon the 
 burning shoulders, and gently held them down. 
 
 " Keep still, old man, you mustn't move," 
 he said. 
 
 " Molly saved me " groaned the voice. " I 
 promised not to tell, and he left me there, 
 and kicked me. Six of them Sullivan's gang 
 Sullivan's " once more a pause. 
 
 Edward straining for every word, caught a 
 whisper " Gambling hell Molly saved me 
 he threw me a box of matches " 
 
 The door opened, and Jenkins the servant 
 ushered in a nurse. 
 
 ' Keep him quiet, nurse," said Edward 
 quickly, " while I go to the 'phone. If he 
 talks tell me all you hear." 
 
 The woman nodded, and Edward flung into 
 the sitting-room.
 
 40 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Scotland Yard," he said down the receiver, 
 and then after a pause : " Is that you, Harper ? " 
 
 " No," came the reply. " Inspector Harper's 
 just come in. Been out about that Staveley 
 Road affair. Who is speaking ? " 
 
 "Good God!" said Edward. "Then it's 
 true." 
 
 ' What's that ! Who is speaking ? " 
 
 " Edward Denham. Send Harper to speak 
 to me at once." 
 
 " Right, sir, hold the line." Edward Denham 
 waited impatiently. 
 
 " That you, Harper ? ' he said at last. 
 " What's this about the Staveley Road affair ? " 
 
 " Good Lord ! " came the reply. " How 
 do you come to know about that ? ' 
 
 " Never mind, I'll tell you afterwards. My 
 brother knows something about it, tell me 
 details." 
 
 " He would," the voice was ironical. " Fact 
 is a Mrs. Allwood living at No. 80, Staveley 
 Road, was set upon by a drunken brute of a 
 husband ; the constable on his rounds heard 
 her cries and got in just in time. The fellow's 
 been taken to an inebriates' home. Now what 
 does Mr. Jack know about it ? ' 
 
 " My brother was found this morning by 
 a woman, tied up and gagged, unconscious 
 from exposure and with a broken rib," replied 
 Edward grimly. " He was lying in a field 
 near Barnet. They got him back here, and 
 he's delirious and talking about a woman 
 who rang him up in Staveley Road. I gather,
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 41 
 
 as he knows no one in that part of London, 
 that a wrong number was put through, but 
 hearing a woman cry out for help he went 
 off, as he would, and apparently went to No. 18 
 by mistake, and got trapped in a gambling hell." 
 
 " Good Lord ! " said the voice at the other 
 end. "Go on." 
 
 " I can't make head or tail of it of course, 
 he speaks of Sullivan's gang, six of them, and 
 that some girl saved his life. Do you know 
 anything about such a gang ? " 
 
 " Sullivan ! " repeated Harper. " I know of 
 a Sullivan who was hanged for murder some 
 time back, but he can't have come to life 
 again. No, never heard of Sullivan's gang. 
 Don't you think he's got mixed up in some sort 
 of fight and is just talking nonsense ? " 
 
 " No, I don't," said Edward. " He keeps 
 on repeating that he was trapped and going 
 to be killed, that he gave his promise I 
 imagine not to give them away that a girl 
 called Molly saved his life, that they kicked 
 him and left him there. That's all I can 
 make out. Can you send some men round, 
 Harper, to No. 18 and find out if there's any- 
 thing in it ? ' 
 
 "I'll go myself if it comes to that," was 
 the reply. " But I doubt the story somehow. 
 However, as he seems to be right about the 
 other part of it, I'll look into it, and I'll ring 
 you up later." 
 
 And later Edward listened to Harper's story. 
 
 " Nothing doing," he said. " No signs of
 
 42 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 gambling or anything else. House in charge 
 of a respectable looking caretaker, but the 
 inspector at Barnet has been over here and 
 handed in the things your brother was tied 
 up with. Which doesn't help us much. We'll 
 have to wait till he can tell us about it. How 
 is he ? " 
 
 " Alive," said Edward hoarsely, " that's all 
 I can say." 
 
 " Good God ! I'm sorry." The tone was 
 full of sympathy. " Buck up, Captain Denham, 
 he's young, he'll pull through." 
 
 And so Edward Denham, two untiring 
 nurses and an old doctor fought death and 
 conquered. 
 
 Many days later as Edward sat by the bed, 
 Jack looked at him and spoke. 
 
 " Have I been talking, Eddy ? " he asked, 
 hardly above a whisper. 
 
 " Yes, old fellow," replied the elder man. 
 " But don't worry, you're all right, thank 
 God, and the police got to No. 80, Staveley 
 Road in time and saved the lady. So you've 
 nothing to worry about." 
 
 Jack gave a sigh of relief, and then after 
 a pause : 
 
 " Did I say anything else ? " 
 
 " Yes, lots. I put two and two together 
 and sent Harper round to No. 18, but the 
 birds had flown. You can tell us later all 
 about it, old chap, don't talk any more now." 
 
 " But I must." A terrible anxiety showed 
 in the white haggard face. " I gave my
 
 THE WRONG NUMBER 43 
 
 promise not to tell, and they swore that if the 
 police went after them, they'd kill me." 
 
 Edward looked grave. 
 
 " Never mind that/' he said after a pause. 
 " A promise given undei compulsion is a 
 washout, and in any case it's taken out of 
 your hands now. I know so much that when 
 you are able to talk you'll have to tell me the 
 rest. All you have to do now is to get well 
 again, old boy." 
 
 ' You told Harper ? " asked the weak voice. 
 
 ' Yes, he went round to see for himself and 
 found nothing." 
 
 ' What did he say ? " 
 
 " Oh ! thought you were mistaken. He knows 
 nothing of a man called Sullivan, or any such 
 gang. Thinks you dreamt it." 
 
 " Eddy ! ' ; The older brother bent down. 
 ' Harper's a damned fool. Tell him I said so." 
 
 Edward Denham laughed, and then suddenly 
 choked. This wilful brother of his was very 
 dear to him and he had come very near to 
 losing him. 
 
 " I'll tell him, old son," he said, when he 
 could speak. " Now, be quiet and lie still or 
 I'll send for Dr. Watman." 
 
 " They'll think I broke my word and gave 
 them away," said Jack, bitterly. " They'll 
 get me now, Sullivan swore it. You might 
 just as well have let me die, Eddy." 
 
 " Nonsense, they'll not get you while I'm 
 alive, old son," said Edward. But his heart 
 misgave him. This episode was closed and
 
 44 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Jack had escaped death by a miracle. But 
 if what he said was true there was grave danger 
 ahead. But he would not let his brother know 
 he thought so. 
 
 " Give the police a chance, old fellow," he 
 said, smiling. " I wouldn't be Sullivan's gang 
 for a good deal, if they get on to them." There 
 was a long pause. 
 
 " I can't help them," said Jack at last. 
 " I gave my word, and on that word my life 
 was spared. Besides, I can't hurt Molly. So 
 I'll just have to take my chance."
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 
 
 AMONG the many passengers who got 
 out of the morning boat train at 
 Folkestone were the two brothers, 
 Edward and Jack Denham. It was a hot day 
 in the middle of July, and perspiring and fussy 
 passengers hurrying by, loaded with unnecessary 
 baggage, envied the two cool, self-possessed 
 young men as they stalked along the platform, 
 the elder with the upright easy swing of 
 the British army officer, the other, a trifle 
 less upright with a hesitation in the walk, 
 a pallor on the good-looking face, that 
 spoke of recent illness. As they passed the 
 hissing engine, and the boat which was to take 
 them to Boulogne came into view, a breath 
 of strong sea air blew upon them. 
 
 " By Jove, that's good ! " said Jack, and 
 straightened his shoulders. ' That'll buck me 
 like nothing else, Eddy, but I wish to God you'd 
 give me one of those suit cases, I'm not such 
 scrapped goods as all that." 
 
 The elder brother took not the slightest 
 notice, but stalked on ahead. It was only when 
 they were on board and seated comfortably 
 
 45
 
 46 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 in two deck chairs that Edward deigned to 
 take notice of the remark. 
 
 " Look here, old son," he said. " Let's 
 understand each other, once and for all, and 
 then there will be no more cause for argument. 
 You have argued about things pretty thoroughly 
 all the way from London, and though they 
 say irritability is a sign of convalescence, for 
 which God be thanked, still, it becomes trying 
 at times. Dr. Watman 's orders were no 
 exertion, bodily or mental." 
 
 " He could have scrapped the mental part 
 of it," put in Jack with a grin " I've no brains 
 to exercise." 
 
 " The truth at last, by Jack Denham," 
 retorted the other. " However, let me go 
 on with my harangue and get it over. He 
 also said no long journey hence this short 
 trip sea air, good food and wine, sea bathing 
 in moderation, sleep, lots of sleep. All this, 
 he said, you will get at Boulogne as well as 
 you would if you went further to look for it. 
 Those were his orders, old fellow, and I am 
 here to see they are carried out." 
 
 "It's rot," said Jack, irritably. "I'm as 
 fit as a fiddle. If there's one thing I hate 
 it's a fuss." 
 
 " Most normal Englishmen do," was the 
 
 reply. " But as Watman says " 
 
 " Watman be damned," said Jack. 
 
 " Oh ! you can damn old Watman for all 
 you are worth," said the elder brother, quietly; 
 " but you'll obey his orders, old son. So
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 47 
 
 make no mistake about that. Besides, you 
 are not as fit as a fiddle. It would take the 
 very strongest man a long time to get over 
 what you went through, nearly twenty-four 
 hours' exposure in soaking rain and east wind, 
 and a compound fracture of the rib. You 
 know we Denhams are lungy people, worse 
 luck, and though I grant you that we have 
 plenty of pluck, we are not of the very strongest, 
 else why are we the last of our race ? At any 
 rate, grumble as you like, I think you are free 
 from the attention of Sullivan's gang, for the 
 time." 
 
 " I had a good look at Victoria Station," 
 admitted Jack, " and I certainly saw nothing 
 of any of the damned blighters." 
 
 " Let's have a look at that note again," 
 said Edward, holding out his hand. " Came 
 three days ago, didn't it ? ' : 
 
 ' That's right," was the reply. 
 
 Jack pulled out his note case and took from 
 it a half sheet of paper. On it was written 
 in type the following message : 
 
 ' Your life was spared on condition that 
 you gave your word of honour not to put 
 the police on us. That word you have 
 broken, therefore you are warned that no 
 stone will be left unturned to bring you to 
 justice. Your life is forfeit; the note case 
 you left behind we return. It is well for 
 us, but bad for you that inside it were some 
 of your visiting cards. We return these
 
 48 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 since they are of no further use to us, and 
 I fear of not very much more use to you. 
 At least I kept my word to you. The best 
 thing you can do now is to make your will. 
 
 " JIM SULLIVAN." 
 
 " I'm afraid he means business," said Edward, 
 slowly, as he gave the note back. " There is 
 a quiet, grim menace about that letter that 
 is more full of meaning than columns of abuse 
 would have been." 
 
 "It's simply damnable they can't be told 
 that I gave the show away in delirium, and 
 never of my own wish," said Jack, angrily. 
 " The threat of death isn't half so bad to face 
 as the fact that they think me the worst kind 
 of dishonourable sneaking cur." 
 
 " Sullivan and his gang are such honourable, 
 high-minded fellows themselves, aren't they ? " 
 said Edward, with sarcasm. " I shouldn't 
 worry about that, anyway." 
 
 " At least he kept his word to the girl, Molly," 
 retorted Jack. " He didn't shoot me." 
 
 " No only left you tied up and gagged in 
 the bitter cold and rain, and smashed in a rib 
 for you to make it more uncomfortable. Do 
 you know ' the elder brother turned on him 
 suddenly " that you nearly went out, Jack ? " 
 
 " I gathered as much," was the reply ; " but 
 I didn't, and Sullivan said he would take the 
 sporting chance that I wouldn't." 
 
 " Good God ! " exclaimed the other. " One 
 would think you admired the fellow."
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 49 
 
 " I don't. He's an absolute blackguard, 
 but I can't set the police on his track, as I 
 promised not to, and also, I don't want to 
 hurt Molly. At the same time, if they try 
 to do me in now, I'll call the bargain off, that 
 much I promise you, always so long as the girl 
 doesn't suffer. Now shut up, I'm going to 
 sleep." 
 
 " Give me your passport then, and I'll get 
 it stamped for you." 
 
 Down below Edward Denham joined the 
 queue of travellers who thronged to get their 
 passports vised before the boat started. 
 
 In front of him was a small man in a thin 
 overcoat, the collar of which was turned up 
 over his chin, a felt hat hiding the upper part 
 of his face. He darted through the opening 
 with quick cat-like movement, Edward following 
 more slowly behind. The little man held out 
 his book, took it back, and the next moment, 
 so it seemed to Edward, vanished. There 
 was no sign of him when Edward once more 
 came on deck and sat down beside his brother, 
 who was evidently fast asleep. No second 
 thought of the little man came into Edward's 
 mind, only a serene thankfulness when the 
 siren bellowed forth its ear-splitting noise 
 and at last they were off. He would perhaps 
 have felt less ease of mind had he known that 
 for the last few days his flat had been very 
 carefully watched, and that keen ferret eyes 
 were even now watching his every movement 
 and those of the sleeping figure at his side.
 
 50 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 It was a calm crossing, but the boat was 
 uncomfortably crowded, Americans, over- 
 dressed English nouveaux riches, business men, 
 all sorts and conditions sitting or standing or 
 promenading to and fro. . . . He watched 
 them with idle curiosity and was thankful 
 when the long low harbour came in view, 
 and the boat backed stern foremost into its 
 landing place. 
 
 Immediate bustle and stir, and Jack, only 
 half awake, stood up beside him. 
 
 " Shall be glad of some grub," he said. 
 "This sea air plays the deuce with one's inside." 
 
 " Glad to hear it, old man, I want to see some 
 flesh on your bones. Here come the porters." 
 
 Down went the gangway ; over the way the 
 Paris express was waiting ; on to the boat 
 swarmed blue figures. Edward felt his suit 
 cases seized and a number was barked at him. 
 
 " Seventee-two, monsieur," said a short, 
 unshaven little man. " I collect ze baggage 
 and meet you at ze douane." 
 
 A small overcoated figure brushed past the 
 two brothers; they were across the gangway, 
 landing tickets given up, and away to the 
 douane. 
 
 " Care to change any more oof ? ' asked 
 Edward. 
 
 They stopped at the exchange bureau, and 
 Jack put his hand into his breast pocket and 
 swore suddenly. 
 
 " By Jove ! " he said. " My note case has 
 been pinched and I never felt a damned thing."
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 51 
 
 " Had you much in it ? " asked Edward. 
 
 ' No, luckily, but that blinking letter was 
 inside." 
 
 Through the douane nothing to declare. 
 Away to the Continental facing the sea, in 
 the hotel conveyance ; little ferret eyes watch- 
 ing the while, and long sinewy fingers, feeling 
 with tender touch, the soft leather of an expen- 
 sive note case. A journey by the sleuth on foot to a 
 near hotel, and after some hours, the sea again, 
 and once more the white cliffs of old England. 
 Not a very long stay abroad, indeed, but long 
 enough to note the destination of two interesting 
 young men, and sufficient conversation over- 
 heard to note that they would go no further. 
 
 The young men in question were driving 
 rapidly over rough uneven cobble stones inter- 
 spersed with railway lines, on which trains were 
 standing. 
 
 " What a beastly looking hole," said Jack. 
 " What on earth was old Wat man thinking 
 about to suggest an ungodly place like this ? " 
 
 Edward laughed. 
 
 "It's a bad beginning," he admitted, " but 
 if more people took the trouble to penetrate 
 the town itself they would think it worth 
 while. It's an old world sort of place, and 
 especially the high town with its thirteenth 
 century ramparts." He waved a hand and 
 Jack looked up at immense cliffs on which 
 were perched grey stone buildings, a church 
 spire, a large crucifix overlooking the sea. 
 
 They crossed a bridge. A tram clanked
 
 52 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 by laden with passengers, most of whom 
 appeared to be hanging on by the skin of their 
 teeth to the outside of the vehicle. 
 
 " Fancy our authorities allowing that," said 
 Jack. 
 
 ' Yes, and you pretty well go as you please 
 here," was the reply, " except for the matter 
 of windows which are usually hermetically 
 sealed. However, we've got our own sitting- 
 room, and when you are not outside, you'll 
 be sitting by an open window, my son." 
 
 "Good old Eddy," said Jack. "English 
 to the backbone, fresh air and all." 
 
 They swept round once more and passed 
 a long row of hotels and apartments ; here 
 and there a woman sitting by her fruit stall. 
 
 " Splendid fruit in the markets Wednesday 
 and Saturday," said Edward, " and cheap as 
 dirt." 
 
 " Your knowledge is comprehensive," ob- 
 served his brother. 
 
 " Aileen and her mother came over last year 
 and we spent a rather jolly fortnight here," 
 was the reply. 
 
 They passed the fine Casino on the left and 
 drew up at their hotel. An obsequious manager 
 bowed them inside. 
 
 " A pleasure to see you again, monsieur," 
 he said. 
 
 Girls in varying degrees of undress, with 
 shorn locks and an immense length of flesh- 
 coloured stockings, chattered and gossiped in 
 the lounge.
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 53 
 
 " A pity," observed Edward, sotto voce as 
 he looked at them. " We don't like it really, 
 do we ? " 
 
 " If they but knew," replied Jack with a 
 shrug. 
 
 They were shown to their suite on the first 
 floor. 
 
 " Dejeuner tout de suite," said Edward. 
 
 A waiter flourished a napkin. " Bien, mon- 
 sieur." 
 
 " And a bottle of the Widow," added Edward, 
 in English. 
 
 The man smiled and left them alone. 
 
 " Talking of Aileen," said Jack, as he flung 
 himself into an arm-chair by the open window, 
 " weren't you going down into Kent to see 
 her, old man ? ' 
 
 " I was, but we put it off, of course." 
 
 Jack looked at him. " I say, Eddy, you're 
 jolly good to me, you know, and really I'm 
 not worth it." 
 
 Edward flushed under his tan. English to 
 the backbone, as his brother had said, anything 
 in the nature of sentiment must be barred at 
 once. 
 
 " Oh ! that's all right," he said, carelessly. 
 " And as for your worth, always remember 
 that we are the last of our race. I wish to 
 God you'd marry some nice girl and settle 
 down." 
 
 " What price yourself, dear old soul ? ' 
 retorted Jack. " Aileen and you have been 
 hanging on for two years now."
 
 54 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " She wants her fling," was the reply. "I'm 
 fond enough of her to be able to wait her 
 pleasure." 
 
 ' That's certainly one way of being fond," 
 said Jack. " When I meet my dream woman 
 (I've got one, you know), I shan't wait five 
 minutes." 
 
 Edward turned and looked at him. " I had 
 no idea you went in for dream women," he said. 
 
 " I don't, only one. I often dream of her. 
 When I was ill she came many times. By 
 Jove, Eddy ! She's It ! Absolutely It ! And 
 the odd thing is I'm sure I shall meet her one 
 day." 
 
 " I sincerely hope so," was the dry reply. 
 " It will be no end of relief to hand you over 
 to her, my lad. I only hope she's a woman 
 of strong character." 
 
 " Whatever else she isn't, she's a woman," 
 snapped Jack. " Not a half boy, and she 
 
 wears decent clothes. I wonder " He 
 
 broke off suddenly and looked at his brother. 
 " That telephone call, did you ever hear any- 
 thing more of her ? The lady who rang me 
 up in mistake for someone else ? ' 
 
 " Her name is Mrs. Allwood," was the reply. 
 " Dr. Watman knows her, knew her mother. 
 But of course, being a professional matter, 
 he said nothing more. The brute of a husband 
 died about two weeks ago." 
 
 " Best thing he ever did in his misbegotten 
 life," commented Jack. " I wish Sullivan and 
 his gang would do it too."
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 55 
 
 They spent a happy fortnight together, 
 and Edward Denham saw health and vigour 
 returning to his brother's wasted form. They 
 bathed, they went motor drives into the sur- 
 rounding country. Nothing unforeseen occurred ; 
 Sullivan's gang was forgotten. Edward 
 received occasional scrawled notes from In- 
 spector Harper, his friend at Scotland Yard, 
 informing him that there was nothing to 
 inform. Having been refused a description 
 of the members of the gang by Jack, he had 
 nothing to go on. 
 
 They made acquaintances here and there. 
 One day about a week after their arrival 
 Jack and his brother were strolling along 
 the promenade watching the crowd of 
 bathers, jostled by endless parties of girls and 
 men, the former in the flimsiest attire, if it 
 could be called that at all, most of the latter 
 in broad-brimmed hats and exotic bow ties, 
 when a woman, walking alone, brushed past 
 Jack, and a strong scent of heliotrope was 
 wafted to his nostrils. 
 
 " Heliotrope," he mused. "Now where have 
 I smelt that particularly strong variety lately." 
 
 " Pah ! " said Edward, waving his handker- 
 chief. ' Why do women do it ? Especially 
 when one can inhale the glorious scent of the 
 sea. Disgusting habit." 
 
 " Where where where ? " mused Jack, and 
 finally gave it up. 
 
 Once more he noticed it, at the Casino when 
 he was sitting in the stalls listening to Faust,
 
 56 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 wonderfully rendered by a company staying 
 there for the season. He looked round, but 
 recognised no one. Only a woman was standing 
 with her back to him, and presently she went 
 out. He got up, intending to follow, but at 
 that moment the curtain rose and Edward 
 caught his arm. 
 
 " Sit down, man, what are you doing ? 
 This is the last act, and we mustn't miss that 
 for anything." 
 
 He sat down, and later they both had cause 
 to regret it. 
 
 Then at the end of the fortnight came a 
 wire for Edward Denham. He tore it open 
 and Jack saw his face go grey. 
 
 " My God ! " he heard him say. " My God ! " 
 
 Then Jack tore the flimsy from his hand and 
 read the message. It was from Aileen's mother. 
 
 " Aileen met with bad riding accident, come 
 at once." 
 
 Jack looked at his watch and gripped his 
 brother's hand. " All right, old man," he said, 
 " you'll just catch the 11.30 boat if you hurry." 
 
 Edward nodded. " What about you ? " he 
 asked, dully. 
 
 " Me ! Good God Almighty ! Nothing 
 about me ! I'll stay here and wait for you to 
 come back. I'm sure it's not as bad as you 
 think. Buck up, old chap hurry, or you'll 
 miss that boat." 
 
 " I think you'd better come too," said 
 Edward.
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 57 
 
 "I'm not going to, then, and that's flat. 
 This place is doing me tons of good and here 
 I stay. You silly old ass, I'm quite safe. No 
 one will touch me here in all this hefty crowd." 
 
 " 111 get Harper to send a man out," said 
 Edward. " For of course I must go I can't 
 help myself." 
 
 " Harper be hanged," said Jack. 
 
 " I will, all the same." 
 
 " All right, then, tell the man to bring his 
 handcuffs with him in case I give him the slip," 
 he said, ironically. " Poor old Eddy," he added. 
 "I'll help you pack and see you on to the boat." 
 
 Jack raised his hand in salute as the boat 
 moved slowly from the quay, bearing away 
 that tall, grey-faced man, who was father 
 brother and C.O. all in one. He felt curiously 
 lonely as he returned to the hotel. 
 
 " A lady to see you, monsieur," said the 
 hall porter. " She is in the sitting-room." 
 
 He went upstairs, vaguely wondering. The 
 two girls he had got to know had left the day 
 before. He opened the door and a strong 
 smell of heliotrope met him. He went in. 
 
 A woman rose from a chair and came towards 
 him. He stopped, stared, stood tongue-tied 
 with amazement and a sudden nameless dread. 
 
 It was Molly, the girl he had last seen in the 
 gambling den in Staveley Road. 
 
 Edward Denham spent five minutes in his 
 flat, collecting some things, and ringing up
 
 58 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Inspector Harper. But Harper was not in 
 town and could not be got at. There was 
 no one else he could apply to, so he had to 
 leave it. 
 
 "For after all," he thought, "he's safe 
 enough, as he says, in that crowd." 
 
 It was but an hour's run to his fiancee's 
 home in Kent, and he arrived at Appleby Hall 
 in a taxi as the clock struck six. An amazed 
 butler showed him in. To the best of his 
 knowledge and belief Captain Denham was 
 in France looking after an invalid brother. 
 
 " Miss Aileen, how is she ? " Edward could 
 hardly force the words from his dry lips. Once 
 more the butler stared. 
 
 " She is very well, sir. She is in the drawing- 
 room. "Will you " 
 
 " Very well ! " repeated Edward. " What 
 on earth do you mean ? " And now his voice 
 was loud, so loud that someone with quick ears 
 for that voice above all others, heard it, and 
 suddenly a door opened and a pretty dark 
 girl, a vision in a bewitching cotton frock 
 was standing staring at him. 
 
 " Eddy ! My own blessed boy ! What on 
 earth has brought you here ? ' 
 
 " But good God ! " he said. ' What does 
 it mean ? This wire. . . ." 
 
 He tore a crumpled bit of paper from his 
 pocket and thrust it into her hand. As she 
 read it, she gave a cry, and the next instant 
 had flung her arms round his neck. The butler 
 discreetly vanished into the drawing-room.
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 59 
 
 " Oh ! you poor old darling. What a vile, 
 wicked thing to do ! What devil can have 
 sent you this ? ' 
 
 Very tenderly he drew her close. 
 
 " My God, what I have gone through ! " he 
 muttered, thickly. 
 
 Soft hands drew his head down and warm 
 lips met his own. 
 
 " Eddy ! " Lady Edmonton and her hus- 
 band came quickly into the hall. " What 
 on earth has happened ? Saunders told us 
 you were here." 
 
 The girl, before he could speak, held the 
 wire up to her parent's amazed eyes. " Did 
 you ever dream of anything quite so vile as to 
 play a practical joke like that ? " she cried, 
 anger blazing in her eyes. 
 
 Sir George read it and handed it to his wife, 
 then he grasped his future son-in-law's hand. 
 
 " My dear chap," he said, " what you must 
 have gone through. But, thank God, it was 
 a hoax. It's absolutely unpardonable and 
 I'll have it looked into at once. ..." 
 
 Lady Edmonton kissed Edward affection- 
 ately ; never a woman of many words, indigna- 
 tion for the moment robbed her of speech. 
 
 " Come in at once and get a stiff brandy into 
 you, my dear fellow," said the elder man, 
 and took him by the arm. 
 
 Edward, dazed with the wonder and joy 
 of finding his girl alive and well, and not as he 
 had thought at death's door, or more probably, 
 already gone from his life, followed in silence.
 
 60 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " You'll see about a room, my dear," went 
 on Sir George to his wife. " Aileen, come 
 along and minister to his immediate wants. 
 It's an ill wind that blows no one good, since 
 it's brought you here, my dear chap. There 
 are one or two people staying ; you know 'em, 
 I think, Robert Vincent, Dion Lovell and his 
 wife, the author, you know. ..." He chatted 
 amiably as he conducted Edward into the 
 large room. Edward sat down heavily in a 
 chair by the table. 
 
 " Hallo, Denham, glad to see you," a cheery 
 voice called to him through the window. He 
 looked across and saw a young man, in spotless 
 flannels grinning at him. 
 
 " How are you, Vincent ? " His tone was 
 not cordial for he had never cared for the man 
 and was surprised to see him there. Then 
 he drank the brandy and soda his host poured 
 out for him and pufled himself together. 
 
 " What does it mean ? " he said abruptly 
 to Aileen. She pointed across to the sideboard 
 on which cold meats were spread. 
 
 " Dear old boy, eat something first. I don't 
 suppose you've touched a morsel since you 
 left Boulogne. How's Jack ? ' 
 
 " Splendid, getting quite fit." 
 
 " And quite safe ? " she went on, helping 
 him to something from a dish. " No sign of 
 Sullivan's gang ? ' For to her alone had 
 Edward confided his troubles. 
 
 He swallowed a mouthful and stared at 
 her. With her words came a sudden horrible
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 61 
 
 thought. Almost impossible of credence, but 
 undoubtedly the solution of that wire. 
 
 Sir George rose. ' Well, I daresay you'll 
 get on quite well without me," he said, " and 
 I must telephone to the post office and find 
 out about this infernal wire." He left the 
 room, and Vincent with another glance through 
 the window strolled off. 
 
 " See you later sometime," he said, with a 
 laugh. 
 
 They were alone. . . . 
 
 Edward turned to the girl beside him and 
 she was horrified at the expression on his face. 
 
 ' What is it, dear old thing ? ' 
 
 " That wire," he said, " it must have been 
 sent by someone who wanted to get me away 
 from Jack, and by God, they've done it I 
 When is the next train to London ? >; 
 
 "Eddy! " she sprang to her feet, pale to the 
 lips. 
 
 " Yes," he said, " it's true ! I must get back 
 at once and catch the evening boat across. 
 Unless I'm too late," he added, with a bitterness 
 that went to her heart. She, and only she, 
 knew how he loved that brother. 
 
 "I'm afraid you're right," she said. " One 
 of the gang, Eddy." 
 
 " One of the gang," he repeated grimly. 
 He looked at the wire again. " Sent oft from 
 Canterbury ; they would choose a big town 
 of course, and any way it's your postal town." 
 
 Aileen glanced at the clock. " There's a 
 train at seven," she said. "I'll drive you
 
 62 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 to the station myself, and we must leave here 
 in twenty minutes. Try not to worry, dear, 
 they can't do much in twenty-four hours." 
 
 He said nothing ; he would not tell her that 
 unscrupulous and desperate blackguards such 
 as they could do many things in far less time 
 than that. 
 
 "I'll make an excuse to mother, and you'll 
 have to tell father all about it," went on the 
 girl. " In fact, I think it a wise thing to do, 
 he's such a sensible old dear." 
 
 The wire, it appeared, had been handed in 
 by a man. The post office authorities had not 
 taken particular notice, so many people handed 
 wires over the counter. " But I'll put the 
 police on to it," said Sir George, angrily. 
 
 " No, don't do that," said Edward, and then 
 he told him why. 
 
 The elder man listened incredulous, amazed. 
 " Of course," he said, when he could bring 
 himself to believe that it was true and not 
 the hallucinations of an overwrought brain. 
 " Of course, I'll not breathe a word of this 
 to anyone. And if you want my help at any 
 time you can count on me, my boy. But if 
 you'll be advised by me," he went on, " you'll 
 take that reckless brother of yours to old 
 Watman's nursing home. I think he's got 
 one in some out-of-the-world part of Cornwall, 
 hasn't he ? And chain him up, you'll have no 
 peace unless you do. And now you must be 
 off. Good-bye, and God grant you find him 
 safe."
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 63 
 
 Edward Denham found himself at last on 
 the platform, and in the distance came the 
 roar of the train. 
 
 " Send me a wire as soon as you can." The 
 girl's arms were about him. " I am sure I 
 know it will be all right, you are far too good, 
 old darling, for anything like that to happen. 
 And Eddy," she went on, a flush suddenly 
 dyeing her cheeks, " when you are ready, tell 
 me. I've had my fling and been hateful to 
 you. I've come to my senses, and I find that 
 there is only one thing in all the world I want 
 now, and that is you, dear old thing." 
 
 ' Thank you, my dear, for that." He kissed 
 her tenderly. " God bless you. When all 
 the risk and danger is over I'll come for you." 
 
 Another kiss, a look of brave encouragement, 
 and he was in his seat, and the train steamed 
 slowly on its way. Would he be in time, or 
 would he not ? That was all that mattered. 
 
 " Shut the door, boy," said Molly, " there's 
 something I want to get off my chest, and I 
 don't want it overheard." 
 
 Jack complied and came back to where she 
 was standing. " What on earth has brought 
 you here, and how did you know I was here ? " 
 
 " Oh, cut all that," said she. " Alf followed 
 you across, he'd been watching for days outside 
 your flat. I'm here to warn you. They're 
 after you, Gaston is, and he's got a Maxim 
 silencer on his gun."
 
 64 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " That's very thoughtful of him, I'm sure," 
 said Jack. " Won't you sit down ? ' 
 
 " Oh ! damn your fine manners. Can't you 
 see I'm in earnest ? You're in danger." 
 
 " Well, and I should think you are the last 
 person to tell me that, considering what you 
 must think 6f me," said Jack. 
 
 " Get orf it ! " snapped Molly. " As if I 
 bother about things like that I'm a woman." 
 
 " And a very pretty one too, Molly. Have 
 a smoke ? ' 
 
 She laughed. " Oh ! boy, boy, you're 
 nothing but a fool. Look here this hotel's 
 no place for you, lots of people come in and 
 out. Gaston might come any minute and just 
 plug a hole in you now your brother's gone." 
 
 " Do they know that ? " demanded Jack, 
 serious at last. 
 
 " Of course, you silly mutt. That wire was 
 a hoax. Bob sent it. Never mind where 
 from, or how he knows. I'm not giving any- 
 thing away. Gaston came on the boat this 
 morning. I came last night but couldn't get 
 at you, they don't know I'm here. You've 
 got to get away to England, and by to-night's 
 boat." 
 
 Jack's face went white. " The blackguardly 
 swine!" he said. "Eddy was going through 
 hell over that wire." 
 
 " He'll go through worse if you don't do 
 what I tell you," said the girl. 
 
 He turned and looked at her. " What are 
 you doing this for ? " he demanded.
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 65 
 
 "Oh, you man ! " said she. "As if you'd 
 understand. It's just a woman's reason, that's 
 all." 
 
 Jack looked at her steadily. 
 
 ' You are doing this for me," he said, " and 
 yet you must still believe that I broke my 
 word and gave you away." 
 
 For the first time Molly's eyes sought the 
 floor. 
 
 ' Well," she said, " and didn't you ? " 
 
 "No," he replied gravely. " When I was 
 rescued the next morning, I was delirious, 
 and in my ravings gave part of the truth away. 
 They guessed the rest, and put the police on to 
 you." 
 
 Molly gasped and stared at him. " Is this 
 true, boy ? ' 
 
 " Why should I trouble to lie to you ? Of 
 course it is true. You see, Jim Sullivan over- 
 stepped the mark when he broke in my rib 
 with his boot, and left me out in the wet and cold 
 that night. Most men would have died." 
 
 Molly's eyes never left his face, and now her 
 face went suddenly white. " He did that ? " 
 she cried, and was silent for a moment, as 
 though thinking deeply, thoughts that had 
 horror in them. Then she made up her mind. 
 
 " Is there anywhere you can go, now, out 
 of this town ? ' she asked. " You've got 
 to get away at once. And you mustn't cross 
 to England to-night. Do you see ? ' ; 
 
 " No, I don't see at all," was the reply. 
 " But we can get away from here if you say so. 
 

 
 66 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 We'll go out to Wimereux by train and enjoy 
 ourselves. I'll leave my things here, and tell 
 the manager Eddy and I will be back in a day 
 or so. Sit down and have a smoke, kid, while 
 I get my passport and so on." 
 
 Later the two passed out of the hotel. 
 
 Jack, amazed at this girl's goodness of 
 heart, found little chance for private talk in 
 the tram, for it was full other people sat at 
 their table during the meal. But later in the 
 Casino they danced and she talked to him 
 of her life, or part of it, and seemed amazingly 
 happy in his company. At last he said they must 
 go back, and then she begged him not to hurry, 
 but to walk back along the cliffs. Her desire 
 seemed to be to delay his return as much as 
 possible, and again she told him not to cross 
 that night. He wondered, but gave way. 
 Together they set out to walk the long way 
 back along the high, grass grown cliffs. 
 
 The girl clung to his arm and for the most 
 part they walked in silence. Then, of a sudden, 
 from behind a high tussock there rose the 
 figure of a man, a man he recognised instantly. 
 It was Cast on, the second in command of 
 Sullivan's gang. There was no time for thought. 
 He saw the man's hand go into his breast 
 pocket, his own followed suit, but half a second 
 later. There was a puff of smoke but no 
 sound, and something grazed his ear. The 
 next instant a sharp report rang out and 
 Gaston flung up his hands. 
 
 Jack said nothing as he stood looking down
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 67 
 
 at the dead man. He heard a stifled sob 
 behind him, but took no notice. 
 
 "I'm sorry I had to kill your friend," he 
 said, in quiet even tones, "' but it certainly 
 is not murder." He bent down and looked at 
 the dead man, and then turned to face the girl. 
 
 " Before I leave you, I would like to tell 
 you," he said, still in that quiet voice, " that 
 whatever the knowledge may be worth to you, 
 you have led a perfectly innocent man into 
 your very well thought out trap. I told you 
 I never gave you away, and more than that, 
 since then I have refused to give any description 
 of your friends to the police, and that is why 
 you have been able to come out here in safety. 
 I think there is nothing more to be said." 
 
 The girl listened, her face like chalk, horror 
 in her eyes. 
 
 "Oh, boy, boy ! " she cried, trying to 
 catch at his hand, but he drew away from her 
 touch. " You don't think I led you into this 
 trap ? Surely you don't think that ? " 
 
 Jack laughed harshly. " I don't think any- 
 thing," he replied, " the result speaks for 
 itself. Well, anyway, you appear to have 
 enjoyed yourself with me, and I'm glad I could 
 offer you some amusement. The anticipation 
 of this grand finale must certainly have added 
 spice to it all. Well, I wish you joy of the 
 future. You can keep your Jim Sullivan," 
 he went on dryly, " as long as you can. For 
 after this I'm bound by no promise, and if I 
 live, this world will not be a pleasant place
 
 68 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 for any of you. You had better get away 
 from this," he pointed to the dead man, 
 "if you value your neck." He turned away, 
 but a scream stopped him. 
 
 " Oh ! for God's sake, stop I didn't know 
 j 
 
 Jack laughed. " Take my tip and be off," 
 he said. 
 
 "No, no ! " cried Molly, stretching out her 
 arms. " Don't go to England, boy, for God's 
 sake don't go." 
 
 " Good Lord ! " he said, with another laugh. 
 " Do you think I would take your advice 
 after this ? Thanks I'm not quite the silly 
 fool you take me for. Don't try to come near 
 me or to speak to me. If you do, I'll give you 
 in charge." 
 
 He heard her sobbing helplessly, and turned 
 on his heel. It was a long way back, and later, 
 when he recalled that walk he realised that his 
 mind must have been a complete blank, for he 
 remembered not an inch of the way. That a 
 woman could have done this thing ! The 
 horror of it ! There was one thing only to be 
 done, to get back to England and to Eddy. 
 
 He saw her again on the evening boat, but 
 took no notice, nor did she appear to see him. 
 A drizzling rain was falling as they landed at 
 Folkestone. He crossed the gangway, and 
 stepped aside out of the crowd, for the woman 
 to pass. As he did so, he felt a hand on his 
 shoulder, turned quickly and under the lamp 
 saw two men beside him, in bowler hats.
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 69 
 
 " All right," said a high-pitched voice. 
 " Take it quietly, my man." 
 
 He started back and the next instant there 
 was a sharp click, and another, and his wrists 
 were locked together. 
 
 Some of the crowd stopped and stared. 
 
 " Look here," called Jack, in a loud voice, 
 as an official passed, " these men " 
 
 A hand was placed over his mouth, the 
 official came up. 
 
 ' What's all this ? " he asked. 
 
 " Quite all right," said the taller of the men, 
 and pulled out a card and a piece of blue paper. 
 " Scotland Yard," he said. 
 
 The official glanced at the card and the 
 paper. " I see," he said, with a grin. " Better 
 wait for the crowd to get on," and he passed on. 
 
 They took Jack along the platform a few 
 steps and waited. He recognised the men, of 
 course. One was the fellow called Mike, with 
 the twisted mouth, the other was the ferret- 
 faced Alf. He understood perfectly. If 
 Gaston failed, they had this in store for him. 
 But Molly had at the last begged him not 
 to go. Why ? Ah, well, he gave up thinking. 
 They had him safe enough. No one would 
 trouble to look into the forged warrant or 
 printed card. When they saw two plain clothes 
 men (it was extraordinary how respectable 
 they looked with their false moustaches) with 
 a handcuffed prisoner between them, no ques- 
 tions would be asked. And they wouldn't 
 give him an opportunity to speak even if it
 
 70 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 would be of any use, which it would not. He 
 was fairly caught this time. That was all 
 there was about it. Presently one of them 
 took his arm and they moved on. His pass- 
 ports were perfunctorily looked at, and the 
 official grinned. 
 
 " Extradition ? " he asked. 
 
 " No," said Mike. " Hopped over himself 
 and walked into us. Good night." 
 
 They passed on and took their seats in a 
 third class carriage. He saw nothing of Molly. 
 The blinds were drawn down, and the door 
 into the corridor shut. 
 
 "Do you mind opening the window, Alf? 
 It's damned hot," said Jack. 
 
 Whatever he felt, those men shouldn't know 
 it. As a matter of fact he knew he was going 
 to his death. 
 
 " Anything to oblige a pal," said the little 
 man with a grin. 
 
 As the train moved off, Mike who sat 
 beside him, tapped his arm. " I suppose you 
 know what's coming to you ? " he said. 
 
 " I think I have a fair amount of intelli- 
 gence," was the reply, " which is more than you 
 have, or you wouldn't be mixed up in a thing 
 of this sort. I can almost guess." 
 
 " I think not," retorted Alf. " You haven't 
 a notion of how bad it's going to be, so I'm 
 just going to tell you. At Victoria Station 
 Jim Sullivan will meet us." 
 
 " Awfully polite of him," said Jack. 
 
 " And his car will be waiting," went on the
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 71 
 
 other slowly. " Into that you'll get, and be 
 driven to our house in Bar " 
 
 " Shut up, you fool," growled Alf. 
 
 " Dead men tell no tales," retorted the other. 
 
 " Well, he isn't dead yet, so keep your 
 mouth shut on names." 
 
 " All right, 'ave it your own way. Well, 
 to continue the next chapter. In that house 
 there's a place where you'll be put, and no 
 one any the wiser. In there you'll die, not 
 quickly, but slowly, and while you're dying 
 you'll wish yourself dead many a time." 
 
 "Do you mind if I smoke?" said Jack. 
 " I think I can manage, though I had no idea 
 jewellery of this kind was so awkward and 
 uncomfortable. However, of course, I expect 
 you know all about that Alf, old man." 
 ' No, I don't," growled Alf. 
 
 " Well, you will soon, and if I'm any kind 
 of a prophet, it will be remarkably soon too, 
 and I shall be there to see you." 
 
 " You don't seem to realise, my lad, that 
 you're as good as dead already," said Alf. 
 
 " Oh, no, I'm not," he replied airily. " Far 
 from it, I'm frightfully difficult to kill, as your 
 Jim knows, who tried it, and also friend Gaston 
 who is a rotten bad shot." 
 
 " Wot's that ? ' Alf leant forward. 
 
 " Quite a simple affair. He shot first," said 
 Jack, " and missed. I shot next and er 
 missed too. After that we both concluded 
 it was too hot for each other and went our 
 several ways."
 
 72 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " What a blinking fool ! " said Alf, slowly. 
 And Mike swore. 
 
 " It was a fair fight," said Jack, " and as 
 for your girl she played her part well, splen- 
 didly she ought to have gone on the stage 
 instead of going to penal servitude as she will." 
 
 ' You shut your mouth," growled Alf, 
 angrily. 
 
 ' Then get my cigarette case out and give 
 me one, and I'll oblige," was the reply. " And 
 take one yourself, Alf, old man, and you too, 
 Mike of the pretty face." 
 
 Three cigarettes were lit. 
 
 " And so you are going to torture me, are 
 you why ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " It's Jim Sullivan's idea, not mine," said 
 Mike. " He thinks out everything, and we 
 just do what he tells us." 
 
 " Wonderfully brainy fellow is Jim. So he 
 thought this out, all by himself," mused Jack. 
 "It's a pity such remarkable talents should 
 be wasted, and so fine a figure of a man be 
 chucked into hell at the end of a rope. I'll 
 try and reason with Jim when we meet." 
 
 Both men laughed. 
 
 "Well, he said you were a brave chap," 
 said Mike, with grudging admiration. " And 
 by God, he's right. If it hadn't been that you 
 broke your blasted word and gave us away, I 
 wouldn't have touched this job." 
 
 " I didn't, old fellow," said Jack. 
 
 " Don't lie it won't help you," snarled Alf. 
 " Didn't the cussed cops round up No. 18 ? "
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 73 
 
 " Admitted, and found the birds flown, 
 worse luck," was the reply. 
 
 " Well, no one knew but you." 
 
 " Right again. Really, I'm beginning to 
 think you have a grain of intelligence after all. 
 But I assure you, old fellow, I didn't give the 
 show away of my own free will." 
 
 " Nah ! I s'pose it was dragged out of you 
 by red hot pincers, which of course they uses 
 in the p'lice station." 
 
 " Wrong this time all wrong. I was raving 
 in delirium, brought on by what dear old Jim 
 did to me and let some of it out. Fact, I 
 assure you." 
 
 " You tell that to the angels, who you'll 
 be seeing pretty soon," sneered Mike. ' You 
 don't expect us to believe it, do you ? " 
 
 "Well, to be quite frank, I don't. It 
 would have put me all out of my reckoning 
 if you had, for I look upon you both as the 
 two biggest fools God ever made. No, don't 
 knock me about, Alf, I can't hit you back, 
 and even you know better than to do that. 
 You're not as bad as Jim Sullivan, for all your 
 talk." 
 
 Alf lowered his clenched fist and looked 
 away. 
 
 " And now if you don't mind I'm going to 
 sleep. I haven't got quite fit yet, and I'm 
 tired of looking at your face, Mike." 
 
 He closed his eyes and allowed himself to 
 give way to abject despair. Molly, after all, 
 had told him not to go. Poor Molly, what
 
 74 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 unaccountable things women were. And what 
 a pity he had not taken her advice. After all 
 he might have guessed she spoke the truth 
 then. Well, it was all over, and now he would 
 never meet his dream woman, never see dear 
 old, cautious, grave faced Eddy again. 
 
 Death ! It was not very pleasant to con- 
 template, especially the particular kind of 
 death that fiend Sullivan had in store for him. 
 What did it mean exactly ? Torture of some 
 kind. Starvation perhaps ? How long did 
 that take ? Or was it something worse ? 
 Something done with knives or pincers or ... 
 He suddenly remembered with horrible vivid- 
 ness all the stories of mediaeval torture he had 
 read and gloated over as a boy, and wondered 
 if it were still possible for such things to be 
 done in these civilised days. Well, given the 
 opportunity, which in other words meant 
 the place, it most certainly could be done, and 
 the fellow Alf had said they had such a place, 
 probably underground, where nothing could 
 be heard. Yes, most certainly it could be 
 done. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. 
 Whatever happened, when they got out at 
 Victoria he must make a last desperate effort 
 to save himself. If he shouted aloud his 
 plight as they dragged him along the platform 
 surely someone out of the crowds there would 
 believe him and not attribute it to the ravings 
 of possibly an escaped and recaptured lunatic ? 
 With the thought came a sudden desperate 
 hope, and he sat forward, his eyes sparkling.
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 75 
 
 The two men, watching him, guessed what 
 was in his mind. Mike glanced at his watch. 
 
 " In 'alf an hour we shall be there. Let's 
 'ave a pull at the flask, man." 
 
 Alf dived into his pocket and drew out a 
 rather large metal flask. Then he glanced at 
 Jack. 
 
 " Like a pick-me-up, young fellow ? ' he 
 asked. " You look a bit green about the gills." 
 
 Jack, his mind still on that one chance, 
 nodded eagerly. It would certainly help to 
 steady his nerves and he was horribly thirsty. 
 He took the flask in his chained hands and 
 swallowed a large mouthful. The next instant 
 he had dropped the flask on the floor and 
 sprung to his feet with an oath. 
 
 " Curse you ! What have you given me ? ' 
 
 With a laugh Alf stretched out an arm and 
 pushed him back on to his seat. 
 
 " You don't suppose we're going to have 
 any trouble from you when we land, do you ? ' 
 he said. " Talk about us being fools, s'welp 
 me, I think you're the prize idiot of the com- 
 pany. There, keep quiet, my lad, it ain't 
 poison and it won't 'urt you, only make you 
 a bit drowsy-like. But don't you worry any, 
 we'll help you along and no one 11 know but 
 what you're drunk." 
 
 Mike had recovered the flask and screwed 
 down the lid on what contents remained. 
 
 " Think it's enough," he asked his com- 
 panion, " or shall we give 'im one more ? ' 
 
 " Lord, no ! Look at 'im," replied Alf with
 
 76 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 a laugh. For Jack, after his sudden outburst 
 of anger at the trick that had been played 
 upon him, had fallen back into his seat at Alf 's 
 push and now leant with his head lolling help- 
 lessly against the cushions, his eyes closed, 
 while gradually a sensation of numbness crept 
 up his legs and arms and he was only faintly 
 conscious of the murmur of voices as the two 
 men spoke. The drug, a potent one, was 
 acting quickly. Very soon he lost consciousness 
 in heavy sleep, and Alf, leaning forward and 
 peering into his face, laughed once more. 
 
 " He'll do," he said, laconically. 
 
 Half an hour later the train drew slowly 
 into Victoria Station. Alf, standing by the 
 window, peered eagerly out on to the platform. 
 
 " Don't see Jim yet," he muttered. " Rouse 
 him up, Mike." 
 
 The other did as he was bid. He shook 
 Jack roughly by the shoulder and administered 
 a sharp kick on one of his shins. With a 
 choking gasp at the pain Jack opened heavy 
 lids and was dragged to his feet by strong 
 hands till he stood swaying dizzily. The 
 train stopped. 
 
 " Come on quick, I don't see Jim anywhere," 
 said Alf, and, each taking one of Jack's arms, 
 they dragged him out into the corridor which 
 was already well blocked with moving 
 passengers. He felt sick and dazed and his 
 head ached and throbbed hideously. He was 
 only half conscious of his surroundings, was 
 faintly aware of being roughly jostled, of half
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 77 
 
 falling and being dragged up, and then of a 
 breath of fresh air on his face. Someone 
 literally lifted him on to the platform and he 
 realised where he was. This was Victoria 
 Station and these men were taking him to a 
 horrible death. He opened his mouth and a 
 hand was clapped over it, stifling the cry that 
 rose to his lips. 
 
 " Come on ! Carry him if he hangs back," 
 said Alf gruffly. 
 
 They were in the middle of a hurrying crowd ; 
 a porter, carrying a bag, turned his head and 
 stared. 
 
 " What's wrong ? " he said. " Sea-sick ? ' 
 And then saw the handcuffs. " Ah ! I see," 
 and pushed his way on. Other people stared. 
 
 "Where the hell's Jim?' muttered Alf, 
 as he dragged his victim on. Jack was helpless. 
 In the cool night air the drug seemed to be 
 taking new effect, his legs dragged under him, 
 the will and power to call out left him. And 
 then a woman pushed against them and he 
 felt a hand in his pocket. She said something 
 to the two men and hurried on. It was only 
 later that the words she said came back to 
 Jack and the meaning of them. 
 
 " Captain Denham on the platform ! Drop 
 him and run ! '' 
 
 And then Jack was sprawling face down 
 on the pavement and someone coming behind 
 nearly fell over him. 
 
 " Here porter, there's a man ill or drunk 
 or something," said a crisp voice. There was
 
 78 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 a murmur of other voices hands lifted him. 
 He opened his eyes and found a crowd round 
 him and then the crowd was roughly parted 
 and a tall man forced his way through and 
 the next instant had an arm about him. 
 
 " It's all right thanks," said a well-known 
 voice, " I know him and will see to him. 
 Harper, lend me a hand and we'll get him into 
 a taxi at once. It's all right, old man, you're 
 quite safe." 
 
 The crowd disappeared. He felt himself 
 lifted up bodily and carried in strong arms. 
 . . . Became aware that an official was 
 questioning. . . . Heard a sharp retort and 
 saw Harper yes, it was Harper sure enough, 
 though how he came to be there was beyond 
 him give the official a card which seemed 
 to satisfy him. The next thing he knew was 
 that he was sitting on a soft cushioned seat ; 
 Eddy's arm was round him and his head 
 resting on Eddy's shoulder. They were moving, 
 and he heard Harper speaking again. 
 
 " Drugged ; getting better now. At the 
 worst he'll have a thick head to-morrow, so 
 don't worry." 
 
 " You saw nothing of those brutes did 
 you, Harper ? ' 
 
 " Not a sign, got away easy in that crowd, 
 probably had a car waiting. Besides I haven't 
 the pleasure of knowing them, not even a 
 blinking description, thanks to your brother's 
 beautiful reticence." 
 
 " Well, get these infernal things off his
 
 A WOMAN'S REASON 79 
 
 wrists if you have a key." Edward Denham 
 spoke sharply. 
 
 " Quite a good stunt that," said the detective 
 with a chuckle. " Passed themselves off as 
 Yard men, I suppose. Well, they're a pair 
 of bracelets short anyhow. There . . . how's 
 that ? ' Jack felt hands at his wrists and 
 then he was free. With an effort he sat forward 
 and fumbled in his pockets. 
 
 " Molly put something inside," he muttered. 
 Edward Denham pulled out a crumpled bit 
 of paper and Harper switched on an electric 
 torch. Edward read aloud : " You wouldn't 
 listen to me, so I cabled to your brother. I 
 shall tell Jim you must have wired to him 
 yourself, so don't worry about me. If you 
 don't understand why I have done this, don't 
 bother. It was a woman's reason." 
 
 ' Yes, she wired me to meet the boat train 
 to-night," said Edward slowly. " Feeling 
 better, old man ? " 
 
 "Yes," replied Jack thickly. "Good kid, 
 Molly. Poor Molly." 
 
 ' Think you'll change your tactics now and 
 describe these precious friends of yours ? ' 
 inquired Harper dryly. "Or haven't you had 
 enough yet ? " 
 
 ' Tell you everything," said Jack. And 
 later back in the old rooms in Lennox Street, 
 he did. 
 
 " One of their best men, which means worst, 
 dead," commented Harper. " Good work, Mr. 
 Jack. And their house somewhere in Barnet.
 
 8o THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Well, we'll get going now. But you'll have 
 to go back to France, Captain Denham," he 
 went on, "or the authorities over there may 
 connect you and your sudden disappearance 
 with that body on the cliffs." 
 
 " We'll go to-morrow and put in another 
 week or two," replied Edward. " I must 
 ring up Aileen first thing and tell her Jack is 
 safe and all's well." 
 
 " Yes," observed Harper grimly as he rose 
 to go. " All's well until the curtain rings 
 up on the next act." 
 
 " That's about it," said Jack Denham, 
 gravely.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 
 
 IT was a hot day in August. What little air 
 there was came through the open window 
 of Edward Denham's sitting-room like 
 warm vapour. Jack Denham, yawning and 
 heavy eyed, for he had been at a night club 
 and had not returned until after three in 
 the morning, stretched his arms and gasped. 
 
 " It's like a lethal chamber, Eddy." He 
 took off his jacket, unfastened his collar and 
 flung them to the far end of the room. " I 
 can't stick clothes," he went on, and collapsed 
 on to a sofa. Edward Denham looked up from 
 the letter he was reading. 
 
 ' You look," said he, " as you deserve to 
 feel. I haven't an ounce of sympathy for you. 
 I advised you not to go to that wretched 
 place last night, and of course you went. 
 What good the sea air did for you in Boulogne 
 has all been undone by these infernal night 
 clubs." 
 
 ' Well, when a fellow's life is threatened 
 as mine is," grumbled the younger brother, 
 " naturally one has to try and get all the 
 pleasure one can as long as it lasts. Any
 
 82 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 day I might get a knife in my back or a bullet 
 in my brain. Jim Sullivan and his gang are 
 only waiting an opportunity." 
 
 ' That's why I'm sticking to you as I am," 
 retorted the elder man, dryly. "That's why 
 I go with you to these beastly night clubs 
 which I abominate like poison. Therefore if 
 you won't consider yourself, at least you might 
 consider me a little." 
 
 Jack Denham flushed crimson, scrambled to 
 his feet and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. 
 
 " I say, old man," he said in deep contrition, 
 " what an unthinkable blighter I've been. It 
 never occurred to me that you hated it like 
 that. Why on earth didn't you say so ? 
 You can't think what sort of a swine I feel." 
 
 " I thought you knew that kind of thing 
 wasn't in my line," was the reply. " But 
 never mind, read this letter ; I think you'll 
 agree with me that it's a way out of our 
 difficulties and this infernal heat." He handed 
 him the letter which his brother found was 
 an invitation to the Finlaysons' house in 
 Perthshire for a month, or for as long as they 
 cared to stay. They were old friends and 
 the shooting was good. 
 
 Jack flung the letter into the air with a 
 whoop of joy. 
 
 " What priceless old dears ! This couldn't 
 have come at a better time. What shall we 
 do ? Take them at their word and start off 
 in the car to-morrow ? " 
 
 " That's my idea," was the reply. " The
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 83 
 
 sooner we are out of town the better. I 
 had a long talk with Harper at Scotland Yard 
 yesterday. He says that although your 
 description of the members of the gang ought 
 to help, so far he has located none of them. 
 Of course the fact that their meeting-place 
 is somewhere in Barnet narrows things down 
 a bit. But he thinks they have separated, 
 for, watch as he will, he can rind no trace of 
 them. My own opinion is that they are living 
 in different parts of London. He thinks they 
 are still watching this house and our move- 
 ments, but that the watcher has taken a room 
 in one of the many lodging houses in this street. 
 If we can get away from here without being 
 seen we shall at least have a month's relaxation 
 of mind." 
 
 ' Which will do us both good," observed 
 Jack, with a grimace. " I feel like a hunted 
 criminal. You see they know by now that 
 I killed Gaston, though I told those blighters 
 who had me in the Folkestone train that I 
 missed. I saw in the papers that the Boulogne 
 police had given up trying to solve the mystery 
 of his death and it's not likely any of Sullivan's 
 gang will give me away for their own sakes. 
 Molly knows they sent him out to kill me 
 and I believe she would come forward with 
 her evidence if I were arrested for his murder." 
 
 " You have a great belief in that girl's 
 honour," remarked Edward, dryly. " She 
 certainly did you a good turn when you were 
 first caught, and in the second episode in
 
 84 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 sending me that wire. But you must not 
 forget that she is one of them, and Jim Sullivan 
 is her man." 
 
 " She's good stuff all the same," argued 
 Jack. " But I admit it's up to me to look 
 out. Now they know I shot Gaston they'll 
 do their damnedest to get me. And, mark you, 
 Eddy, the death they have in store for me 
 isn't a pretty one. That little swine, Alf, told 
 me they mean torture." 
 
 Edward involuntarily shuddered. 
 
 " Don't talk about it, old fellow. It's not 
 likely to happen to you in any case if you 
 use ordinary common sense precautions. I 
 want you to take it quietly to-day and get 
 to bed early to-night, and then we'll start 
 right off to the north to-morrow morning. 
 I shall go round to Wardours' where Aileen 
 and her people are staying. She wants me 
 to dine as she will be all alone this evening." 
 
 " Good for you, old man, but I'm afraid 
 you must scrap the brainy idea of my turning 
 in early. As a matter of fact I promised to 
 turn up again at the Argos to-night. Tom 
 Wheatley will be there with his girl and her 
 sister whom he wants me to meet." 
 
 " You can't possibly go to that beastly place 
 again to-night, Jack," replied the elder brother, 
 shortly. " I can't be with you, you know." 
 
 " Considering how you hate it, so much 
 the better," was the retort. Edward rose and 
 stood over the younger man, a frown furrowing 
 his brow.
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 85 
 
 " Look here, old man," he said sternly, 
 " of course I can't control your actions, I can 
 only ask you not to do certain things that I 
 neither approve of nor consider safe under 
 the present circumstances, and it is for you 
 to decide whether you do as I wish or not." 
 
 Jack stretched himself full length on the sofa 
 and grinned up into the stern face above him. 
 
 " All right, Eddy, don't come the heavy 
 father over me, though the part suits you top 
 hole ; it's too hot. The fact is, old bean, I 
 hate to seem the blinking kind of rotter you 
 think me, but I can't get out of it. I promised 
 to go and of course I'll have to." 
 
 " The Argos happens to be one of the lowest 
 of its kind in London," said Edward. 
 
 " But full of damned pretty girls, old soul; 
 now you can't deny that." 
 
 " I dislike the type, though I admit their 
 looks up to a point." 
 
 "Oh, curse it, they can't all be Aileen 
 Edmontons, can they ? " snapped Jack testily. 
 
 " Unfortunately for them they can't," was 
 the quiet reply. " So you mean to go ? ' 
 
 " Yes, I'm going all right, but word of 
 honour I'll be back at two, old son. Come, 
 Eddy, you're not such a fool as to think any 
 of dear old Jim's gang would show their noses 
 there ? " 
 
 " Why not ? " demanded the other. " Any 
 kind of criminal could go to the Argos. In 
 fact from the glimpse I had of most of the 
 men there it struck me that they would
 
 86 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 have been more at home in convict drab than 
 in evening dress." 
 
 " Why, you old ass, there were no end of 
 decent chaps there." 
 
 " So much the worse for society then," 
 was the retort. " However, you know my 
 wishes, if Harper wasn't going out of town I 
 would have them enforced. As it is " he 
 shrugged his shoulders and turned to the door. 
 
 " 111 be back at two, old man," said Jack, 
 feeling rather ashamed of himself, but deter- 
 mined to have his way in this instance. 
 
 He had been at the Argos Club half an hour 
 and still saw no sign of Tom Wheatley and his 
 girls. It struck him, too, that there seemed 
 to be a new crowd there that night, and no 
 one so far whom he knew. It was a particu- 
 larly rowdy crowd too, and drinks were passing 
 very freely. His own pockets were consider- 
 ably lighter for the entertainment of some 
 fascinating ladies enveloped in paint, gauze, 
 and not much else ; and he was beginning to 
 be aware of the fact that he had had about 
 enough drink himself, and, after giving the 
 errant Tom another five minutes would, on 
 his failing to appear, go home ; when, happening 
 to look across to the other side of the room, 
 he saw a pair of dark eyes fixed upon his face 
 and realised with a start that the owner of 
 those eyes was Jim Sullivan's girl, Molly, 
 and that she was trying to tell him something.
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 87 
 
 Now what on earth could one of Sullivan's 
 gang be doing here ? And if one how many 
 more ? Of course there was no danger ; no 
 one in their senses would attempt to touch 
 him in this crowd, and in any case he must 
 speak to Molly. He started to cross the room, 
 when he saw her hand go up as though to stop 
 him. Then he saw that she had a companion 
 and realised that it was the other woman he 
 had seen in the gambling den in Staveley 
 Road. How many more were there ? And 
 had Eddy been right after all ? Search as 
 he would, however, he could see no male 
 member of the gang there, and supposed that 
 Molly and her friend must have gone there 
 just to enjoy themselves. But, if so, why 
 had she tried to stop him going over to her ? 
 And what message were her eyes trying to 
 convey to him now ? He decided to find out 
 and gradually edged closer to where they were 
 standing. He was within about six yards of 
 Molly and her companion, when he saw a tall 
 man separate himself from the crowd and 
 go up to them. There was something familiar 
 about his appearance and yet for a moment he 
 could not place him. And then he realised, with 
 something of a shock that it was Appleton, one of 
 the gang, with his long moustache shaved off. 
 Was he alone, or were there others ? As he 
 scanned the faces of the crowd he became aware of 
 an unusual stir at the far end of the room ... a 
 sudden tense silence, and then the one word : 
 " Police ! " echoed from mouth to mouth.
 
 88 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Jack's heart missed a beat. Here was his 
 opportunity ! The police at hand and Apple- 
 ton only a few yards away, possibly other 
 members of the gang as well, even Sullivan 
 himself. He looked at the door, caught a 
 glimpse of Tom Wheatley, and over his shoulder 
 some tall figures in dark blue. Then once 
 more his eyes sought Molly. She, too, was 
 staring at the oncoming police, and there was 
 desperate fear in her eyes. Then Appleton 
 bent down and spoke to her, and Jack saw 
 that no others of the gang had joined him. 
 No, he couldn't do it, not now, Molly must 
 be got away first. She had helped him when 
 he was in dire need and now it was up to him 
 to try and help her. So he forced his way 
 through the excited crowd to her side. 
 
 " You've got to get out of here, Molly/' 
 he said, and the other woman clutched his 
 arm. 
 
 " Do you know a way out ? " she gasped. 
 
 " Only the door I came in by," was the reply; 
 "but we'll have to try." 
 
 Appleton turned suddenly, and Jack saw a 
 queer smile on his face. 
 
 " I'm the only one, Mr. Denham, so we'd 
 best call a truce. I guess you're as keen to 
 get out of this as we are, so for once we'll join 
 forces." Once more he grinned, and Jack 
 nodded. " Come this way. There's a back 
 passage that leads into another street. Come, 
 you two." He took Molly's arm and pulled 
 her behind a curtained alcove.
 
 8 9 
 
 " Come on ! " said the other woman sharply, 
 taking hold of Jack's arm. " I'm scared to 
 death." She drew him into the alcove and 
 Jack, shaking her hand off, put his arm round 
 Molly's shoulder and drew her aside. 
 
 "Is he the only one ? " he asked, with a 
 nod towards Appleton, who was peering through 
 the curtains. 
 
 " Yes. When we get outside, run, boy," 
 she whispered. Then with an oath, Appleton 
 turned sharply. 
 
 " We'll have to get away quick," he said. 
 " Mr. Denham, look after Lizzie, she's scared ; 
 and follow me." He pressed a knob in the 
 panelled wall and a door slid back noiselessly. 
 Then he pulled Molly through, and the two 
 others followed and found themselves in dark- 
 ness. There was the snap of an electric torch, 
 and Jack saw that they were in a narrow passage. 
 
 " Come on quick," whispered Appleton. " I 
 won't guarantee the police don't find that 
 door." 
 
 " Oh ! please, Mr. Denham, help me, there's 
 a good soul," panted Lizzie in his ear, "I'm 
 feeling that faint, I shall drop." 
 
 Jack put his arm round her and felt her 
 weight dragging him down. 
 
 ' Try and pull yourself together," he said. 
 " You'll be in the air soon." 
 
 But the woman's weight only grew heavier, 
 and he heard her sob. 
 
 " Stop a second ! " he called out. " She's 
 fainting, I'm afraid." Appleton turned and
 
 go THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 looked round, and at that moment the fainting 
 woman caught hold of Jack's leg and he felt 
 a sharp stab of pain in his thigh. He stooped 
 quickly and raised her. 
 
 " Good Lord ! " he muttered. " I wish you 
 women wouldn't fasten your clothes with 
 pins ! That hurt. Now come, lean on me, 
 we'll be out in a second." 
 
 He put an arm about her ample figure and 
 wished it had been Molly. Already the outer 
 door at the end of the passage was open, and 
 somehow he dragged his heavy burden out on to 
 the pavement. Molly and Applet on were wait- 
 ing under a lamp, and he remembered that 
 Molly had told him to run when he got outside. 
 He would, only he must take a breather first. 
 Odd how that woman's weight had taken it out of 
 him. Odd too, that he felt so dizzy, though 
 perhaps the wine ... he had been a fool, 
 he must get a grip on himself, and as Molly 
 had said, run. But he didn't run, he didn't 
 even walk ; he staggered up against the wall, 
 leant there a second and then collapsed limply 
 in a heap on the pavement. He was then 
 aware of Molly on her knees beside him, and of 
 Appleton looking down at him with a smile 
 on his face. 
 
 " Drunk ! " he said, laconically. " I'll get a 
 taxi," and he was gone. 
 
 " Drunk ! " exclaimed Molly, indignantly. 
 " You fool, he's not drunk, he's ill. Boy, boy, 
 what is it ? What's the matter ? ' 
 
 " My leg " said Jack thickly, and with
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 91 
 
 difficulty. He tried to point to the spot that 
 was still smarting and realised with dismay 
 that not only was the power of speech leaving 
 him, but all movement as well. " She 
 
 pricked " and then words failed altogether, 
 
 and he lay there staring up at Molly's stricken 
 face, aware at last of what had happened ; 
 for though his body and tongue were paralysed, 
 his brain, his sight and hearing, were perfectly 
 clear. It did not need a laugh from the other 
 woman, or the sight of that which she held 
 in her hand to explain things. Nor yet Molly's 
 cry of rage as she saw and heard, and, jumping 
 to her feet, tore the hypodermic syringe out of 
 Lizzie's hand. 
 
 " You you " rage made her inarticulate, 
 
 and the other broke in. 
 
 " All right, I had my orders. Don't lose 
 your temper or your senses, my gal. If you 
 go on like this when Alec gets back he'll think 
 you've either gone dotty or turned against us, 
 and I wouldn't be you if Jim got to know." 
 
 The warning was enough ; Molly, fuming, 
 but impotent, held her tongue. As she put 
 the syringe into her bag a taxi came round 
 the corner, drew up, and Applet on sprang out. 
 
 " Ah, so our young friend has thought it 
 safer to lie down," he observed, with a glance 
 at Jack, and, turning to the driver: " Some of 
 these young men never know when to stop, 
 do they ? " 
 
 " You're right, sir," replied the man with a 
 grin. " Friend of yours, sir ? "
 
 92 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 ' Yes/' was the reply. " We'll see him 
 home, of course. Get out of the way, Moll." 
 He bent down and seized her wrist. " I know 
 you're a fool where dope is concerned," he 
 muttered under his breath, " that's why I 
 didn't let you in on this stunt ; but if you 
 let this chap see there is anything wrong, I'll 
 tell Jim, see ? " 
 
 " Yes," she said dully, " I see." She turned 
 away with a shrug, she could do nothing to 
 help him this time, and she was sick at heart. 
 
 " Better get him in," said Lizzie. " The 
 pavement's none too warm or soft." 
 
 And Jack, unable to utter a word or to lift 
 so much as a finger, but acutely conscious of 
 all that went on, realised fully what he was in 
 for, lay there, and was presently lifted by 
 Appleton and the driver and placed inside the 
 cab. 
 
 " Never seed such a gorner afore," com- 
 mented the driver. " Comes from that there 
 club as the police are raiding I suppose. They 
 must do 'em top 'ole in there, guv'nor." 
 
 " They do, hot stuff," was the reply. " Jump 
 in you two." He gave a direction to the man 
 which Jack could not catch, and they were off. 
 
 Appleton, who was sitting next to Jack, lit 
 a cigarette, and gave a quiet chuckle. 
 
 " Pretty neat that, eh, Liz ? You were 
 prime and no mistake. You're for it this 
 time I reckon, young man. Not the ghost of 
 a chance of a getaway this little jaunt." 
 
 Jack, realising that the man spoke only
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 93 
 
 the bald truth, sat there staring in front of 
 him, black despair in his soul. Of what use 
 now to remember Eddy's words of warning ? 
 This was the result of his own mad, selfish 
 folly, and this reflection served but to add gall 
 to his bitterness. He sat there staring at 
 Molly who was opposite him. He wondered 
 if she realised as vividly as he did that Apple- 
 ton spoke the truth, and that this time he was, 
 indeed, "for it." How cleverly it had all 
 been planned; but he wondered exactly how, 
 and the next instant, could he have made a 
 sound, would have laughed at his own folly 
 in giving so trivial a matter even a thought. 
 What did it or anything matter now ? It was 
 merely a question of a few hours. 
 
 But Applet on, watching his victim intently, 
 and guessing what must be passing through his 
 mind, chose for his own reasons to enlighten him. 
 
 " Yes, it came off well, didn't it ? " he said. 
 " You see, I was at the Argos last night and 
 happened to overhear your friend's invitation 
 and your acceptance. I arranged my plans 
 accordingly, sent an anonymous letter to the 
 police, for only in the excitement of a raid 
 could I have got you out without you suspect- 
 ing. Lizzie and a hypodermic syringe did the 
 rest. You're pretty green, young man, and 
 fell easy. Now, perhaps you would like to 
 know where we are taking you ? ' ; 
 
 " Steady, Alec," put in Lizzie, " don't go 
 gassing too much, you never know, you know." 
 The man laughed derisively.
 
 94 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Don't you worry," he retorted, " it don't 
 matter what he knows now, hell never have a 
 chance to tell," and then to Jack " We're 
 taking you to a pal's house in Chelsea. He's 
 a good pal, and while he's away gives us the 
 key and the run of the house. There we shall 
 wait for Jim and the rest who will come in 
 their car and we'll all go home together. For 
 obvious reasons, which you will be the first 
 to realise, I can't direct the driver to our 
 house, so we have to break our journey else- 
 where." 
 
 " Why don't you tell him what Jim's doing 
 and why he can't come himself and take us 
 straight home ? " suggested Lizzie sarcastically. 
 
 " Later perhaps," replied the man, ignoring 
 her tone. ' There's no reason so far as I can 
 see why he shouldn't know. He's best part 
 dead already. What say you, Molly, my gal ? ' 
 
 " Anything you like," was the listless reply. 
 " I don't care what you do, I'm too blinking 
 tired. I suppose we can lie down and have a 
 nap when we get there ? ' 
 
 " Of course, but you won't have much time 
 for that. It's after twelve now," he glanced 
 at his watch, " and Jim is due in about half 
 an hour if all goes well. Ah ! here we are." 
 
 The taxi drew up, and Applet on sprang out. 
 
 " Give me a hand with this fellow," he said 
 to the driver, " he's still helpless." 
 
 The two men carried Jack between them 
 up the two steps to the door. Appleton in- 
 serted a latch key and switched on the light as
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 95 
 
 the door swung back, and Jack was carried into 
 the narrow passage and placed on an oak settle. 
 
 " Shall I 'elp you get 'im upstairs ? '' 
 asked the driver, looking rather curiously at 
 the supposed drunkard's face. He had seen 
 a good many in his life but never one quite 
 like this, and yet he could not have said in 
 what way he differed, unless it was in that 
 queer fixed stare. He was puzzled, and Apple- 
 ton saw that he was, and made haste to get 
 him away. 
 
 " He's been like this before," he said; " he'll 
 come round in about an hour, don't you bother. 
 Here's for your trouble," he pressed some 
 coins into the man's hand, and, satisfied that 
 it was none of his business, he turned and 
 went, and presently forgot the incident in the 
 search for more fares. 
 
 " Come on, get him upstairs," said Applet on, 
 as the door slammed behind the driver. " You 
 take his legs, Lizzie." 
 
 Between them Jack was a light weight 
 they got him up the narrow stairs, and presently 
 he found himself lying in an arm-chair in what 
 looked like a large studio. It certainly could 
 be nothing else, for there was a skylight 
 and no other windows. There were easels and 
 loose canvasses stacked against the walls and 
 all the impedimenta of the artist. As he sat 
 there wondering to which of the gang this 
 place belonged, Molly came into his restricted 
 area of vision. He saw her turn and look at 
 him with such a wealth of misery and anguish
 
 96 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 in her eyes that his heart sank lower if that 
 were possible. And then he saw her turn to 
 Applet on with a quick jerk. 
 
 " Here, give me a drink, I'm all in." 
 
 He heard Appleton laugh, heard the gurgle 
 of liquid poured into a tumbler, and saw Molly 
 toss off a large glass of what he supposed was 
 either whisky or brandy, and somehow hated to 
 see her doing it. Then his thoughts were cut 
 short by the sound of a telephone bell, and 
 into his range of vision once more came Apple- 
 ton, and presently he heard him speaking. 
 
 " That you, Jim ? Is all well ? ' Then, 
 after a pause " Hell ! You don't mean that ? 
 Oh, yes, we've got him fast. Our part of the 
 job went without a hitch. Then it's no use 
 expecting you yet. All right, we'll get a bit 
 of sleep." He turned round. 
 
 "Jim's had bad luck," he said. 'The 
 police spotted the car and gave chase. They 
 got away but have to go home to change the 
 colour scheme and number plate. He spoke 
 from a call office." 
 
 " Did he get the stuff he was after ? " in- 
 quired Lizzie, anxiously. 
 
 " Yes, a good haul, but was spotted; at least 
 the car was, at the end, and they had the 
 devil's own trouble to get clear. Curse the 
 police. I suppose it's this beggar we have to 
 thank for their activities. It's a good job we 
 shan't be troubled by him much longer. Here, 
 give me a hand and I'll get him on to one of 
 the beds. The stuff '11 hold him for an hour
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 97 
 
 or two, until Jim comes, anyway. I suppose 
 you gave him enough, Liz ? ' 
 
 " The usual dose," was the callous reply. " I 
 suppose you didn't want to kill him straight 
 off? " 
 
 " Better for him if you had," retorted Apple- 
 ton dryly, " and better for us all. I don't 
 set up for being a saint, but some of Jim's 
 ideas and mine don't agree exactly. As far 
 as I'm concerned it's safety I'm after, not cold- 
 blooded cruelty." 
 
 Lizzie gave a coarse laugh. 
 
 " You should have thought of that before 
 you set the trap," she said. 
 
 " Orders are orders," was the terse reply. 
 " Come on." 
 
 Jack became aware of Applet on 's hands 
 under his armpits and Lizzie at his feet, and 
 presently he was carried from the studio and 
 laid upon a narrow though comfortable bed 
 in a small room. It was abominably stuffy 
 and hot, and Applet on went to the window, 
 drew back the blinds and opened it at the top, 
 Then he went back to the bed, bent over the 
 motionless figure and peered into the set face. 
 
 " In my opinion he's good for a couple of 
 hours," he said to Molly, who had come in 
 and was anxiously watching him. " And long 
 before that Jim will be here." 
 
 " Yes," said Molly, " so you'd better go and 
 set the lamp in the window as was arranged, 
 and I'll see to my own comfort and try and get 
 a little sleep myself." 
 
 a
 
 98 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Appleton nodded, and turned at the door. 
 
 " Put out the light, girl, and lock the door, 
 but leave the key in as I shall want to have 
 another look at him later." 
 
 He went out, and Molly stood listening 
 for a moment, and then she ran quickly to the 
 bed and bent over. 
 
 " I know you can understand what I say," 
 she whispered, " even if you can't speak. 
 Of course, it doesn't matter to you, but I've 
 got to put myself right. I knew nothing of 
 this, they never told me I was to see you, 
 and when I did I tried to warn you. But they 
 were too clever for me. And now it's impossible 
 to help you. But there's one thing I can do," 
 a sudden dry sob choked her utterance. " If 
 Jim comes," she went on after a pause, " and 
 means to take you away and and torture you, 
 
 I'll " once more she broke off, and Jack 
 
 saw her draw a tiny automatic pistol from her 
 pocket. " Yes, if it kills me I'll do it, and they 
 may hang me for it if they like ; I don't care 
 
 now, I'm pretty sick of life since ' She 
 
 broke off and bent lower, and Jack felt warm 
 lips pressed upon his own. And then she was 
 gone and he was alone with his thoughts. 
 
 At best then, he could only hope for death, 
 a quick death. Well, after all, what else ? 
 There was no escape this time. He wondered 
 if they would leave his body here to be found, 
 or if they would take it with them. And 
 what would Jim Sullivan do to Molly when he 
 found out what she had done ? Would there
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 99 
 
 be another murder ? He felt very tired, and 
 his thoughts were not as clear as they had 
 been. It was odd how this drug had simply 
 deadened his body and left his brain quite 
 clear, only it did not seem so clear now. He 
 found his mind wandering to other things. 
 The houses opposite. He could just see the 
 outline of the roofs against the faint glimmer 
 of a starlit sky, and he wondered who lived 
 there and what they would say when they read 
 in the papers of the horrible crime that had 
 been committed only a hundred yards from 
 their own peaceful bedrooms. And Eddy 
 God ! if he had only listened to him ! But 
 of what use all this now ? His eyes closed, 
 and the agony of his mind prevented him from 
 realising a strange fact. Until then the drug 
 had restricted even the movement of an 
 eyelid. 
 
 Half an hour later he awoke and passed a 
 hand across his forehead. His arm felt heavy 
 as lead, and his head was aching and throbbing 
 horribly. Where was he ? On a bed, fully 
 dressed, in complete darkness and not a sound 
 to break the silence. Then in a flash, memory 
 returned, and with it a sickening fear that 
 after all he was not awake, but dreaming. For 
 when he had been laid on the bed he had not 
 been able to move so much as an eyelid. 
 
 Now he had his arm raised. Presently, 
 greatly fearing, he attempted to sit up, and 
 found that he could, though his body felt 
 strangely heavy. But he could move, that was
 
 ioo THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 all that mattered at the moment. Then 
 the question of time occurred to him. He 
 remembered that Appleton had said the drug 
 was good for two hours. Therefore, how long 
 had he slept ? The full two hours ? And if so, 
 was Sullivan here, and had Molly failed to get 
 to him ? These torturing thoughts were agony. 
 He listened intently for any sound that 
 might give an answer to his questions, but the 
 silence was unbroken. Hope came with that 
 silence ; it meant at least that Sullivan was 
 not here yet, and he put his feet to the floor 
 and, catching at the brass bedstead, stood up. 
 Yes, he could stand ! He remembered that the 
 door was directly opposite the window behind 
 his bed, and, not trusting his legs, he crawled 
 there on hands and knees. Then he switched 
 on the light and looked at his wrist watch. 
 It was one o'clock, so he had only slept for 
 half an hour. Then, how came it that in that 
 short time the powers of the drug had worn 
 off ? Perhaps that wretched woman had not 
 given him the full quantity, or he might require 
 more than others did. But the matter was 
 immaterial. The factor that counted was that 
 the numbing effects of the drug had gone, and 
 at least if it came to a struggle he could die 
 fighting, instead of being slaughtered in cold 
 blood. He turned off the light and made his 
 way back to the window, took hold of the two 
 rings and gently raised it. There was no 
 sound, and when he had raised it about a foot 
 he knelt down and put his head out. But one
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 101 
 
 glance showed him that there was no escape 
 that way. A sheer drop of over thirty feet 
 on to a little paved yard. It would be suicide 
 to attempt it. Opposite, a hundred yards 
 away, for a mews seemed to divide them, 
 were the backs of houses, he supposed similar 
 to the one he was in, and he wondered in what 
 part of London he was. Appleton had said 
 Chelsea, possibly it was true, as this was 
 evidently an artist's house. And then, as he 
 knelt there breathing in the cool night air 
 and wondering what possible advantage it 
 could be to him to know where he was, seeing 
 that wherever it was he could not possibly 
 make a get-away out of this room, a light 
 appeared in one of the windows opposite, 
 remained for a few seconds and disappeared. 
 Someone over there was awake, but it was too 
 far off to call for help; that, anyway was out 
 of the question. No, there was nothing for 
 it but to wait, wait for these butchers to come 
 and kill him. A sudden rage seized him. 
 It was impossible, outrageous ; it could not 
 be, not here in the very heart of London. 
 There must be some way of escape. Surely 
 something would flash across his mind as that 
 light had done a moment ago, and save him. 
 And the idea came even with the thought. 
 
 Those two words, flash and light ! That 
 was it ! If he could see the light across the 
 mews, then the same thing applied to those 
 living opposite. And someone was awake, 
 or had been. Possibly had turned on the
 
 102 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 light to look at a watch or clock as he had, 
 and then, hideous possibility, gone to sleep 
 again. He must act now, at once. 
 
 Back again to the door, and, taking the 
 switch between finger and thumb, he pressed 
 it down so that there should be no click. He 
 knew the Morse code, but was well aware 
 of the fact that there was not a chance of one 
 in a hundred living across there knowing it 
 too. Anyway, it was his only chance, and so 
 he flashed out the signal of distress : S O S. 
 Paused, and again repeated it. Six times 
 the cry for help was signalled from his window. 
 S O S. God ! Would there never be a 
 reply ? Was his luck out at last, and was that 
 hundredth chance to fail ? 
 
 Geoffrey Chadbrook, Boy Scout, had retired 
 to bed early that night on the recommendation 
 of his mother, who reminded him that he would 
 have to be up early if he wanted to catch the 
 train that was to take him and the rest of the 
 Scouts to their camp near Sevenoaks. Thus 
 it came about that, partly because he had gone 
 to bed earlier than usual, and partly on account 
 of the pleasurable excitement in the anticipa- 
 tion of to-morrow, he slept badly, waking up 
 every now and then with the certainty and 
 dread on his mind that he had overslept, and 
 in consequence missed the early train. Every 
 time he awoke he switched on the light and 
 glanced at his watch. The last time it was
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 103 
 
 nearly one o'clock, and once more he lay down 
 and closed his eyes. But sleep was far from 
 him ; moreover, someone was fooling with 
 the light across the way which bothered him. 
 What could the silly blighters be doing at 
 this hour ? Once more he sat up staring through 
 the wide open window. There it was again. 
 What on earth did it mean ? And now again, 
 and he noticed that it was exactly like the 
 other flashes, some long, others quick and short, 
 and, yes, they were in threes, like now what 
 was it like ? Something he had seen like a 
 signal. By gosh ! yes, that was it a signal. 
 He sprang out of bed and ran to the window. 
 There it was again, and now the full significance 
 of what it meant came to him. The Morse 
 code ! He knew it perfectly, and the letters 
 now being so persistently flashed across to 
 him or to someone else, was the call for help, 
 S O S. Now, what did it mean ? Was 
 someone really calling for help, or was it only 
 silly fooling ? Somehow he did not think it 
 was ; for he could not imagine anyone cap- 
 able of abusing or misusing so sacred a code, 
 to him sacred since it usually concerned a 
 matter of life or death. At any rate he would 
 wait, and if it came again he would answer. 
 And it did come again, and before the last 
 letter had been flashed out Geoffrey Chadbrook 
 was across the room and had seized the switch. 
 
 " Carry on," he signalled, and waited. 
 
 And along came a message. Some of the 
 letters were wrong, but he spelled it out easily
 
 104 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 enough, and as he did so his heart thumped 
 loudly against his ribs. 
 
 " Held prisoner, danger of death. Can you 
 help ? ' 
 
 Once more Geoffrey Chadbrook replied : 
 
 ' Who speaking ? Number of house ? ' 
 
 " Name Jack Denham. Don't know number." 
 
 Geoffrey gasped, paused a moment, and 
 replied : 
 
 " Know Captain Denham. Am Geoffrey 
 Chadbrook. Shall I telephone police ? " And 
 the reply : 
 
 " No, for God's sake don't, will involve a 
 woman. Come yourself or telephone my 
 brother." 
 
 Geoffrey paused. He knew Captain Den- 
 ham, who often stayed at Normanton Hall 
 near his father's own place, and had heard of 
 harum-scarum Jack often. Could this be a 
 trick, one of Jack's famous practical jokes ? 
 He flashed across a question : 
 
 " Is this genuine or a joke ? ' And the 
 answer " For God's sake come ! " decided 
 him. 
 
 " Coming," he replied. Then he hurried 
 into his Scout's uniform, for he felt that such 
 an occasion demanded nothing less. He only 
 regretted the lack of a revolver, but down- 
 stairs in the hall whither he had crept like a 
 cat, he supplied its place by a stout knotted 
 stick. Though what exactly he meant to do 
 with it he couldn't say, nor what his exact 
 plan was to be either. At one time he thought
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 105 
 
 of going and telling his father, but considered 
 that perhaps this strange Mr. Denham might 
 not like that as there appeared to be a woman 
 concerned in it. He remembered that the 
 house had been the one directly opposite, and 
 as he knew, being a very observant Scout 
 indeed, that all the houses on his side and the 
 other were precisely similar in size, all he had 
 to do was to count them first on his side, and 
 then, when he had turned the corner, passed 
 the few houses there and once more turned in 
 the opposite direction for these houses formed 
 a kind of oblong block he must count them 
 again as he went, and he would easily find the 
 house he wanted. But then came the question : 
 When he had found it, what must he do ? For 
 a moment his brave heart failed him and he 
 stood uncertainly on the pavement. Supposing 
 the people who had got hold of Mr. Denham 
 were desperate criminals, he might be hurt 
 killed. . . . Well, he could easily go back 
 now and no one be the wiser ; he had 
 taken the latchkey that hung in the hall and 
 could easily let himself in. And Jack Den- 
 ham, what of him ? The message distinctly 
 said " danger of death " and " for God's sake 
 come ! " Could a Scout turn back after such 
 messages as those ? And if he did, could he 
 ever again look his beloved Scoutmaster 
 in the face, or anyone else for the matter of 
 that ? 
 
 " You blinking coward ! " he muttered, and 
 strode on manfully.
 
 io6 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Down a side street he caught a glimpse 
 under a light of a dark figure walking slowly 
 and silently along. Well, any way he had a 
 whistle and there was a policeman not so far 
 off if the worst did come to the worst. He 
 reached the house and saw a light from one 
 of the lower windows. Once more he paused, 
 and then, with a sudden jerk and taking a 
 deep breath, he ran up the steps, rang the bell 
 and knocked loudly on the door. His plan 
 was simple ; moreover, it had the merit of 
 being the only one he could think of ; if it 
 failed, and he found that there really was 
 trouble here, he would go and fetch that 
 constable, that is, if he got the chance. And 
 at the thought, once more his heart began to 
 beat painfully. There was silence for a minute 
 or two, and then he heard a slight noise 
 above him. He looked up and saw a window 
 being gently raised and a man put his head 
 out. 
 
 "Who is there? " came a low voice. "Is 
 that you, Jim ? ' 
 
 "No, it's not," replied the boy, and to his 
 great annoyance, he knew that his voice was 
 not steady. " Never mind who it is," he went 
 on, " I happen to know that Mr. Jack Den- 
 ham is here and I want him. Will you be good 
 enough to ask him to come down and speak 
 to me ? " 
 
 There was a pause, and then once more the 
 man spoke. 
 
 " 'Fraid you've made a mistake," he said,
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 107 
 
 " no one of that name is here, you've come to 
 the wrong house." 
 
 " Oh, no, I haven't," replied Geoffrey Chad- 
 brook. " I happen to know he is here. And 
 I'll tell you this, I've got a police whistle on 
 me and there's a constable not very far off, 
 I passed him just now. If Mr. Denham 
 isn't down here on this step in exactly three 
 minutes, I'll blow that whistle and get the 
 police, see ? ' 
 
 Once more silence, and then : 
 
 ' What the devil do you mean ? " asked the 
 man angrily, but still under his breath. " Be 
 off this moment or it will be / who will call the 
 police." 
 
 As the last word left his lips the door opened 
 and a woman's figure stood silhouetted against 
 the faint light in the passage. 
 
 " Who is it ? What do you want ? " she 
 asked. 
 
 " I want Mr. Jack Denham, that's all," was 
 the reply. " I know he's here, he signalled 
 to me about a quarter of an hour ago from 
 an upper window, Morse code, which I hap- 
 pened to know. He asked me not to bring 
 the police in as there was a woman here you, 
 I suppose." She nodded, but said nothing. 
 " But I don't care a thing about that, so I tell 
 you straight that if Denham isn't here in three 
 minutes I'll whistle for the police." 
 
 The woman looked at the eager young face 
 and gave a queer little laugh. 
 
 " Bless your little heart, kiddie," she said,
 
 io8 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 but so low and in such a trembling, shaky 
 voice that he only just heard it. And then 
 she stepped back into the house, closing the 
 door behind her. 
 
 The boy looked up at the window once more, 
 but the man had gone, and so once more he 
 waited, but this time at a respectful distance 
 from the door. For if the man meant to come 
 out and try to get hold of him, he would be 
 in a position to make a bolt for it and get hold 
 of that policeman. In the distance he heard 
 the faint hum of a car, and then a noise as of 
 footsteps in the passage behind the door. Once 
 more it was opened, a man came out quickly, 
 as though impelled by a push from behind, 
 and the door slammed to with a noisy bang. 
 For a moment the man stood motionless, 
 staring into vacancy. 
 
 " Is that you, Mr. Denham ? ' 
 
 The sound of the clear, crisp voice galvanised 
 the half -dazed man into instant action. He 
 walked unsteadily down the steps, and as 
 Geoffrey felt a hand gripping his own, a big 
 car came quickly round the corner towards 
 them. One glance decided the quick-witted 
 Scout. 
 
 " I believe that car's going to stop at this 
 house ! " he said. " Come on." Jack Denham 
 turned and looked. 
 
 " You're right," he said, in a curiously 
 thick voice. "It's Sullivan ! Let me hold 
 your arm and I'll try and run. I've been 
 doped."
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 109 
 
 As they started off along the road the big 
 car drew up at the door and a man sprang out. 
 Geoffrey Chadbrook was tall and unusually 
 strong for his fifteen years ; he noticed the 
 laboured breathing of the man beside him, 
 gathered, in his quick way that Sullivan, 
 whoever he might be, was someone to be feared 
 and to be run from, and suddenly put an arm 
 round his companion's body. 
 
 " I'll help you, just move your legs and I'll 
 hold you up." 
 
 Jack gasped his thanks and presently they 
 turned a corner. There were shops here, 
 all shuttered and dark, and not far off an 
 archway leading to some back alley. Into its 
 shelter Jack staggered and sat down on the 
 pavement. 
 
 " I'm done," he said, and leaned his head 
 on his hands. Geoffrey was at a loss and feeling 
 rather frightened. By the light of a lamp 
 not far off he could see that this man looked 
 ghastly white and ill and the horrible possibility 
 of his dying before help could be got assailed 
 him. But to his agonised question came a 
 reassuring reply. 
 
 "No, sonny, I'm all right, only feel a bit 
 sick. I say, I simply can't begin to thank 
 you. I " but Geoffrey cut him short. 
 
 " Oh ! stow that tosh," he said. " Look here, 
 who is Sullivan ? ' He wanted to know more 
 of what all this meant. 
 
 " Leader of the gang criminals mur- 
 derers " said Jack thickly. 

 
 no THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " When he finds you've gone, will he come 
 after you ? He must have seen us." 
 
 " Yes, he will. Do you think we could find 
 a taxi ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " We might, but I daren't leave you," said 
 the boy, anxiously. 
 
 " You're a brick," said Jack. " Let's try 
 and go on together, I can manage for a bit 
 longer." Geoffrey helped him to rise, and once 
 more supporting him, they went on down the 
 street. 
 
 ' Where are we ? " asked Jack, presently. 
 
 ' This is Chelsea. The house you were in 
 was No. 40, Heron Street. Ah ! there's a cop, 
 he may have seen a taxi perhaps." 
 
 " Don't tell him about about anything 
 that's happened " said Jack, nervously. 
 
 "I'd like to, but I suppose that girl stops 
 it. She seemed glad I came," said Geoffrey, 
 and looked hard at Jack. 
 
 "I'll tell you all about it later," was the 
 reply. 
 
 " All right, I won't give anything away, 
 don't worry," and the Scout crossed the road 
 and accosted the constable. 
 
 " Seen any taxis about, constable ? ' he 
 asked. " My friend's not very well," he 
 grinned, and winked slyly, " and I want to get 
 him home safe, see ? ' 
 
 The officer, a young man, flashed his light 
 over Geoffrey and grinned back. 
 
 " There's one just brought some people
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE in 
 
 to a house down that street," he said, waving 
 an arm. " If you run you'll get it." 
 
 So Geoffrey ran, and presently shouted, while 
 the policeman flashed his light on to Jack 
 Denham, and considered that he must be very 
 drunk indeed. So drunk, that he crossed 
 the road to have a nearer look : and as he did 
 so a big car came round the corner out of 
 Heron Street and drove slowly by. In it 
 were three men and two women, and one of 
 the men peered out eagerly. 
 
 " Steady, sir," said the constable, " lean 
 against me till your friend comes back." The 
 driver of the big car put on sudden speed and 
 disappeared from view. 
 
 What the constable never could understand 
 was the reason why the apparently very in- 
 toxicated gentleman thrust a pound note into 
 his hand before getting into the taxi, or meant 
 by saying : 
 
 'Thank you, officer, that's for being here 
 at that minute." He certainly must have 
 been very far gone indeed. 
 
 Geoffrey Chadbrook understood, however, and 
 before the taxi drew up at the house in Lennox 
 Street, he knew all there was to know about 
 Jim Sullivan and his gang, and he and Jack 
 were firm friends. 
 
 They found Edward Denham in the sitting- 
 room, reading. 
 
 " I'm a bit before my time," said Jack 
 jerkily. " I said I'd be back by two 
 and it's not that yet is it ? And please
 
 ii2 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 give me something to " The last word 
 
 was lost in the noise he made in falling. 
 
 It was Geoffrey Chadbrook who explained 
 when they had got Jack Denham into bed, 
 and Edward who listened speechless. When he 
 had done, the elder man took the boy's hands 
 in both his and wrung them. 
 
 " I've no words to thank you my boy," he 
 said, brokenly, " it's just beyond thanks. It's 
 no use ringing up the police now and getting 
 them on to that house, as you say they went 
 long ago." 
 
 " And I had better go too. I told the taxi 
 to wait," said Geoffrey. 
 
 Edward Denham took out his note case 
 and extracted a ten pound note. 
 
 " Give that to your Scoutmaster for the good 
 of the camp," he said, " and here's another 
 for yourself, not in payment for what you have 
 done that account can never be squared 
 I wouldn't insult you like that, but as a 
 small token of gratitude and respect for the 
 pluckiest Scout it has ever been my luck to 
 meet." 
 
 The boy was speechless for a moment, but 
 at the door he turned. 
 
 " If he's ever in trouble again," he said 
 huskily, jerking a thumb towards Jack's room, 
 " mind you let me know and I'll try and help 
 all I can." 
 
 " I will," said Edward gravely. 
 
 And at the front door he turned again. 
 
 " Do you think they'll try anything else
 
 THE HUNDREDTH CHANCE 113 
 
 again, Captain ? " he asked as Edward followed 
 him out to the waiting taxi. 
 
 " God knows ! I'm afraid so," was the reply. 
 " And this " he added, " is my affair," where- 
 upon he grossly overpaid the taxi-driver.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 
 
 JACK DENHAM leant back in the com- 
 fortable first-class carriage, and stared 
 with unseeing eyes at the country as it 
 flashed by. He was on his way to Suffolk 
 to stay with the Normantons, old friends of 
 his brother's, but comparatively new as far 
 as he was concerned, for he had only got to 
 know them a little over a year ago, and he 
 had accepted an invitation to spend a few days 
 partridge shooting at Normanton Hall. But 
 it was not with the Normantons that his 
 thoughts were busy. He was thinking of the 
 last two months and of what they had meant 
 to his brother Edward and himself. The first 
 had been spent at Loch Tullian, in Perthshire, 
 the second he had divided into short visits 
 to other friends in Scotland, and finally he had 
 come south, spent an hour in his rooms in 
 Lennox Street, and then taken the train to 
 Normanton. His brother had gone to spend 
 a week with his fiancee's people, the Edmon- 
 tons in Kent, and as Jack sat in luxurious 
 ease in the fast moving train, he pondered, 
 with a broad grin on his face, over his brother's 
 parting words : 
 
 "4
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 115 
 
 " Look here, old fellow," Edward had said, 
 in that grave tone of his, " for two months 
 we've had no trouble from Jim Sullivan and 
 his friends ; why, I can't say, unless they think 
 it wise to lie low ; but don't you run away 
 with the idea that you are safe on that account. 
 You are going to the Normantons alone because 
 I don't think they can trace you from here, 
 and, consequently you will be, so far as I can 
 see, quite safe anyway for the time you are 
 there. But if there should be more trouble 
 and you escape once more with your life, 
 which, so far, by three miracles you have been 
 able to do, remember, it will be your last 
 escapade, and off you go for a long indefinitely 
 long ' rest cure ' at Dr. Watman's house in 
 Cornwall. I have made up my mind about 
 that, and nothing shall turn me from it." 
 And Jack's answer had been typical : 
 
 " Stow all that rot, Eddy. If those black- 
 guards get on to me again, far from skulking 
 behind twenty-foot walls, I shall take my life, 
 and incidentally an automatic pistol in my 
 hands, and go and hunt them down myself. 
 If the police care to come too all the better 
 for me, but if not I'll do it all by my dear little 
 self. So just you understand, old man, that 
 if I go to Cornwall, it will be either in a well- 
 manned police van or an ambulance with six 
 hefty attendants. Nothing short of that will 
 get me there." 
 
 Edward had only smiled, but Jack knew 
 what that smile meant, as also had many of
 
 1 16 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 our late enemies some few years back to their 
 bitter cost. Well, he wouldn't bother about 
 that now ; sufficient unto the day. ... It 
 was not likely he would come up against any of 
 the gang at Norman ton Hall. He rather hoped 
 he would see something of that ripping young 
 Boy Scout, Geoffrey Chadbrook, whose father, 
 he knew lived not many miles away. A 
 splendid boy that, one of England's best. With 
 any luck at all he would still be on his holidays. 
 
 Jack Denham arrived at his destination 
 at last. Normanton Hall was a modern man- 
 sion, built on the site of old Normanton Castle 
 destroyed by fire some fifty years ago, and the 
 owners, a young married couple, were in tune 
 with their surroundings. Mrs. Normanton, fair, 
 slim, short-skirted and bare armed, in spite 
 of the chilly atmosphere, welcomed him boister- 
 ously in the large hall where tea was in progress 
 among a small company seated round a huge 
 log fire. 
 
 " Real topping of you to come, old bean," 
 she said, " but isn't Eddy with you ? I'm 
 sure I asked your brother." 
 
 " You did ; he begs to be excused," said 
 Jack. " He is engaged to the most wonderful 
 girl in the world, and therefore he cannot 
 come." 
 
 " I twig. Well, sit down old boy, and stuff 
 some muffins into your crop. There are several 
 pals here and one more to come. Did you 
 come by car or train ? ' 
 
 " Train," was the reply.
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 117 
 
 " My giddy aunt ! " she exclaimed. " Did 
 anyone meet you at the station ? ' 
 
 " Car No. 3 did me that honour," he 
 replied, nodding to several waving bare arms 
 and grinning faces that greeted him. 
 
 " Oh, well, I expect Grayson knew about it. 
 He reads all my letters," said Mrs. Normanton, 
 airily. "Which is just as well," she added, 
 " seeing that I never remember if I have 
 answered them or not. I was afraid you had 
 had to walk." 
 
 " Which would apparently have been all 
 the same if he had," put in a young man seated 
 near the fire. 
 
 " What ! You here, Harry ? " inquired Jack, 
 with a grin. " I thought you were doing 
 time for that last smash of yours." 
 
 " No, they let me off with a gigantic fine. I've 
 lived on charity ever since ; I'm doing it now." 
 
 " Well, you seem to thrive on it, you greedy 
 pig," said a pretty dark girl who sat near Jack. 
 " Don't eat all the muffins, chuck us one over 
 here," which Harry Brent wood proceeded 
 literally to do. 
 
 ' You've greased me all over, you blighter," 
 said the girl, " and it's a new frock and not paid 
 for." 
 
 " Are they ever ? " asked the delinquent. 
 
 " Only by the co-respondent," put in a deep 
 voice from the direction of the front door, 
 which had opened without the party hearing 
 it, and Captain Normanton, a tall, soldierly 
 looking man came forward.
 
 nS THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Who have we, Dorothy ? " he went on, 
 putting his hand on his wife's shoulder. " You 
 asked this crowd, I didn't." 
 
 ' Well, there they are," she replied, shaking 
 his hand off. " Look 'em over, you'll soon 
 recognise some of them, though I admit I 
 hardly knew Cissy in that coloured hair, and 
 Tommy vaunts a pointed beard, under the 
 impression, I suppose, that he now looks like 
 an artist instead of, as formerly, a grocer's 
 assistant." 
 
 "Hallo, Jack! How's Eddy?" asked the 
 genial host. 
 
 " That's what I always get," grumbled the 
 young man, " instead of ' How are you ? ' It's 
 always 'How's Eddy?' 
 
 " Naturally, he's the best fellow in the world, 
 you're not." The company laughed. 
 
 " Take it quietly, old son," murmured Harry 
 Brentwood, " you'll get back on him before 
 long." 
 
 ' This isn't the whole lot, is it ? " inquired 
 Normanton, as he waved a hand towards the 
 group. " You asked another blighter or two 
 didn't you, girlie ? ' 
 
 " Only one man, and he asked himself, but 
 of course no party is complete without him. 
 He gives tone." 
 
 " Who on earth is this prehistoric ? " de- 
 manded one of the ladies anxiously. 
 
 " Bob Vincent," was the reply. 
 
 " By Jove ! " ejaculated Jack. " Do you 
 know I have never met him yet ? "
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 119 
 
 " Never met Vincent ? Why, where on earth 
 have you been ? ' 
 
 " Well, generally I have just missed him," 
 said Jack; " mere chance you know." 
 
 " I'm not so sure of that," put in Normanton, 
 with a grin. " He's a rummy beggar and 
 usually asks who is going to be there before 
 inviting himself. I expect whenever he heard 
 you were to be of a party, he shied oft." Again 
 there was laughter at the sally. 
 
 " Store it up, Jack, old bean," murmured 
 Harry, " you've a fat time coming. Ha, ha ! 
 who rings without ? ' 
 
 " Vincent, I expect," said the host and 
 strolled towards the door. A butler and foot- 
 man passed hurriedly through and the front 
 door was flung open. 
 
 A slim young man in neat blue serge was 
 ushered in. Jack gave one glance at his face 
 and sat silent, too much astonished to move 
 or speak. Bob Vincent, the well beloved of 
 all small parties, who had the entree to all 
 the best houses, was none other than the young 
 man who had locked the gaming-room door 
 at No. 18, Staveley Road, and thrown him a 
 box of matches. 
 
 A chorus of welcome greeted the new-comer, 
 many voices spoke at once, questions were 
 poured out, thus giving Jack Denham time to 
 think. What should he do ? Appear to recog- 
 nise, or meet as a stranger ? His insane love 
 of adventure and risk demanded the former, 
 prudence the latter. Common-sense prevailing
 
 120 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 over all, he decided to wait and follow whatever 
 course Vincent should choose to adopt. He 
 had not long to wait, Normanton brought the 
 young man over to Jack. 
 
 " The only fellow in English society who 
 dosen't know you, Bob," he said. " We told 
 him that he had never seen you because you 
 avoided any party of which he was a member, 
 now confess. Did you know he would be here 
 or not ? His name is Jack Denham." 
 
 Vincent looked at Jack and smiled faintly. 
 He gave not the slightest sign of recognition. 
 
 " As a matter of fact," he said, " Mrs. Nor- 
 manton gave me to understand that I should 
 meet his brother." 
 
 " Did I ? " she cried. "And forgot to mention 
 Jack ! How priceless ! " Vincent laughed. 
 
 " Well, it wouldn't have made any differ- 
 ence," he said, " unless it were to make me 
 more keen on coming." He sat down and took 
 the cup of tea offered him. Jack, still feeling 
 somewhat dazed, sat in silence listening to 
 the hum of voices. What did it mean ? This 
 man, the son no, the step-son of course, of old 
 Mr. Faringdon, for he had married twice, 
 no one knowing quite how or where he had 
 found his second wife, who left much to be 
 desired was well known in society, received 
 everywhere, and yet the only time he had ever 
 seen him was in a gambling hell of the lowest 
 description. The people he had found there 
 were a gang of desperate criminals to whom 
 murder was a game and this fellow was a
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 121 
 
 member. Did that account then for the 
 mystery which always surrounded these big 
 robberies, which occurred periodically, generally 
 in country houses, always, apparently with the 
 connivance of someone inside ? Certainly it 
 must, and was Vincent here now for the same 
 purpose ? The Normantons were enormously 
 rich, and Mrs. Normanton the owner of many 
 priceless jewels. Of course, it was ridiculous 
 to suppose that the man only stayed at private 
 houses in order to rob them. Probably he 
 was here quite innocently, and there was no 
 cause for alarm. 
 
 He was certainly a wonderful actor, for he 
 had shown not the faintest sign of surprise 
 or recognition on seeing Jack, and yet, he must 
 have known him as well as Jack knew him. 
 What would he do ? Obviously, whatever 
 happened, Jack Denham's position in regard 
 to this gang was getting more dangerous. 
 He was the one who had discovered them, 
 who had put the police on to them, who knew, 
 or thought he knew their headquarters, and 
 now to crown all he was in possession of the 
 real facts regarding Robert Vincent. Surely, 
 did chance offer or plans mature, his life was 
 not worth a penny's purchase. What should 
 he do ? Warn Normanton ? No, he could 
 not stomach the incredulous laughter that would 
 follow, no one would believe him. There was 
 nothing for it but to keep his mouth shut. 
 In the morning he would telegraph to Harper. 
 Edward was away, and he could not bother
 
 122 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 him. No, that again would not do ; Harper 
 could do nothing even if he came. He could 
 set men to watch, of course, and then if nothing 
 happened, he, Jack, would be again laughed 
 at and be supposed to have made a mistake. 
 All he could do was to wait. He did not 
 suppose that he himself was in any immediate 
 danger, the fellow wouldn't dare to touch 
 him in this house. It was afterwards. Well, 
 whatever Edward might do or say, when he 
 left* here he would set out systematically to 
 hunt these people down. He knew most of 
 them by sight, which the police did not. In 
 the meantime he could do nothing but wait 
 and watch. 
 
 They were a lively party at dinner and Bob 
 Vincent was evidently in his element. He 
 was hail fellow well met with everyone, and yet, 
 it struck Jack, who was particularly observant 
 of him, that he lacked something that the others, 
 though they tried to hide it, possessed. Was 
 it polish ? Or that elusive something that 
 was the distinct attribute of a gentleman ? 
 Slang prevailed as a method of conversation, 
 and manners left much to be desired, and yet, 
 though Vincent used less slang and appeared 
 to possess better manners, there was something 
 about him that jarred. Perhaps, Jack conceded, 
 wishing to be quite fair, it was the knowledge 
 of what the true man really was that prejudiced 
 him, and that only. He did not argue the point 
 with himself, he just left it. 
 
 It was late when Normanton proposed that
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 123 
 
 they got into their smoking jackets and ad- 
 journed to the smoking-room, The ladies, 
 had gone in a body to one of the girls' 
 rooms, there to hold a seance or some such 
 unholy meeting, the girl, Nora Arkwright by 
 name, declaring herself to be a medium. 
 
 ' We'll leave them to it and hold one of our 
 own," he said. Jack went to his room, changed 
 and took his pipe. He had never stayed at 
 the house before, and, on returning took the 
 wrong passage. Some way down and before 
 he discerned his mistake, he heard a door 
 open and saw Vincent come out. The other 
 stared at him. 
 
 ' Where are you going ? " he asked. 
 
 " Downstairs," said Jack. He was not going 
 to make the first move. 
 
 " Then you're wrong," replied Vincent. " Got 
 lost or something ? Well, follow me." Jack 
 turned, feeling angry that he had been such 
 a fool. Was that Vincent's room then ? Now 
 he came to think of it he had seen him come 
 out of a door not far off his own just before 
 dinner. Then the matter passed from his 
 mind. He remembered it later, however. 
 
 It was just one o'clock before he was un- 
 dressed, and then, as he was on the point 
 of getting into bed, there came a faint tap 
 at his door. He crossed the room and opened 
 it : Vincent stood outside, fully dressed. 
 
 " May I come in ? " he asked quietly. 
 
 " Why ? " asked Jack. 
 
 "I'll tell you," was the reply, "if you'll
 
 124 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 open the door. Neither you nor I can afford 
 to make a row here, my good fellow." 
 
 "I'm glad you admit that," retorted Jack, 
 standing aside. " Come in if you want to though 
 I fail to see how either of us is going to gain 
 by it." 
 
 Robert Vincent crossed over to the fire- 
 place and leaned back, his elbows on the 
 mantelpiece. He looked Jack up and down 
 and grinned. 
 
 ' You've got a pretty taste in pyjamas," he 
 said. 
 
 " If you've come to discuss my night wear, 
 I'm not interested, and you may as well get 
 out," replied the other, slipping on his dressing- 
 gown and lighting a cigarette. 
 
 " No, that was only incidental. I've come 
 to discuss far more important things than 
 that. You're a deuced cool hand, Mr. Jack 
 Denham." 
 
 "It's my line," he replied, " I make a 
 practice of it. Let's get on with your tale. 
 When you've cleared out I shall have to open 
 the window, and I want to go to bed." 
 
 " Don't give me any of your damned cheek ! " 
 said the other. " You are hardly in a position 
 for that." 
 
 " I fail to see any danger," retorted Jack, 
 dryly. " You would surely not try any killing 
 here for your own sake, I should think." 
 
 " I don't go in for killing," was the reply. 
 " I think, perhaps, you may remember that 
 at our last meeting. However, we will let
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 125 
 
 that go. What I have come to see you for 
 is to do you a good turn." 
 
 " You amaze me ! " said Jack. 
 
 " You realise, of course, what my particular 
 line in Jim Sullivan's business is now ? ' 
 
 " That's why I propose to air the room 
 after your exit," was the reply. 
 . " Just so. Y"ou're a fool to take that tone, 
 but no matter. Perhaps you fail to see that in 
 spotting me as you have done, your own 
 position is made several degrees worse than it 
 was ? " 
 
 " Afraid I don't," retorted Jack, dryly. " You 
 are all, apparently, set on wiping me out of 
 existence as it is. I can't see, therefore, what 
 in God's name you can do more than that." 
 
 " I admit we can't do more," was the reply; 
 " but it would necessitate its being done 
 without further bungling. Moreover, it would 
 force me to alter my views on the subject of 
 killing." 
 
 " Don't try and tell me that Jim Sullivan 
 holds his hand because of anything you may 
 say," said Jack, with a sneer, " for I simply 
 won't believe it, and lies get us nowhere." 
 
 " Believe it or not, as you like. As a matter 
 of fact, I am far more useful to Sullivan than 
 any of the others, and he would have to think 
 pretty hard and very often before he started 
 in on doing anything I didn't approve of. 
 Up to now, whether you believe it or not, I've 
 been against all this murder business." 
 
 " Ah ! I see, humanitarian methods. Very
 
 126 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 admirable indeed. Or is it that you find it pays 
 better ? ' 
 
 " Look here, Mr. Denham, let's cut out any 
 more word-sparring," said Vincent quietly. 
 "I'm here to ask you in a friendly spirit to 
 leave this house to-morrow, and keep your 
 mouth shut about me. I ask you this as a 
 favour." 
 
 " Favours between you and me, Mr. Vincent, 
 are a washout," replied Jack. 
 
 " In that case, then, I'm afraid I shall have 
 to threaten." 
 
 " Threats also leave me cold. They are, in 
 fact, of such an everyday occurrence now, 
 and have become so much a part of my daily 
 existence that I should feel quite lost without 
 them. Life would be so damned dull, that I 
 should be impelled either to take to drink 
 or go off to Mexico. So let's have the threats, 
 only make 'em as short as you can." 
 
 " My threats do not concern you this time," 
 was the cold reply , " I leave that to Jim and the 
 others. I should aim, rather, to strike at you 
 through someone else. I happen to know 
 Miss Aileen Edmonton, your brother's fiancee, 
 fairly well." 
 
 Jack stared at him for a moment, and then, 
 with an oath, sprang to his feet. 
 
 " By God ! Vincent ! Of course ! You are 
 the damned swine who sent that wire to my 
 brother telling him that lie about Aileen 's 
 accident ! He told me you were there ; but 
 how should I or anyone connect you with such a
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 127 
 
 thing ? You low-down blackguard ! Get out 
 of this, or I shan't be able to keep my hands 
 off you." 
 
 " Oh, yes, you will, Mr. Denham, I take no 
 chances." Vincent's hand flashed to his pocket, 
 and the next instant Jack was looking down 
 the barrel of an automatic. " Attempt any 
 tricks and you'll drop where you are. There 
 won't be a sound, and I'll arrange things to 
 look like suicide. It won't be difficult to 
 imagine Mr. Jack Denham resorting to that. 
 Now sit down." 
 
 The last three words were spoken in short, 
 authoritative tones. Jack's own weapon was 
 out of reach ; there was nothing for it but to 
 comply. He sat back on the bed impotently 
 fuming. 
 
 " Now," went on Vincent, quietly, " perhaps 
 you'll be reasonable. My threat is not an 
 idle one, and I am going to make it quite 
 clear what I propose to do. Miss Aileen 
 Edmonton and I are quite good friends. It 
 would be simple and easy in these days of 
 anti-chaperonage to arrange a meeting, prefer- 
 ably in London. A little journey in Jim 
 Sullivan's car out to his abode of bliss, and 
 when I had done with Miss Edmonton, she 
 
 would However, I leave the rest 
 
 to your fertile imagination. Now, how does 
 that strike you as an idea ? ' 
 
 " Hanging is too good for you, Vincent," 
 said Jack, hoarsely. " Get out of this room 
 or I must."
 
 128 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Remember, I don't want to do this," went 
 on Vincent, ignoring the other's remarks. " I 
 only suggest it as an alternative to your holding 
 your tongue about me. Of course, I know 
 you will make it your business to warn the girl, 
 but that won't help her much. There are 
 plenty of ways of getting hold of her, believe 
 me. Now, what do you say ? Will you get 
 out of here to-morrow and give me your word 
 to keep your mouth shut about me ? Mark 
 this I trust you. I know very well that you 
 never went back on us in the first place, and 
 the girl Molly knows it too ; but one can't 
 expect the others to believe that ; they couldn't 
 be straight themselves, and they wouldn't give 
 anyone else the credit. But I know, and I'll 
 trust you. Come, is it a deal ? ' Jack swal- 
 lowed hard. Had the threat concerned himself 
 alone the answer would have been easy ; but 
 since it was Eddy's girl who would suffer 
 and he was not such a fool as to doubt the 
 possibilities of Vincent's carrying it through- 
 it was quite another matter. 
 
 ' I'll I'll think it over," he said at last. 
 
 " Well, that's only fair. I'll see you in the 
 morning after breakfast, and when you have 
 decided what you will do I shall expect you 
 to obey my orders and get out of here to- 
 morrow." 
 
 " That," said Jack quietly, " I'll be damned 
 if I do." 
 
 " Very well, then it's up to me to make you, 
 and I think you'll regret it, my good fellow.
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 129 
 
 When I've done with you here you will find 
 that among your friends your word won't go 
 for anything. So if you tried to denounce 
 me to them they simply wouldn't listen to you. 
 You always had a record for wildness. There 
 were one or two adventurous incidents in your 
 life that were never properly explained. Your 
 brother's name, of course, goes, but you are 
 not so well thought of, and you know it to be 
 true too, don't you ? ' 
 
 Jack was silent. It was certainly true that 
 he had got mixed up with a lot of rather ques- 
 tionable characters a year or so ago, and they 
 had done some wild and foolish things and got 
 talked about, much to his brother's disgust 
 and chagrin. All that was over, of course, 
 but not forgotten, and therein lay the trouble. 
 
 ' Well, never mind answering," said Vincent, 
 with a grin, " that's your funeral. Now you 
 can get to bed and think over the answer to 
 that other question. If I were you I wouldn't 
 care to have on my conscience the results 
 of a refusal." He went out, closing the door 
 noiselessly behind him. 
 
 Jack Denham spent a sleepless night and 
 went down to breakfast looking and feeling 
 fagged out. Captain Normanton and his wife 
 entered the dining-room five minutes after him, 
 and one glance at their faces told him that 
 something serious had happened. 
 
 ' Hallo ! " exclaimed Harry Brentwood. 
 ' What's up ? Backed a wrong 'un, old man ? ' 
 
 "No," replied Normanton, gravely, "I'm
 
 130 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 afraid it's worse than that. In fact it's rather 
 a serious matter, and in any case a very un- 
 pleasant thing to have to tell you. The fact 
 is there has been a robbery here." He went 
 on, gravely, " not from outside, but from 
 within the house. All windows are shuttered 
 and barred, all doors locked and bolted, so 
 no one could have got in ; and yet a valuable 
 string of pearls, and a set of opal and diamond 
 ornaments, comprising necklace, ear-rings and 
 brooch, have been taken from one of the 
 drawers in my wife's dressing-table, which 
 was locked before dinner and has been locked 
 until this morning, she possessing the only key 
 which hangs on a chain she wears round her 
 neck." 
 
 There was a gasp of astonishment. Jack, 
 realising the full significance of what this 
 meant, glanced at Vincent who had come in 
 a moment before. 
 
 " But who could have taken them ? " cried 
 Nora Arkwright, breathlessly. 
 
 ' That remains to be seen," was the reply. 
 " The theft must have taken place sometime 
 between dinner and when Dorothy went to 
 bed. None of the servants live in this part 
 of the house, and they are all respectable 
 honest folk who have been with us since our 
 marriage. I may say they have all agreed 
 to have their boxes and rooms searched." 
 
 " That's what must certainly and most 
 rightly happen to us," said Harry Brentwood, 
 gravely.
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 131 
 
 " Of course ! " cried Nora, and the rest 
 agreed unanimously. 
 
 "By all means," said Jack, still with his 
 eyes on Vincent's face. 
 
 ' You see," put in Mrs. Normanton, in a 
 shaky voice, " it puts you all in such a horrible 
 position, and I hate the idea of a search being 
 
 made, but " She held out her arms 
 
 appealingly. " What am I to do ? ' 
 
 " Do ! Why, my blessed child," cried Nora, 
 putting her arms round her friend's neck, " it's 
 the only thing to do and we all welcome it. 
 Let's do it systematically, and do it now. 
 You ransack the girls' rooms and Arthur the 
 men's. You haven't called in the police, 
 Arthur, I suppose ? " she went on, to Normanton. 
 
 " No," he said, " I want to avoid that if 
 possible." 
 
 And then Jack took a sudden resolution. 
 Convinced, of course, that Vincent had stolen 
 the jewels, he considered that there might 
 be the faint chance that if he spoke now he 
 might be believed. At any rate he would 
 take the risk on the chance of winning. 
 
 " Look here, Normanton," he said, quietly, 
 " if you want to save yourself trouble, and your 
 guests anxiety, unnecessary anxiety, you will 
 begin your search in Mr. Robert Vincent's 
 room." 
 
 All eyes were turned upon him in utter 
 astonishment. Harry Brent wood, who thought 
 it was a joke, laughed out, but Normanton 
 frowned him to silence and turned to Jack.
 
 132 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Pardon me, Denham, I'm afraid I didn't 
 catch what you said. "Would you mind repeating 
 it? ' 
 
 " I suggested," replied Jack, urbanely, " that 
 you saved yourself trouble by searching Mr. 
 Vincent's room first, and I add now, that if 
 you draw blank there, you search his person." 
 
 Mrs. Normanton gave a little cry. 
 
 " My dear Mr. Denham, are you quite 
 mad ? ' : 
 
 " Perfectly sane," he replied. " If you will 
 do as I advise you will be convinced of my 
 sanity." Robert Vincent laughed, a very dis- 
 agreeable laugh it was. 
 
 " I say," he said, " don't you think it would 
 be better if you asked the ladies to go away ? 
 It strikes me that there is going to be quite 
 a lot of trouble coming along. We know Mr. 
 Jack Denham 's reputation for eccentricity 
 I think I am kind in putting it that way 
 but he appears to me to be rather over-stepping 
 the mark." 
 
 " You're right, Bob," replied Normanton, 
 gravely. "If you please, ladies. . . ." He 
 opened the door, and reluctantly they went 
 out, amazement depriving them for the moment 
 of the power to protest. 
 
 " Now, Denham," said Normanton, sharply, 
 " what's all this ? Are you accusing my friend, 
 Bob Vincent, of stealing my wife's jewels, 
 or have you, by any chance, been drinking, 
 and are not responsible for what you are 
 saying ? "
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 133 
 
 " I don't drink," was the reply, " and I am 
 accusing Mr. Vincent. I happen to have seen 
 him coming out of your wife's room last night 
 when we went up to get into our smoking- 
 jackets." 
 
 " And might I ask what you were doing 
 near my wife's room ? " demanded the other. 
 " Your own room is down another passage 
 and nowhere near hers." 
 
 " I lost my way," replied Jack. Normanton 
 laughed. 
 
 " Not good enough, I'm afraid," he said, 
 dryly. "As a matter of fact Vincent has 
 already informed me of your appearance along 
 that passage and of the natural construction 
 he put on it after our discovery this morning. 
 You don't imagine I should be such a fool as 
 to take your word before his, do you ? Bob 
 and I have known each other for a good long 
 time ; I met you for the first time last year, 
 but I had heard of you before that." There 
 was a palpable sneer in his voice as he said 
 this. 
 
 Harry Brent wood laughed. 
 
 " Good Lord, Denham," he said, "what 
 a damned fool you are ! " The other guest, 
 Thomas Cobb, went to the door. 
 
 ' Please excuse me, Normanton," he said, 
 " I'd rather be let off hearing the rest." His 
 friend nodded and the door closed. Jack 
 squared his shoulders. 
 
 " Are you going to search Vincent's room ? '' 
 he demanded. " Do you think I would make
 
 134 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 such an accusation if I hadn't something to 
 back it?" 
 
 " I don't care a damn what you think you've 
 got," was the reply. ' You have made the 
 accusation, and the only thing left for me 
 is to do as you suggest. If you will excuse 
 the impertinence, Bob," he added. 
 
 " Carry on, old man, I wish it. But if, by 
 any miraculous chance you should draw blank, 
 I think you owe it to me to repeat the same 
 process with regard to Denham and his room." 
 
 ' That's all I ask," said Jack. 
 
 ' Then we'll do it at once," replied Norman- 
 ton. " Kindly stop here, Harry." 
 
 " Right. Call out when you are ready to 
 go over my own belongings." 
 
 They went upstairs. Jack Denham and 
 Vincent stood inside the latter's room while 
 Normanton made a thorough and systematic 
 search. Then he passed his hands deftly over 
 his body, and into every pocket. When finally 
 he had done he turned to Jack. 
 
 " Are you satisfied ? " he demanded. 
 
 " Not in the least," said Jack. " He is 
 cleverer than I thought him, that's all." 
 
 Normanton turned on his heel and they 
 proceeded to Jack's apartment and closed the 
 door. Then Normanton turned to him. 
 
 " Look here," he said, " I don't know what 
 game you are playing, unless it's meant for a 
 joke a damned bad joke, by the way but 
 if so you had better own up. Vincent saw you 
 coming along that passage you know."
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 135 
 
 Jack was silent. The meaning of all this 
 had dawned on him at last. Vincent was, 
 of course, trying to bring suspicion on him, 
 but to what lengths would he go ? Jack 
 decided to stick to his guns. 
 
 " I was certainly there by mistake," he said, 
 " but Vincent was there with intention, for I 
 saw him coming out of your wife's room." 
 Normanton regarded him sternly and suddenly 
 frowned. 
 
 " Come, man, that won't work. Now own 
 up ; if you have been at some of your practical 
 jokes, say so. You know what a reputation 
 you had for that sort of thing. If you have 
 done anything foolish for a joke or a wager, 
 tell me now before we go through your things, 
 there's a good fellow." 
 
 " You mean to imply that I have taken 
 the jewels then, do you ? " demanded Jack, 
 angrily. ' Why, I won't even trouble to deny 
 it. You must be mad ! I tell you I saw 
 
 Vincent " 
 
 ' That's enough," broke in Normanton, 
 sharply. He commenced turning out drawers 
 and cupboards. Jack watched him go through 
 his things wondering what would be the 
 end of it. He had failed in his accusation 
 against Vincent ; what had Vincent in store 
 for him ? 
 
 He was not kept long in doubt, for Nor- 
 manton, having finished with the furniture 
 and clothes, seized upon and opened the dress- 
 ing bag, and there, wrapped up in some
 
 136 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 handkerchiefs, were the missing jewels and 
 with them a skeleton key. 
 
 Normanton swore under his breath and 
 looked at Jack who was, for the moment, 
 too shaken to move or speak. There was a 
 painful silence, broken at length by a harsh 
 laugh from Jack. 
 
 " Someone besides myself then is given to 
 practical joking," he said, grimly. " Of course, 
 I need hardly tell you I never took the things." 
 
 " I see," said the other quietly, " even 
 against this evidence you deny your guilt. 
 Vincent warned me to expect this." 
 
 " Of course he did," said Jack, " he pui 
 them there." 
 
 Normanton laughed. 
 
 " I have known him for some time," he 
 said dryly. " I have known you for a year 
 only, and in that year seen precious little of 
 you." 
 
 " If you will only think sensibly for a 
 moment," said Jack, " you will see your mistake. 
 What should I, a rich man, want to steal 
 jewellery for ? Jewellery that I would find it 
 impossible to get rid of or convert into cash ? 
 Just tell me that." 
 
 " I don't say you took them for that purpose," 
 said the other. " Possibly it was your idea of 
 a joke, or it was done for a wager and you 
 would, in time, have returned them. But to 
 my mind that is enough. On the face of it 
 such an act is outside the limit, seeing what 
 results from it suspicion, doubt, anxiety.
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 137 
 
 No one, I mean no decent man would stand 
 for that even to satisfy a debauched taste 
 in practical joking. It was the act of a man 
 of whom I wish to know nothing more. Fur- 
 thermore, the way you have tried to fasten 
 the guilt on to Bob Vincent is enough. For 
 your brother's sake I will try to keep your 
 name out of this, and tell the others that the 
 jewels have been found ; but I must ask you 
 to leave my house at once. The car will take 
 you to the station." 
 
 " Then you won't believe me ? " said Jack, 
 suddenly feeling acutely the horrible position 
 he was in. "If I swear to you on my 
 honour " Normanton stopped him. 
 
 " Don't say anything more, let us leave it 
 at that. The car will be round in an hour 
 and my man will pack your things. You 
 had better go to my study and remain there, 
 no one will disturb you. Bob, old fellow, 
 come with me." Then he left him, and Jack 
 realised only too well now the meaning of 
 Vincent's threat last night. At best he had 
 lost good friends in the Normantons. At the 
 worst, the other guests, seeing him depart 
 suddenly would know or guess what had 
 happened. At any rate, it showed how futile 
 it was to try and convince people of Vincent's 
 true nature. The very fact of his having 
 tried to do so had damned him utterly in 
 Normanton 's eyes. He went to the small 
 study downstairs and flung himself dejectedly 
 into an arm-chair.
 
 138 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Ten minutes later Robert Vincent came in 
 and stood looking down at him. 
 
 " Well, you've made a pretty blithering fool 
 of yourself, haven't you ? " 
 
 " Curse you, get out of here ! " said Jack, 
 angrily. 
 
 " I'll go as soon as I've got an answer to the 
 question I put last night," was the reply. 
 
 " All right," said Jack, in utter disgust, 
 " I see you are outside the limit and capable 
 of any crime so long as it is vile enough. If 
 I were the only one to lose, I'd tell you to go to 
 hell and do your damnedest. As it is, I can't 
 take the risk of letting Eddy or his girl suffer, 
 so I'll hold my tongue. Now get out unless 
 you prefer to be thrown out." 
 
 " Stop a bit, that's not good enough, I want 
 your oath." He crossed over to a bookshelf, 
 looked along the shelves, found what he sought 
 and held a leather bound book out to Jack. 
 " Stand up," he said, " and hold this." 
 
 " If you weren't all sorts of a blazing fool 
 as well as the biggest rogue unhanged," ob- 
 served Jack, contemptuously, " you would 
 know that my word is as good as my bond 
 any old day ; but if it makes your neck feel 
 safer and insures you taking your damned and 
 filthy carcase out of here, I'll oblige." He 
 took the Book in his hand. 
 
 " Try and keep your temper, my man," 
 said Vincent, " and be good enough to repeat 
 this after me : ' I, Jack Denham, swear on 
 this Bible that I will never inform the police,
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 139 
 
 my brother, nor any living soul of what I know 
 concerning Robert Vincent, either now or at 
 any other time, so help me, God.' That's 
 settled then," he went on as he returned the 
 Bible to its place on the shelf. " And now I, 
 in my turn, will swear to leave your brother 
 alone and also his fiancee, Miss Edmonton, 
 and further, I undertake to make Jim Sullivan 
 and the others keep their hands off her. I 
 don't imagine for a second that you consider 
 my word of any value, but, strange as it may 
 seem, it's a weakness of mine to stand by it ; 
 and, stranger still, the same applies to Jim 
 Sullivan. Well, you'll be going soon. By 
 Jove, Denham, I wouldn't care to be you." 
 And with this parting shot he left him. 
 
 Half an hour later Jack Denham left Nor- 
 manton Hall unnoticed. But had all the guests 
 been gathered round to see him off, and stare 
 their silent disapproval, he could not have felt 
 more sick at heart. The news of his dishonour 
 would get to Eddy's ears one day, and if he 
 kept his oath to Vincent, which of course he 
 would, he could not clear himself. However, 
 life at present was so very uncertain as far 
 as he was concerned, that it was hardly worth 
 while to brood over other possibilities, and 
 with his usual buoyancy, by the time he reached 
 the station he had recovered from his fit of 
 depression and was ready to face anything. 
 
 The up train came in. He entered a first 
 class compartment and in another minute 
 they were off. Hearing a shout from the
 
 140 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 platform, and running feet, he put his head 
 out, and there, to his surprise and pleasure, 
 he saw his young friend, Geoffrey Chadbrook, 
 running for all he was worth. He opened the 
 carriage door, held out a hand and dragged 
 him in. The breathless boy wrung his hand. 
 
 " I wasn't going by train," he gasped, " only 
 I saw the Norman ton car and followed. The 
 shuvver told me it was you, so I thought I'd 
 have a jaw before you went. I've got no 
 money, Mr. Denham, what's going to happen ? " 
 
 " That's all right, old son," said Jack. " If I 
 can't stand you a return ticket, I'd better lie 
 down and die now. I'll send a wire to your 
 people at the next stop. How is it you aren't 
 at school, sonny ? ' 
 
 "Oh, I got ill and am having a month 
 extra," was the reply. " I'm quite well really, 
 you know, only the mater won't let me go 
 back until she thinks I am. You know how 
 one's mater always fusses. Not that I mind, 
 though there's not much to do by myself." 
 
 A thought suddenly struck Jack Denham. 
 
 ' Well," he said, handing him his cigarette 
 case, " if you're on the dole just at present, 
 I think I've got a job for you that might be 
 in your line." 
 
 " I say, you are a sport, Mr. Denham," 
 exclaimed Geoffrey, grinning. 
 
 " My name's Jack," said the other, " if you'll 
 so far honour me." 
 
 " Right you are. Well, what is it, Jack ? ' 
 
 "I've just been hoofed out of Normanton
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 141 
 
 Hall," said Jack, grimly. The boy jumped 
 in his seat. 
 
 " Good Lord ! Why ? " 
 
 " I can't tell you why ; you'll probably get 
 to hear. What I am going to ask you to do is 
 rather a big thing, old son." He paused. 
 
 " Get on, Jack, spit it out." 
 
 " I want you to believe me when I tell you 
 most solemnly that I am absolutely innocent 
 of what I am accused, and not to believe a 
 word you may hear from those staying at Nor- 
 manton. I don't mean to infer that they 
 are lying ; they are mistaken, that's all." 
 
 " I say Jack," said the boy, " I thought 
 you said you were asking a big thing of me." 
 
 " So I am, in the face of all the evidence 
 you will hear." 
 
 ' Well, I call it just a beastly rotten thing 
 to say," was the reply. " If they've turned 
 you out it must be a pretty rotten thing you 
 are supposed to have done, and I know Captain 
 Denham's brother would never do that." He 
 held out his hand, his eyes suddenly brimming 
 with tears, and Jack grasped it. 
 
 ' Thank you, old man," he said, and then 
 with a laugh : " What an asset in my wild 
 career to have a brother like Eddy ! All the 
 same, you're a stout fellow, and I'm jolly 
 proud to know you." There was a pause, 
 and both looked out of the window at the 
 flying landscape. " Do you happen to know 
 Robert Vincent by any chance ? " asked Jack 
 presently.
 
 142 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Yes I do, I think he's a rotter, I never 
 could stick him," was the reply. ' My dad 
 can't either, he doesn't like the colour of his 
 ties or socks " 
 
 " Oh, doesn't he ? Well," said Jack dryly, 
 "I've got one or two little things of the same 
 kind against him too. You say you've got 
 a month more to run loose in ? " 
 
 " About a fortnight now." 
 
 " Well, I wonder if you could find out when 
 this Vincent leaves Normanton and, if he goes 
 to London, follow him ? ' 
 
 " Rather ! I should just think I could. 
 It sounds spiffing, sort of Sherlock Holmes 
 stunt you mean ? ' 
 
 " That's it, you get my meaning completely. 
 Only you must not be seen." The boy grinned. 
 ' Trust a Scout," he said. 
 
 " I do. Well, I'll leave the details to you. 
 I can't manage it myself or I would. What 
 I want you to do is to find out where he goes 
 when he lands in London. I rather think 
 he'll go out Barnet way, but wherever it is 
 do you think you can follow ? " 
 
 " Just try me, that's all." 
 
 " Very well ; when you know, just send a 
 line to my address. You know that all right, 
 and here's a fiver to defray ex's." 
 
 ' It won't take all that," said Geoffrey. 
 
 " That's all right, old son, if there's any 
 over, blow it on yourself. But whatever you 
 do, don't say a word of this to a living soul. 
 Is that understood ? "
 
 THE MODERN BILL SIKES 143 
 
 ' You can trust me," said the boy again, 
 and pocketed the notes. 
 
 Jack Denham returned to his rooms in 
 Lennox Street and lay low. It was dull but 
 necessary, and he bore it patiently. Three 
 days later he received a letter. 
 
 " DEAR JACK, 
 
 Vincent bunked it this morning. I 
 followed. He took the Underground, I 
 after him and got out at Golders Green. 
 There was a big car waiting for him, 
 driven by a very tall clean-shaven 
 blighter, and they were off like the shot 
 out of a gun. I couldn't follow as there 
 wasn't a taxi anywhere, and even if I had 
 taken my bike, I couldn't have kept up 
 with them. I hope this is of any use 
 to you. I haven't heard any talk about 
 you yet, but when I do I'm ready for 
 them." 
 
 Jack wrote his profuse thanks. So it was 
 Colder 's Green, not Barnet after all, and Harper 
 had been right. Well, this very day he would 
 start in to hunt on his own account. He rang 
 the bell for Jenkins. 
 
 " I shall be out all day, Jenkins," he said. 
 "So you can take the day off." 
 
 ' Very good, sir, thank you." 
 
 " If Harper rings up and wants to know 
 where I am, tell your wife to say I'm doing 
 London on the top of a bus."
 
 144 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Yes, sir. Not up to anything risky are 
 you, sir ? The captain told me to be sure 
 and " 
 
 " Jenkins, you can go to the devil," said 
 Jack irritably. 
 
 " Very good, sir," replied Jenkins.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 
 
 " /4 MAN called this afternoon to see 
 
 /\ to the electric light, sir," said 
 JL JL Jenkins, as Jack Denham entered 
 his flat in Lennox Street. 
 
 " Oh ! " said Jack. " Is there anything 
 wrong with the light ? I didn't know it." 
 
 " I think it was Captain Denham 's order, 
 sir, so I understood ; he said that extra lights 
 were wanted in your room and the sitting- 
 room, sir." 
 
 " Ah ! I see. Well it won't do any harm 
 if there are." 
 
 " He took the measurements, sir," went 
 on Jenkins, " and left a box containing tubing 
 and tools and will call to-morrow to fix it up." 
 
 " All right, Jenkins, toddle off and get me 
 something to eat. I'm dog tired and beastly 
 hungry." 
 
 " Very good, sir. I beg your pardon, sir," 
 said Jenkins at the door, ' but would it 
 inconvenience you if my wife went out to- 
 night and stayed with her sister ? My son, 
 'Erbert has left his place and is staying with 
 his aunt and the wife would like to see him."
 
 146 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " By all means," replied Jack. " You can 
 see to things all right, my wants are few." 
 
 " Thank you, sir, I'm much obliged, sir." 
 The dapper little man, a perfect servant, and 
 invaluable treasure to the two brothers with- 
 drew, closing the door noiselessly after him. 
 
 It was a warm night in early October and 
 Jack opened the window and flung himself 
 into an arm-chair. He had spent the entire 
 day in a fruitless search at Colder 's Green for 
 any signs of Jim Sullivan and his gang, or 
 any information he could learn concerning 
 them. His little friend, Geoffrey Chadbrook, 
 had told him he had traced Robert Vincent, 
 whom, in his own mind he designated as the 
 " Raffles " of the gang, to Golder's Green and 
 there lost him. So far as Jack had been able 
 to discover, no such person, at least no one 
 of the name of James Sullivan lived there. 
 But then, of course, it was not likely that 
 he would go under his real name. He had 
 discovered many houses that might very well 
 have been the dwelling-place of this gang, one 
 in particular, half a mile into the country 
 struck him as a likely place. It stood alone 
 in its own grounds, fifty yards back from the 
 main road, and appeared to be of an older 
 date than most of the others. But on making 
 inquiry, he learned that it was owned by a 
 Mr. Brandscome of private means, whose wife 
 was a semi-invalid, but who entertained a 
 good deal. He certainly kept a car, but no 
 chauffeur, as his wife's brother, who lived
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 147 
 
 with him always drove. Jack, tired out, 
 returned home, but made up his mind to go 
 out there on the following evening, and after 
 dark make a more minute examination of 
 the house. In the meantime he was deter- 
 mined not to tell Inspector Harper,, until he 
 was quite certain of his quarry, for he felt 
 sure that the police would probably bungle, 
 and the birds be flown before anything could 
 be done. He knew all the gang, five of them 
 and the two women by sight, and he was far 
 more likely, in his own opinion that is, to 
 make a successful search. He ate his meal, 
 sent over from a restaurant, with a contented 
 mind, and afterwards dozed in an arm-chair. 
 His brother Edward, he calculated was not 
 due back from Kent for another three days, 
 so he would have that time in which to work. 
 He woke with a start as Jenkins came in with 
 decanter and syphon and placed them on the 
 table in the centre of the room. 
 
 " Is there anything further to-night, sir ? " 
 asked the little man. 
 
 " No thanks, Jenkins. I'll turn in myself, 
 soon. Good night." 
 
 " Good night, sir, thank you, sir." The 
 door closed. Jenkins retired to his room over- 
 head and silence reigned. 
 
 Jack poured himself out a whisky and 
 soda and sipped it in luxurious comfort. Then 
 once more dozed off. 
 
 Again he awoke with a start, and glancing 
 at the clock in the corner saw that it was
 
 148 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 after twelve. What had awakened him so 
 suddenly ? Something he had heard yes, 
 there it was again, it sounded like water drip- 
 ping on metal and it came from the middle 
 of the room. He got up and listened. Drip, 
 drip, drip. He glanced at the silver tray on 
 which the decanter stood, and saw was it 
 
 red ink ? Or . He looked up suddenly 
 
 at the ceiling and uttered a cry of horror. 
 A dark red stain was spreading slowly across 
 the whiteness of the plaster, and every half 
 second came the sound of the drip, drip upon 
 the tray as it fell. Blood ! There was no 
 doubt about that, and coming from Jenkins' 
 room. He tore out of the room and bounded 
 upstairs, burst open the door of Jenkins' room 
 and ran in. The room was in darkness and 
 he switched on the light. Another cry of 
 horror escaped him and he dropped on his 
 knees beside the huddled body on the floor. 
 Jenkins, good, faithful Jenkins ! And quite 
 dead. Strangled, by the marks on his throat 
 and the colour of his face. But the blood, 
 what of that ? He peered down and saw that 
 both wrists had been cut and the blood that 
 poured from the severed arteries, evidently 
 before he died, had soaked through the floor 
 and down into the lower room. Now there 
 was no blood flowing, only a still pitiable 
 figure, whom Jack had known almost since 
 he could remember ; and for a moment he 
 broke down. Then suddenly rage got the 
 better of his grief, fierce anger against the
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 149 
 
 cowardly brute who had done this thing. He 
 left the body where it lay, knowing that the 
 police would wish this and springing to his 
 feet turned from the room and ran downstairs. 
 
 There was a chance that the murderer was 
 still in the house ; he must have come for 
 robbery. There was no sense in murdering 
 Jenkins unless he was wanted out of the way 
 for some purpose. No thought of danger 
 to himself entered Jack's head. His one idea 
 was to get to the telephone and ring up Harper. 
 He dashed into the sitting-room, and just across 
 the threshold of the door stopped. 
 
 There was something odd here. He had 
 left the lights full on, now the room was in 
 darkness. He stretched out his hand to turn 
 on the light when he felt it seized and held 
 in a grip of iron and something hard was poked 
 into his chest. 
 
 " Cry out or struggle and your number's 
 up," said a high-pitched voice. Alf, the dirty 
 little crook and right-hand man of Jim Sullivan ! 
 But murder ! Yes, he was capable of that or 
 anything, and Jack felt a genuine fear for 
 the first time in his life. 
 
 " Turn on the light," said the voice again. 
 " And remember, I'll plug you if you show 
 fight." 
 
 With a hand that suddenly shook Jack 
 complied, and as the room was flooded with 
 light, he felt himself swung aside and the 
 door into the hall shut. Alf stood there. 
 Alf with blood-stains on his coat and Jack
 
 150 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 suddenly felt physically sick. Unable to speak, 
 he reached towards the telephone. 
 
 " Keep away from that," said Alf, thickly, 
 and all the time his ugly-looking automatic 
 was levelled at Jack's heart. 
 
 " Go to the table and pour me out a stiff 
 'un. I need it. I had to do him in," he went 
 on, as Jack, still unable to speak, did as he 
 bade him. " He would have interfered with 
 my plans which is all cut and dry and according 
 to schedule. Your 'ealth, Mr. Jack Denham, and 
 remember me to the angels when you gits there 
 to-night, for you're going, my hearty, at last." 
 
 He swallowed, and drew a deep breath. 
 ' That's good stuff, pour me out another of 
 the same sort. I happened to spot you nosing 
 round at Golder's Green this evening that's 
 why I'm here. You've been too clever for 
 once, Mr. Denham. Well, as I said I had 
 to kill your servant. I watched his missus go 
 out with his boy and then I knew there was 
 only you and him here. So I made an easy 
 get in by the ground floor, and your front 
 door wasn't very difficult. I had to let the 
 blood flow to get you up here, you passed me 
 in a corner of the stairs. And so having 
 unburdened myself of these few remarks I 
 think we'll get to work. Go along into your 
 bedroom and do it smart." 
 
 Jack turned, and pulled open the communicat- 
 ing swing door. His brother had had a strong 
 swing put on it as he objected to Jack's habit 
 of always having doors open.
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 151 
 
 " Turn on the light," snapped Alf, and 
 followed him in. The door swung to with a 
 crash behind them and Alf, having turned the 
 key put it in his pocket. Then Jack faced him. 
 
 " What are you going to do, you black- 
 guard ? " he asked, savagely. 
 
 " Never you mind, you'll see presently, just 
 get on to your bed and lie still. If there's 
 any trouble, I shoot." 
 
 " If you intend to kill me any way, I might 
 as well be shot," said Jack, whose nerve had 
 suddenly returned. 
 
 " Where there's life there's hope, remember 
 that," was the reply. He crossed the room 
 as he spoke, and Jack watched him from the 
 bed. He stooped down and picked up some- 
 thing from behind the dressing-table which 
 stood cornerwise in the room. It was a metal 
 cylinder, and he placed it on the floor. 
 
 " That," said he, " was supposed to contain 
 electric fittings. That soft-headed servant of 
 yours took it all in nicely." 
 
 ' What are you going to do, you swine ? ' 
 asked Jack again. 
 
 " Now, don't you go calling names, young 
 man," remonstrated Alf. " Just you try and 
 behave nice, and go out as a gentleman would 
 like to go out. This little apparatus contains 
 a very special poisonous gas, which, no doubt 
 would have been used in the late war, if it 
 had been invented. Only it wasn't. A friend 
 of Jim's, a German, invented it and sent him 
 over a sample. That sample he wants to
 
 152 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 experiment with, and so he told me off to try 
 it on you. If it fails, it fails, and I shall have 
 to waste a bullet. If it don't fail, well, I'm 
 afraid you won't be a very interested party 
 in the experiment. I don't think it's exactly 
 a pleasant process, but it don't take long and 
 it's better than the other way he thought 
 out for you, which might have took weeks. 
 It would depend entirely on your amount of 
 vitality. Now are you ready ? Before I 
 unscrew the cork so to speak, I shall turn out 
 the lights." 
 
 For a moment Jack had lain there staring 
 at him, paralysed with the horror of it. Better 
 a bullet than this. And yet as the man talked 
 on, he couldn't bring himself to move. Some- 
 thing bade him keep quiet. As the room was 
 once more in darkness and he heard the man's 
 footsteps retiring, he cautiously removed his 
 slippers and put his feet down on to the floor. 
 There was a sudden click and a faint light 
 glowed from the corner of the room, showing 
 for one moment the bent figure of Alf. 
 
 " Blast the thing, the battery's run out," 
 Jack heard him mutter, and then came the 
 noise of something being unscrewed. Under 
 cover of this Jack stepped out of bed and 
 crawled upon the floor. He kept his eyes 
 glued to the spot where he had last seen Alf. 
 
 Suddenly there came a hiss and in that 
 moment Jack sprang, caught and seized the 
 man's right arm and twisted it backwards. 
 He heard a cry and the revolver dropped at
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 153 
 
 his feet. Then Alf turned and the two men 
 were locked together and Jack was conscious 
 of a nauseous pungent smell, and felt a sudden 
 constriction of his lungs and throat. Despera- 
 tion gave him greater strength than he really 
 possessed. It was his life or this man's now, 
 and all the time the gas was pumping out 
 into the room. At last with a supreme effort 
 he swung the little man off his feet and tripped 
 him over backwards. He fell, with his head 
 near the gas cylinder. 
 
 " Ah ! You've 'urt me, I can't move," 
 he heard as he dropped on his knees by the 
 prostrate figure and began to search his pockets. 
 " Open the door, for Gawd's sake," came the 
 voice again. "I'm going suffocating " 
 
 " The key, man, where is the key ? " shouted 
 Jack, hoarsely, conscious again that his lungs 
 were bursting and his strength going. There 
 was no reply, but he felt a movement and 
 presently heard something fall upon the floor. 
 
 " Drag me away for Gawd's sake," came 
 the voice once more, now only a hoarse whisper. 
 But Jack was on his knees, groping with 
 both hands. 
 
 " The key," he groaned. " Oh, God, the 
 key, give me the key." He spoke in his agony 
 as though to a fellow human being. Groping, 
 groping where was it ? It must be here, 
 it had fallen here, he heard it. Ah ! Thank 
 God ! At last he had it, and then realised 
 that he had lost all sense of direction. A wave 
 of furious, unreasoning anger swept over him.
 
 154 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 ' What the devil's the good of giving me 
 the key, if I can't find the door ? " he shouted, 
 or thought he did. In reality it was only a 
 whisper. Then came Alf's voice once more : 
 
 " Oh, my Gawd, I'm dying. Save me, 
 Mr. Denham. For Gawd Almighty's sake, 
 save me, pull me away." 
 
 Alf's voice gave him the direction he sought. 
 The words he heard from the agonised little 
 man conveyed no meaning to his brain. He 
 had only one idea, to find the door and open 
 it before the fumes overcame him. He groped 
 his way across the floor, hit against the bed, 
 caught at it for support, for now his head was 
 bursting as well as his lungs, and once more 
 dragged himself along. His breath came in 
 gasps. He heard no further sound from behind 
 until his groping hand touched the door. 
 And then from the far distance as it seemed, 
 he heard what sounded like some animal caught 
 in a trap and fighting to free itself. It was a 
 sickening sound but no concern of his ; he had 
 to find the keyhole. Where was it ? It 
 couldn't have gone, he held the key so there 
 must be a hole for it to fit in. Oh, for one 
 breath of pure fresh air ! He forgot all about 
 the window. That did not exist at all in his 
 clouded brain. Neither did he think to turn 
 up the light. The room was dark, and the 
 air suffocating, therefore he had to get out 
 of the darkness and the stifling atmosphere, 
 and there was only one way to do this, to find 
 the keyhole. Above or below the handle ?
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 155 
 
 Which ? Which ? Suddenly he banged in 
 futile anger against the door, and then he 
 found it, pressed in the key, turned it and 
 fell with his head against the wooden panels. 
 The sharp pain brought him back to life. With 
 one supreme despairing effort he wrenched 
 open the door and thrust his head out, drew 
 a deep breath and forced his shoulders through, 
 then dragged his body and legs. The door 
 swung violently shut precipitating him upon 
 his face, where he lay. But not for long. 
 He had something else to do. His subconscious 
 brain told him that, and it took him, without 
 any volition of his own, on crawling hands 
 and knees, to the telephone. He groped for 
 the receiver, found it. 
 
 " Scotland Yard, quick," he whispered and 
 then repeated it louder three times. He laid 
 his aching, bursting head with the receiver 
 underneath, pressed close to his ear, on to the 
 open desk. He couldn't hold it up any more. 
 Presently came a sound. 
 
 " Tell Harper," he said. " Come quick 
 murder Denham Lennox " The re- 
 ceiver dropped from his grasp and he fell in 
 a crumpled heap on to the floor. 
 
 He awoke to find himself in bed, only it 
 wasn't his bedroom but the sitting-room, 
 with old Dr. Watman bending over him. 
 
 " That's better," he heard him say. " Now 
 drink this, my boy." Something was held to
 
 156 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 his lips, he swallowed and things cleared a 
 bit. He heard a noise and saw someone 
 coming out of his bedroom with a cloth over 
 his mouth and dragging something by the 
 legs. That object, whatever it was, the man 
 let fall with a grunt of disgust, and turned 
 and looked at him. 
 
 " Come round, doctor ? '' he asked, and 
 Jack recognised Harper's voice. 
 
 " Yes, but no questions yet. Have you 
 taken the man out ? ' 
 
 " Yes. The place still stinks vilely, but I've 
 opened the windows. It's a bad job about 
 poor Jenkins. I don't know what Captain 
 Denham will say." 
 
 " Drink some more of this," said the doctor 
 kindly, once more holding a glass to Jack's 
 lips. " Feel better, do you think ? ' 
 
 " Yes," said Jack, and tried to sit up. 
 
 " Lie still, don't move, you can tell us 
 everything lying down. I've written out a 
 wire and will have it sent first thing to your 
 brother. You're quite safe, my boy, Harper's 
 here and a couple of men and he wants to hear 
 what you can tell him." 
 
 He motioned the detective across to the bed, 
 and Harper took a chair, sat down and opened 
 his notebook. 
 
 Slowly, and with many pauses, Jack told 
 what he knew. Harper helped him with 
 questions, for at times his memory failed. 
 
 " And so it's Alf, one of that damned gang," 
 said Harper, as he snapped his book and
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 157 
 
 pocketed it. " Well, he won't do any more 
 harm, any way. You had a narrow escape, 
 Mr. Denham." 
 
 The doctor rose and motioned the detective 
 away. 
 
 " That will do for now, you get on with your 
 work. I want my patient to sleep." 
 
 " All right, doc., I'm leaving a man at 
 the door as I rather damaged the lock getting 
 in, and I'll get that carcass taken off to the 
 mortuary. We'll keep this out of the papers 
 as far as possible, and if Mr. Denham's too ill 
 to attend the inquest I'll take his written 
 statement instead. We've got poor Jenkins 
 on the bed upstairs and when I've seen to 
 things I'll go round to Mrs. Jenkins' sister, 
 one of my men knows her address, and break 
 the news. Is he pretty bad ? ' 
 
 " He'll be quite fit to-morrow," was the reply. 
 " Only wants to be kept quiet to-day. He 
 
 could not, I suppose " here the doctor 
 
 lowered his voice, " be charged with the murder 
 of this man, Harper ? ' 
 
 The detective laughed. 
 
 " Murder ! " he repeated. " Justifiable homi- 
 cide, if they charged him at all, but there'll 
 be nothing of that sort. He was fighting for 
 his life as any man has a right to. That he 
 forgot to drag the little brute out too was 
 the fault of the gas, not his wish or will. Besides 
 he hadn't the strength. It's a wonder to me 
 how he got out himself. Well, I'm off. You're 
 staying here ? "
 
 158 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 "I'm staying until Captain Denham comes," 
 
 was* the quiet reply. 
 
 ******** 
 
 " Better get up and dress, old man," said 
 Edward, strolling into his brother's room two 
 mornings later. ' We shall be going in half 
 an hour." 
 
 " Going ? ' repeated Jack, yawning and 
 rubbing his eyes. " Going where ? ' 
 
 " Into Cornwall," was the reply. " The 
 ambulance came up from the doctor's house 
 last night. It's better for you to be seen 
 going away in that, if there are any watchers. 
 We have thought it all out, and so if any of 
 your friends are on the look out they'll see you 
 carried out on a stretcher and apparently 
 conveyed to hospital or a nursing home. It's 
 a good idea," he added, straightening his tie 
 in the glass. 
 
 "I'm damned if I get up and dress for 
 that," retorted Jack angrily. " You must be 
 cracked, Eddy." 
 
 " Of course if you prefer to go in your pyjamas 
 that's your affair, but I don't recommend it," 
 said the other quietly. " It strikes me as 
 slovenly in the extreme. Mrs. Jenkins has 
 turned the water on in the bath, so if you want 
 it hot, I advise you to hurry." 
 
 It was Edward Denham who had taken 
 command of the situation on his arrival. 
 Edward, calm and collected, but bitterly grieved 
 at the loss of what he termed one of his best 
 friends. It was Edward who had soothed the
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 159 
 
 broken-hearted wife, placing her in his chair, 
 and with a rare knowledge of human nature 
 letting her cry her fill without attempting to 
 check her tears. It was he who listened, in 
 sympathetic silence to her rambling words 
 and moans of distress and who had finally 
 taken her hand gently in his own and said : 
 
 " My loss is almost as great as your own, 
 Mary. In Jenkins I have lost the most faithful 
 servant, the truest friend man ever had. He 
 can never be replaced." It was Edward who 
 took her to her sister and left them words 
 of comfort and more substantial help. 
 
 " The funeral, of course, is my affair," he 
 said. " Keep her with you and when she is 
 ready send her back to me. If you want 
 anything, let me know." 
 
 The sister foreseeing future difficulties, was 
 suddenly inspired. 
 
 " Her son, 'Erbert, wants to go into gentle- 
 man's service, sir p'raps you might think- of 
 trying him some day." 
 
 " A chip of the old block," said Edward. 
 " When he's ready, I'll take him on." 
 
 " 'E's got the face of an angel, 'as the captain," 
 was her comment on his departure. 
 
 " My old man just worshipped him," sobbed 
 Mrs. Jenkins. " He was his servant all through 
 
 the war, he was " The rest of what she 
 
 said was unintelligible, even to the sister's ears. 
 
 And then Edward ruthlessly made his plans, 
 which culminated in a trunk call to the house
 
 i6o THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 in Cornwall and the arrival of an up-to-date 
 and splendidly equipped ambulance and two 
 burly attendants. 
 
 " Look here, Eddy," said Jack. " I haven't 
 told you yet, but I happen to have found out 
 where Sullivan and his gang hang out, and 
 it's my duty now, if it wasn't before, to go 
 and hunt them down." 
 
 "I'm glad to hear it," said Edward dryly. 
 " Harper will be here soon and you can hand 
 over your information to him. It's a job for 
 the police, not for you." 
 
 "I'm hanged if I hand it over," retorted 
 Jack angrily. " Harper will bungle it. But 
 I'll tell you what I'll do," he went on more 
 quietly. " If you'll scrap this damned fool 
 idea of yours, I'll tell Harper when he comes 
 and go along with him." 
 
 " Nothing doing, my son. Get up and 
 dress, or must I call those two men in who 
 are waiting in the hall to help you ? I don't 
 advise it. It would be rather humiliating to 
 my mind." 
 
 Jack got up and faced his brother. 
 
 " Look here," he said. " You have no right 
 to do this and I tell you I won't go. If you want 
 me in that ambulance you'll have to carry me, 
 that's all." 
 
 " That's just what I propose to do," was 
 the reply. " At least Musgrave and Barton 
 will do it for you, on a stretcher. Now don't 
 let's have any more trouble," he glanced at 
 his watch. " You've got twenty minutes to
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 161 
 
 dress in." He left the room and joined 
 Inspector Harper in the sitting-room. 
 
 " My brother has just informed me that he 
 knows where Sullivan's gang are living, but 
 refuses to tell you unless I alter my plans." 
 
 Harper grinned. 
 
 " Don't you worry," he said. " If he likes 
 to keep it to himself let him. We are not 
 idle, I have a sort of an idea that I shall soon 
 put my hands on them. You get him safely 
 out of harm's way and leave it to me. You 
 haven't found out what brought him back from 
 Normanton Hall in such a hurry, have you ? ' 
 
 " Only that there was some unpleasantness 
 with one of the guests. He won't tell us any- 
 thing," said Edward. " And, of course, I 
 can't insist. He simply says that if I hear any- 
 thing to his detriment I am not to believe it. Of 
 course I won ' t . He may be a fool, but he wouldn 't 
 lie to me. So I am not worrying. You kept 
 this affair out of the papers nicely, Harper." 
 
 " I can't afford to let that damned gang 
 know anything," was the reply. " Let them 
 go on guessing. It was explained fully to the 
 coroner and jury, that is all that was necessary. 
 We have to keep things dark sometimes you 
 know. If anyone is on the watch and sees 
 your brother carted off in an ambulance they'll 
 think their man did some damage, anyhow. 
 It's only when they find Alf fails to turn up 
 that they'll fasten on to the truth and then 
 we'll have to look out. By the way, we identi- 
 fied Alf. He has done a long stretch for
 
 162 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 robbery and went by the name of George 
 Amber ; perhaps you remember the case. No ? 
 Well he was an expert at the game. Now 
 I'll go and keep on the watch. If I find anyone 
 following I shall arrest them on suspicion. 
 Good-bye, captain, and good luck. Ring me up 
 if you land safe, and don't be afraid of taking 
 drastic measures with Master Jack, he's as 
 slippery as an eel." 
 
 Jack, his face white with anger, entered 
 the sitting-room twenty minutes later and 
 found two strange men, both tall and of immense 
 physique. 
 
 " Good morning, sir/' said the taller of the 
 two. "I'm Musgrave, and this is Mr. Barton. 
 I hope you're feeling better, sir." 
 
 " I'm quite well, thanks. Where's Captain 
 Denham ? ' 
 
 " He and Dr. Watman have already got 
 into the conveyance, sir. Would you be good 
 enough to lie down on that, sir ? ' He pointed 
 as he spoke to a stretcher which lay on the 
 ground. 
 
 " What ridiculous nonsense," said Jack, 
 indignantly. " It will do quite as well if 
 I walk." 
 
 "I'm afraid not, sir," replied the man, 
 with a grin. " We want to make the delusion 
 complete, as Mr. Maskelyne used to say. If 
 there's anyone on the watch, they must see 
 you carried out. You're pale enough, thank 
 goodness, so we shan't have to use any chalk 
 or grease paint. Lie down if you please, sir."
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 163 
 
 Jack looked at the two men. They had 
 pleasant faces and the one who had spoken 
 was perfectly polite, but the last words had 
 rung out with a tone of authority. He 
 shrugged his shoulders, realising that he 
 certainly had no chance if it came to a struggle 
 and lay full length on the narrow stretcher. 
 Barton put a pillow under his head. 
 
 " Put your arms down to your sides, if you 
 please, sir," said Musgrave, and Jack glared 
 at him, but obeyed. 
 
 Then, with a deftness and speed that spoke 
 of long practice, broad straps, attached to 
 each side of the stretcher, and which he had 
 not noticed before, were buckled across his 
 chest, thighs and ankles, and he was helpless. 
 
 " Quite comfortable, sir? That's right," said 
 Musgrave pleasantly, and threw a rug over 
 him. 
 
 " I didn't say so," snapped Jack, furiously. 
 " You've no right to do this and these straps 
 hurt damnably." 
 
 " I don't think so, sir, if you lie still, it's 
 only the novelty of it. You'll soon get used to 
 it, sir. Now, Mr. Barton, up with him." 
 
 " Come," he went on affably. " You're not 
 much of a weight, sir, for your height. We'll 
 have to put some more flesh on you when we 
 get down there. It's splendid air in our part 
 of Cornwall, sir, you'll soon be a different man. 
 Mind the door, Mr. Barton. Now close your 
 eyes, if you please, sir, and look as ill as you 
 know how."
 
 164 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 "I'd like to twist your neck," growled Jack, 
 glaring at him. 
 
 " Not just yet, sir, if you don't mind. Let's 
 wait until we get home and then I am at your 
 service. Ever gone in for boxing, sir ? No ? 
 Grand exercise. I was reckoned fairly good 
 in my time before I took to nursing lunies. 
 There's a good gym. at the Hall, sir. Now, 
 eyes shut, if you please, we're just going out." 
 
 They paused. Musgrave held his end of 
 the stretcher in one hand and put the other 
 over Jack's eyes. 
 
 " Better do as you're told, sir," he whispered, 
 bending over him. 
 
 Jack closed his eyes and cursed under his 
 breath. 
 
 They entered the well-appointed vehicle and 
 he was laid on a couch. Barton went round 
 to the front and sprang into the driver's seat. 
 Musgrave closed the door and sat down on a 
 seat. Jack turned his head and saw Edward 
 and Dr. Watman seated in comfortable chairs 
 talking. The ambulance began to move, but 
 the motion was so smooth, the springs so per- 
 fectly adjusted that it was almost impossible 
 to believe they moved at all. 
 
 " Eddy," said Jack, sharply. His brother 
 looked round. 
 
 " Let me out of this at once. It's a damned 
 outrage." 
 
 "No, my dear boy," was the reply. "It's 
 a disagreeable necessity, and I'm afraid you 
 must stop there for a bit. One can't always
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 165 
 
 have one's own way in life, Jack, and discipline's 
 good for everyone." 
 
 Anger deprived Jack of further speech. 
 
 They reached their destination in the evening, 
 and Jack, reduced to submission by two hours 
 on the stretcher, was standing at the window, 
 looking out at the vista of fields and trees 
 that flashed by, when his view was blocked 
 by the sudden appearance of a high brick wall. 
 They drew up at a massive gateway. The 
 iron gates swung open and the car passed 
 through. He heard them clang to as they 
 drove on, and frowned as he looked at the 
 twenty foot wall. 
 
 They passed down a long drive bordered 
 by fine trees whose leaves, even in the darkening 
 evening, betrayed the tokens of rich autumn 
 tints. It was like passing under an arch of 
 red and gold ; away to his left he saw stretches 
 of lawn, a tennis court, terraces laid out with 
 beds of roses and herbaceous borders, in the 
 distance the glint of a lake a veritable miniature 
 paradise was this harbour of refuge. Only 
 the high wall with its cut glass imbedded in 
 the top would impede itself before his view. 
 Well, even twenty feet could be scaled, if no 
 one were watching ; and would they watch 
 him ? It was not likely, not with a wall 
 like that. 
 
 They drew up before a three-storied, Queen 
 Anne mansion. A broad stone terrace ran 
 the length of the front and steps gave on to 
 the beautifully cut lawns. A peacock strutted
 
 166 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 at one end of the terrace, massive stone vases, 
 ablaze with autumn flowers stood at intervals 
 along it. 
 
 " By Jove, it's a fine place," said Jack, with 
 honest admiration. Such a place as he had 
 dreamt of where he and the girl of his heart 
 would one day live and have their being. He 
 used to picture himself strolling down the 
 terrace in the moonlight, his arm around the 
 waist of this dream maid, happy in their love, 
 content with all the world, at peace and perfect 
 rest. Here was the place, but alas ! it lacked 
 the one essential. He got out and ascended 
 the flight of steps. 
 
 " What do you think of my little abode of 
 rest ? ' asked the doctor kindly, laying a 
 hand on the young man's shoulder. 
 
 " Honestly, it's gorgeous," he said frankly, 
 and then with a laugh : " It makes a splendid 
 gaol." 
 
 ' That rests entirely with you," was the 
 reply. Jack did not answer and the party 
 entered the house. 
 
 A matronly woman greeted her master in 
 the large hall. " I got your wire, doctor," 
 she said. " And prepared the rooms you 
 mentioned. Dinner will be ready in ten 
 minutes." She hurried out. 
 
 " I think if we just give ourselves a wash 
 and brush up," said the doctor, " that will 
 meet the occasion." 
 
 He led the way upstairs. On the first 
 landing he showed Edward Denham his room
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 167 
 
 and then asked Jack to follow him to the top 
 floor. 
 
 " I have put you in the sunniest and most 
 cheerful rooms in the house," he said genially, 
 as he threw open a door and motioned to Jack 
 to pass in. 
 
 " Ah, you are there first, Barton," went 
 on the doctor as the sturdy man came towards 
 them. 
 
 " Barton will look after you," said the doctor. 
 " He sleeps here, so he will be nice and handy 
 in case you want anything. Your bedroom and 
 sitting-room, if you should want to use one, 
 open out of this room, but have no doors of 
 their own communicating with the passage. 
 Unfortunately these old houses were built so, 
 and I have not set about altering it yet." 
 
 " I quite understand," said Jack, grimly. 
 As he spoke he crossed to the window and 
 looked down. A drop of thirty feet was there 
 should he attempt an exodus that way. The 
 only other exit was through this man Barton's 
 room. Yes, he quite understood. 
 
 " The gong will ring in ten minutes," added 
 the doctor, then pausing at the door : " There 
 are only two other patients with me at present, 
 a poor fellow who is not quite as other men 
 and a very charming and pretty young widow 
 who is here for her health." He smiled and 
 went out. 
 
 Jack glanced at Barton who was pouring 
 hot water into a basin and who then proceeded to 
 arrange the things from his bag, which he had
 
 168 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 brought up, on his dressing-table. He was a 
 powerful looking man and had evidently been 
 in the army. 
 
 " It's a fine look out from these windows, 
 sir," he said presently. " You can see right 
 out to the sea on a fine day." 
 
 ' That's certainly an asset," replied Jack, 
 sourly. 
 
 The gong rang and he went down to dinner, 
 Barton behind him. At the dining-room door 
 the man left him. It was an uncomfortable 
 meal, and Jack was thankful when it was 
 over, though he admitted that the food was 
 excellent, the wine of the best. He noticed 
 that the two patients mentioned by the doctor 
 were not with them. 
 
 " I believe the lady had her dinner early," 
 said Edward, as he and his brother strolled 
 out on to the terrace ; " the luny has his meal 
 by himself sometimes. What a glorious night, 
 Jack," he went on, " and what a gorgeous 
 place. I wouldn't mind being here myself, 
 but I shall have to go to-morrow, and I'm 
 afraid I shall not be able to come again for 
 some time in case those fellows take it into 
 their heads to watch me too. I hope you'll 
 be all right here, old fellow." 
 
 " Thanks, awfully," was the reply. " But 
 don't you worry about that, your mind will 
 be easy, anyway, and that's all that matters." 
 
 He strolled away by himself, but he knew 
 that the man, Barton, was not far off and pre- 
 sently he heard his steps on the flags ten yards
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 169 
 
 behind. Jack turned the corner of the house 
 and came face to face with a woman. She 
 was walking slowly, with her head bent, dressed 
 in pale grey-blue with a filmy scarf thrown over 
 her shoulders, her golden head shining in the 
 moonlight. She looked more like some 
 ghostly visitant than mere flesh and blood. 
 Hearing footsteps she raised her head and their 
 eyes met. Jack started violently. Was she 
 a ghost ? Or was it really his dream woman 
 come to life and standing there before him? 
 So had he pictured her often in his dreams, 
 looking at him, her big dark eyes wide with 
 surprise and wonder, her red lips parted, one 
 hand holding the scarf at her throat ; the short 
 curly golden hair an aureole round the beautiful 
 face. 
 
 He stood awkwardly for a moment regarding 
 her. This, then, was the pretty widow who 
 was here to rest jarred and shaken nerves. 
 
 Woman-like, she was the first to break the 
 embarrassing silence. 
 
 " I heard there was to be a new patient," 
 she said with a smile, and her tones were 
 unusually deep and rich for a woman. " You 
 have just come ? ' 
 
 ' Yes," he said, feeling unaccountably shy, 
 he who feared nothing and no man. 
 
 ' We must introduce ourselves," she went 
 on. "I am Mrs. All wood." 
 
 " And I, Jack Denham," said he. For a 
 moment her name conveyed nothing to him, 
 and then suddenly the truth flashed upon
 
 170 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 him. The lady of the telephone, the widow 
 of the unspeakable Frederick Allwood who 
 had lately died in an inebriates' home. His 
 heart thumped against his ribs. 
 
 " You, Jack Denham ! " she cried, and 
 suddenly held out her hand. " What must 
 you think of me for never having tried to find 
 the brave man who answered my telephone 
 call and was coming to my rescue ? Can you 
 ever forgive me ? ' Their hands met, un- 
 consciously he held hers fast. 
 
 " Oh, there's nothing to forgive," he said. 
 
 ' Why should you have bothered ? I went 
 
 because it was due to the other Jack that I 
 
 should go, but I failed, you see, miserably, 
 
 and he would not have failed." 
 
 " But you answered my call," she said, 
 " and I was a stranger. It was great of you. 
 I used to think chivalry was dead in the world, 
 but I found then it was not. I was going to 
 try and find out who it was but I have been 
 here ever since and Dr. Watman, though he 
 told me your name, would not let me write 
 or read or do anything at first. I had gone 
 through so much, I was, oh ! I was ill, you 
 know, and he was so kind to me. He has 
 brought me back to life again." 
 
 " I understand," said Jack in a low voice. 
 ' Will you believe that I understand and that 
 there is no need for explanation from you ? " 
 
 She looked up into his face and smiled. 
 
 " Yes," she said. " I believe that. I used 
 to wonder what the Jack who answered my
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 171 
 
 call was like. I pictured him so vividly. Do 
 you know, he was extraordinarily like you ? ' 
 
 She laughed gaily, her mirth was infectious. 
 
 " Isn't it odd," he said, " that we should 
 meet here ? ' There were chairs on the terrace 
 and it was a warm night, she sat down and he 
 stood in front of her looking down at her. 
 
 " Why are you here, Mr. Denham ? " she 
 asked. " You don't look ill, at least, not 
 very," she amended. 
 
 "I'll tell you why," he said, sitting down 
 beside her, " and my story will explain my 
 failure that night." 
 
 It took some time in the telling and through 
 it she sat quiet, absorbed. In the end she 
 clasped her hands, terrified. 
 
 "How horrible," she said. "Oh, how 
 horrible ! And all this has happened because 
 of me. If it had not been for that call, you 
 would have been spared all this." 
 
 ' Thank God for that call," he said, earnestly. 
 " Because of that call I have been in danger, 
 because of that danger I have been brought 
 here, against my will, against my inclination, 
 
 but now " He broke off and stared away 
 
 across the moonlit lawn, "I'm glad I have 
 come, glad that I shall have to stay. I had 
 thought of it as a gilded cage. Now a cage 
 no longer." He stopped and once more stared 
 at her. She rose abruptly. 
 
 " Let us go in," she said, and then with a 
 gay little laugh : " We have to retire early 
 here, Mr. Denham, it is one of the rules. You
 
 172 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 will have to obey the rules you know." At 
 the window she paused. 
 
 " I can't go in just yet," he said. " I want 
 to think." 
 
 " The moonlight and this place helps 
 thought," she said. ' To-morrow there will 
 be lots to talk about. Good night." Once 
 more he held her hand in his. Then she was 
 gone and he paced the wide terrace. So 
 unlike those other women he had met and 
 grown accustomed to, with their slang and 
 boisterous manners. Rather was she a picture 
 of the old days come to life, come back to tell 
 him that women are not all like those he had 
 met. A picture that was yet no picture, but 
 a living, breathing reality, full of life and 
 feeling, of gratitude for that which he had 
 attempted to do, and had failed in ; of sorrow 
 born of years of misery ; of hope for the dawning 
 of better years to come. A real woman, and 
 yet the woman of his dreams. 
 
 A step behind him broke in on his meditation. 
 
 " It is time for you to go in, sir," said Barton, 
 at his elbow. " The nights turn chilly and we 
 close the house at half past nine." 
 
 " All right," was the reply, no resentment 
 in it now. " I want to see Dr. Wat man." 
 
 " He's in the hall, sir." 
 
 Jack found the old man alone reading in 
 an arm-chair. He looked up. 
 
 " A glorious night, Mr. Denham," he said. 
 
 " Grand, doctor," was the reply. ' This 
 is a ripping place," he went on, trying to
 
 THE LADY OF THE TELEPHONE 173 
 
 speak naturally, but knowing all the while 
 that the effort to battle with his pride was 
 making his voice unsteady. " I really think, 
 after all, I shall have quite a good time here, 
 I er am quite willing to stay for a time." 
 
 " That's right, my boy. I thought you 
 would say so when you saw it. Well, as soon 
 as you feel you would like to give Inspector 
 Harper any information, just tell me." 
 
 " I'll give it now," said Jack. " The gang 
 hang out at Golder's Green." 
 
 " Yes, that's what Harper told me," was the 
 quiet reply. " The man, Alf, was seen there 
 by a Golder's Green police constable and 
 identified." 
 
 " Good God ! " said Jack. " The police are 
 brighter than I thought." 
 
 " Yes, they are pretty efficient," replied the 
 doctor, dryly. " They don't need much help. 
 By the way," he went on casually, " have 
 you met Mrs. All wood yet ? ' : 
 
 " Yes, oh, yes," said Jack. " Just now, 
 out on the terrace, you know. I say, Dr. 
 Watman, did you know that she was the lady 
 who rang me up on the telephone that night ? ' 
 
 " Oh, yes," was the quiet reply. " I knew 
 all about it, I wanted you to meet some day." 
 
 He missed the smile the doctor tried vainly 
 to hide and the twinkle in his kindly eyes. 
 Later when he heard his brother and Dr. 
 Watman laughing together he wondered what 
 the joke was.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 
 
 " A NYONE called, Herbert ? " asked Ed- 
 /\ ward Denham, one evening ten 
 
 JL .V. days after his return from Corn- 
 wall to his rooms in Lennox Street. 
 
 " Yes, sir, a man from Scotland Yard, 
 to ask if you were back." 
 
 " Oh, was it Harper ? ' 
 
 " No, sir," replied the young man. " He said he 
 was sent round by Inspector Harper, who, he 
 thought, would call you up later on the 'phone." 
 
 1 What time was this, Jenkins ? '' 
 
 " In the afternoon, sir, about three o'clock." 
 
 " Did he say anything else ? " asked Denham. 
 
 " Only said he was sorry you were not there, 
 sir. He asked if the other Mr. Denham was 
 still away, and I told him, according to your 
 instructions, sir, that he was still in a nursing 
 home." 
 
 "Thanks, I'll wait for his call." 
 
 It was eight o'clock before it came. He was 
 in the act of turning into his room to dress 
 for dinner when the telephone bell rang. 
 
 ' Yes," he said, taking up the receiver. ' Yes. 
 Edward Denham speaking. Who is it ? ' 
 
 174
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 175 
 
 "Scotland Yard/' came the reply. "We 
 think we are on the right trail at last, and we 
 want you to help us. Your brother has de- 
 scribed them fully, hasn't he ? ' 
 
 " He has," replied Edward. " But how can 
 that help you ? ' 
 
 ' You can spot them for us, we aren't quite 
 sure. We've got the place now where they 
 meet," went on the voice. " All we want is for 
 you to give us your help." 
 
 " Who is it speaking ? " asked Denham. " It's 
 not Harper." 
 
 "No. Harper has gone out, it's Inspector 
 Cunningham. He left me in charge while he 
 went off on his trip, you know where to, but 
 it's not safe to mention names." 
 
 " It's not," said Denham. " Well, when do 
 you want me, and where ? ' 
 
 ' To-night, at nine-thirty, No. 3, Star 
 Street, Soho. We've made it our rendezvous, 
 and then we go in a body to their head- 
 quarters. Bring your revolver." 
 
 " I will," said Denham. " Anything more ? " 
 
 " No, don't drive up in a taxi, that's all. 
 Stop at the corner of the street and walk to 
 No. 3. Is it all quite clear ? " 
 
 " Quite," said Edward. 
 
 ' Well, that's all then, and thank you very 
 much, nine-thirty, remember." 
 
 Edward Denham was not likely to forget. 
 At last, then, the police were on the track of 
 these brutes. Unpleasant as his job was he 
 would gladly put up with it if it were to help
 
 176 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 in the arrest of this gang and finish once and 
 for all the threat of death which was Jack's 
 constant menace. 
 
 He dined as he was, at an out of way, but 
 excellent little restaurant in the neighbourhood 
 of his rendezvous. He reflected as he ate, 
 how poor old Jack would have liked to be in 
 his place that night, at grips at last with 
 these people who had made him suffer so 
 bitterly, physically and morally. It was cer- 
 tainly rather bad luck that he should be out 
 of it at the crucial moment. But again, 
 just as well. There was the risk that he might 
 have been seen. They would not be on the 
 look out for the elder brother. He finished 
 dinner, felt to see that his weapon was easily 
 get-at-able, and putting on his hat strolled 
 out of the restaurant. He had purposely 
 dawdled over the meal, dragging it out as long 
 as he could, smoking innumerable cigarettes 
 afterwards. It was a quarter past nine now, 
 so that if he strolled leisurely along in the direc- 
 tion he was going (he had ascertained the way 
 to Star Street), he calculated to arrive at the 
 meeting-place at the exact time. 
 
 The streets were not crowded, but those 
 pedestrians whom he did see were not over 
 prepossessing in their appearance. The police 
 seemed fairly numerous here. A big car passed 
 rapidly and turned up a street. He glanced up 
 and by the corner lamp saw that it was Star 
 Street. Evidently the police car, so he must 
 hurry. Yes. the big machine was standing
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 177 
 
 outside a house a good way down. It was not 
 a long street, a few minutes' quick walking 
 would bring him to the house. 
 
 There was only one man in the car, a 
 man wearing a blue peaked cap. As Denham 
 came up and paused, the police driver leant 
 forward. 
 
 " Captain Denham ? " he asked in a whisper. 
 
 "Yes," replied Edward.. 
 
 " Go right in, sir," said the man, " the In- 
 spector's there, you'll find the door open." 
 
 Edward Denham walked up the two steps 
 to the door which he pushed quietly open. 
 The passage was in darkness. Away to his 
 right he heard men's voices, talking in low 
 undertones. He advanced a few steps and the 
 door shut behind him. 
 
 " AU right, sir," said a voice close by. " It's 
 Captain Denham, isn't it ? ' 
 
 ' Yes," was the reply. 
 
 ' Turn to your right," went on the voice. 
 " You'll find the Inspector there, all plain 
 clothes men to-night, sir. Got your gun ? ' 
 
 " I have," said Edward. He turned through 
 a door to his right into a room which was also 
 in darkness, but as he came in, a torch was 
 flashed in his face. 
 
 " Right, it's you, sir," said a harsh voice. 
 "I'm Inspector Cunningham. Now we are all 
 here I think we had better start. I'll tell you 
 our plans on the way, sir." 
 
 There appeared to be only two men in the 
 room, one at the door and the chauffeur. 
 
 M
 
 178 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Is this all the force we have ? ' asked 
 Denham. 
 
 "No, sir. Inspector Harper's gone on in 
 front, better hurry, sir. We are timed to get 
 there at ten." 
 
 Edward walked quickly down the dark pas- 
 sage and out into the street. The driver of 
 the car put his hand out and opened the door. 
 Edward got in, the three followed. 
 
 " All right," said Cunningham. " As fast 
 as you can, man." He sat down beside Edward 
 and they started. 
 
 ' Do you mind moving nearer to me, Mr. 
 Denham," he said, " and letting one of us be 
 on your other side ? He and I both want to be 
 handy with the doors when we get there." 
 
 " Certainly." Edward looked at the in- 
 spector. He was a very tall man, clean-shaven, 
 with cold blue eyes and big features. His face 
 was somehow familiar. His next sensation was 
 that of a firm grip on both his arms, and a hand 
 in his breast pocket closing on his weapon. 
 
 " Quite a neat cop, wasn't it, Captain Den- 
 ham ? " said the harsh voice, and a laugh from 
 the other two followed. " You just walked 
 right into the trap like a mouse after a bit of 
 cheese." 
 
 Edward felt his heart give a violent beat 
 and for a moment a deadly fear possessed him. 
 But only for a moment. In a crisis of danger, 
 like his brother, he was at his best. 
 
 " It appears then, that you are not quite 
 what I took you for," he said quietly.
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 179 
 
 " Not exactly ; you are very green, Captain 
 Denham," said the big man. 
 
 " I don't agree there," he replied. " It was a 
 masterly coup on your part and I heartily 
 congratulate you, Mr. er Sullivan, I pre- 
 sume ? ' 
 
 " Yes. I'm Jim Sullivan," said the other. 
 " I think you've heard about me ? " 
 
 " Quite a lot," replied Edward, dryly. " It's 
 your real name, I suppose ? " 
 
 " It'll do as well as another. After all, 
 what's in a name ? ' 
 
 " Ah, you study the great bard, I see." 
 
 " When I have time," was the reply. 
 
 " Between the murders, so to speak," said 
 Edward. 
 
 " Keep civil, Captain Denham, it will pay 
 you best," growled the other, giving his arm a 
 twist. 
 
 " Don't do that, please, it hurts," said Den- 
 ham. " Now tell me," he went on, " I am 
 rather interested to know what exactly you 
 want of me, now you have so successfully 
 er made your cop, if I may use the vulgar 
 expression." 
 
 " You'll know later," was the retort. " What 
 I want to know is, are you going to behave 
 nicely and give us no trouble ? " 
 
 " My good fellow, what a question. I be- 
 lieve my behaviour is generally known to be 
 quite irreproachable, and as for giving you 
 trouble, I, unlike the usual Englishman, hap- 
 pen to know when I am beaten."
 
 i8o THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " That's right," replied Sullivan. " Draw 
 the blinds, Mike." Mike, seated opposite, 
 obeyed promptly. 
 
 " You are very like your brother, Captain 
 Denham," went on the big man. 
 
 " What, in looks do you mean or behaviour ? 
 You certainly flatter me if the former." 
 
 " You're a pretty cool one, aren't you ? ' 
 was the retort. 
 
 " I never see the necessity for heat at any 
 time," said Edward quietly. " A situation 
 however bad is never improved by fuming or 
 losing one's temper. Don't you find that so 
 in your profession ? ' 
 
 " Never you mind my profession, you leave 
 that alone." 
 
 " Certainly," replied Edward, quietly. " But 
 pardon me, Mr. Sullivan, I wish you would loose 
 my arms and allow me to smoke. I should feel 
 much happier if I had a cigarette." 
 
 "I'm not hankering after your happiness," 
 growled the other. 
 
 " Well, that's an admission anyhow ; all 
 the same I am sure Mike over there is hankering 
 for a smoke too, aren't you, Mike ? ' 
 
 " You leave a fellow's Christian name alone," 
 said the man. 
 
 " I use it only because I don't know your 
 surname, though of course, it's on the cards 
 that you haven't got one." 
 
 With an oath the man leant forward and dealt 
 him a blow on the head with his clenched fist. 
 
 " Say that agin and you get another."
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 181 
 
 " I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing," 
 said Edward, wincing with pain. " Though 
 I'm afraid you have hurt your hand far more 
 than you hurt my head. I hope so, sincerely 
 anyway." As the man raised his arm again 
 Sullivan struck it aside. 
 
 " Stow that, you damned fool," he said. 
 ' Thanks, Mr. Sullivan, though I confess your 
 action is a surprise to me. Jack told me of an 
 incident similar to the one just past, with the 
 difference that it concerned ribs and a boot. 
 But the method and the circumstances are the 
 same." 
 
 " Don't talk so much," growled the other, 
 " or I'll gag you." 
 
 ' Which would hardly be pleasant, would it ? 
 Thank you for the polite and courteous warning." 
 
 The man seated on his left had not spoken 
 and as the car was in darkness he could not tell 
 which of the gang he might be. 
 
 He understood now what Jack had meant 
 by Sullivan's voice. It was harsh in the 
 extreme, he would know it again anywhere. 
 But was his knowledge likely to be of any 
 service to him now ? He had been fairly and 
 neatly trapped, nor did he see how he could 
 possibly have avoided it. He expected some 
 such call sooner or later. Harper had even 
 hinted at it before he went to Cornwall. What 
 did these devils mean to do with him now they 
 had got him ? He was, in a way, now as 
 dangerous to them at large as Jack was, with 
 the difference that he had not taken an active
 
 182 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 part against them, nor had any particular 
 desire to do so. He was content to leave that 
 to Harper. But they could not know that; 
 therefore, he had nothing to expect from them 
 but hostility, nothing to hope for and a great 
 deal to fear. He considered that his best plan 
 would be to adopt a conciliatory manner. 
 
 " Do you mind if I ask a few questions, 
 Mr. Sullivan ? " he said after the silence had 
 lasted for some time. 
 
 " I thought I told you to hold your tongue," 
 was the reply, and he cursed himself for having 
 spoken at all. " When you get to your destina- 
 tion you can talk," went on the man, " and then 
 it will be I who will ask the questions and you 
 who will answer them." 
 
 After that the silence lasted until the car 
 suddenly rounded a sharp turn. He heard the 
 crunching of gravel under the wheels, and they 
 pulled up. 
 
 Quick as thought the door was flung open and 
 the man named Mike sprang out. Denham 
 felt himself being dragged out, and with a man 
 on each side he was hurried up a small flight 
 of steps. The car drove off, a door slammed 
 behind him. 
 
 He was in a narrow passage dimly lit by gas. 
 A door at the farther end opened and a plump, 
 respectable looking woman appeared. 
 
 " Is that you, Jim ? " she said. 
 
 ' Yes. It's me. All well ?" 
 
 " All right now," she said. " We've just 
 had the police nosing round, but of course they
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 183 
 
 had to go away disappointed. They went 
 just in time, or I would have signalled you to 
 turn back." 
 
 " Good/' said the other. ' We'll go straight 
 down now." 
 
 " You got him I see," said the woman. 
 
 " One of 'em," was the reply. 
 
 Edward Denham glanced at the other man 
 who held him. He recognised him by his 
 height and long moustache as the man who 
 went by the name of Appleton. He found 
 himself being pulled now down the passage 
 into the room from whence the woman had 
 appeared. It was just an ordinary apartment 
 such as most modern villas own and lit by 
 electricity. He saw another woman sitting in 
 an arm-chair, but on their entrance she got up 
 quickly and came a step towards them. He 
 noticed that she was extraordinarily pretty in 
 a common, garish way, and that there was 
 a look of intense relief on her face as she saw 
 him standing between the two men. 
 
 " Oh ! " she cried. " I thought for a minute 
 it was the boy." 
 
 " Only his unfortunate brother," replied 
 Denham with a smile. 
 
 "If it hadn't been for your cursed folly, 
 we'd have had the two of them before this," 
 snapped the big man, viciously. " Now see 
 the trouble we are put to." 
 
 " Nothing worth having is ever obtained 
 without trouble, believe me, Mr. Sullivan," 
 observed Edward quietly.
 
 184 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Didn't I tell you to stow your gab ? " 
 snarled the other. 
 
 " Not exactly in those words, but the meaning 
 was the same, I'm sorry I forgot." 
 
 " Forget again and you'll know it. Mike, 
 give me a hand, and you Appleton take hold 
 of this fellow's other arm, and if he gives 
 trouble, break it." 
 
 " Oh, Jim, how crude you are," cried the 
 pretty girl. " You'll shock Captain Denham." 
 
 " Shut up," he snapped. Then he bent and 
 seized the carpet, turning it back a yard. 
 
 Denham stood quite still watching them. 
 This then was the secret of the meeting-place, 
 held in a cellar, the entrance of which was 
 extraordinarily neatly covered. For under the 
 carpet was a double floor. The boards of the top 
 were lifted, falling back on concealed hinges 
 and displaying another set of boards underneath. 
 
 In these he saw a square cut out, which, on 
 the insertion of a large bladed knife was raised 
 and lifted bodily. Steps rested on the joists, 
 and down these the man, Mike, and the one 
 who had not spoken went. 
 
 " Make all secure when we are below," said 
 Sullivan to the plump woman, who nodded in 
 reply. " Now, Appleton, you go first and take 
 him when he gets down, I'll be last." 
 
 " Don't you want me ? ' asked the girl, 
 rather anxiously. 
 
 " You ! What the should we want you 
 
 for ? " was the retort. " Stay up there and 
 keep quiet if you can."
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 185 
 
 " What a devil of a temper you are in, Jim," 
 she said, flushing hotly. 
 
 " You leave my temper alone or you'll feel 
 some of it as well as hear it." 
 
 Denham looked at the girl. This then, was 
 the woman who had been the means of saving 
 Jack twice. He had no cause to feel enmity 
 towards her. Now he felt a great pity and 
 compassion. He showed it in his face and 
 she, suddenly turning, saw it. The next 
 instant she had shrugged her shoulders and 
 turned away. 
 
 "Go on down, you," growled Sullivan giving 
 Denham a push. There was nothing for it 
 but to comply with the order, though he felt 
 instinctively that he was going to his death. 
 He climbed down the ladder, and as his feet 
 touched the ground, he once more felt his arms 
 seized. He looked round. They were in a 
 cellar evidently, the wall of one side of which 
 had been newly bricked up. Possibly the house 
 contained but one good sized cellar, which these 
 ingenious people had divided into two; the 
 entrance to the one being from the back passage 
 through a door and down a normal flight of 
 steps ; the entrance to the other, the one 
 through which he had come. Two lamps 
 lighted the place, and at a rough wooden table 
 sat a fourth man, masked and whose voice he 
 had not yet heard. 
 
 The trap door closed overhead. Then Sullivan 
 sat down at the top of the table, the two others 
 taking their places on either side of him.
 
 i86 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 "Now Captain Denham," he said, "I'll 
 be quite frank with you. I've got you here to 
 ask you a question, and I may as well tell you 
 that you don't leave this place alive unless you 
 tell us what we want to know." 
 
 " Is that so ? " said Edward gravely. " And 
 do I really leave it alive if I do tell you what 
 you wish to know ? You have shown me so 
 much, you see this place, the way you get here. 
 The only thing that I can't understand is how 
 you avoid the police on watch spotting you in 
 your car." 
 
 ' Then you shall be informed," said Sullivan. 
 
 ' Is it wise, do you think ? " asked Applet on. 
 
 " Why not, he knows everything, doesn't 
 he ? If he wasn't a born fool, he would have 
 spotted our dodge himself. It's simply this," 
 he went on turning again to Denham, " with 
 the driver in police uniform we are merely taken 
 for a police car and can pass without difficulty. 
 There is a back lane to this house. It is 
 quite simple, and we so seldom meet now 
 since the advent of your cursed brother on the 
 scene, that the risk is small." 
 
 " Having told me this, am I still to believe 
 that I leave here alive if I answer your ques- 
 tions ? " asked Denham, quietly. 
 
 ' You are, provided that you swear never to 
 betray us." 
 
 " And would you trust me, you, who don't 
 trust a living soul ? " 
 
 ' We would trust you. Bob Vincent assures 
 us that your word stands," was the reply.
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 187 
 
 ' Who did you say ? " demanded Edward. 
 
 " I said Bob Vincent," replied Sullivan. 
 
 ' You know him, I believe, there he is." He 
 
 pointed to the fourth man seated at the table. 
 
 ' You infernal fool," retorted Vincent, taking 
 off his mask. " Didn't I make it a bargain 
 that you wouldn't mention my name ? I 
 came with you to make up your number, 
 not to be given away." 
 
 Sullivan laughed. 
 
 " Don't worry," he said, and winked at him. 
 
 " So," said Edward, " you are the unutterable 
 blackguard who sent that wire to me, are you ? 
 There was such loathing and contempt in his 
 tone that even Vincent winced. " I never 
 liked you, but I never dreamt you were as 
 vile as this. Mr. Sullivan," he turned to the 
 leader, " I would not stoop to beg a favour 
 of you, God knows, but I do ask that out of 
 decency you tell this man to go, he is not neces- 
 sary to this conference, and however bad you 
 others may be, at least you don't stoop as low 
 as he does." 
 
 " How do you mean ? " demanded Sullivan, 
 frowning. 
 
 " His job, I take it," replied Edward, gravely, 
 "is to make the robberies committed at his 
 friends' houses easy." 
 
 Vincent got up with a laugh. 
 
 " Don't worry, Jim," he said. " I'll go 
 without being asked. What you do now is 
 no concern of mine, I've done my part and now 
 I'm off home. So long. Let me know if and
 
 i88 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 when you succeed. I'm going into the country 
 in a few days and will send you my address." 
 He turned and went. 
 
 " And now," said Edward, "go on with the 
 questions. I'll do my best for you, I can't 
 say fairer." 
 
 " All right. It's only one question I want 
 answered," said Sullivan. " Tell me exactly 
 what you have done with your brother ? ' 
 
 He was not surprised at the question, he had 
 expected it and was prepared with his answer. 
 
 " He is in a nursing home." 
 
 ' That's a damned lie," said the other. 
 
 " And that's not polite, Mr. Sullivan," 
 retorted Denham. 
 
 " Answer my question. I know he is not in 
 any nursing home. It was all a damned plant 
 that ambulance and stretcher game. I sent 
 one of my men to find out." 
 
 "Oh, yes, I suppose so," said the other. 
 " Nevertheless, I assure you on my word of 
 honour as a gentleman that it is true." 
 
 Sullivan rapped on the table. 
 
 " Look here," he said sharply. " You are 
 not here to tell me any of your lies, and if you 
 persist in your present attitude I'll give you 
 something that will make you alter your tone. 
 You have smuggled your brother off some- 
 where, and I insist on your telling me where 
 he is. Do you hear ? " 
 
 " I hear, Mr. Sullivan," replied Edward 
 quietly. " And I have told you the truth, 
 more than that I will not say."
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 189 
 
 Sullivan sprang to his feet. 
 
 " If you don't tell me of your own accord, 
 I'll have it thrashed out of you," he said. 
 Denham was silent, he knew that what this man 
 threatened he would do. 
 
 " Your man lied palpably when he said he 
 had gone to a nursing home. He is not good 
 at lying, though he ought to be, being your 
 servant." A retort rose to Denham 's lips, but 
 he swallowed it down. 
 
 " Obviously then, you have sent your brother 
 somewhere out of our way. He certainly 
 would not have gone of his own free will, he is 
 far too big a fool. He is bent on getting his 
 own back on us, and nothing short of shutting 
 him up somewhere would stop him. He has 
 killed two of my men already. You know this 
 just as well as I do; that being the case, just 
 hand over what you know about it." 
 
 " It's the last thing I should dream of doing," 
 said Denham quietly. " And as for his killing 
 your men, the Frenchman fired first and missed ; 
 the other, known as Alf died from gas poisoning, 
 intended for my brother." 
 
 " Didn't I tell you ? " demanded Applet on. 
 " Didn't I tell you he would say that ? All this 
 trouble for nothing." 
 
 " Shut your trap, man, and don't make your- 
 self a bigger fool than you look. Captain 
 Denham will answer my question, if not now, 
 then later. I suppose you quite realise the 
 position you are in here ? " he went on, turning 
 to his victim.
 
 igo THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Nothing could be clearer," was the reply. 
 
 " Not quite clear enough, evidently, other- 
 wise you would answer my question." 
 
 " You make a big mistake when you say that, " 
 said the other quietly. ' Whatever you may 
 threaten to do to me you will never alter my 
 determination. If you knew where my brother 
 was, you would get at him and eventually kill 
 him. Therefore from my lips you will never 
 know. Get this into your head now and for 
 always, it is fairer to you to know it, though I 
 don't consider that as a good reason, but at 
 any rate it will save time and unnecessary 
 talk." 
 
 " Is that your last word ? ' 
 
 " Absolutely my last word." 
 
 " Very well, then, I will tell you what mine 
 is. Until you make up your mind to give the 
 information I want, neither food nor drink will 
 you have ; you will be kept down here, where 
 no one will find you. If you shout you will 
 not be heard. Morning and evening one of us 
 will come for your answer. Until you give it 
 you know what to expect." 
 
 ' I have given it," said Denham quietly. 
 
 " Wait till the pangs of thirst and hunger 
 come," was the reply. " You'll find the cement 
 hard for a bed, and it's a bit damp and chilly 
 down here, but I daresay you won't mind, 
 for a bit," he added significantly. 
 
 " Come on you fellows, we'll be going. It's 
 about time we went to bed." Then turning 
 to Denham, " I shall ring up your servants and
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 191 
 
 give a message to say you have had a slight 
 accident and are staying with a friend for a 
 few days, you see it wouldn't do for inquiries 
 to be made." 
 
 " Look here, Jim," said Applet on, suddenly 
 pausing. ' Why not buckle him into that nice 
 little contraption you got fixed for his brother ? 
 He'll give in all the sooner and we shall gain 
 time." He pointed to the wall opposite the 
 trap-door as he spoke, and Edward turned and 
 looked in that direction. He saw something 
 dangling from the wall, but could not distinguish 
 what it was. Jim Sullivan looked at the tall 
 soldierly figure and rubbed his chin. 
 
 " No," he said. " That will do later, if he 
 holds out, but I'll just let you see it, captain, 
 and I'll explain what happens, the knowledge 
 may oil your tongue." He took Edward by 
 the arm and led him to the other side of the 
 room. 
 
 ' You see these two chains, about six feet 
 apart ? Well, when we get your brother, these 
 leather wristlets go round his wrists. He is 
 then forced by this collar to stand on tiptoe ; 
 you realise the strain that means, if he tries to 
 stand on his feet this broad collar in the centre 
 will choke him." 
 
 ' I see," said Edward. " Thank God, if I 
 can help it, he'll never have to go through it." 
 
 " Don't you be so sure of that," went on the 
 other. " Then you see that broad strap just 
 below, that goes round his ribs, and if buckled 
 to cracking point, will hurt some, I imagine.
 
 i 9 2 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Same with the other which goes round his 
 waist. Every breath he draws will be a little 
 hell of its own. I invented all this myself, 
 thought it out when I couldn't sleep one night, 
 and what's more, I've tried it myself. I stood 
 it for a quarter of an hour and then fainted. 
 How does it strike you ? ' 
 
 " I congratulate your ingenuity, Mr. 
 Sullivan," replied Edward quietly. " And if 
 I may give you my candid opinion, I consider 
 that while you are alive the world is not a fit 
 place to live in." 
 
 Jim Sullivan laughed. 
 
 " Well, think it over, if you haven't given 
 in after three days, you'll get that. Good 
 night, captain, I wish you pleasant dreams." 
 
 One by one they climbed the ladder and 
 disappeared. At last Edward Denham was 
 alone. They had left the lamps there, turning 
 one out. So he lowered the other, husbanding 
 the oil and wick for as long as he could. He 
 wondered how long it took to starve to death. 
 He remembered that those Irish prisoners 
 took ages over it, but then they had water, 
 and he understood that anyone could live on 
 water for quite a considerable time. Without 
 it death would be very quick, well, better his 
 death than Jack's. The younger brother had 
 been his mother's favourite, and he had promised 
 at her death to care for him and help him in 
 everything. He would do it now. It would 
 be terrible for Aileen, but time would heal 
 everything. Well, it was hard to die like a rat
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 193 
 
 in a trap, but there was nothing else for it. 
 He had matches and a few cigarettes left. He 
 would smoke one now and turn down the lamp, 
 leaving only a glimmer, then he would try and 
 get to sleep. 
 
 Tired out, in spite of his position with its utter 
 horror and hopelessness, he slept soundly and 
 was awakened by the trap-door opening and a 
 voice speaking. 
 
 " Changed your mind yet ? " 
 
 " No," he said. 
 
 The trap-door slammed down. Three times 
 the question was repeated, the same question, 
 the same answer. That meant, reflected the 
 thirst-tormented man that it was the evening 
 of the second day. Twenty-four hours only. 
 But he wanted only water, water and warmth. 
 Food he could do without for a bit, but to- 
 morrow what would it be like to-morrow ? 
 Poor old Jack, would he have done the same 
 for him ? Why, of course, he must be going 
 mad for such a question to have entered his 
 mind. Mad ! Yes, probably that would be 
 the end of it. All things he had read of con- 
 nected with starvation, in historical tragedies, 
 came surging to his recollection. The boy, 
 who was he ? He couldn't remember his name 
 now, but he was a prince or a duke, imprisoned 
 in Scotland, and starved to death. He had 
 gnawed his own hand before he died. Would 
 he be reduced to that ? No, he thought not. 
 He lay down on the hard floor once more, sleep 
 was what he wanted, but sleep wouldrf't come ; 
 
 N
 
 194 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 instead, that craving for water and warmth. 
 At last he dozed and dreamt that he heard 
 a sound, a most insistent sound it was and 
 very close to him. Surely it was a voice, 
 and yet there could be no voice down here, they 
 had come with that question hours ago, and 
 had their answer. Now he was alone until 
 the morning. No, there it was again. Wide 
 awake he sat up. 
 
 " Mr. Denham ! Oh, for God's sake answer, 
 Mr. Denham ! " It was a woman's voice, 
 low down near the floor. 
 
 " Yes," he said, hoarsely. " Yes, what is 
 it? Who are you ? ' 
 
 "I'm Molly, you know, your brother's 
 friend," answered the voice. " Can you hear ? ' 
 
 " Yes, yes," he said. " But I don't under- 
 stand, Jack's friend ? ' 
 
 " Oh, never mind that, I couldn't come 
 before, they made it impossible. I loosened 
 a brick one day in the new wall, because I 
 wanted to hear what they talked about down 
 here. They are all out, and I'm alone for a time." 
 
 " I see," said Denham. " Could you, do 
 you think, give me some water, I'm parched." 
 
 ' The hole is not big enough," she said. 
 " But I've got a basin of water and a sponge, 
 I'll soak it and push it through. There ! Can 
 you feel it ? " 
 
 Denham grasped the piece of soaking sponge, 
 drew it out and sucked desperately. 
 
 " More," he said, " and thank you, thank 
 you, Molly." He heard a sob choked back.
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 195 
 
 " It's to help you not to tell. Oh, Mr. Denham, 
 you mustn't tell. They'd kill him and you 
 too, and I couldn't I couldn't ." The voice 
 broke in another sob. 
 
 " Can you help me get a message through ? ' 
 he asked then, anxiously, desperately. 
 
 " Not to the police, I can't give my friends 
 away, but, listen, can you hear ? " 
 
 ' Yes, yes." 
 
 " If you will tell me where the boy is, your 
 brother, I'll 'phone to him and get him to come 
 and help you. I can't by myself, I'm not 
 strong enough, I can't lift the trap-door, but 
 together we could do it. Will you tell me 
 where he is ? ' 
 
 Denham ground his teeth and suppressed 
 an oath. 
 
 " Another trap," he said. " Yes, if I tell 
 you, then they will know, won't they ? You 
 can't fool me like that, woman." 
 
 "Oh, you are mad ! " she cried. " Didn't 
 I tell you I gave you water to help you hold 
 out against them. In another day or two you 
 will be telling them anything they ask and you 
 won't be able to help yourself. Do you think 
 I don't know ? You're a fool, you are as bad 
 as your brother, who knows nothing about 
 women. I tell you I want to save him ; if one 
 of you must go, then it must be you. Does 
 that satisfy you ? If it doesn't, I'll poison 
 you before you can be tortured into telling." 
 
 The voice was impassioned, agonised, truth 
 rang loud to his ears. She must mean it,
 
 196 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 oh, yes, no woman could speak in such a tone 
 and not mean every word she said. 
 
 It was Jack she wanted to save, not him ; 
 he was to be fed only so that he would have the 
 strength not to give away Jack, but if Jack 
 could come and save him, this woman was 
 willing to help. Only there must be no risk 
 for Jack. 
 
 " If my brother comes," he said, " he will 
 bring the police too." 
 
 " He won't if I tell him not to," she replied. 
 " But don't waste time on fool arguments, Mr. 
 Denham. If I am to 'phone him, I haven't 
 long to do it in, they may be here at any time 
 now. Will you tell me ? " 
 
 "Yes," he said. "I'll trust you, girl, I 
 have to. It's a trunk call and may take time. 
 He's in Cornwall at Dr. Watman's house, 
 Treloar Hall, Treloar. I don't remember the 
 number. In return for what you do, if he comes 
 and I can get away, I will promise not to 
 give away what I know. That is only fair to 
 you." 
 
 ' You're a white man, Mr. Denham," said 
 the girl. " You are more like your brother 
 than I thought. I'll go now, I don't have 
 anything to do with prayers and that sort 
 myself, but if you believe in it, then get 
 going on to whoever you think will hear 
 you and ask that they don't catch me at the 
 'phone." 
 
 After that, silence, and Edward Denham, on 
 his knees now, buried his face in his hands.
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 197 
 
 In the room above a voice was calling. 
 
 ' Trunk, yes. Treloar 103, and hurry, for 
 the Lord's sake hurry. Oh, I know, of course 
 you do, but get on with it, there's a dear." 
 
 Up and down the room she paced, pausing 
 with beating heart at every sound outside. 
 Once more to the door, back again to the window. 
 Ah ! a car stopped at the gate. No, it was going 
 on again. Oh ! how she would like to kill 
 that driver who had caused her that moment's 
 agony. How long would they be, her friends, 
 and the call, would they both come together ? 
 Things generally happened like that in this 
 blinking upside down old world. They always 
 went wrong, when it would be so easy, just as 
 easy in fact, to go right. Jim was taking his 
 friends back to their houses, he would return 
 alone, but he was all that mattered, she could 
 gull the rest of the crowd, not Jim. No one 
 had ever taken him in ; the only time she had 
 done so was when she wired to the boy Jack's 
 brother to meet him at Victoria Station, and for 
 suspecting that she had helped he had, oh, 
 well, never mind what he had done. It was 
 over, but he hadn't seemed to trust her after 
 that, not as he used to. Oh ! damn Exchange, 
 why didn't they hurry ? In America they did 
 things better, she knew that for she had been 
 there ; nowhere on earth was the telephone 
 system so bad as in England. Then she 
 laughed. On earth ! Did they have it in 
 heaven, or in hell ? She hoped not, if she 
 was to go to one place or the other. She hated
 
 198 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 telephone calls, it always meant some worry or 
 trouble 
 
 Ah ! there was the bell, good girl, bless her, 
 she had put her through quickly. 
 
 " Yes, yes, who is it ? Barton? No, I don't 
 want you, I want Mr. Denham, quick, please, 
 say its urgent. What ? No, no, you damn 
 fool, I can't hear. What, neither can you ? 
 Well, I'm thankful for that, I didn't mean it. 
 Now, slowly, I want Mr. Denham. Do you 
 hear all right ? He's out ? Fetch him in then, 
 quick, tell him a lady wants him, urgent, 
 desperately urgent. All right, I'll hold on, 
 don't you worry." 
 
 Oh would he never come. Wasn't it a car ! 
 Yes, of course it was. No, it was going on again. 
 Oh, boy, boy why don't you come ? Yes, 
 this time it was2a car and turning in at the 
 gate. 
 
 'Yes, yes, it's me, Molly. Can you hear? 
 Your brother is trapped and being starved to 
 death unless he tells my pals where you are. 
 Oh ! yes of course it's true, but listen, Jim's 
 coming back and will catch me. Will you come ? 
 Swear you will not bring the police, I will help 
 you, look out for you. No, curse your fool 
 head, it's not a trap, it's to save you both. 
 Soon he'll not be able to hold out and will 
 give you away. Quick, quick he's coming, 
 swear you won't tell. All right, boy, and then 
 go to Lennox Street and wait until I ring you 
 up to say I am alone, then come. You'll come ? 
 Yes, boy. It's the house with the yellow
 
 A TEST OF LOVE 199 
 
 gates at Golder's Green, Mr. Brandscome's 
 house." 
 
 The door opened, the receiver rang home, 
 the girl stood facing him as he entered. 
 
 " Oh, thank God, thank God ! " she cried. 
 ' Why, girlie, what's the matter ? ' J 
 
 " I thought that something had happened 
 to you, you were so long. But it's all right, 
 and oh, I'm so happy." 
 
 She flung herself into Jim Sullivan's arms 
 and burst out crying. 
 
 " Lord Almighty be good to us ! " he 
 exclaimed, patting her head. ' Was there ever 
 such a queer thing invented as a woman. 
 What's up, old girl ? ' 
 
 " Nothing, only I'm so thankful now that I 
 know it's all right." 
 
 And, so that he could not see her face, she 
 kept it buried on his shoulder.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 
 
 JACK DENHAM lay in bed with the autumn 
 sun pouring in through the windows. He 
 was reflecting on the queer happenings 
 during these last few months that had ulti- 
 mately ended in his being shut up in a private 
 nursing home in Cornwall. And the strangest 
 part of all was finding the woman who had 
 been the innocent cause of all his troubles here 
 as well. He had often wondered what she 
 was like ; in some queer way he had pictured 
 her as resembling that dream- woman of his 
 who so constantly haunted his sleeping hours, 
 and, stranger still, he had found that dream 
 come true. For she was beautiful, adorable, 
 as only his dream-woman could have been. 
 So had he pictured the woman he would one 
 day marry. In such a place as this with its 
 glorious old house and wonderful gardens, 
 had he visualised their meeting-place. And 
 now he was here and she was here, and the 
 place was no longer a prison but a wonderful 
 enchanted world. And he no longer chafed 
 at the twenty foot walls that surrounded them, 
 or that the gates were locked, or that two
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 201 
 
 sturdy attendants were there to see that he 
 did not get away. He revelled in it and in 
 the fact that it was as impossible for him to 
 get out as it would be for any of the Sullivan 
 gang of criminals to get in. Before this, his 
 one aim and object in life had been to come to 
 grips with them, now he only wanted them to 
 leave him alone with his dream-woman. 
 
 It was eight o'clock, and breakfast was at 
 nine. He sprang out of bed and into the bath- 
 room leading from his luxurious apartment. 
 When half dressed there came a knock at his 
 door, and Barton, the attendant who had been 
 appointed to look after him, came in. 
 
 ' You are up early, sir," he said in surprise. 
 
 " When a day like this calls how can anyone 
 lie in bed ? " replied Jack, gaily. " I suppose 
 there are no rules here as to when one may go 
 out, are there ? ' 
 
 " None at all, sir, you please yourself. You 
 will find Mr. Smithson outside, I expect." 
 
 ' Who's that ? " asked Jack. 
 
 ' The other gentleman who is staying here, 
 sir," was the reply. 
 
 " Oh, I forgot there was another so-called 
 luny shut up here," said Jack with a laugh. 
 " He's harmless, I suppose ? ' 
 
 " Quite, sir. Has queer ideas on some things, 
 and he's here because his relations prefer to 
 pay a stiff price to be rid of the trouble of 
 looking after him themselves." 
 
 " In which case I gather he is well rid of 
 them," said Jack.
 
 202 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 1 That's my own opinion, exactly, sir," 
 replied the man. " Shall you be playing tennis 
 to-day, sir ? If so, I'll put out your things." 
 
 " It depends," was the reply. 
 
 " I understand that Mrs. Allwood plays very 
 well indeed, sir," said Barton, casually. 
 
 " Oh, well, in that case, put 'em out," said 
 Jack, flushing, and walking hastily to the door. 
 
 There was no exit into the passage from his 
 own two rooms save through the one in which 
 Barton slept. This, when he first came, had 
 galled him exceedingly, but now it was different. 
 Now circumstances had changed. No longer 
 did he want to chase after the gang, they 
 could go to perdition as far as he was concerned. 
 There was no longer any need to watch him 
 and prevent a possible attempt at escape ; 
 he reflected with a grin, on his way downstairs 
 (they had put him at the top of the house for 
 safety) that if instead of wanting to keep him 
 they had wanted him to go, they would have 
 to turn him out. 
 
 It was on the wide stone terrace which ran 
 the whole length of the house that he came 
 upon Mr. Smithson. He was of medium height 
 and appeared to be a few years older than 
 Jack, with clean shaven, humorous face, 
 but not a trace, as far as Jack could see, of 
 mental deficiency in the expression. He 
 paused in his rapid walk and regarded the new- 
 comer with a genial smile. 
 
 " Ah ! so you've come," he said, as Jack 
 approached. " Old Watman rang up Susie,
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 203 
 
 to say he was bringing another luny along. 
 You know Susie, by the way, don't you ? " 
 
 " I don't know Susie," replied Jack. " And 
 I may say also that I am not a luny." 
 
 ' Then what the deuce are you doing here ? " 
 demanded the other. " No one but a luny 
 would allow himself to be taken to a God- 
 forsaken hole like this. I'm one, you know," 
 he added confidentially. " At least they all 
 think so, and so, for the sake of peace and 
 quiet I just humour them. As a matter of fact 
 Denham that's your name, ain't it ? I 
 thought so. As a matter of fact, old bird, I've 
 actually got better brain fittings than any of 
 the blighters here, only I keep it as dark as 
 I can. You won't give me away, will you ? 
 You look a sport ! " 
 
 " Of course I won't," said Jack, grinning, 
 and walking along the terrace at a rapid pace 
 in order to keep up with the other. " But, 
 tell me about Susie, I haven't met her, who is 
 she ? ' 
 
 " She is the buxom old soul who looks after 
 the linen and one's garments, and keeps the 
 other servants in order. She's all right if 
 you don't scratch her fur up the wrong way, 
 but if you do, look out for squalls. Old Wat- 
 man swears by her, but then you know, quite 
 between ourselves, old Watman isn't quite 
 
 quite " he touched his forehead and winked 
 
 at Jack. " Poor fellow, it's very sad, because 
 of course he means well, but if one humours 
 him one can rub along all right without undue
 
 204 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 friction. He and Susie should go well in double 
 harness, but not here, mark you. They are 
 really neither of them capable of running a 
 big establishment like this." 
 
 " It appears to me to be very efficiently 
 run indeed," said Jack. 
 
 " Not really, it's only the surface you see," 
 was the reply. " You wait until you have 
 been here a couple of years as I have, you'll 
 see then the true state of the case without 
 the veneer. Take Barton's face, for instance. 
 Have you noticed it ? ' 
 
 " Lord, no ! " said Jack, laughing. "What's 
 wrong with it ? " 
 
 " It's all wrong, my dear chap," replied 
 the other. " I can't imagine how you missed 
 seeing it, I spotted it the first day I was here, 
 and I simply put my foot down and refused 
 to have him near me. One takes these dis- 
 likes, you know do you find that so ? ' 
 
 " By Jove, yes ! '" said Jack. " I should 
 think one does. The world would be a pretty 
 dull place if one liked everyone one met in it." 
 
 " That's what I say," was the reply. " And 
 old Potman is such a damn fool he can't see it." 
 
 " Who's Potman ? " asked Jack, feeling a 
 bit staggered by now. 
 
 " Oh, did I say Potman ? Stupid of me I 
 meant Watman, of course. I get muddled 
 with names sometimes. My memory is not 
 all that it should be. However, what was I 
 talking about ? " 
 
 " Barton's face," suggested Jack.
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 205 
 
 " Of course ; poor fellow, I often sympathise 
 with him and ask him what it feels like really 
 to have a face like his. He says he tries to 
 put up with it, but feels that one day it will 
 be the death of him. Well, there it is ! One 
 can't have everything. I lack your inches, 
 but my brains make up for it. Tall people, 
 you know, are never as clever as shorter folk " 
 
 " Is that so ? " inquired Jack. " I say, do 
 you mind going a bit slower, I'm getting out 
 of breath." 
 
 ' You're not in training, Denham," was the 
 reply, as the pace slackened. " Now Mus- 
 grave, that's my servant here, you know 
 he was a prize-fighter. Well, he keeps me as 
 fit as a fiddle. He's a splendid chap. We go 
 for miles and miles all round the country." 
 
 " Oh, so you do go beyond the boundary 
 wall ? " asked Jack. 
 
 " Lord, yes ! We often go down to the sea, 
 about seven miles from here, and have a swim. 
 And then Mrs. Mrs. I can't remember her 
 name, but the lady who stays here, you know 
 she takes me for runs in her car. She's a topping 
 driver." 
 
 " Oh, she's got a car, has she ? ' Jack 
 wondered if he and she would soon be going 
 for wonderful drives round the country, too. 
 
 " Yes, and that old blighter, Botman, makes 
 use of it, you know," said the other. " He 
 hasn't got one himself and whenever he wants 
 to go anywhere, or send for anything, he just 
 takes hers : which makes me wonder sometimes
 
 206 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 if he hasn't got more brains than I give him 
 credit for, because you see, Denham, the 
 proof of brain power is in the aptness with 
 which you can make the best use of other 
 people and their belongings. Do you get 
 me? " 
 
 " I do," said Jack. " It's certainly one form 
 of brain power. But, thank God there are 
 others." 
 
 " Not really, old man. One thinks so, but 
 everything leads to the same goal in the end 
 the best possible use of everything and 
 everybody for oneself. That's all Ufe amounts 
 to really. The rest is humbug and hypocrisy, 
 and leaves me cold. Come and let's stuff eggs 
 and bacon into ourselves. Watman hates un- 
 punctuality, and of course one tries to do 
 everything one can to please the dear old fel- 
 low. He's got the kindest heart in the world. 
 I don't really think he would take advantage 
 of a flea if he ever had the chance, that is. 
 Personally, I never can get hold of them." 
 
 Jack's brain reeled, but he said nothing, 
 and the two turned back and entered the 
 house. Doctor Watman was in the dining- 
 room, and greeted the two^young men genially. 
 
 " Help yourself, Denham, you'll find every- 
 thing you want on the sideboard. How are 
 you, Peter ? Been for your usual walk ? ' 
 
 " Yes, doc. The pace wasn't quite so 
 strenuous though, as our long-legged friend 
 there gave out in the breathing department. 
 Supplies ran short, you see. I'll lend him
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 207 
 
 Musgrave to put him in training. Long legs 
 are very well in their way, but they are not of 
 much use here." 
 
 ' That's true," said Jack, grinning. " Do 
 you play tennis, Smithson ? ' 
 
 " Don't call me that," said the other, sitting 
 down with a huge plate of eggs and bacon 
 before him. " Call me Peter. Smithson 's an 
 offence, it's no good to anyone, and as bad to 
 have tacked on to one, as Barton must find his 
 face. Yes, I play tennis, but can't always 
 remember if it's golf or croquet, which has its 
 disadvantages sometimes. However, if you 
 don't mind putting up with that little trifling 
 inconvenience, we might have a go in after 
 breakfast." 
 
 " Mrs. All wood plays well," put in the old 
 doctor. " I think a quiet game would not 
 hurt her in the least. She has had to take it 
 very quietly, you see," he went on. " After 
 that terrible night three months ago, when her 
 brute of a husband attacked her, her nerves 
 collapsed entirely. I had known her mother, 
 and in fact attended her at Elise's birth, and 
 of course, I took the poor girl down here at 
 once and did what I could for her. Her hus- 
 band died in an inebriates' home some time ago. 
 She refuses to wear mourning, which I think 
 quite right, and fortunately she is well off, 
 her mother's money having been settled on 
 her. She often spoke about you, Denham, 
 without knowing who you were, and the way 
 you answered her cry for help. She wondered
 
 208 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 if anyone else would have gone to the rescue 
 of a strange woman as you dad." 
 
 " Anyone would have gone," said Jack, 
 flushing. 
 
 " No ! " said a low voice in the doorway. 
 " Not anyone or everyone." Elise All wood 
 came in, smiling. " I thought I would come 
 down to breakfast, doctor," she said, " on such 
 a glorious day as this." 
 
 The three men rose. The doctor drew 
 up a chair, Peter Smithson hurried to the 
 sideboard. 
 
 " I am the commissariat department," he 
 said. " What will you have, Elise one hen 
 seed and one bacon, or two of both ? ' 
 
 " One of each, Peter," she said, then turning 
 to Jack, " We call each other by our Christian 
 names here," she said. " It is easier for him 
 to remember." 
 
 "Oh, don't mind me if you want to discuss 
 my infirmities," said Peter, as he brought the 
 plate back and placed it before her. ' The 
 doc. there, will tell you exactly what's wrong 
 in a few big words which you won't understand, 
 and will therefore be just as wise as I am. 
 Are we going for our spin this morning," he went 
 on to Mrs. All wood " or is the new blighter 
 going to have a turn ? ' 
 
 Doctor Watman coughed. " I think I should 
 prefer it, Mr. Denham, if you did not go," he 
 said. ' Your brother was most anxious that 
 you should not be seen by anyone, and under 
 the circumstances, perhaps "
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 209 
 
 " That's his polite way of telling you, you 
 won't be allowed to go," said Peter, nudging 
 the other. " It's very nice of him to wrap it 
 up like that, but of course one sees through 
 the camouflage at once." 
 
 Jack laughed. 
 
 " I don't think any of us will go," said Mrs. 
 All wood. " I would far rather stay here 
 quietly, and perhaps you would care for a 
 game of tennis, Mr. Denham." 
 
 " I understood that Christian names only 
 were used in this particular mad house," said 
 Peter " or is it only to humour me ? ' 
 
 " Of course not, you silly owl," said Jack, 
 noting the touch of pathos in the other's voice 
 and quick to answer to the call. " I am Jack, 
 and the lady is Elise what a charming name, 
 by the way." 
 
 ' Yes, suits her, don't it ? Shall I come and 
 pick up the balls for you ? " asked Peter. 
 
 " Better go for your walk, hadn't you ? ' 
 suggested the doctor. 
 
 "Oh, I see, want to get rid of me, on the 
 principle that two's company, and three's 
 an army corps. All right, I'll trot." 
 
 Elise glanced appealingly at Jack. 
 
 " No," he said, responding at once to her 
 unspoken wish. "I'm afraid you can't go 
 for your walk to-day either, Peter. We want 
 you to help, so don't be a selfish beggar for 
 once, but stop with us, will you ? ' 
 
 Whatever disappointment he may have felt 
 at the spoiling of his tete-a-tete, it was quickly
 
 2io THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 made up for by the look of intense pleasure 
 that lit up the other's face. 
 
 ' Thanks, Denham," said the old doctor. 
 
 " His people never come to see him," said 
 Elise to Jack, as later on, they strolled down 
 to the tennis court. " They don't care what 
 happens to him, I believe. Fortunately he 
 is in good hands, but it would be the same thing 
 if he were not. Sometimes my blood boils 
 when I think of it. For he is the dearest boy 
 in the world." 
 
 " Nicer than Jack ? " asked her companion. 
 
 " Jack ? What Jack ? " she asked. 
 
 "Oh, the fellow you wanted to ring up that 
 night, and got on to me instead." 
 
 " Oh ! '" she laughed. " Of course, I had 
 forgotten. Yes, he is just as nice as Jack." 
 
 " I hate that fellow," said Denham, savagely. 
 
 " No, don't do that, he is very dear to me/' 
 was the reply. 
 
 ' Why did you call to him that night ? ' 
 demanded Jack, sternly. 
 
 " Why ? Oh, because he was the only 
 one who knew, and would have come. I 
 didn't know there was another Jack." 
 
 " But you know now," said he. 
 
 "It is being forced upon my notice," said 
 she, smiling. " Come, let us play." 
 
 For an hour they played, and half way through 
 Peter Smithson left them and strolled off, and 
 presently they saw him in the company of a 
 powerfully built man, walking swiftly down the 
 avenue.
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 211 
 
 " What a good soul," said she, apropos of 
 nothing. 
 
 " He has more wits than lots of saner people 
 I know/' replied Jack. " You are tired, so 
 let's go and sit in the sun on the terrace, where 
 we met for the first time last night. I want to 
 talk there is such a lot to say, and I feel that 
 if you and I stayed here for the rest of our 
 lives, we should never get through it all." 
 
 Ten days passed days that were like a 
 wonderful idyll to Jack. Never had he known 
 such complete happiness as he found in the 
 company of this woman. They were twin 
 souls, made for each other. Here, at last, 
 in this old world garden, shut away from the 
 rest of the world and its worries and sorrows 
 and sordid trials, he had at length found perfect 
 happiness. 
 
 " You've just got to marry me," he said, 
 as together they strolled among the shrubs 
 down by the lake, a favourite spot. 
 
 " I'm a year older than you, dear," said she. 
 " And that means ten in a woman." 
 
 " Rubbish," said he. " That's sheer piffle, 
 you know. Where love is, neither age nor 
 anything else in the whole world matters." 
 
 " Does it not, Jack ? " said she. " But is 
 love really there ? ' 
 
 " You know it is," he replied. ' Unless for 
 you there is someone else." 
 
 " I never said there was anyone else, did I ? ' 
 she said, holding him off when he would have 
 caught her to him.
 
 212 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " There is that other Jack," said he, gloomily. 
 
 She broke into a peal of laughter. " My 
 dear," she said, " he is my brother." 
 
 Then she was in his arms, and for a time all 
 else was forgotten. 
 
 " Poor Peter," said she, at last. 
 
 " Why Peter ? " he asked. 
 
 " He's very fond of me," said she. " But 
 he knows about you, Jack, and, mad though 
 he is called, he has the greatest sanity of all 
 the power to rejoice in other people's happi- 
 ness. That is why he has always left us to- 
 gether. He likes you, Jack, and he loves me, 
 I think, and he would do anything for both of 
 us. His poor crippled mind will rejoice in 
 our happiness. There is no place for jealousy 
 there, you see." 
 
 " Poor fellow," said Jack. " Was he always 
 so? " 
 
 " I believe not. Some great sorrow brought 
 him to this. The doctor knows, but of course 
 it is his secret. I believe Peter was once a 
 well-known member of society. The war, and 
 this grief of his, produced the result we see. 
 I wonder where he is. I want him to be the 
 first to wish me joy." 
 
 " I saw him going out with Musgrave," said 
 Jack. " I think I hear the gates now. No 
 by Jove ! " he added. " It's a car. I thought 
 no one was allowed in here." 
 
 As he spoke, they both turned towards the 
 drive along which a large open car containing 
 three people was coming.
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 213 
 
 "It's Peter and Musgrave," said Elise. 
 " But I don't know the man who is driving. 
 Let's hurry on." 
 
 They gained the terrace by a short cut, 
 just as the car drove up. They turned the 
 corner in time to hear the doctor, who had 
 come to the door, call out : 
 
 " Hallo, Peter ! What's this ? Found a 
 friend, eh ? ' 
 
 ' Yes," said the other, eagerly. " A fellow 
 I used to know before well, before I came 
 here." 
 
 The new-comer, slight, tall, smiling and de- 
 bonair, was half way up the steps. Then Elise 
 felt her hand clutched and she winced with 
 the pain. 
 
 ' What is it, dear ? Someone you know ? " 
 
 " It's Robert Vincent," he said, between set 
 teeth. ' The man I saw in Staveley Road, a 
 member of that gang. The man who accused 
 me of theft, and ruined my good name." 
 
 She cried out, and tried to pull him back, 
 but it was too late. Vincent had turned and 
 seen him. A start of surprise, a broad smile, 
 that was all, but it spoke volumes. He was 
 shaking hands with the doctor as the two 
 came up. 
 
 " I think we have met before, Mr. Vincent," 
 said Jack, in a hard voice. 
 
 The doctor heard the name, but knowing 
 nothing of the truth (for Elise had been the 
 only one Jack had told), failed to realise the 
 nature of the calamity that had happened.
 
 214 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " I never expected to find you here, Den- 
 ham," said Vincent, dryly. " I wondered where 
 you had er run to ; this explains it." 
 
 Peter was looking from one to the other, 
 innocent of the harm he had done. 
 
 " I met my friend on the cliff road," he said 
 simply to the doctor. " He was going to stay 
 with friends, and so I asked him to turn in here 
 for a bit just to see me. You don't mind, do 
 you ? " 
 
 ' Not at all, Peter," said the old man kindly, 
 " bring your friend in by all means." 
 
 They entered the hall. Elise, at a sign from 
 Jack went upstairs. 
 
 " Quite a merry party, eh, Doctor Watman ? ' 
 said Vincent, cheerily, as he strolled across to 
 the fireplace. " I never thought when I came 
 along here that I should have the pleasure of 
 seeing Mr. Jack Denham." 
 
 " I suppose not," said the old man. " He 
 is here for his health, Mr. Vincent, I may tell 
 you at once, and, as a matter of fact, not 
 allowed to see visitors." 
 
 Vincent, realising by the doctor's manner 
 that Jack had not given him away, felt a sense 
 of relief. He was safe at any rate, which 
 would not have been the case had the other 
 broken his word. But, after all, he reflected, 
 had he not known that Jack Denham 's word 
 was good, Jack would not have left Normanton 
 Hall alive. He turned affably to the old doctor. 
 
 " In that case I must apologise for my in- 
 trusion here. But I hope you will relax rules
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 215 
 
 a little in my case, for I would like very much 
 to have a word with your er patient, is he, 
 or er inmate ? ' 
 
 " Patient, Mr. Vincent," replied Watman 
 quietly. Somehow he did not care very much 
 for this young man, and hoped he would go 
 soon. He was annoyed that Peter had brought 
 him in without permission, but, since Peter 
 could not be regarded as responsible for his 
 actions, he had to let it pass. But the gate- 
 keeper should have his instructions and in the 
 meantime he must try and get rid of this man 
 as soon as possible. 
 
 " I will make an exception in your case," 
 he replied, " as you are a friend of his, but it 
 must only be for ten minutes." And then he 
 left them. 
 
 Peter, who had been watching his friend Jack, 
 with the uncanny intuition of those of his 
 mentality, sensed something wrong. He 
 couldn't make out what it was, and he wanted 
 to find out if he could ; so, while the doctor 
 was speaking, he, meaning no evil, and wishful 
 only to help his friend, stepped unnoticed 
 behind the heavy curtains in the big window 
 and listened. That all was not well he knew. 
 He had made some big mistake in bringing 
 this man here. He must, therefore, find out 
 what it was, and see what could be done to 
 rectify it. 
 
 " So this is where you are skulking, is it ?" 
 said Vincent, as the door closed behind the 
 doctor.
 
 216 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " That's a damned lie," retorted Jack angrily. 
 " I am here because my brother brought me, 
 by force, if you want to know." 
 
 " Poor martyr ! " sneered Vincent. " Pin- 
 ing away in hopeless captivity ! Well, the gods 
 are evidently working on my side for I have 
 found you in spite of all your precious brother's 
 elaborate manoeuvres, and I'll make it my busi- 
 ness to let Jim Sullivan know as soon as pos- 
 sible. I'm staying with friends in the neigh- 
 bourhood so I'll 'phone from there. What a 
 bit of blind luck for us, and what a cursed 
 bore for you ! Jim will think nothing of 
 waiting his chance of a pot shot at you from 
 one of those walls. He'll just love it, and 
 you can't warn them here, for that would mean 
 your giving me away, and if you do that you 
 know what's in store for your damned brother 
 and his girl, so I've just got you on toast." 
 
 " I begin to think that you are the worst 
 of the whole dirty gang," said Jack in utter 
 disgust, " not even excepting Jim Sullivan." 
 
 " Of course," went on Vincent, ignoring the 
 other's remark, " Jim will prefer it if he can 
 get hold of you alive, and put you to death 
 in his own funny little way. But he can't 
 afford to go on losing men as he is doing, first 
 Gaston and then Alf, so something has to be 
 done quickly." 
 
 " I most sincerely trust you will be the next," 
 said Jack with great fervour. " The man who 
 does you in will be worthy of a crown in 
 heaven."
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 217 
 
 Later, how bitterly did he regret those 
 words. 
 
 ' Well, that's your opinion," replied the other 
 carelessly, "and you know how much people 
 prize that." He turned and glanced round the 
 hall. " You've got a bright and roomy gaol 
 here. Any girls ? Or aren't they allowed 
 either ? " 
 
 " You hold your damned tongue," said Jack 
 furiously. 
 
 "Oh, so there are ! Well, you're not so 
 badly off after all. But I suppose I must 
 tear myself away, the ten minutes' interview 
 behind bars must be nearly over, and I think 
 I hear the doughty governor returning. How 
 many gaolers do they put over you ? ' 
 
 ' You had better clear out before I hurt you," 
 snapped Jack. 
 
 " No, no, my dear fellow, no violence, it 
 doesn't pay in these kind of places. If I know 
 anything of rules and regulations, it means 
 the black hole or padded cell or something 
 nasty of that sort, and I should hate to think 
 of you in either of them on my account." 
 
 He turned as Doctor Watman came in, and 
 Peter slipped through the open window out on 
 to the terrace. 
 
 " Is time up, doctor ? " asked Vincent. 
 " Your charge seems in fairly good health 
 and strength, if I may judge from his re- 
 marks. You do the inmates very well here, I 
 gather." 
 
 " Patients," repeated the doctor calmly.
 
 218 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Yes, I am happy to say he has greatly im- 
 proved since he came." 
 
 " And how long is he in for I mean here 
 for ? ' 
 
 ' Until he is well," was the reply, " and 
 certain grave disorders that may cause great 
 trouble and even threaten possible death are 
 removed. The time is indefinite." 
 
 " Quite neatly put, eh, Denham ? " said 
 Vincent, with a wink. " Well, so long, I ex- 
 pect I'll see you again shortly. Keep smiling, 
 I'll remember to give your messages and love 
 to dear friend Jim." Jack said nothing, and 
 Vincent did not attempt to shake hands. 
 He got into the car and then looked round. 
 
 " Where's Peter ? " he asked. " I want to 
 say good-bye to Peter. Ah, there you are." 
 
 For Peter, who had come through the window, 
 was beside him, smiling up into his face and 
 apparently unconscious of the harm he had 
 done. 
 
 " I've seen nothing of you, Bob," he said. 
 " Are you going ? " 
 
 " Unfortunately, I must," said he, with a 
 grim smile. 
 
 " Then I'll go with you for a bit along 
 the road and walk back. How will that 
 do?" 
 
 " Splendid ! " said the other, and Peter, 
 with a glance at the doctor, who nodded 
 approval, got in. 
 
 Musgrave turned to the doctor, " I'll go with 
 him, sir," he said, and sprang into the car.
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 219 
 
 "I'll only take him a short run, doctor," 
 called out Vincent. " S'long ! Cheerio, Den- 
 ham." He waved a hand to the scowling face 
 and drove off. 
 
 " A cool hand that," thought Jack, grimly. 
 ' I wonder if but hang it ! What else could 
 I have done ? I gave my word and must just 
 trust to luck. Poor old Peter, he has no 
 idea of the harm he has done. I hope that 
 scoundrel won't hurt him." He stood on 
 the terrace steps looking anxiously down the 
 drive. 
 
 The old doctor at his side gave a sigh. "I'm 
 glad Peter has met a friend," he said, " it 
 will cheer him up. Though," he added, frown- 
 ing slightly, " I can't say that I care much 
 for Mr. Vincent, though perhaps it is hardly 
 fair to judge on so short an acquaintance." 
 
 " I don't agree with you," replied Jack, 
 with a grin. "I'm all for first impressions 
 myself. It's marvellous how right one can be 
 sometimes. I don't like Vincent myself, and 
 er if I may be allowed to proffer some advice, 
 I shouldn't encourage our only Peter to see 
 any more of him. I hope he'll be all right," 
 he added, as a sudden uneasy sensation came to 
 him. 
 
 " Musgrave's with him," said the doctor. 
 "He's just devoted to Peter. But I think 
 you are right, my boy, I won't allow Vincent 
 in here again." 
 
 It was at that moment that Elise came back 
 into the room, and as the doctor left them she
 
 220 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 went up to Jack and looked anxiously in his 
 face. 
 
 " I heard what he said, Jack. So it was 
 Robert Vincent ? " 
 
 " I wonder," said Jack, by way of reply, 
 " how long it will be before dear old Jim starts 
 looking me up." 
 
 Elise put her hands on his shoulders and 
 looked anxiously into his eyes. " You must 
 tell Doctor Watman, Jack," she said. 
 
 " I can't, my dear, any more than you can. 
 But don't worry. It's a bore he knows where 
 I am, but he can't do anything. Jim and his 
 gang can't get in and they certainly can't 
 get me out, so I really don't see what good his 
 knowledge will do him." 
 
 But Elise All wood was not easily deceived. 
 " You are only saying that to ease my mind," 
 she said quietly, " but it does nothing of the 
 sort. Common sense tells me that it is nothing 
 short of a calamity that Vincent has found you, 
 and I don't care what promises I made you. 
 Honour can go to the four winds if you are in 
 danger. I shall tell the doctor. Besides," 
 she added, " we can't let anything poor Peter 
 did in all innocence turn out a calamity for 
 you." Jack smiled. 
 
 " My blessed angel," he said. " That sort 
 of argument won't wash, though, mark you, 
 I allow it's clever. I believe you women 
 could argue us into believing the devil a saint 
 if you wanted to, and prove it, what's more. 
 But it won't do. I had no right to tell you
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 221 
 
 about Vincent, but a man keeps no secrets 
 from his wife, and you are practically that 
 now. No, my dear, wait a bit, I promise you I'll 
 take no risks, besides I have no right to, 
 now that you belong to me and I to you." 
 
 "I'm afraid the doctor was right when he 
 said I had taken on more than I could manage," 
 sighed Elise, " though he thinks that perhaps 
 in time I shall be able to keep you in order." 
 They strolled away into the garden, and for a 
 time Vincent, Sullivan, and all connected with 
 them was forgotten. 
 
 It was nearly two hours later that they heard 
 running footsteps on the gravel road. Already 
 it was growing dark and the light was lit in 
 the hall. Jack and Elise were together on the 
 sofa, the doctor pacing anxiously up and down 
 the room. It was long past the time when 
 Peter should have returned. From uneasi- 
 ness he gave way to genuine anxiety. What 
 could have happened ? Jack, more anxious 
 even than the doctor for with his greater 
 knowledge of the man who had taken Peter 
 off he had greater reason tried to reassure 
 him. Any old thing such as tyre trouble might 
 have happened, he argued, or Vincent might 
 have forgotten the time, and 
 
 It was then that footsteps were heard 
 outside, the door was flung open, and Musgrave, 
 his face like chalk, his hands bleeding and 
 clothes torn, tottered into the hall. 
 
 " Oh, my God," he said, " they're gone ! 
 They are both gone ! " Then he gave a lurch
 
 222 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 forward, but caught at a table for support. 
 By this time the doctor and Jack were beside 
 him and gently helped him into a chair. 
 
 " Get me some brandy from the dining- 
 room, Denham," said the old man. 
 
 " Oh ! What has happened ? " cried Elise. 
 " Where is Peter ? ' 
 
 " Wait, my dear, let him drink this first, 
 he's too far gone to speak, poor fellow." 
 
 Presently the attendant raised his head. 
 " Thank you, sir. Ill try and tell you. It 
 was no one's fault nothing could have stopped 
 him. He went out to do it, I know that now." 
 
 " Yes, yes, man. Tell us what happened." 
 
 " It was on the cliff road you know those 
 awful rocks, sir, and how dangerous the road 
 is there, with those useless railings ? Mr. 
 Peter, sir, he was sitting by the driver, and 
 chatting away, like you know he does, when 
 suddenly he turns round to me. ' Old son,'- 
 says he," here the man suddenly choked, and 
 the doctor laid a gentle hand on his shoulder 
 " ' Old son tell those two, I wish them luck 
 and happiness, all they deserve. I rather 
 fancy they'll pull it off to-day/ and then, he 
 says " here the man paused once more, and 
 gulped hard " he says, ' you've been a brick 
 to me God bless you. Tell Jack I'm going 
 to gain a crown in heaven,' and the next 
 minute, before I could gather my wits to- 
 gether he had wrenched the wheel round and 
 flung himself across Mr. Vincent. We were 
 going pretty fast I had got to my feet, and
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 223 
 
 the sudden swerve of the car and crash, as 
 she hit the rails, sent me off my balance. The 
 next instant, Mr. Peter had flung out an arm 
 and given me a violent push. I was thrown 
 out of the car and on to the edge of the cliff, 
 and I saw oh, my God ! will it ever leave my 
 memory while I live ! I saw the car go over. 
 I heard a scream from Mr. Vincent, and a 
 laugh from Mr. Peter. You know that cliff, 
 sir, and just there, there's a sort of hole. You 
 remember a cow fell down there last year, 
 and had to be left. Well, that's where they 
 went down, smashed to bits they must have been 
 long before they reached the bottom." 
 
 There was a pause, the old doctor had sunk 
 into a chair and buried his face in his hands. 
 Jack, white-faced, horror-stricken, stood there 
 unable to utter a word, while Elise, on the sofa, 
 where she had collapsed, sobbed unrestrainedly. 
 
 " I crawled over, part way down, to see if I 
 could could do anything," went on the man, 
 in a choking voice; "but there was nothing 
 to be done, sir, nothing nothing. Poor Mr. 
 Peter, I was that fond of him ! And to think 
 I shan't see him again no more walks 
 no more games oh, it's cruel, hard ! My God ! 
 
 It's cruel, hard ! I would sooner " A sob 
 
 choked the rest of his words. 
 
 The doctor put a kindly hand on his shoulder. 
 
 " Poor fellow," he said, " I know, I know. 
 We were all fond of Peter," his voice shook, 
 but with an effort he got control of himself. 
 " Do you think, then, that he meant to do
 
 224 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 this when he went off with him, or was it only 
 a sudden idea a mad craze ? You know, 
 Musgrave, there were times when he was almost 
 violent." 
 
 "Oh, no, sir, it wasn't that. He was as 
 sane as you or I when he did it. He must 
 have had some idea something was wrong, 
 that Mr. Vincent was an enemy of Mr. Den- 
 ham's. Perhaps he heard something in the 
 hall, for I saw him come out of the window 
 looking rather queer scared-like " 
 
 " What ? " broke in Jack. " You saw him 
 come out of the window ? " There was horror 
 in his eyes. ' Then he must have heard what 
 Vincent and I were saying. ood God, doctor, 
 this is all my fault." Hurriedly, in halting, 
 shaken words, he explained the facts to the 
 two men. " I never knew he was there ! " he 
 ended, with a groan. " Oh ! I'll never forgive 
 myself, never. What a curse I am to every- 
 one ! The sooner they come and pot me off, 
 the better." 
 
 Quietly, the old doctor reasoned with him. 
 
 " You can't blame yourself, my boy," he 
 said. " You could not in honour go back on 
 your word to Vincent, and you did not know 
 that Peter was there and heard. Of course, 
 it explains everything. He knew he had done 
 wrong in bringing Vincent here, and he tried 
 to make good, poor fellow. He knew that if 
 Vincent lived to 'phone to his friends it would 
 probably mean your death, Jack. He de- 
 liberately, therefore, made up his mind as to
 
 METHOD IN HIS MADNESS 225 
 
 what he should do. Call it murder if you will, 
 it is not so to me, and I doubt if the Recording 
 Angel will mark it down against him. It 
 will be called insanity, of course the act of a 
 madman, which I suppose it was after all." 
 
 " He was as sane as you, sir, when he did it," 
 said Musgrave, doggedly. "If it were not so, 
 would he have pushed me deliberately out of 
 .the car ? " 
 
 " I wonder," said the doctor. " I wonder."
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 TWO WOMEN 
 
 DR. WATMAN paced slowly along the 
 wide stone terrace in front of his 
 house, his hands clasped behind him, 
 his head bent. By his side walked a power- 
 fully built man, who every now and then 
 glanced at him anxiously. 
 
 " Sit down, sir, won't you ? ' he said. 
 " You will tire yourself, and God knows you 
 have been through enough already without 
 that." 
 
 " No, Musgrave, I'm better on my feet, I 
 can't keep still," said the old doctor. " I 
 want to think " 
 
 " Don't do that, sir, thinking does no good, 
 but talking does. I know a good deal of what 
 has happened, sir, but I don't rightly know 
 it all, and if you wouldn't mind, sir, I should 
 be grateful if you would tell me exactly what 
 has been going on these last two months," 
 said the man. 
 
 He knew that it was better for the doctor 
 to talk than to think, and he wanted, in his 
 
 rough way to help him. 
 
 326
 
 TWO WOMEN 227 
 
 ' Tell me what you know, Musgrave," said 
 Dr. Wat man. 
 
 " I know that Mr. Jack Denham has got 
 mixed up in a lot of trouble, and had his life 
 threatened, and that's why he is here with you, 
 out of harm's way. I know that the lady, 
 Mrs. Allwood, who is here for a rest cure, 
 and to whom he is now engaged, was the lady 
 who rang up her brother on the telephone in 
 London, over two months ago, asking him to 
 go to her rescue as her drunken husband was 
 threatening to kill her. From what I under- 
 stand Exchange rang up Mr. Denham instead, 
 by mistake, and he went. But how he got 
 mixed up with that gang of criminals I don't 
 know." 
 
 " It was very simple," said the doctor. " He 
 thought she said her number was 18, Staveley 
 Road, and it was 80 ; he went to No. 18 and 
 got trapped in a gambling hell. He escaped 
 with his life. But since then he has been 
 threatened by them with death and three times 
 they have nearly succeeded. You know Mr. 
 Denham, Musgrave, threats only make him 
 the more determined ; so at last his brother, 
 Captain Denham, brought him here out of 
 harm's way." 
 
 " Well, I expect the police will get on to 
 them soon," said Musgrave. " Inspector Har- 
 per of the Yard, is helping, isn't he ? ' 
 
 " Yes," replied the doctor. "He's a good 
 man. All they want now is to spot the house 
 where Sullivan and his gang meet. If Mr.
 
 228 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Denham knew the place, I would be inclined 
 to let him go and help them, but he doesn't, 
 and that means danger." 
 
 " From what I know of Mr. Denham, sir," 
 said the other quietly, " I doubt his wanting 
 to help the police. He wants to get on to the 
 gang himself, and get some of his own back. 
 It's mad, of course, but I can quite understand 
 it after all he's gone through." 
 
 " Well, he'll never be allowed to do that while 
 I can prevent it," said the doctor. " His 
 brother, before he went, pointed out that if 
 this gang ever found out his present where- 
 abouts, they would resort to every possible 
 means of getting hold of him. They might 
 even, he said, try ringing him up or wiring 
 in Mr. Denham's name, and that unless I 
 was absolutely certain the message came from 
 him, I was not to let him go. So you see how 
 strongly he thinks about it. However, now 
 that he has met the lady of his heart and they 
 are together here, I don't worry so much about 
 Mr. Jack Denham. Nothing short of force will 
 get him away from here." 
 
 They talked on. The evening was drawing 
 in. Up and down the two men paced, until 
 the gong sent the doctor up to his room to 
 change for dinner. He reflected that the meal 
 would be a gloomy one. There was no Peter 
 Smithson there to liven them up with his some- 
 times nonsensical, sometimes most wise re- 
 marks. Only Jack Denham and Elise Allwood, 
 happy together in their love, but a happiness
 
 TWO WOMEN 229 
 
 spoilt for them by the tragedy that had hap- 
 pened. 
 
 Before the gong sounded for the evening 
 meal, the three strolled on to the terrace. Away 
 in the woods, owls hooted eerily; across the 
 lawn was the sparkle and glimmer of the 
 lake. 
 
 " It's getting chilly," said the old doctor. 
 " Elise, my dear, you should go in." 
 
 " No," she said, " not yet. Let us walk a 
 bit longer. Neither Jack nor I can sit still, 
 you know." 
 
 It was then that Barton, one of the atten- 
 dants, hurried out on to the terrace. 
 
 " Is Mr. Denham there, sir ? " he asked. 
 ' Yes," said Jack. " What is it ? ' 
 
 " There's a trunk call for you, sir London 
 a lady wants to speak to you urgently. Will 
 you come ? ' 
 
 " A lady ? ' said Jack. " Who on earth 
 can it be ? No one knows I am here." He 
 hurried inside, the other two following directly 
 behind. 
 
 Jack took up the receiver. ' Yes," he said. 
 " Who is it speak slower yes good God ! 
 You ! How did you know I was here ? What 
 Edward ! They've got him he's what ? 
 Being starved to death ! No no ! I don't 
 believe it this is a plant to get me no I 
 
 see . Yes, I believe you I'll come now, 
 
 of course but I must go for the police you 
 know that. Oh, very well for your sake, I 
 promise I'll come alone, and I'll wait at the
 
 230 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 rooms in Lennox Street until you ring up and 
 say you are by yourself. Thank you, kid. 
 Tell him I'm coming I won't fail yes, I 
 know the house Brandscomes. God bless you 
 for what you are doing." 
 
 The receiver went down, and Jack, white- 
 faced, turned to the others. 
 
 "It's Edward " he said hoarsely. 
 
 " They've got him and are starving him into 
 telling them where I am. Will you let me have 
 your car, Elise ? ' 
 
 " Wait, Denham," said the doctor quietly. 
 " What is all this ? Tell me quietly, who rang 
 you up ? ' 
 
 " The girl Molly, one of the gang," he said. 
 " The girl who twice saved my life she says 
 they have got Edward down in a cellar and 
 are starving him. I must go at once, doctor." 
 
 " Wait " he said again. " How comes 
 
 it that she was able to ring you up ? She says 
 your brother is to be starved into telling them 
 where you are. How is that if she already 
 knows ? ' 
 
 " She says she got a chance to get to him 
 when they were out of the house, and he gave 
 her my address " 
 
 " Edward gave it," repeated the doctor. 
 
 " Yes " said Jack, desperately. " She 
 
 won't tell them, she wants me to go and help 
 to get him away, as she can't move the trap- 
 door herself, and if he isn't moved soon, he will, 
 through very pain and weakness, give in and 
 tell them what they want to know, and she
 
 TWO WOMEN 231 
 
 doesn't want me hurt. Can't you see, doctor? 
 It's all quite plain to me." 
 
 " And it is equally plain to me," was the 
 quiet reply. 
 
 " Who is this girl ? " demanded Elise. " Can 
 she be relied on ? Can any of them ? Isn't 
 she fooling you, Jack ? " 
 
 "No," he said. " She wouldn't lie to me 
 besides, the proof of it is that she knows where 
 I am. No one but Eddy would tell her or 
 could. Can't you see that ? " 
 
 " Stop a minute," said the old man. " Let 
 us get this right. She knows where you are. 
 Well, the last person in the world to tell her is 
 Edward, your brother. No wait until I have 
 done. Now think a bit ! Yesterday comes 
 Robert Vincent in this neighbourhood. Why ? 
 He says to stay with friends. Obviously that 
 was a lie, and is proved so now. They must 
 have traced you here, and he came down 
 to see if it were true. Possibly he knew his 
 one-time friend, Peter Smithson, was shut up 
 here, and failing to meet him outside he would 
 boldly call, and find out. He was spared that 
 by meeting him. He was expected back 
 something prevents his friends suspect that 
 he may be detained here. So, in order to get 
 you, they try ringing up this house, where 
 they suspect you are, and tell you this insane 
 yarn about your brother. My dear fellow, 
 it is as clear as daylight. A very clever scheme, 
 I grant you, but in this instance it fails." 
 
 " Fails ! How ? " demanded Jack.
 
 232 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " It fails simply because they will not gel 
 you that way," said the old man, quietly. 
 
 ' What ? " exclaimed the young man angrily. 
 " Do you mean that you don't believe this 
 girl is telling me the truth, and that you will 
 prevent my going ? My God, man, Edward 
 is calling for me. I must go I am bound to 
 go ! Elise, for God's sake let me have your 
 car I've got to go to-night now there's 
 not a moment to be lost. How long do I know 
 he has been there ? And then when I get to 
 my rooms, I have to wait until she rings me 
 up to say the coast is clear. Elise, for God's 
 sake, speak ! " 
 
 "Oh, Jack- she cried " What am 
 
 I to say ? ' She clasped her hands in agony. 
 " I know you think the girl is telling the truth, 
 but I can't believe it. Why should she ? " 
 
 " Why ? " he cried. " Why ? I'll tell you 
 why." He was desperate and did not weigh 
 his words. " I believe she likes me, cares for 
 me that's why she helped me before. That's 
 why she doesn't want Eddy to give in and tell 
 them where I am. That's why ! She is noth- 
 ing to me, you know that but well, surely 
 you, a woman, can understand." 
 
 For a moment Elise Allwood stood silent, 
 a deep, angry flush on her face. This girl 
 this criminal, this low, vulgar harlot, to dare 
 to care for her Jack in that way ! Indigna- 
 tion kept her silent. 
 
 " Elise ! " he cried. " For God's sake say 
 something tell them to get your car I must
 
 TWO WOMEN 233 
 
 have it I must ! By God ! " he cried angrily 
 turning to the silent doctor. " If you try to 
 stop me you'll be sorry for it. Tell them to 
 get the car round, do you hear ? ' 
 
 For answer the old man put his hand behind 
 him and pressed the electric bell twice. 
 
 " Yes/' he said. " Wait a minute, my boy. 
 Don't get into this excited state. Try and 
 calm yourself, and get the hang of the thing. 
 Surely you can see that you are being duped. 
 Surely you can see that this is a trap into which 
 you are going to walk blindly. Ah ! There 
 you are, Musgrave and you, Barton. Just 
 stand by those two doors, I don't want anyone 
 to leave here just for the moment ' 
 
 The two men took up their places, and stood 
 motionless. Jack, white with anger now, glared 
 at the doctor. 
 
 Elise caught his arm. " Jack, Jack," she 
 said, " don't do anything foolish. Wait, dear 
 old boy, let us think and talk a bit before we 
 decide to do anything." 
 
 " Talk ! " he echoed. " We have done enough 
 of that ; while we stand talking here Eddy is 
 being tortured over there. I have got to go 
 
 to him. Look here " he turned desperately 
 
 to the doctor, " you doubt that girl, and I 
 acknowledge that it is quite natural, for you 
 don't know her, and I do. But to satisfy 
 me and yourself, for God's sake ring up Mrs. 
 Jenkins, our servant at the rooms in Lennox 
 Street. If Eddy is not there you will know 
 what she says is true."
 
 234 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " That is an excellent idea," said Doctor 
 Watman. He turned to the telephone. " It 
 will be some time before we get on, I 
 fear." he said. " However, I am prepared 
 to wait all night if it will bring you ease 
 of mind, my dear boy. The only thing I 
 am not prepared to do, until I am satisfied, 
 is to let you go on this worse than wild goose 
 chase." 
 
 Jack paced up and down the hall in gloomy 
 silence. Elise sat still thinking hard. 
 Gradually a feeling was beginning to dawn on 
 her that after all, this girl, who loved her Jack 
 might be speaking the truth. At least she 
 would not of her own act get him into danger. 
 Therefore, unless it was to save his brother, 
 and incidentally himself, for she believed it 
 possible for Edward to give way under torture, 
 why should she call for him to come ? It 
 was pretty evident that unless the doctor had 
 distinct proof of Jack's immunity from harm 
 he would not let him go, and a plan began to 
 form in her mind. 
 
 At last the tension was broken by the ringing 
 of the bell. 
 
 The doctor spoke. " Yes, is that Mrs. Jen- 
 kins ? Doctor Watman speaking. Is Mr. Ed- 
 ward Denham at home ? Oh, staying with 
 friends. A slight accident, you say. Did he 
 say who he was staying with ? Ah, that's a 
 pity. You are not anxious on his account ? 
 That's all right then. He often stays a night 
 with friends, does he ? Good ! Yes, thanks
 
 TWO WOMEN 235 
 
 he is quite well. No, nothing more, thanks. 
 Good-bye." 
 
 "So said Jack eagerly. "He's not 
 
 there well are you satisfied now, doctor ? ''' 
 
 " I am more than satisfied that this is a most 
 deliberate and well thought out plan," was 
 the reply. " Not only do they try and make 
 you believe that cock and bull story, but they 
 give verisimilitude to it, knowing that you 
 would naturally ring up Jenkins, by causing 
 your brother to meet with a slight accident, 
 possibly a taxi run into by another, and he 
 goes to a friend's house for the night. Your 
 brother has hosts of friends in London. He 
 would ask to be taken to the nearest, and 
 Jenkins would be informed." 
 
 " You are mad, doctor," cried Jack. " If 
 Eddy had gone to a friend's house, he would 
 have told Jenkins who it was. Man, man ! 
 Can't you see ? Won't you see ? Are you 
 blind to what is so obvious to me ? No 
 I suppose you can't see but by God you 
 won't stop me from going to him. I'll go if 
 I have to fight my way out," and with that he 
 had gone to the door. " Stand aside, and let 
 me pass," he said to Musgrave who barred 
 his way. " You have no right to stop me, 
 and I'm going d'you hear ? Stand out of 
 my way or 
 
 He raised a threatening arm, and the next 
 instant was lying his length on the floor, with 
 Musgrave kneeling beside him, one knee on 
 his chest.
 
 236 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 "Oh, don't let them hurt him," cried Elise, 
 clinging to the old man. 
 
 " All right, my dear," he said, quietly. 
 ' They know better than that, have no fear. 
 Besides, I expect your young man realises 
 now that this sort of thing won't do." 
 
 " Come, sir," said Musgrave. " Don't 
 struggle, or I'm afraid I shall hurt you. Take 
 it quietly, sir." 
 
 There was a moment's pause. 
 
 "All right," said Jack. "Let go I see 
 it's no use." He rose to his feet. " You 
 will regret this one day, doctor," he said through 
 set teeth. 
 
 " I regret it now, bitterly," said the old man. 
 " But there was no other course. Yes, Mus- 
 grave, take Mr. Denham upstairs. I'll come 
 and see him presently, and after he has had his 
 dinner I will bring something to make him 
 sleep." 
 
 Elise watched them go. Her heart bled for 
 her boy, for she knew that he must be right, 
 yet she was powerless to help, and she knew, 
 also, that nothing she could say would alter 
 the doctor's determination. He too, felt that 
 he was right. Well, between them, these men 
 had made a desperate mess of things. It was 
 left to her, a woman, to try and put them 
 right. 
 
 The meal was a gloomy one, and they were 
 both thankful when it was over. 
 
 "I'm going up to my room," she said, 
 presently. " It has all upset me horribly
 
 TWO WOMEN 237 
 
 but I don't see what else you could have done, 
 and I don't see Jack doing other than he did. 
 May I see him to say ' good-night ? ' 
 
 " Of course, my dear, and try and make him 
 see reason. I hate the necessity for my action, 
 but he left me nothing else to do. Good- 
 night, my dear." 
 
 She left him and hurried upstairs. Already 
 that plan, so vaguely thought of had matured. 
 
 The door was opened at her knock. 
 
 " I want to see Mr. Denham," she said to 
 Barton. 
 
 ' Yes, madam, he is in his sitting-room." 
 
 She hurried in. Jack was pacing up and 
 down liked a caged beast. He glared at 
 her for a moment and then caught her in his 
 arms. 
 
 " Thank you for coming, dear," he said. 
 "I'm in hell. I know I'm right, and if some- 
 thing isn't done, I shall go mad. That brute 
 Musgrave was too many for me. My God ! 
 Can nothing be done ? ' 
 
 " Yes, dear," she said. "I'm going myself 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " You are going where ? ' he demanded, 
 incredulous, amazed. 
 
 " I am going up in the car to-morrow to 
 take your place," she repeated. ' You must 
 write a letter to Mrs. Jenkins, telling her that 
 I may stay at your rooms, and you must 
 tell me how to find this house at Golder's 
 Green. For I'm going there, and nothing 
 shall stop me. The girl wants help, and I
 
 238 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 am strong between us, dear old boy, the 
 two women who love Jack Denham, shall 
 rescue his brother. No don't look like that, 
 or argue, I have made up my mind, and I 
 am going." 
 
 " I won't let you," he cried. " Think of 
 the risk. Oh, my God ! Elise, you must 
 not dream of it. It is wonderful and brave of 
 you, but I won't let you do it." 
 
 " Risk ! There is no risk ! " she said. 
 " You believe that the girl is telling the truth, 
 don't you ? ' 
 
 " Of course, I know it ! " he said. " But 
 you can't go to that place alone I won't let 
 you ! " 
 
 " And how are you going to prevent me ? 
 You poor boy, you can't even help yourself. 
 Doctor Watman will keep you here until you, 
 as he thinks, come to your senses. You can't 
 stop me, and if you tell him, it will make no 
 difference. I am my own mistress. I shall 
 go for a drive in my car to-morrow, no one 
 will prevent me, and I shall simply start right 
 off to London. Now, sit down and write that 
 letter to Mrs. Jenkins, and then describe this 
 house to me." 
 
 Jack argued, pleaded . At last seeing 
 
 the futility of all arguments, all entreaties, 
 and desperately anxious for his brother he 
 gave in, and did her bidding. 
 
 " You are the most wonderful woman in 
 all the world," he said, hoarsely, as he folded 
 her in his arms.
 
 TWO WOMEN 239 
 
 "I'm only an ordinary, sensible human 
 being," she said. " This is the only thing to 
 do, and therefore I am going to do it. I'll 
 'phone as soon as I have got your brother safe. 
 You see, I have no idea of failing. Now, dear, 
 promise to be quiet and give no more trouble. 
 It does no good you know." 
 
 " I promise," he said. " Anything you tell 
 me, darling, there is nothing that I would not 
 do for you." 
 
 ' That's brave of you," said she, tenderly. 
 " Far braver than what I am doing. For I 
 risk nothing. Good-bye, dear." 
 
 She was gone. 
 
 It was a very quiet and altogether docile 
 Jack Denham whom the doctor found when he 
 came up a short time afterwards, and he took 
 the draught he gave him and drank it without a 
 protest. 
 
 " You'll think differently about it all, after 
 a good night's rest, my boy," he said kindly. 
 " It's wonderful," he thought as he left the 
 room, " what power a good woman has over a 
 man." 
 
 Elise Allwood, at breakfast, calmly announced 
 her intention of motoring up to London. 
 
 " I am not satisfied," she said, in answer to 
 the doctor's mild protest. " And so I'm going 
 to find out for myself." 
 
 " But what can you possibly do ? ' he 
 inquired, in blank astonishment.
 
 240 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " I can do what any ordinary sensible woman 
 can do, I suppose. Make inquiries, and failing 
 any satisfactory replies, I can call in Inspector 
 Harper." 
 
 " But, my dear, it is not a woman's job/' 
 he protested. 
 
 " You are old-fashioned, doctor,' she retorted. 
 " Any job is a woman's job nowadays. The 
 War altered all that for us. Thank God I 
 am strong and well again, and I'll do what I 
 can to help Jack. Of course, I quite see your 
 point of view, and appreciate it ; you could not, 
 after what his brother said, do anything else ; 
 but there is also the chance that Jack may be 
 right, and as another person's life depends on 
 it, I feel it my duty at least to do what I can to 
 find out. Jack can't go, but I can. So that's 
 all there is about it. I'll ring you up as soon as 
 I know one way or the other." 
 
 She waved protests and arguments aside. 
 To a suggestion that Musgrave should accom- 
 pany her, she laughed. " I want no blundering 
 men on this job," she said. "It's entirely a 
 woman's affair. Jack knows all about it, and 
 carried on about the risk in the same ridiculous 
 way that you are doing. There's no risk at 
 all, I assure you. I'm going so that's all 
 there is about it." 
 
 And of course, she went. 
 
 She reached Lennox Street late that night, 
 and presented Jack's letter to the surprised 
 Mrs. Jenkins. 
 
 ' Very good, ma'am," she said, when she
 
 TWO WOMEN 241 
 
 had read it. "I'll have dinner brought in 
 directly." Herbert told her where the garage 
 was, and when she had taken the car round, 
 and intimated that it might be wanted at 
 any moment, she returned to the rooms in 
 Lennox Street. 
 
 " I can't understand about Captain Denham, 
 ma'am," said young Jenkins, as he arranged 
 the things on the dining-table. " He gave no 
 address, and we have heard nothing since. 
 I am beginning to be rather afraid that some- 
 thing serious has happened." 
 
 ' That's why I am here," she said. " Have 
 there been any calls on the telephone, Jenkins ? " 
 
 "Not for the last two days, ma'am," he 
 replied. 
 
 So the girl was not ready for her yet. If 
 it was true, then poor Edward Denham had been 
 in those brutes' hands for two days and nights. 
 How long, she wondered, could one exist 
 without food and drink ? Her heart misgave 
 her. Ought she not to fling honour to the winds 
 and call in the police ? Jack had promised 
 the girl to go alone, and therefore she was in 
 honour bound to do the same, as she went in 
 his place. But, did not the circumstances give 
 her the right to fling all that aside and go 
 before it was too late, with sufficient force to 
 
 break in and ? No, it did not. It was 
 
 not playing the game. If the girl spoke the 
 truth, she was risking a good deal herself to 
 save Edward Denham. It was not for Elise 
 
 to punish her for what she did, and that is 
 
 Q
 
 242 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 what it meant if she brought in the police. 
 Jack would not have done so, therefore neither 
 could she. She ate her meal, and afterwards 
 paced the room in ceaseless anxiety. When 
 twelve o'clock struck and still there was no 
 telephone call she went to bed. All the follow- 
 ing morning, and all the afternoon she waited, 
 her heart sinking as each hour dragged by. 
 How long could Edward hold out ? Nearly 
 three days now. What state would he be in 
 when she found him ? Nine o'clock half- 
 past. At last ! A violent ring close by her 
 brought her with a cry to the 'phone she 
 deepened her voice as she spoke. 
 
 ' Yes who is it ? ' 
 
 " Is that you, boy ? ' came a woman's 
 voice. 
 
 ' Yes, Jack Denham speaking," said she. 
 
 " Come at once I am alone for the next 
 two hours. Bring a flask with brandy, I have 
 none and dare not leave. Hurry, boy." 
 
 "I'm off now," said Elise. She rang for 
 Jenkins. " Get Captain Denham's room ready," 
 she said hurriedly. " I have just heard about 
 him, and shall be bringing him here he is ill. 
 See to everything, Jenkins, I must go." 
 
 She left the bewildered manservant and 
 hurried to the car. Soon she was navigating 
 the crowded streets, coolly and calmly steering 
 her way through. If ever coolness and courage 
 were to stand her in good stead, now was the 
 occasion. But she never lost her nerves, though 
 they were strung to breaking point.
 
 TWO WOMEN 243 
 
 Finchley Road had to be gained and then 
 the broad highway to Golder's Green. In her 
 pocket was a flask of brandy. So, Edward 
 must be weak, poor fellow. Well, thank God, 
 she was unusually strong for a woman, and the 
 Cornish air had braced her into health and 
 strength again. Finchley Road at last and now 
 the houses were growing fewer. She glanced 
 at her watch as she passed a street lamp. 
 Ten o'clock. An hour and a half to do it in 
 surely that would be time enough ? Unless these 
 people returned before their time. But she 
 would not consider that for a moment. The 
 girl had said she would be two hours alone. 
 That was enough for her to think about. At 
 last the curiously coloured gates were reached, 
 and they were open. She swept round the curve, 
 drew up at the entrance door of a modern villa, 
 and sprang out. As she reached the top 
 step the door was opened noiselessly. It was 
 dark outside, for there were clouds over the 
 moon. 
 
 " Is it you, boy ? " came a voice. 
 
 And without answering she squeezed past 
 the opening. ' Yes," she said. " It's me." 
 
 The passage was in darkness. 
 
 ' Who are you ? " came a voice, close by 
 her. 
 
 " Is there a light anywhere ? " said Elise. 
 " I am Jack Denham's friend. He can't come 
 himself, so I am here instead. Take me to the 
 light so that you can see." 
 
 " A woman ! " said the voice, incredulously.
 
 244 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Yes, a woman but strong and able to 
 help." 
 
 She felt a hand clutch her wrist, and then 
 found herself being hurried along a narrow 
 passage. A door was opened, and they were in 
 a lighted room. She looked at the girl before 
 her dark pretty, but pale as death and with 
 wide, staring eyes. 
 
 " How is it you have come, and not him ? ' 
 she demanded. 
 
 " He can't come," replied Elise, quietly. 
 " He is detained there by Dr. Watman, who won't 
 let him go, for he believes your call was a 
 hoax 
 
 " And you didn't you believe that too ? ' 
 asked the other, with a short laugh. 
 
 ' Why, no, or I wouldn't be here now." 
 
 " I suppose the police are with you ? " said 
 Molly in a hard voice. 
 
 " Of course not Jack promised to go alone, 
 so of course I had to do the same." 
 
 " Is this true ? ' she demanded. " You 
 came here alone ? Here ? " 
 
 " Of course," said Elise, simply. " Why 
 not ? I knew you would not hurt me, and you 
 were by yourself." 
 
 " I might not have been and it might after 
 all have been a hoax as you call it," said the 
 girl dryly. 
 
 " I know but I had to risk that," was the 
 reply. 
 
 ' You are brave," said Molly, in a different 
 tone, and now there was admiration in her
 
 TWO WOMEN 245 
 
 eyes. " And you are beautiful. I suppose 
 you have come for Jack's sake, you love him ? 
 That's it isn't it ? ' % 
 
 ' Yes," said Elise, simply. " I love him, 
 so I'm here, you see it's all quite simple, and you 
 who love him too, will know how little danger 
 and risk counts, when you want to help the man 
 you love." 
 
 ' What do you know about me ? " demanded 
 the other, flushing angrily. 
 
 " Only what Jack has told me. How you 
 saved him twice, and now this what you are 
 doing for him. Do you think it was so difficult 
 to guess ? ' 
 
 " I suppose not and I suppose you hate me 
 for it, and despise me you know w r hat I am, 
 what my life is. You and your Jack are not 
 of my world. Aren't you afraid to come 
 here ? " 
 
 " Afraid ? Why ? ' said Elise. " And 
 why should I hate and despise you ? Far 
 from it, I admire you tremendously. I think 
 you are wonderful. You have played the game 
 all through with Jack you are playing it now, 
 risking perhaps your life. Hate you, despise 
 you ! Oh, no, no ! A thousand times no ! " 
 
 ' You say this you ? ' cried the other, 
 staring at her " And yet you know what I 
 am, and that I love your Jack you say this 
 to me ? ' 
 
 ' Why, yes it's because I am so sorry 
 sorry that Jack can never be anything to you. 
 For vou see, I know what it is to love him,
 
 246 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 and when love is a joy to me who possess him, 
 it can only be a tragedy for the woman who 
 loses him. Oh, Molly, don't cry, dear, you 
 must keep strong if we are to help this poor 
 man. There, my dear, kiss me." She threw 
 her arms round the girl's shaking shoulders 
 and drew her close. 
 
 At last the sobs ceased, and Molly drew 
 herself out of the other's embrace, and looked 
 up into her face. " You are a good woman," 
 she said. " Just the right woman for Jack. 
 And you are the first woman of your sort who 
 
 has ever thought me fit to kiss ! I 
 
 won't forget that. It has done me good, 
 I feel somehow different to what I have ever 
 done before. Even Jack is not quite good 
 enough for you. Come, let's get to work," 
 she went on, suddenly stooping and raising 
 the carpet. ' That poor man is sick down 
 there. I haven't been able to get near him. 
 Have you brandy, you'll want it." 
 
 Elise showed her flask. 
 
 " Now, help me," went on Molly. "It's this 
 trap-door I can't raise. I'm not strong, you 
 see." 
 
 " I am," said Elise. 
 
 She knelt down and exerted all her strength. 
 At first she thought that even she must fail, 
 but at last it moved, and she got one hand 
 under, then both then with the help of 
 the other, they turned it crashing on to the 
 floor. 
 
 "It's all right," said Molly. "There's no
 
 TWO WOMEN 247 
 
 one here. Do you see those steps ? Well, 
 take this candle, and go down carefully. You'll 
 have to help him, I think he's too ill and weak 
 to walk alone but make him do his best. 
 I'll wait here and help him as he comes up. 
 Hurry, they said they would be two hours, 
 but I'm never quite sure of them." 
 
 Elise took the candle, and scrambled down 
 the ladder. She was horribly afraid of what 
 she would find there. When her feet reached 
 the ground she felt almost sick with anxiety, 
 for there had been no sound, not even a groan. 
 Was Edward dead ? Then she turned and 
 held up the candle. A dark figure lay on the 
 floor close up against the wall, and the candle 
 gleam lit up the whiteness of the face. It 
 was Edward Denham. She had only seen 
 him once, the day after he had brought his 
 brother down to the house in Cornwall 
 and how changed now ? He was staring at 
 her. 
 
 " Is that Molly ? " came a cracked voice. 
 
 She hurried to his side, and knelt down. 
 " No, it's Elise Allwood and I've come to help 
 you." 
 
 " Water ! " he gasped. " Water, that's all 
 I want." 
 
 She put her arms under his shoulders and 
 raised him up, then she put the flask to his 
 lips. " It's only weak," she said. " But it 
 will do you more good than plain water. Now, 
 can you walk, do you think ? Don't ask 
 questions, I'll explain everything afterwards.
 
 248 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 What we have to do now is to get out of this 
 place." 
 
 " Yes, I can walk," he said. 
 
 And with her assistance he got to his feet. 
 She put an arm round him, and somehow 
 they reached the ladder. 
 
 " You have got to get up there," said Elise. 
 " You must forget how ill you feel, Mr. Den- 
 ham, forget everything but that we have to 
 get away from here." 
 
 " Yes," he said, " I'll do my best." 
 
 He caught at the ladder rung and she helped 
 him. It was slow work, for he was giddy 
 and lost his footing, but at last Molly had 
 caught hold of him and presently he was sitting 
 on the floor of the little room drinking thirstily 
 of the water she gave him. 
 
 " Not too much," said Elise. " I must get 
 him to the car, Molly." 
 
 ' Yes," said the girl. " And then come back 
 and fix me up. They have got to find me 
 bound and gagged, or I shan't be able to account 
 for his going see ? ' 
 
 " I see," said Elise. " And of course you 
 are right." 
 
 She got Edward Denham into the car. 
 
 " Don't leave me," he said, weakly. " That 
 place, the dark and the cold has made a coward 
 of me." 
 
 " You're all right," she said, gently. " And 
 not a bit of a coward, poor dear. Just sit 
 there, I shan't be long, I promise you." She 
 ran back to the room.
 
 TWO WOMEN 249 
 
 " Take this curtain cord," said Molly. " It 
 will look more natural, and tie my handker- 
 chief round my mouth." She sat down on 
 the sofa. " Tie it tight," she said, " so that 
 I can't get out of it, or they'll smell a rat 
 they're damned cute all of 'em." 
 
 Elise did as she bade her. "I'm afraid it 
 hurts, Molly," she said, frowning. 
 
 " I can't help it if it does hurry do ! 
 Now, my ankles, with the other end." 
 
 Then she took the handkerchief, but first 
 stooped down and kissed her. " God bless 
 you, Molly," she said. Then she tied the 
 handkerchief over her mouth. " Hadn't I 
 better turn out the light ? I see you've left 
 the trap-door open ? Nod, if yes and shake, 
 if you mean no." 
 
 Molly nodded her head. Then the room 
 was in darkness, and Elise Allwood went out. 
 In the car she gave him brandy again. 
 
 "Don't try to talk," she said. "Well 
 get home first." 
 
 Young Jenkins met her at the door. At 
 the sight of his master's white, worn face, 
 he uttered a gasp of horror. 
 
 " Help him in, Jenkins. I'll tell you 
 all about it later. Has anyone rung me 
 up?' 
 
 " Mr. Jack Denham rung up an hour ago 
 to ask if you were here. I told him you had 
 gone out to bring back Mr. Edward." They 
 were up the stairs now, and inside the sitting- 
 room.
 
 250 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Get him to bed, Jenkins, I'll ring up the 
 doctor and Jack." 
 
 Edward Denham turned to her. " I want 
 to see Doctor Watman," he said. ' Tell him 
 to come. But first, I want to thank you 
 
 " Ah, no," she cried. " Please don't. I 
 came only because the doctor wouldn't let 
 Jack go he thought it was a plant you see. 
 Now go to bed, please. Dr. Watman will be 
 here to-morrow and look after you. In the 
 meantime I'll do my best until he comes." 
 
 Edward Denham raised her hand to his lips. 
 " You are the bravest woman I know," he said, 
 hoarsely. 
 
 " Don't do that," said Elise, unsteadily. 
 ' You are going to be my brother, so I may 
 call you Edward, and you may kiss me 
 properly, if you like." 
 
 " I'm glad," he said. " Glad Jack wants 
 someone like you to look after him." Then 
 he kissed her tenderly and left her. 
 
 She turned to the 'phone. At the other end 
 the doctor held the receiver and Jack Denham 
 waited by his side. 
 
 " Hurry up, doctor. What does she say ?" 
 
 There was a long pause while the old man 
 listened. " Yes," he said. " Yes at once ! 
 I'll come by the early train. Thank God ! 
 Thank God ! I shall never forgive myself for 
 this." Then he turned to Jack. " It's all 
 right," he said, huskily. "She found your 
 brother he's ill, but will soon pull round. I 
 am to go up to him, and will leave on the early
 
 TWO WOMEN 251 
 
 train. Jack, my boy, can you ever forgive 
 me? " 
 
 Jack caught at his hand and wrung it. 
 " There's nothing to forgive," he said. ' We 
 were both right you were right, and so was 
 I so let's forget it."
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 
 
 DR. WATMAN summoned up to London, 
 from his nursing home in Cornwall, 
 took one of the attendants aside. 
 
 " Look here, Musgrave," he said, " I have to 
 go up, as you know, to London by this early 
 train, and I want you particularly to keep your 
 eyes open as far as Mr. Jack Denham is con- 
 cerned. You know that we are keeping him 
 here out of harm's way from that precious 
 gang of thieves who are out to kill him 
 knowing as he does, too much about them. 
 You also know that his one aim and object in 
 life is to get at them, and get some of his own 
 back." 
 
 ' Yes, sir," said the man, grinning. " And 
 we have to see that he doesn't." 
 
 " Quite so, nothing short of forcible measures 
 are of any use. Therefore, while I am away 
 I want you to be particularly careful. But I 
 must explain the reason of my visit up to 
 London, which will show you how serious 
 matters are. Four days ago Mr. Edward 
 Denham, the young man's elder brother, was 
 trapped by this gang and has been kept in a 
 
 253
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 253 
 
 damp cellar without food or drink until last 
 night, when he was rescued. They wanted to 
 force him to tell where his brother was." 
 
 " I see, sir, pretty serious it seems to me. 
 Isn't it possible to get on to them ? ' 
 
 " Impossible, at present, for this reason 
 there is a woman among this gang with more 
 humanity than the rest of them. She got 
 scared and induced Mr. Edward to give her his 
 brother's address. She 'phoned here to him 
 and asked him to come and help rescue his 
 brother, as she couldn't do it alone. All this 
 she did on condition that neither of them gave 
 anything away to the police." 
 
 " I see the point, sir," said Musgrave. 
 
 " As you know I, thinking it was a plant 
 to get hold of Mr. Denham here, refused to let 
 him go, but his fiancee, Mrs. Allwood went 
 up herself and got Mr. Edward back to his 
 home." 
 
 " Very plucky lady, that, sir," commented 
 the man. 
 
 " Yes, she is wonderful. Well, now you 
 understand," went on the old doctor. " I have 
 to go up and see to Mr. Edward, who is ill, 
 and I have to leave Mr. Denham in your charge. 
 If he gets away he will make a bee line for this 
 den of criminals, and probably get killed." 
 
 " Quite so, sir. But you have no need to 
 worry, sir he can't climb the wall, and the 
 gates are always locked, and I and Barton will 
 take it in turns to watch him." 
 
 Meanwhile, the subject of this conversation
 
 254 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 who had been thinking pretty hard for some 
 time, and whose fertile brain was busy with a 
 plan, was outside the house talking to the 
 cab-driver the village did not boast a taxi 
 yet who was waiting to convey Dr. Watman 
 to the station. 
 
 " When is the next train up to London ? ' 
 he asked the man casually, with an eye towards 
 the door, where at any moment the doctor 
 might appear. 
 
 " One-forty, sir getting to London about 
 eight o'clock or so " was the reply. 
 
 " Are you from the station ? " inquired Jack, 
 lighting a cigarette. 
 
 " No, sir, I come from the Hare and Hounds 
 Hotel in the village." 
 
 " How far is that ? " 
 
 " About a quarter of a mile off, sir, straight 
 along the London Road." 
 
 " Oh, yes, of course, we passed it on our way 
 here, I remember. Well, I may want to get 
 that one-forty 
 
 " Shall I come here for you, sir ? " asked the 
 man. 
 
 " Good Lord, no ! " said Jack, with a grimace. 
 "No, I'll come to you, if I decide to go, so be 
 ready, I may run it fine." 
 
 " AU right, sir, I'll be there/' 
 
 The doctor's voice broke in on the dialogue 
 and Jack turned quickly. Could he have heard 
 the last words ? Well, he had to risk it. 
 
 " I'm just off," he was saying. " I'll ring 
 you up as soon as I find out how Edward is."
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 255 
 
 ' Yes, do," said Jack, eagerly. " And send 
 Elise back. It's damned rotten being here by 
 myself. If you had a spark of humanity in 
 you, doc., you'd let me go with you." 
 
 " It's because I have that I don't," was the 
 
 reply. " Well, good-bye, don't worry, and " 
 
 he bent down and lowered his voice " avoid 
 giving Musgrave and Barton any trouble, you 
 know what I mean. It won't pay, my dear 
 fellow." 
 
 Jack laughed. " I have experienced some 
 of Musgrave 's methods already," he said. 
 " Don't you worry." 
 
 He stood there and watched the cab dis- 
 appear down the drive. Then, his thoughts 
 concentrating on the plan he had suddenly 
 evolved in his mind, he turned and strolled 
 across the lawns and down the terrace towards 
 the lake. 
 
 The garden was large, and surrounded by 
 high trees, at the back of which rose the solid 
 twenty feet wall without a break until the gates 
 were reached, and these he knew, were locked 
 day and night. 
 
 " Rather a tough proposition," he mused, 
 puffing away at a cigarette. " But not an 
 impossible one. Barton and Musgrave will be 
 damned clever men if they can keep me here, 
 when the one thing I am determined upon is 
 to get out." He paused, and hearing a sound 
 behind, glanced round. 
 
 It was the man Musgrave strolling casually 
 towards him.
 
 256 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " HaUo ! " he said. " Want anything ? " 
 
 " No, sir thought I'd look round the garden, 
 sir." 
 
 " And incidentally see if I was thinking of 
 stepping lightly over that wall, I suppose. 
 Looks simple, doesn't it ? '" said Jack, with 
 quiet sarcasm. " If I didn't know you to be an 
 ordinary sensible fellow, Musgrave, I should take 
 you for a damn fool." 
 
 " Thank you, sir," said the man, grinning. 
 " I had no idea you were thinking of getting 
 over the wall, sir." 
 
 " And have I said I was ? " demanded Jack, 
 indignantly. 
 
 " Well, sir, as you seemed to suspect me of 
 watching you, and you referred to the wall, 
 I naturally concluded that it's what you had 
 in your mind." 
 
 " Infernally cute of you," said Jack. " You 
 ought to have been a detective, not a keeper. 
 But as it happens you are wrong. Doesn't 
 it occur to your cotton wool brain that if you 
 go and shut a fellow up against his will that the 
 one thing he is always thinking of, is how he is 
 going to get away ? Don't you know, you 
 priceless innocent, that if you are told not to do 
 anything, or go anywhere, it is the one thing 
 you want most in life to do, and the one place 
 you must get to or die ? That's human nature, 
 isn't it ? ' 
 
 " I quite understand, sir. And that's why 
 I have come to look round the garden," and he 
 smiled and walked on.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 257 
 
 " He got the best of that," mused Jack. 
 " But my time is coming." 
 
 He strolled on along the path that went the 
 whole way round the garden and was shaded 
 by the immense trees that grew on either side. 
 It was these trees that Jack was banking on. 
 Surely one of them could be found to act as a 
 helping hand over that infernal wall ! Firs 
 were no good they had no spreading branches. 
 And what he wanted was a branch sticking out 
 over the top of the wall. It would be a nasty 
 drop on the other side, but that had to be 
 risked. The next point was did he find such 
 a tree as he wanted, could he climb it without 
 being seen ? Musgrave was evidently watching 
 him, and Musgrave was about as tough a pro- 
 position as was to be found in the place, for his 
 strength was enormous, and, in spite of his size, 
 he was agile as a monkey. The very man for 
 such a position as he held. 
 
 He regretted now that all the twelve days he 
 had been there he had never looked for such 
 a tree before. But, after he had met Elise 
 here, undergoing her rest cure, he had had no 
 more thought or wish to escape. Now she was 
 in London, and he alone, and once more the mad 
 desire to get at his enemies and be revenged 
 for the ills he had suffered at their hands, was 
 uppermost with him. And now they had 
 attacked not only himself, but his brother, 
 and his blood boiled. Edward, Elise, and 
 himself were the only people who knew the 
 whereabouts of this gang's headquarters, and
 
 258 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 because of their promise to Molly, the girl, they 
 could not inform the police. Therefore it was 
 up to him to see what he could do himself. 
 But how ? That was the question. If he didn't 
 get up to London to-day, the odds were that 
 these blackguards would have bolted, for it 
 was not likely they would stay in headquarters 
 that were known to three outsiders. He 
 glanced at his watch, nine o'clock, and the train 
 went at 1.40. Four hours in which to think 
 out a way of escape, and accomplish it. He 
 continued his walk along the path, eyeing 
 every tree he came to, and at last, at the far 
 end of the garden he came upon one that, at 
 a pinch and some risk, might serve. It was an 
 oak, and its branches spread wide, one parti- 
 cular branch just about a yard above the top 
 of the wall, on which he remembered were spikes, 
 and bits of glass. The branch, too, grew thin, 
 just where it topped the wall, and might very 
 possibly break, in which case he would in all 
 likelihood fall right on top of the murderous 
 glass. Not a pleasant prospect, but, after 
 having gone the entire round of the garden, he 
 found it was the only tree available for his pur- 
 pose. That being the case what he had to 
 concentrate on now, was the elimination of 
 Musgrave. 
 
 Musgrave, prowling round as he was doing, 
 was badly in the way. He reflected here, that 
 one of the precious gang on the scene, with a 
 grudge against Musgrave, and a handy weapon 
 would be decidedly an asset. Then he laughed.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 259 
 
 Poor Musgrave, quite a decent fellow, and only 
 doing his duty after all. No, that sort of 
 thinking wouldn't do, and moreover, it led 
 nowhere. He must try strategy. 
 
 How about pretending to feel ill, and sending 
 him for some brandy ? No, that wouldn't 
 do in all probability he would carry him in, 
 straight away, and deposit him upstairs in bed, 
 which would be fatal. Besides, it was too soon, 
 and they would catch him outside if he got 
 to the station before the train was due to start. 
 He had to time his escape pretty accurately, 
 which was a confounded nuisance. 
 
 How about a game of tennis with Barton, 
 the other attendant ? He knew he could play, 
 for Barton had told him so, when he was 
 chatting to him in his bedroom. He would get 
 him to play and keep him at it. Jack himself 
 never got tired playing tennis, Barton probably 
 would. Also, the presence of Barton as an 
 opponent would eliminate the necessity for 
 Musgrave as a guard. They would only be 
 there one at a time, one to relieve the other, 
 and when he had tired Barton out, he would 
 send him in to fetch Musgrave to carry on 
 until lunch time. That would be the psychologi- 
 cal moment for his attempted escape. He would 
 only have a few minutes to do it in, but that 
 ought to suffice. There was no car here, the 
 attendants would have to follow on foot, in 
 the meantime he would be in the only available 
 cab in the village. It all sounded feasible, 
 and practicable. The only hitch that might
 
 26o THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 occur would be the inopportune arrival of 
 Musgrave on the scene before Barton was 
 sufficiently tired to be disposed of. Well, that 
 he had to risk. If they caught him, his goose 
 would be very successfully cooked, for there was 
 no doubt that after that they would keep him 
 fast in his rooms until the return of the doctor. 
 Therefore he must not fail. He walked back 
 to the house and called for Barton. 
 
 " Yes, sir, did you want me ? " the man came 
 hurrying into the hall. 
 
 " I want to know if you'll have a game of 
 tennis with me ? " he said. "I'm getting fed 
 up doing nothing." 
 
 " Certainly, sir," was the reply. " I shall be 
 very pleased to, I'll get the racquets." 
 
 While he was gone, Jack took his felt hat 
 from the peg in the hall, and strolled down 
 beyond the tennis courts and hid it in a bush 
 that he would have to pass in his precipitate 
 flight to the oak tree. He changed into a pair 
 of brown tennis shoes ; but kept on his ordinary 
 clothes. 
 
 Then he retraced his steps and waited for 
 Barton. 
 
 Much to his relief, with the appearance of 
 Barton on the scene, armed with racquets and 
 balls, Musgrave took himself off, and went back 
 into the house. 
 
 So far his plan was maturing well. It rested 
 now on how long he could get Barton to play, 
 and then, on the exact time of the reappearance 
 of Musgrave on the scene. There was certainly
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 261 
 
 a lot that had to be left to luck in this scheme 
 of his, but he could not in the time think of a 
 better one it had to do. 
 
 They played steadily until half -past ten, 
 then Barton cried off. 
 
 ' We'll have to rest a bit, sir," he said. 
 
 "By all means," replied Jack, amiably. 
 " Let's go to the house and have some refresh- 
 ment and smokes, and then you must have your 
 revenge. I beat you pretty badly then, 
 Barton." 
 
 " I know, sir. I shall be glad of a drink. 
 I suppose you wouldn't care to take Musgrave 
 on, sir, he's not a bad player, and a good 
 stayer." 
 
 " No thanks," grinned Jack. " You are more 
 up to my style. I shall end by making a player 
 of you, Barton, if I stay in this God-forsaken 
 place long enough." 
 
 " It's not a bad hole, sir." 
 
 " It would be fine if I didn't want to get out 
 of it," said Jack, as they strolled back to the 
 house. 
 
 " That's true, sir," said the other. " There's 
 a deal in that. I believe Parkhurst is quite 
 a nice place, only the inmates don't seem to 
 notice it and the views all round Dartmoor 
 are wonderful, but completely lost on the 
 working gangs, sir." 
 
 ' You've expressed the position admirably, 
 Barton," said Jack with a laugh. ' We'll rest 
 for an hour," he added, " at least I shall; you 
 do as you like, but come back in an hour,
 
 262 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 anyway, and I'll give you your revenge. I 
 mean to play till nearly one o'clock." 
 
 " Good Lord, sir, you'll tire yourself out," 
 objected the man. 
 
 " Best thing to do under the circumstances," 
 he retorted. 
 
 When the man had gone, he went up to his 
 room and got some money. He had no weapon 
 with him here, and reflected that on arriving 
 in London, instead of going off to Golder's Green 
 as he had thought, he would have to look in 
 at his rooms in Lennox Street, sneak in like a 
 thief, in fact, and try and get hold of his revolver 
 without anyone there being the wiser. Rather 
 difficult seeing that not only was Doctor 
 Watman there, but Elise also, and young 
 Jenkins. Well, Jenkins could be squared. 
 
 He loitered about for the rest of the hour, 
 and then once more betook himself to the 
 tennis court. Barton was there, waiting. 
 They played. Gradually time moved on. As 
 it grew nearer to the moment when he would 
 have to make his attempt, he felt his heart 
 beginning to beat uncomfortably. Such a lot 
 depended on the time he had at his disposal 
 between the going of Barton and the coming 
 of Musgrave. With luck he might count on 
 about seven minutes, at the worst five. 
 
 At last he glanced at his watch. It was a 
 quarter to one lunch was at half -past . As they 
 finished the set he flung himself on the ground. 
 
 ' I'm done in," he said. " And you look 
 pretty well cooked, Barton. I vote we stop.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 263 
 
 111 stay here till luncheon is ready, you go in 
 if you want to." 
 
 Barton, panting, and extremely hot, stood 
 regarding him for a moment. 
 
 " Better come in, sir. It's a bit damp on 
 that grass." 
 
 " All the better," said Jack, lying full length. 
 " I'll cool off the sooner." 
 
 Again Barton hesitated. " You ought to 
 have more sense, sir," he expostulated. " Better 
 come in." 
 
 " Go to blazes, Barton, and tell them to push 
 on with the grub. I'm hungry ! " said Jack. 
 
 Then Barton did what Jack had not calculated 
 on, he took a whistle from his pocket and blew 
 it loudly. 
 
 "What's that for, the police? " he asked, 
 getting up suddenly and putting on his coat. 
 
 "No, sir," said Barton, and without another 
 word he walked off to the house. 
 
 Jack Denham, however, knew very well that 
 it was for Musgrave. This would probably mean 
 failure of ah 1 his plans. It meant that instead 
 of seven minutes, he would have only two or 
 three. He walked rapidly towards the bush 
 under which he had hidden his hat, and with a 
 glance back, he started to run in among the trees. 
 That glance had been enough. He had seen 
 Musgrave coming out of the hall window on 
 to the terrace. It depended now, on how long 
 it took him to climb that infernal tree, and how 
 fast Musgrave could run. Jack himself was 
 fleet as a hare. He did his best now, sprinting
 
 264 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 down the path as though his very life depended 
 on it. His liberty did, anyhow, and that was 
 much the same thing to him. 
 
 He heard Musgrave's heavy footsteps behind. 
 He must have seen him run, or worse still, that 
 fellow Barton, as cute as a weasel, might have 
 grown suspicious and hence the reason for his 
 call to Musgrave. Anyhow, it didn't much 
 matter which it was, the result was the same. 
 Musgrave was after him and there were not more 
 than a hundred and fifty yards between them, 
 and he had that tree to negotiate. 
 
 He heard Musgrave shout to him to stop, 
 but of course, paid no heed, and didn't look back, 
 as he knew he would lose ground by doing so. 
 He gained the tree at last, sprang at a branch, 
 missed it and fell ; cursing volubly he picked 
 himself up, and tried again. This time he 
 reached it, got a hold on the trunk with his 
 shoes, and swung himself up. Then he looked 
 back. 
 
 Musgrave running hard, was fifty yards away. 
 Jack, his heart beating cruelly, crawled along 
 the branch, seized another overhead and 
 climbed higher. He was on a level now with 
 the branch that was the goal he was aiming 
 at, and Musgrave was twenty yards off. Now 
 he was astride the big out -stretching arm, and 
 as he squirmed along towards the wall, Musgrave 
 was underneath him. 
 
 " Come down, sir," he panted angrily. 
 ' What the blazes are you trying to do ? " 
 
 'What does it look like?" retorted Jack.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 265 
 
 He was standing on the top of the wall now, 
 holding on to the branch for support. It had 
 held his weight, but that was aft. 
 
 " You can't get down that way," cried Mus- 
 grave. " You'll hurt yourself with that drop 
 on the other side." 
 
 " That's my affair," said Jack. " I'll take 
 the risk anyhow." 
 
 With an oath Musgrave set off along the path 
 towards the gate. Jack had feared that he 
 might have done this before, which would be 
 fatal for him, as he had to pass the gate on his 
 way to the village. As it was, it was almost 
 possible that the man might get there first. 
 At any rate he had to take the chance. He 
 let go of the branch, and trusting for luck and 
 a soft fall, he dropped. 
 
 He fell on grass, and was shaken, but in no 
 way hurt. So he picked himself up, seized his 
 hat which had fallen off, and set out running 
 across the field. If there were any obstacles, 
 such as railings, he would be done. But there 
 were none. So far luck was on his side. How 
 long would it last, he wondered. He was nearing 
 the gate he heard sharp voices there, then a 
 grating sound. As he passed he had a vision 
 of the big iron gates swinging open and Mus- 
 grave's huge figure running out he passed 
 him by a yard. It was purely a matter now of 
 speed, and Jack, the younger and lighter by a 
 good bit , began to gain . He dared not look back, 
 but he felt he was gaining. If only he could 
 put fifty yards between himself and his pursuer
 
 266 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 before he reached the hotel he might have time. 
 But could he ? Also there was the grave ques- 
 tion as to whether the cab would be ready. 
 The man might think he was not coming. 
 Then, too, and this was the worst possibility 
 of all to be reckoned with : if Musgrave got 
 up before they were off he would stop the man 
 from going. Everyone in the place must know 
 that Doctor Watman kept patients, and that 
 attendants were there to look after them. 
 The cab-driver would obey Musgrave before he 
 would obey Jack Denham, and Jack knew it. 
 He thought of all this as he ran, and it lent 
 wings to his speed. Presently the village was 
 in sight, and now the inn ; and before the 
 inn door a cab was standing, the driver staring 
 down the road along which the two men were 
 running. 
 
 Jack, not knowing how long it took to get 
 to the station, drew a bow at a venture. The 
 odds were that he was pretty late and anyhow 
 it was his only chance. 
 
 " Get onto the box ! " he shouted. " I may 
 lose my train." 
 
 The man heard, ran to the front of the cab 
 and climbed up. Jack, his breath coming in 
 long gasping sobs, for he was almost exhausted, 
 ran up, and for a moment stood holding on to 
 the cab door. 
 
 " Get in, sir. You've run it too fine I'm 
 afraid. I thought you wasn't coming." The 
 cabman's voice was urgent. Jack, with a 
 supreme effort jumped in and as he did so he
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 267 
 
 heard a shout from Musgrave not thirty yards 
 away. 
 
 "Stop, man!" he caUed. "He's one of 
 the doctor's patients, don't take him he's 
 mad ! " 
 
 The man stared, then turned and looked at 
 Jack. 
 
 " Go on, you damned fool," said Jack, his 
 head out of the window. "It's a lie I'm 
 nothing of the sort. There'll be a pound for 
 you, if you get to the station in time." He 
 thrust a note into the man's face. 
 
 "I'm sorry, sir," he said. " I can't go agin 
 Mr. Musgrave. Ill wait till he comes up." 
 And he deliberately got down from his seat. 
 
 Jack thrust open the door and got out. This 
 was the end of it, then, unless he did what, 
 though hateful to him, was the only thing to 
 do, and save the situation. Musgrave had been 
 too much for him, he must therefore be one too 
 many for the driver. He strode up to him, 
 and at a well-delivered blow the man all 
 unsuspecting doubled up, and fell sprawling 
 on the ground. After all Musgrave had said 
 he was mad. So he might as well act the part, 
 and in any case the man was not hurt. As 
 Jack sprang into the driving seat, Musgrave, 
 panting and furious ran up. He was, however, 
 a second too late, for Jack was off, as fast as 
 the old horse could gallop. He had not the 
 faintest notion as to where the station was, 
 but as the cab had been facing that way, he 
 supposed he was going in the right direction.
 
 268 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 A little farther on, he met a car driving slowly ; 
 he pulled up, there was only the driver inside. 
 
 " Can you tell me the way to Treloar 
 Station? " he asked. 
 
 " Straight on, about three miles," said the 
 man. " Turn to your right at the top of the 
 steep hill, you'll find it a stiff one to negotiate." 
 
 " Thanks," said Jack, and glanced at his 
 watch. It was after one o'clock, and he knew 
 there was not much speed to be got out of this 
 old horse. The motorist, with a glance of faint 
 curiosity at the man on the box, for he didn't 
 look like the usual cab-driver, went on, and with 
 his departure there occurred to the fugitive 
 another horrible idea, which was that Musgrave, 
 in his desperation, might stop the motorist 
 and get him to follow on after the runaway. 
 If so he would be fairly done, for the car was a 
 high-powered machine and would simply walk 
 over him. However, against this there was 
 the fact that he had a bit of a start ; then the 
 man had to get to the inn first, and he was 
 driving slowly. Also, he would have to be 
 commandeered, and he might quite possibly 
 refuse or only give in and agree after much 
 hesitation and time would have been lost. 
 Anything might happen. 
 
 Soon he found himself at the commencement 
 of a steep hill and here an idea, or as he termed 
 it when recounting the facts later to Elise, 
 something in the nature of a brain-wave occurred 
 to him. It would be far easier and quicker 
 to ride up it than to try and urge the wretched
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 269 
 
 animal to drag the heavy cab after him, and 
 certainly more humane, which was a decided 
 consideration where Jack Denham was con- 
 cerned. Quick as thought, he unharnessed the 
 horse, having first drawn the cab across the road 
 (he could picture Musgrave's and the motorist's 
 faces and imagine the lurid language when they 
 found it so), threw all the harness except the 
 bridle inside, and sprang on to the animal's 
 back. 
 
 He burst out laughing as he reflected upon the 
 comical appearance he must present. The 
 horse, a rawboned, long-maned, flowing tailed 
 crock; its rider, a young man in immaculate 
 blue serge coat, flannel trousers and tennis 
 shoes, astride its bony, saddleless back, urging 
 it on with fist and heels, and with desperately 
 anxious face turned at each second over his 
 shoulder to see if he were being followed. 
 
 Half-way up the hill he came upon an old man 
 carrying a pack over his shoulder, who stared 
 at him in a kind of terrified amaze. 
 
 " How far to the station ? " shouted Jack, 
 not daring to slacken speed for the answer. 
 But there was no answer, for the old man only 
 stared with his mouth open and stood where he 
 was, gazing after him until he disappeared over 
 the brow of the hill. 
 
 " If I look as odd as that," reflected Jack, 
 " perhaps they'll guess at the station where 1 
 come from and detain me. Come on, old man, 
 get a move on. I'm sorry to force the pace 
 but needs must when Musgrave follows on,"
 
 270 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Then taking the motorist's advice, he turned 
 down a road to the right and rode on as fast as 
 the old horse could go. It was a fairly straight 
 and good road, and many times he looked back 
 to see if he was being followed. No one was 
 in sight yet, anyhow. Surely he must have 
 gone half the distance. His impatience was 
 getting the better of him, and again he glanced 
 at his watch. It was twenty minutes past one 
 and the train left in ten minutes. Not a mile- 
 stone had he passed, but away in the distance 
 he saw telegraph poles, then the roofs of many 
 houses and, very far off he heard the shrill 
 whistle of an engine. 
 
 Once more he glanced over his shoulder ; 
 this time there was a solitary cyclist on the road, 
 pedalling hard and palpably gaining on him. 
 He knew instinctively that it was Musgrave. 
 So the motorist had jibbed, if, that is, he had 
 ever been asked at all. He urged the old horse 
 on, and came to a hill up which he knew Mus- 
 grave would have to walk. So he urged the 
 steed into a gallop, turned a sharp corner at 
 the summit, and, with his heart in his mouth, 
 for the animal's forelegs were nothing to boast 
 about, took the incline at a canter and clattered 
 into the town. 
 
 It was market day and the main street was 
 crowded. Jack, aware that inquiring eyes were 
 upon him, picked his way skilfully between 
 carts and pedestrians. 
 
 " Going to win the Grand National, mister ? " 
 asked a wit among the crowd.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 271 
 
 " Probably," replied Jack, " if you give the 
 animal a chance and take your face out of the 
 way. My horse shies at things like that, and 
 I'm in a hurry." The crowd laughed and he 
 thrust his way through. Came to a corner 
 where another street crossed and where a 
 policeman was regulating the traffic. 
 
 " Which way to the station, constable ? " 
 he asked. The man turned and looked at him. 
 It was a comprehensive stare in which no 
 detail was lost. 
 
 " Police station ? " he asked. " I can take you 
 there if you like." 
 
 "No," said Jack, grinning. " Railway." 
 And then, seeing an empty taxi waiting outside 
 an inn on the opposite side of the street, he put 
 up his hand and the driver nodded. Jack 
 sprang off the horse and led it up to the con- 
 stable. 
 
 " Hang on to this, old man, for a minute. 
 It won't bite or bolt, whatever it may look like," 
 and, flinging the reins over the constable's 
 head, he dashed across the road and held out 
 a ten-shilling note to the taxi-driver. " This is 
 yours if you get me to the station in time to 
 catch the London express," he said, and sprang 
 in. As the driver started the engine, Jack put 
 his head out and shouted to the enraged but 
 impotent constable. 
 
 " It belongs to the pub at Treloar. Tell 
 'em to give it an extra feed of corn and a bottle 
 of brandy, and charge it to my account. They'll 
 know who I am."
 
 272 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " I should think they would," growled the 
 policeman, eyeing the animal he held with anger 
 and distrust. And then he saw Musgrave, 
 one of the keepers at Treloar Hall whom he 
 knew, coming along on his bicycle, and called 
 out to him. 
 
 " Here ! What am I to do with this ? ' 
 
 " How the devil should I know ? " retorted 
 Musgrave, very flushed and as angry as the 
 policeman. " You took charge of it so I 
 suppose you are responsible. Where's his 
 rider ? ' 
 
 " Taxied to the station," was the reply. 
 " Know him ? ' 
 
 " Comes from our place," snapped Musgrave 
 as he rode on. 
 
 ' You surprise me," said the constable, with 
 cutting sarcasm. " Pity you don't learn to 
 look after 'em better." But Musgrave was out 
 of earshot, and a Treloar farmer arriving on 
 the scene, the constable proceeded to make 
 arrangements concerning his unwelcome charge. 
 
 In the meantime Jack had reached the 
 station, sprung out of the taxi and handed the 
 note to the driver. 
 
 " Thanks, old fellow, I'll remember you in my 
 will." 
 
 The train was in, he saw that it was on the 
 verge of departure, and Musgrave was twenty 
 yards behind. Could he do it ? He ran 
 through the booking office on to the platform ; 
 there was no time for a ticket, already the 
 train was moving out. He sprinted across the
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 273 
 
 platform and barged into a porter, sending him 
 sprawling. 
 
 " Sorry, old bean," he said as he seized the 
 handle of a carriage door, " I had to catch this 
 train or die." 
 
 ' Pity you didn't die then," growled the man, 
 picking himself up. The guard shouted at him, 
 but he was in and the door shut, and, putting 
 his head out of the window he saw Musgrave 
 running towards him, panting and furious. 
 Jack waved his hand. 
 
 " Sorry, Musgrave," he called, " I had to 
 do it. Give this to the cabby at Treloar, he 
 deserves it," and screwing a pound note into a 
 ball, he flung it out at Musgrave's feet. 
 
 Jack Denham sat back in his seat and chuckled. 
 It had been a thrilling escapade while it lasted, 
 and now that it was over and he had time to 
 think, he remembered that he had had no 
 midday meal and realised that he was uncom- 
 monly hungry, and that there was another 
 occupant of the carriage, a well-dressed woman 
 who was regarding him in evident perplexity 
 and distrust. First her eyes ranged about his 
 face which was flushed and decidedly heated, 
 then they travelled to his immaculate lounge 
 coat which, together with flannel trousers, 
 was hardly appropriate for a rather chilly day 
 in October. She, herself wore a fur coat 
 and was grateful for it. Finally her eyes rested 
 on a pair of well-worn tennis shoes. They 
 stopped there, and Jack began to feel uncom- 
 fortable. If she had smiled, all would have been
 
 274 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 well, but she didn't, and Jack reflected that she 
 didn't look like a woman who would find it 
 easy to smile at anything. He liked people who 
 smiled easily, especially women. He, there- 
 fore, wanted to get away from this one who 
 didn't and who stared stonily at him instead. 
 He turned to her. 
 
 " Excuse me," he said, " but would you 
 mind telling me if one can get lunch on this 
 train ? ' 
 
 Her eyes left his shoes and soared to his 
 face. 
 
 ' I believe so," she said in a frosty voice. 
 
 ' ' Thanks, awfully, ' ' replied Jack. ' I'll barge 
 in and see if I can get some grub." He stood 
 up, arranged his tie before the glass and smoothed 
 his hair. He had noticed in his mad rush 
 along the platform that the train seemed pretty 
 full, and he did not look forward with any 
 pleasure to a journey of several hours spent in 
 the company of this unsmiling and frosty lady. 
 And so, the demon of mischief entering into him, 
 with his wish for a carriage to himself, he said, 
 casually : 
 
 ' You know, I'm running away from a private 
 luny asylum, that accounts for my rig," and then, 
 genially : "I only just managed it, and left 
 the keeper dancing with rage on the platform. 
 Wasn't it a lark ? ' 
 
 " Oh ! " said the lady, and the frost had given 
 place to fear. As Jack passed out into the 
 corridor she drew herself well back into the 
 corner, and when, after a good lunch he returned
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 275 
 
 to find the carriage empty, it was only what 
 he had expected. 
 
 " Thank the Lord," he said, and, stretching 
 to his full length on the seat, he slept com- 
 fortably and peacefully until the train drew 
 up into Reading Station. Instantly he was 
 wide awake. The odds were that Musgrave 
 would have wired or 'phoned to Doctor Watman, 
 and there was the chance that someone would be 
 waiting for him at Paddington. This was an 
 unexpected opportunity as he did not expect 
 the train to stop before the terminus. He 
 reached for his hat and was making for the 
 door when it was flung open and the guard 
 waved a hand. 
 
 "He's in there, sir," and in stepped Inspector 
 Harper. 
 
 " I might have guessed that," said Jack, in 
 utter disgust. 
 
 " So you might/' retorted Harper, sitting 
 down opposite him, " and spared yourself a 
 long journey and me all this unnecessary 
 trouble. It's true I happened to be in Reading 
 on a job when the message came, but I had to 
 have the express stopped." 
 
 " Butting in on my private concerns isn't 
 your job anyway," said Jack sourly. 
 
 " Well," retorted the other, ignoring the 
 remark, " are you going to give me any more 
 
 trouble, or ' He put his hand into his 
 
 pocket. 
 
 ' What's the grizzly alternative ? ' asked 
 Jack.
 
 276 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " These," said Harper, holding up a pair of 
 handcuffs. Jack burst out laughing. 
 
 " You wouldn't dare," he said. 
 
 "I'd dare anything in the execution of my 
 duty," was the reply. 
 
 " That's just the point I raised and you 
 ignored. I claim that it's not your duty." 
 
 " All part and parcel of the same thing. 
 I'm told off to round up those fellows what's 
 left of them out at Colder 's Green, and 
 incidentally to keep you out of it. Well, 
 what's it to be ? You haven't answered my 
 question yet." 
 
 "Oh, all right, put 'em away, Harper, and 
 don't make a bigger damn fool of yourself than 
 you can help." 
 
 Harper, grinning, complied with the first 
 part of the request, and commented on the last : 
 ' You can give me points there, Mr. Denham," 
 he said. 
 
 " All this infernal fuss," growled Jack, 
 " when I have only come up to see Eddy and 
 Mrs. AUwood. I was going to Lennox Street, 
 you priceless idiot." 
 
 ' Yes, via Golder's Green. I know." But 
 Jack had spoken the truth. He had meant 
 to go to Lennox Street that night at any 
 rate. He had left his revolver there for one 
 thing. It was Inspector Harper who, most 
 unwittingly, sent him to Golder's Green that 
 night, and was the innocent cause of all the 
 ensuing trouble. Jack resigned himself to the 
 inevitable.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 277 
 
 " Did Musgrave tell the guard ? " he asked. 
 
 " Yes, told him to keep an eye on you, and 
 look out for me when the train stopped here. 
 What on earth else did you expect ? ' 
 
 " Well, I didn't reckon on Musgrave being 
 so brainy. What are you going to do with 
 me, Harper ? ' 
 
 " Oh, just run you along to Lennox Street," 
 was the reply. " They're expecting you." 
 And then, after a pause, " What game do you 
 reckon to be playing, Mr. Denham ? ' 
 
 " I was going out to Colder 's Green to-morrow, 
 damn you, " he replied. 
 
 "I thought so; well, I'm afraid you won't 
 get there. You will spend the night in your 
 rooms and the first thing in the morning you'll 
 be escorted by one of my men back to Treloar. 
 And I don't think you'll find it so easy to 
 do another getaway. Golder's Green is my 
 affair." 
 
 " Have you spotted the house yet ? " 
 
 " No, but all the roads are watched," was the 
 reply, " and if Sullivan is thinking it wise to 
 make a move, he'll fall into our arms." 
 
 " I can find the way to that house," said Jack. 
 After all it was only a matter of finding out 
 where Mr. Brandscome lived. " I want a 
 pot shot at dear old Jim. Will you let the girl 
 Molly go if I take you there ? ' ; 
 
 ' When I take them, I bag the lot, male and 
 female," replied Harper dryly. " Sentiment 
 plays no part in my profession." 
 
 "I always thought you were an ass," said
 
 278 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Jack in disgust. " I won't raise a finger to 
 help you if you hurt that girl." 
 
 " We can manage without your help," 
 retorted Harper. " And to let you into a little 
 secret, we are going to try and get on to them 
 to-night." 
 
 " Then you do know where the house is ? ''' 
 demanded Jack. 
 
 " That's telling," was the retort. 
 
 For the rest of the journey Jack was very 
 silent. This had altered things considerably, 
 and it meant that he must warn Molly. Given 
 an opportunity, and it should be easy seeing that 
 Eddy was confined to his bed and Elise busily 
 occupied with him, he would discover the 
 telephone number of Brandscome's house, ring 
 up, and if Molly replied he would warn her, 
 and if she was alone, go off himself and help 
 to get her away. That settled in his mind, he 
 entered into a lengthy conversation about 
 nothing to the rather surly and extremely bored 
 detective, who was thankful when the train 
 drew up at Paddington. Harper took Jack by 
 the arm. 
 
 " No tricks," he said, and they got out on to 
 the platform. As they walked along another 
 man came up and joined them, walking on 
 Jack's other side. They passed a well-dressed, 
 fur-clad woman who stared hard at Jack, and 
 he grinned, as he thought of the thrilling story 
 she would tell of her journey with an escaped 
 lunatic who had obviously been taken on landing 
 at Paddington.
 
 BOLT VERSUS BAR 279 
 
 " What's the joke ? " asked Harper, and when 
 Jack told him, he smiled and shrugged his 
 shoulders. 
 
 " It's about time you were shut up or 
 married," was his comment. 
 
 " Do you reckon then, that detention and 
 marriage come under the same heading ? '' 
 
 1 You want some sensible woman to look 
 after you," was the retort. " though I admit I 
 pity the lady. Here's the car, so get in and let's 
 get through with this, my time's valuable." 
 
 " I didn't ask you to waste it on me," snapped 
 Jack as he entered the police car. 
 
 Neither of them noticed a woman pass by 
 as they drew up outside the house in Lennox 
 Street, nor that she looked very hard at them 
 and then walked more quickly down the 
 street. 
 
 Harper followed Jack upstairs into the 
 sitting-room where Doctor Watman and Elise 
 were seated. 
 
 " Here he is," said the detective gruffly, 
 "so I'll hand him over to you. A man will 
 call for him in the morning and they'll take the 
 midday train back to Treloar, unless I succeed 
 in my job to-night, when there won't be any 
 necessity. But I may fail, so if he gives any 
 more trouble, ring me up and I'll take him round 
 to the station and lock him up." He grinned, 
 saluted and went. 
 
 " I came up to see Eddy," said Jack, " and 
 was met by an escort. How is he ? " And going 
 up to Elise, he put his arms round her and kissed
 
 2 8o THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 her on the lips. " You perfect wonder," he 
 said. 
 
 " And you perfect idiot," she retorted. The 
 doctor smiled. 
 
 " Your brother is better," he replied gravely. 
 "It is chiefly exhaustion, and a few days in 
 bed with rest and quiet and freedom from 
 anxiety," here he looked steadily at the young 
 man who had the grace to wince, "will put him 
 on his legs again. Elise is looking after him 
 and I think I can safely leave you also in her 
 hands. I won't say anything about your 
 escapade because I should have done the same 
 had I been you." Here the old man turned and 
 smiled at Elise. " You will, of course, reap 
 the reward of all the trouble you have given 
 us when you return to-morrow. I have written 
 Musgrave instructions." 
 
 " Oh, Lord ! " said Jack. 
 
 As the door closed behind Doctor Watman, 
 Elise turned and put her hands on her lover's 
 shoulders." 
 
 ' You are a perfect disgrace," she said. 
 
 ' Then the sooner you marry me the better," 
 was the reply. " Harper says I ought either 
 to be shut up or married. Which is it to be ? ' 
 
 " Apparently it's going to be both," she said. 
 "And quite soon," she added with a blush, and 
 kissed him.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 
 
 HE'S here ! ' The stout woman burst 
 open the door in Jim Sullivan's 
 living-room and tossed her furs 
 on to the table. 
 
 " Who's here, Liz ? " asked the big man, 
 putting the glass from which he had been 
 drinking, down beside him. 
 
 " Mr. Jack Denham," was the reply. " I 
 saw him and that fool Harper both go into 
 the house in Lennox Street as I was passing. 
 It was just luck for I hadn't been watching." 
 
 " And it's about time we had some luck too," 
 replied the man sourly. " We've been cursed 
 ever since we set eyes on that fellow Denham. 
 But you needn't call Harper a fool, my gal. 
 He's very far from being that. He's getting 
 on to us and it's about time we cleared out, 
 if we aren't too late already." 
 
 At that moment Molly, followed by Mike 
 and Appleton, came into the room. The girl's 
 face was white and woebegone, she sat down 
 listlessly and glanced furtively and with a 
 look of fear in her eyes at Sullivan. 
 
 ' Your paramour, Jack Denham, is back 
 281
 
 282 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 in Lennox Street my girl/' he said, looking at 
 her with narrowed eyes. 
 
 She sat forward with a start, and the colour 
 flooded her cheeks. " He can't be," she said, 
 " I thought you said he was in a nursing 
 home." 
 
 " / didn't say so," he growled, " I told you 
 that damned brother of his said so. But you 
 know more about it than I do, and one of these 
 days I'll get the truth out of you as to what 
 really happened. That Boy Scout story never 
 did cut any ice with me." 
 
 " That was poor old Bob's theory," put 
 in Mike, pulling at an evil smelling pipe. " It 
 was him that swore he saw him the day he got 
 back from Nor man ton Hall." 
 
 " And so he did, for I saw him myself, as I have 
 told you before," added Appleton. "Geoffrey 
 Chadbrook it was, the same that came barging 
 in to old Grundtstein's studio that night and 
 got Denham away from us. You can bet 
 your life that a sharp fellow like that followed 
 us up and spotted the house, otherwise as I've 
 said all along, how came that woman here 
 after Captain Denham ? How did she know 
 where to come ? ' 
 
 Jim Sullivan looked across at Molly and 
 smiled ; it was a particularly repulsive smile, 
 and one that she knew well. Her trembling 
 hands suddenly clutched at her chair. 
 
 " Geoffrey Chadbrook," repeated Sullivan, 
 slowly, while his voice took on a harsh 
 jarring note. " Geoffrey Chadbrook nothing !
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 283 
 
 There's only one person who could have given 
 us away, and that's a woman. A woman," 
 he repeated, "who's goingto get what's coming 
 to her, and that very soon. If I hadn't been 
 forced to hide from the cursed police as I have 
 done, she'd have got it before this. Now, 
 Molly, my gal," his voice was a sudden bark, 
 " out with it." 
 
 "It's a lie," cried the girl, desperately, " I 
 never gave you away, I wouldn't be such a 
 fool. I don't want to be taken, and if they 
 take you they'll take me." 
 
 " Will they ? " retorted Sullivan. " Then why 
 haven't they come and done it by now ? I'll 
 tell you why," he leant forward and tapped 
 his knee with every word. " Because you 
 made a bargain that if you helped to free the 
 captain, they must swear not to give us away 
 to the police. Otherwise, why haven't the 
 police been here before ? Tell me that. They're 
 round here looking for us because what old 
 Bob said was true ; that Chadbrook boy did 
 trace him as far as Golder's Green Station, 
 but no farther. That's why the police aren't 
 sure. If they were, they'd be here now." 
 
 " They've been three times," put in Lizzie, 
 with a chuckle. " But only found a toothless 
 old caretaker, and had to clear off with their 
 tails between their legs. It's a pity I never 
 went on the stage, I'd have made a pile." 
 
 ' You'll make a bigger one if you stick to 
 me," said Sullivan. " I see now where I've 
 been a fool, but if we get clear out of this
 
 284 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 and can start fresh, I'll see I don't repeat my 
 mistake." Suddenly he rose, strode across 
 to where Molly was seated, huddled miserably 
 in a chair, and caught hold of her wrist. " Now 
 then," he snarled. " We're going to have the 
 truth." 
 
 "I've told you the truth, Jim. I never " 
 
 He struck her across the mouth with the back 
 of his hand. 
 
 " Steady, man, steady," muttered Mike 
 frowning. 
 
 " You mind your own damned business." 
 Sullivan glared at him malevolently and the 
 other shrugged and turned away. 
 
 " Now," went on Sullivan, towering over 
 the cowering girl, " I'll have the truth, and 
 the sooner you tell it the better for you. Was 
 it you who gave this place away, or was it 
 young Chadbrook who found it out ? Better 
 answer, I'll get it in the end." He gave her 
 wrist a savage twist, and she screamed 
 piteously. 
 
 " Oh, Jim ! Don't hurt me," she cried. 
 
 " I haven't begun to hurt you yet," he 
 retorted. ' When I do you'll know it. Now 
 once more, answer ; was it you or the 
 Scout ? ' 
 
 A moment's silence, a sudden movement 
 from Jim Sullivan, and Molly was writhing 
 on the floor, screaming in agony. 
 
 "Don't, don't! Oh, Jim, I'll tell ! I'll 
 let go ! Mike ! Stop him. I can't can't 
 " Her voice sank to a low moan ; Lizzie
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 285 
 
 put her hands to her ears, and Mike sprang 
 to his feet. 
 
 " Stop that, Sullivan, or by God, I'll I'll 
 i> 
 
 " You'll what ? ' asked the other turning 
 as he flung the girl from him. ' You'll sit 
 down, you fool, and you'll hold your tongue 
 or I'll let daylight into you." He glared at 
 the man, who met his eyes for a moment, 
 and then once more, with a shrug, dropped into 
 his seat. 
 
 " Now, out with it," said Sullivan, turning on 
 the sobbing girl, " or you'll get another dose." 
 He bent down and stretched out a hand. 
 
 "No, no ! " she screamed. " Not again ! 
 I'll tell you. I 'phoned to him, to Jack 
 he couldn't come he he sent that woman 
 the one I told you about, and she got his 
 brother away." 
 
 There was a whistle from Applet on, and a 
 sardonic laugh from Lizzie. 
 
 " You always were a fool over a pretty face, 
 Jim," she sneered, " and now you see what 
 you get." 
 
 " Hold your damned tongue," he snapped, 
 and then once more turning to the girl. " So 
 Jack Denham knows, and that woman knows. 
 Then why haven't the police been on to us 
 by now ? ' 
 
 " They promised not to give us away," she 
 said, weakly. 
 
 " Promised ! Hell ! " he retorted. " And 
 already he's killed two of my men, and for
 
 286 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 all we know he was a party to the killing of 
 Bob Vincent. And you trust his promise ! 
 You risk our lives, our liberties, on the word 
 of that man ? " 
 
 "Oh, yes, yes ! " she cried. " Can't you 
 see ? He's kept his word, or the police would 
 have been here. You can trust him. If I 
 hadn't known that, do you think I would have 
 told him anything ? I know. Oh, I know, 
 he wouldn't let them take me." 
 
 " Take you ! " the words were like a whip 
 lash. " Who in hell cares what happens to 
 you ? If we get away from here, I'll see you 
 pay for your treachery for the rest of your 
 natural. Curse you ! ' ; He raised one foot 
 and Molly cowered back. But at that Apple- 
 ton interfered. 
 
 " Stop, Jim," he said quietly. " This has 
 given me an idea." He came a step forward 
 and put himself between Sullivan and the 
 girl who scrambled to her feet and backed 
 into a corner of the room, her face distorted 
 with fear. 
 
 ' Well, what's the bright idea ? " demanded 
 Sullivan, angrily. 
 
 " Sit down and leave the girl alone, and 
 I'll tell you," was the reply. " The mischief's 
 done now, you won't help matters by rough 
 handling her. She's had some of her medicine 
 and the rest will come later, when we get hold 
 of that fellow Denham." 
 
 " As how ? " demanded Sullivan, but he 
 sat down.
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 287 
 
 " I'll tell you. Lizzie saw him a little 
 while back with Harper. Well, we know now 
 that he couldn't come to his brother's rescue, 
 which meant he was detained somewhere, 
 probably in the nursing home the brother 
 mentioned. And now he's here in London. 
 What does that mean ? ' 
 
 " Search me," sneered Sullivan. 
 
 " Harper had him by the arm," volunteered 
 Lizzie. 
 
 " Exactly," said Appleton. " Denham had 
 got away and was probably caught by the 
 'tec on his arrival here. But why had he 
 come ? " 
 
 " Once more you can search me," said Sulli- 
 van, disagreeably. 
 
 " Well, it's my belief he came to warn our 
 Moll that Harper was on our tracks. He'd 
 know that while he was shut up Harper would 
 do his damnedest to round us up, so he made 
 a getaway, only bungled it, as he would. He's 
 probably staying at his rooms for the night 
 and will likely be bundled back to the nursing 
 home in the morning. Well, now's our chance 
 to get him, don't you see ? ' 
 
 " 'Fraid I don't," retorted Sullivan. " My 
 brain never was equal to yours, Alec." 
 
 "I see," exclaimed Lizzie. " He means for 
 Moll to ring him up on the 'phone and ask 
 him to come and help get her away. That's 
 the game, ain't it, Alec? ' Sullivan sprang to 
 his feet. 
 
 " By God ! " he said. " It's the goods ! "
 
 288 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 Then, after a pause, " There's only one thing 
 strikes me about it, which is, that if he's here 
 to warn the girl he'll probably ring up on his 
 own account." 
 
 " More than likely," Appleton agreed, and 
 glanced at the clock. " Nearly nine. If he 
 doesn't do it soon we shall have to call upon 
 our Moll." 
 
 " You don't suppose," said the girl, sud- 
 denly grown very quiet and calm, " that I'd 
 do that, do you ? ' 
 
 " I think you will," retorted Sullivan, grimly. 
 
 " Never," she said. " Never ! You can kill 
 me, but I won't do that." 
 
 " You didn't seem to like being hurt a 
 minute ago," sneered the big man. ' Well, 
 that's nothing to what you will get my 
 girl." 
 
 "I'll stand anything you like to do to me," 
 she replied, fiercely ; " but I won't bring 
 Jack here to be butchered, and that's flat. 
 You can torture or do what you like to me, 
 Jim Sullivan ; but I won't be the means of 
 getting that boy here for you to kill." She 
 stared at him, defiance in her eyes. Where- 
 upon he strode across to her, struck her across 
 the face, and called her by a foul name. 
 
 " Steady, Jim," said Mike. " No more of 
 that." 
 
 " Look here," put in the stout woman. 
 " Never mind about the girl, she's more trouble 
 than she's worth. My voice is fairly like 
 hers and, anyway, I can imitate it well enough
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 289 
 
 to pass across the 'phone. I'll do the speaking 
 and get him here, you trust me." 
 
 " Good idea," said Appleton. " Give him 
 till nine o'clock, and if there's no sign of him 
 by then Liz had better ring him up and put 
 a tale across the line about Moll and her troubles, 
 that'll fetch him." 
 
 " And if you 11 take my tip," put in Mike, 
 who had been a silent and frowning listener, 
 " you'll can the Denham stunt and get out 
 while there's good going." 
 
 Sullivan looked at the speaker contemp- 
 tuously. 
 
 " If you're suffering from cold feet you can 
 get out right now," he said, coldly. " This 
 is my one great chance. You others have 
 systematically bungled all your chances as 
 they came along, so now it's left to me, and 
 when I've got that Denham fixed I'll go and 
 not before," and, turning his back to the 
 others, he sat there with his eyes on the 
 clock. 
 
 Only once until the telephone bell rang 
 was the silence broken, and that by Molly who, 
 as she realised what the inevitable end of this 
 must be, went over to Jim Sullivan and dropped 
 on her knees beside him. 
 
 " Jim, don't do this. Don't ! It's murder. 
 
 Jim, listen to me " But breaking in on 
 
 her agonised entreaty, there came the sharp 
 ring of the looked for bell, and she screamed. 
 
 " Get hold of that girl, Alec, and shut her 
 mouth," cried Sullivan. Lizzie ran to the
 
 290 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 'phone, and Applet on, taking up a small table 
 cover, flung it over the girl's head and 
 held it. 
 
 The voice speaking at the telephone was 
 remarkably like Molly's, so like that Jim 
 Sullivan smiled broadly, as he listened. 
 
 " Yes, who is speaking ? Oh, Jack, why 
 are you here ? What is it ? In danger do 
 you say ? To-night ? Oh, please come and 
 help me. I'm all alone. They're out, yes, 
 won't be in for hours. You can help me 
 get away before they come back. You will ? 
 Oh, you are brave. Yes, I have a friend in 
 Yorkshire, I'll go there. Yes, yes, I'll leave 
 the kitchen window open, only look out for 
 the dog. Jim leaves him loose in the garden, 
 and I daren't go outside. Yes, I'll be ready." 
 She put down the receiver and turned to the 
 others. 
 
 " He's coming," she said, "in his own car. 
 Should be here in about half an hour. Better 
 turn all lights out and shut the dog up." 
 
 " That's it," agreed Sullivan, with a grin. 
 " You, Alec, and I will stand on each side of 
 this door. When he comes in, grab him and 
 take his gun." 
 
 Applet on nodded and uncovered the girl's 
 head. 
 
 "Oh, you vile, wicked beasts ! " she cried, 
 panting and half smothered. 
 
 " Shut your mouth, fool ! You'll do no good 
 by that," growled Sullivan. " I tell you what," 
 he went on savagely, turning to the others.
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 291 
 
 "I'm sick of all this, and I'm going to leave 
 that girl here for the police to take when they 
 come. She can stay down in the cellar and 
 keep her dead lover company." 
 
 " Isn't that going a bit too far ? " objected 
 Mike. 
 
 " Say another word and I'll leave you there 
 too," snarled Sullivan. They waited. Only 
 the ticking of the clock, and once a strangled 
 sob from Molly broke the dead silence of that 
 room. 
 
 And then, as Sullivan rose and turned out 
 the lights, Mike suddenly spoke. 
 
 " Funny if Harper turned up instead of 
 Denham," he said. 
 
 " Stow it, you fool ! " retorted Lizzie, who 
 had started at the suggestion. " Frightening 
 us all for nothing. It was Denham who spoke 
 to me over the 'phone, I know his voice." 
 
 " Well, keep that girl quiet, Liz," said Sulli- 
 van, " or she'll try and warn him." 
 
 " Right you are." Not a sound ; if Jack 
 Denham had come he had come very quietly. 
 Ten more minutes passed, and then there 
 came a faint noise from somewhere in the 
 house, a footstep, a hand feeling the door, 
 and then a voice out in the passage. 
 
 " Molly ! " 
 
 " Here," answered Lizzie softly, ramming 
 her hand over the girl's mouth. The handle 
 of the door turned. A flash of light struck 
 across the room. The next instant there was 
 the sound of a struggle, a man's voice cursing.
 
 292 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 The flashlight was dropped with a crash on 
 the ground, and Jim Sullivan called out. 
 
 " Got him ! Turn on the light." There 
 was a click, and there, held firmly between the 
 two men, with his back against the wall, was 
 Jack Denham. He had ceased to struggle, 
 knowing the futility of it, and turning his 
 head, glanced round the room. Molly was 
 standing, wide-eyed, white-faced, staring at 
 him. He smiled. 
 
 " So that's that," he said. 
 
 The two men dragged him further into the 
 room, and Sullivan took his revolver and flung 
 it on the table. 
 
 " Got you this time, Mr. Jack Denham," 
 he said with a chuckle. 
 
 " It rather looks like it, don't it, my one 
 and only Jim. And our Molly the decoy once 
 more. Oh, what a game." 
 
 " I didn't- began the girl, but Jack 
 
 interrupted her. 
 
 " Quite an exciting drama of real and true 
 life entitled ' Face to Face at Last ' or ' The 
 Villain's Revenge '. Wonderful ! Mr. Apple- 
 ton, you are hurting my arm, which isn't done. 
 In the Best Circles, the helpless prisoner is 
 never hurt." 
 
 " Indeed, it was not I, boy " cried 
 
 Molly, but this time Sullivan interrupted her 
 with an oath. 
 
 " Shut your mouth, you ! " 
 
 ' Tut, tut, Jim. That's beastly rude," said 
 Jack. "I'm not used to that sort of language."
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 293 
 
 " I think it's only right and fair to tell you," 
 broke in Mike, " that the girl didn't speak to 
 you over the 'phone. It was Liz who imitated 
 her voice." 
 
 " Thanks Mike, you're a stout fellow," said 
 Jack. " I'll put in a good word for you to 
 Harper when he comes." 
 
 " You'll be cold mutton long before that," 
 sneered Sullivan. 
 
 " No, no," said Jack. " Pork, my dear 
 fellow, pork. At least that's what I under- 
 stand we resemble most when defunct and 
 cooked. His Satanic Majesty will get quite 
 a good cut off the joint when you go down, 
 Jim, or will he prefer pie ? ' 
 
 " Very funny, Mr. Denham," growled the 
 other. " But I rather fancy I've got some- 
 thing in store for you that will alter your 
 tone a bit." 
 
 " All right, old man, then don't keep me 
 standing here too long, I'm tired," he yawned. 
 
 " Bring him along, Alec. The sooner we 
 start the more time I shall have for enjoying 
 myself. I don't want to have to kill him off 
 too soon." 
 
 " What ? Is it the little torture chamber 
 at last ? " asked Jack, as he was dragged to- 
 wards the trap-door. 
 
 "Oh, Jim! Don't do it, Jim ! " cried 
 Molly, desperately. 
 
 " Keep her quiet, Liz. When we're ready 
 she can come down and look at him." 
 
 " Don't bother about me, old girl," called
 
 294 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 out Jack. " You're true steel. I'll kill Harper 
 if he touches you." And then he found him- 
 self stumbling down wooden steps into dark- 
 ness. Someone brought down a lamp, and he 
 saw it was Mike. 
 
 " You in this too, Mike ? " he said. " I 
 thought better of you." The man didn't 
 answer, and Jack looked round. 
 
 " I fail to observe the usual perquisites that 
 go to complete the furnishing of this especial 
 department," he said, in a disappointed tone 
 of voice. " Haven't you even got a rack, 
 my one and only Jim ? I'm sure they've 
 got one at the Tower, and Alf, before he joined 
 the Saints, could easily have pinched it for 
 you." 
 
 " I've got something that will do just as 
 well," was the reply, "something of my own 
 invention. Take off his coat, waistcoat and 
 collar, Alec." 
 
 " Do you mean it's really something you 
 thought out all by your little self ? " asked 
 Jack, as Appleton tore his jacket off. " Then, 
 by Jove ! I should think it's likely to put 
 rack, boot, and all the other pleasant little 
 things right in the shade. Alec Appleton," 
 he went on, sternly, " don't be so rough, 
 this is my best suit and you'll pull it out of 
 shape." 
 
 " Come on over here," said Jim Sullivan, 
 taking one arm, while Appleton took the other. 
 
 " Never ! " said Jack, suddenly struggling 
 hard.
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 295 
 
 " What's the use ? " said Appleton. " You'll 
 want all the breath you can save later on." 
 They practically carried him across the room, 
 and pushed him with his back against the 
 wall. 
 
 " Now off with his boots, and then the collar 
 first, that will settle him," said Sullivan. ' Up 
 on your toes, man, or you'll choke." They 
 forced him up and fastened the broad leather 
 with its jagged edges round his throat. He 
 choked, cursed, and stood up on tiptoe to 
 their fullest extent, which he well knew would 
 mean intolerable agony to his muscles in a 
 very short time, and yet if he should try to 
 relieve the strain, not only would there be the 
 danger of choking, but the rough edges of the 
 stiff leather would cut into his neck. Then 
 wrists were made fast to rings in the wall. 
 
 " I can't stand like this for long, you cowardly 
 brute," he said. 
 
 ' You'll stand like it for as long as you want 
 to live," was the retort. Then Sullivan drew 
 a broad leather strap round his chest and 
 buckled it. But it did not help to relieve the 
 strain on his ankles, for the chain that held 
 it to the wall was three inches long. 
 
 ' You'll break my ribs, damn you," said 
 Jack. 
 
 " I think not," was the reply, and another 
 strap went round his waist. 
 
 " Don't cut him in two quite," said Apple- 
 ton, as Sullivan buckled it. 
 
 " I know what I'm doing," was the reply.
 
 296 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Well, is that nice and comiy ? " he went 
 on, turning to his victim. " My turn for the 
 witty repartee, I think. Don't feel so like it 
 now, do you ? ' 
 
 " How long do you suppose 
 I'll last like this ? " asked Jack, 
 drawing his breath in quick short gasps. 
 Already the strain on the muscles of his legs 
 was torture. His face went suddenly white, 
 and beads of perspiration started out on his 
 forehead. He turned his aching neck, scratching 
 the flesh on the jagged edges of the leather, 
 and looked at Mike. 
 
 " Put a bullet into me " he said. 
 
 " I've a good mind to," was the reply. " This 
 is a bit more than / can stomach, Jim." 
 
 ' Then get out of it," was the reply, and Mike 
 looked into the muzzle of a revolver. With a 
 shrug, he went up the wooden stairs. 
 
 " Didn't know it would be quite as bad as 
 that, did you ? " said Sullivan, grinning, and 
 he sat down on a chair and regarded his victim 
 complacently. It was not a pleasant sight, 
 and after five minutes of it, Appleton, who 
 had never liked the idea from the first, put 
 his thoughts and feelings into a few choice 
 and forceful sentences. 
 
 ' Well," retorted Sullivan, " you know the 
 remedy," he pointed to the wooden stairs. 
 
 "If he dies we shall all hang for murder," 
 growled Appleton. 
 
 " He's going to die," was the reply. " But 
 you are wrong about the hanging. " We get
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 297 
 
 away to-night. Gnindtstein's little boat is 
 ready and waiting wdth Grundtstein himself 
 on board, and our future spiritual home lies 
 in Germany. There are only four of us left, 
 it's true, but we're worth saving. Ah well, 
 if you must tear yourself away, bring me down 
 a drink. This fellow's contortions is making me 
 thirsty." 
 
 He sat there for half an hour, sipping his 
 drink and watching the tortured man, in a 
 kind of silent ecstasy. Neither spoke; Sulli- 
 van, because he knew that abusive words 
 would be thrown away on a man who was 
 almost beyond hearing them ; Jack Denham, 
 because all his energy was concentrated on 
 keeping alive until Harper came and words 
 would but waste his hardly fought for breath. 
 
 At length Sullivan rose and went to the 
 ladder. At the foot he paused and looked 
 back. 
 
 "I'm now going to have a look round," 
 he said, " and if the coast is clear I shall have 
 an hour or two's sleep. But before we go I 
 promise you I'll come down and put you out 
 of your misery." 
 
 ' You're not worth cursing," said Jack, 
 at last, and Sullivan laughed and went up the 
 ladder. 
 
 " My God ! " groaned Jack Denham, and 
 wondered how long he could stand it. Would 
 Harper never come ? What had happened to 
 prevent him ? Perhaps he had failed in his 
 search, or perhaps after all he would not try
 
 298 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 to-night . . . might have other duties, any- 
 thing might have happened. His thoughts 
 ran riot. Would Elise wait up for him ? He 
 had told her he was going to a night club 
 and would be back late. She had believed 
 him too, for, though she had tried to conceal 
 her chagrin, she had not succeeded. Would 
 she sit up for him ? And if he didn't come 
 would she guess where he had really gone and 
 send for Harper ? But if Harper couldn't come ! 
 God, what a thought ! Perhaps Molly could 
 help him. But no, not this time. Years of 
 agony, or could it only be hours, passed ? 
 The lamp was still burning on the table, but 
 very dim now, and even as he watched it, it 
 flickered and went out. There was no sound 
 above, no ease for his tortured muscles, aching 
 neck, and bruised body. A deadly nausea 
 overcame him, and he knew that if he col- 
 lapsed now he would strangle, and there was 
 no one to help him. 
 
 " Oh, Molly, Molly ! " he groaned. 
 
 " Hush ! " said a voice overhead. "I'm 
 coming." Steps came down the ladder, sound- 
 ing far off and muffled. It could not have 
 been Molly really; it was a dream, an hallucina- 
 tion. ... A faint light flashed across him, 
 and he heard a strangled cry. 
 
 " Oh ! Those devils ! " And someone was 
 tugging at the straps round his body. 
 
 "Collar first '" he gasped. Then hands 
 were at his neck. Deep, hissing breaths sounded 
 in his ear as the tiny fingers tore at the three
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 299 
 
 buckles. At last, with a groan, his head fell 
 forward, and his heels went down upon the floor. 
 A dull droning sounded in his ears, perspiration 
 fell in drops upon his shirt. Once more fingers 
 were at the buckle that was gnawing a hole in 
 his ribs, or so it seemed to him, and then there 
 came a blinding flash of light, and above 
 the droning in his ears he heard the sound 
 of Jim Sullivan's voice from the trap-door 
 above. 
 
 " At your tricks again, are you ? " With 
 an effort Jack raised his head and was aware 
 of a figure kneeling in the opening. Heard 
 someone calling in the distance : " Jim ! Jim 
 Sullivan ! Come quick ! " 
 
 "Go to hell ! " was the reply, the voice 
 was that of a man fuddled with drink, and he 
 raised a heavy revolver. 
 
 " Get out of range, Molly," cried Jack, 
 desperately. "He's going to shoot ! " But 
 Molly never moved, and as a shot rang out 
 she gave a strangled cry and fell forward 
 against Jack's helpless body. Someone dragged 
 Sullivan away, and Molly sank down upon the 
 floor. 
 
 "Oh, Molly, Molly!" groaned Jack. 
 ' You're hurt, and I can't help you. And 
 it was for me, you dear, brave soul ! Oh, 
 God ! If I could only help you ! " He tore 
 and strained at the lashings that held his wrists 
 until the blood came, but without avail. 
 
 Molly raised herself on her hands and looked 
 up at him. By the light of the torch which
 
 300 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 still glowed on the table where she had placed 
 it, he saw that her face was ashen. 
 
 " I think I'm dying," she muttered. 
 
 " And for me ! " He groaned, and bent 
 forward as far as his bonds would let him, 
 to see her face. Molly tried to smile, and then, 
 with a supreme effort, and thinking only of 
 him, she dragged herself to her knees. Jack 
 felt clawing fingers at his legs, then at the strap 
 about his waist. 
 
 " I can't," she said. " I've no strength 
 and I wanted to set you free before I go. 
 You're in pain." 
 
 "Oh, never mind about me," he cried, 
 bitterly. " Molly, girl, if you can your lips 
 He strained forward, the clawing hands 
 were about his body, chest, then his shoulders. 
 The grey drawn face was close to his at last. 
 The clutching hands were round his neck, 
 he bent his head and, once more, as when he 
 lay helpless in that house in Chelsea, her lips 
 were pressed to his. Only then they had been 
 warm, now there was the icy touch of death 
 upon them. 
 
 " I love you , boy." The cold hands 
 relaxed their grip. She fell in a crumpled heap 
 at his feet. 
 
 Elise Allwood glanced at the clock. It 
 was after twelve, and she wondered how much 
 longer Jack would be. Of course he deserved 
 a bit of fun after being cooped up in that
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 301 
 
 garden all these weeks but still ... he 
 might perhaps have stayed with her that 
 night. . . . No, that was merely selfish, 
 and she was being a cat, a species of female 
 that she particularly loathed. Of course, he 
 wanted a spree ; he was to go back the next 
 day, and naturally he must have a fling and it 
 was not likely he would get another chance 
 for some time, unless, of course, Harper was 
 successful to-night. But if not, well, it meant 
 Treloar again, and perhaps their honeymoon 
 there ; she wanted it there, she loved the place. 
 There, for the first time for years she had been 
 happy, and there she had met Jack ; and in 
 the meantime she was very tired and wished 
 the young reprobate would come back. 
 
 She lay back in her chair, and closed her 
 eyes. Dancing, she supposed, a harmless amuse- 
 ment but, still . 
 
 She awoke with a start, and saw that it was 
 nearly two o'clock and no sign of Jack. She 
 got quickly to her feet. What had happened ? 
 Surely he would not stay up as late as that, 
 knowing that his return would probably wake 
 Eddy ? Of course not ; then what did it mean ? 
 
 Had he gone to a night club or . A horrible 
 
 idea suddenly occurred to her. Had he, after 
 all not gone to a club at all, and was his journey 
 up here not for the object of ascertaining how 
 his brother was, and seeing her ? If so, there 
 was only one other motive that would bring 
 him ; a visit to Colder 's Green. She remem- 
 bered now, that she thought she had heard
 
 3 02 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 him speaking down the telephone, and yet it 
 might have been to young Jenkins, but she 
 had only heard Jack's voice. What should 
 she do ? Mrs. Jenkins was asleep on the 
 sofa in her room in case she should be wanted ; 
 Jenkins upstairs. It was of no use to wake 
 them, the old woman would only lose her head 
 and be worse than useless; her son was, she 
 thought, of not much use in an emergency. 
 Harper was her only hope ; but then Harper 
 had said he was going to Colder 's Green. If 
 he had gone and been successful in his quest, 
 then she had nothing to fear as regards Jack. 
 But if he had not gone. . . . She ran to 
 the 'phone in a panic, and rang up Scotland 
 Yard. 
 
 " Is Inspector Harper there ? " she asked. 
 He was not, but was expected in at any moment. 
 No, he had not gone after that especial gang ; 
 had been put on to something special and 
 urgent. Yes, he should be told at once and 
 sent round. 
 
 " And tell him to bring some men with him," 
 said Elise. " Tell him Mr. Denham went out 
 just after nine, and isn't home yet, say I'm 
 terribly anxious." 
 
 For twenty minutes she paced up and down 
 the sitting-room, a prey to torturing anxiety. 
 Why had she been such a fool as to let him go ? 
 She could have stopped him, told him Eddy 
 was worse than he really was. Anything she 
 had said would have kept him there. And 
 now, what had happened ? He might be
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 303 
 
 caught by those devils, he might even be dead 
 now. 
 
 " Oh ! " she cried, in an agony of fear. " Not 
 that ! Not that ! I can't lose him ! " And 
 then she heard a car stop at the door, and flew 
 downstairs to open it. A tall figure brushed 
 past her. 
 
 " What's the trouble now? " asked Inspector 
 Harper. 
 
 " Jack went out at nine and hasn't returned," 
 she began. 
 
 " Well, if you let him go out you mustn't 
 be surprised," was the unsympathetic retort. 
 " Didn't say where, I suppose ? But if he 
 had it wouldn't be the right address. I 
 couldn't get there myself, special job on, so 
 promised myself the treat to-morrow. How- 
 ever, we'll anticipate it by twenty-four hours. 
 Do you know if anyone rang Mr. Denham up, 
 or if he used the 'phone at all ? ' 
 
 " No one rang him up," she replied. " But 
 I thought I heard him talking to someone 
 once, just before he went out." 
 
 " I see," was the reply. "I'll ring up and 
 get Exchange to tell me where the call was to." 
 She followed him upstairs, and listened breath- 
 lessly to the one-sided conversation. At last 
 he turned to her. 
 
 " It's as we thought," he said, sharply. 
 " He rang up Brandscome's house, Colder 's 
 Green, the place we raided the other night, 
 and found an innocent old woman sole occu- 
 pant ; but we were going again, of course."
 
 304 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " In any case, I would have told you now," 
 said Elise; "and I'm coming with you," 
 she added, and disappeared into her room, 
 from whence, a second later she emerged in 
 hat and coat. 
 
 " I've told Mrs. Jenkins to sit up until I 
 come back," she said. A minute later she was 
 seated beside Harper in the big car which she 
 saw contained four more constables. 
 
 "What on earth did you let him go for?" 
 demanded the detective, as they tore through 
 the deserted streets. 
 
 " He said he was going to a night club," 
 she replied. " Of course, I couldn't stop him, 
 he deserved some fun." 
 
 " Fun ! " he retorted in great disgust. " I 
 expect he's getting his fill of it now. No, 
 no," he added, hearing a stifled sob beside 
 him. " I don't mean that, of course. We'll 
 get there in time, don't worry. If there's 
 any truth in that story of his about a torture 
 chamber, then we've nothing to fear. Jim 
 Sullivan won't try to get away until he's given 
 him a few hours of it, and though it mayn't 
 be exactly pleasant or what one would choose 
 as a pastime, still, it won't kill him. Sulli- 
 van will try and do that just before he hops 
 it. But we'll stop his little game." 
 
 They tore on through the night down empty 
 streets, and finally reached their destination. 
 
 " And to think they took me in like that," 
 grumbled Harper, as they pulled up fifty yards 
 from the house and he got out. " Now you
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 30 
 
 stay here and don't move," he went on, turn- 
 ing to Elise. " I'll leave the driver here in 
 case anyone runs out this way and tries to get 
 away in my car. If anyone does," he added 
 to the man, " don't hesitate to shoot. We 
 are dealing with a gang that sticks at nothing, 
 and if one of 'em is shot instead of being hanged 
 it won't count against you." 
 
 " Very good, sir." 
 
 Harper and his men went cautiously, keeping 
 to the grass, but they had hardly gone two 
 yards when a large hound sprang out from the 
 bushes barking and snarling. One of the con- 
 stables brought his truncheon down on the 
 brute's head, and it dropped. 
 
 " Dead, I expect," said Harper, " but curse 
 it ! They'll have heard." 
 
 And then a shot rang out from somewhere 
 inside the house. 
 
 " Run, men ! Don't trouble about a noise. 
 I'm afraid we're too late to save the boy, 
 but we'll get his murderers." His automatic 
 smashed through a window as he spoke, and 
 putting an arm in he undid the catch. 
 
 " Two of you run round to the back of the 
 house, there'll be another way out. Wish I'd 
 brought more men." 
 
 The two dashed off round the house and the 
 other followed him through the window. There 
 was a faint noise from the other end of the 
 house which sounded like a car starting. As 
 they ran down the passage, there was a shout 
 followed by a shot. They turned towards the
 
 3 o6 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 back door, which stood open, and, throwing 
 his light on to it, Harper saw one of the con- 
 stables struggling with a man. 
 
 " Hurry, sir ! " called out the officer. " One 
 of 'em's running. I think Sullivan and a 
 woman got clean off in a car. Shot Matthews 
 in the arm. Ah, ot you my lad ! " he ended, 
 and Harper heard the snap of handcuffs as 
 he passed him at a run. Outside and away 
 in front he heard footsteps running. He was 
 a fast sprinter, and, flashing his lamp, he 
 saw that he was gaining on the dark figure 
 before him, and that the drive led out into a 
 by lane. 
 
 " Stop " he called, " or I'll shoot ! " but the 
 man in front paid no heed. Twice more he 
 called, with the same result, then he raised 
 his weapon and fired low. The man pitched 
 forward and fell. 
 
 " That's all right," said Harper, as he bent 
 over him. " Leg wound only," and then as a 
 constable ran up, " He'll still be fit for the 
 hangman. Help me carry him in." They 
 picked the groaning man up and carried him 
 at a run to the house. 
 
 " Cursed sneaking beast," he muttered be- 
 tween his groans. " He made sure of his 
 get away all right." 
 
 " What, Sullivan ? " said Harper. " He would. 
 And what's your name my man ? I mean the 
 one you patronise at present? " 
 
 " Appleton," was the reply. 
 
 " I've heard of you," said Harper, dryly.
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 307 
 
 " Look after him, Cousins, I'm going down to 
 the cellar." 
 
 He found the lights turned up and the trap- 
 door open. Then he clambered down and 
 saw a man in shirt and trousers, with his arms 
 stretched out against the wall, and a pair of 
 staring eyes gazing at him out of a chalk-white 
 face. 
 
 " Thank God, he's alive ! " he muttered, as 
 he hurried across to him. " You seem to be 
 pretty tightly trussed up, Mr. Denham. How 
 long have you been like this ? ' ; He busied 
 himself with the buckles, and in doing so 
 touched something on the floor with his foot. 
 He looked down, and the next instant dropped 
 on his knees. 
 
 " It's Molly," said Jack, in a dry, husky 
 voice. " She took the bullet that was coming 
 for me. She's dead, I think." 
 
 The detective bent lower. " Yes," he said, 
 quietly, and took the limp body in his arms. 
 Then he called up the trap-door. 
 
 " One of you come down here." A con- 
 stable appeared, and descended the steps. 
 " Carry her up," he said, " and lay her on the 
 sofa. Gently, man, she's made good and some 
 to spare. Mr. Denham is alive because she's 
 dead." The constable took the burden in 
 his arms in silence and went up. 
 
 " And now I'll see to your comfort, young 
 man," and Harper proceeded to release him, 
 catching him in strong arms as he toppled 
 over.
 
 308 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Sit still for a bit and have some of this," 
 said the detective, and held a flask to his 
 lips. 
 
 " What's the time ? " asked Jack, when he 
 could speak. 
 
 " After three," was the reply. 
 
 " Six hours of it," he said, " and I thought 
 it was weeks. I'm parched, Harper." 
 
 ' Well, get home then, as soon as you can. 
 Mrs. Allwood's out there in the car." 
 
 " Here ? " he cried, amazed. 
 
 " Just that. Where else do you suppose 
 she would be ? ' 
 
 " Of course," said Jack, in a dazed sort of 
 voice. "I'm afraid I've caused a lot of trouble, 
 Harper." 
 
 ' There's no getting away from that," was 
 the dry retort. " But you've paid for your 
 fun any way. Let me help you on with your 
 things." 
 
 " I feel as if I'd been thrashed," he said, 
 wincing as he put on his jacket. " Poor 
 Molly released me from that collar, or I shouldn't 
 be alive now. It kept me strung up with my 
 toes barely touching the ground. I was bound 
 to have choked when my strength gave 
 out." 
 
 Harper swore. " Damned brutes ! " he said. 
 ' You've been through it and no mistake. 
 But you're safe now for a bit." 
 
 'You got them? Sullivan ? Mike?" 
 
 asked Jack, still in a dazed kind of voice. 
 
 " Mike and Appleton are bagged, but Sullivan
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 309 
 
 and a woman got away in a car after plugging 
 one of my men in the arm." 
 
 Jack looked at him queerly. " I'm glad 
 of that," he said. " He's my quarry. Harper, 
 one day I shall get him. I owe poor Molly 
 that." 
 
 " That's enough," snapped Harper. "He's 
 our job and you can keep your hands off in 
 future. He'll lie low somewhere for a bit. 
 Get another hiding-place, I reckon. Now come 
 on out of this, I'll help you." They climbed 
 up, and in the room above Jack glanced round, 
 and the next moment was bending over some- 
 thing lying covered on the sofa. He gently 
 raised the cloth that hid her face ; she looked 
 happier and more peaceful than he had ever 
 seen her. 
 
 " Poor kid," he muttered, and turned away. 
 In the passage outside they passed the two 
 prisoners under guard, and a constable with his 
 arm bandaged. 
 
 " Glad you escaped, young 'un," said Mike. 
 " You're a good plucked 'un." 
 
 " Thank you, Mike," he replied, and then, 
 turning to Harper as they got outside, "He's 
 not as bad as the others." 
 
 " He'll get what's coming to him," retorted 
 the detective, dryly. 
 
 They reached the car where Elise was stand- 
 ing waiting for him, one of the constables 
 having told her what had happened. She 
 did not seem to notice Harper or the driver, 
 but just put her arms about Jack's neck.
 
 310 THE WRONG NUMBER 
 
 " Thank God ! " she said. Jack was silent ; 
 for once words failed him, and in any case they 
 were not needed. 
 
 " Get in, please," said Harper. "I'll send you 
 back in the car, and it can return and pick us 
 up. I'll get another from the station here, 
 or use yours. Keep him quiet, Mrs. Allwood," 
 he went on, putting his head in at the window. 
 " He's had a bit of a shock and has been 
 putting in a few hours best described as hell." 
 Then his hand went up in salute. " Good 
 luck, Mrs. Allwood, you've been just splendid." 
 The car drove off. 
 
 Once only, during the long drive, did Elise 
 break the silence. 
 
 " Poor Molly," she said unsteadily, " she 
 made good at last." Then, after a pause, 
 " Jack, it's been rather a strain and I'm going 
 to cry." 
 
 ' Yes, my darling," said Jack, and drew her 
 head on to his shoulder. After another silence, 
 rather longer than the first, he said, as though 
 his words were part of some long unspoken 
 conversation, ' Yes, one day I'll have the 
 pleasure of killing Jim Sullivan." And then, 
 unconsciously repeating his brother's very 
 words : ' While he's alive the world isn't a 
 fit place to live in." 
 
 ' You're better, dear? " murmured Elise, as 
 they drew up at their destination and the 
 driver rang the bell. 
 
 " No, I'm very ill," he replied. " Almost 
 at death's door after all I've been through.
 
 MOLLY MAKES GOOD 311 
 
 But I've got a notion that one more kiss like 
 the last no, he's not looking would make me 
 quite well almost at once." 
 
 Elise All wood, thereupon effected a miracu- 
 lous cure. 
 
 THE END
 
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