Boy's Cinema (1930-31)

12 There were no thoughts of rebuke in his mind. He was not like that. Other men might call Adrian some hard names, but not him. His job was to pull Eve's brother out of the mess he was in. " Perliape you could see Crayle and explain," Adrian suggested. "He jvould understand if you talked to him." Rupert stopped his pacing. Not know- ing that Crayle was so ruthless, he thought that the suggestion was a sound one. "Why, of course," he said. "That is the obvious thing to do. I am often in and out of C'rayle's ofBce, and I see no reason wTiy he should not believe that I picked up the diamond as a joke or something. Anyway, I'll see hirn at once." They returned to the library, Rupert anxious and Adi'ian elated. Rupert had fallen for the .story better than Adrian had imagined, and he was one of those helpful men who would do anything to save Eve trouble and shame. As Rupert entered the room he saw Crayle about to try to take Eve into his arms. Eve was backing away from him hastily. Rupert made no comment. He knew that Crayle loved Eve, and it was only natural for him to try to win her. In a way, Rupert regarded it as some- thing of a compliment, and he knew Eve well enough to realise that there was only one man in her life that mat- tered—himself. Crayle backed away hastily as they came in and sat down. Apparently his efforts to make Eve listen to him had not been too successful. "Er—I was rather interested in that picture lip there," he said lamely. "The one of the old lady'. It looks like a Rembrandt." "It is," said Rupert easily. He thought he saw a chance of solving Adrian's difficulties for him. "Inci- dentally, did you notice the stone in that large diamond pendant she is wearing ?" Crayle, glad of something to relieve his en)barrassment, walked over to the picture and examined it closely. ■'Extraordinaiy!" he murmured. "It looks exactly like the Rajah Diamond.' "That's what I thought," said Rupert. He opened his hand, and there in the palm lay the diamond it.self. "As a matter of fact, I took the liberty of borrowing the Rajah Diamond in order to couii;are. I hope you don't mind." Crayle stared' at the diamond in astonishment, then looked up at Adrian. The latter flickered an eyelash signifi- cantly. In an instant Crayle under- stood. He had got Rupert and Evo in the hollow of his hand. Drawing himself up to his full height, ho looked at Rupert coldly. "I am atraid I do mind," he replied stiffly. "If you only borrowed it,^ why did you not let me know when I put round I he reports that it had been stolen?" "I didn't trouble," said Rupert calmly. "I knew, that as soon as I was able to SCO you, everything would be all right." Crayle transferred his gaze to Eve as though to *ay he was sorry for what he had to do. His manner was becoming more stern. "I am sorry, Endon, but everything is not all right," he said. " You • took the Rajah Diamond from my oflice, and now try t«> r('turii it on the pretext that you only borrowe<l it. People <lo not ■ borrow ' aiticies of such a value Sfptcmbcr <;tli. la.iu. BOY'S CINEMA as that. I have no alternative but to accuse you of theft." Rupert started back, and his face flushed angrily. Crayle was being per- fectly absurd. "This is ridiculous " he began. "Ridiculous, eh?" Crayle was openly sneering now. "The police are hardly likely to take the same view when they look into your present financial posi- tion." Eve started forward, her face drawn with anxiety. "Mr. Crayle," she protested, "this is quite unbearable. You must be mad to think a man like Rupert would steal anything." Crayle ignored her. He still addressed Rupert. "Well, have you anything more to say?" Rupert shrugged his shoulders. He had no alternative now but to throw the blame where it belonged. "Just this," he said. "Ask Adrian how the diamond came to be in my possession." Crayle frowned. He looked at Adrian meaningly. "Well?" he asked. Adrian assumed a perfectly blank ex- pression. "The fellow is potty," he said suc- cinctly. "I know nothing about it." "But you gave it to me a few moments ago," Rupert protested. "You confessed that you had stolen it." "I thought so," Adrian countered. "The man is potty." Crayle shrugged his shoulders. His hold over Rupert was nearly complete. Calmly he went over to the telephone. "Hallo!" he called, after he had been connected. "Is Inspector Bctterton there ? Betterton, you had better come over to Endon Castle. I have here the thief of the Rajah Diamond, and I wish to give him into custody." Escape. FOR the next hour Eve and Rupert tried to pei^uade Crayle that it was all a horrible mistake, but Crayle would not listen. He insisted that Rupert had stolen the gem in order to retrieve his' fallen fortunes, and had afterwards invented the story about having borrowed it because he found he could not sell it. Crayle also pointed out, with heavy carcasm, that he was not inclined to show any mercy to a man who tried to place the blame for his misdeeds upon someone else. He referred to Adrian. Of course, he knew the true state of affairs. He realised that Adrian had been clever, and he backed h'm up to the full. 'To implicate Rupert in this maimer, thus at once ruining him and having him put away for a number ot years, was little short of a stroke of genius. It left a clear field with Eve. Rupert gave up arguing after a while. His attitude was that he would face the music. He knew now that he had been the victim of a scheme to get rid of him; but he had implicit faith in the fact- that the true state of affairs would come out once tho matter came before a court of law. He cared only about one thing—that Evo .still believed in him. That was all that mattered. Eve listened to the interchange of words between Rupert and Crayle, and found herself examining the two men critically. 8he saw in Crayle a ruth- less and .somewhat sinister business man who wouUl stop at nothing to gain his ends; while Rupert was an easy-going, honourable type who would never sus- Every Tuesday pect villainy until he became involved in it. In her heart she knew that Rupert did not steal the diamond. She knew, too, that her brother was lying. ^ Crayle suddenly approached her. • "Eve, I am so sorry that you have had to witness such a distressing scene," he said ingi-atiatingly. "I think you will realise,- though, that Endon's own actions made it necessary."- She looked round to where Rupert was standing, and saw that he was well without earshot. Adrian had left tho room. She lowered her voice. "There's something mysterious behind all this, Mr. Crayle," she said. Her voice hardened. "Won't you tell me what has to be done to prevent Rupert from being arrested?'! Crayle held up his hands in protest. "Please, Eve, don't put it like that," he said. "Justice must be done." "Must it?" she asked ironically. She was beginning to get an insight intO' Crayle's true character. "Let me put the question in another way, then. What must I do—what price must I pay —for this ridiculous charge to be with- drawn?" Crayle looked at her shrewdly, and decided that his best course was to come into the open. "Well, I think you will see that I could not prosecute ''any friend of my wife's," he said smoothly. "You under- stand, don't you?" She did not reply at once. The answer she got was the one she expected. Crayle had a hold on Rupert now, and the cost of having that hold released was that she should surrender herself in. marriage. "■Very well, Mr. Crayle," she replied coldly. "You win, I suppose. I love Rupert, and I would do anything in the world for him. If I have got to marry you, I'll carry thixjugh my share of the bargain; but remember, although yours is the upper hand now, you won't be in that position for ever." She rose. "And now I want to talk to Rupert. Will you leave us, please ?" She was quite calm about it'all. At fij-6t it had been her impulse to teU Crayle that she suspected him of a con- spiracy with her brother, but she had come to the conclusion that she would not be acting for the best by doing any- thing like that. Crayle was a clever man, and to oppose him at this nwment would be madness; Her brother, too, would not tell what he knew. He was an inveterate liar, just as he was an inveterate borrower of money, and it was quite useless try- ing to appeal to his sense of honour. He had none. She waited until Crayle had left her alone with Rupert, and summoned up her courage to play the difficult part that was before her. "Rupert!" she called. Rupert had been standing with his back to her on the other side of tho room. He turned, disturbed by tlie strange note in her voice. It had seemed hard, relentless. "Yes, Eve?" he replied dully. Slowly she drew off his engagernent- x'ing and held it out. "I wouldn't have minded marrying a poor man," she went on slowly. "But a thief, never!" He stated at her in amazement. Not knowing that she was breaking the en- gagement in order to serve him and clear his name, the thought tliat she had so little faith in his sense of decency was