BIGGLES ON THE HOME FRONT

by Captain W. E. Johns

IV. GIVE AND TAKE (Pages 52 – 64)

“If, as he averred, Biggles was surprised by the speed at which one incident had followed another, he was soon to learn that these had not come to an end. More were to follow before the day was out”. At nine o’clock, Biggles and Ginger went back to the Barn. “Hardly had they found seats when Gus Norman, who had been standing at the bar, came over to them with a directness which suggested that he had been waiting for their arrival”. Norman asks if he has the stone and says if he’ll let him have it, he will get the top price for it. Biggles says he won’t part with it without the cash. “All right, I’ll give you two hundred for it, spot cash” says Norman. “It’s insured for three thousand,” Biggles tell him. Norman says he is not concerned with insurance. “You haven’t even seen it,” argued Biggles. “It may not be the real thing”. “I’ll take a chance on that” is his answer. “Ginger realized that Biggles was being forced into a tight corner. Knowing the stone was a fake he was loath to part with it for fear or repercussions that would reveal him to be a false as the stone. It had never been his intention to sell it”. Norman tries to persuade Biggles to sell it. “If it’s found on you it’ll be up the steps for you”* (a footnote tells us * Up the steps. Crook parlance for the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey). Biggles says “Take me to the man you’re buying it for and I’ll give you a quarter of whatever he pays me”. “There Biggles nearly went too far. Suspicion flashed for a moment in Norman’s eyes”. “Nothing doing,” he answered shortly. Biggles asks for five hundred. He finally agrees two hundred now and another two hundred when Norman comes back. Norman slips him a wad of notes held together by an elastic band. Norman takes the green stone and leaves. “Had I known this was going to happen I’d have arrange for one of Gaskin’s expert tailers to follow him,” muttered Biggles, irritably. Ginger reminds Biggles that “Somebody will soon spot that rock’s a dud”. Not wanting a scene in the Barn, they decide to return to their hotel. “As they got up and walked towards the door the man who Gaskin, looking at his photograph, had named Dusty Brace, did the same thing. Reaching the door together they came into collision”. “Sorry,” said Biggles. “That’s all right, mate,” said Dusty, and stood aside for them to go first. Which they did. The incident was so trivial that Ginger did not even remark on it as the (this is typo in the book, it should read “they”) walked on to the bus stop in Shaftesbury Avenue. Back at the hotel, they had been talking for half an hour when there is a sharp knock on the door. “He we go,” breathed Biggles. “Come in,” he called. In comes Norman and a man they did not know – a tough-looking type. “What’s the idea?” demanded Norman, flinging the imitation emerald on the table. Biggles feigned astonishment. “What’s wrong?” “You can keep that bit of green glass”. Norman demands his money back and Biggles is happy to return it. But when Biggles puts his hands in his trouser pocket, the money has gone! “Don’t try that with me,” rasped Norman, and his companion moved forward threateningly. Biggles’ eyes narrowed. “Just a minute – don’t get excited,” he said grimly. “I know where that money went”. “That whizzer* Brace has got it” (a footnote tells us * Whizzer. Crock slang for pickpocket). Biggles explains he bumped into him as he was leaving the Barn. Biggles and Ginger set off to return to the Barn with Norman (and presumably his companion). Out in the street, Ginger says he has forgotten his cigarettes and runs back. Biggles gets a taxi at the corner on Vauxhall Bridge Road and holds it until Ginger joins them. They journey to the Barn where Biggles pays the taxi driver. Brace is still there talking to Toni the Needle. Biggles goes up to him and says “Give it back” softly but succinctly. Brace says he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Seeing trouble brewing, the landlord intervenes. Biggles tells him that Brace has lifted a wad that doesn’t belong to him (Biggles). “Give it up, Dusty,” ordered the landlord. “I’ve told you before I won’t stand for that in here”. “He’s lying,” said Brace. “You saw me give him the money,” accused Norman. “How the matter would have ended had there been no interruption is a matter for surmise”. However, at this stage, Inspector Gaskin arrives. He walks up and asks “What’s going on?” Biggles looked at Brace. “Will you tell him or shall I?” Brace glared. “You squealer,” he spat. The landlord, apparently concerned more with peace than truth, stepped in. “It was like this,” he explained. “This gentleman dropped some money. This other gentleman picked it up and is arguing about giving it back”. Gaskin tells Brace to hand it over. Reluctantly, Brace does so. “I was only foolin’,” he growled. Gaskin then says to Biggles, “You seem to have been busy, Walls”. “I backed a horse, and it won,” says Biggles. The landlord offers Gaskin a drink, but he declines and leaves. Biggles hands the wad of notes to Norman. “You’d better take care of this while I still have it,” he said cynically. They walk to the bar and a young man comes in to deliver a message to Norman. Stony has broken out of Pentonville by going over the wall. Norman and the messenger leave. Biggles tells Ginger “Norman will tell Stony he got his message. Stony will deny sending a message and the cat will be out of the bag”. Biggles says they have two hopes; one is the police grab Stony before he meets Norman and the other is the fact that Gaskin treated Biggles like a crook. “That was a bit of luck”. “That wasn’t altogether luck,” explains Ginger. When he went back for his cigarettes, Ginger rang Gaskin and asked him to go to the Barn as there was likely to be a “flare-up”. Biggles thinks he may have made a mistake in parting with the fake emerald, but at least they know the fence is in, or around London, or comes to London as Norman would have taken the stone to him. Biggles and Ginger return to the hotel and have a quick meal. Biggles thinks word has reached the receiver, who he calls Mr. X and it must have come from either Norman or Noble. Mr. X then sent the chap in the R.A.F. tied to buy the mount. Then either X sent Norman to buy the stone or Norman decided to do it on his own account with the intention of selling it at a profit. Biggles thinks the latter is more likely, otherwise X would have sent the man in the R.A.F. tie again. Biggles wonders where Swell Noble comes into things. Biggles says they will contact Gaskin in the morning to see if there is any news on Stony. In the evening, they will return to the Barn and if Norman is there they will soon know from his manner “which way the wind blows”. They decide to get some sleep.