I felt myself rise in the air, and I landed on the thick grass with a thump that knocked the wind out of me.

I was now half crazy with rage, and struggled to get up, but found I hadn't the strength to support myself. I fell forward on hands and knees. A great crushing weight dropped on me and I went flat.

Although I knew what followed, I couldn't do anything to stop them, couldn't defend myself.

Two of them systematically beat me up. One dragged me to my feet, held me upright, while the other bashed my face and chest with his fists. They made a boxing sack out of me. When one got tired, the other took over. It seemed to go on for a long time. There was nothing I could do but take it. So I took it.

At last, they were through. They left me lying on my back blood running into my eyes, my body pulverized. I felt little pain. That would come later. At the moment, I could see the moon through swollen eyes, hear what was going on as if the sounds were coming to me out of a fog.

I was still half crazy with temper, and after a few minutes, I managed to hoist myself to my feet. I reeled around like a drunk, fell down again. My hand closed over a big round flint stone. That gave me a little incentive.

Crawling upon my hands and knees, holding the flint tightly, feeling its sharp edges digging into my fingers, I peered around until I located the three men a few yards from me.

Ted and Bert were giving first aid attention to Joe's ankle. It was nice to hear his curses as they probed the swollen member with their thick, unfeeling fingers.

I levered myself to my feet, swayed backwards, recovered, set out across the grass towards them. It took me a little time, and it was like walking against a strong wind. Ted heard me when I was a few feet away, turned.

"For crying out aloud!" he exclaimed, "I'll bust my mit on his ugly snug this time, s'welp me if I don't."

I found I couldn't get any farther, so I waited patiently for him to come to me. He sauntered up, flexing his right arm. Bert and Joe turned their heads to watch. Bert was grinning; Joe was snarling at me.

Ted planted himself in front of me, set himself.

"Now, chum," he said, "I'm about to demonstrate 'ow I put Little Ernie to sleep in the first round. If this smack you're going to run into don't take your 'ead off your neck, then may I be."

I collected all my remaining strength, shot the flint into his face as his right hand began to move.

The flint caught him an inch or so below his right eye, ripped his cheek open to the bone.

He gave a startled howl, stepped back, tripped and fell. He began to bleed into the grass.

That was about all I could do. I'd broken Joe's ankle and scarred Ted for life. It was a pity I couldn't do more for Bert, but I just hadn't the guts to stand any longer on my feet. I staggered forward, heard a violent oath from Bert, saw him rush at me.

I took his punch on the point of my jaw, went out like a snuffed candle.

chapter fifteen.

Crystal was saying, "You may think it odd I should have married such a wreck, but he didn't always look like that. When we first met, he was almost handsome."

I opened my eyes, found I could scarcely see, stared up at the ceiling. There was a smell of antiseptics and flowers in the room. I felt as if I'd been run over by a steam-roller, but the bed felt fine.

A woman's voice said, "You may sit with him for a little while, Mrs. Harmas. He should recover consciousness any moment now, but please don't excite him."

Crystal said airily, "Oh, we're old married folk now. He doesn't get excited when he sees me, worse luck."

A door shut, and Crystal, looking cute in a blue and white check frock and a white turban, moved into my vision. She drew up a chair, began to put her bag on the bedside-table.

I reached out, pinched her. She gave a sharp squeal, jumped, turned.

"I've recovered consciousness," I announced.

"Oh, darling, you gave me such a fright," she exclaimed, furtively rubbed the spot where I'd pinched her, "and you really shouldn't do a thing like that. It's very uncouth." She took my hand, fondled it, looked down at me with adoring eyes. "I've been so worried about you, precious. You've no idea. I've been simply frantic."

"That makes two of us," I said, squeezing her hand. "I've been simply frantic, too."

"Oh, Steve, I do seem to love you," she said, kneeling beside me, and rubbing her cheek against my hand. "Whatever's happened to your poor face?" She blinked back tears.

I struggled up in bed, grimaced as pain rode through me, looked around the room. It was obviously a private ward in a hospital. I sank back with a grunt of disgust.

"How did I get here?" I demanded, "and how did you find me?"

"Now, you mustn't excite yourself, darling," she said, patting my pillow. "A very kind, thoughtful man telephoned me. He found you on Wimbledon Common, discovered my telephone number in your wallet, called me and an ambulance, and here you are. But, please, Steve, what happened? Whoever did this to you?"

I ran my fingers tenderly over my face, grimaced.

"I had a fight," I said. "Some thugs picked on me and this is the result."

"But why should they pick on you?" Crystal asked, her eyes opening. "You're such a nice boy. Did you say something to annoy them?"

"I guess I must have done," I said, deciding that it wouldn't add to her peace of mind if she knew Bradley was at the back of this. "What was that you were saying about being Mrs. Harmas?"

She looked embarrassed. "Oh, dear, did you hear me?" she returned. "Well, it was the only way I could get in to see you. You're not angry, are you, precious? We can always get divorced when you're better, can't we?"

I patted her hand, tried to smile, but my muscles were too stiff.

"That's okay with me," I said. "If I was the marrying type, I couldn't think of anyone I'd like to marry better than you - if I was the marrying type."

She nodded, looked bitter. "That kills me a" if you're the marrying type! Maybe, you'll have to marry me."

"Don't let's get sordid," I said hurriedly. "Tell me, how long have I been here?"

"Two days."

I moved my legs and arms. After the first twinge of pain, they moved easily enough.

"Well, I'm not staying here any longer. I must get up and out of this."

"You'll do no such thing," Crystal said firmly. "There's no question of you getting up until you're quite well."

"Well, okay. That's something we can argue about when we run out of conversation," I said. "Do the police know what's happened to me?"

She nodded. "I'm afraid they do. You see the hospital reported your arrival. There's been a great, hulking policeman sitting by your bed since you came. I managed to persuade him to wait outside this time. He's out there now."

"Wants a statement, I suppose," I said. "Well, maybe you'd better send him in. We can't keep the Law waiting, can we?"

She looked uneasy. "He worries me. I don't think he believes we're married."

"That shows he's a good cop, but I'll convince him. Tell him to come in, honey, and stick around. You do me good."

"Do I really?" Her face brightened. "I'm so glad. I was beginning to think I was bad for you." She bent over and kissed me tenderly.

I patted her.

"Get the cop, sweetheart, or I'll be dragging you into bed."

"You wouldn't have to drag me," she returned, went to the door.

I heard men's voices, then Corridan entered, followed by Crystal who looked scared.

"I didn't ask him in," she said, hurriedly. "He was outside with the other man."

Corridan came over and stood looking down at me. A fatuous smile lit his dour face. It was the first time I'd ever seen him look really happy.

"Well, well," he said, rubbing his hands. "They certainly made a mess of you, didn't they?"

I scowled at him.

"What do you want?" I asked irritably. "You're the last person I hoped to see."

He drew up a chair, sat down, positively beamed at me.

"I heard the news," he said, "and couldn't resist coming to gloat. You've turned up enough times when I've been in trouble, you vulture, now it's my turn." He was oozing with happiness and geniality. "Who's the young lady?"

Crystal made frantic signs to me behind his back, but I pretended to ignore them.

"She's my cousin twice removed," I said. "Maybe, it's three times removed. I've never stopped to work it out. Crystal, my dear, this handsome looking lug is Inspector Corridan. He works at Scotland Yard, and you know what I mean by the word 'works'.a Corridan lost a little of his sunny smile.

"The last time I saw her," he said tartly, "was in your room at the Savoy. You told me then she was the floor waiter's daughter."

"That could still make her my second or third cousin," I pointed out, smiled at Crystal, who was looking bewildered. "Don't let the Inspector make you nervous. Without his wig and false teeth, he's really quite a kindly old thing."

Corridan lost his smile, fixed me with a cold stare.

"You take your idea of a joke a little too far, Harmas," he said with asperity.

"Don't get annoyed, pal," I said. "I'm not in a fit state to be bullied."

Crystal sat in a corner away from us, folded her hands in her lap, tried to look demure.

Corridan leaned forward. "Let's cut out this fooling," he said.

"Who's been knocking you about?"

I sighed, hung my head. "I was teasing a midget, and he lost his temper," I said, closed my eyes.

Crystal sniggered, coughed, cleared her throat. Corridan looked annoyed.

"Now look, Harmas, that sort of thing won't do. You've caused a lot of trouble, and we want to know what's behind it."

"I've told you," I said, patiently. "At least, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. I have no complaints to make. I shall pay the hospital fees. I really don't see why a flock of flatfeet should come barging in here to know why and what."

Corridan breathed heavily, shifted in his chair.

"You've been assaulted," he explained. "That is a police matter. It is your duty to file a complaint."

"I'm most certainly not going to provide police with work," I said crossly. "I stuck my neck out, and I got what was coming to me. This is a personal matter, and I don't want you or your pals horning in. So forget it."

Corridan studied me for a moment, shrugged. "All right," he said, "if you're still suffering from I'll-steer-my-own-boat complex, there's nothing more to be said. If you're not going to file a complaint that lets me out." He pushed back his chair, stood up. "I think I warned you to keep out of this business, didn't I? It would seem someone else is also trying to persuade you. If this has anything to do with the Kennitt murder, you must tell me who did it or take the consequences."

"I'll take the consequences," I said flippantly.

Corridan snorted. "Has this or has this not anything to do with the Kennitt murder?"

"I wouldn't know. The thugs who beat me up didn't leave their names and addresses."

"So it's thugs now?"

"That's right. I was kidding about a midget. You know me: I'm tough. Takes more than a midget to beat me up. Those guys were twice as big as Joe Louis. Twelve of them set on me and I fought them for two or three hours. And what a tight I gave them! I laid eight of them out-crying for mercy they were. The other four kept coming and I kept hitting them. The siege of Stalingrad was nothing to it. Finally paused as Corridan, giving me an awful look, stamped out of the room.

Crystal ran over to me.

"Oh, you shouldn't have annoyed him like that," she said, shocked. "He might get you into trouble."

I reached out, pulled her down beside me.

"That wouldn't worry me, honey," I said. "The guy's harmless enough, but dumb."

"I don't like him," Crystal said, putting her head on my shoulder. She hurt me, but it was worth it. "I don't like the way he looks at me."

"And just how does he look at you?"

"That's something a girl could only tell her mother," she replied primly.

A few minutes later a nurse came in. Crystal had heard her coming and was standing by the window, trying to look unruffled and not succeeding very well. The nurse shooed her away, then took my pulse, dabbed something on my bruises and told me to go to sleep.

Oddly enough, I didn't seem to need much encouragement, and I didn't awaken until dusk was falling. I felt better, got out of bed, walked stiffly across to the mirror on the wall, examined my features with mixed feelings.

I certainly looked a great deal worse than I felt. I had two black eyes, the end of my nose was red and swollen, two livid bruises showed on my cheek-bones, my right ear was puffy. My chest and arms were black with bruises. The three thugs had certainly done a good job on me.

I returned to my bed, stretched out, decided I wasn't quite fit enough to start any trouble for the time being. In a day or so I should be ready for Bradley. I was going to surprise that rat.

I heard footsteps, followed by a knock on the door. I called; "Come in," hopefully, half sat up.