The Motor Pirate Part 30

"It is more than likely," said Forrest. "He was not the ordinary type of criminal. I was speaking to a big mental specialist the other day, and--but I had better complete the story of his career first. Where did we leave him?"

"New Guinea," I prompted.

"The only other reason I have for suspecting him of being engaged in deeds of violence in that quarter of the globe is that he returned to England _via_ Singapore, with a considerable quant.i.ty of bullion in his possession. The rest of his history you know."

"He seems to have had a stirring existence, anyhow," I commented. "And one hardly sees any reason for it save natural sin."

"The alienist I was talking to the other day described him as a moral pervert. He said he was a type of insanity usually a.s.sociated with physical incapacity or a low order of intelligence, but when, as in Mannering's case, both physique and intelligence were above the average, the moral pervert is a greater danger to the community than an army of ordinary criminals. If ever I said a prayer it would be when a madman of that type was removed from the world."

"Amen," said both Evie and I, heartily.

THE END.