THE BLACK YACHT,

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 421, 12 May 1904, Page 2

THE BLACK YACHT,

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ABBANGEMENT. _„_.

'•; By Ferjjjus'-'Htime, Author of «*Tha Mystery of a Hanaom Cab," « The Third Volume," " The Vanishing of Tera," « The Lone Inn," " For the Defence," &e., &c. v ~ r COPYBIGHT. \ -

CHAPTfIB 11-A BTBiMGB DIBAP. APPEAR AHCE. Dozing the next two.days I saw nothing of Lilian. Mis March and, doubtleea adrised of mj pretence m, the village, kept her away on tha heights. Up there I made ao attempt to go, for as jet I did not fo«l equal to eccoanterin g the wrath of that lady. Tans hesitating, I wandered about now on the pier, now on the beech, sow round and aboat the hills. Oonaifftnagy I caught a fleeting glimpaa at Lilian as aha paced the crest of the headland, Sometimes she wbold flatter her handkerchief as a signal, and then I was happy for the, d>y.. "So fax I bad not met the gentleman. He apyeaied to pass most of his time either at Hesglst Tower or on board his yacht His passage through the village usually toot place when! was not there, and although I was very asztooa to, acqoaiat myself with him, I had failed so far even to catch a glimpse of him. I had to coaieat mjaelf with each description of the man and his idiosyncrasies as i could extract from Garrett, the landlord. . 'Car/si F. ain't tie man aa I should care for to sup with,' said he ons evening whfla -rflttkag away the dinner table. ' I've been .a ssilor, miitar, as you may Lev heard, a»*'l've had- f&do with some x<j£cilj in the tJripper linej bnt Cip'n ¥ , I don't hold with Lira e<un*ho*r. Igueeshe'd boot a'tann round' tha deck for • ehucka.' *-\ Garrett had sailed aforetime with a Nantucket ekipper, and had then picked up ArcericaaHnu, to wkichhe reverted on occasions. Ha was a .shrewd reader of character, and I had no doubt that his estimate of Fenvizk was a correct one. Mgreorer, the term 'slaver'' captain* recurred to ma at this moment aa having been u2ed.br Lilian,. It fitted in very ' aptly with Garrett's coacluaioa. . • Is Captain Fea wick well kaowa, then, in the neighbourhood, Garrett V 'Waal, sir/ ha drawled, 'he's kep in with ale man Cola these ten years or more. Goats 'e were reachia' for the dollars, an' now aa the young lady's got 'em he'll 'ew an eye to 'ex.' • What do you mean V * 'Taint hard to guess, mister. Miss Marehand's pretty, and rich, and all that, and them's tha sort aa Cap*n F. likes. H'U just gat hitched to'er, that's all 1 reckon.* * The yeung lady will have something to say to that.' said I, drily 'Staybei but if Cap'n F.'a on that ion it'll straighten out his way, 1 fancy. Lord blaaa you, Mr Walcott, 'e*s more than a spice of Old Nick in 'im, 'a 'as, and if 'e can't get hold of the doliare in one wayj '•'U cob '«m in another, I reckon.' ' H*m! he's not over and above rich, than?' 'I gases not. 'The Regrets* is about all he has to my kaowin'f nasty black crawler the is, too, though £ shouldn't wonder if she could show a clean pair of heel i in the open* 'Did you know anything of Mr, Cole yourself, Garrett V said I, putting aside further discussion of the Captain and the yacht for the moment. 'Everything, sir. A queer ole chap he were, and a bit gone in the upper storey, unless I'm much nrirtakeg. Why, bis will and testarmint shows that, Mr Waleott, To think of plaakiu'a jouag lady of the likes of that in that there tower for six month oa end. If s mighty rough on 'er. that it is !' ' Why, is there anything wrong with tha Tower?* 1 Well/no, I dunno as there's much wrong, »Te loneliaeta and a few mad folk. Ola man Ban is a shingle short, an* Lydia Barber's a flighty minx, ehe is. I don't envy the young lady up there, mietar, that I don t. Ton don't happen to know 'er, I a'poeeP* ' 0 j, yes, I know her well.' Gartett looked sharply at me for a moment, sad dta'ad the table in a perfuactcvy tort of minaer. Suddenly he leaned across it and confronted ma with forefinger uplifted. Bia voice was low, and he spake in deadly earnest. 'Tell her, .then, to lock*, oaf sharp for Cap'n P, and set ao foot aboard that schooner.' w ■ ..;„... * - 'I d.n't understand,' I repliedpjgomaif hat startled. •Why,' taid> Harratt, picking us*Gia ti ay, * V guciM "he wanta the bloat,* he dees. Matrimony's hia line, sir; and. if ore*he gatrheFehut up in tie cabin.of t± at there why, she do%'t a*t fcot ashore tiU Cap'n ?., you can bet your pile on that' - * ~ With thia he slipped cut of the door, noddbjgfifnifjcani&., * - Hia words unprteeed me disagreeably, and I bejan to foraeec trouble in con. * -nection with Captain Fenwiek? The man was evidently a bad Jot; , Garrett'a hiats and Lilian's lnatiuctive repulsion for him seemed to prove that, t felt more than aver aaxioas to meet" hint fsee to- face. Alracat with the increased desire came tha opportunity Pipe in hand, I had moved to the open window, aid leaning oa the sill, I 'coked out oath a narrow street, now darkening with the fall cf night Here and there glimmered a few oil lamps, and under them lounged the fbhermen goeaipiag to she girls. The silt nca war brokes-eury by the murmur of their voiere, \ uactoated, as it ware, every new and than by a shrill bat it at Uaghttr from me of the women. A flab like smell sickened the atmosphere, and I drew at my pipe tor® my aoefeils of the odour. For 9t* nriautes I had been thaa occupied when I h-ard a sharp, firm step ring on the ator y eiope—the step of a g«atlea*a, I had no d-u:,t,. aaditfarent waa it from tha dragging gait of the * illagtrs. Tha next tQ«tiat a tall man swung stiirf'T round the corner and

'passed within a few feet of the window. For one second I noticed the glint of his eye as it flashed interrogatively on' my face. Then I saw him turn deliberately into the public-house. r - I regretted that the duek had prevented my discerning his features more dearly, but my regrets were needless, for as 1 turned from the window Garrett entered the room with a lighted lamp, followed immediately by Captain Fenwick, The apartment was open to the public, so I felt no surprise at the abruptness of his entry, but I confess I was astonished when he stopped up to me with outstretched ! hand. I '* j 'Mr Walcott! How do you do P I have * just dropped in to have a few words with you. lam George Fenwijk/ Surprise held me tongue-tied, and I surveyed in silence the looks of the man who thus thrust his acquaintance on me Garrett had withdrawn; and Fenwick warmly clasped my hand and smiled. Of , large bulk and lengthy limb, his head was unusually small. Sat back on his shoulders as it was, he appeared for all the world like a snake about to strike. The tower part of his face was hidden by a bushy beard, black,.and without gloss. His eyes were'dark and lustrous. He Btzuok.me as. being between thirty and forty. Bat he bad -evidently lived Lard, and he did not carry bis years well. His eyes belied the smooth spread of his brow, and in.the fleeting moment.! summed him up as'dangerous. There was something menacing about the whole aspect * So - one"' another* he said, dropping my hand; * Lit us sit down, Mr I Walcott. Theri is a good deal I-sbould like to say to you.' .. . ' iou are a stranger to me. Captain Fenwick,* I blurted out. bluntly •I am the cousin of"Miss Marchand,' was his quick retort,' and aa such I think I can claim, at all events, a few words with you/ ... - ' J hardly see that/ 'Then let'me explain. Mrs Marchand telfe me that there- is some foolishness between you and my cousin Lilian.' *We are engaged, if that is what you mean by foolishness. But I fail to understand now that can concern.you." ' It concerns me this much/ he replied, bending his brows, ' that I do not. choose "that you should persecute my cousin/ . . v 'Persecute!' f - hunt after a fortune, if you prefer that way of putting it/ ,;.%£, 'Did you come hero to insult me, Mr Ffflwiekf*}:' & fH •By no means, Mr Walcott. I camefto appeal to your good sense and to wa*n 7°**' 1..' ;- -, ' 'Against yourselfF" - -»% -; ;-- -„. *We rmght even go S3 far as that/ said Fenwick, insolently. 'I mean to marry Lilian——* -„..- - ■-- *0» her fortune.* 'Yes, or hex fortune, which should rightfully be mine. Do yon think that I have danced attendance on oldjCcle^all these years to be put off with a fool's . trick P. He promised the money .to me, ' and I mean to have it through Lilian/ ' 'I am'afraid ycu are reckoning without your host.' I said, coolly. ' Miss Marchand ia engaged to me, and neither her mother nor you nor anyone, else shall come between us. I loved her, and was engaged to her before she besame an heiress, and I am not now going to give her up—least of all to you.* He bit his Jip "with'a scowl and looked savagely at me. ~ ' ""=• |

. 'I suppose you count the cost of this defiance ?' be cried. - - ... <f . 'Fray do not be melodramajie, my dear" .sir. I am not afraid of you, and I count en myself and the law to protect Lilian from your bravado arid insolence.* - i ' Mrs Marchand wishes me to marry the .girl." &■% .*?'■ . - 'What's that to me? Rest "assure dthat you shall not marry, her/ At this point we both rose to our feet. - and Fenwick squared his shoulders aid? laughed jeeringly. 'This cock crows loudly/ he said, addressing the roof, 'but I'll cut its comb' ' Melodrama again!' I sneered; whereat. . he bowed. * I accept the reproof; talking is not: doing.-* However, that' can be' Bet rigli't? I without much diffloulty. Do you know 1 whatlmeajito.do, MtWallcottP' . 'Yea, to marry Lilian or her money, tb' "■ carry, her eff eo as* to break the terras of • •"fee*will, 'and'gain possession of tha ■ '-■- • '- H ptr He itxcde towards the door. ' You have, ... guessed ay, intentions fairly well/ he said.' * I need money, and Cole's money is lawfully aine, so" Fll stick at nothing to get *"ft. In spite of the law, queer things are done in England, Mr Walcott/ J And foolish ones also, Captain Fenwick— to wit, you I*expoc'ng 1 *expoc'ng your hand eo freely. Bat I know you, and I'll baulk yon/ *■» i •»•*. .... 'lf you can; but I've bested better men ' tlan yon, sir. At all.costs, I mean to have the money asd the giri.' [ 'LUian * g g* I - •Lilian, Lilian!' he sceffsd,'. with his hand on the door j ' think of Lilian, dream of Liliaß, but taku this assurance from me —yon havo seen, her for the last time as M-B3 Marchand. Tour next meeting with her shall be when she is Mrs Fenwick.* "Bd'rpeaklng he swung out of rhe room, leaving a Bense of discomfort behind him. TgK.naa '-was effeneively open in his villiany, but I did not think that he would have brought his buccaneering airs and bravado into ay presence. I was his rival and his declared enemy, so caution alone should hare impelled turn to reticence. As It was, I knew his determination, and resolved to thwart & That night I laid my head cc my pillow with the intention of caliiEg forthwith at Heagist Tower, and of expoaag Fenwibk to Mrs Marchand

and Lilian, M&, $* ,tfc -S^i At ten the next mowing I wsa T>y Garrett, who boifc-ilisaster imt JSpe across his weather-beifcen face. ' 3£| ' ' Get up, Mr Walcof*,'be said, hosursdly; ' Miss Marchand haii disappeared,' i|| SCATTER IH—HENGIsi'TQwIfP - "it first I conld hardly credit the falling of thii bolt from the bine. It seemed incredible that in a sober English county a girl could vanish as completely as LUian bad done. My first enquiry was fojrhe Blaok Yaohfc, It had also and the glittering waste ot the hay .wan unbroken by any sort of eraft. The fishing smaoks had weighed anchor, and got away, long since. They could Just be picked out, now mere, spscks on the horizon. - Putting together Lilian's presentiments and Fenwick'e threats. I could only arrive at the conclusion that he had carried her cff in bis boat, so that, under compulsion, ehe might be made to render the will null and void. But the deadlier fear of a forced narriage haunted [me, and for a time I was distraught with anxiety and impotent' rage. From the conflicting: rumours in the village. I couldLmake out nothing I definite, arid~ so ' I ; sefc "out for Hengitt Tower to obtain, i(pa>aibl9,an trngnrbled account of what had taken place. I had no doubt but that Fenwick was the prime mover in all this, but I was eager to learn how he had accomplished his villainy. (To be continued.)