A STROKE OF LUCK.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 428, 21 July 1904, Page 7

A STROKE OF LUCK.

SHOUT STORY.

si* "& WAB within an ace of running over *5 •» >l SK -&«£rgettingdtiflk.for one thing and has grey cloak was hardly dism fanguiahable from the shadows flnng by the hedgerows that bordered the narrow lane. There was qgy Just room for the motor to pass, and e«n so I was obliged to steer pretty well intAhe dry ditohT I slowed down almost to awalk aa I £*% fe. J?" *° m J rorpriae she turned, end holding up her hand begged me to stop. " I obejed at once, and as the woman stepped to the aide of the car and the light of the lamp fell on her upturned face, I could barely repress an exclamation of astonishment ftl had seen a good many beautiful women in my time, but none with suoha £SS throat and chin, such a wealth of auburn hair, or suoh riorious «~7 eyes shaded by long black bE SiTiS wa3 . eTen *«« remarkable was H>P*rently t"te unconscioua of the fact. *£ **,■ **** o! wM-oosscioua. ?!?■*-*• clew voice in which she addressed me. »hj^ Uld *J? nto^ indellon « tt to tell ma to Barminster P' * You can get to Barminster this way.* ro^'and-iS' 8 """* * ™' •Bat they told me at the station that this was the most direct way—unless, of course, I misunderstood the directions.' said the girl in aoae dismay. •Perbaps so; country people are not always, very lucid. If a certainly a good three and a half miles' walk this way but as I am going to Barminster myself, perhaps you would allow me to drive yon there 3 hat is if you don't mind mr taking vou it out of the way first* ' You are very kind,' sail the girl, «and ix you are quite sure it won't inconvenience you——? ' Not in the least' said I, and as I helped her into the motor I oaught myself wondering how it came about that a girl with the face of a Baphael Madonna and the band and foot of a thoroughbred, should be walking at dusk along a lonely road in the heart of SteepehireT 'flow fast wa seem to be going !' she said with a quick gasp as I turned into the high road to Barminster and let the car have her head a bit. •We are well within the regulation speed limit, I assure you,' said I smiling. 'BeaUy ? then I suppose it is because I have never been in a motor before,' Bald the girl. •Would you rather I slowed down a oar—'l was beginning when she interrupted me, * Oh, no, no,' she Bald with a quick flash Of her grey eyes, 'I love it, it is just like a dream to be flying along like this.' I glanced at the outline of flushed cheek and shining hair and caught myself almost wishing that I had not been so very honest about the exact distance to Barminster, Tm sorry to be taking you a good couple of miles out of your way/ I said mendaciously,' but the fact is I have to meet my aunt at Worsfold. 'She's a dear old soul, but not much accustomed to travelling. Her maid is as her mistress and between - them they managed to raise the connection atßugby. They left towm by the 2.15, so there ought to have been plenty of fame——' %it there wasn't really' interrupted my companion. 'I came by that train myself, and if it hadn't been that a man eeisad my portmanteau and literally flew over the bridge, I should have missed the connection too. * I half wished I had done "bo, when I found there was no one to meet me at Haxalford and no means of getting a cab. However, fortunately there was a young woman driving a sort of farmer's cart and she very kindly offered to take my luggage aa far as the Thurston Arms, but as there was no room in the cart for

myself and the luggage, and ae moreover' eie cosfeased aha would hare to wait for a couple of young pigs that were coming by ft local train I thought I had better set off and walk.

'The young woman was most extraordinarily kind, and gave the most minute direction as to the best way to reach the Grange'——* 'The Granger I stammered. 'Are, you quite sure chat was the address ?' ' Quite, sure,' said the girl confidently. 'Mr Thurston sent me a card, so. that there should be no mistake, and his wife—-• . . *. " *■ •- 'His wife?' I echoed etupidly, 'but Ihurstos'B wife ' ' Is an invalid, of course,' supplemented the girl quickly, 'or else you see they wouldn't have wanted someone to look after her.* -,__ . ~.- ~ •Bat you aire not a nurse?' 'Oh no. but I-have been accustomed to invalids all my fife,* said the girl quietly. 'My father died soon after he got back from India, and mother was more or leas of an invalid till—till she died about a see why I should weary'a perfect stranger, however kind——* •But my dear young lady,' said I gravely,' it is not a question of kindness, the fact is I have the strongest reason for asking you to tell me exactly how you came to enter into these negotiations with Thurston of the Grange.* 'lt was quite simple/ said the girl, ' I was desperately anxious to get something to do, I had tried advertising in ever so many papers, and was beginning to feel rather hopeless, when oae morning I received a letter from Lit Thurston, of the Grange, Steepshire, offering me the very post I wanted. ' Mrs Thurston, he said, was an invalid but only temporarily so, and the doctor was of opinion that what she really required was a young and cheerful companion, and plenty of life and society. 'He went on to ask me if I could help to entertain a house party, and even went bo- far as to suggest my bringing my smartest frocks and jewellery, as his wife could not bear dewdy surroundings. 1 The letter was certainly an eccentric one, but his wife's note was—' ' Then Mrs Thurston wrote you also ?' I questioned in growing amazement. • Oh, yes, just a short note saying that she hoped I c juld consent to come down to the Grangs for a month at any rate, j_r- & 3*.-o how we suited each other.' 'But surely,' I interrupted, 'you did not contemn laqe going to these people without having had refeienoe or—* ' Oh no, I looked them up in Debtett and found there had been Thuntons at the Grange for generations. ' 1 also wrote to the Victor of Thurston who happened to be away in Switzerland. Mr Thurston very kindly furnished me with his address, but unfortunately the letter had to be forwarded so that his reply did not reach me before I left town, 'However, I feel sure everything will be all right, for curiously enough I heard two people in the train talking about Mr Thurston, sad they e»id—!

Br MOEBIS COLBOSK,

'One moment' I interrupted quickly/ before you go any further, I thinkit only tate^S-? 00 ** laQ Thurston 3 JS' ex ° lai, °S d **• *M.' but if s not it' *? Th ««*°a I was told was sixty-five, and you said in your letter-' w«nV^ 7 . youn ß lady, I never wrote you a letter— *

'Sorely youanswered my advertisement, una your wife.—'

•i ? g !? t to "* t fa e lad? does not exist/ Rata I, then seeing the look of horrified astoniahmeat on the girl's face, I added gently—- ' The fact is, I am afraid you have been the victim of a senseless hoax ' * But what object could anyone have in being bo needlessly cruel to a woman who has to earn her own living P' questioned the girl. 'I haven't the ghost of an idea,' I wa«j beginning, then catching eight of the tears glittering in the girl's beautiful eyes, I added quickly, • but I intend to get to the bottom cf the matter, youmay rely upon that In the meantime—by George! that can't sureiy be the train through the tunnel already !* I broke off as a ehrill whistle broke the stillness of autumn evening. It was the train right enough, and |we certainly had our work cut out to try and reach the station in time.

My companion was evidently somewhat nervous, but she set her little teeth: gripped the Bide of the motor as we literally flew down the road and under the railway bridge, to pull up just aa Aunt Mary, followed by her maid and a couple of porters, came through the station gate. Aunt Mary insisted on personally superintending the stowing away of her numerous packages in the luggage-cart, and a good ten minutes was occupied in this way before ana would consent to take her place in the motor. . -

I was just assisting her to mount when she caught sight of my companion—- ■ Good gracious! Why it is little Eileen Heriot! What on earth are you doing here, child f' she demanded brusquely. The explanation took some little time, partieulary as Auat Mary insisted on interrupting Miss Heriot in the middle of every sentence. *•■

, • Bat good gracious, child what on earth possessed you to contemplate being a companion ?' she demanded.

' You forget that I was obliged to earn my own living, Miss Bivington/ said the girl quietly. 'Then you should have consulted your mother's old friends, and not gone rushing off to scour the country in a motor-car with a young mam' ' I came down here as companion to Mr Thurston's wife/ said Misß Heriot, with quiet dignity. ' Balph's wife! Good Heavens, child 1 Of course, the ~boy isn't married. He's not old enough. 'lf a man isn't old enough to take care of a wife at thirty-five, I should like to know when- he is eligible for the post of Benediot/ said I laughing, for Aunt Mary has a rooted dislike to realising the fact that I am anything more than a sohoolboy.

•That's all very well, but when you marry—* ' Suppose we leave the discussion of my matrimonial prospects for another' occasion,' said I, 'and devote ourselves to clearing up this business. The first thing to be done is to fetch Miss Heriofs luggage ' ' But you're too late, I saw fcbem' put it into the up train a few moments ago, when I was instructing the porter to collect my own. 'I noticed the name and wondered whether it was any connection of my old friend Colonel Heriot of the Loamshire Scouts, but the maid in charge of the luggage——' ' Bat I have no maid if it really was my luggage,' the girl was beginning, when Aunt Mary interrupted her, 'But I tell you I saw your name, and there was enough of it in all conscience. I should like to know what any girl wants with two-Saratogas and a hat-box!' said the old lady grimly. ' Then if was mine,' said Miss Heriot, * bat I wonder how on earth—r-'...

I did not hear the end of the sentence, for I was already inside the station interviewing the porter. A young woman had driven up in a farm cart with the luggage described, and was very particular about it being labelled through to Euaton. 1 '' She -was a most remarkable fidgety young woman, sir,' the porter assured me, ' and if she asked me once she asked me a dozen times if I was quite sure the train was timed the London express at Merston Junction.

'I assured her she'd have a good twenty minutes or more to" change trains in at Merston, but even that didn't satisfy her. In fact"l never see a young woman fidget so much about her traps before, and I've seen a Bight of fusßy females— —' •Do yon think you could give ma a description of the young woman ?' I interrupted impatiently. . |' Well, not exactly, sirT except that she weren't no beauty, 'avin' carrotty .'air and an ugly kind of ecar aorosa her cheek.' 'Bed hair and a scar,' I .repeated stupidly. 'lt sounds uncommonly like—' Then I stopped, drew out my note book and scribbled two telegrams, one addressed to the London terminus, and the other to the station-master at Merston.

* What time is the express timed to leave the Junction?'l questioned. . 'Seven-twelve, sir—bat she's usually three or four minutes late.'

•Thanks—just send these wires for me please.' • Yes, sir $ thank you, sir j and if there's anythiag—' ! I was Outside the station before the man had finished speaking, and was tearing across the level crossing when I met Aunt Mary—- • Ob, my dear Balph,' she gfasped, ' such a dreadful thing has happened. 'My jewel case has gene!' ' Gone 1' I repeated, ' but surely your maid—*

' Foot Marshall it seems knows nothing about it. She never saw it after that nice | man of yours was kind enough to look after our luggage at Merston, and—' •My dear Aunt, what nice man?' I interrupted impatiently. «Tour chauffeur Duval——' •Teat Bcoundrelp' Why I dismissed the fellow for dishonesty a month ago.' * But he gave me to understand that he was still in your employ, and—— * • The fellow is an out and out scoundrel,' said I, ' but we haven't time to discuss him at present. The thing is to recover your jewels and Miss Heriot's luggage, and if you are game for defying the speed regulations ——* 'l'm game for anything,' said Aunt Mary pluckily, ' but you have forgotten Eileen. ' No, I haven't forgotten Miss Heriot,' said I,' but if I am not mistaken, she is as plucky as they make them.' I was right, she was. When Aunt Mary clutched my arm as we flew down the hill toward* Mention, it wag Miss

Heriot who smilingly assured her that there wu no danger, though I could see the r gjrl bita her pretty lips as we swooped round a difficult oomer. Fortunately neither of them knew enough about motoring to realise the pace at wiueh we covered the last few miles, wo«Kh Aunt Mary hasßince declared that ehe was quite convinced it was at leastsixty miles an hour. Anyway we succeeded in reaching the junction jnßt two minutes before the express was Bignalled. I left Aunt Mary in the motor to recover her breath, and turning to Misa Heriot—'Do yon mind coming with me, I want you to.tdentify»yonr luggage and—-' I was interrupted by the whistle of the express, and in another moment I was tearing across the bridge closely followed by Mies Heriot.

As the train reached the platform we saw a man hurry towards a second-class carriage with a woman on his arm. ' If you will take your seat, chere amie/ he Baid. «I will look aftar the luggage-' The woman glanced at the truck laden with Mies Heriot'a boxes, ' Bight you are, aJphonse/' she said, 'but you can leave the brown bag with me.'

' But ma chere, I can take better care of it, and—'

' No, you don't, old man! The contents of the has; are worth ten times as much as the other haul. Besides, I've seen that game before, and unless you hand over the bag at once—'

* Don't think/ Baid I, gripping Duval's shoulder, ' that it would save trouble . if I were to take charge of Miss Bivingtoa's jewels P'

The man's growl of rage was interrupted by a feminine voice— • *

* Good 'eavens, it's the master - himself/ she shrilled, and I recognised, with astonishment, an extremely plain, young woman whom my housekeeper had employed as housemaid, and whose identity was impressed on my memory by her persistent attempts to tidy the papers on my study table. I had barely time to glance at the coarse face, disfigured by a great Bear, before the woman leapt from the railway carriage, and tearing down the platform, rushed into the arms, of a stolid policeman; who had been instructed by my wire to await the express. I glanced • round in search'of a second constable, and in doing so slightly relaxed my grip of Duval's collar. The man gave a downward lunge with hisripht hand, and at' the same moment Eileen Heriot rushed'forward, and seizing the fellow's arm in her small hands gasped out—- ' The knife—get hold of the knife!'

I twisted the weapon from the fellow's fingers, and threw it on to the line, and as it fltshed out of sight the man gave a savage snarl. . 1 Confound the women, they are always in the way, .but for you, Mademoiselle, 1 should have completed my revenge' . 5 Let us hope the wife of Monsieur Thurston, of the Grange, will ap reciate the companionship I have procured for her.' 'You scoundrel! Bant!' said I, Then placing myself between Miss Heriot and the Frenchman

'lf jon will go back to Aunt Mary,' I was beginning, when the man interrupted me with a laugh—— ' Ah, if ze Aunt Marie is there, the game is what you call 'op," he said with a shrug. ' But I have had ze fun of the play. I have embarrass Monsieur with a companion for vife whom he does not possess, and ze joke is finished I' 'Not at all/ said I, as I glaaced i»t the police inspector hurrying across the bridge, 'the cream of the joke is to come, and you will have leisure to eujoy it in—in Bar minster Gaol,' 1 added meaningly. I handed him over to the inspector, and was turning to leave the station with Mies Heriot, when Duval said with a careless laugh—- ' There is no such thing aa gratitude in sis world, officer. If I have introduce you to such a charming Mees, could you not be more than content, mon brave P But yes, of course : and yet Monsieur Thurston' ho thinks 'only of recovering ze jewels and Mademoiselle's wardrobe, but as for appreciating the other stroke of luck—he would not know how to do it.' Bat as a matter of faot the fellow was quite wrong. At least that was Eileen Heriot's opinion wheh a month later I persuaded her to become my companion and wife in one. i -.