THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 132, 18 February 1909, Page 4

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

%aii »t:gh!ji l*««»r ve«J.)

Hy W Ml HHAV rai.WDOV.

Author of Hi.- Ul.ii Vnmilrrt." ' Mrn|'in« th<r Whn»iwmd."" "Tli« Heir vl the I.owJouuV Etc

t PAHT I. THE CTKSK. So peace nor joy nor life J»hoH maht heir of Card.-* know, fiat hittrr cup and htaody strife ?*hall spirit rru»li and pride brag low. Cardew. If thou tiw curse would ipurn.' To earth Torrano t dust return.

CItAPTEtt I. WIIITIIKK FATK LEADS. "Hello. Oordon ! J haven't tern %o*t for an oav. Whcrw are you hound for in such a hurry ?"" and th« »{et»k.r. a middre .ndhiduol with a «ow»pl*** i 'on hnrncd to the* roloor pi hhr own eoflr>jy-Wrri«-». h*»rd »»rr tbv gate to wave on inviting band * tJoiint to England. Jim." the other responded. "Thr deuce you are t Vou don f mean it ? Lucky doit, if you're lellirtfc tb>* truth, tint »too and ha*«c a drink."

">ot now. old roan. I'll *«r you to-inorrow or at the Tower House ton'ttht. So long ?" Sainttrtions and questions similar to the above— they were answered in much the mow way—continually hailed the |*»|>w!ar arid pi »i»»ei Iropo M|«-*«o-»ntry. ttordon IVrgH'on. as drwre hfs tlwsty rart a"«l *l-» n 0i virions■ lo»»H vrtt mules throiisth tlt»r sMI-wrl'S and into Irw tt-.atm thoroughfare of tfror;* town. Ihrrn.-rurn. which tbrixing ii-M. «t the nn.iith of Iht iHßtiertrt* Uiier. is. »».» e-.er> o* ki©vs. »!»♦• riC'ifa! of ltr»t".«h tfirlana. IVrtrn on iti.t it vigorous nn O ol forty. wi>h |h-«'n and honest features, and l-i dl> Mt-iv- eves that soinetinx'» refte ted, in hi."* lo">«l> hours, thy memory of tb*« sorrow that bad rlowhd his l»*e *rarj» li-vfore. As w« sht,li »•♦' m»»re oe him InTewfler. let it suffice >'or th»* pr»-s» nt to sav that he b*»d owmd »»»d comlurted a sngat plantation in tfwiaiM sinve bi*»>outh und ttiat had rwently d»-cid»d H pay a %i.-it lo tin; old cwuntrv firsit jbr he left home-owing to j»uecessbil trops during tJ»- pool two »«'w."ons

He «»s 0.-i enthusiastic as a l«oy ►>»*r th** pruf"*;***-». and hi** benrt was t,ti<d ntth lnigM nntiri|-ntrnns. It w»s n» or th»r end of Fet,ruar>. and Hie -iti.-f 6 glow. f*«»bing through tho forerfs oi *r»t. lieraluVd tlu»t |i|i*».v.nit I;or r when tl-tnnsetown tnrrs front business to idleness an« troors ov»r o* de«»rs to -n >v the rv.nirg air. "Ihe grey roofs of tlw town, h trf-buri d amid palm trees and lu\nri..nt vrg-*tati« n. l«>o'»ed ver>' attravtiv'* to the toil-worn planter. f,«»b from the wild solitudes of the interior, ct he drove along broad. rjnfct *■ irup9. letwe*n detached bodies, in spacious gardens nnd a d*»r Mr row of trenches, in whirh Mossonrwl the \ irtoria lleg»n lib. He »ntere«l Water-stre*t. lined wi.h nli' «orel o'rses of Fngli*»h. <i,-ol»i» t»nd Knrut-«nii irw-rrhnnt*. and b> nr t tli v I »iwl pta>ing in Hie nnd caught a i.lrnt|si- t»f r«mt«|ib*s |»a«s»ng to and fro on the !•♦« wall. • eiore he finally drew up at the hotel known as the Towrr I'ortse.

"Ta*«? the Iram to the staMe*. Stamlo." be .«aid to the Mark servant who came forward to rclicu hi:n. "My will *«ll <or it nest *♦•♦*".. Tht n'» goodi*-**. -t'\c «rm th>- la?t of it (or a month or t**»." Ic adtkd to h»i»'.s«lii. r'erg» !«*>n lf*»l£*»t«.-*I hi* luggage ••»- nVor?*. and nt'itr n haih nnrf * change of rto h«-!». In* emrrgrd again ns* the swi't. tr»»|ir«l twilight ««.<* falling. Slrppng mend «o a sMwim* ortkc nrar b* . hi- gk*fl«-d the .*ingk> orcu{■ivnt. a *1 **•. *ho wb.« writing t»t n h■• h »l f . in totfc» that imp'k-d oW B*\w«intn-n e. * A» » ( «r*l at it as r\rr. Tom. Con vow *»%«- Mp lon* enough t.» u-II nw it y*u *„' »»'t an empty berth on th« lloywl M. il .*tc»wer that hates day ■ Kr to-Mw»r»ow V •■rr*li». Ferguson f You're quite « »trun:i-r. You. went a berth—eh? Not bul»rg us?"

• Tut g*>inx home on a vbii—honn? lo t:t*l» own country, which is Kngi land.''

* -It tghl you are. Clad of it. Tbe trip will «ro yow good :" and Tom glaactd wistfully at the ntaim In whose shora he k»m:«tl to stand. "Wait a moment." he added, "and I'll «*.!•» to you." "KM tbe Urth ?** *'t h. I've g«»t one : don't ttorry." Ibe rljrk bent over hh» writing, and Ferguson, turning carelessly to the irapa and photograph* that hung on ih«- wall, discovered something that instaittly atrcfttrd his attention and t>rorr..ht an exclamation of astoiiisainvM to b>» Hi*. tt «»."• a placard in taw |«rinl—he could read it by lli« light of a amoHy lamp—offering * reward for a certain Juan Itivrra. a SiHMiard. who had escaped from tiw convict seltlebKnl on ttrs rwf*i Itivrr. A dVscrlption or the m»a»fltg man, meagre and unsatisfactory in i|» details. w ß s appemk-d. •|ly Jove ! when did Itivcra get *wav ?" Ferguson. **A fortnight ago." re|»lk-d the ck-rk.

"And have they caught him >et '?" "I hrlrcvr not. He u aniiwed to tMjve ffed towards New Amslcrda-m I wish he would come this way. and into my onlce : but there's no suth ttt€k. Un'l Itinera tbe, chap who stn' Ud the l»utrb Consul ?" *'Vc* : and it got bim a scncVnco of rditcn years." refdied Ferguson, a; racing in an odd vokc and with a |anfw| look of reinlntacence lo bia

* He was m bit of a wasn't be*"

"S*o I've beard, and it was probably irur. He came out kVre with a fol of money. M|uandend it all. anJ tbrn #iwr«*l to drink «nd ganv bk% It w»» said that l« Ijetongotf to an «nrti-»kt »n«l r»"«|«e<ted family in St'»'" «"* 1 lht »* his '' v ' a, name w»»5 or Torraiia. or s«Ctte-

im>.j4 <Vnv iiHtv. 1 curse ine iwy ncr " —— Ferguson l.ro'e »» r aiiuplH. "I kit home l«o «>>-'.- a*jo I've t»Tn \i.«.iting friends on Mm; way down." he went » n " Itinera "»m me. a srrudge. and I shouldn't wonder if ho ha* •"•*•*•« hanging round mv place. J testified at.iiinxt him at bin trial." \\*»l. they're pretty sure to cater. i'siM sooner or Inter." said Torn K:i*cd<»ni. a* hj« rose from the lies'*. ' Ma*.- n drink, old man. will > on?" He l--«l the way to a lack room; ,m«l h»d just taken glasses nnd n •'••!- tte frnin a closet wh<*n he was called nut i»y footstcpa in the oince. "What can 1 do fur you ?"' Ferguson hoard him ask : and the low* linden reply. "1 want a lavage on ♦.our ne*t steamer," reach..*! him at "distinctly. It waa a familiar voice —a voice from out of the dead past—--Iml Ferguson started as he put tlown he Ixitthr be had pickrtl up. l.»-o* - n« through a crack of the door, fie ■aw a tall, apparently middb-eg-d »,.* i . with ai olive-tinted con ph *vi« n nd b?«rk beard ami inoustaviw. w.u-"-ng a *'« it of grey *i-Tta-*le*. nnd a broad-brimmed I'atta-ia to* with a brown n nd ararlrl l-*nd. -Mtwh 100 old." he told hiniJi-lf. i" >o. «t ran't le. The fellow is * »t • n ng»-r. Aod yet*' "I h- r.e\t instant he had flung; tins door wide and dashed into theollk-e. "You scoundrel, you have been robbing my Ihumw V" he cried. ••Tliosc ire inv rlolhes, my hot '." He grabticd at the visitors Uard. and ft came away to his hand. Aa twirklv he tore off spectacles nnd ha«. and suspicion became certainly. •Juan Itivera !" he exclaim-d. The Spaniard, now revealed oh a voting- and handsome roan of iwrntyseven or twenty-right, mutter.*! on •>alh nnd whippetl out a knife. Hut hi* arm w n s promptly struck up by K ....I.h.i. a tid thus foiM of Id* m»r .Uronn purpose, he turned and tootto his Is-els Ijeforc either of the two could sei*c him. "Afi s *r him r" cried Ferguson.

••41, lp? Tollce :*' crieil the clerk. "11l em t llivern ! t'auh him '." Tro'itch Water-street was throngte with it-ople at thi* hour, and the RK>aning of ll»" clamour from the *hipp»n- o«Ve ran lis-e wildi'.n* among Jiem. tin- eseaped convict got solely n-TOss. fnocking down two lod.-» who tried to .**to|» him. A loud hue nno cry rose h.-hind him. and excite*, mob of uren ami l»o>s w.re pressing at hi* mels os he divrd into n si«lc thoroughfare, whence we will follow him on hi* desperate race for fn.v ilmii.

HiiUrly did .luan Ki%era repent Me iinplilse that had prwiupltil him lo wearing opparel from the wardrole of his hated enemy, and still imrtv bitterly tihl lie regret his f.lb in tmisting his disguise to the thine*s and hazards of-CJeorjt«-lo»H. Il»s overwhelming confidence, the libel" that his very daring would enable him to sail with impunity by a |{.oal Mail steamer, was likely to to*t him dear. Straining every nerve, he s| ed on. and fortunately his aimless course took him into tin comr-antlittlv ipiiel and dark resident iol n.ighlH»urhood. He twisled and doubhil. swervwl from rishl Ic left, and finally, when he had outdistanced his foes and was nt tin |»oint of exhaustion, hj? climl-ed wit! difficult v to the top of a »'?t»foot wall and dropped »"*«-» «" extensiv. tarilen on the further side. He lay tlierc. breathing hea\ily until bis pursuers had ruslntl bv the S|Ol and were seeking him Ic \ond. The night had now fallen, "and to that he owwl his good ho* •o far. He presently rose, his fertile brain *Hheming and planning, ami having crept through den« shruMtery and trees, h • emerged closi to a large two-storeyed lions*, when a single light wns visible in an »pp;r room. He ctouclud low ngain a>» a man and a woman p«ss,nl iiuicklv down the gravel walk*, conventing audibly. They wer- evidently going to discover what tnt noX'-e meant. •*W> must not leave the poor f-1-U>« said the woman. "He has bin writing all !"•* afternoon, ind the eflorl has exhaiistetl him. 1 am n-rnid the •ml is n-nr." *T i»ar s«»."* assentnl the lean.

"It i>* v»rv s*i»l. t'hnrlvs. but it would hiive lieen more So had he lievr

lei I lo die in that wretched hovel. I am glad we took him in." ThV- voi«es« ami iootM.-ps uukt* awav. anil Hivera Mood up•l wont !*• UVn alit./' Ik tn«nl. "Am d-nlh rather than tc rHurn lo that hell on the Ma/anini. 1 musl hide for a tine- Ami perhaps I tan oMn»n n ttvh difgui»e yonder. Appwrvntly Ihrre is no one at lionu but a ****• man." He cautiously approached <"«■' hoa» and finding the door locked, he gained admission by an open window. From tl»e hall, where not evrn a cloak or hat wn* hanging, he mounted to the upfrr floor, and paused ot the threshold of a rear room. lit glanrrd within. hesitated, and then piiMvd with noiseless steps. His firm- passions wrrc suMlucd by what tc saw ; for the moment he forgot ii» perilous plight. A dimly-burning lamp nmaL-d a voung man-he was well under 3« -stretched on a narrow bed. Hi* *vcs were closed, bis shrunken features were the hue of wax. and his arrathing was so faint that it could barely la? detected. He was evidently at the point of death. The fingers of one I -an hand clutched a pen, and on a table by bis side were ink. ra|>cr. and an open envelope, the latter addressed lo a London solicitor. "I might b? worse off." thought |tivera. "At l««a!*t I have a chance." Impelled by curiosity. h-J examinee Uw» envelope. The s4k'As within, written in a wia"* but h-gible hand, cuntaneil a con'es»i«»n. "Ihe dying tna». »l npf'earcd. had la-en a clerk of the afonaaid solicitor. Hiih a ley made fiom n wax impression he had o|ened o client's lo*. transTiled a «»:•* «»' a vob»aMe'paper, ind fled with it to MiKI h Cluianu. rherr a fatal illiwss had seized him. Uld Itt b"» last moments he desired to alwne for hj?» sin. He had burned tbe raivr. he de»late«l. ami his knowledge w f the M-crel it might have auitled him to—a *wcrv» that explained the theft and flight—wonl.l |n-r----sh with him-

11»o convict rvad on. oblivion* lo .•vtrjthini? rise- Th«? lath*'*'*-. l™*Irnl wntcncrt burne«l into Ms brain, thrilled )iint as If each word was a pin-prick. • Migu«l Torrona '" ho muttered. 'My uncrftlor ! What can this

Tbe revelation, dawning by nV-grcrs Vurst suddenly upon him in its cu

tirriy. itio tiund «'-ni DncK to hii ;hildl;iH»'l mid o.irly jo*Jtb. to a I'amil* ' -C<m»'l that hmJ fjrown <)itn nif] ilo«npiiCablc tltr«mgli t<miirns of •efetilion. Spurrtfl memory woK.j ilmosl forgot ten names ami plnce.«. ind hj- marvelled nt >hc Mrah£<- fut" .hat bad led him to this house—jo this chamber of death. "It Is an omen." he told !iim.«- If 'lt bids me hope and endeavour. Mv leayeiiK., 1 will escape. I "ill foil -ny enemies, throw Ijk'in off the tra< k »r:d win thf* goldiM heritajre that is nine by right. There ar>; <JifTicnl-.i-.s «o ii- met, but'l will »oim->i• ' there is a likclihowl of thai • t iliem lew are. To Knglnnd first. tud then" Ano .'•n down htoirs—it *as a ,v .Mining in n lock—startled Hi\era to t kcn«e of his dnnp-r. "Vou ha\<* ii\«n me M)m«*thinp to li\e for. fVare b- with ao:i." he said, softly. Mith n i;laiH>; at the dyimr man : ntd thmMinp envvltipe and «*onf«**•»ion into hi« |wicket. h'.* *-»w»n>r fiom ,h.. window ct the end of the r<»o". I lid dropp-il lO the RTtMHHI. Ity a rr«r and n ««'•• '*.* rami- to a «|«iiet str«*t. lb* «aH»*<! «.*i«f>ir. Iv on. j-w-UiiiK hi** lii«iinj."« while he l>«t<iK.d lo tin- wimi-'I « hinoijr l» at he. was l*areh«*n«lfil. thnt ie lad leil the hotif* einpt>-hiind.*d. uitil a native imlieeman sprnnjr from lidiiiir in front of hi-u, brandishing n riiile* 1. "Vou black doff !" yelled Hivcrn. His knife fln-*he,i out. He struck it nnd mis'M-fl the terrified lartefl past him. and was oil li!>c a tare. One pursuer was bawling at lis heel*, and eager voices wen; ■alcbing up the clamour on all sides >f him. The mischief was done, and ic knew the odds were desperate, but his hot Spanish blood sustained his ;ourng«'.

"If I can onl\ gel out oi the to«» '." he thought. The hue and cry rang nearer. His foes headed him off right and left, badgered and worried him like a J'ack of yelping curs: and at last, having "been driven along the only way that was oJ*en to him. he bro**c cover on the broad avenue skirting the wa. and saw the harbour and the shipping melting before him into the dusky shroud of the night.

Escape was impossible, one would rightly haw said. The fugitive was hopelessly corm-red. but he leafied on to the ptrape l - and for a moment stood • defiantly at bay. knife in hand, facing the shouting mob that was dosing on him from three sides. Then he turn«d and dhed head first into tli.' water. A splash, followed by a white swirl twenty fe««i out. 'I hat w n s all. "I he f-uarry hod bnffled the pttrsuers in the flut-h of their triuitiph. and ib«*y could only stare helplessly into the darkness, some \tith nngrv imprerations r.m\ souu with grudging meed of admiration. Itoats wen- hastily procured. For hall the night they pulled to and fro. and ut da.vbnah --very craft in the hnrliotir was searchi-fl. Hut of Juan Itivera t»o trace was found. nnd it was g-*n-rally believed—e\en Ferguson did'not doubt—l!:ut he had b-cn dexuund b> the hungry shares iidcstiiig th.- vicinity.

CHAI'TEK lITHE HKIII TO ISEACHCOMIIK. 11/twcen ten and eleven o'cl»>ck on a mild and April ctcmng. when I.ondon streets and squares niTv I athed in a flood of moonlight ihnt was a lilt inn accompaniment to the opening of the season, a man in b soft hat and a long overcoat wulktd slowly past a tt"cst-end mansion. Soft strains of music Ml on his i-ar, and shadowy forms, like the figures of a biograpb. moved In-hind the window Minds. lie etirsed them under lii>* breath. A carriage drew* up at tin- kerb, and n-S two l)clate«l guests eni'-rcd the l:ou«e. the man caught a glimpse of Uie brilliant luxury within. He retraced hi* steps. *aunU<red, by a second and a third time "'Shall 1 Send her a message." he nsked himself. "or shall 1 trust t" a letu-r reaching her hands uno|-«-n----ed ? No : sonn-thing must I•• <!..n 10-uicht. else I dine with the I»nk«Humphrey to-morrow, as these Kmrli.ohmen are pleased t«> call it. My need «>f moni-y is too urgent for <!•- lay :'* and with that, unlkiug rapidly awny. he turned out of thr Hpiure and vanished. Mrs. Adair's ball-room was thronged, and if the company present did m>t Consist of the cream of societ> , it nt K-nst numliered some n-presvn-tolives of the exclusive rircl •• and lor the rest was. made up of |*ople who were not fur removed from tin* I ord«-r-l«nf of Mnjfnir n nd lMgraviu. As the dancing was in fall swing, and the hum of conversation and the frou-frou of silken skirts blendfd harmoniously with the notes of the orrluslra. two young nun s:ood apart at one side of the spacious apartment, where they had paused for a moment's rest- Intently, but with n different purpose, each vaulted the couples that whirled by them. There was not a year's difference between thorn. Urian Desmond, slender and of medium height, with fair hair and grey ey«-s. was a type of the popular clubman who takes life efiaily. forms fast friendships, and is capable of forceful action if such a ii'-ed ever arises. His father. Col-oii'-l JKsmond, was a retired officer and n widower, and had Inherited a .onslderablc fortune from his wife. Geoffrey Cardcw—it Is with him our story is chiefly concerned—was tall and* well built, good-looking rather than handsome, with thoughtful brown eyes and a tawny moustache that shaded a strong mouth. Though he lK»rc one of the oldest names in England, fate he'd put hint at a M%s» in the India Office and" compelled h»m to exist on three- hundred a > ear and his private income of two hundred more ; which handicap, causing him to be regarded hitherto us -utix'uhut of a nonentity in social rinles. he had -Ml more l.it*-rl. than he had l*>cn known to roni«-ss. Hut those days were gone for e\er. and to-night, as he stood talking to his friend, every fibre in his leing thrilled with the realisation of his altered fortunes and prospects. It was of such recent date, the change, that he had scarcely had* time to get accustomed to it"fly .Fove ! I never saw h«-r looking belter," said Desmond, i u a low voice. ••Who'?*' impiin-d GVoffrey. "Ah, ypu mean CiiruuTi." (To be con».inue<l.) ''l Io»« Ton better than lift*," be vowed. "That"i nothiug,'' she sniffed; "yo» •re ■ wotorniaij.' ' New Vr.rk .Tnnw.l