THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 139, 15 March 1909, Page 4

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All Rights Rwwv«d.)

fly w. Mf Iu:AY ORAYDOff. Author of "Thf Blackmailers.'* "Renting the Whirlwind." "Tba lletr of the I.oudouns," Etc.

TAUT VIII. "I was wrong—that settles it." he :< 11 bmself. as he gn/ed in the dinvrmn in which the cab had van* e<t. "It was a stupid mistake. >nr> I ought to have known belter, i'he wan had the same trick of liftuic hj» eyebrows, and the quick uti v he jerked his? head round was M like Rivera. too. That's what t.i.ok nr. Hut it couldn't have been linn. Juan Rivera fed the shark* irv (Jeorgctown Harbour, or my name isn't tiordon Ferguson." lit* a moment longer, and then. having consulted his watch. h»' struck briskly across Regent* strt et.

(ifodrfv. iwanwhilf. was standing «» at the corner, thmfcinit little of the inquisitive .tUansvr. and l w of the dark-fea-tured mtin in the cob. t'nrnven held (lis thought*, and he could still set her sfnrtM likc as it had appeared to hitn in that brief instant, he* tip* moving inaudibty and her rvet fvt-tl of amazement and concern. Had she really meant to Hash him • warning message. a signal of danger. or were the disturbing sign; the rsfwlt of a guilty conscience 1 !Vrh»|w» bath one and the other Oet'lTffy reasoned. and drew poot consolation therefrom. He walket slowly along I'Wradilly. shaken ir his former resolve, ami yet loth to abandon it. It never entered hh head, naturally, that the girl s agitation might tier attribute to a very different cause, or that it could have anything to do with her companion.

His lagging footsteps »«>on brought him opiHKtite to the entrance of the A Wiry. when, looking across. he i»«r a polkr-constable .-.tnd n man in plain cloth*» talking together halfway up ttw court This was a common enough occurrence, and at another time he would have thought nothing ot' it : but now. in his present state of mi«d. he regarded it of ominous significance. His fears were confirmed, and an icy shiver ran through him, He hastened on, glancing furtively over Ms shoulder, and dreading lest he should meet Some friend or acquaintance in the passing crowd. His last hope was gone, and it left him despairing and miserable.

"The worst has happen"*!, after r*ft." he concluded. " Itrian is dead, and thev are keeping it quiet until 1 can be arrested. Carmen has heard of the duel, and I read her message rwrwtlv. Had I gone to my chambers I should have walked straight into the trap." • Self-preservation. the desire for *ir«cdom ond n fresh start, were strong within C»e»>ftrey in spite of the dismal. rh»erU'S.-» outlook for the future ami the red brand of Cain that he knew hp must I war to the r ;rm e. He adhered to his intention oi Sailing for llritish CJuiana the following morning ; 90 far as that was ■oncerned he did not dream of altering his plans. That detectives were watch ing the railway stations he ♦fid not doubt ; but since all means of escaping from London were equally •Fiflit ult. it could make no ditlcr■n< e whid h he chose.

"'l'll trust to luck, he Vowed. *'ll is barely possible that I shall bs :vi j fe to slip through.

It was a frail reed to trust to. md he laughed bitterly n» he re—m'mlieretl what sort of luck had kept him (om|Hiin of late, llnunt-

■d by remorse. t>y fear of the law's heavy hand and the ignominy of imprisonmnent, he struck down to I'till Mall and across St. James's '"ark and Westminster Ilridge. Itunjjer asserted itself, and stopping ot 1 pft» lie house, he ate a couple of »andwiches ami drank a bottle of 'tass. He went next to a l>arpr s shop in a squalid strvet. ,*heFp he had his moustache shaved and then walked lioldly into ftab'tloo station. The or»le»| that he had to eneouner herv was a brief one. A Southtiu(<ttih train was ready, as chance would have it. and he fw»ughl a tic--let and passed the gate without net station. He attributed this <»» lly to his change«l apficoranre. wrnH it lent him a confidence which jo had not hitherto felt. The wcrst was to c»me. however, and for ten minutes of torturing suspense he sat in an empty second-class carriage, his hands nervously crushing a newsf>«per and bis eyes scanning the people who were hurrying along the datlorm. When the guard shcutcd and the departure hell rang he be;an to breathe easier. The strain was over, for the present, at least, and he would have the compartment to hinukif. But at the laftl moment two men threw open the door, and sprang in. At cnce th« train started, and rolled with gathering speed out of the terminus.

That his identity was either known or suspected, and that he was to have a couple of detectives for company on the journey down to Southampton. was CJ t >ortrey*» first thought, lie did not look up immediately, but pretended to be absorbed in bis paper, the columns of which he vainly seanhed lor any mention of thf duel. When he finally ventured t< glome at his fellow-travellers, whe v ere seated at the further end ol the opposite seat, he made a disrovery that caused bim no little sur prise, white at the same time it relieved bis fears. The man next the window was. beyond a doubt, the same individual who had been riding in the cab with Carmen Torrana. and whose name'the colonial had b en so anxious to learn. Handsome and prosperous-looking, with features that were unmistakably foreign, he offered a striking contrast to his middfe-aged companion : for the latter was short and thick-set. and had the appearance of a pugilist or a low-class

gambler* Ha was square-jawed and clean shaves, - with shifty, sinister ,'vrs, and wore a low-crowned bowler and tweeds of a loud pattern. In short, he was the type of man one aomui not tare to meet alone on a lark night. * A quwr pair," mused Geoffrey, n* he returned to his paper. " I hrtve nothing to fear from either of them. so much is certain. As' for the younger man. I should like to know who he is, and how he happened to be with Carmen Torrana. Ife is a Spaniard, if ever 1 laid eyes on one. and possibly he Is a relative of Carmen's. It is a strange coincidence that I should have seen him in Piccadilly an hour ago and now lie travelling in the same compartment with him. I wonder if he is a friend of that beetle-browed ruffian, who looked as if he would rut throats for sixpence each and n diink ? I fancy not." Ci'o(irpj- was wrong, himewr. Not irnly were the two men acquaintnnrwt. Imt the)* were clearly on th« most intimate terms. Disregarding tl>> other inmate of the compartmcnt. the)* presently began to 1011viw in low and unintelligible voices, the 00c smoking a cigarette and the other a blackened briar-root pipe. From time to time the younger man threw a puzzled, inquiring glome at CJeoflrey. who was at no loss to understand it.

"He imagines be had wn nic somewhere Iwfore," he told himself : "but the at>sencc of my moustactu him."

London was left behind, with it* noise and smoke and glare, and the lights that flashed by grew Ki ami less frequent. The train rushed on through the moonlit beauty of th« June night, amid hilly and wooden country that reminded CJeoflrey oi the fair domain of llwhromln-. Hi* thoughts were sad and bitter enough, and a frcsli source of anxiety wot the iear that Carmen's late companion might have fully recognised him. and would denounce him to the |H>lire on arriving at Southampton. An hour il. The two strangers still smoked and talked. with their heads together : ami CJeoflrey seeking distraction from hi* burden of care, |n»rcd over his newspnpet until the columns ran into a blur. His eyelids grew heavy. and he felt an oven»owering sense of drowsiness. When he could fight against it no longer he put hi* head back, stretched his legs on the opposite »cat. and was quickly lulled to sleep by the motion of the train. It was not the rcstiul slumber thot comes of a healthy ond untroubled mind. His brain, as active as ever, fermented dreams that flowed in rapid and confused sequence. He lived over again the events of the post few days—Carmen's treacherous visit to Bcechcombe. his quarrel with Itrian. the duel in the wood, and his flight across the fields The icene changed and thonged again. He was in a gloomy tropical forest, disputing with Miguel Torrann ovet a chest of gold that stood lictween them. The)- come to blows, to drawn swords, and were interrupted by Violet l>esmond. who tri<-d to separate them. The Spaniard lifted his blade to cut her down, and then —then CJeoflrey suddenlv awoke. He was sitting up. his hands clutching at the empty air. and a voice wns ringing in his ears with a persistency that coubl mean only one thing. That he hod lieen talking in his sleep he did not doubt ; and if anything was needed to strengthen that unpleasant conviction, he found it in the attitude of his fellow-pas-sengers. The)* were leaning forward j»s if to listen, their eyes fixed u|»on him with a rapt intensity that seenij<| to bore him through and through.

CHAPTER XI. PERIL. AND A RESCUE

-"Dad dreams, eh ?" asked the elfer man. as he settled back in bis **at.

"Something like that." (IcoHrfji idmitted. "Mas I talking aloud ?" "You were talking certainly," redied the younger man. "but it was nost incoherent. I infer, though that your miml was running on llritish Ouiana. and that you arc about to make a journey to that distant jountry.'Ocoflrey's relief was so great—ne feared lest he hod l>een babbling jt the duel at Finchl(>y and his light from justice—that he did not jbscrve the keen note of interrogation in the other's voice.

"I am interested in (•uiann." he <aid. not caring to confide his plans to a stranger. "You have been there, perhaps."

"I ? Never. 1 do not know it. I think I have seen you lieforc, sir, if you will pardon my curiosity. It was in London, and this same evening. Were you not standing at the •orner of Regent-street and I'iccaJilly ?"

"*Ver)* likely I wns." CJeoflrey assented ; and alarmed suspicion took possession of him again. "I thought I could not lie mistaken." the stranger went on. "though you have removed your moustache in tbo meantime."

"And what if 1 have?" CJeoflrey muttered, hotly. "Is there anything extraordinary about that ?" ''Nothing, whatever. 1 meant no offence, sir." With a slight smile and a shrug of his shoulders the young man turned bis head and began to roll a cigarette With deft fingers. His companion, through a cloud of tobacco smoke, still earnestly regarded CJeoflrey. who look refuge in his former reclining position, as if to finish bis interrupted sleep : but though bis eyes wore closed, hv had nevor been more wide awake.

"1 am in danger." he assured him4elf. "Carmen has told that fellow who 1 am and what I have done, and as likely as not he intends to band me over to the police. Could Carmen have urged him to do so ? It is very probable. She hates me quite enough for that. Well. my chances of getting safe away fron England are growing beautifully less. lam afraid it's no use to fight against such illluck as mine."

Though Gcoflrcy's theories were all wrong, be none the less was in danger, and it threatened him from a very imminent and undreamed-of source. For several minutes be lay huddled in bis corner, as if asleep, while he vainly racked his brains for some solution to the problem that worried him—some means of eluding the peril that he believed would await him at the journey's end.

Above the rumble of the train he caught the sound of whispered voices. They ceased, Ix-gan again ; and then, after an interval of comparative silence, he fancied he heard Stealthy footsteps. He immediately opened his eyes, and saw the cleanshaven man looking down upon him, standing over him in an attitude of menace that was not to be mistaken.

There was no time to spring up ; no possibility of reaching the communication cord. CJeoflrey's gasjiinp cry surprise was choked ofT short OJi a pair of muscular hands fastened on hi* throat, and with that liegnn a struggle which he naturally feared would lie for life itself, lie Imd l»een taken foul, and the advantage was all on the other side : but he was strong and wiry. and the desperate resistance that he offered was not without efTect. H« thrashed out with his arms, kicked and squirmed, and this so vigorously that for a moment or two he prevented his assailant from tightening his hold.

•'ltetter give in." snarled the ruflian. "I'll soon quiet you. my l>eautv

"He careful. Ilelchcr ; don't go too far." urged the younger man. whe was hovering Inrhind his companion.

"It's a risky business to try to choko him." "I*ead men tell mi wns tin grim reply. "However, if yoti'n chicken- hearted, I'll squeeze the fool's gullet just enough to put hin to sleep, provided he gives me 0 chance. u hand, Itanion. aiu I'll show you how to manage him.' "Curse you ! Not that name.'" the other said, fierc •!>. "What did 1 tell you "There's no harm done. 1 can't rememlier evert thing. CJot a pistol on you ?" "Yes : but 1 don't mcun to"

"Out with it. quick, and tap tht fellow on the head. Then you car go through his pockets and fine what you want." Xow convinced that robl»ery wat the motive for the attack, and fearing with good reason that it might end in murder. CJeoflrey redoubled his efforts. Straining every muscle, he liiM-d himself a few inches, and then, more by chnnre than skill, he landed a heavy blow on his enemy's face. He felt the ruffian's grip relax, and twisting free of it entirely. hj«: made use of the brief opportunity t-j shout at the top of his voice. "Help ! Help

The cry of d«s| crate need rang twice, loud and shrill, above thf grind and rattle of the swift-speed-ing train. The next instant Geoffrey's enroged assailant l»cat him down into the corner of the scat again, knocking his head on the window-sill. Again the bony fingers tightened on his throat, clutched it with a mercih-ss. stilling force. The pressure increased, ami in his stunned condition he was as hel|J«<ss as an infant. Light* flnsli«*d before his eyes, and he writhed feebly in the agonies of suffocation. "Don't kill him," he heard the younger man plead.

"It's the only way if you want to k* safe afterwords." the other replied. "Co through his pockets, ami look for the map. There is no time to lose."

Pa/ed though he was. anil halfchoked. (Jcoftrev- comprehended tho "igniticant words. More than that, he realise! his deadly peril, and made one last attempt to thwart his bloodthirsty foes. Sci/.ing the ruffian's two arms, he tried to tear them away from his throat, and at the same time he managed to raise himself a little hicher against th,•nd of the. seat : then, as the relentless grip on his throat grew tighter, he dimly saw a face pressed to the opposite window of the compartment. The door swung open, and a man leapt in. "You murderous scoundrels !" yelled an angry voire.

With that, the crushing hold on his windpipe suddenly r-moved. CSeoffrey drew a gasping, painful breath. What hap|>cncd afterwards he wit-n<-ssed with a thankful heort, hudlled limp and helpl ss in his corner. though it was all over so quickly that he could have rendered no assistance even hi.d he lnvn able to rise. With a warning shout to his companion, the rulllan Ilelcher (lung open the floor next to him and sprang out of the train, which a moment before had licgun to slow up in rcsiMins"' to some signal on the line, ami wns now running lietw<en embankments at a rate of about fifteen miles on hour.

The young t man. knowing thai -ie wns in danger of lieing seized ere he could follow his companion's example, wheeled round with his nack to the o|»en doorway and levdlvtl a pistol at the intruder. "Keep ofl !" he saiil, fiercely. •' Come a Step nearer and I'll shoot."

"I'rop that weapon." the stranger. ' Itetter give in. Rivera—it's no use. "Oh, I know

you. in Spite of your lieard. You -an't deceive in; a second time tonight." The other's arm shook, and his face paled with fear.

•'Ferguson he goS|>ed. "Yes, it's Ferguson : that's right. You cscn|icd the sharks, you dog of a Spaniard, but you are going to get your deserts at last. Will you surrender ?"

"I'll kill you first," was the des|>erate reply : and suiting the action to the threat, fired. The report was muffled by a prolonged scream frotu the engine's whistle, and when the smoke drifted up to the ceiling of the compartment . the would-be murderer had disappeared. "Hoth gone. What internal luck!" exclaimed the stranger who had turned up at so opportune a moment. "And I don't suppose either of them are hurl."

"Didn't he hurt you (.Jeoflrey asked, in a weak voice.

"He came mighty near it : the bullet sang by my ear. I jerked niy head just in time." "Are you going to stop the train and givo the alarm ?"• "It's no use. I'm afraid. Nobody seems to have heard the shot, and I'm just as well satisfied, for 1 don't want to bo mixed up in any police business at present, my tiim is too valuable. Not that the scoundrels will get ofl so easily. I'll see to it that information is laid in the proper quarter after I'm out of the way." (To be Continued).