THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 153, 6 May 1909, Page 3

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All PJgM* V.r*<T%r,\.)

By W. Ml KIJAV f.'RAYDON, Author of "Hi.- m«ckmniler»." "Heaping the Whirlwind." "Tha H«ir of the J-oudouns," Etc.

PART XXII. Hi vera was speaking. "I did not ask for Manuel's opinion." he said coldly. "As I have already tolt vou. I shall safeguard our interest at any cost. But the present it not the tin** to decide a n Uc *tion ol ■if • and death. Wait a day or two. jntil we know what sort of fortune is in store for us. If vou will fetch .» roil of rope. Abet, we will take the pre.aution of binding our pri•mnrr."

Hut jn«tt then, hurling tlelchcr to r>vr side of him and Hi vera .to the »ther. UrolTrvy Imlietl ot full speed. ••inning along the narrow path bciwiih the hill and the water. There .< 4 ,s .tense shelter lieyond. none close »» hand. It .was des|>crate hope, bis »nly on;?, and it fail'll him. A trailni»: tine caught his f«>ot. ami as he ri|.i»-«i ami fell heavily a bullet -»»»»g by his ear. Itcfore he cotiltl n«»- ail three of his pursuers wen I fijMm him. and though he struggled and resisted to the utmost, fightI ing as one in the grip of executors. I brute force soon conquered him. | Ib-bl tl.»w 11. unable to stir n limb. | t>n*«ion mastered all other feelings I f, r r the moment, and he raved at his t .-nptor*.

"I ha*»e n»*vrr wronged you." ha •ricd. "Why 'ht you want my life ? Kill ire. »»' Jou ienr in- so much. fx»t you Hill nil hang in the end. 1 know \ou. X«»i«T Castro. It was »ou who pretended to l-e (Jordon Ferguson's friend. I l*:licved your lbs. followed you blindly, and was led into the fatal trap that sent me to the Ma*«»runi for a crime oi which I was innocent. And I know you. loan Hiv.ra. You are an escaped ;onvict yourself You haled Ferguson I ecnme he ttslifed against you. and that is why you waylaid him that night and did your lust to uurdVr him. Ye». you ore th* guilty man. you scoundrel. You all Nad a hand in it. and I bod to siifVr through your fiendi-h cunning. It is clear enough now. I see how I was tf»ek»«|"

"He quint, curfce you V snarled Itivera : and he {.truck tSeollrey on •he mouth. "You know too much. «i)u dog f" "What did I tell you?" said Hcl.ber. with a \enomous laugh. Ar«: \ou sat isfied ? Ferguson has* told he fellow, and h- hu* your record Jown fine. He knows enough to make it warm for us down cotinry—ill he • ver get> then- himself. \rc you still in the mind to spare hb. life ?"

"Sparc him '" -ehis-d Itivera•After this ? l»o you toke me for a 001, Al.el ?"

"You talked un« ommonly like one a bit ago." the other replied. "Ilow•ver. I am glad you hate come to .our juv'd. Tie fellow imot he •lit out of the way. You'll stand m for that. Manuel ?"

"Certainly : it's the only thing to •e doie:" a-scnted Manuel. ."Then we'll do »t." Hhc a told them, harshly "I hoped to ovoid Moooshed. but mtr safety is the first ,hing to It considered " tJeofirey had relap-ed iulo sil-lire. No«R when it won too late, he bitterly iegr*ttcd his med ioMy and imprudemc- He realised that he bad destroyed his one and only rhuiice.

He was roughly hauled t« his feet, wanting and dishevelled, and that he would instantly l«e put to death he lid not doubt. Hut his enptors. lor some reason which they settled among themselves "*»th n few inaulihle words. *|»arvd him for the pre--rnt. He was led back to the camp, hound hand and foot, ami plated in » nit tin.*; i>o*ture against a rock to >iic }>ide of the fire.

CHAITKK XXXI. VILLAINV I NMASKKH

TV frugal breakfast was soon rr*4v. and Itiverp pud his companions attacked it with appetites that did not stem to have been in the least impaired by the recent tracedy. talking the while in low tones. CcofTrvx- sot a couple of yards from them, "with half-closed eyes, trying to reconcile himself to his fate. First l,« Shen. and now it was his turn. Ili» bones would rot here in the wilderness, and llrian and Ferguson < ould never know what had become ..< hiui. And Violet • Her sweet. *«d face. th»' memory of the last parting from her at SatM*#nrima ro«e to intensify his anguish. It was bitterk hard to roallsc/ihat he must die—that all earthly things were nearly at an end for him : and yet. mingled with the horror of it. with the thought of the friends who hud .-.tuck to him so faithfully, was a .ii»«u of ruriosity concerning the motives and circumstances that had brought him to his present position. If a part had Micen rcvealed.a greater |utrt was still shrouded in mystery. "It was these scoundrels who assaulted Ferguson." he told hinwelf. "There is no doubt plKiut that. Hut why did they go to sush twins to fasten the crime on me? For what purpose* have they conn- to this wild region ? If they were prospecting for gold they would carry* mining tools."

Ami. to go further l»ack. why had Hivera ami Helrher attempted to rob him of the treasure chart on the Southampton express ? How did thev know of its existence—that he had It with him? What was the explanation of Rivera's presence in the hansom with Carmen Torrana ? What watt the bond, if any. "between them ? Answer there was none, and tJeoffrey suddenly realised the folly of letting his pdnd dwell on s-e't things when he had. perhaps, hi t a few minutes to live. **l have been hounded to the grave lO Some devilish |«owrr b>r evil." hi: thought. "The Curee of my ancestors, and prophecy of threo centuries •go, is striking its lost blow to-

1 Jay. It has dragged me down ster ' •• s' r \<. crushed nif* with one mis- ■ •itiiii-- alter another. A puppet o: ■ '.'•. 1 lifti'' dan'cd blindly on tr ■ ir.i.ii'. Tho«o accursed pD|«e«'S ii h.-nn p-lentlcssh worked then iis-ii spell since the morning \'iii!.aid Mcnzies gave them int< k> i-ping. God forbid that an; *hr of im race should suffer as J > ~• f done !" ! The three at the fux-, having finish i d their breakfast, were astir. Gcof ir-.v. his reveries broken in upoi by the ghastly consciousness that hi: very seconds were now nutnlH'red -hivcred as hi strained at his bonds But his time was not quite yet. it *-fined. Ilclcher and the man Manuel withdrew to a short dislanci and In-gnu to roll up and strap together their few belongings, in readiness for the day's innrch. Kivcrt look tolmcco ami pnjn-r from hi* |»ock«-t and with deft fingers manufactured n cigarette. Hi- calmly liit. thrn moved close to the captive and seated himself on a flat stone His smile, cruel and sinister, was without a spark of mercy. "I am sorry for you." he said ami his tones gave the lie to the words, "but there is no help foi it. You are a victim of heredity more than anything cls-e. my frien* Geoffrey Card'-w. There is a sort of a rough justice in your fate, yot must admit" "You know my name ?" (»coffre> exclaimed in surprise. "As well as I know my own." Tlivera replied. Lightly, as if to him self, he went on : "N"o |ieace not joy nor quiet life Shall male heir of Cardew know. Itut bitter cup and bloody strife Shall spirit crush and pride brine low." "In Heaven's name, what do yot mean ?"* cried Geoffrey, staring will: dilated eyes at the mocking young Spaniard. "I will answer >on. my friend, in miir words." said Hi vera " I am Kaiiiom Torrana." Geoffrey gasped. "Untnon Torrniin ?" he echoed, incredulously. "And ihe Sciioriio Carmen Torrana"—— "She is my sister, of course. Anil we an- the lineal d.-so-ndan's of a '••itain Miguel Torrana. with whom vou ore doubtless acquainted by repute." There was n moment of silence. Geoffrey, struck dumb by ihis astounding revelation. I cgon to set clearly what it signified. The explanation of more than one puzzling mystery flashed to his mind. "I need not enlighten you. I perceive." said the Spaniard. "It is iu*t as well, my friend, for time presses, and I must I*- off- But it %<as due to you, I felt, that I shoulu disclose my id-nlily. Ye.-. I am Knmon Torrana, the descendant of the Miguel Torrana who. thtvo hunIred years og«>. was murdered by his 11each- runs ICnghsh friend, who with his last effort, ab he lay dying, wrote th»- Curse that was to endure and avenge him. And it has brought you to this. Here, within t few miles of the spot where two »f your race shed the blood of two of mine, yoti will pay the penalty for the sins of >our ancstors."

"And you hate m? so bitterly—liter three conturie* ?" "Can I help that ? No :it is my blood. I have alwajs hated you •ver since I knew who \o" were. If i meant to spare your life an hour igo. it ««i only that you might lie later, after you had s»i-n the fold that tempted" your namesake to day Miguel Torrana. and led Myles .'ardew and Luiz Torrana to cross -♦words."

"The gold ?" echoed Geoffrey. "So hot" "Yes. that has liern my |noti\o. as .veil a** joiir.H." broke in Hamon I'orrann! "And who has the Ih«1er right to the treasure? Tt is ;l«*e by, and it «ill le mir-e tolight. by to-morrow morning at the tuti-sl. I know whe:e it is »»iriiil"

Tnki it wi!lingl>. but spare my

"It is too late, for our own jafety. if for no other reason, you M»n>t die." "Hut I have done >oti no tvrong," irgcd Geoffrey, clntching at a ray of hope, "nor need you feor that 1 .hall take any steps against >ou II future" "You would swear, then, to charge iciihcr myself nor my companions with the attack on Gordon Fcrgu«on. You will continue to bear the •urden of guilt in silence ? You *ill pledg- your word never to, reteal the fact that I am the escaped :«»nvict. Juan Hi vera ?"

"N'o. a thousand times no '." cried Geoffrey. " You ask what is impossible." "Ah, h' know what your answer would Be." said Torrann. shrugging lis shoulder!,. •You h-v. there is 10 safety for us while >mi an.* alive. Moreover. I was hut jesting. Not if .vim Hwurv a thousand oaths would I set vou fee.*' "Then kill me, and have done with it. - *

"Flo patient. We an* nut butchers, and we *io not intend to stain jur hands with your Wood. Xo ; | there is a simpler way." "What it it?" GemTiey asked, hoarsely. * "You, will »oon know." replied I'orrana. He glanced round at his rompanions, who were still busy with their preparation**. "As you will have plenty of time to pray I after we bid you fan-well." he went on. "I will tell you what will JoubtleSH be of interest to you. It is not a long story. In childhood, Cardew. I was taught to liear in liiind what my race owed to yours, (n later years, tuisfot tunes making me an exile from n«> native land, the lucmorv of that old tradition—it had no written record in my family —grew dim. and was almost forgotten. It was recalled to »«• in a *trange manner. Have you ever heard the name of I'rendcrgastJohn Prcndergast ?'j "He wan mv solicitor's confidential clerk," said Oeoßrty.- after a moment's thought. "He disappeared mysteriously—that is all 1 know about him." "Well, I can tell you the rcs|, tt*i|Ji a duplicate koy th> man Prondorgast opened the box containing the ('ardew papers, read them, and mode a eo|*y of »!•■• rhart. He fl.*d lo Ilritish Guiana, with the intention of searching 'for tin* cold, and in Georgetown he wn« seized with a fatal fever. On th<* night ■ >(' his

leath—it was so«'ii after itiy escape 'rom the Mnzsiriiiii— I took refuge in .he same limuv:... 1 .-nier.-d the room n niiich he lay unconscious, and found n written confession, addressed lo the London solicitor." "Poor fellow !" muttered Geoffrey. "So that was the end of liim. * And von took the chart ?"

"No ; he had destro\cd it," said Itainon Torrana. "Hut the confession told mc as much as I needed to know —reminded mc of the debt 1 owed your rare and of the- gold that had cost Miguel Torrana his life three centuries ago. I was in imminent danger of recapture—the police were at my heels. Hut I sworj lo outwit them, and T did. While the fools were cursing the sharks for 'obbing them of their prey, as they believed, I was hidden on hoard a ves.se-1 that was to sail the same night. ritiinatcly 1 reached England, and then- my task was easy. Having ascertained that the family documents had been handed over to vou. I sought out my sister, grace though I was—she did not know how far I had fallen, nor ever will know —she had always kept a warm place on her heart for mc I enlisted her aid, and she, supposing that the gold was my only object—as, indeed, it was at the time —consented much against l«r will to the plan that I proposed. She wont to llocchcomhc that stormy night"— "You can sf»are me the rest," Geoffrey interrupted, bitterly. You s.-oun-:licl. to drag that innocent girl—your own sister —into your wicked schemes ! Yes. I know it all. Sh.drugged me, opened the secret pan-!. and took a copy of the ircas'irechart. She confessed afterward*. »ut refused to state the. object of h<-r visit. except that it was to get •os-scssion of a certain paper. 1 never knew until now" "Carmen confessed !" cried Torrana. "How do you know this? When did you hear it ?" "Find out for yourself : I'll not tell jou,'' vowed Geoffrey.

"It is a lie." "It is the truth, I assure you. tin second -thoughts. I will speak more fr -ely . The confusion ivas made in London, to friends of min<* who hail deeply wronged me through the false position in which I was placr-d by tour sister's visit. It gave rise to cruel suspicions" "

"Yes. 1 already know that." siu-ei-sd Torrana. " And tlusc friends."

"They are in Ilriti.-h Guiana. 1 saw them and spoke to them not many days ago. and. as sure . a> there is a God above, they will ncv< r rest until they have brought you t o Ihe gallow-s. Consider that In-fore \ou wreck your foojish vengeance upon me."

"I do not fear them." declared Torrana, with a forced laugh of contempt. "You will someday." Geoffrey told Dim. "You are still determined to murder me. then ?" "You must die. That is fixed." "le your hatred so relentless ? How -an vou feel such animosity towards me because one of my race ill-trr-at-•d Miguel Torrana three hundred .'ears ago ?"

" There are other reasons." was '.he reply. '"I might have given you a chance. It is true that the wrung jonc by your ancestors would not lave led mc so far as to kill you, ihotigh at limes I feel as fiery a passion as must have flowed in the veins of Luiz Torrana when he fought with Myleß Cardew a few miles from where we now stand : 3*il 1 fircl no mercy, Geoffrey Carlew, when I reflect on the dog's life ' have led for months, and all hrough you. Fool that you were "o resist and struggle in the train :hat night. No harm would hove x?fallcn you—l had no Intention of ctting Helcher do more than choke ;ou Into submission : but your out:ry brought Ferguson into the comlartment. ami he recognised me. The result was. as you may imagine, that our secure position became one of the greatest danger. After that IJelchcr and I—he it* an >ld friend whom 1 hunted up in Londpn, and induced to provide the money needed for our enterprisedared not carry out our original plans. The police were looking for us. and for weeks we had to dodge iheiu. until we found an opportun)f leaving the eountry by a slow railing vessel. At last we reached Mritibh Guiana, landing at the risk 3f our lives on a lonely part of the coast : and then began such hardships as I would nnt pass through again for all the gold in the world. r'or months we lurked in the jungle. ragged and half-starved, hiding by day and moving from place to place •iy night. A part of the lime we were near San I'arima. I wanted '.o keep a watch on you. for I suj>j>osed that you too, were bent on {••.•covering the treasure"

"I had no such intention." Geoffrey interrupted. ''.So that explains the fiendish trick that led to my ar~cs\. and conviction. It accounts for the attempts that were made to *teal the chart from my room while I slept. And Black Tom. no doubt, was the tool you employed."

."He was," coolly admitted Torrana.

"But you had the copy of tlv* .-hart," said Geoffrey. "l{ was useless to us." wa« the .'t-ply—"as useless as the original .would have been to \ou. though «<■ Jid not know this at the time, l'iv months ago we were in this region, and returned unsuccessful. We waited while our friend Manuel consulted scores of ancient documents bclongng to tho Government, the r -cords j( travellers and explorers, that arc stored in Georgetown ; and now we arc back again, with the hidingplace of the treasure located to ;t certainty. We shall dig it up tomorrow—the gold that your ancestor buried. This time, my friend, it i> not a Cardcw who will triumph over"

"Wc arc ready," broke in belcher's voice. "Have you finished with the fellow yet ?" "Yes : I am waiting for \ou." replied Torrana. "Fetch the ro|>cs. Abel." (To be Continued).