THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 157, 20 May 1909, Page 3

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS OR AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS.

(All RitfliUl llri'rvpd )

By JIrKKAV fJIIAYDON, Author of ' Ih' lilj»ckm«jl«r»." "RwVio( thr WWrlnind," "Tha B<ir of the l.oudouna," Etc.

TART 2«i. Th*j* rmfrged breathlr*#ly r>n ar ofiea glade. a doM>n yards lon# b> half a* ownj- in width, ami it ikw cd no* the Dutchman"* assurance tr tell tlkriu that they had reached (b----•pot th"*y were wpking. To th" lefl was the iiiaf>h\ bank of the »l-«*aui and to thr right, at (he (»*• o« «♦ and wooded hill, stood three lofty pinnacles of given-stone. I'cjond thesr. at the* far end of tl. glade. w «.<• n fourth >tone of *<unfnr «fru|'«\ Hartifn approached thi» tufmil, and waved his hand. Von tire too late.'* he cried.

Th'» others hurried to hi» i»ide. and Kirurk fptrhli*# l»y what ih-H . their fflMit cloudrd with d»«;ip|*ointn»rnt and chagrin. \i th.tr f>*i uo> a great mow of Ihltirk rorih nnd uprooted tege'.i•(>>». and layond it. at thr luw

.. ri.» «»one. wa* a gaping hole half V". «'• are too late." IVo/iwot hi vsilati- Mill, liiltcrl*. " Kamon r»rrat>a an«l hi* companion* have r-icu hj« rv. They h«>e (lug up the tt>»l«l surd carried it oft." 'li il *n» Ihtrp." anggeMed Cleave. ' N»>t much doul«t of it." von-il MartH-n. " What do you call this* ?" and h«> p;c'-»« w l up a bit v> ruMy »f t;kt. iii a dull >•■ Slow hui'. thai had M'iden'N l>* en o» "'rloulifi. *" <»o!d. a«s-irfitij." it.-ctand the prof«s»wr. a* !»• . vamim d it. "The wotindre'# !" cri«-d Ueoflrey. Ending hi* \lliT. "* It is had enough to lose thr treasure. which t would ha*e Mmrctl with >••»» : it i* intol..-fable to think that 'l'orrana ami hi* Mlo*r ruffians * ill escape .lunishmrni. "Can't He pursue them *"

"No li*-*." said Iliirif". "Th-y went down «h" rl'n-ht tt»t.*r. tier.* * wh<irv (hi'v I.m>li a r#il. ami tontier, up the slope, th»-> lopi»-d oil a >umtxMr of >oung trct f."

"Ha»e>oii Ihcii gone long ?"' a*k■*d the pr»»,e-s»r. "For man> hours." t"l-e%e told hill". "Sif|re imirnint*- I should Fudge, Thi« en'Us th»n dug up i* Iry and Miiihwlkc'l o>« lop. -*» nd the •ranch''?" they trinm.ed off lh>" tr- r .-s ♦re already withered.

"1>(-n nothing tan he dor.«* ?" exlaiuted tJcoflr<*>.

"t;oth>ng al present." ripli-nl the »rptVj«»or. 'Pe hoj e'ul ami |»afifnl. Mr. t*nr»l«*H. V«»u a>e w.-ll *id *jf tli«- e*>l rrp«. gold »»r no gold, ttvd t#li>rr >ou ri-wb Knglniwl «■" jr »f what further sl>*p# 'o eWc." And o»> innocent' Il wili H- tstahliahed. 'l*he truth tl! |>rvv»il." "-'adt.i «h»-y r<-traUil th« Jr ?tep. 4 ». in.i tending ihw? th«» mil wa- eouiiVirtt it_y tijili"' it. in(t»aii of lie mountaM». They 'nrft<i)| el on the *}H»t for the night. ,nd the nr\t morning. dir?-Uy aft«*r in intrly hfi akfn*!. the holn> «*f Mi* :«.e* Totrana w-r«- brought o>>t of th ; a ltd l»«:ri»-d r.t the foot <»f he hill, and the pt'ihuc roek *»s »»ai-ed on th«' grave. • Is the Curse i»f th«- Card -Wf 1»m----with him?" Ovofirry a»t>e>l hfrmtr h-- turr."'«l a*i<}- "I- it* (I |>.i«rr gone for ever, or will 't offo-r i«vr in the future in the U h.oir latci' th.' whole porty i.t on th- raft to th>- o|.|h>- !» tank of the ri\- r. and w« r»' iiftrrhtng thr»)iugh the foreM to the -. rth in the direction of the ctnotc frontiers of Venezuela. I'llAlTKll XXXVII. SIX MONTHS AFTF.HWAIM)>.

VearK I*o J ear» hav.? |»nxs»*d jln.c f:Vo!Tr«y t'ardew. lifted at a r..V - from a mo«li»?*t cornp.-t-nc'- to v.- dtifnttt of wide lands and en-rent-roll, .tipped *1"? intoXl- .. fug ni|> ot' plea>urc that w#» dUflisMion ami no rudely from his

• ; ■;* months have gone by since i.~ * »ni*ht«l into'the jungk'S of Itri--h cSuiana. lost' to all human ken. , t ..l tiiourned !>y the friends wrho j.rid vainly for the message that >'t«r came.

l« was a February morning in London. clear and mild and dry : »n«- of those delicious mornings the Tim breath and went of *i v r.r»(r. indclinabli but fHt. stir* and nensnt and whispers that (hr long winter in indeed gpne. f hviv was sunshine in thp park* nnd yiuaivs. sunshine in the crowded Ikeat-end streets, and a golden flood of it was streaming into the pleasant dining room of the house in ju«#n'.« IJate when Brian Desmond h»* sS.**«>r JfQl at breakfast Th<>) oat I jurf 6 nls&dv MH» Hri«n g«»r« lc:»iiri*ly through his corrispon-k-m-. while Violet watched l»fi»« v»itl» i ralmoeiw that hid the flutter of. li*#pctovurriaMj* rou*e«J at this hfj?>r. "IT»e> had reluctantly reiiimrd to England hj» October, and 'he w«*k» that bad elapsed, tinwoury weeks of unbroken silence, had in s.»ni" schooled them li> a< r c|'t the Inevitable, though they .(ill t',:i the loss of the friend anil lot.r who-«c tragic fatjs tWy had I* en (NittirlvM to avert. Eacn carried a burden of sad lucraorii-s. a Iravv. heart, and each strove to Ik in ,Ute presence of th«- oth.r. *ls» there nothing?" saidVViolet| t as her brother opened and laid aside tho I its I Utter. I'ny after day bhf ■nd a»ked thv question, and agaio th>- at»K«T was the same. "Xothlng." Brian gently replied, "t have not heard from Ferguson f«»r a long tinie. which means, ol that he has nothing to write ilM»ut. Xo. you cannot expect"—llr hesitated for a moment. " We n>mi not d«spair." he went on Thrre is—m!»#'s hope; one newt Anil th'To «re so many thin#* ih»t' >m i!"i n->t fonnidiT \ nmn nitg'o' !..s- i. rus-'U for voar' iit tlm wild.** •>• Hi 1' i "• m '' ! iuna. one ™lKn. as ):■. c *at,

OVfT n-.oi.'.h e: ".'I fVrh.it *• hj» h.*1 5 wami-•*•<•«) far (<> th> .■ '.l : !.« ■ i ! i ■ , ~ ; . : • • I !'• in«> •* -1 •'. il:' w H I■ I ! -linlali'l !!• ' i I,r-i'iin," said Vio If. •- 'i'-a'i.'' !■ ir I, «rr ••vh'K-fl tin- Words. Jf« tr-ii vaiiK- mind, and lie hud i) s<«!vij from a wish to checi ! - : s!. <•!'. "If you have no engagement, fehal «f c<» into the city to sec Men-/-h ?" he said, changing the subject after a brief pause. Or would you rather ride in the park t" "I think we had better «w Mr. Monzies. I don't want any one else to"—

"Then you have fully made up your mind ?/' broke in ilrian "You would like to buy Heechcombe and settle there ?" "Yes. oh. yes "I should have thought it the one spot you would wish to avoid." "To avoid ?"' echoed Violet. "So ; 1 would rather live there than at an.v (dace I know of—at least, for half of the year. There, if anywhere, happiness might cornc back to me. There would always be the memo; ries : I could not forget. Hut it was Geoffrey's home, and I want it to be mine. Pon't let it pass into the hands of strangers. Hrinn." "Women are queer creatures : there is no understanding their whims.'' thought Brian, as h- rose. " For myself," he said, "leaving .sentiment out of the question, I am as k«en an you arc on buying The trustee!* of C4eorgc Cnrdew'sson have put it on the market, and it rnn Ik- had at a price we can aflord. It is a glorious old place, ami just near enough to town. Very well, then. Me will sec .Menzics. ami I will tell hint to open negotiations immitliately for the purchase. 1 to him yesterday to get the ke; * and a visiting order from the nvvnl». ami no doubt lie has done ' *«>. I had some idea of running . low 11 th?» atteruoon. What do you think ?" ■ "I should love to (:>•." Vi«il«t 11s- ! eagerly. " I I." de:*■" old j lioum ! How lonely 01 <1 nejfl«-eifil jit iiiii<>l Ik: ! Il lias l-cn blmt tip j all th>> lime ?"

"Ye>. for the ln-tter )»ait of two vrar*." said llriun. "t.'ei rvady, Vi, nnd I will *end lor th- l-roghnm. We will return home for lunch. «nd I will ask Meraies to m- e" us at '.'addington. ITb will be Ik-i t'T 'iimpany than a clerk from the agent*."

They were mk»U. driving eastward, through th<- haunt* of luxury and p!ea-*»ur»- thai tieoffrey had loved so •veil, and on reaching their destination in Chancery-lane they were ,epl wailing for s«-\rr.»l minuU-H ait«T they had s.iit in their cards, rthin they were finally sunnuoned to .he private oflicc. Archibald Men/.ies tsieel nl them in a flushed ami leaning countenance, with an air of relaxed dignity that was rarely ihown by this staid and elderly soli;itor.

" You have come at n must opportune lime." be «wd. "1 liavi' a ,-ixitor hwe, some one whom yo" drill very glad to "Vol Mr. Cardew ?'* c"j>?-p'-«l Vioet. turning pale. "Vo. no." hastily replied tln- i>oli--ilor. "I wish,ft »»■'. my dear sotuig lady. Pardon me. I >howld iot have allowed »uch a few.-picion '.o enter >our mind. It «a>. ill-ad-vlm-iI of me to Irj' to surprise jou. "Jut wail"— —

Wilh I hat he op«o».-d the door of a fttlr room at " s th<T!itcr, hml' forth stepped—Gordon Ferguson. Next tu UciiiTrey no uti? could iavc met with so hearty a wvlcow is the Scotch sugar planter. who .rnS supposed to !«• thousands oi nibs away in Uritifeh fluiana. That ie should have thus turned up un?\|.«vl"'«lly »js too significant a "art to "l*c 'oSl u|k»ii who, i.« soon ns the greetings wer- over. ■irtS";d abruptly for an cxplana:ion.

"M> d»i»r feH«»w. v.ho' brings you lo Fng'and ?" he impiiie I. "Wha»ins *lu»pp«*ned ' l 's no? a pleatmc trip. I knott." "It is a pleasure trip. m\ dear (teiiMinil." , "You have new®."«-fi.-d Violet. "Jicws of tlfoffwy. "h. I a'» sure jf it ! T<*ll me. "Yes. I have now*. M : s< I'es--uond." Ferguson r.plie I. "and it rowcrns Mr. t'Hntrw." "lie is not d«*ad, tln-n

; I l»l!c\o not. Ther<- is somo esson to think that In* is alive.

"Thank Heaven !" "Hut you must not be too hopeful, Misft I vsniond. Our unfortunate friend in not jet found, nor is it absolutelyl certain that h- will be." "Theic Is little or no doubt of ids safety. to my wind." declared Archibald Mcnzies. "T-ll them tha whole story. Mr. Ferguson." "The fin»t part should eonie from tou," replied Ferguson. "I will follow with my part after you have explained the significance that is,attached to it bj Mr. Cardew's family history." '"Very well," assented the solict-

tor. His visitor® having he related the story of th« feud that had licgun thre# hundred years before with Higu»| T«rn.iw and f'cofTroy Catxlew tho fu»t : and llrian and his sister, with growing wonder and interest, learned of the ancient documents and of the t-iirs- that lieoffre> had inherited with Ikeehcombc. Ferguson then t«««k up the thread of the narrate". telling of Uatiibn Torrana's dis-ovn ii s and of his plans for llnding the treasure, and how. finally. CJcofir ,, j" and Li Shen had fallen into the power of the Spaniard and his fellow *uffians.

"Thcv tie<l fioofTrey *«» a tree," he «cnt on. after describing the Chinaiuan'.ttragic end. "and le.'t liim there to die. alone 'and hi'lpiiss in the wilderness " . "Hut he was .-avfl ?" intciTUptec Violet. "He ui » «!«•• V* "I aui coming tu that. Mi.ss Desmond." Only one jn-rson could liu\e tolc you so iKUcb,' #xeloim"«l Brian, "•nd that woul be Cvtirfrey him■elf." .... "Xo, you are ataVen. declarcc Ferguson. "But let nte continue To make a long n«»ry >-ho»t Tor rana and his companions failed U find th? gftld. if ''"i'' 1 '•«*>' U 1 ih<* spot *h''iv It '-.» v supposed tc be buried. Baffled and difc'uppointe* they march- d (I.i«h " i'.'ry by flow - anc i— ; ?» : ::;' Ma' 'l"i ' u

> urn Hivr. and v. hen »1v iwc s'ir\ i\ in s had !•••»<■!■• d 'I, i: itrli bourhood of San I'«»i-.u.i* ;• ,r " occurred li.-mwh :j|. n'j H- lei,*! was t'atailv •:> a u pa>siun. '•> his :'ri<-)<d. He wes I'-rt for dead, ! .'|! :• 1 ■ and dragged him«- 'h- h ; e'n wa\ , w here hj" a' d I.r<.>tt to iny ;.la. o. A i::a ra anr nth''r wit ni-;->(.-.s were .s• ■ 111 fur. am Helcher confessed all. including what I ha\o told you, and alfeij t})<* fact that it. was he who assauli d nir that night. His statements weri taken down and signed, and a few hours later he di«*d." " Then (Jeorfi''.> "s innocence protetl cried Violet. "Yes, it is fully established, thank f.'od ! H-: has nothing more t< fear." "And where is he now slv asked, her eyes wet with oi joy. "I regard it as most likely. .Mi.'-t Desmond, that he is somewhere a' sea, on the way to l-'ngland." % - "At f-ea ?" echoed Brian. "You shall judge for yourself.' replied Ferguson. "After Hekm r'j death it was d<*cidcd. in the interests of justice, that his coiifessior should not be made public for tin preHjnt. The ob;eet of course, wah to facilitate the task of apprehending Kamon Torrana, alias .luan Hivera. Heing anxious to rej him caught, I at once went down to Georgetown, and the evening I arrived I fell in with a negro who had formerly been in my employ. To go back a little, many months l>ef©re an e.\|»edition under a certain Professor I>r\Bdale—l had some recollection of it —hall come out from Kngland to explore the leastknown parts of Hriti.sh tJuiana. You can imagine my surprise when the negro told liio that he had l>ecn a member of this party, and that in the course of their travels, far in the north-west. tl*e_«. had found a white man tied to n tree" "It was UeolTrey,'" cried Violet. "CieofTrey it was. Iwvond a dowbt. MitS Pesinond. Tl'.e man accompanied the expedition r'Toj-s Venezuela to the Orinoco, wh.-re a \ess,M was waiting for th'-m. It -snil-.il sii'irtIv afterwards, and the negro. with othTs. returne«l to CJeorgetown by a coast steamer.. I was convinced of tho truth of his story, and. wishing to bring the news to you in person. I took passage on the next mail boat that left. I arrived last night, and my first step was to call upon Mr. Menzie-s as I knew that ho was f»eoffre\ "s solicitor." "H\ % Jove, it is wonderful howthings have turned out exclaimed Rrian. " What glorious news for dear old Geoffrey ! Hut what has become of him Ue should be home by this time." "No, not yet." replied Archibald Menzles. "I remember reading in the papers that the Urysdale expedition had sailed from the Orinoco to Trinidad, in consequence of some reported antiquarian discoveries in that island. The party arc probably still there, and UeolTrey with them."

"Then we shan't see .him for a few weeks more.'' said Brian.

•You must be patient. Violet. It is enough to know that he is alive md well, and that his troubles are aver. Hut 1 forgot to ask about Kamon Torrana. Was he caught, l-Vrguson ?" "I'nfortunatcly, no," was the rc;»ly. "Vot a trace of him could 'v found, anil it is generally supposed tiiaU __hc succeeded in getting Away to Kngiond/'

At that moment the conversation .vas interrupt »_-<•( by a rap. The solictor pepped to the door, and re,urii'<l with n slip of pasteboard 11 his hand.

" The Si-norita Torrana h«' inutered. in a tout* of the greatest astonishment.

"Carmen exclaimed Itrian, llusling d"cply. "What can have wrought her here ?" " Trgent business' is written on he card." said Mcn/ios. "What am Ito do ? Hut for Miss Desmond, .vho would find the interview very >ainful"

As he spoke, Carmen Torrana glidsd into, the room She closed the ioor, lifted her veil, and jrevealed an jgitated countenance to the little *roup who confronted her.

"Pardon me," she said. "I heard .'our voices. and knew who were here. I called at your hous>'. MY. Desmond, and finding that you w«-iv lbsent. J came on to Mr. M«*n7.ies. I want you to tell me wha< jdu xtiow of CieolTrey Cardeu . I !»■ escaped from prison months ago —<>f that lam aware. Have you h<*ard in} thing of liiui since'.' Has he jeen found ?"' "We think so," Brian told her.

"He is no longer in Hritish Cuiana, nor will he return there. His innocence has beep proved."

"«*. I qui glad of that ! You assure ?" she cried. "CJeofTrey Uardew was cl--ur»-'i '>> the word of a dying man—the man who was struck do". 11 by hi-- fru !:'l llanion Torrana.' rw lil«-ssi;- <J- • !;i r.-'l Ferguson, who ccr-J.) ?)•>' • li;wrath. "Kver\ thing it- known. !'.o went on ; and in a '■ ' : ' i- 1 sheedless of Brian's ap!"-ui».u clan'''-? he disclosed to the r-j>;t:, ; , uor! th'~> full extent of the inning h't 1-ro-th«*r ha<l inflicted upon (Jeofircy.

"Spare htx\" \iole'.. "She is not to blame." "She helped him," declared 1-\t-gUbOll. "Yes. I helped him." said Carmen, •'though I little knew what 1 was iloing." Her face hdU grown whiter and hardef- an she listened. She looked from one to another, eomprehending that what the had heard was indeed the tru'h. • fiers wrath of a woman d'-ei-ivc-d, all tin pa-si on of lvr M.'Uthirn nature, flashed to h l '' dark "My brother lied lu ni\" she cried. "He >\sui' ilia'. h<- had never done tivoffrcy Card'-w an in jury. And nu« —now 1 "ill i"epa\ him. 1 will nil !"ni. r|, r shiHd hr.r from his crines. fI• ■ Mini! the jmnis-hment hj« d-.vr\<>•. !•••• u what it may. Thank "i 11 Mr Curdew is alive ! 1 hit'• v him deeply ; it wr« » •n v !-;r into t-xilo and Bu*. oiv thing I «'an u,i :'"r hi:!> prove my repentance. and it a Servieo than - 1 1.:.-!'.'! l. My brother 'Uain.i, =r. Kt.srh.nu lie Mart.-d an })<••,!• ■ combe. tjii th'-r *•'• •: '■ l ; r.c him. 1 - '' ' sir>f. I'o v !• :. ' ''i l-l\ ■ To ■