THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 158, 24 May 1909, Page 3

THE CURSE OF THE CARDEWS

(A.U Right* ltwierveo.j

AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS. . 4

fly W. Mf liUAY GKAYDOX, Author of ISlncknraik'rs." *ltcu|iiut the Whirlwind," "Tb» ttcir of Uie Loudouns," Etc.

I'AHT 27. "Your brother at llcvehcoml»c ?' gnsjcfl th«» solicitor. "What tnk«* him then* "Ami how will his omul t<rvi CJroffrry ?" exclaimed Violet. "CSii. on«l you will understand. J will it'll >oi» no more."

With (hot the trembling girl turn'■i| («> ihr door. nml os quickly, with »tn impulsive movement, llrioti «»-' l>r hir »f«lr.

"Wait." he Iwjjgeil. "Hear mk*. ■ rnoritn. You have my sympathy, mv I am no traitor t« t-Voflrey t«» tell you this. f know thut m>m ore repentant, that tin fh»>»iphtl«s.H wrong \ou did wh* through your aflcetion for a worth* '* « i.rot ii« r. Whatever ho|»l«ep*. olthink of me in the future at urnr- v>-n>l>'a«'t"

Unit* !" »»aUI (.'urnten : ami lookitn* int»» hj»!» c)p!>. »hc read ntnrt 'finr. f"(>nth,v there. "Thank you. mi. fri.-ml." she She rii *>!>!>•«« l» t veil and «"o-h gone. liri:>» rlrt«e»l the U«Mir and UiliH'tJ i,, h companion*.

I'n.vi' s;»rI !"" le* hot»r.-«*l>. I'.v »-• ts»«" MMer of that scoundrel' Ui*i n»i« ifr Ik? "chcomf*." ■IH tV train." declared \r hifwM Mt-wi.!'. "I will look 'k-.' iH ». " \mt I fiin going with >o»i." dmril \ PoUeK "So. |**rai#l, ISriiin. Il «.<• iw!>'i>v." ITIAITKK XXWIII. roNtrl.l SI«»X.

il was toward* the elo*e of the afternoon. and the February cun *t># Inrriiing dull rrtl IHiiiwl the nmt* that shrouded 'he horizon, tth>n the little party of four arrived al Ihe catw of IU echcoml»e. Iltri- they left the vehicle which hod brought tEiem ou-r from Topiow Elation. Iriihiing the drivel nnil for them. and with quickened tnliri|iati»n the> entered the pro»nd.««. t\hat rrrand could have token Ha* inim Torrana to tSeofirvv "s old hoiiK-. whether. iml"il. he hod gone iherr or not. Whnl «o?> the valuablt vi»r rdcrrnl to l»y Carmen Torrana ? These were qiiefttiuns tc ffhtth there were a* >«*t no slightest burp of on nnswvr. "I have the key to the main door." »«id .\rchi'»ald >len/ie» —he ho»l procun-d it in accordance with Itrion'* request—" l'»«t we had N-ttei >j» erlain first ii the ho'w li»> Ih.vi> iirol.cn into at any point." "llv all mean*." llria".

"Uy don't wont to make a blunder. nri»l let the fellow get a«a) from nv We should have had a constable i' th in*. |frhol»»."

"W«. run manug<* without -«i>l >Vrslvon, and touchi?l his lii| l .significantly . "Why. ore yon i»rm«*d •"I have a revolver." «»« th.- rc-

• |ii> you think there will I** o«»v trouble?"' Violet inquired. ou.\iou>-

No k«r Mim IH>huhiil." Fur* (old h'-r "if Tojvsinn «e in |lcr; hr»iiil«i>—»liirli I will ' »P.r him i»> »f»rj'ri.»c."

Th v |»rc«ed >teadily i>ii. IJrian leading the w«j at d>s«*r.-tmri : and in It'-i?. than a quarter of on hour. (utA>r»c tl><* |»ortioii of llu imi-; that «»' iimM heavily «owl<tl. iriir* [>a"»s-'«l with one nceord on lh« i»gf <>( soHMi shruMiery. •»' i"r.»r>t them «at n low U-rrncu. r>ml at the top of that row the anient facade ol the lili/nli'lliaii wing of the mansion, the |nnl that ttirviviil intact from th • day* ol Citrtli w Ihfi first. It wore »u pir M < desolation and gloom : curtain# wer* drawn l>thin«| the (;»ttic.tl windows, half-sniotnervd n ivj .

I n»> afraid we have come on a errand," whi»|K'Ml the nol icitor.

'That's my opinion, too." d«v .lurid Ferguson. "H Ik Spanish yirl is oj» artful a* her brother"— — "Come, 1.-t us look alKjut." Brian tnterrupted. "It is too soon to viHprct an>l»ody of tricking us. Violet. I think vou had lietter"

ha i) then- wll f n heavy i-rnth l>y." from nomuwheiv wijh* rn the house. It w»i» followed by 0 if»rill cry. a s>hout. and then silence. * oh. What ««•» that ?" exclaimed \ roM.

Sh" clung to her brother. who snook o(fl h.-f arm and .sprang at a bound up the terraC'*. Kolliittwl by Ihe others, he hast -nod round to a small door at the rear of th«» wing. A-t he tried the handle nnd l**at it with his fols. a voice called from the inner .Hide and n»i»i*l 'uolMffS Were beard approaching. ' one ls» Coming." wiuttcfvl IVrpwon. pulling out W» (fi'volvw, A couple of ra'ity I*»lih were shot. itn'i the door creaked wide o|>cn. »r. the threshold, carrying a "ght•l lonl'-m. Rpirarrtl it iAin-a figure th«t wa> familiar, still lo It rwognivtl. in ifpite of hi* l>rdiiail com* plexion and silky lieard. '"II) h<"av«W It's (icofiirj ! aa»pid llrinu. "Cardcw. u>t dear fult«»w J'' si< }l Fcrgtwn. "Ilow in the luvie of

With a heartMt cry of joy. which was ccliucd by Violet. Oeoflivy ;la»|*tl the girl in his nrws. A pttHiomte embrace, a kins on the quivering lift that were rai»ad to bis, soil he rstratnl one hand to •xtrod It in turn to the three »tauncb friends who luul stood by aira In hid troubles. Violet, dozed with hnppiiK**, ncntlcd rloim to hoj fcturnH lover.

"WpU. thi» is • moat unexpected i'lrpri-'f." c*cloiiiw«l the solicitor. " Inn c giwl news for you. Mr. I n You nrr doubtlesM not \ stin.w-'-iuv has I» on prnVM|." ~ .. Vioii-t. \<"i n-.vl never

J "Jly intl'KCltlC |T"l\P(I?" "Ye-*. hilly established." Fergrson ; r> s'irffi him. "Alh'l lirlilicr funj !<• ««-il nil Injure he died ill Hrilish ' t iiiitna .** Thank Hml !" said (Jeofirey : nml , 1 mi- n moment he almost yielded Ic t 1 •• Mn-ss of emotion. "Coine." he a«t<l>fl. "This meeting. these glor- • tiding?*, have driven.all c'w ; from my inirnl. A terrible thing has happened. 1 wo* on the point ol hastening for assisiuna' when I heard you knock on tn; iltor. ita■iion Torrana il"— "lie is really liere, then ?" cried Aicliibahl Menfies. "Vts. and either dead or '(lying, lie has nut with an accident. and what caused it lint you f»hall ve for yourselves." tJeoflrey picled up the lantern, and |*r.ced«*d his companion*. . He !nl them inlo the hoiis". through a I road, oak-panelled passng '. anil 1 hen down a lonp-r ami nnrrowei one. At the end of this stiiwl a large square of panelling. broken -and splinteied. block with age. that hail If *n foreiblv c«f uway from the wall. Beyond ii was an open do«ir. lunMiVf! ami ir«ni-claiii|«'il : and within. lhe ray of the lantern strenin «l through, were n-en l«u things. A man luy on tin lloor. hall-buried with plaster, with a heavy l-eain of wood lying lieside him. And near l»y uas a wnnll onkenchest. filled to th«' l-rim with lum|s of a dull yellowish nntal. "There li - *- Tlamon Toirana." tleoffrey Mi«l. hoarsely, "and that chest contains the gold lhal caused the quaric' Iw twtvn Miguel Toirann ami my ancestor. and !e«l l.di/ Torrana and My li-j. ti - w t.» i-ross swords—the gold ilia' ha*» I •••n tla* cui>e of my own life, thro- lentnries Inter.*' "What : 13* the- 'he l r«",,sure that was Iti>i>i.-ti in Ibitish tlniaiia exclaim '«i Brian. "The s-iif. umlo«ibl> illy "And how did il get here asked lltu Milieito#*. "I do not know." i<-|>li.tl Ceoflivy. "I ean le'l ymi iiolliiin'- The whole atiair is as jth.ii a mystery to me iiH it i< to y ourselves. liaimin Torrana aloii»- ean reveal it." "is h>* dead *.'* said l"ei*2«i»«ii. an he step|«c»l forward and l»-iit ov.-r the body. "So, hj" still l>r.-allies. He if unconscious, though, unil evidently badly hint." "A surgeon should !«• sent for." Said fJeofirey. "The nearest place is llourne Knd. I must explain to \ou what little I do know." he went on. "If you are not a ware" "We knew that yon had ben rescued by I'rofessor Ihysda'e's |mrty," Brian interrupted. "Ferguson discovered that. W.. suppofeil that vou were in Trinidad." "No : I left tla-re more than a mouth ago by a cargo steamer that toiiehed at the island. t arrived in Kngland last night, and came up to l.o|idon this morniii}.-. I meant to wait until i' was dark. and then Call at Mr. Men. i«-s' residence. but a glimps" of liaman Torrana in the Cily changed my plans, 'I o make a long story short. I foll«>vvd him rnutiously ilown to Taplovv. and theme to I'eeehcoinl-e. lb* forced a window and entered lie- house. and when half an hour had passed. and he ilid not reappear. I crept in to look b*- him. The lijihi of his lantern guided me heic—l had never siis|ieci«tl the wisti-nce 01 the secret door and chamli-r behind the panel —om.l I discoM-r d hii>* o|»-ning the rliesl oi i»o|i|. lie sjlnncetl mi ali'l n>e. and at that instant, as hu iliew n pistol. ihe Iwnm f -II from oterlieail ami criishiil him. Ihe stipporis had rotted away, as you ran ser." "V..i might l»- lying titer- inslead." sai'l \"iol»-i. "Hhat a narrow i-i'ii|K- ! I can l>ai*d!> realis* t'nit yon are , t t hone s-.eain. and tll.lt tOlir Irollb'es o\e|.*' • It was the liel|i*il me to I ear them." C«eolTre> unswereil. s.iitly. »■> he met the girl's loving ey Is. "\'s. I trus 1 . that they aie iine-i nur. The past is like a da''k il.eam. anil yet there will always le one bright memory in it —the memory of tl'.e '.rust and friendship and help that 1 o«e to all of you.-" Two hours later— CeoFrey was meanwhile acquainted with all that had hapjiened— the young Spaniard lay in one of the long-disused rooms of Ik echcouilie. which w»s liglite<l by candles. Archibald Men'.ics had brought |h- surgeon, and the man had dune what "little he cotiltl Olid departed. Itamon Torrana was dying. and he knew it. With conscious •ye«. for the time l.eing nee from ptiin. he glanced at the little group who were present. "It's all up with me." he taid. "I haven't many minutes to live, anil I don't know* thot 1 caie very much. Tell Carmen—poor girl ! that I did refieiitatit. lam glad thai you esca|i*l Cardew. Vou have have played the last card, and won the game, as you deserved to do. You know what bfought me here. I found a knife wilii My I s Cardew \s name on ii In the hole we dug in Hrilish CJtilnua. and that put me on the right track, togvlher with n bit of parchment that was in a crevice of the closet from which my sister took the t renMire-chart that night. It w-as a plan of the secret clwmlier in the old wing of the home- The gold has Ikcii hidden there for three centuries." "Then -V« les Cardew brought it ovej- with him 1" ptclaiiiK'd tJeoffri*y. "Yes. he found It. twelve J ears after it was buried. It is yours now. and I honestly Jio|k: you may enjoy it. It is asking too mui-h. I»«t if you can forgive me" "I do." (icoflrey told him. "Freely."

*• Ami you. Ferguson'? 1 have wrong"**! you #s wpll, iu many

Fi>rgus<in Hesitated. "What Itocaiiic of my wife?'' lie asked, in a hard \oice.

""VoUr wife?" cdioefl Torruna- "I know very little aliout her ; but

A midden spasm of weakness seized him, and he Iny with clofttl eyes. Tlie others looked curiously at Ferguson. whose features were working with emotion; "Yes. I liad a wife once," he said to hi«* companions. "A slip of a f'jcl—the daughter of a French mother ami l»utrh father, who lived in CJeorgrtown. This man .stole Lucic from i»h* unri ami nothing has ncr 'tv «,.v» <• -• i 11c'A cUv-- t'E 'u.ji-'' ."tri'i a*-!', held {,> t!>- T«»: : .<nu° • Hi-*,

rallied bis strength. "You were asking about youi wife, Ferguson." he said, faintly "She left lue. too, as you probably know, bul I .rau across lur in I tic Janeiro. Brazil. two years ;»ft -r ivarils. She hail married a .vcom lime, though she bad no r'ifiht ti_ Jo so. and was then the wife ui" i" llra/ilian oflicer. Cem-rul Calderou He died the next year, and tlu widow* went to l'aris, wlkre J told she married an Kiiglislnnan."

"Can this l»c true?" c -\rlaimei. ."eolTrey. as the meaning of what he lad just heard dawned upon him. "The willow of tSeiieral i'abi«*ron?"' .Tied the solicitor. "It is (he snin« ivomau. If she was alive to-day, Mr. Ferguson, she would vour wife." "Certainly. She had no rijihl t' marry a second or a third t:m-.' eplicd Ferguson, in a l.ewildereil ■one. "But what does this mean What do you know of her ? Is s!i<. lead ?" "Yes. she is dead. I am sorry t<: lell you." declared the solicitor. "And while she lived she was neve! 'li:j legal wife of (leorge Carde-.v. Can this lie proved

"Ther«» will be no trouble about .hat." replied I'aiunn T<*rrj-.i:a. "\oii .till liud plenty of evidence in Coorge(own ami Hio Janeiro."

Ferjnis«»n dropjied into a chair, his :»i'e hidden in his hands.

"Mr. Cardew, I congratulate-you," -aid Aivhilmld Men/.ies. "Your brother's child is not the heir : lv has no claim. You, sir. are tlu rightful owner of Beechconibe and iis revenues. We will quickly cs lablish tha'." "What luck, my dear ivllov. !"e.1.1 i 111.-« I Brian. tieofi'r-y looked from one to tlii i-iiur. unable at first to realise Ir.*;o>nl fortune, ami wh'-n he iiii'lit- • tooil he turned tu Violet. " Ue-iiieoiul e mine lie siiil.

Mine ami yours. I ne»-r kii"".\ '»' 1 - ill now how much I cr.ivd I'.-rth-noiilf old place. For your sa'-e. I 1 >ici- that" II- tailed him, i:n<i h-- eoriid -.n no more.

111.- Miirj is told. ITor i.nia iliVd lh;|i and C'ara.cn. who was |i|v>oi!t al '!.«• Piiii -r.il. le.'t ami P'tiirwd to ivlativrs in Spain. "I'll"* Pivss mack- a nine da> s" notiilvr of th«- roa<r>n<it: and tragic story. anil CoolYr.-y was glad to slip (iway wilh Brian ami his sister t<> the. hunt It of I'ratuv. wit it Iter lli>-\ w»»r»» accompanied for a time by 1-VrjruKon. Meanwhile Archibald Mi'iizii-s wafi not i*ll<*. ami us a result of his shrewd endeavours—tru*t"d agents coll* - ct<-d indisputable evidence in South America ami I'aris—the early anliiiini t'omul Cleoffrcy in lull possession m' tin- splendid Piial<*. the \altie of v.Jiich was considerably augmented I •>" the rlu'M of gold discoxered in tin- Kli/alx'lhan wing of th • mansion. (.Vofr<n *s (lot slrp was to settle a comfortable income on his brother's /liild. hliiim' trsistees did n<»t dispute the claim, ami ig the autumn h.'and Violet were married. }roin;r straight to liivchcombc to spend the autumn mont lis.

Their liiV" promises to !••• a happv one. though they can nevr forget tilt- two dark years that were so full of suffering Cor lioth. They frequently sec (Jordon J-Y-rguson. _i'< >r lie sold his planiaiion in I'riiish •"■liana. itnd settled in his »i;itix«• Scotland in a snug litl' - place on Jbe—Uauk 6dLla.*J i >arufr'"< too. has sad ntemori« s to look i>a<-i, upon, and his heart is si ill faitii ill to the cirl-uii'o who was i:' -1 worthy of the affection If e h : And JJrian ? Sonic day |ie»-hap>-. •- it is not impossible---he will I'annttn again. an«l she will vev«H'l aim for his lone ami sii<:t tion. .As for the * "hi*?- •• of 'lf lews, wliii can dottb? tUa' it lie.liiiri'.ii for e\er —as tile prophec; Corel old—in th' 1 far-oil gm\e that Holds the bones of Miguel J «r----*ana ? TIIK KM'